The Wheelock Family Theatre brings new life to “Annie,” the classic musical rooted in the 1924 comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.” Set against Depression-era New York, the show blends breadlines, political intrigue, and a young girl’s unwavering belief in “tomorrow.” Featuring Sky Vaux Fuller as Annie and De’Lon Grant as Oliver Warbucks, they join us to talk about how this production explores resilience, hope, and what it means to rise to the moment. “Annie” is onstage through December 21. To learn more go here.

At the Native Plant Trust in Wayland, more than 10 million seeds from rare and endangered New England plants are now preserved—an unprecedented milestone for the nation’s oldest native-plant conservation organization. Sourced from meadows, wetlands, shorelines, mountain slopes, and even military training grounds, these seeds safeguard biodiversity against development, invasive species, and climate threats. Director of horticulture Uli Lorimer joins the show to discuss how this growing seed bank helps protect the region’s ecological future. Uli Lorimer is the author of “The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden.”

Culture Show contributor and independent Curator Pedro Alonzo takes us inside the museums of Glasgow and the transformed Frick Collection in New York. After a five-year, $330 million renovation, the Frick has reopened with expanded galleries, restored architectural splendor, and unexpectedly intimate encounters with masterpieces by Vermeer and Rembrandt. Alonzo shares how these spaces balance tradition and reinvention—and what visitors can expect from their renewed cultural impact.

We continue our “Countdown to 2026” series with a preview of next July’s Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. It will headline the Commonwealth’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Boston Symphony Orchestra Julian and Eunice Cohen President and CEO Chad Smith join us to talk about what this expanded Fourth of July tradition will mean for the Esplanade and beyond.

Frank Gehry, who died at 96, was one of the most influential architects of his generation, responsible for landmarks like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and MIT’s Stata Center. Boston Architectural College president Mahesh Daas joins us to reflect on Gehry’s legacy and how his sculptural buildings changed the conversation around architecture. Mahesh Daas is the author of four books including “Towards A Robotic Architecture” and “I, Nobot,” a graphic novella exploring relationships among artificial intelligence, robotics, and cities.

Martin Puryear, one of the most important American sculptors — and one of the most significant Black sculptors working today — is known for large, hand-built forms in wood, metal, and wire. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s exhibition, “Martin Puryear: Nexus” gathers major works from six decades. Ian Alteveer, Beal Family Chair, Department of Contemporary Art, joins The Culture Show for an overview. “Martin Puryear: Nexus” is on view through February 8, 2026, to learn more go here.

Patti Smith, National Book Award–winning author of “Just Kids,” joins The Culture Show to discuss her latest memoir, “Bread of Angels.” The book traces her imaginative postwar childhood, her life with Fred “Sonic” Smith, and the years of loss and renewal that shaped her return to writing and performance. She appears at The Chevalier Theatre on December 17 for a Brookline Booksmith event exploring the new work. To learn more go here.

Susan WIlson, the official house historian of the Omni Parker House, takes us inside Charles Dickens’s remarkable 1867 residency at Boston’s Omni Parker House — the hotel where he rehearsed, wrote, and prepared for readings that sent the city into a literary fervor. She traces how Boston became a temporary home for Dickens and why “A Christmas Carol" still resonates here during the holidays. If you want the full Dickens experience this holiday season, Crescendo Productions is presenting a “A Christmas Carol,” at the Omni Parker house December 19th -December 21st. To learn more go here

Boston-based Americana country artist Elisa Smith recently earned a Josie Music Award for Female Song of the Year for “Nashville Don’t Forget Me,” an honor presented at the Grand Ole Opry. She joins the show to talk about the new recognition and her forthcoming album, “Perfume,” which will be released this spring with a portion of proceeds supporting Rosie’s Place. To learn more go here.