Still More Theater Saturday - Someone is Sending a Message

What: Someone is Sending a Message 

Where: Ethical Culture Society 

             2 W. 64th St. 

            Ceremonial Hall

            New York, NY

When: This event took place on September 26, 2024

Someone is Sending a Message is the story of Nick Springer. Nick was afflicted with Meningitis while at summer camp and was forced to undergo quadruple amputations to save his life. Yet, despite this, he never lost his positive attitude. He became a Paralympic Gold Medalist, an advocate for survival and vaccines, and an inspiration. 

The show isn't so much the story of Nick's life as it is about Nick's legacy. It focuses on how he continued to affect people even after his tragic death at the age of 35. Specifically. it's about how he inspired a friend even after his own passing.  After Nick's death, the friend goes to his Facebook page to find out what happened. She is blown away by the outpouring of love for Nick she finds there. Message upon message is posted about Nick and what he meant to people. There is even a message from Nick himself about how life goes on.  It causes her to have a reckoning within her own life and even come to terms with her own brother's death at a young age which is something she never really dealt with before.

True there is a deep sadness to this story. It is always sad when someone so young dies especially someone as full of life as Nick clearly was. However, ultimately it is an uplifting story of hope, courage and connection. If Nick could pack so much into his short life and affect so many lives in such a positive way, the least the rest of his can do is live our lives to the fullest in the time we're given and try to have a positive impact as well.

Currently, this show is only in the reading stage, but hopefully it will go on from here. We will post further information when and if we receive any.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop. 

Photo credits:

All pictures in this post were supplied and appear courtesy of Gary Springer

Images used in this post have been sent to us and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.

Giveaway Win a Copy of American Scary in the Howl-o-ween Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the Howl-O-Ween Giveaway Hop

hosted by The Mommy Island and The Kids Did It

If you love horror, you're definitely going to want to read Jeremy Dauber's book, American Scary. It is an extremely comprehensive book about the history of horror in all forms of entertainment. It starts as far back as the Salem Witch trials and shows how whatever was going on at the time related to the type of horror that was popular. Plus, it discusses numerous specific movies, TV shows, books, etc. For more about this book, see our previous post Tips for Tuesday - Books: American Scary. Enter to win a copy below.

Giveaway Dates 10/5 - 10/26

Giveaway Open to Ages 18+ US

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors and self-sponsoring bloggers who do not fulfill prize obligations. Please also note that we have been having a huge problem with people not following giveaway entry requirements and/or claiming to follow our blog and/or any of our social media and not actually doing so. Accordingly, please remember that following all instructions for any and all giveaway entries is mandatory in order for that entry to count. Entries will be checked and those that do not follow all instructions will be disqualified. Please do not claim entry for following our blog, Twitter, or whatever if you do not actually do so. If you consistently enter our giveaways claiming to be a follower of our blog and/or social media and you are not you will be disqualified not only from any chance of winning our current giveaway but also from any chance of winning any future giveaways. If you do follow our blog and/ or social media, don't let your entry be disqualified be sure to leave your follower name and/or the exact name you commented under. All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here and we will look into the matter.

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here and we will look into the matter.

Theater Thursday - Blood of the Lamb & Good Bones

We were given complimentary tickets to Blood of the Lamb for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Blood of the Lamb

Where: 59E59 Theatres

             59 E. 59 St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 17 and Up

When: Through October 20, 2024

Blood of the Lamb is a cautionary tale about what can happen in a world where the lives of unborn children are valued above the lives of the women who give birth to them. Nessa is a pregnant woman who has a miscarriage causing a medical episode on an airplane leading the plane to make an emergency landing in Texas so she can get treatment. However, she finds herself in a small room not with a doctor but with a lawyer who has been assigned to protect the rights of the unborn child. Never mind, the fact that the child has already died and the health of the mother may be at risk. 

At one time, this may have seemed like a dystopian scenario unlikely ever to happen in real life. However, in a post-Roe v. Wade world scenarios like this have become a frighteningly distinct possibility.  This a show that can be scarily prescient. It is meant to shock, and it does. It is mean to anger, and it does that too.

Kelly McAndrew is terrific in the role of the lawyer, Val. She manages to make a character that can be considered the villain not completely hateful. Her actions are all business but her tone and facial expressions show that she is not as unaffected by Nessa's situation as she would like. She is a woman clearly caught between her duty to her job and her personal beliefs, and her empathy for Nessa and the impossible situation she has been placed in. Although it isn't explicitly stated in the play, there is likely something in Val's past that makes her relate to Nessa even more than she would like. 

Meredith Garretson is good as well in the role of Nessa. She is the perfect every woman placed in an impossible situation not of her own making.  We can easily picture ourselves in her place thrust into an inescapable stressful situation, but in this case, the stakes are heightened because her life could literally be in danger. 

This is hard show to watch, In fact, it may be especially triggering for anyone who has ever suffered a miscarriage, had an abortion, or is just very passionate about women's rights.  However, it is an important show with an important message that reminds us to be mindful of where this country is heading. Coming right before the election as it does only increases its relevancy. It reminds us to be careful who we vote for if we want a chance to make the world the kind of place we want to live in.

And that's our view. For more about Blood of the Lamb or to purchase tickets, visit 59e59.org/shows/show-detail/blood-of-the-lamb

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We were given complimentary tickets to Good Bones for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Good Bones

Where: Public Theater

             425 Lafayette St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 15 and Up

When: Through October 27, 2024

Good Bones is a show about gentrification. Aisha has no fond memories of her old neighborhood so when she has the chance to work on a project that will improve the neighborhood by bringing in a new community center, she jumps at it. However, not everyone views the neighborhood in the same way. For Earl, the contractor on the home Aisha and her husband are renovating, the neighborhood is home in the best sense of the word. He is wary of the fallout that will incur if Aisha's plan proceeds particularly the displacement of people in the area of the project.

This is another well-written play by James Ijames, a recent Pulitzer Prize winner for Fat Ham. It is extremely balanced and does not favor one side or the other or provide pat easy answers. It is quite thought-provoking and leaves the audience with something to think about that perhaps some of them had never really contemplated before, 

This is also a show about people connecting and not letting arbitrary things like class stand in the way of that. Yet, even in the show, an arbitrary line is drawn.  Aisha can invite Earl and his sister to dinner, but still can't fully contemplate how her dream project will affect people like them.

The cast is good overall, but Susan Kelechi Watson particularly shines in the role of Aisha, a woman clearly haunted by the scars of her upbringing. Her silent moment of reckoning at the end of the play is heartbreaking. Even without a word, she manages to portray volumes. 

The design crew really did a great job with this show. When you arrive at the theater and see the set all wrapped up in plastic and hear the sounds of construction gradually getting louder and louder as it gets nearer and nearer to curtain time, you are instantly transported to the world of the play. The revelation of the full set which happens later is breathtaking. Literal gasps could be heard in the audience. 

If you have been affected by gentrification or you find it triggering, you may want to skip this play, Otherwise, if you like a play that skillfully delves into important issues in a way that makes you think, you'll definitely want to see it.

And that's our view. For more about Good Bones or to purchase tickets, visit publictheater.org/productions/season/2425/good-bones

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits:

All Blood of the Lamb production photos by Daniel Rader

All Good Bones production photos by Carol Rosegg

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Jackie Robinson Museum

We were given complimentary tickets to the Jackie Robinson Museum for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own 

What: Jackie Robinson Museum

Where: One Hudson Square Building

             75 Varick St.

             New York, NY 

Who: All ages

The Jackie Robinson Museum is about much more than just Jackie as a baseball player. This is not to underplay his significance to the sport as not only the first African American ever to play Major League Baseball but also one of the best players to play the game. However, Jackie was also a family man, a soldier, an entrepreneur, and more. The museum celebrates all of the facets of his life. 

It is quite comprehensive and includes numerous timelines. It is also very interactive and has a large number of videos and touch screens throughout. Plus there are plenty of pictures, objects, and artifacts on display. They include awards won by Robinson like his MVP award, his Rookie of the Year Award, and more. Other objects on display in the museum include various uniforms, posters, his plaque from the Baseball Hall of Fame, and much more. There are also plenty of pictures objects, and more on display in connection with the other aspects of his life.

It is extremely fun, fascinating, and informative and definitely worth a visit. If you are a history fan, a baseball fan and/or a Jackie Robinson fan, give yourself plenty of time when planning a visit. You're going to need it!

And that's our view. For more about the Jackie Robinson Museum or to purchase tickets online, visit www.jackierobinsonmuseum.org.

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, contact us here and we will look into the matter

Tips for Tuesday - Books: American Scary & House Plants and Their F*cked Up Thoughts

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

Books: American Scary and House Plants and Their F*cked Up Thoughts

Today we are talking about American Scary by Jeremy Dauber. This extremely comprehensive book about the horror genre covers all forms of media from books and comics to streaming shows, video games, and everything in between. It talks about numerous authors, screenwriters, and more some of whom most people have probably heard of like Stephen King and Wes Craven but also many of whom most people are not familiar with. It delves into the specifics of numerous books, TV shows, movies, etc.  Accordingly, there are spoilers so you might want to keep that in mind if you read it.  If you are a fan of horror, you're really going to love this book. Even if if you're not it is still a fascinating read. 

Today we are recommending House Plants and Their F*cked Up Thoughts by Carlyle Christoff. Within this snarky missive written as though it was told by the plants themselves is some real information about plants (I would double check on the ediblity before eating any of them, however as the author themselve recommends). Even if you don't care about plants at all, this book is a fun read.

Movies: Spirit of Friendship

Today we are recommending The Spirit of Friendship. This is a nice family film although not for the youngest of children who may be frightened by its subject matter, It is a story within a story about a pair of siblings dealing with the death of their grandfather who are helped by their father's recounting of meeting a man who helped him deal with his mother's death.

Although there are some typical movie cliches, there aren't as many as you would think. It is surprisingly and refreshingly unpredictable in a lot of ways. Plus, it is full of really nice moments of friendship between kids. 

The Spirit of Friendship is available for purchase or rental digitally now.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday,

All images except film images used in this post are our own.  Film images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, contact us here, and we will look into the matter

Giveaway: Win a copy of Unknown New York in the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop

hosted by Mama the Fox

The unknown can be scary so can big unfamiliar cities. New York City is particularly large, and it be overwhelming for those who don't know it that well. If you are unfamiliar with it, you probably aren't going to want to go exploring on your own, and you may not even known where to go anyway especially if you are looking for places that are off the beaten path not the ones that everybody thinks of right away. Unknown New York by Jesse Richards can help you with the latter. This exciting book is full of great places to visit and explore in the five boroughs of New York. Even if you aren't planning a visit, it is still fun to peruse this book and learn about these fascinating places. 

As Jesse is an artist and he discovered these places while traveling around with his sketch groups, the book is also full of his beautiful drawings. You are definitely going to want this lovely and informative book! For more about Unknown New York, see our previous post Tips for Tuesday - Books: Unknown New York. Enter to win a copy below:

Giveaway Dates 10/1 - 10/15

Giveaway Open to Ages 18+ US

a Rafflecopter giveaway Once you have entered our giveaway, hop around to the blogs listed below to see what other great prizes, you can enter to win.

Disclaimer: Hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors and self-sponsoring bloggers who do not fulfill prize obligations. Please also note that we have been having a huge problem with people not following giveaway entry requirements and/or claiming to follow our blog and/or any of our social media and not actually doing so. Accordingly, please remember that following all instructions for any and all giveaway entries is mandatory in order for that entry to count. Entries will be checked and those that do not follow all instructions will be disqualified. Please do not claim entry for following our blog, Twitter, or whatever if you do not actually do so. If you consistently enter our giveaways claiming to be a follower of our blog and/or social media and you are not you will be disqualified not only from any chance of winning our current giveaway but also from any chance of winning any future giveaways. If you do follow our blog and/ or social media, don't let your entry be disqualified be sure to leave your follower name and/or the exact name you commented under. All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here and we will look into the matter.

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here and we will look into the matter.