Entertainment
Kate Hamill delivers a ‘feminist primal scream’ with her new play ‘The Light and the Dark’
The inspiration for Kate Hamill’s latest play came from across centuries and the planet.
The actor-playwright was honeymooning in Italy in 2020 when she walked into the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and spotted a painting by pioneering Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi created around 1620. The art immediately stirred more art.
“I was standing in front of this painting, just like crying and shaking for like 20 minutes. And then I was like, ‘I’m going to write a play about this woman,’” she says.
The result is “The Light and the Dark” — a Primary Stages production at 59E59 Theatres — which looks at the hard but inspiring life of Gentileschi, who created bold works despite a society keen on keeping her down. Hamill calls the play a “feminist primal scream.”
“I am disheartened by how extremely relevant this play is right now,” Hamill says. “Much of the same things that Artemisia Gentileschi was dealing with then are still true now.”
A symbol for courageous women
Gentileschi rebelled against the male-dominated art world — even using herself as a nude model — and has lately become a symbol of courageous women for testifying in court, even while being tortured, against a prominent painter who raped her. “Please don’t let her give up — she is a survivor,” Hamill writes in the play’s notes.
Hamill — consistently among the most produced playwrights in America — not only wrote the work, but she also stars as Gentileschi, nightly reliving the traumas and the betrayals but also the triumphs of her sister-in-art.
“It was important to me as a female artist to put my own body in the line of the service of a female artist who used the power of her body to say something,” she says.
“I felt like if what I need to do to get survivors’ stories heard is take off all my clothes and scream in the middle of off-Broadway, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
Painting of Judith influences play’s final speech
The painting in Italy that stirred so much in Hamill was Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes, which depicts the Biblical story of Judith, who saved her people by beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes.
It came at a time when Hamill was disheartened by #MeToo stories at home and wondered how — or even if — she could continue as a feminist playwright.
“I swear to you, I felt this woman reach through time and reach into that room and slap me up across the face and go ‘Snap out of it! You have a voice. You have privilege. You’re going to let those guys beat you? Get louder, get bolder!’”
Kareena Kapoor paid a special tribute to her grandfather Raj Kapoor during IIFA 2025 with an incredible performance on his popular song ‘Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua’ from his film, “Shree 420”.
In addition to this, Kareena also gave a memorable performance on another one of Raj Kapoor’s songs from “Shree 420, “Mera Joota Hai Japani”.
From the costumes to the expressions, Kareena’s performance is everything we hoped for.
Both these performances have been dropped by IIFA on their official IG account.
Previously, talking about her IIFA performance, the ‘Jab We Met’ actress called it “especially close to my heart”.
Elated to return to the IIFA stage, Kareena released a statement that read, “Celebrating Indian Cinema’s Global Triumph in the Heart of Jaipur, I’m excited to be returning to the IIFA stage after many years, and what better time than for their Silver Jubilee Edition.
“In a sense, IIFA’s journey and mine have almost run parallel – we’re celebrating 25 years together in the cinema.
“This performance is especially close to my heart as it pays tribute to my legendary grandfather, Raj Kapoor, whose 100th birth anniversary was recently celebrated across the country with so much love.
“It’s a surreal moment for me to be able to connect these dots and be a part of this celebration of legacy, family, and the enduring power of cinema.”
Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, will host a new weekly podcast series starting this month featuring a special guest pulled from the world of entertainment, sports, health and business.
“IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson” will address “everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us,” according to a press release. IMO is slang for “in my opinion.”
Some of the guests slated to speak to the former first lady and Robinson, the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, include the actors Issa Rae and Keke Palmer and psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik.
Other guests include filmmakers Seth and Lauren Rogan; soccer star Abby Wambach; authors Jay Shetty, Glennon Doyle and Logan Ury; editor Elaine Welteroth; radio personality Angie Martinez; media mogul Tyler Perry; actor Tracee Ellis Ross; husband-and-wife athlete and actor Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union; and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.
The first two episodes — the first is an introductory one and the second features Rae — will premiere on March 12. New episodes will be released weekly and will be available on all audio platforms and YouTube.’
“With everything going on in the world, we’re all looking for answers and people to turn to,” Obama said in a statement. “There is no single way to deal with the challenges we may be facing — whether it’s family, faith, or our personal relationships — but taking the time to open up and talk about these issues can provide hope.”
Obama has had two other podcasts — “The Michelle Obama Podcast” in 2020 and another in 2023, “The Light We Carry.” Her husband, Barack Obama, offered a series of conversations about American life between him and Bruce Springsteen.
The new podcast is a production of Higher Ground, the media company founded in 2018 by the former president and first lady.
International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA 2025), which was held in Jaipur, concluded on a magical note courtesy of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
He showed up on the stage in style and left everyone awestruck with his performance on tracks ranging from Chaiyya Chaiyya and Lungi Dance to Jhoome Jo Pathaan, and Shava Shava among others.
To make the night more memorable and nostalgic for the audience in Jaipur, he also shook a leg with his Dil To Pagal Hai co-star Madhuri Dixit Nene.
The duo relived their old days by grooving to Koi Ladki Hai from the 1997 hit Dil To Pagal Hai, evoking cheers from the crowd.
His entry was as grand as ever. Right before he appeared on the stage, several drones lit up the sky in Jaipur, taking the shape of Shah Rukh Khan’s name, his signature pose, and a crown.
Before hitting the stage, Shah Rukh made an appearance on the green carpet.
Dressed in a sleek all-black outfit, he was seen greeting paparazzi and fans.
While walking the green carpet, he also bumped into singer Shreya Ghoshal. The two shared a hug and posed for the cameras.
Keys survives Mertens to reach Indian Wells fourth round
Resilient Gauff shakes off nerves against Sakkari to advance at Indian Wells
Alcaraz rolls into Indian Wells fourth round
-
Business2 months agoFinance Minister Aurangzeb discusses bilateral cooperation with Japanese envoy
-
Entertainment3 months agoBlake Lively accuses ‘It Ends With Us’ director Justin Baldoni of harassment and smear campaign
-
Sports3 months agoSouthampton set to sign Juric as new manager
-
pakistan2 months agoSC additional registrar submits response to show-cause notice in contempt case
-
Entertainment3 months agoStill rockin’: As a singer turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple
-
pakistan3 months agoKhalid Maqbool calls on Interior Minister Naqvi to discuss overall political situation
-
Sports3 months agoInter reach Coppa Italia quarter-finals with 2-0 win over Udinese
-
Sports3 months agoChiefs win 9th straight AFC West title, beating Chargers 19-17 on bank-shot field goal