This recent retelling of English history imagines the six wives of Henry VIII competing to be the lead singer in a modern popular music concert. Like Hamilton, it presents history using contemporary language and music, while being well-grounded in its source material. The musical began as a relatively small production in 2017 and then developed into a highly popular musical that went on to win a Tony Award for Best Score on Broadway in 2022. The class will describe the development of the show, assess its historical accuracy from written and visual sources (e.g., Holbein’s paintings), and link its songs to contemporary pop singers.

This recent retelling of English history imagines the six wives of Henry VIII competing to be the lead singer in a modern popular music concert. Like Hamilton, it presents history using contemporary language and music, while being well-grounded in its source material. The musical began as a relatively small production in 2017 and then developed into a highly popular musical that went on to win a Tony Award for Best Score on Broadway in 2022. The class will describe the development of the show, assess its historical accuracy from written and visual sources (e.g., Holbein’s paintings), and link its songs to contemporary pop singers.

In 1619, a ship docked near Jamestown and sold twenty captive Africans into slavery in colonial Virginia. To the creators of the 1619 Project that moment was momentous. The 1619 Project argues that it marks the birth date of American slavery and that “the year 1619 is as important to the American story as 1776.” This program is designed to give you the tools to interrogate those contentions. Is it accurate and meaningful to say that 1619 was the moment when American slavery began — that it was ground zero in the spread of slavery and racism in America?

Oscar Hammerstein was one of the most important figures in American theatre who gave musical theatre greater depth through his lyrics and book writing. This class will review Hammerstein's long career (and include many performance clips) and draw upon his recently published letters and interviews to give a fuller picture of Hammerstein and his work.

Oscar Hammerstein was one of the most important figures in American theatre who gave musical theatre greater depth through his lyrics and book writing. This class will review Hammerstein's long career (and include many performance clips) and draw upon his recently published letters and interviews to give a fuller picture of Hammerstein and his work.

The world faces a growing threat from Iran's pursuit of nuclear weaponry, growing ballistic missile capabilities, expanding conventional forces, terror sponsorship, continuing efforts to destabilize regional governments, and increasing brazenness in confronting the United States and its allies in the region and beyond. The United States and the West should abandon nuclear negotiations with Iran, seek to further isolate it around the world, and, most importantly, build alliances with Iran's increasingly restive population, from which its next leaders will come.

The world faces a growing threat from Iran's pursuit of nuclear weaponry, growing ballistic missile capabilities, expanding conventional forces, terror sponsorship, continuing efforts to destabilize regional governments, and increasing brazenness in confronting the United States and its allies in the region and beyond. The United States and the West should abandon nuclear negotiations with Iran, seek to further isolate it around the world, and, most importantly, build alliances with Iran's increasingly restive population, from which its next leaders will come.

Recent research supports the hypothesis that dance and yoga reverse aging, as does positive thought processes. Come join Kathy Hankins and learn about Yogadance, a practice that incorporates the benefits of yoga and dance with a touch "forget your age" brain trickery to physically and mentally turn back the clock. It is suitable for all types of people including the non-yogi and the experienced yogi. It's not a lot of work, but produces a generous benefit. Wear comfortable clothes that will allow movement and mild stretching and bring a yoga mat.

(See other class in this series: #144.) What does it mean to create boldly in one’s seventies, eighties, and beyond? Inspired by Goya’s famous inscription—“I am still learning”—this two-part series explores great artists who reached extraordinary new heights late in life. Far from slowing down, these masters continued to innovate, experiment with new media, and reshape the course of art history.

Part 1 journeys from the Renaissance to the French Revolution, examining the late works of Donatello, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Goya—artists who transformed sculpture and painting well past what we might call “retirement age.”