Theater Thursday - Parcel From America

We received complimentary tickets to Parcel From America for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Parcel From America

 Where: Theatre Row, Theatre Three

              410 W. 42nd St.

              New York, NY

Who: Recommended for ages 12 and up

When: Through November 22, 2026

Parcel From America is an extremely poignant new musical.  It is the story of a small village in Ireland whose inhabitants really take the commandment "love thy neighbor" to heart. The plot is unique and surprising. Even though you can feel the happy ending coming from a mile away, you don't know exactly how the story will take you there.

The performances are heartfelt, as are the songs. The score is mostly written in the style of traditional Irish folk songs, and the music has a lovely lilt. Because of the strong Irish accents, it may sometimes be hard to understand what is being said or sung. However, it shouldn't be enough of an issue to make it hard to keep up with the plot.

The show is full of warm family and found-family vibes and teaches some important lessons about caring for others and making sacrifices. However, adult themes and some strong language make it mostly suitable for older children.

And that's our view. For more about Parcel From America or to purchase tickets, visit parcelirishmusical.com.

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits:

All Parcel From America production photos by Russ Rowland 

All images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used with permission. Address concerns regarding image usage here.

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Silly Old Bear! Winnie the Pooh at 100

What: Silly Old Bear! Winnie the Pooh at 100 

Where: New York Public Library

              Stephen A. Schwartzman Building

              476 Fifth Ave.

              New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through November 30, 2026

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beloved children's character Winnie-the-Pooh. The original book was published on October 14, 1926. In honor of this, the New York Public Library is celebrating the popular classic with Silly Old Bear! Winnie the Pooh at 100, an exhibit that will run through the end of the month.

The exhibit provides a brief history of the series. Items on display include mock-ups of some of E.H. Shepard's original drawings for the the books, some of the books in other languages including Latin, and the replacement Roo sent to the New York Library by Queen Camilla (the original was lost in an orchard years ago) as well as Lottie the Otter, a character created for the 2009 sequel,  Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, by author David Benedictus. The original Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and Kanga that inspired the books are on display in the library's Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library's Treasures.

And that's our view. For more about this exhibit, visit www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/silly-old-bear-winnie-pooh-100

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

All pictures used in this post are our own.   Address concerns regarding image usage here.

Tips for Tuesday: Books: It's All About the Players & Broadway in Black & White

We may have received complimentary copies and/or review access to any books, products, and/or other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: It's All About the Players & Broadway in Black & White

Today, we recommend It's All About the Players: What I've Learned From Baseball's Best by Peter Gammons.  If you're a big fan of sports, especially baseball, you will love this book in which Gammons, a sportswriter, author, and baseball analyst, shares stories about some of the baseball players he's encountered in his illustrious career. of over five decades. Ted Williams, Derek Jeter,  Bryce Harper, and Mookie Betts, plus lesser-known players like Jeff Allison, are just a tiny sample of the athletes it covers. 

While it is interesting to learn about players' backgrounds and other fascinating tidbits and facts, what stands out more is discovering what they are really like and what they really care about. They are hardworking, dedicated, and devoted to their sport and/or their team, or even just to appreciating the life they've been given and passing on their good fortune as much as they can by doing good for others.  

Although some of the more negative aspects of the game are mentioned, including the Pine Tar game and Pete Rose's gambling, for the most part the book focuses on the positive.  If you're sick of always hearing about the negative side of sports and professional athletes who are rude, spoiled, selfish, or otherwise unlikable, this book is the antidote. Read it if you want to be inspired and uplifted. 

Today, we recommend Broadway in Black and White: The Untold Story of the American Musical by John Mauceri and John H. McWhorter. This book covers the history of musical theater, with an emphasis on the intersection, or lack thereof, between black and white artists. It traces musicals from their earliest days, when white musicals performed for white audiences were deeply influenced by and appropriated black musical styles, through the days when shows gradually became more integrated, up to the days when shows eventually became not only integrated but more collaborative. It is extremely detailed, perhaps too much so at times. It delves quite deeply into numerous shows, including Porgy and Bess, Showboat, Ragtime, and more. It contains numerous plot spoilers, and although it may be true that some of these shows are rarely, if ever, seen nowadays, others always seem to come back around. Accordingly, if you have not seen these shows and you are hoping or planning to, you might want to skip certain chapters when reading the book. 

And that's our view. It's All About the Players was published on September 22.  Broadway in Black and White will be published next Tuesday, November 17. 

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

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