I watched a parade of people, mostly my age, many with their adult or young adult children, our spouses, groups of women, and couples file into the Emerson Colonial last week. All I knew about the show going in, was that there would be Sting’s music and dancing, and that was enough for me. It is said that all art is political and there is no doubt that Sting’s music is. In Message In a Bottle, somehow a hopeful energy comes of a show that reflects back to us some of the horrors of our world today. Ways in which we treat humans that has not changed much since when many of Sting’s songs were fir ..read more

I am not a fairy tale girl. I’m more just a fairies hold the tale person. I grew up on Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch and not Cinderella. I had (and still have) a copy of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night illustrated with Arthur Rackham‘s fairies that were my version of bibbidi boppidi boo. As a teacher, I found all sorts of versions of the Cinderella story that I would read to my class. As for ballet’s, Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella, is my dream story ballet. There are so many laugh out loud moments, fairies, nature and the four seasons, beautiful music, intricate costumes, a motherless ..read more

Pax East will be back in Boston in a few weeks. Here are five things to know if you are new to the world of PAX (aka Penny Arcade Exposition). When and where is it? PAX East is March 21st through March 24th at the Boston Convention and Expo Center. Tickets start at $67 per day or $250 for all four days. Tickets are on sale now here. Saturday is sold out as an individual day ticket. Who is PAX for? Depending on what generation your belong to, a gamer was a stereotype limited by gender, age, perhaps even personality type. Throw that all away because the world of gaming has changed since the fi ..read more

Before delving into this particular show, Duel Reality, I need to introduce or re-introduce 7 Fingers because a troupe like this is a rare find. You know the experience of salon parties? Parties where some talented, perhaps famous, musician plays in a small-ish high society home. Yeah, me neither, but I can imagine how wonderful a moment it is to share art with the artist in such a private, intimate setting. That is what 7 Fingers is to circus. The Emerson Cutler Majestic, is no high society salon, but seeing high energy, gravity defying acrobatics on that stage feels like it could be. That is ..read more

The number of little girls about the age of the crew in Miss Hannigan’s “orphanage” in cute little ‘fits fills the theatre while Annie is in town, but they are not the only ones mesmerized. I think it is actually the older crowd, from friends in early adulthood to parents and grandparents tapping into their inner child, that are swept off their feet. Annie on Tour is at the Boch Center through February 11th. Tickets can be purchased here. Photo courtesy of Annie on Tour The cast for this show has so much individual talent as well as a wonderful chemistry between them. From on stage in characte ..read more

Winter is long for some, but if you know how to winter, it can be a wonderfully restorative time of year. You feel things a little deeper in the winter, and I don’t just mean the cold on your cheeks. Nights are a little darker, and lets be honest so are many days, so time out with friends or alone with some art are a little more precious. You can stay in most nights with a book, a magazine, or your favourite streaming service, but too much of that gets old fast. Plan at least a few things throughout winter that take you out to the theatres. You can drive, take public transportation or treat yo ..read more

If you do not know about the debate you are definitely living under a couple of rocks. Whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie is the question the world asks every December. This year, just after Christmas at the Huntington Theater, Boston was treated to what everyone needs right after the holidays: a good laugh, some truly talented artistry, writing, and performance art. Although, I was familiar with the debate, I had never seen the movie. In preparation for the show, I watched Die Hard, and was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining I found it. They just don’t make movies like they used to ..read more

The Heart Sellers by The Huntington at Calderwood Pavilion is a story about cross cultural connections, human bondinh, and platonic love or at very least friendship. Unlike, The Band’s Visit, The Heart Sellers is a play, with a cast of two characters, but the story is just as rich and the experience visceral. Living in a university filled region of New England, this story is especially relatable. Our communities are filled with couples where one partner is brought to another country for the others’ work or studies. Judy Song and Jenna Agbayani of The Huntington’s production of Lloyd Suh’s The ..read more

Flannel friends gathering at a picnic table before the music starts. Photo: L Klein Everyone knows to go apple picking as soon as there is a chill in the air. Families head to the pumpkin patch to choose the subject of their Jack O’Lanterns and take those iconic fall pumpkin patch pics. New Englanders go for drives to their favourite leaf peeping spots and hikes to see the colors of fall stippled across the landscape. Only those with the South Shore and Nantucket scoop, know that Levitate’s Flannel Jam is the perfect fall outing with friends or family. Flannel Jam is so much more fun than ..read more

I am old enough to remember when Blue Man Group was brand spanking new to Boston. Since then, I have been through so many stage of life, marriage, young parenthood, basically all the stage of parenthood up to sending adult(s) out into the world, and yet every time I go see the show, at whatever stage of life I am in and with whomever I bring, we all have a great time. Blue Man Group is one of those shows I leave with my cheeks hurting from smiling and laughing so much. Over the years, the show has changed to reflect whichever aspects of our lives are worth pondering while also poking fun at ou ..read more