“Alfie” Directed By Charles Shyer Paramount Pictures Charles Shyer’s remake of the 1966 classic “Alfie,” starring Michael Caine, relocates the action from swinging 1960s London to modern-day Manhattan and chronicles the escapades of a cheeky cockney heartbreaker. Read more...

When Sarah Kane committed suicide in 1999, she was considered to be the “most prominent young playwright in Britain,” according to famed Royal Court director James McDonald. Read more...

Although today’s America strives for gender equality in all areas of professionalism, it cannot be denied that it’s still largely a man’s world. But women are making advances and earning respect in playwriting, at least. Read more...

While violin virtuoso Dr. Lakshiminarayana Subramaniam is known for his experimental fusion of music from cultures across the globe, his roots are in south Indian classical music. Read more...

Exactly a week ago, I saw Alexander Payne’s “Sideways,” which opened with exceptionally rave reviews ““ mostly because it’s a great film, and partly because movie critics are old people who identify all too painfully with its themes of mid-life insecurities. Read more...

Unfortunately, Hermeto Pascoal, the father figure of Brazilian jazz, doesn’t speak any English. Could a translator’s words accurately convey his personality? They didn’t have to. The 68-year-old songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who Miles Davis once called “the world’s most impressive musician” can communicate better with music instead. Read more...

Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation” might not have been the ultimate victor in last year’s Oscar race for Best Picture, but it still managed to stand out for one unique reason: Both written and directed by Coppola, the film’s screenplay was the only one of its five fellow Best Picture nominees that was not based on a book. Read more...