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Musicians and theater producers reach a tentative agreement to end a strike that shut down almost all of Broadway's musicals. The dispute centered on what the minimum size of musical orchestras should be. NPR's Bob Edwards talks to Jeff Lunden of member station WNYC.

A sewing circle made up of refugee women from around the world has been meeting regularly in Portland, Ore., for 3 years. The women gather to share techniques, stories, and support each other as they adjust to life in the U.S. At the latest meeting, in the backroom of a public library, a few of them discussed their feelings about the war in Iraq with NPR's Ketzel Levine.

Columnist Arianna Huffington first emerged as a GOP Senate candidate's charming wife. Now she's an ex-Republican who has moved to the left. She bashes SUVs and uses her new book Pigs at the Trough to lash out at corporate abuse. Huffington talks to NPR's Steve Inskeep.

In the new film Assassination Tango, actor Robert Duvall steps behind the camera as writer and director. Duvall also steps onto the dance floor; he plays an assassin living in Argentina who wants to learn how to tango. NPR's Bob Mondello reports.

Hitler's secretary recalls the dictator's final days in Blind Spot, a minimalist documentary from Germany. After wide acclaim at Berlin Film Festival attendees a year ago, it's finally opening in U.S. theaters. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan offers a review.

This year's Oscar nominations offer evidence that independent films are helping change the mainstream in Hollywood. One example is Chris Cooper, nominated for his supporting role in Adaptation. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and Weekend Edition entertainment commentator Elvis Mitchell.

Deanna Witkowski draws on a variety of influences — from Chopin to Cole Porter to a relatively unknown Brazilian rhythm called baião. It's no wonder the pianist finds her music going in different directions — sometimes within the same song — as in her "Wide Open Window." Hear Liane Hansen's performance chat with Witkowski in NPR's Studio 4A.

Director Antoine Fuqua's new film, Tears of the Sun, focuses on atrocities in Africa. It's not a typical neighborhood for Hollywood to visit. But Fuqua peers into the shadows and emerges with a plea: "Try to help." He discusses the film with NPR's Liane Hansen.

The Chicago quartet The Sea and Cake uses rock band elements to evoke open spaces in much the same way Aaron Copland did with orchestras. Tom Moon of the Philadelphia Inquirer reviews the group's latest release, One Bedroom.

Avant-garde filmmaker Stan Brakhage's death at age 70 ends a career that made a lasting impact on fellow directors. Brakhage made nearly 400 films, most silent, many quite short. He sought to reflect "every kind of seeing" on film. NPR's Pat Dowell reports.