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Winter Arts Guide

The drama ‘Bel Air’ offers a fresh take on the Fresh Prince

The reboot maintains the fish-out-of-water premise of the '90s sitcom, but it places Will at the center of a drama that considers questions concerning race, class, and privilege.

10 TV shows to watch while we’re waiting out winter

Uma Thurman, Tiffany Haddish, Samuel L. Jackson, and Julia Garner are among the stars of new series and miniseries premiering in the weeks ahead.

In ‘The Bluest Eye’ at the Huntington, the challenge of capturing Toni Morrison’s unerring vision
Playwright Lydia R. Diamond's adaptation of Morrison's powerful debut novel comes to the stage under the direction of Awoye Timpo for six weeks of performances.

Peabody Essex Museum breaks down silos between Native American and American art in new galleries

"There are difficult histories. We were intentional with the pairings," says curator Karen Kramer.

See dancers from all over New England during a weekend of Boston performances

The New England Now Dance Platform packs a lot into three programs over one March weekend.

For the War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel, a return to a place he once called home

The Massachusetts native brings his band to the House of Blues for two shows.

Guerilla Opera goes ‘Underground’ with intimate performance series online

In its 15th season, the group is creating new connections with opera composers, performers, and fans with expanded virtual programming.

Explore all our holiday arts critics' picks

10 concerts sure to crank up the heat this winter

10 classical events to catch live this season

Five dance performances to carry you through the snowy season

Dramas, musicals, and a trio of blue men: 10 shows for theatergoers this winter

ASK MATTHEW

This season, viewers who complain ‘SNL’ isn’t what it used to be might have a point

A too-big cast and some tired bits may be part of what ails the show, now in its 47th season.

BSO’s Chamber Players introduce new work by Michael Gandolfi
On Sunday at Jordan Hall, Anna Rakitina conducted the premiere of a new Cantata, ‘Where can I go from your spirit?’

An enterprising Berklee pianist’s next gig: Live at the Apollo
Kofi Boakye, who crowd-funded $50,000 to pay for his first year at school, will be competing in the historic Harlem theater’s first Amateur Night in nearly two years.

How the Boston Dynamics robot Spot became one artist’s muse — then, her assistant
Artist Agnieszka Pilat has found an unlikely assistant in Spot, the dog-like Boston Dynamics robot, who she's collaborated with on a number of paintings.

Bad Bunny to play Fenway Park Aug. 18

The Puerto Rican rapper joins Zac Brown Band, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers with shows scheduled at Fenway this summer.

Broadway’s ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ actor fired

The actor playing Harry Potter has been fired from the Broadway production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” following a complaint by a co-star about his conduct.
MATTHEW GILBERT | YOUR TV GPS

This week’s TV: A Netflix price hike, ‘The Gilded Age’ arrives, and a Janet Jackson doc

Why no outcry from Netflix customers? Plus, a look at new series premiering this week.

MORE RECENT ARTS HEADLINES

Pop culture and politics intertwine on ‘SNL’

In the cold open, Kate McKinnon portrayed American conservative FOX television host Laura Ingraham.

MUSIC
Elim Chan conducts BSO and pianist Igor Levit on Jan. 20, 2022.

Conductor Elim Chan, pianist Igor Levit offer familiar comforts and new delights at the BSO

Comfort was the order of the day in Thursday evening’s performance of Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2 as Levit made his Symphony Hall debut alongside Chan, who was leading the orchestra for the first time.

TELEVISION
Louie Anderson won an Emmy for his work as Christine in "Baskets."

Louie Anderson brought poignancy, and memories of his mother, to ‘Baskets’

The comic and actor, who died on Friday, delivered one of the best TV performances of the past 20 years on the oddly sweet FX series.

Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter, and Michael Mosley as Joseph Cataldo in “The Girl from Plainville.”

First look at Elle Fanning as Michelle Carter in Hulu’s ‘The Girl from Plainville’

Fanning will play Carter in the upcoming eight-episode series, which explores Carter’s relationship with her then-boyfriend, 18-year-old Conrad Roy III, and the events leading up to his July 2014 suicide.

From left to right, top to bottom: Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Avril Lavigne, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, Angelique Kidjo and Johnny Venus of EARTHGANG, and Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield, and Kirk Hammett of Metallica.

Boston Calling announces 2022 lineup with headliners Foo Fighters, the Strokes, Metallica

Boston Calling released the full lineup of performers for its three-day festival set to take place Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Adam Granduciel (left) and The War on Drugs.

For the War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel, a return to a place he once called home

The Massachusetts native brings his band to the House of Blues for two shows.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Jazmine Sullivan.

10 concerts sure to crank up the heat this winter

Shows by Dua Lipa, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Jazmine Sullivan, and a Beatles tribute led by Todd Rundgren are among the highlights of the months ahead.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Julia Garner as real-life scam artist Anna Delvey in Netflix's "Inventing Anna."

10 TV shows to watch while we’re waiting out winter

Uma Thurman, Tiffany Haddish, Samuel L. Jackson, and Julia Garner are among the stars of new series and miniseries premiering in the weeks ahead.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Deniz Khateri in "The Cellos' Dialogue."

Guerilla Opera goes ‘Underground’ with intimate performance series online

In its 15th season, the group is creating new connections with opera composers, performers, and fans with expanded virtual programming.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Jabari Banks as Will in "Bel Air."

The drama ‘Bel Air’ offers a fresh take on the Fresh Prince

The reboot maintains the fish-out-of-water premise of the '90s sitcom, but it places Will at the center of a drama that considers questions concerning race, class, and privilege.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Director Awoye Timpo (left) leads a rehearsal of the Huntington Theatre Company's "The Bluest Eye" at the Calderwood Pavilion, with actors Hadar Busia-Singleton (center) and Alexandria King.

In ‘The Bluest Eye’ at the Huntington, the challenge of capturing Toni Morrison’s unerring vision

Playwright Lydia R. Diamond's adaptation of Morrison's powerful debut novel comes to the stage under the direction of Awoye Timpo for six weeks of performances.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger, "Each/Other," 2020-21, as installed at the Denver Art Museum. Steel, wool, bandanas, and embroidery thread. Courtesy of the artists. (Artwork © Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger)

10 museum must-sees

From Maya Lin’s ‘Mappings’ to ‘Being Muholi: Portraits as Resistance,’ our most-anticipated shows.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Left: Tompkins Harrison Matteson's “Trial of George Jacobs, Sr. for Witchcraft,” 1855. Right: Jason Garcia's "#7 Victory, 1680–1692," from the “Tewa Tales of Suspense!” series, 2019-20.

Peabody Essex Museum breaks down silos between Native American and American art in new galleries

"There are difficult histories. We were intentional with the pairings," says curator Karen Kramer.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Charis Gullage (center) as Disco Donna in "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," which comes to the Emerson Colonial Theatre Feb. 22-March 6.

Dramas, musicals, and a trio of blue men: 10 shows for theatergoers this winter

The season will feature "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical," ART's "Ocean Filibuster," and SpeakEasy's "People, Places & Things," as well as the return of Blue Man Group after a two-year pause.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Deborah Goffe is among the performers at the New England Now Dance Platform in March.

See dancers from all over New England during a weekend of Boston performances

The New England Now Dance Platform packs a lot into three programs over one March weekend.

WINTER ARTS GUIDE
Soprano Christine Goerke will sing the role of Marie in the BSO’s concert performance of Berg’s expressionist opera “Wozzeck.”

10 classical events to catch live this season

Conductor Andris Nelsons takes on Berg’s epochal "Wozzeck" at the BSO, pianist Christopher Taylor launches a complete cycle of Liszt’s transcriptions of Beethoven Symphonies at the Gardner, and much more.