Debra Messing in 'Birthday Candles,' Natasha Lyonne on Season 2 of 'Russian Doll,' James McAvoy Stars in 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' Karen Duffy on Her New Book

Debra Messing stars in "Birthday Candles," a new play from Noah Haidle that tells the story of one woman's life over the course of a series of birthdays, from her 17th to her very last. And, a cake is baked... on stage. Messing joins us to discuss her role as Ernestine. "Birthday Candles" is running at the American Airlines Theater through May 29th.

Season 2 of "Russian Doll"? What a concept! The hugely anticipated sophomore season of the hit Netflix series premieres on April 20, and we are joined by co-creator, writer, and star of the series Natasha Lyonne, who plays Nadia, a woman who has just managed to escape a time loop that kept her trapped on her 36th birthday. The second season opens just days before Nadia's 40th birthday... where another strange happening is about to occur.

James McAvoy is receiving rave reviews for his intense take on Cyrano in the new adaptation running at BAM. He joins us to discuss the production, which is written entirely in verse, rap, and spoken word. "Cyrano de Bergerac" is running at BAM through May 22nd.

Former MTV VJ Karen Duffy shares some life advice in her new book, Wise Up: Irreverent Enlightenment from a Mother Who's Been Through It. Told through a series of letters with guidance on living a meaningful life, Duffy shares how she embraced stoicism to raise a cool kid in New York, find happiness in small spaces, and not let debilitating illness and chronic pain steal her life.