As both a writer and a lover of musical theatre, I was overjoyed to hear the news this week that the Paramount Theatre in Aurora had launched New Works. As the theatre’s website explains: The New Works Program at the Paramount operates year-round collaborating and partnering with writers in development of a new piece. It … [Read more…]
Here in northern Illinois, when there’s a great burst of warm weather late in the fall, we call it Indian Summer. But what do you call what we had last weekend? Over 60 degrees on February 20 – windows open, people outside in shirtsleeves and shorts, washing their cars and playing in the yard. I … [Read more…]
Having learned of the death of Harper Lee yesterday at the age of 89, I felt compelled to read further about her life and her work. In 1960, this first-time writer published her one and only novel: To Kill a Mockingbird. (Yes, a “sequel,” Go Set a Watchman, came out last year, but it didn’t … [Read more…]
Chicago’s anticipated 60 degree temps today inspire poetry: Roses are red, Violets are blue. The snow has been hiding Four tons of dog poo. Hey, they all can’t be Shakespeare. [2/18/16 – Poetry]
When I committed to a daily writing discipline, it wasn’t because I had 365 topics ready to go. Of course, I had a few ideas, and I knew I could count on situational inspiration from time-to-time. But what really gave me the chutzpah to make this promise was knowing that I could always rely on … [Read more…]
When they got married, my mom and dad made a deal. She’d name the boys, and he’d name the girls. Well, first up was me, and I spent most of my childhood explaining to other kids that I didn’t have the same first name as the guy on Bonanza (“that’s Lorne Greene – one syllable!”). … [Read more…]
I visited my dad yesterday, and then made the white knuckle, hour-plus drive home in the several inches of snow that were staying just ahead of the plows. All of this called to mind the first winter I was driving, living in that very same house. I was coming home one day, and as I … [Read more…]
… what many to this day consider the greatest year in movie history — 1939 — many people had no idea about munchkins and yellow brick roads, had said neither hello nor goodbye to Mr. Chips, and, frankly, didn’t give a damn whether Rhett Butler gave a damn. They went about their daily lives, not … [Read more…]
