Hamilton at DPAC Is Not Just a Must-See Musical, It Is a Cultural Phenomenon!
Regardless of the acting team, the next time Hamilton comes to Durham, you should take your (older) kids for a special night out, including dinner (there are many affordable options). This is the article I wrote for the Triangle Review about my experience going to Hamilton the last time they came to Durham (in 2022).
Joshua Thompson and Symoné Spencer Win 2022 Triangle Rising Stars Acting Honors
When I was given the opportunity to review this year's in-person Triangle Rising Stars Showcase and Awards program on Wednesday, May 11th, at the Durham Performing Arts Center, I knew immediately that I had to go. American Idol Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken hosted the event, which featured performances by 2021 TRS Best Actor Joshua Messmore and 2021 TRS Best Actress and 2021 Jimmy® Awards best-actress-award winner Elena Holder.
PlayMakers Rep's Production of August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned, Starring Samuel Ray Gates, Is a Gift to Triangle Theatergoers
I would listen for two hours to someone reading August Wilson (1945-2005) aloud while sitting in a chair. But to see his writings performed in a one-person play, as if the actor were August Wilson himself? That is a real gift…
2Cellos Continue to Entertain and Inspire (with Matt Simons and friends) at the DPAC this Week
This article was published by Triangle Review on April 8, 2022. My first son discovered 2Cellos when he was twelve; and his first “real” concert was the 2Cellos concert at the Durham Performing Arts Center. This year, the 2Cellos performance at the DPAC was his little brother’s first concert experience, which was even more momentous because it’s the 2Cellos last tour together...
A Wrinkle in Time at PlayMakers Rep Is a Worthwhile Family Excursion
This review first appeared in Triangle Review on 4 April 2022. Given its metaphorical construct and how the setting moves across space and time, I wondered whether the book, A Wrinkle in Time, could be successfully transformed into a play. Thanks to this review, I got to find out :-) .
Postcards from Ireland Featured Three Superb Singers and a Fiddle-Playing Sprite
For the Durham Performing Arts Center's Wednesday, March 16th, presentation of Celtic Woman: Postcards from Ireland, my fellow audience members -- who did not have to wear masks after showing vaccination cards and photo IDs at the door -- ranged from 8 to 80 years old and reflected not only the diversity of Durham, NC, but the diverse population that has come to appreciate traditional Irish music and its modern influence.
DPAC's March 20th STEM-Based Wow in the World Pop-Up Party: Laboratory of Bad Ideas LIVE! Interactive Variety Show Was Entertaining and Educational
The Sunday, March 20th, performance of the Wow in the World Pop-Up Party: Laboratory of Bad Ideas at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) is the first children's-theater show that I've attended since I first heard the words "Covid Nineteen." From the well-dressed young families running down Blackwell Street and the lack of parking, it looked like it was going to be sold out…
Grace and Mercy at UNC’s Memorial Hall
Although more than 200 Confederate monuments have been removed across the country since 2019, the slabs of Confederate names in UNC's Memorial Hall still stand, rendering the Carolina Performing Arts ' presentation of Grace and Mercy an act of justice in and of itself.
All or None (Parents, Cut Yourselves Some Slack)
This article was first published by the News and Observer in February, 2012. When people say, “It goes by so fast,” I usually respond, “If only it weren’t all or none.” If only we could stretch these early years to double their duration and half their intensity. It’s wonderful, but it isn’t easy. And we parents shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves.
Lydia R. Diamond’s Stick Fly at Playmaker’s Rep is Thought Provoking and Entertaining
Stick fly is perhaps Lydia R. Diamond’s most well-known play among New York audiences, thanks to its 2011-12 Broadway Season produced by singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. But how does this play about an affluent African American family on Martha’s Vineyard stand up 10 years later, during a pandemic, and in the state of North Carolina? Quite well, going by Playmaker’s Repertory Company’s current production…
Edelweiss and Remembering for Both of Us (ReadAloud)
Years after the book's release, Charlotte continues her involvement in improving our understanding and communication about Alzheimer's Disease, which her husband suffered before his passing. Remembering for Both of Us is *the* book to give a child (or a parent or grandparent) who has a family member suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia. Every physician/counselor in the field should have a copy of this book in their waiting room.
What Exactly Do I Stand For
In April, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency calculated that fifty-five percent of monitored waterways in the United States are impaired by pollution, meaning they are too polluted for healthy recreation, public drinking water and subsistence fishing. Twenty-five percent of the nation’s beaches are under advisories or closed at least once per year due to water pollution.
Visit Pilot Mountain. Stay at Jomeokee Campground (even if it's just for the day).
Jomeokee Campground in Pinnacle, NC, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever spent the night (and I have camped throughout the US, Australia, and New Zealand). I encourage you to visit and camp (if you are up for it), particularly during the week when you may have the entire grounds to yourselves.
Halgo European Deli and Groceries
“After providing a uniquely Polish experience in Durham, NC, for 12 years, Halgo European Deli has closed it’s doors. In memoriam, I’m reposting my review of them back in 2017. I’m sad not to be able to go through their doors again.”
Citizens Must Demand Transparency
…Jim Wise’s “Curious Eye” toward Durham County’s disappearing transparency (Durham News, Mar. 7) shouldn’t be taken lightly. The backroom dealings could set a dangerous precedent for NC, especially Triangle jurisdicSons and Jordan Lake. Let me elaborate.…
Keeping it Cool in Durham
… Given the positive feedback I received regarding my previous article on family-friendly outdoor activities for Durhamites and the record temperatures we’ve already encountered this summer, I submit part two of this series: Indoor Kid-Friendly Activities for Budget-Strapped Durhamites .…
Fun Places for Kids
… After my last column, several people requested information about places and programs for young kids in the Triangle. I could write a book on this, but given the great spring weather I’ll concentrate on outdoors..…
My Video Game Addiction (Part 1)
Do you or anyone in your family play Plants versus Zombies on Xbox? If not, keep reading. If so, I have a couple questions for ya: Do you prefer to play as Plants or as Zombies? And which character is your favorite? Why am I asking you these questions? Because I am a PvZ addict…