A Blast From the Past
(Starts at 8:12)
The musical “Ragtime” can be a massive undertaking of a production. With a large cast, elaborate costumes and props, several scene changes and a sometimes polarizing story, it’s not an obvious choice for a nonprofit theater like the Pasadena Playhouse. Danny Feldman, producing artistic director of the Playhouse, and Clifton Duncan, who plays Coalhouse Walker in the show, talk about making “Ragtime” relevant for today’s audiences and what it means to take such a risk on a big show.
The strange case of JUSSIE SMOLLETT
(Starts at :45)
Gene Maddaus of Variety breaks down the timeline of events in the case of the allegedly staged hate-crime against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett.
WHAT TO EXPECT — AND NOT — AT THE OSCARS
(Starts at 19:07)
Kyle Buchanan, the Carpetbagger columnist for the New York Times, discusses the wacky road these months have been to the telecast of this Sunday's Oscars. He and John Horn discuss the Academy's seeming existential crisis as it tries to cater to network demands to be shorter, to which Buchanan replies, "No one asks the Super Bowl to be shorter!"