Episode #1223
The Book of Mormon & The Antlers
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Book of Mormon combines snark and sincerity, weaving the dark humor of South Park with traditional musical theater show-stoppers.
(Joan Marcus)
The Tony Awards are this weekend, and the heaviest contender is the filthiest show on Broadway, The Book of Mormon. Robert Lopez, the composer and co-creator, sits down at the piano to show Kurt Andersen the recipe for his cocktail of sweet and snarky. We also go Off-Broadway to the most innovative, extraordinary show in New York, Sleep No More — an installation performance piece that riffs on Macbeth. Plus The Antlers perform songs from their new album live in the studio.
Ben Shapiro on Primetime Propaganda
Another season of primetime television just wrapped up and, as always, it was chock full of liberal programming designed to brainwash America. At least that’s according to Ben Shapiro, author of the new book Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV. Shapiro writes a conservative...
Songs from The Book of Mormon
If you’ve ever watched South Park, you know that a few of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's favorite things are organized religion and musical theater. In 2003, they did a musical episode all about Joseph Smith and the founding of Mormonism. This year the show's creators upped the ante considerably, teaming with composer Robert Lopez to...
Sleep No More
Sleep No More may be the most unusual, fantastical take on Macbeth ever produced. The London-based theater company Punchdrunk has transformed 100,000 square feet of New York City warehouse space into a meticulously detailed world — a kind of Macbeth theme park with no signage or...
Aha Moment: Gentleman’s Agreement
Listener Susan Evans grew up in rural Louisiana during the 1950s and 60s. Her first year of high school was also the first year of federally enforced integration in her town — and that did not sit well with her white parents. It wasn’t until years later that ...
The Antlers
In the age of the downloaded single, The Antlers had an unlikely hit with their 2009 concept album Hospice. The main storyline is about coming to terms with the death of a friend. But the music isn't what you'd expect — it’s not morose and spare, it's big and lush. The Antlers have lightened up some, subject-wise, but...
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Comments [8]
I've found a true treasure here!!!
Gratiful, Josefa
Are the mormon leaders buying their way to heaven?
Ironic and hypocritical that you would present in the same show one story denouncing prejudice against race and religion (Aha Moment: Gentleman's Agreement), and another story heaping praise on the broadway musical "The Book of Mormon" that pointedly ridicules a religious group and an ethnic group.
Hi Wanda,
The story you're describing is an Aha Moment, featuring Susan Evans' memory of watching the movie Gentleman's Agreement. You can find it in the above episode, or through this link:
http://www.studio360.org/2011/jun/10/gentlemans-agreement/
Unfortunately, we're unable to provide transcripts for our shows, but I hope you enjoy listening to the story!
Listened to program the Friday, June 10th Saturday, June 11 on WAMU, which originates in Washington, DC. Thought I heard a story re: a woman whose family's racist comments and discussions troubled her. In the program's most recent line-up, which Studio 360 created Friday, June 10 there's no indication of such program.
Please let me know what happened to that story, and if possible, please e.mail a transcript to me.
Thank you much in advance.
I know I'm months behind time, but I have just heard your (interesting, as always) show on books and bookstores. There is one element that I see left out of almost all discussions like this: How do you feel about having to plug into electricity all the time?
Isn't it nice to go somewhere (e.g., woods or beach or airport) and be able to read without having to worry about your battery level? Won't it be nice to continue to do so as electricity becomes more expensive or rare? (Same with taking photos. Same with writing postcards. Etc.)
In case your are still gathering data on this: I read paper books (paperbacks preferred because they are smaller and lighter). I buy used books mostly, in bookstores. If I need something specific, I find it online, get a phone number and try to talk to someone. (I do not put financial information on the internet since my credit card number was stolen.) If an outlet will not sell over the phone, I try somewhere else or do without, use the library.
Thanks for your great show!
Hi Ronald,
If you were listening on KUHF, you heard "Hounds" by The Antlers shortly before 8:00. You can listen to the whole song in a bonus track on our webpage for The Antlers story, here:
http://www.studio360.org/2011/jun/10/antlers/
Thanks!
What may I ask was the music playing just before 8:00 p.m. on Sat Jun 11?
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