This article describes how music was used to signal and entertain soldiers during the American Revolution, including General Washington himself.
Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment
Students learning English perform Shakespeare play
Deciphering Shakespeare can be challenging for readers at all levels. However, these students are mastering English language skills by preforming an entire Shakespeare play!
How realistic are movie dinosaurs?
Many of us love the Jurassic Park movies, including real-life paleontologist Matt Lamanna. Listen, or read the transcript, to learn from a dino expert which details are scientific fact, and which ones are pure movie magic.
Marian Anderson and the Concert at the Lincoln Memorial
Learn how the voice of Marian Anderson made a lasting impact in the history of music and Civil Rights.
Why Lego Isn’t (Just) a Toy Company
Twenty-five years ago, Lego was losing $300-million annually and nearly went bankrupt. Plagued by a history of rigid, inflexible control, Lego refused to do partnerships, tried to stop fan creators, had a toy line consumers felt was stale and out-of-date, and was facing unprecedented competition for the attention of their users due to more modern toys—like home video game systems.
It wouldn’t stay that way.
Watch this video to learn how Lego finally learned to listen to its fans, signed its first partnerships, won over adults, innovated its products, and expanded its empire into TV, movies, video games, comic books, theme parks, and more—allowing it to rapidly become the biggest-selling, most profitable toy company on the entire planet.
Work exposes timber floor ‘stood on by Shakespeare’
The floor of St George’s Guildhall, strolled on by actors and theatergoers for centuries, reveals information about how people in Shakespeare’s day spent their time at the theater.
Understanding Arabic Music
Music is an essential part of life and culture around the world. Learn about Arabic music and what makes it unique.
Anne Frank’s hidden home, now in Manhattan
This exhibit recreates the Annex where Anne Frank took refuge and wrote down her thoughts, introducing her story to a new generation of readers.
Viral AI-made art trends are making artists even more worried about their futures
| More and more people are using AI programs to generate images quickly and cheaply, sparking a heated debate about the value of human creativity versus machine-made art. |
Rare Copy of Famous Shakespeare Love Poem Found
Could one of the world’s most celebrated love poems actually be about politics? A discovery, made in the depths of the Oxford library, sheds light on the history behind Sonnet 116.
What Happened to the Real Von Trapp Family from The Sound of Music?
Many people have heard of the 1965 hit film “The Sound of Music.” However, most don’t know the story of the real von Trapp family, or how they came to America.
The Brutalist honours my family’s hardships and loss, says actor Adrien Brody
Find out how starring in “The Brutalist” allows actor Adrien Brody to connect with his own family history.
Moana 2’s’ Auliʻi Cravalho’s multicultural heritage reflects Hawaii’s rich history
| Moana is back for another adventure, but this time, the story goes beyond the ocean; it’s a celebration of multicultural heritage and Hawaiian history. Auli‘i Cravalho, the voice behind Moana, is using her platform to highlight the rich cultures that inspired the beloved character. |
What Scares a Master of Fear?
R.L. Stine, the award-winning and best-selling author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series of books (as well as many episodes of their respective spin-off TV shows), writes an essay answering the questions that he gets asked the most: “What scares you? What are you afraid of?”
Rebuilding the Globe
The reconstructed Globe Theatre, completed in the 1990’s serves as a living tool to explore how Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed and experienced.
‘Wicked’ star Marissa Bode calls out ‘harmful’ ableist comments about her character’s disability
After delivering an outstanding performance in the “Wicked” movie, actor Marissa Bode addressed ableist comments that many people with disabilities face every day.
In Victorian England, Ghost Stories Were a Beloved Christmas Tradition
“Christmas traditions are abundant, from hanging stockings to leaving milk and cookies out for Santa. They’re all fairly wholesome, too. But in Victorian England, Christmas was an opportunity to exchange gruesome stories of ghosts, evil spirits, and people gone mad.”
30 New Year’s Superstitions to Bring You Good Luck in 2025
If you’re looking for a few extra ways to cultivate good fortune for 2025, check out this list of New Year’s Eve superstitions that includes customs from across the globe. Make like the Danes and jump off a chair, wake to see the run rise like they do in Japan, or eat twelve grapes (no more, no less) at midnight, just as they do in Spain. This list will give you many good ideas for your celebrations!
“Yankee Doodle” – Traditional: History of an American folk song
British soldiers sang “Yankee Doodle” to mock the Americans, who eventually turned the song into a source of pride and anthem of their own.
Beowulf Is Back!
The daring exploits of a legendary hero have captured human imagination for centuries. Read about why Beowulf stays with us.