Nonie Gadsen, Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, and the MFA’s Benjamin Weiss, the Leonard A. Lauder Senior Curator of Visual Culture, join The Culture Show for our recurring series, “American Revolution: Frame by Frame.” Each month the curators and experts from the MFA join the show to talk about works in their collection that offer insight into the American Revolution. This is an extension of Museums 250. Today Nonie Gadsen and Benjamin Weiss discuss the "Goddess of Liberty" weathervane.

From there David Coffin, a musician, music-educator and a maritime specialist is also a guide for Boston Harbor City Cruises. He joins The Culture Show for an overview of their “Lighthouses and Tales of Boston Harbor,” cruises, which run through May 15th. To learn more go here.

Finally, we get an overview of “Utopian Hotline,” a theatrical experience that asks the question: “How would you envision a more perfect future?“ It’s staged by Theater Mitu and here in Boston, it’s presented by ArtsEmerson and the Museum of Science. It plays through May 18th at the Museum of Science Charles Hayden Planetarium. Denis Butkus, Theater Mitu Company Producer and co-creator of “Utopian Hotline,” joins The Culture Show. To learn more go here.

Today on our arts and culture week-in-review Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, James Bennett II and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines.

First up, Bill Belichick’s controversial interview on CBS Sunday Morning. From there, it’s the viral debate that the Internet can’t get enough of: 100 men vs. one gorilla.

Then it’s a look at the Tony nominations and a listen to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 inductees.

Finally, how a former employee at Market Basket has recreated its soundtrack as a Spotify playlist.

David Lindsay-Abaire is a Boston native and a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright. He joins The Culture Show to talk about the “Kimberly Akimbo,” which is coming to the Emerson Colonial Theatre by way of Broadway in Boston. The 2023 Tony-winner for Best Musical is based on David Lindsay-Abaire's play of the same title. It features a score by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. To learn more go here.

From there we get a jump of “May the Fourth Be With You,” the unofficial holiday for “Star Wars” fans. This Sunday at the Somerville Theatre, the New England Film Orchestra presents May the Fourth Concert, celebrating the music of Star Wars. Gina Naggar, conductor, founder, and music director of NEFO joins us for a preview. To learn more go here.

Finally we mark Native Plant Trust’s 125th anniversary,the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. Uli Lorimer, their Director of Horticulture joins us. He’s the author of “The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden.” To learn more about Native Plant Trust go here.

Award winning writer and poet Kwame Alexander joins The Culture Show to talk about the PBS Kids debut of “Acoustic Rooster.” Based on Alexander’s beloved children’s book “Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band,” the “Acoustic Rooster” universe is coming to PBS KIDS with a special and a short-form series produced by GBH. This will feature “Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band” a one-hour special, and “Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams,” a new animated series of 20 shorts that will introduce viewers ages 3-5 to jazz music. To learn more, go here.

From there Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll joins The Culture Show to talk about what the state can do when it comes to funding the arts and culture sector now that so many federal grants for museums and libraries have been cut.

Finally, the pink wave makes a splash at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. “Mean Girls” the musical is onstage through May 4th. Two of the lead actors, Katie Yeomans and Maya Petropoulos join The Culture Show to talk about this satirical take on teenage drama and the perils of popularity. To learn more, go here.

Hannah Selinger is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer. She joins The Culture Show to talk about her debut memoir, “Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly.” On April 30th she’ll be at the Boston Public Library Central Library in Copley Square for an author talk. To learn more, go here.

From there director Carson Lund joins The Culture Show to talk about his debut feature film “Eephus,” a quintessentially New England baseball film. Find out more, here.

Finally, photographer Eric Antoniou discusses his new book “Rock to Baroque: Four Decades of Music Photography.” The book’s official release is Thursday, May 1 with a photo exhibition at the Panopticon Gallery at Boston’s Commonwealth Hotel. To learn more, go here.

Three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky joins The Culture Show to talk about retiring from Boston University where he has been a professor since 1989. He’ll preview his retirement celebration, which is this Thursday, May1st atop “The Jenga Building” on the BU campus. He’ll recite poetry, there will be screenings and a reception. The event is open to the public and it's free. To learn more, go here.

From there it’s Creative Sector Advocacy Week. We’re using this as an opportunity to look at the state of the arts and culture sector in Massachusetts with a focus on funding. Julie Wake, Executive Director at Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, and Ami Bennitt, an advocate and founder of Art Stays Here, join The Culture Show for this conversation.

Finally, Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes us on a tour through Kendall Square with a look at SciArt. Julia Swanson is a multidisciplinary artist and award winning photographer who is the creator of The Art Walk Project – a series of self-guided micro tours of art across Greater Boston.

Culture Show co-hosts Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the latest headlines on our arts and culture week-in-review.

First up, Pope springs eternal. Pope Francis was a champion of the arts. He is the only pontiff who has attended the Venice Biennale, he opened up a gallery for contemporary art in the Vatican Library and he convened over 100 comedians to share a communal laugh at the Vatican.

From there, YouTube turns 20. Everything from “Hot Ones,” to “how to” videos have become online mainstays and along the way, the most-viewed “Baby Shark” has accumulated nearly 16 billion views.

Finally, a roundup of high profile trials, from Harvey Weinstein facing a new jury to Karen Read’s retrial to Sean Combs heading to court next week.

Dana Caspersen is a conflict engagement specialist, award-winning performing artist, and best-selling author. She joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book, “Conflict Is an Opportunity: Twenty Fundamental Decisions for Navigating Difficult Times.”

From there, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and folk music legend Loudon Wainwright III, joins The Culture Show ahead of his show in Northampton, MA at The Iron Horse and at The Town and The City Festival in Lowell.

Finally Emma Chubb, Charlotte Feng Ford '83 Curator of Contemporary Art at Smith College Museum of Art joins The Culture Show for an overview of their exhibition, “Younes Rahmoun: Here, Now,” which is on view through July 13, 2025. To learn more, go here.