Elizabeth Blair
Elizabeth Blair is a Peabody Award-winning senior producer/reporter on the Arts Desk of NPR News.
Blair produces, edits, and reports arts and cultural segments for NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. In this position, she has reported on a range of topics from arts funding to the MeToo movement. She has profiled renowned artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Mikhail Baryshnikov, explored how old women are represented in fairy tales, and reported the origins of the children's classic Curious George. Among her all-time favorite interviews are actors Octavia Spencer and Andy Serkis, comedians Bill Burr and Hari Kondabolu, the rapper K'Naan, and Cookie Monster (in character).
Blair has overseen several, large-scale series including The NPR 100, which explored landmark musical works of the 20th Century, and In Character, which probed the origins of iconic American fictional characters. Along with her colleagues on the Arts Desk and at NPR Music, Blair curated American Anthem, a major series exploring the origins of songs that uplift, rouse, and unite people around a common theme.
Blair's work has received several honors, including two Peabody Awards and a Gracie. She previously lived in Paris, France, where she co-produced Le Jazz Club From Paris with Dee Dee Bridgewater,and the monthly magazine Postcard From Paris.
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With increased car and foot traffic, the ground underneath the Tidal Basin — home to memorials to Thomas Jefferson, FDR and MLK Jr. — is sinking. As sea levels rise, the walkways flood daily. -
The Movie The Opening Act follows the trials and tribulations of a stand-up comedian. It stars Jimmy O. Yang, Cedric the Entertainer, Alex Moffat along with cameos by comics who've been there.
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Irving Berlin's classic musical turns 85 this year, and a group of artists are paying tribute with a brand-new video version of one of its songs, "Isn't This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain)?"
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A new fund created by the Andrew W. Mellon and Ford Foundations awards unrestricted grants to fellows working in a range of disciplines including architecture, dance, multimedia and journalism.
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The Walt Disney Company's theme parks, resorts and cruises have been devastated by COVID-19. Disney announced it is laying off the workers from its Parks, Experiences and Products division.
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After closing its doors in March and laying off hundreds of workers, the Kennedy Center held its first concert Saturday night (9/26). Renee Fleming and Vanessa Williams performed for an audience of about 40 people. NPR's Elizabeth Blair was there.
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The pandemic has made for a bleak outlook for the arts. Enter the 92nd Street Y in New York, which outlasted the Depression, Sept. 11 attacks and is making changes to stay afloat during the pandemic.
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As a veteran stand-up comedian, Quinn has spent decades on the road, performing in 47 out of the 50 states he now affectionately eviscerates in his new book, Overstated.
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The Hulu comedy follows Keef, a cartoonist (based on Knight) who doesn't want to fill his comic strips with racial justice issues. But a run-in with the police changes Keef's perspective.
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Burners can attend an art class, DJ dance party — or even join a virtual group hug — via webcam or virtual reality. In place of statue burning, the event will end with backyard fires and candles.
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Vocal ensembles that normally would be touring the summer festival circuit have organized a virtual concert series. Groups hail from 10 different countries including the U.S., Zimbabwe and France.
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"Content is king" was Redstone's mantra. Known for his shrewd deal-making and public family feuds, the powerful corporate leader reigned over an astonishing wealth of networks, studios and brands.
