The Culture Show Podcast

Mfoniso Udofia. Frustrated as an actor when she didn’t see roles reflecting her or her reality, she picked up the pen, and never let go.

In total she wrote a nine-play cycle chronicling three generations of a Nigerian-American family. Now a coalition of local theaters and arts organizations are putting on  a two-year festival celebrating and producing these works.

Then, it’s a casting conundrum. In 2008 Sean Penn played the openly gay politician Harvey Milk, and won an oscar. Today he says  that a  “timid and artless” climate makes it impossible for him to  play a gay role today.

Finally, it’s follow-up Friday, where we update you on the stories we’ve been tracking, which includes the sisterhood of the traveling museum exhibit that’s skirting a gender discrimination suit.