A great review from Pittsburgh in the Round: Aided by Kirk Howe’s skillful musical direction, and the excellent instrumental work of Howe (Keyboard 1) Beth Minda (Keyboard 2), Dave Minda (Bass Guitar), and Jesse Wall (Percussion), the performers of Theatre Factory’s latest production dazzle and elate throughout the many silly twists and turns. Fantasticks is wonderfully…
Similar:How children lost the right to roam in four generations –How children lost the right to roa…CultureI ordered a box of composition books. Low-tech response to AI.I felt like a capitalist, buying in bulk…AcademiaApparently, I needed to watch a supercut of doors and corridors from Star Trek.I did in fact search YouTube for videos…
Similar:Another 10sq cm of background details for a #steampunk project. #blender3d #blender3dart #…AestheticsGraduation procession #classof2017PersonalSam Shepard Giggles, Doesn't GoogleI wrote my undergraduate honors thesis o…CybercultureI’m still teaching journalism and my usual courses, but after 21 years I’ve stepped aside …I’m still teaching journalism and my usu…AcademiaThe Child (TNG Rewatch: Season 2, Episode 1)Rewatching Star…
For Luisa, Jerz’s character, “the world is still a magical place, full of epic characters and situations and — above all — romance.” She says the audience should like Luisa and care about her, not wanting the world to hurt or change her. A fun show to perform “‘The Fantasticks’ music is uniquely beautiful, and…
Similar:Jaz Parkinson "Colour Signatures"Amusing visual representations of the co…AestheticsHappy 13th Birthday CarolynI’ve had the privilege of being this ama…Drama1949 NBC Radio Adaptation of Orwell's 1984Long before the Apple ad, and Michael Ra…CultureThe Toulmin model for analyzing arguments came up at a faculty pedagogy workshop today. I … AcademiaWhite House photo access controls public imageRather…
Similar:Jury Duty UpdateI’m a happy, responsible, and no-longer-…GovernmentRare Philadelphia win – for a Whig! For the first time in 159 years, Phi…CultureGood example of ‘do NOT remove things from photos.’Hat tip to my former student Kiley Fisch…BusinessElly Noble Reflects on Stage Right's New "Snow White"What’s it like on your first day rehears…CultureMyths about "Learning Styles…
Similar:Set design for a virtual production of R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). Post-apocalypti… AestheticsA stranger took this photo of my parents doing their daily crossword together in a cafe.A stranger took this photo of my parents…CultureWe're enjoying the intensity and also the (surprisingly appropriate) humor.PersonalJulius Ceasar: The Politics of Powerhttps://youtu.be/yhAqqHQ-KNYCultureLego faces are getting angrier, study…
During Fall Break, I filmed my scenes for the horror indie The First Night of Summer. My character is a cheesy dad who’s trying too hard to engage with his sullen teenager — played by my daughter. While coaching us on the set, director Mark Sciubba described the dynamic he was looking for, and asked…
I ſhall always treaſure the pleaſant ſurpriſe of ſeeing the “long s” while reading Epicoene, by Ben Jonſon. Similar:Writing Effective E-MailTop 10 Tips: Write a meaningful subject…BusinessHorrifying deepfake tricks employee into giving away $25 millionNo names in this single-source anecdote …BusinessWhy Japanese Kids Can Walk to School Alone It’s a common sight on Japanese mass…
Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break. Riker accepts a temporary assignment as first officer of a Klingon vessel. “A Matter of Honor” offers a thoughtful, enjoyable dramatization of differences between Federation and Klingon culture, and a good B-plot in which Wesley helps a visiting officer adapt to routine operations on the Enterprise. It’s a nice touch…
Similar:Lies about history in Texas can be traced to the Lone Star State's own Big Lie: The AlamoYet many Texans feel they need …CultureDress Rehearsal for "My Son Pinocchio"My wife, daughter, and I waiting to star…AmusingSad that NASA is taking a back seat to a private company, but still nerding over an Americ…BusinessHad a blast watching all…
Chants of “no justice, no peace” drifted from the hallway into the the 204th District Court, and then Botham Jean’s 18-year-old brother stepped up to the witness stand Wednesday. This was Brandt Jean’s chance to tell Guyger exactly what he thought of the former Dallas officer after she was sentenced to 10 years in prison…
Similar:Yes Virginia the Musical coming to ConnellsvilleCarolyn Jerz may be only 11 but is alrea…Current_EventsTrump’s war on the media is driving students to journalismTwenty-one-year-old political science st…AcademiaThe Pentagon has ordered Stars and Stripes to shut down for no good reasonStunning. The Stars and Stripes is much …CultureDuet (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 1, Episode 18) Kira…
Turns out, getting a STEM education may help you get a good job early but if you want a good career, you’re better off in liberal arts lane. In other words, even if you’re only measuring money, a liberal arts education is probably worth a ton more than most people may think. […] [B]y the time…
Rewatching Star Trek: The Next Generation after a 20-year break. Tension mounts between Captain Picard and Dr. Pulaski as the Enterprise encounters a rapid-aging disease. I rather liked how Picard, who just last week quoted part of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, is in his ready room reading a book when Troi reminds him he wanted to…
Rewatching Star Trek: The Next Generation after a 20-year break. In his final hours, an arrogant, crotchety cybernetics genius takes a liking to Data. After the genius dies, Data starts acting arrogant and crotchety. Hmm. This early in the run of TNG, we’ve already seen the trope of a brilliant, older professional man supported and…
Saving for the next time I teach “Intro to English Study.” It’s all well and good to sing “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” to the tune of “Hallelujah,” but why can’t you do it the other way around? For that matter, why does it work only when you limit yourself to the first two lines…
Rewatching Star Trek: The Next Generation after a 20-year break. A mediator who communicates via a telepathic chorus is a warring planet’s only hope for peace. While the episode isn’t perfect, nothing made me want to facepalm. I cared about Riva (the mediator) and his romantic (but at the same time respectful and professionally empathetic) interest…
Rewatching Star Trek: The Next Generation after a 20-year break. A pony-tailed pirate-shirt-wearing pile of charisma steps out of a Renaissance Festival sideshow onto the Enterprise for a silly low-stakes caper. Meanwhile, Data tries stand-up comedy. I cringed when the guest star put the moves on the pretty transporter technician (played by a before-she-was-famous Teri…
A librarian at the University of Virginia kindly scanned and emailed the review I wrote, as an undergraduate student journalist, of the pre-Broadway tryout of A Few Good Men, in September 1989. I was prepared to cringe, but I was actually kind of proud of the lead, which applies equally to the professional production now…