Highlights Archive

WXXI Classical Presents… Flower Drum Song

Join WXXI Classical for a screening of Flower Drum Song, the first feature film in American history to feature a majority Asian cast.

WXXI Classical Presents… Flower Drum Song screens Saturday, May 2 at 3 p.m. at The Little Theatre. It will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by WXXI’s Steve Johnson.

Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1950s, the story follows four young lovers: an undocumented immigrant, a cabaret performer, the cabaret’s owner, and a 20-something trying to forge his own path while respecting his parents’ more traditional views. As they pursue romance, they uncover the many layers of their Asian-American identities.

Add to the mix a memorable soundtrack by Broadway legends Rodgers and Hammerstein—including classics like “Love Look Away,” “You Are Beautiful,” and “I Enjoy Being a Girl”—and you’re sure to enjoy this landmark production in Asian American history!

Click here to purchase tickets!

WXXI Classical Presents is a series of films that are related to classical music in some way, co-produced by WXXI Classical and The Little Theatre. Selected by classical music hosts Brenda Tremblay, Mona Seghatoleslami, and Steve Johnson each film chosen exemplifies the power of music in an exciting or non-traditional narrative way. More details about the WXXI Classical Presents Series

Asian American profiles • WXXI News

Racquel Stephen, WXXI News Health, equity and community reporter, profiles Asian Americans in the Rochester area who are making an impact in our community. Links will be added here as stories are posted. Visit WXXINews.org.

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

Corky Lee’s epic quest to document Asian American history, culture, and activism. (55m 5s)

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story airs Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Using his camera as a “weapon against injustice,” Chinese American photographer Corky Lee’s art is his activism. His unforgettable images of Asian American life empowered generations. This film’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens.

Finding Your Roots “Far From Home” • WXXI-TV

Jamie Chung, Cyndi Lauper, and Danny Trejo uncover the stories of their immigrant ancestors.

Finding Your Roots “Far From Home” airs Sunday, May 17 at 11:30 a.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of pop icon Cyndi Lauper and actors Jamie Chung and Danny Trejo, exploring records in Italy, Korea, and Mexico to uncover ancestors whose stories were lost when their families immigrated to America.

My Music with Rhiannon Giddens “Haruka Fujii” • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

Rhiannon and Japanese percussionist Haruka Fujii perform and chat.

My Music with Rhiannon Giddens “Haruka Fujii” airs Saturday, May 25 at 11:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Japanese percussionist Haruka Fujii talks with Rhiannon about the surprising history of the marimba in Japan and her own mission to spread the beauty of Japanese music to diverse audiences. They discuss Silkroad’s “American Railroad” project, and the episode ends with a performance of Fujii’s original composition “Tamping Song.”

Independent Lens “Third Act” • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

A filmmaker honors his father’s legacy of art, activism, and resilience across generations.

Independent Lens “Third Act” airs Monday, May 25 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Generations call Robert A. Nakamura the godfather of Asian American film. Tadashi Nakamura calls him Dad. Tadashi turns the camera on his father as they confront art, activism, and aging. From WWII incarceration to cultural awakening and a Parkinson’s diagnosis, Third Act is a tender portrait of legacy, inherited trauma, and the final chapter of a shared creative life.

Independent Lens “Light of the Setting Sun” • WXXI-TV + Streams Live on the PBS App

A filmmaker confronts her Chinese family’s trauma and questions whether the cycle can end.

Independent Lens “Light of the Setting Sun” airs Monday, May 18 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

A Chinese family’s multigenerational trauma unfolds across time, place, and identity. Turning the camera inward, filmmaker Vicky Du traces her family’s mental illness back to the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949. Spanning Taipei, Taiwan, and New Jersey, Light of the Setting Sun explores identity, gender roles, and whether healing can break the cycle for future generations.

Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow • WXXI-TV + The PBS app

Tom “Papa”’ Ray, DJ, musician, and owner of St. Louis’s Vintage Vinyl, visits record stores around the U.S. and the world, interviewing other indie store owners, musicians of all genres, and customers/music lovers.

Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow airs Thursday, May 7 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps. Repeats

WXXI brings you this 6-part series — all in one night — with back-to-back episodes. We kick off the night at 8 p.m. with the Rochester episode, where Papa stops at the Record Archive to talk with owner Richard Storms, House of Guitars to chat with co-founder Armand Schaubroeck, and Bop Shop Records to visit owner Tom Kohn.

The Rochester episode is followed by:

8:30pm Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow Chicago Papa heads to the Windy City stopping by Dusty Grooves, Shuga’s, Out Of The Past, and a store that really beckons to the past, Beverly’s.

9:00pm Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow Blues for the 21st Century American music is heavily laced with the DNA of The Blues. That was the case one hundred years ago and that’s the case now in the 21st Century. Clarksdale, Mississippi is ground zero.

9:30pm Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow Memphis Papa visits Memphis Records on the famous Beale Street, Shangri La Records, as well as Goner Records.

10:00pm Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow Florida Next stop Daddy Kool Records, Banana Records, Sweat Records, Yesterday & Today Records, and Technique Records.

10:30pm Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow Jamaica The crew heads to Kingston to check out the vibe and where things are going in the home of ska, roots, reggae, and dancehall. They visit Rockers International Records, Derrick Harriott’s Record Shop,and Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong International Distribution.

Series repeats Saturday, May 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.