“We began the practice of taking on a new mindfulness tool or task each week at the monastery about twenty years ago. The idea came from a man who had lived in a community that followed the teachings of the mystic Gurdjieff. He explained that it didn’t matter if you succeed with the task or ...
Review “Ain’t Misbehavin'” (Porchlight Music Theatre): Perfectly Jazzed
Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning Thomas “Fats” Waller musical revue, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. Fats Waller was a pianist, organist, composer, singer, bandleader and comedic entertainer. His progressive work pioneered the era for modern jazz. He only lived to be 39 but he lived. His legacy is a robust songbook reflecting the emotions and experiences of African ...
Without yoga, my life would smell differently
I took the advanced heavy weight yoga class at Ganesha last night. I’ve been taking heavy weight yoga for over a year now. The *heavyweight* descriptor is exactly what you might imagine. The class is designed to help good size people benefit from yoga. I love it. I started off going to one class a week. After ...
Along came Phil!
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, but death and taxes. – Benjamin Franklin Yesterday, Philip Seymour Hoffman died. And I did my taxes. I was shocked to see PSH trending on social media Sunday afternoon. I was among the many hoping that it was a hoax. It wasn’t. It was the final role of ...
Review “Plainsong” (Signal Ensemble Theatre): A Story to Savor
The winter continues to plummet us in cold and snow. An attainable escape is within the pages of a good book. And an even better respite is experiencing a good story without reading a word. Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of PLAINSONG. Playwright Eric Schmiedl impressively adapted Kent Haruf’s novel for stage. The heartwarming tale is ...
Serenity Saturday
“Start talking turkey, Warren, because the Macy Parade is almost over and grandma is getting drunk.” - Annie in “Community” I woke up yesterday and waded into the day with an episode of “Community.” I had myself a good old-fashioned Serenity Saturday. Chicago was a snowglobe. And I had no plans until dinner and a play ...
Review “The Golden Dragon” (Sideshow Theatre): Schimmelpfenning’s Chop Suey
Sideshow Theatre presents THE GOLDEN DRAGON. In 2012, Sideshow produced their Jeff Award-winning Idomeneus. That innovative, critically-acclaimed play was written by Roland Schimmelpfenning. In The Golden Dragon, Sideshow produces another of Schimmelpfenning’s work. This one is centered in a restaurant. The five member ensemble, Matt Fletcher, David Lawrence Hamilton,Daria Harper, Deanna Myers and Noah Sullivan, are ...
Review “The Tennessee Williams Project” (The-Hypocrites): 3 States of Tennessee
The Hypocrites present THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS PROJECT. Director Matt Hawkins has arranged an evening with Tennessee Williams’ lesser know works. Three of Williams’ one act plays are performed: “And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens,” “The Remarkable Rooming-House of Mme. Le Monde,” and “The Big Game.” The selections are familiar yet unfamiliar. They reflect the ...
Positive energy received! Thank you, MESD & Lilly!
My response to anyone’s misfortune... illness, unhappiness, death of a loved one... is to send positive energy. I focus on the person and send wishes for ‘peace and joy.’ If it sounds like prayer, it’s because to me it is. I believe in a higher power. I believe that Divinity is God. For me ‘sending ...
Review “Rose and the Rime” (House Theatre): Frozen Enchantment
The House Theatre of Chicago presents ROSE AND THE RIME. A story is about a village cursed with a never-ending winter. This play seems perfectly relatable for Chicago audiences, especially this year. Originally developed at Hope College in 2008 ROSE AND THE RIME won the honor of playing the Kennedy Center as Best Original Work in the KCACTF festival. ...