Okay, friends, I’ve got a quickie giveaway for a 4-pack of tickets to The House Theatre of Chicago’s awesome all-ages show Rose and the Rime. And this one is pure fun: although written for adults, this adventure tale of “a little town by a big lake” in the grips of a perpetual icy winter and a quest for a magical coin is suitable for kiddos ages six and up. (Hey Chicagoans: does that “perpetual” bit strike a chilly chord?) With {Read More}
Working, Writing, And Wrangling A Snack.
January 22, 2014 By 5 Comments
It’s Wednesday, friends, and you know what that means! (Namely, my kids are watching the Winnie The Pooh movie for the fifth time!) Also, a round-up. In Awesome Stuff About Town, Weekly: The House Theatre (which you either know and love or should know and love) is opening Rose and The Rime, a modern fairytale intended for adults but suitable for kiddos ages 6 and up. This cautionary tale, staged at Chicago’s Chopin Theatre starting January 26th, features acrobatic dance, excellent music, {Read More}
November Date: Riveting Theatre And Tasty Frites.
November 25, 2013 By 6 Comments
Betcha didn’t think we’d have a November Date Night, didja? (Well ha. ‘Cause…almost me neither.) But date we did! After securing our trusty high school sitter- her school play finally ended, SHEESH theatre people- P.J. whisked me out (after we fed and jammied our girls) for a surprise evening of…theatre. Because, seriously, a calendar year of dates in the city of Chicago with nary one staged play? TRAVESTY. I was thrilled to realize we were heading to the Neofuturarium (which was, incidentally, one {Read More}
Being A Pollyanna (And Wrapping Up The Week).
October 21, 2013 By 10 Comments
At the risk of sounding like a Pollyanna, I’d like to start off my week with a list of things for which I’m utterly grateful. I mean, couldn’t hurt, right? (Since I think we all know what it feels like to wake up and [angrily] marvel yet again at the sound of the alarm…and necessity to DO things…and and and…) (Side note: Remember the Made For TV movie Polly, which was a 1950s adaptation of Pollyanna and starred Keshia Knight Pulliam? Man, that {Read More}
Staying Mindful [Is Impossible].
May 2, 2013 By 6 Comments
I work so hard at mindfulness. At remaining fully present. And not mentally jumping ahead to whatever comes next/tomorrow/down the road/I wonder what flights look like for the winter? I work really hard at this during my Pilates class because a) mindfulness is a major tenet ofpracticing Pilates, b) it’s such a luxury for me to even be able to sneak away at 6pm on a Wednesday evening, c) Good Lord, if I can manage to find forty-five minutes here then why is {Read More}
GIRLFRIEND Had A Stellar Opening Weekend, And I Can Exhale.
April 29, 2013 By 8 Comments
This weekend’s premiere of Girlfriend was insane. As in, I nearly lost my mind. I had been bandying this play around (in my brain, on paper, to the occasional passerby) since 2008, but had really been hammering out drafts in earnest since last summer. In essence, this play was my baby. My colicky, allergic, and stranger-phobic baby. And the idea that this baby was going off to be seen and
Girlfriend, By Keely Flynn. Oh Wait, That’s ME.
April 25, 2013 By 10 Comments
Lately, I’ve spent a bunch of time reviewing and promoting some terrific shows around town. But there’s one very important show opening in previews tonight… ‘Cause it’s mine. Girlfriend is the story of Anna and Caro, two twentysomething gals who have been friends forever and ever, Amen. As they attempt to navigate the ups and downs of functional adulthood and the Chicago theatre scene, they also redefine friendship- and just how heavily you can lean on those pals before you {Read More}
Writing Is Not For The Sane.
January 28, 2013 By 6 Comments
One of the hardest things about being a playwright is that specific moment when people show up to see what you’ve written. It takes you from that [safe, cozy] time of writing THE most hilarious, THE most witty, and THE most crazy life-changing character interactions… …To that [scary, cold] public forum where you suddenly realize you’ve written THE most trite, THE most confusing, and THE
