Jared Bowen, Edgar B. Herwick III, and Joyce Kulhawik co-host this week’s arts and Culture week-in-review. Joyce Kulhawik is a Culture Show contributor, Emmy-award winning arts and entertainment reporter and president of the Boston Theatre Critics Association. You can find her reviews at Joyce’s Choices.

First up, a recap of the Elliot Norton Awards,  from there a preview of the Tonys, which includes a pregame by way of CNN broadcasting a live production of George Clooney’s Tony-nominated play “Good Night and Good Luck.”

Then remembering writer Edmund White, a groundbreaking novelist who wrote about the gay experience. And on the opposite side of the cultural spectrum, Hooters closes dozens of restaurants after filing for bankruptcy.

Finally, the Nintendo Switch 2. The release of the new console excited gamers across the globe who lined up for a midnight launch.

Dr. Greg Skomal joins The Culture Show to talk about preparing for white shark season and how the movie “Jaws,” which is nearing its 50th anniversary, inspired him to become a marine biologist. Greg Skomal is an underwater explorer, photographer, and author. He is a  fisheries scientist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and heads the Massachusetts Shark Research Program. 

From there Director Igor Golyak, founder of Needham’s Arlekin Players Theater and the internationally acclaimed actress Chulpan Khamatova, join the Culture Show to talk about the play “Our Class,” which will be onstage at the Calderwood Pavillion June 13th through June 22nd. To learn more go here.

Finally Al Wilson, the founder of Beyond Walls, a nonprofit that enriches gateway cities with public art, joins The Culture Show to talk about their latest projects. To learn more about Beyond Walls go here.

Nemr is a Lebanese-American stand-up comedian who is credited with pioneering the stand-up comedy scene throughout the Middle East. On June 13th he’s bringing his “Extremely Unextremist” show to The Wilbur. He joins The Culture Show for a preview. 

From there we continue our countdown to 2026 with a look at the role Somerville played in the American Revolution, it’s the focus of  the Somerville Museum’s programming “History on the Line.”  Stephanie Marlin-Curiel, the museum’s Executive Director and Jennifer Dorsen join The Culture Show. To learn more about  the Somerville Museum’s programming go here. 

Finally Mahesh Daas, President of Boston Architectural College, joins The Culture Show for a conversation about the enduring legacy of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Mahesh Daas is a Culture Show contributor who joins us monthly. He is co-author of the graphic novella about artificial intelligence, titled “I, Nobot.”

Don Gillis and Ray Flynn join The Culture Show to discuss Gillis’ new book “The Battle for Boston: How Mayor Ray Flynn and Community Organizers Fought Racism and Downtown Power Brokers.” On June 5th at 6:00 Don Gillis will be at a book event at the Roslindale Public Library. To learn more go here.

From there comedian and actress Lane Moore joins The Culture Show to  talk about turning online dating into an enduring hit comedy show “Tinder Live! With Lane Moore.”  Lane Moore will be taking her show to Arts at the Armory on on June 5th. To learn more go here.

Finally Oliver Barker, Director of Cape Ann Museum, joins the culture show to talk about their summer programming, which includes a range of interesting walking tours,which are designed to highlight  the natural landscape of Gloucester that has inspired so many artists. To learn more about all that the Cape Ann Museum has to offer go here.

Andy Husbands, chef and owner of The Smoke Shop BBQ, has co-authored the “Quick and Easy Burger Cookbook,” which will bump your burger game with creative recipes. He joins The Culture Show to talk about how we can turn our nothing burger into a something burger. On June 16th Husbands will be at a book signing event at WBUR’s City Space. To learn more go here.

From there Boston-based artist Massiel Grullón joins The Culture Show to talk about being TD Garden’s 2025 House Artist. Last month she debuted her mural at TD Garden, which celebrates women in sports.

Finally Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture at Native Plant Trust joins The Culture Show to talk about how to plant a garden that is both beautiful and ecologically sound. Uli Lorimer is the author of  “The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden.” To learn more about Native Plant Trust go here. And to learn more about lawn alternatives Cornell university has a great resource.

Today Jared Bowen, Callie Crossley and Edgar B. Herwick III co-host our arts and culture week-in-review starting with a reflection on the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Holocaust museum in Boston’s Downtown Crossing.

From there they discuss Harvard University, which  will give up ownership of historic photos of enslaved people, following a legal fight with Tamara Lanier, a descendent of one of the people who was photographed.

Then they’ll explore the Labubu mania and why the plush toy has become a must have accessory and the forthcoming Harry Potter series on HBO Max.

Finally they remember rocker Rick Derringer whose hits include “Hang on Sloopy,” and “Rock & Roll, Hootchie Koo.”

Vincent Valdez is an American artist who explores identity, social justice, and American history. Not to mention our particular capacity, as a society, to forget our episodes of violence.  Just a Dream… is the artist’s first major museum survey including work from over twenty years across all media. He joins The Culture Show to talk about his process, vision and this exhibition, which is on view now at MASS MoCA. To learn more go here.

From there  musical theatre writing duo Kit Buchan and Jim Barne join The Culture Show to talk about their hit musical comedy “Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York),” which is onstage now at the American Repertory Theater. To learn more go here.

Finally Culture Show contributor Julia Swanson takes us on a tour of public art hiding in plain sight with a focus on buildings, from IDEO’s office in Central Square to the United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building in the financial district. 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.

Ron Chernow―prizewinning author of seven books, including the National Book Award winner “The House of Morgan,” the Pulitzer Prize winner “Washington: A Life,” and the George Washington Book Prize winner “Alexander Hamilton”―joins The Culture Show to talk about his new biography “Mark Twain.”    On June 2nd he’ll be at the First Parish Church at a book event presented by Harvard Book Store. To learn more go here.

From there we talk to National Geographic Explorer  in Residence Tara Roberts. She joins The Culture Show to talk about her book “Written in the Waters: A memoir of History, Home and Belonging.” Tonight The Museum of African American History, Boston and Nantucket, in collaboration with GBH,  presents an evening with Tara Roberts. To learn more go here.

Finally we get a preview of the 46th Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. Gail Wang, President of the festival’s board and Jeff Wang, the festival’s Vice President of Racing join The Culture Show to talk about what goes into hosting nearly 70 teams and 50,000 athletes and attendees. The Festival is on June 8th. To learn more go here.

Arrival - a new biannual art fair. The inaugural edition features exhibitors from across the country. It kicks off on June 12th and runs through June 15th and is situated in North Adams at the TOURSITS hotel. Two of the founders join The Culture Show for an overview. Yng-Ru Chen is owner of the Boston-based Praise Shadows Art Gallery and Crystalle Lacouture is an artist based in Boston and North Adams. To learn more about Arrival go here.

From there the versatile actor Tituss Burgess joins The Culture Show. He  has graced both screen and stage, appearing in the musical comedy series Central Park, the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect, and in Broadway’s “Moulin Rouge!”  Most recently, he stepped into the role of Mary Todd Lincoln in the hit Broadway Show “Oh, Mary!”  Now Burgess is coming to town, for two nights only–with a concert performance at the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord on Friday and Saturday.  It’s billed as  “An Evening with Tituss Burgess.” To learn more go here.

Finally Jane Eaglen, a Grammy-winning dramatic soprano who’s performed on the world’s greatest stages joins The Culture Show  to preview Wagner & Vino: Spring 2025, a night of music and merlot. It’s at The Burren in Somerville May 28th at 7:00. To learn more go here. Jane Eaglen is on the faculty at New England Conservatory and is the President of the Boston Wagner Society.  

Actor and author Marianne Leone joins The Culture Show to talk about her latest book, “Five-Dog Epiphany: How a Quintet of Badass Bichons Retrieved Our Joy,”  

From there New Bedford poet Erik Andrade joins The Culture Show to talk about poetry as activism. Erik Andrade  is an award winning spoken word poet. Recently his work was included in “Black Fire This Time Vol. 2,”  a groundbreaking anthology celebrating the legacy and future of the Black Arts Movement.  

Finally, the music duo Eric and Will. Eric Vloiemans is a Dutch trumpet sensation, Cambridge native Will Holshouser is an accordion master –  together they create original, evocative compositions that build on jazz, classical and folk music.