Songs on Replay, 'We Live in Cairo,' Musical, Jimmy O. Yang and Charles Yu on 'Interior Chinatown,' and Jesse Malin on Stroke Recovery and Benefit Concert
Music is often one of the things that helps us get through tough times. Listeners call in to shout out the music they keep returning to whether they're looking for motivation or peace, after the election and ahead of the holidays. Plus, Professor Elizabeth Margulis, director of the Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University, explains the neuroscience of repeat music listening.
A new musical at the New York Theatre Workshop, "We Live in Cairo," tells the story of six activists who participate in the Egyptian Revolution, and must cope with the fallout. Brothers Daniel and Patrick Lazour, known as The Lazours, join us to discuss writing the music, lyrics, and book for the musical. We're also joined by actor Ali Louis Bourzgui, who stars as Amir, a kid who writes an anthem for the revolution. "We Live in Cairo" was just extended through Wednesday, November 27.
The novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu won the National Book Award, and was acclaimed for its genre-bending story of a background actor named Willis Wu, who finds himself inadvertently a witness to a major crime. Now, the book has been adapted into an original series, starring comedian Jimmy O. Yang. Yu is the showrunner. Yang and Yu join us to discuss the show, which premieres on Hulu on November 19.
On December 1 and 2, musician Jesse Malin will be honored with two tribute shows at the Beacon Theatre, featuring Lucinda Williams, The Hold Steady, and more artists. In May 2023, Malin suffered a spinal stroke which has left him paralyzed below the waist. Malin joins us to preview the show, and discuss his recovery as well as a recent benefit album, Silver Patron Saints, featuring Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, and other contributing artists.
