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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Arts

(Henry Bayha for WSN)

Review: ‘American Sublime’ at the Whitney responds to the Trump era

Amy Sherald’s first major museum show is on view in New York City until Aug. 10.
Eloise Maguire, Contributing Writer April 23, 2025

(Courtesy of The Wrecks)

Review: The Wrecks’ ‘INSIDE:’ is perfectly heartbreaking and upbeat

The indie band intrigues listeners by releasing the first half of a larger upcoming musical project.
Caia Cupolo, Contributing Writer April 23, 2025

The Wrecks’ last record was a cathartic breakup album, but after three years of writing, its newest project is far more introspective. The band’s new EP “INSIDE:” is the...

(Courtesy of Bleecker Street)

Review: ‘The Wedding Banquet’ subverts farcical formulas with a fruity, modern twist

In Andrew Ahn’s reimagining of the classic Ang Lee film, four LGBTQ+ friends find that marriage isn’t the solution to all their problems.
Ethan Li, Deputy Copy Chief April 22, 2025

The sound of Chinese drums beating opens Andrew Ahn’s film, “The Wedding Banquet.” A lion dancer appears, expertly moving with tradition and care. Then, in a shocking twist,...

(Daniel Yee for WSN)

Remembering William Finn: Finding joy in pain, at NYU and on Broadway

The composer-lyricist and Tisch professor was widely known for the award-winning Broadway musical “Falsettos” and nurturing young writers.
Ethan Li and Ella Sabrina Malabanan April 22, 2025

“The living was the prize / The ending’s not the story / Just saying my goodbyes” — William Finn, from “Elegies: A Song Cycle.” The theater community lost a treasured...

(Courtesy of Amanda Eisenberg)

NYU professor and journalist speaks about her new feminist novel

Amanda Eisenberg’s health care and political coverage informed and influenced her fiction debut.
Eleanor Jacobs, Music Editor April 22, 2025

Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of sexual assault. With the same learned tone she takes to describe her written coverage of political wrongdoing and disease, journalist,...

(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)

Books beyond Bobst: A conversation between Kublai Khan and Marco Polo, a Russian classic and more

Books beyond Bobst is a book-rec column highlighting what NYU students are reading now, outside of their classes. If you’re in need of a new read, look no further.

“Invisible Cities” by Italo Calvino  — Alexa Donovan, Arts Editor  “Cities, like dreams, are made of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse...

(Allina Xiao for WSN)

10 thought-provoking poems for National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, so here are some of our favorite lines of poetry to close out the month.

Poetry is a space to experiment with language — communications through this medium enables deeper emotional expression. This National Poetry Month, if you are looking to be inspired,...

(Courtesy of Marc Brenner)

Review: Sarah Snook redefines live theater in ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’

The literary classic goes digital in Broadway’s newest masterpiece.
Amelia Knust, Staff Writer April 18, 2025

One woman, 26 characters and two uninterrupted hours of awe. This is exactly what hundreds of theatergoers flock to at the Music Box Theatre. Kip Williams’ newest theatrical...

(Courtesy of Matthew Murphy)

Review: ‘Smash’ makes a messy TV show even worse

The new Broadway adaptation of the 2012 NBC series struggles with the transition from screen to stage.
Ella Sabrina Malabanan, Deputy Copy Chief April 18, 2025

NBC’s 2012 series “Smash” is the ultimate guilty pleasure. Even though it is often described as a hate-watch, the show’s phenomenal original music by “Hairspray” composer-lyricists...

(Courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films)

‘The Shrouds’ and grieving in the digital age

David Cronenberg’s latest is a poignant portrait of traumatic personal loss in the 21st century, now screening at Film at Lincoln Center and Angelika Film Center.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer April 18, 2025

In the opening of David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds,” we find Vincent Cassel’s Karsh — a grieving tech mogul fashioned in a similar style to the film’s director — lying...

(Courtesy of Bernard Walsh)

Review: ‘Drop’ drops the ball

A promising concept is completely squandered in this dull, forgettable thriller.
Chloe Haack, Staff Writer April 17, 2025

“Drop” arrives with a premise tailor-made for our digitally anxious age: a bootleg AirDrop app called DigiDrop that allows anonymous users to send messages — first playful,...

(Courtesy of Devin Derose)

Q&A: For queer Christians, indie artist Semler is bringing a great awakening

Blending gay pop and contemporary Christian music on their debut album, this musician is growing a fanbase of faithful outcasts.
Monique Ezeh, Contributing Writer April 17, 2025

For Grace Baldridge, better known as Semler, performing in concerts evokes feelings of both church-camp worship services and hazy house parties. Audience members harmonizing feels...