Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods Might Be Too Much of a Good Thing for Some Young Theatergoers
As the sun set and the odd bat or two flew across the clearing above the historic Forest Hills (outdoor amphi-) Theatre in Chapel Hill, NC, it was clear that director Melissa S. Craib Dombrowski and the folks at Stone Soup Theatre Co had chosen the perfect venue for their production of Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim's 1987 Broadway and 1990 West End musical, with a book by James Lapine…
Theme Song Today: Sylvan Esso’s Free
When I first heard it, I wasn’t overly impressed by the style of Sylvan Esso’s song Free. But when I read the lyrics, Amelia Meath’s casual humming, sing-song vocals made beautiful sense. It’s easy to imagine that she’s a little girl singing to herself, though with more knowledge than a little girl should have…
OdysseyStage 10✖10: Homegrown Talent Knocked My Socks Off
TONIGHT is the last show of 2022 OdysseyStage 10✖10: Homegrown Talent, presented by OdysseyStage Theatre at the Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd., in Chapel Hill, NC. I suggest you register for your FREE tickets right now and leave the $20 suggested donation at the door, because last night kinda knocked my socks off.
Playmakers Provokes Relevant Conversations and Showcases Superior Talents in Blues for an Alabama Sky
If you are looking for a play that will provoke relevant conversations with adolescents in your family, Blues for an Alabama Sky is a good place to start. You will also appreciate the play's references to prominent black personages during the time of the play, including Langston Hughes (1902-67) --
How to Stay Fit as a Traveling Professional
Working on just one of these practices is a worthwhile endeavor, whether your work life involves traveling or not. But traveling for work exposes you to unhealthy things at every turn, and you can find yourself working more than caring for your own physical and mental health. It’s time to break the cycle. Setting these good habits now will not only improve your health, it will improve your job (and life) satisfaction.
Paperhand Puppet Intervention's 2022 Summer Show, The Meanwhile Clock and Other Impossible Dances, Is Like a Pilgrimage to a Corroboree
Going to a Paperhand Puppet Intervention performance is like pilgrimaging to a Australian aboriginal corroboree, where magical ceremonies teach ancestral truths, pulling everyone present into the community. And it's all the more impactful when it occurs in a ruins-like amphitheater in a forest in the heat of a late-summer sunset…
Drunken Lament
I wrote this poem after a conversation with a new friend who introduced himself as an alcoholic and then offered me a beer.
Theme Song(s) Today: Jason Isbell and Amanda Shire’s Tiny Desk Concert
If you haven’t heard Jason Isbell’s music, you should. This article contains the link to his Tiny Desk (NPR) performance, which is particularly special because his wife no longer tours with him now that they are raising a family. #ThemeSong
Four-Wheeled Litmus Test
… Pedestrians in Northern Virginia and DC stopped to tell us they liked the van. In New Jersey, drivers in one suburb would smile and wave, while those in an immediately adjacent suburb would grimace with condescension. Massachusetts residents were generally unimpressed; my brother-in-law thought the van looked stupid, and his teenage son preferred it wasn’t parked in front of their house…
Hurricanes, (Re)Construction, Rip Tides, and Drowning- When Will We Learn?
In the wake of Hurricane Florence, one question plagues me (again): Are we going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in FEMA and other public emergency funds to rebuild homes along the hurricane-battered coast, only so we can do it all over again when the next hurricane/tornado hits? Or will we…
Florida Oceanographic Society’s Coastal Center: MUCH More than an Aquarium
As promised via post-it note on the Florida Oceanographic Society's "Pledge" board, I am sharing my article about their Coastal Center in Stuart, Florida, where my family (12-50 years) spent an entire day and still didn't venture along the ~50-acres of Nature Trails in this barrier island ecosystem. If you’re visiting the east coast of Florida, you must put this stop on your list. And those who work for nonprofit organizations could learn a lot from the level of very visible volunteerism created by the leaders of the Florida Oceanographic Society. Building community for a common cause is the epitome of public outreach.
A Blueprint for Finding & Using Arts Funding (and the encouragement it brings)
My webpage redesign is finally complete, and I LOVE it! As promised, I am typing up a summary of how I obtained grant funding to bring this about, so that other local artists (literary and otherwise) can follow suit and get their own webpages, search-engine-optimized and all.
At least 5 Mass Shootings over the Weekend !!??
If it’s mental health and not guns (as the incessant debate goes), then why isn’t our country providing universal coverage of mental health services for all – including therapy (not just drugs)? Texas governor Greg Abbott said that “the Uvalde school shooter had a “mental health challenge” and the state needed to “do a better job with mental health” — yet in April he slashed $211 million from the department that oversees mental health programs.” …
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).
Keep It To Yourself
Don’t stop writing poetry just because National Poetry month has passed. This favorite creation contemplates the scowls people wear when they are commuting, particularly on rainy days.
ISO a Children's Book Agent
After finally completing the “dummy book” for my next collaboration with illustrator, Stacy Fabbre, I am sharing my process as I search for an agent and ultimately publication.
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.
To Those Who Message(d) Me Privately This Week
After questioning the secretive and non-inclusive proceedings of a racially-based political action committee via Facebook, members of that organization attacked and ultimately removed me from the group. This article is in response to that experience.
To My Sensitive Loquacious Friends
I have been chastised throughout my life for being talkative, which only amplifies my innate sensitivity. I know well that I am not alone. This article was written to celebrate our good nature and remind us that it’s often them, not us.