The Frame

After the 2016 Presidential election, the singer/songwriter took a cross-country train trip and then wrote a song cycle of character sketches and personal reflections; Taylor Swift's recording contract is about to expire, giving her a world of options; Boots Riley's "Sorry to Bother You" is one of the year's biggest critical hits.

Director Chris Weitz's film 'Operation Finale' tells the amazing story of the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann; fans begin to pay their respects to the Aretha Franklin at the Museum of African American History in Detroit; and Cuban jazz pianist Dayramir Gonzalez is a rising star.

Breaking down the scene between Michelle Yeoh and her would be daughter-in-law, Constance Wu; documentary filmmaker Steve James spent a year inside a Chicago high school for the series, “America to Me”; remembering playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon, who died at the age of 91.

The former "Gilmore Girls" co-star has an Emmy nomination for her role in the dystopian world of "The Handmaid's Tale"; Harvey Weinstein's legal woes seem to be mounting; Aneesh Chaganty, director and co-writer of the film, "Searching," has created a hyper-modern day thriller.

On Today's Show:

The co-star and Emmy nominee says she isn't daunted by challenges being faced by the cast; ever seen James Corden and friends performing a musical on the streets outside CBS on Fairfax? That's the work of Emmy-nominated choreographer Chloe Arnold.

The Emmy-nominated director of "Atlanta" talks about his collaborations with Donald Glover, his love of the Coen brothers and how the show set out to accurately portray life in urban Georgia; in the documentary, "What Haunts Us," Paige Goldberg Tolmach examines multiple suicides at her prep school alma mater; director Jesse Peretz and actor Chris O'Dowd talk about their movie, "Juliet, Naked."

Sarah Paulson has a lead actress Emmy nomination for "American Horror Story: Cult" — the seventh season of the anthology series; Bing Liu's videos of his skateboarding pals turned into the intimate documentary, "Minding the Gap."

Wayne Kramer, guitarist and leader of the Detroit rock band MC5, discusses his new memoir, "The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities"; Amazon is in the running to buy Landmark Theatres.

The iconic singer has died at the age of 76. We hear from her longtime bass player, Chuck Rainey; why has a documentary about her landmark 1972 performance at a Baptist church in Los Angeles never been released?; Daphne Brooks, a professor of African American Studies and Theater Studies at Yale University on the transcendent power of Aretha's voice.

As the actress wraps up the final season of "Veep," she looks back and ahead; why are so many theater productions based on old movies and TV shows?

The music producer has worked with Randy Newman, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and Los Lobos, and occasionally releases his own music; highlights and lowlights from week one of Coachella; the Write Girl program provides mentoring for teens by actors and writers.

Emma Thompson dropped out of a Skydance movie after the studio hired disgraced former Pixar CEO, John Lasseter. The she wrote a public letter about it. She tells us why. We discuss what's next in the on-going fight between the WGA and talent agencies. And we sample new features coming to a movie theater near you.

The comedian's new Hulu series is a fictionalized version of his life growing up in New Jersey as the son of Egyptian immigrant parents; inside the memorial service for Nipsey Hussle; the all-girl Japanese band, Chai.

Re-animated artists have become a big part of the concert business, now including Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and opera star Maria Callas; why is Netflix buying the Egyptian Theatre?; an experimental production of "King Lear" leaves the king offstage.

The Tony Award-winning actor takes on the role of newsman Howard Beale in a stage adaptation of the 1976 movie; with 'Game of Thrones' about to resume, we visit with the show's weapons master.

Since going viral after the 2017 Women's March, the song by MILCK has taken on a life of its own; what's in store for fans at Coachella this weekend?; the indie hip-hop duo Closegood blends experimental hip-hop with poetry and emo music.

The company specializes in abridged versions of The Bard's works that are played strictly for yuks; what are the challenges facing movie theater owners?; Yo-Yo Ma is embarked on a wildly ambitious Bach Project.

Emilio Estevez writes, directs and stars in the movie, about a library that's a refuge for homeless patrons; "Fresh Off The Boat" hits 100 episodes – what is its lasting impact on the TV landscape?; at CinemaCon, AMC announced theaters in Saudi Arabia, and Helen Mirren yells "F--- Netflix."

The singer's 1972 gospel concert film finally arrives in theaters after decades of technical and legal challenges; the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles is trying to move on from leadership controversies; the Los Angeles Poverty Department has been making theater with the residents of Skid Row for nearly 35 years.

The annual exhibit of site-specific public art has visitors flocking to the Palm Springs area for more than the usual fun-in-the-sun; rapper Nipsey Hussle left behind a legacy of music and community activism.