I find that when it comes to art, it finds you when you need it most.   Photo by Dan Norman Take last week, when I truly had the week from hell. Between wedding planning, multiple family medical emergencies, and a busy work schedule, all of our plans got totally

When the weather matches the mood of your show, you know you’ve got something powerful going on.   Photo by Dan Norman I have always been a great lover of opera, so it saddens me that I haven’t had a chance to see many performances in the last few years!

How do you feel about romantic comedies?   Photo by Mike Pingel I, for one, love them unabashedly. I used to feel ashamed of this, but no more. It’s HARD to write a script that is equal parts funny, sweet, tense, winsome and winning (don’t believe me? You try it).

There’s never been a better time to #drinklocal   Be honest, what’s better than a strong cocktail on a rooftop on a gorgeous day? Nuthin’ We’re in the throes of #libation season, a favorite time of year for me, and I couldn’t resist sharing some of my favorite new finds

Sometimes, all you want is a good B-list sequel.   Photo by Joan Marcus I was raised on the original Phantom of the Opera Broadway soundtrack. At 12 years old, when I got my first boombox #datedmyselfalready, I owned three CDs: Celine Dion’s greatest hits; Barbra Streisand duets (including a

Have you ever questioned your memories? Let me tell you a story: it’s 2006 and I’m a junior in high school in a small town up north. The school musical is announced and it’s West Side Story. I’m thrilled because it’s one of my favorite shows, ever.pointblank.omg., and I get a

Every once in a while, someone surprises theatergoers with a sublimely fresh take on an old story.   Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Baskerville), the latest in Park Square Theatre’s annual mystery series, offers a totally new perspective of The Hound of the Baskervilles, perhaps the most famous of

If there were one sentence to describe Chicago, it would be “sex on stage.” I’ve seen many sultry shows in my time, but little compares to the sensual explosion that is Chicago. From the barely there costumes to the musical sighs to the iconic Bob Fosse choreography, Chicago oozes sex

This is such an exciting time to be an artist. Thanks to the power of the internet, social media and crowdfunding, artists are more empowered than ever to really flex their creative muscles, and how lucky are all of we to enjoy it? From Donald Glover to Mindy Kaling, there

Biopics can be a tricky thing.   Photo by Dan Norman I always feel for actors who have to portray famous figures, especially those alive during the last 100 years or so since the film industry exploded and we have real-life video footage to refer back to. Fans can be