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New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Theater to Stream: Morgan Freeman in ‘Gospel at Colonus' and More
'The Gospel at Colonus' Stream it on YouTube. 'The Gospel of Colonus' has built a fervent following over the past four decades or so — its number 'How Shall I See You Through My Tears?' even popped up in the cult-favorite movie 'Camp' — so expectations are running high for the new revival at Little Island in Manhattan (through July 26). Those not in New York or who couldn't get a ticket to Shayok Misha Chowdhury's new staging can check out a production from the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia, from 1985, that's streaming on YouTube. This superlative take on Lee Breuer and Bob Telson's gospel retelling of Sophocles' tragedy of Oedipus boasts a powerhouse cast, including Morgan Freeman, Jevetta Steele and Robert Earl Jones (James's father), who went on to Broadway with the show three years later. The score, which features some of the funkiest, most rousing numbers ever heard in a musical, surges to vivid life. Tip: Blast this at full volume. 'Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical' Stream it on Disney+. The stage version of the animated megahit movie 'Frozen' played just two years on Broadway (a short spell by Disney standards), but this newly available capture of the West End production may well kick-start renewed interest in the United States. For the stage version, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez expanded their score with a dozen new songs — my favorite is the catchy duet 'What Do You Know About Love?' between Anna (Laura Dawkes) and Kristoff (Jammy Kasongo). The movie and the show share a bone structure, but they are different animals, with the show able to spend more time on the complicated bond between the sisters, Anna and Elsa (an excellent Samantha Barks). Michael Grandage's staging captures the story's supernatural side well, and, let's face it: We're all going to watch Elsa's eye-popping costume change during 'Let It Go' a million times, wondering how they pulled it off. 'A Summer Day' Stream it from the Wilma Theater. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Time Out
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Long Island made the list of most attractive American accents and we're calling bull
Move over, Southern charm and Midwestern warmth. According to a new study, one of the most "attractive" accents in America hails from none other than Long Island. Yes, that Long Island. The place where 'coffee' sounds like 'caw-fee,' 'dog' is basically a two-syllable word and R's have been going missing since the dawn of Billy Joel. The findings come courtesy of VegasSlotsOnline, which conducted a sentiment analysis of more than 1,000 social media mentions across Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), forums and blogs. Their goal was to figure out which U.S. regional accents people actually find appealing. Long Island landed second place on the list, with 27.8% of mentions skewing positive, just behind Louisiana's Cajun accent, which took the crown with 32.7-percent. Third on the list? The soft drawl of Mississippi. And rounding out the top 10: everything from Maine and the Pacific Northwest to Boston and even Staten Island. Now, we're not here to knock regional pride. Every accent tells a story, and some, like Cajun or Mississippi, just happen to tell it with a little more sugar and drawl. But Long Island's second-place finish feels… unexpected. This is an accent that's often more infamous than flirtatious, long associated with loud vowels, strong opinions and punchlines on late-night TV. That said, there's no denying its cultural staying power. The Long Island accent is unapologetically brash and that confidence can be magnetic. It's a voice that cuts through the noise, whether it's selling real estate, starring in reality TV or defending the sanctity of a proper New York bagel. Still, calling it attractive might be a stretch. Endearing? Sure. Distinctive? Absolutely. But let's not pretend the same accent that can turn 'mirror' into 'mirrah' is out here seducing the masses. Maybe it's time we give Long Island its flowers. After all, accents are a form of cultural identity—and if confidence is sexy, then Long Island's never had a problem. Just don't expect us to say it's hotter than a New Orleans drawl or smoother than Morgan Freeman. Because... come awn.
Time Out
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This Southern drawl was just named America's most attractive accent
You're in Ireland and you sink into rapture at the lilt of the person telling you where to find the best traditional Irish music. Or you're in India enjoying the melodic tones of someone talking to you about Apollo Bunder. Then you come stateside and "pahk your cah" in Boston, MA or indulge in some classic Californian vocal fry, and you wonder how American accent could possibly sound sexy to people outside the country. But apparently some people do find our Yankee talk attractive, as evidenced by a recent survey from VegasSlotsOnline, which explores the regional accents that people find most appealing in celebrities and how that applies to how we feel about our accents in general. The researchers listened to audio clips of 50 celebrities talking and compared that to what scientists say is the most attractive pitch (96 Hz for men and 260-280 Hz for women, levels at which we "hear" warmth, depth and openness to being approached). Additionally, they surveyed people about their personal level of liking or disliking how an accent sounds. The report revealed that Americans in general prefer a British accent but when it comes to home territory, we prefer a Cajun accent from the South first, followed closely by a Long Island accent. The Cajun accent is what we often hear in Louisiana, an accent influenced by both French and Spanish speakers (think of New Orleans history), and if you're having trouble imagining what it sounds like, put on The Princess and the Frog movie and enjoy this smooth linguistic pattern. For a Long Island accent, you'll want to put on The Sopranos and channel suburban New Yorkers arguing about jewelry and leopard print leggings. It's an unmistakeable accent that draws attention to itself and is inarguably New Yorkian. The third most popular American accent is one from Mississippi. If you can create an auditory memory of the smooth, calm, deep tones of Morgan Freeman, you'll relax into the warmth of a Mississippi accent that feels like you can trust the person spinning the yarn. As the report points out, there is even an element of nostalgia for people listening to this accent. These are the most attractive American accents: 1. Cajun accent 2. Long Island accent 3. Mississippi accent 4. Florida accent and Pacific Northwest accent, tie 5. Maine accent 6. Appalachian accent 7. Boston accent and High Tider (Outer Banks of North Carolina) accent, tie 8. Louisiana accent and New England accent, tie 9. Staten Island accent 10. Philadelphia accent
NZ Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Listener weekly quiz: June 18
Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in the Shawshank Redemption (1994). Photo / Supplied Can you score 10 out of 10? Test your general knowledge with the Listener's weekly quiz. Share your score with friends, family and colleagues, and find out who has the sharpest mind.
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Where Legends Live On: Tom Brady's And Jim Gray's Hall Of Excellence In Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Jim Gray and Tom Brady attend Jim and Frann Gray in ... More Partnership with Tom Brady and The Tom Brady Family Collection Bring Hall of Excellence to Fontainebleau Las Vegas at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo byfor Fontainebleau Las Vegas) In a city built on spectacle, well-known legends just raised the bar on what it means to honor greatness. Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, iconic sports journalist Jim Gray and his wife Frann have joined forces to launch a one-of-a-kind experience inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. It is called the Hall of Excellence and it lives to its name. This Hall is not just a museum—it's a cathedral of greatness. Inside, you'll find the fingerprints of champions: Brady's Super Bowl rings, Muhammad Ali's gloves, Tiger Woods' golf ball from his first Masters win, equipment used by tennis legends like Billie Jean King and Serena Williams. But this Hall doesn't stop at the stadium gates. It pushes beyond the arena and into every corner of human achievement—with treasures like Oprah Winfrey's Presidential Medal of Freedom, Clint Eastwood's Academy Award, and artifacts from American presidents. Visitors can see all of this and more, while being guided through the museum with Morgan Freeman offering the narration. Brady offered some valuable insights on some of the items in the Hall that continue to impact him. 'There's something powerful about standing in front of Jackie Robinson's bat and understanding what that moment in history meant—not just for baseball, but for an entire country,' Brady said. 'Or seeing Oprah's Medal of Freedom and thinking about how she used her platform to lift others. And of course on the sports side, every artifact we have represents a symbol of what's possible.' ATLANTA, USA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady and his daughter Vivian Brady being interviewed by Jim Gray ... More after New England Patriots win in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams by the score of 13-03. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images) The Hall of Excellence is a place where the extraordinary isn't just displayed, it's felt. Jim Gray, whose voice and reporting have guided fans through some of sports' most memorable moments—from Ali to the Olympics—has always had an eye for greatness. But this, he told me, is something different. 'I got to see the work ethic and what it took to be great,' Gray said in an interview with Forbes. 'You can be great, but you're not always excellent.' Gray understands that great isn't the same as excellent. You can be great in a moment, but excellence is earned over a lifetime The idea of the Hall of Excellence first took root years ago, in a conversation Gray had with legendary Raiders owner Al Davis. From there, Gray started kicking around the concept of what it might look like to honor not just the athlete, but the excellence that defines the person behind the performance. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 31: (L-R) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, sportscaster Jim Gray ... More and Las Vegas Raiders owner and managing general partner and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis talk during halftime of a game between the Connecticut Sun and the Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 31, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sun 89-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) When Brady reflects on the Hall, he does not speak as an athlete, but as a student of excellence. What stood out to him wasn't just the names, but the mindset they shared. 'Whether they were on a stage, on a field, or changing lives through their leadership, the one thing they all had in common was an unrelenting drive to pursue greatness, not for recognition, but because they felt called to it,' Brady said. For Brady, that call to excellence has always been personal. 'My parents and sisters showed me what commitment looked like,' he said. 'I wasn't the most gifted athlete as a kid, far from it, but I was lucky to grow up surrounded by examples of what hard work and perseverance really meant. I saw my sisters wake up at dawn to chase their dreams. I saw my dad treat people with respect and integrity, no matter the situation.' Brady's family built the foundation that allowed him to pursue greatness, and, now, he's building one for others. 'This place isn't about fame or glory,' he said. 'It's about the journey behind the moment. It's a tribute to those who dared to dream big, who pushed through pain, doubt, and failure to create something extraordinary. If someone walks out thinking, 'I'm ready to chase my own version of excellence,' then we've done our job.' Now, that seed has grown into a legacy. Gray and Brady have worked with organizations and individuals across the sports world to curate the new museum, including several Halls of Fame, and he remains awestruck by the trust that icons have placed in the Hall of Excellence. 'They're trusting us with their most personal prized possessions,' he said. 'It's truly an honor that they have allowed us to do that.' With more than 40 million visitors passing through Las Vegas each year, the Hall of Excellence is poised to become more than just a destination. It just might spark a movement, a renewed commitment to excellence. 'I want this to be the greatest experience of its kind,' Gray told me. 'I want everybody to leave the Hall of Excellence feeling inspired by it. They get to relive their fondest memories, or teach their kids something and inspire them.' HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: After he finished his media duties and headed out of the room, New England ... More Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, shares a moment with sportscaster Jim Gray, right, with whom he did a radio interview weekly on Westwood One during Monday Night Football games this season. The New England Patriots had a media availability session at their team hotel, the JW Marriott Galleria in Houston, TX on Jan. 31, 2017. The Patriots face the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI in Houston on Sunday. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Brady agrees. For him, this is about legacy—not as a quarterback, but as a builder of belief. 'Every story in the Hall speaks to discipline, resilience, and a deep commitment to purpose,' he explained. 'These people didn't just have talent, they cultivated it with consistency and courage, especially when things got hard.' That's the kind of excellence that doesn't fade with time. That's the kind of excellence this Hall was built to honor. And if you're lucky enough to walk through its halls, you'll leave with more than memories. You'll leave with a treasure just as valuable as those displayed in the museum: the challenge to be excellent.
