Theater Thursday - A Beat of Our Own

We received complimentary tickets to A Beat of Our Own for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: A Beat of Our Own

Where: McCarter Theatre

             91 University Pl.

             Princeton, NJ

Who: Recommended for ages 10 and up based on content and themes.

When: Through October 25, 2026

A Beat of Our Own is a musical about college students involved in the world of Bhangra competition. The show offers meaningful lessons about accepting others and their differences and about not putting labels on other people.  It does so through a heartfelt story that really hits you emotionally, plus it's full of engaging songs and extremely lively dancing. You won't want to miss it!

And that's our view. For more information about A Beat of Our Own or to purchase tickets, visit www.mccarter.org/abeatofourown.

Photo credits:

All A Beat of Our Own photos by T. Charles Erickson

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 - Martha Graham: The Mother of Psychological Dance

What: Martha Graham: The Mother of Psychological Dance

Where: New York Library for the Performing Arts

             40 Lincoln Center Pl.

             New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through January 2, 2027

Martha Graham was not only a legendary dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She was an absolute game-changer. Before, her dance was mainly something entertaining to watch and pretty to look at, which often objectified women. She was the first one to show that dance could be so much more. It could actually express one's inner state. 

She was the first to form an all-female dance company and the first to intergrate her company. She also led the charge to commission original American music for dance, among other things. Her work influenced not only the world of dance but other area as well, including acting. 

The current Graham exhibit at the New York Library of Performing Arts traces her illustrious career. It includes numerous pictures, posters, and more, plus a few costumes and set pieces from some of her dances.  Additionally, numerous monitors are available throughout the exhibit, displaying interviews and/or performance clips from some of her dances on a continuous loop. 

And that's our view. For more information about this free exhibit, visit www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/martha-graham-mother-psychological-dance

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: Young Sheldon & The Pilgrimage of Primrose; & Movie: Pinball Beyond the Bumpers

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: Young Sheldon & The Pilgrimage of Primrose

Today, we recommend Young Sheldon by Jessica Radloff. This very comprehensive book about the Big Bang Theory spinoff is quite informative and surprisingly heartwarming. Told through the words of those who were there, including cast, creatives, frequent guest stars, and more, even including the relatives of cast members like the mothers of the children in the show, this book vividly details everything you could want to know about the series from its initial inception to its final days. Topics include the casting process, the pilot episode, the final episode, and much more. 

Although it doesn't cover every episode in detail, it covers quite a few. It also offers numerous short between-chapter tidbits of interesting information.  Plus, it doesn't shy away from tackling controversies such as inconsistencies between the early series and this one. Whatever you could possibly want to know about this series, you will likely find the answer in this extremely inclusive book. 

Today, we recommend The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch by Laura Jensen Walker. Primrose Honeychurch is a reclusive, book-loving septuagenarian.  When she ventures out of her comfort zone to make a book-related pilgrimage before she dies, she meets and is lovingly taken in by the large, boisterous, but loving family she mostly never knew she had and definitely never knew she needed. 

Despite the inital prickliness of the main character, much of this book is like a ray of sunshine. The relationships between the characters are so warm and loving that you just want to be adopted by this family. Of course, not every moment of the book is full of sunshine and happiness because, for one thing, we know at the start that the main character is dying. 

The more the reader gets to know Primrose, the more sympathetic she is. She is not really mean, but between her traumatic childhood and undiagnosed neurodivergency she doesn't know how to react with other people and is uncomfortable with them. Her growth over the course of the novel is both moving and quite believable. She makes strides but doesn't suddenly become a completely different person.

Neurodivergency is extremely well represented not just through Primrose, but also through her niece, Clover. Clover's similar struggles clarify Primrose's own life and help her recognize her own neurodiversity for the first time. The intergenerational bond that develops between them, not only because of their shared neurodiversity but because of their shared love of books, is one of the highlights of the novel.

The book is a reminder that before we officially recognized and had names for things like autism, ADD, and the like, that doesn't mean they didn't exist. It does mean, however, that people didn't get the treatment they needed and had to live much more difficult lives than they needed to and may even have been unfairly stigmatized. We are lucky to live in a time when diagnosis and treatment is available for numerous mental health conditions, which unfortunately doesn't always mean that stigmatization no longer exists.

Movie: Pinball Beyond the Bumpers

Today, we recommend Pinball Beyond the Bumpers. This film provides a fascinating look at the history of pinball from its earliest origins, to the initial heights of its popularity,  through its downturn after being banned in some places to its later resurgence. The film includes interviews with many legends of the game as well as footage of numerous games including some extremely rare ones including The Wizard of Oz machine, one of the top ranked and most respected titles in pinball.

And that's our view. Young Sheldon and The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch were both published today.  Pinball Beyond the Bumper is available for digital purchase or rental starting today as well.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

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