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Category Archives: Entertainment
MY DAY: Midway through Spring Break
I am so grateful for the kind hearts who check on me and for Nicole Melin’s delicious homemade soup deliveries. Seriously, the woman needs to have a bistro in The Oregon District! I keep getting questions, “How are you holding … Continue reading
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: “Carol Channing” by Jeffrey Carter
My dear friend, Jeffrey Carter, always impresses, and teaches me, how to find the most vital, beautiful words in both written and spoken communication. Once again, I was moved and lifted by his tender tribute to Carol Channing. Thank you, … Continue reading
MY DAY: Students journeying through the performing arts
This is my busiest time of the year in the studio. The studio is busy with 90% of my 57 private students (four new students will begin this week, too) are preparing for big moments, many of which for my … Continue reading
MY DAY: Rudolph makes his debut in 1964
It’s been a semi-productive day but one mostly taking it easy and pacing my strength. I did rake/blow the leaves in the front yard as the day was gorgeous with the mild weather and sunshine. 54 years ago, tonight, RUDOLPH … Continue reading
O, FOR HISTORY: Teddy Roosevelt visits Indiana in 1902
While doing some research for one of my writing projects I discovered President Theodore Roosevelt visited Indiana in 1902. While passing through a Massachusett’s city, a trolly car ran into the president’s horse-drawn carriage. The president was propelled from the … Continue reading
O, FOR HISTORY: Nixon resigns
August 8, 1974, my family was vacationing in Myrtle Beach. I was in the pool that evening when Mother came to the rail of our second-floor motel room, “Darin! Hurry!” I am certain I asked the reason and an exchange of … Continue reading
Posted in First Ladies, Gerald Ford, History Channel, Museum of the US Air Force, PBS, Politics, Richard Nixon, U.S. First Ladies & Families, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Uncategorized, White House
Tagged Air Force One, Nixon resigns, Pat Nixon, Patricia Nixon, SAM 2700, Watergate, Watergate Hearings
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Dayton Old Case Files
Saturday evening, August 4, I attended Dayton’s Old Case Files sponsored by Dayton’s very own Carillon Park and Dayton History. Outstanding! Terribly fun! Upon arrival, my former student, Laura Jacobs, and I, attending to see my student, Tommy Cole, and … Continue reading
Posted in Acting, Actors, Carillon Park, Entertainment, Human Race Theatre Company, Miami Valley of Ohio, Uncategorized
Tagged Charles Stimmel, Cook Gang of Dayton Ohio, Dayton Old Case Files, Geoff Burkman, John E. Egan, Judge Alvin Kimmel, Ohio vs Charles Stimmel, Old Montgomery County Courthouse, Old Sparkey, Rose Shafor, Scott Stoney
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MY DAY: Friday Funday surpassed all my expectations!
It was a damned good day, to say the least. Due to a rough night with little sleep and rain beginning by 6:50 AM, I almost elected to remain home. I am so glad I went forward with my spontaneous … Continue reading
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Lady America & The Ball State University Singers
While growing up in Central Indiana I always attended the spring event, SPECTACULAR, a dynamic, two-hour theme park style concert presented by the internationally known, Ball State University Singers. Several times, I heard the theme song in the medley, “Lady … Continue reading
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Olivia de Havilland
Happy birthday to the legendary actress, Miss Olivia de Havilland who turned 102 years old today. Ms. de Havilland is the last surviving cast member of GONE WITH THE WIND in which she portrayed Melanie Hamilton Wilkes. This lovely woman … Continue reading
SPOTLIGHT: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
Tomorrow evening, my friend, Nicole, and I will get to see the new movie about the life/work of Fred Rogers, more endearingly known to millions as, Mister Rogers. As a young boy, Fred Rogers was not on my radar. Once … Continue reading
Posted in Television, Uncategorized
Tagged Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers, PBS, Won't You Be My Neighbor?
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MY DAY: It’s a Sunday
It was a restless night, but a return to bed after feeding the dogs and my self-seemed to cut the edge of tiredness. The sinus infection seems to have abated and my infrequent cough is productive. The rain, which has … Continue reading
SPOTLIGHT: A visit to Salzburg
Friday night I got to see one of my favorite musicals on stage at The Schuster Center, THE SOUND OF MUSIC. This is one of those musicals that can either too dramatic that it feels like painful constipation or too … Continue reading
Posted in Acting, Actors, Broadway, Darin's Career, Dayton, Entertainment, Movies, Musical Theatre, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playwright, Playwrighting, Theatre, Uncategorized
Tagged Douglas W. Schmidt, Jake Mills, Jill-Christine Wiley, Jonathan Warren, Lauren Kidwell, Matt Lenz, Melissa McKamie, Mike McLean, Schuster Center, The Sound of Music
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SPOTLIGHT: Oscar Nominated Shorts
This afternoon, Nicole and Ian Melin and I watched the Oscar-nominated live action and short animated features. What a great collection of movies. The 2018 nominees for Best Short Live Action Film: DeKALB ELEMENTARY MY NEPHEW EMMET THE SILENT CHILD … Continue reading
O, FOR HISTORY: The Kalb Report: “Writing History” – Woodward and Bernstein
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein have been my favorites since the early 1970s. The interview was conducted three years ago but is still an incredible episode.
O, FOR HISTORY: Art on The White House
I have a deep passion for presidential history and White House history. I tripped across an old article of an artist’s take on various rooms in The White House. An Artist Visits The White House Past Another artist captured the Blue … Continue reading
MY DAY: The country needs you, Harry Truman
When I was in 5th grade, my maternal uncle, Ron Barmes, gave me an 8-track tape player and several 8-track tapes. My favorite was CHICAGO’s Chicago VIII, 1975. “Harry Truman.” That was my favorite song and I listened to it … Continue reading
O, FOR HISTORY: “Slipped the surly bonds of earth…”
I had my general music students in the high school’s library to complete a project. I caught several teachers gathered around the television in the audio-visual room. After investigating, I called the students over to watch the event. “I can … Continue reading
SPOTLIGHT: Dayton Theatre Guild’s STELLA AND LOU
All I knew about Bruce Graham’s drama, STELLA AND LOU, was that television great, Rhea Perlman starred in the original 2013 Northlight Theatre production in Skokie, Illinois. My reason for going to see Dayton Theatre Guild‘s production was to watch … Continue reading
Posted in Acting, Actors, Broadway, Entertainment, Playwright, Theatre, Theatre: Community, Uncategorized
Tagged Dayton Theatre Guild
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SPOTLIGHT: Muse Machine’s HELLO, DOLLY!
As the song goes, “there’s no blue Monday in your Sunday clothes” and let me tell you this was no blue Monday after seeing Muse Machine’s production, HELLO, DOLLY, this weekend. I was proud of my students Tommy Cole as … Continue reading
Posted in Acting, Actors, Blogroll, Broadway, Entertainment, Musical Theatre, Theatre: Community, Uncategorized, Wright State University
Tagged Joe Deer, Lula Elzy, Muse Machine
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SPOTLIGHT: THE POST
Thursday night, Mark Monroe and I went to The Greene to watch the newly released, THE POST, a political drama set in the early 1970s starring Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, … Continue reading
Posted in Acting, Actors, Documentaries, Gerald Ford, Movies, Politics, Richard Nixon, Uncategorized, Vietnam War, White House
Tagged All The President's Men, Ben Bagdikian, Ben Bradlee, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Katharine Graham, Meryl Streep, The Pentagon Papers, The Post, The Washington Post, Tom Hanks, Watergate
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MY DAY: Saxophone Dessert
It was the first time both the seventh and eighth grade bands would play together and I was quite nervous. I was comfortable with my fellow seventh grade band students, but today, I would be meeting the eighth graders for the … Continue reading
MIAGD: Atta boy, Clarence….
MIAGD: Make it a great day I love windchimes. Five windchimes surround my deck so I can hear them when I am outside, inside my study which looks out to my deck, and up in my bedroom which looks over … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life, Inspiration, Movies
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