When I woke up this morning, my parents were gone. This is an unsettling statement for me on multiple levels. Now, don’t worry! They just decided to get up early and start their journey back to Elkhart from Myrtle Beach. And I also know there is a casino in West Virginia that they’ve never been to. ...
Review “Pirates Voyage” (Myrtle Beach): Aye Aye!
Myrtle Beach, in conjunction with Jenny Hamel, presents PIRATES VOYAGE. When driving into Myrtle Beach, two specific signs will make you go ‘huh?‘ Hardees boasting a bologna-Velveeta-egg biscuit. And the billboards promoting a Pirates Voyage with live nativity. Both sound like odd, distasteful combos. Although the Hardees’ announcement can be disregarded, 100+ Pirates’ billboards and a ...
Change? Yes Please!
I’m finishing up Amy Poehler’s “Yes Please!” on my seaside holiday. Her nuggets of wisdom are even more thought-provoking when contemplated with an amazing view. Change is the only constant. Your ability to navigate and tolerate change and its painful uncomfortableness directly correlates to your happiness and general well-being. -AP Nothing stays the same. I love that ...
I’m dreaming of a foggy Christmas…
Train, automobile and plane! No, I’m not confused about the movie title. This is my holiday travel plan. I rode into Elkhart on a train on Sunday night. The next day, I set out with my parents for Myrtle Beach. It was a 14-15 hour excursion over Monday-Tuesday. It’s a one way automobile adventure because ...
The long train home
I rode the Amtrak train from Chicago to Elkhart last night. This experience was lackluster compared to my Thanksgiving enchantment on the rails. First, Union Station was bustling with locals traveling to holiday destinations and dejected Chicago Bear fans returning to the ‘burbs. I avoided the over-crowded food court knowing that there was a dining ...
Review “Cinderella” (Broadway in Chicago): A Fairytale for the Ages
Broadway in Chicago presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA. The 2013 Tony Award-winning production of “Cinderella” is touring the country. And the beloved fairytale has gotten a contemporary makeover. The vital story elements are still present. Glass slipper, check! Pumpkin carriage, check! Kingdom corruption, ch--- wait! What? Under the new book by Douglas Carter Beane, Cinderella is ...
EXTENDED “Airline Highway” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Road to Human Discovery
Steppenwolf Theater presents the World Premiere and Broadway-bound AIRLINE HIGHWAY. Everyone has a story. And Playwright Lisa D’Amour has a multitude. In her tightly-packed, ensemble-driven jambalaya, D’Amour tells tales of regret. From the moment we arrive at The Hummingbird Motel, we are intrigued by these colorful misfits that are oddly detached but also together. This motel-made ...
It’s the year for firsts
Katy's first couch It’s my fifty-first birthday. Or it’s the first anniversary of my fiftieth birthday. No matter the perspective, it’s still the first in my favorite decade to date. And I love the fifties. It’s not without it’s hiccups. I mean I’m still me. I don’t always get it right. I often say the ...
Review “Burning Bluebeard” (The Ruffians): A Perfect Tragedy
The Ruffians present BURNING BLUEBEARD. December 30th will mark the 111th anniversary of the Iroquois Theatre fire. On that tragic day during the 3pm matinee, a fire killed 600 people. If that doesn’t sound like the premise to a hit holiday show, you’ve never experienced The Ruffians before. This was my second time reliving their historical ...