The Second City presents its 102nd Revue DEPRAVED NEW WORLD. The new Mainstage show at Second City is tight! The scenes flow. The laughs roll. The cast soars. Chelsea Devantez, John Hartman, Mike Kosinski, Tawny Newsome, Emily Walker and Steve Waltien are terrific. They are the writers, the performers but first and foremost they are ‘the ensemble.’ There ...
Right to life… Yes!
This picture was taken in January 1977. The trio in the center are my sister Cindy, me and my dad. We were headed to Washington DC for “March for Life.” It was an anti-abortion rally. It was a cause I was passionately committed to. My parents were leaders in the Right to Life movement. Our ...
Review “Road Show” (Chicago Shakes): Dark Musical, Sobering Comedy
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents ROAD SHOW. Composer Stephen Sondheim has immortalized the real life shenanigans of the Mizner brothers in this musical tribute. Sondheim tells the tales of the ambitious brothers chasing fame and fortune from the Alaskan gold rush to Florida’s real estate boom. ROAD SHOW chronicles their colorful escapades. The show starts at the death of one of ...
An Upright Life
My posture was last week’s challenge in my “How to Train a Wild Elephant.” I was aware of how my posture is a mood changer. It affects my mood. And my mood affects it. When I’m at my most alert, I’m sitting up straight and ready to listen. Sometimes I lean in, my interest is ...
Serenity me, April!
I was cranky last Thursday. My schedule for the weekend was dicey. There were parts I was looking forward to (the return of my parents) but there were more moments I was dreading. I wasn’t feeling particularly in control of my schedule and that always makes me ‘off.‘ When juggling many balls, it’s important for ...
Chicagoland: the new wild west?
Billboards around Chicago promise ten years in prison for purchasing a gun for someone else. It’s the ‘don’t lie for the other guy’ campaign. They appeared all over the city... almost overnight. In Wrigleyville, they are right next to cheeky beer slogans for baseball season. It’s a weird this-bud-is-for-you-but-that-gun-isn’t vibe. Playfulness meets darkness. The rally against ...
Deer Friends
“Doll, Billy killed a deer. Be a lamb and come over for venison.” When you get an invite for dinner, you go. As I get older, I appreciate more and more when I am the recipient of a home-cooked meal. Partly, it’s because I have limited culinary skills. Eating at home for me can be a satisfactory ...
Happy 1393
Last night, we partied like it was 1393. Maryam and Keith hosted a traditional Persian New Year’s dinner. Nowruz starts on the first day of Spring. Maryam and her sister Sarah, both of Iranian descent, cooked a Persian meal of their favorite dishes. A chilled yogurt soup was served for a palate refresher between the flavorful dishes. ...
Talk to me in 5 weeks
My parents were returned safe and sound yesterday. They had been sailing around South America for 5 weeks. I picked them up at O’Hare. They had a wonderful trip. And looked tan and relaxed. I heard about their cruise antics and port to port fun. Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro have been on my ...
I was a ‘starter’ for a minute… maybe less
I’m actively participating in 2014 March Madness. I completed the bracket. Despite growing up in the state of basketball in Indiana, I’ve never actually had a personal bracket. I’ve always been happy to meet in a bar to watch a game but I wasn’t ever really invested in the ‘Big Dance.’ This year, I’m playing ...