Sharon Epatha Merkerson (born November 28, 1952) is a film, stage, and television actress. She has received numerous high-profile accolades for her work, including an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four NAACP Image Awards, two Obie Awards, and two Tony Award nominations. She is known for her award-winning portrayal of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on Law & Order. She is known for playing Reba the Mail Lady on Pee-wee's Playhouse and Sharon Goodwin in Chicago Med. She has appeared on The Cosby Show, among other series. Her career began to rise after she assumed the lead role in the one-woman play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. That was followed by her performance as Berniece in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Piano Lesson. For that, she was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Play. She won an Obie Award in 1992 for her work in I'm Not Stupid. Her screen credits include Jacob's Ladder, Loose Cannons, She's Gotta Have It, James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day; and Navy Seals. She won a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance in Lackawanna Blues. She starred as Lola Delaney in the Los Angeles stage production of William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba. She played a role in Movie Radio, as Maggie Kennedy Radio’s mother. She became the host of Find Our Missing. She performed in Lincoln as Lydia Hamilton Smith. She appeared in the Primary Stages of production of While I Yet Live. She became a spokesperson for Merck America’s Diabetes Challenge, to increase Type 2 diabetes awareness among African Americans. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/ClgQa3ar0bV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Sharon Playhouse Music Man 2017

Chinglish

Bill English presents “Chinglish" at the San Francisco Playhouse. The play is written by David Henry Hwang and directed by Jeffrey Lo. It features a cast including Michael Barrett Austin as Daniel Cavanaugh, Matthew Bohrer as Peter Timms, Alex Hsu as Cai Guoliang, Sharon Shao as Miss Qian/Prosecutor Li, Nicole Tung as Xi Yan, Phil Wong as Bing/Judge Xu Geming, and Xun Zhang as Zhao. The play will run at SF Playhouse until June 10. Tickets are available at Sfplayhouse.org

The show is a hilarious romp at getting lost in translation that is common with the inter-mingling of multi-cultural characters/settings as in the play when a Cleveland based businessman decides to go to China to expand his Signs making business by translating signs in the upcoming construction of a cultural center.

Chinglish" is a comedic play written by David Henry Hwang, an acclaimed American playwright known for works like "M. Butterfly."

“Chinglish" explores cultural and linguistic barriers in the context of business relations between China and the Western world. It tells the story of an American businessman who travels to China to secure a lucrative contract but encounters numerous misunderstandings and cultural clashes due to language differences and cultural nuances.

The play uses humor to highlight the challenges of cross-cultural communication and sheds light on the complexities and misinterpretations that can arise in such situations. "Chinglish" has been praised for its witty dialogue and sharp observations about cultural differences. It provides an opportunity for audiences to reflect on the intricacies of language and cultural exchange in a globalized world.

Overall, "Chinglish" has received positive reviews for its clever writing and thought-provoking themes. However, theater experiences are subjective, and individual opinions may vary. It's always best to read multiple reviews or watch the play yourself to form your own judgment.

Renowned Playwright

David Henry Hwang is a renowned playwright known for his insightful works that explore themes of identity, culture, and Asian-American experiences. Some of his notable plays include:

1. "M. Butterfly" (1988): This Tony Award-winning play is Hwang's most famous work. It is a fictionalized retelling of the true story of a French diplomat who carries on a 20-year affair with a Chinese opera singer, unaware of his lover's true gender.

2. "Chinglish" (2011): A comedy that delves into the complexities of cross-cultural communication and business relations between China and the Western world. It humorously examines the challenges faced by an American businessman trying to navigate language and cultural barriers.

3. "Yellow Face" (2007): Blending fact and fiction, this play explores themes of racial identity and self-discovery. It follows Hwang's own experiences with the casting controversy surrounding his play "Face Value" and touches on broader issues of cultural representation in the entertainment industry.

4. "The Dance and the Railroad" (1981): Set in the 1860s, this play tells the story of two Chinese laborers working on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and their struggle to maintain their dignity and cultural identity in the face of adversity.

5. "Golden Child" (1996): Inspired by Hwang's own family history, this play examines the conflicts that arise when a traditional Chinese family in early 20th-century China embraces Western influences, particularly Christianity.

These are just a few examples of David Henry Hwang's works, but he has written many more plays and contributed to various other projects in the field of theater. His plays often explore themes of cultural assimilation, racial identity, and the complexities of East-West encounters.

US- China Relations History

The history of U.S.-China relations is complex and spans several decades. Here is a brief overview of some key milestones:

1. Early Relations: In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, U.S. traders established contact with China, primarily through the port of Canton (now Guangzhou). However, diplomatic relations were only established in 1844 with the Treaty of Wanghia.

2. Boxer Rebellion and Open Door Policy: In the early 20th century, the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) led to increased anti-foreigner sentiment in China. Following this, the United States advocated for an Open Door Policy to ensure equal commercial access for all nations in China.

3. World War II and the Civil War: During World War II, the United States and China were allies against the Axis powers. However, after the war, China descended into a civil war between the Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Communists under Mao Zedong.

4. Recognition of the People's Republic of China: In 1949, the Communists emerged victorious, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established. The United States initially did not recognize the PRC and continued to recognize Taiwan (Republic of China) as the legitimate government of China until 1979.

5. Ping Pong Diplomacy and Normalization: In the early 1970s, a series of events, including the "ping pong diplomacy" and secret negotiations, led to a thaw in U.S.-China relations. In 1972, President Richard Nixon visited China, and diplomatic relations were normalized in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter.

6. Trade and Economic Relations: Since the late 1970s, the U.S. and China have engaged in extensive trade and economic ties. China's economic reforms and opening up led to a significant increase in bilateral trade, with China becoming one of the United States' largest trading partners.

7. Human Rights and Political Differences: The U.S. and China have had ongoing disagreements over issues such as human rights, religious freedom, intellectual property rights, and cybersecurity. These differences have at times strained the bilateral relationship.

8. Taiwan and Hong Kong: The U.S. maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and has been a long-standing supporter of its security. The issue of Hong Kong's autonomy and the erosion of its freedoms have also become contentious topics in recent years.

9. Strategic Competition and Cooperation: In recent years, the U.S.-China relationship has become more complex, characterized by both cooperation and competition. Issues such as trade imbalances, intellectual property theft, cybersecurity, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and human rights concerns continue to impact the relationship.

It's important to note that the dynamics of U.S.-China relations are subject to change, and ongoing developments will shape the future trajectory of this significant bilateral relationship.

A spellbinding tale of two actors: Ed Dixon and "Georgie" Rose at the Sharon Playhouse

A spellbinding tale of two actors: Ed Dixon and “Georgie” Rose at the Sharon Playhouse

Ed Dixon quietly invokes the spirit of George Rose as the performance ends. Georgie: The Life and Death of George Rose Theatre Review by Larry Murray An actor’s memoirs are always fascinating since they often reveal the real person under the theatrical persona. Ed Dixon’s play about George Rose goes incredibly deep into the life of George Rose, but in so doing, we find that we are also learning…

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Sharon Epatha Merkerson in Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986)

Business Briefs: Community foundations partnership; Puciloski honored; ‘We Believe’ at Salisbury Bank; Hawthorne Valley expansion; Baldwin joins Sharon Playhouse Berkshire Taconic Group Basis in Sheffield, one of many 14 members of the brand new Massachusetts Group Foundations Partnership. Picture courtesy Berkshire Taconic Group Basis Group foundations announce new partnership to help nonprofits within the wake of COVID-19 Boston — A statewide coalition of neighborhood foundations has introduced the formation of... #baldwin #bank #briefs #business #community #correct_success #credit_score #expansion #finance #financial_management #foundations #hawthorne #honored #joins #partnership #playhouse #puciloski #salisbury #sharon #valley

I believe that this was Hugh’s first live solo concert since early 2020.  He was definitely very happy to be able to sing in front of an audience again.

This concert was outdoors on the Patio Stage of the Sharon Playhouse on a lovely August evening.  I have heard him sing “Music of the Night” on Broadway and many times in concert.  This may be the most beautiful intimate performance I have ever heard.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Music of the Night” from “Phantom of the Opera.”

Hugh Panaro with Tim Stella, piano; the Patio Stage of the Sharon Playhouse, Friday, August 6, 2021, Sharon, Connecticut

W

Waiting for Godot - Broadway - November 24, 2013 (Opening Night) (Lanelle's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (HD) CAST: Aidan Gemme (The Boy), Billy Crudup (Lucky), Ian McKellen (Estragon), Patrick Stewart (Vladimir), Shuler Hensley (Pozzo)

War Horse - West End - February 27, 2014 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  MKV (HD) CAST: Sion Daniel Young (Albert Narracott), Josie Walker (Rose Narracott), Alistair Brammer (Billy Narracott), Alex Avery (Captain Nicholls), Steve North (Ted Narracott), Tom Hodgkins (Arthur Narracott) NOTES: Multi-cam pro-shot broadcast live to cinemas as part of National Theatre Live, Includes interval interview and documentary. 

War Paint - Broadway - March 11, 2017 (Preview) (SunsetBlvd79's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (SD) CAST: Patti LuPone (Helena Rubinstein), Christine Ebersole (Elizabeth Arden), John Dossett (Tommy Lewis), Douglas Sills (Harry Fleming) NOTES: Beautiful HD capture of the Broadway transfer. Some changes for Broadway from the previous Goodman Theater production. Excellent performances from the entire cast with clear picture and great sound throughout; very good video. 2 DVDs. A War Paint - Broadway - April 29, 2017 (Matinee) (NYCG8R's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Patti LuPone (Helena Rubinstein), Christine Ebersole (Elizabeth Arden), John Dossett (Tommy Lewis), Douglas Sills (Harry Fleming) NOTES: The master gets caught during Face to Face. You can hear someone say “TURN IT OFF”. Blackout during that part. Wasted - Southwark Playhouse - 2018 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (HD) CAST: Matthew Jacobs Morgan (Branwell Brontë), Molly Lynch (Anne Brontë), Natasha Barnes (Charlotte Brontë), Siobhan Athwal (Emily Brontë) We Are The Tigers - Off-Broadway - March, 2019 (StarCuffedJeans's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (HD) CAST: Lauren Zakrin (Riley Williams), Wonu Ogunfowora (Cairo), Jenny Rose Baker (Kate Dalton), MiMi Scardulla (Reese), Kaitlyn Frank (Annleigh), Cathy Ang (Mattie Wheeler), Celeste Rose (Chess), Zoe Jensen (Farrah), Sydney Parra (Eva Sanchez), Louis Griffin (Clark) NOTES: Starts at the beginning of "I Just Wanna" and missing part of "Mattie's Lament." The theater was really full tonight so there are a good number of heads in this video, but they are worked around to the best of my ability. This is a super small theater (less than 160 seats) and at times the cast members were definitely singing to the camera and honestly giving their best performances because of it. All of the things on the upper level (the bathroom, the pathway, and the kitchen) are captured perfectly, and the zooms on the lower level (the living room and bench) look good as well. Obviously because this is a murder mystery kind of show the lighting can get a little bit dark, but my camera handles low lighting incredibly well. This is honestly the best video you could expect from this venue We Will Rock You - Germany (Cologne) - August, 2005 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Alex Melcher (Galileo), Vera Bolten (Scaramouche), Brigitte Oelke (Killer Queen), Martin Berger (Khashoggi), Michaela Kovarikova (Meat/Oz), DMJ (Brit/J.B.), James Sbano (Pop/Buddy/Bap), Harald Tauber (Teacher), Willemijn Verkaik NOTES: Multicam proshot We Will Rock You - Utrecht (The Netherlands) - October, 2010 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: John Vooijs (Galileo), Marjolein Teepen (Scaramouche), Pia Douwes (Killer Queen), Paul Donkers (Khashoggi), Floortje Smit (Meat/Oz), Ruud van Overdijk (Brit/J.B.), Rutger le Poole (Pop/Buddy/Bap) NOTES: Good capture. Heads in the way, but also a lot of good close-ups. Dubble DVD! We Will Rock You - West End - February 11, 2003 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Tony Vincent (Galileo), Hannah Jane Fox (Scaramouche), Sharon D Clarke (Killer Queen), Alexander Hanson (Khashoggi), Kerry Ellis (Meat/Oz), Nigel Clauzner (Brit/J.B.), Nigel Planer (Pop/Buddy/Bap) The Wedding Singer - Broadway - April 1, 2006 (Preview) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Stephen Lynch (Robbie Hart), Laura Benanti (Julia), Matthew Saldivar (Sammy), Kevin Cahoon (George), Rita Gardner (Rosie), Amy Spanger (Holly), Richard H Blake (Glen), Felicia Finley (Linda) NOTES: Includes pictures of outside of the theatre and playbill. This was before the changes were made to the production. Blackouts throughout the show. The Wedding Singer - Off-West End - March 1, 2020 (Matinee) (Closing Night) (Highlights) (queenofthedead's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Kevin Clifton (Robbie Hart), Rhiannon Chesterman (Julia), Ashley Emmerson (Sammy), Andrew Carthy (George), Sandra Dickinson (Rosie), Tara Verloop (Holly), Jonny Fines (Glen), Erin Bell (Linda), Lori Haley Fox (Angie), Andy Brady (David Fonda), Nathan Ryles (Harold Fonda), Jordan Crouch (Donnie), Aimee Moore (Tiffany), Simon Anthony (Shane McDonough), Paris Green (Donatella), Vanessa Grace Lee (Donatella’s Mother), Morgan Jackson (Mookie), Ellie Seaton (Crystal) NOTES: 38 minutes of act 1 of the closing performance, unobstructed. Welcome To The Club - Broadway - April 8, 1989 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Avery Schreiber (Milton), Bill Buell (Gus), Jodi Benson (Betty), Marcia Mitzman (Carol), Marilyn Sokol (Arlene), Sally Mayes (Winona), Samuel E Wright (Bruce), Scott Waara (Kevin), Scott Wentworth (Aaron), Terri White (Eve) NOTES: Filmed during previews. Well filmed from the balcony. Mostly a full stage shot. Some generational loss. Wenn Rosenblätter Fallen - Oberhausen - June 13, 2016 (Rumpel's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Pia Douwes (Rose), Anton Zetterholm (Till), Annemieke van Dam (Iris)  

West Side Story - Hollywood Bowl - July 19, 2016 (SJ Bernly's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Jeremy Jordan (Tony), Solea Pfeiffer (Maria), Karen Olivo (Anita), Matthew James Thomas (Riff), George Akram (Bernardo), Drew Foster (Action), Jose Moreno Brooks (Chino), Anthony C Chatmon II (A-Rab), Kyle Selig (Baby John), Mike Schwitter (Big Deal), Jeff Smith (Diesel), Kevin Chamberlin (Krupke), Jennifer Sanchez (Rosalia), Erica Dorfler (Consuela) NOTES: This concert version of the show is abridged with shortened scenes, simple costumes, and no sets or choreography, but Jeremy, Solea, and Karen are absolutely phenomenal with soaring vocals and emotional performances. Very well captured with no dropouts, no obstruction, and no washout. The stage is filmed directly most of the time; the screens are occasionally filmed, usually when the actors are not onstage. It’s filmed in 16:9, with a mix of wides, mediums, and close-ups. The sound is excellent. Includes curtain call and playbill scans. West Side Story - Leicester Curve - December, 2019 (queenofthedead's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (HD) CAST: Jamie Muscato (Tony), Adriana Ivelisse (Maria), Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anita), Ronan Burns (Riff), Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez (Bernardo), Isaac Gryn (Action), Damian Buhagiar (Chino), Ryan Anderson (A-Rab), Alex Christian (Baby John), Dale White (Big Deal), Michael O’Reilly (Diesel), Beth Hinton-Lever (Anybodys), Darren Bennett (Lt. Schrank), Christopher Wright (Krupke), Christopher Wright (Doc), Darren Bennett (Glad Hand), Mireia Mambo (Rosalia), Abigail Climer (Consuela), Thea Bunting (Graziella), Katie Lee (Velma), Richard Appiah-Sarpong (Pepe), Dominic Sibanda (Indio) NOTES: Missing 7 minutes at the beginning. No dropouts and no obstruction. West Side Story - Second Broadway Revival - February 23, 2009 (Preview) (SunsetBlvd79's master) FORMAT:  VOB (no smalls) (SD) CAST: Matt Cavenaugh (Tony), Josefina Scaglione (Maria), Karen Olivo (Anita), Cody Green (Riff), George Akram (Bernardo), Curtis Holbrook (Action), Joey Haro (Chino), Kyle Coffman (A-Rab), Ryan Steele (Baby John), Tro Shaw (Anybodys), Steve Bassett (Lt. Schrank), Lee Sellars (Krupke), Greg Vinkler (Doc) NOTES: Stunning production of this revival. Josefina and Karen still steal the show. The cast was on fire and there was a lot of energy in the audience as it was the first performance on Broadway. There are some changes from the DC run, which work better. Beautiful production and capture with no obstructions. West Side Story - Second Broadway Revival - November 16, 2009 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Matt Cavenaugh (Tony), Josefina Scaglione (Maria), Karen Olivo (Anita), Wes Hart (u/s Riff), George Akram (Bernardo), Eric Hatch (u/s Action), Joey Haro (Chino), Kyle Coffman (A-Rab), Brendon Stimson (u/s Baby John), Joshua Buscher (Diesel), Mike Cannon (Snowboy), Kaitlin Mesh (Anybodys), Steve Bassett (Lt. Schrank), Lee Sellars (Krupke), Mark Zimmerman (s/b Doc), Lindsay Estelle Dunn (Velma), Michael Williams (u/s Pepe), Kaitlin Mesh (Zaza) West Side Story - Third Broadway Revival - January 6, 2020 (Preview) FORMAT:  MKV (HD) CAST: Jordan Dobson (u/s Tony), Mia Pinero (u/s Maria), Yesenia Ayala (Anita), Corey John Snide (u/s Riff), Amar Ramasar (Bernardo), Dharon E Jones (Action), Jacob Guzman (Chino), Kevin Csolak (A-Rab), Matthew Johnson (Baby John), Tyler Eisenreich (Big Deal), Ahmad Simmons (Diesel), Daniel Ching (Snowboy), Zuri Noelle Ford (Anybodys), Thomas Jay Ryan (Lt. Schrank), Danny Wolohan (Krupke), Daniel Oreskes (Doc), Pippa Pearthree (Glad Hand), Lorna Courtney (Rosalia), Gabi Campo (Consuela), Marissa Brown (Francisca), Alexa de Barr (Graziella), Madison Vomastek (Velma), Gus Reed (Gee-tar), John Snide (Tiger), Carlos Gonzales (Pepe), Ricky Ubeda (Indio), Roman Cruz (Luis), Israel del Rosario (Anxious), Michaela Marfori (Nibbles), Marc Crousillat (Juano), Sheldon True (Toro), Stephanie Crousillat (Teresita), Marlon Geliz (Estella), Satori Folkes-Stone (Margarita), Uni-Seng Francois (Minnie), Jennifer Gruener (Pauline) NOTES: Wideshot. Stage right is slightly obstructed due to where the master was sitting. Good audio. SD M4V (567.0 MB) West Side Story - UK Tour - May 23, 2009 FORMAT:  MP4 (HD) CAST: Daniel Koek (Tony), Hazel Gardner (u/s Maria), Jayde Westaby (Anita), Edd Post (u/s Riff), Dan Burton (Bernardo), Aki Omoshaybi (Chino), Ged Simmons (Lt. Schrank), Martin Chaimberain (Krupke) When We're Gone - Joe's Pub (2014) - March 12, 2014 FORMAT:  MP4 (HD) CAST: Gerard Canonico (Todd), Jeremy Kushnier (John), Luke Wygodny (Ashton), Hannah Whitney (Rosie), Eric William Morris (Colin), Bradley Dean (William) NOTES: Concert performance.   

The Wild Party (Lippa) - Encores! Off-Center - July 17, 2015 (SunsetBlvd79's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Sutton Foster (Queenie), Steven Pasquale (Burrs), Brandon Victor Dixon (Black), Joaquina Kalukango (Kate), Miriam Shor (Madeline True), Talene Monahon (Mae), Ryan Andes (Eddie) NOTES: Excellent HD capture from the Encores Summer Series! The cast was terrific and full of energy giving everything they had. Great to see these songs performed again by this caliber of talent! A The Wild Party (Lippa) - Off-Broadway - 2000 (Highlights) (Press Reel's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Julia Murney (Queenie), Brian d'Arcy James (Burrs), Taye Diggs (Black), Idina Menzel (Kate), Alix Korey (Madeline True), Charles Dillon (Oscar d'Armano), Kevin Cahoon (Phil d'Armano), James Delisco Beeks (Max), Todd Anderson (Reno), Jennifer Cody (Mae), Kena Tangi Dorsey (Dolores), Felicia Finley (Rose Himmelsteen), Peter Kapetan (Sam Himmelsteen), Lawrence Keigwin (Jackie), Charlie Marcus (The Neighbor), Kristin McDonald (Nadine), Raymond Jaramillo McLeod (Eddie), Steven Pasquale (Cop), Megan Sikora (Peggy), Ron Todorowski (Kegs), Amanda Watkins (Ellie) The Winter's Tale - West End - November 26, 2015 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (SD) CAST: Kenneth Branagh (Leontes), Dame Judi Dench (Paulina), Miranda Raison (Hermione), Jessie Buckley (Perdita), Hadley Fraser (Polixenes), Tom Bateman (Florizel), John Dagleish (Autolycus) The Winter's Tale - West End - November 26, 2015 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (HD) CAST: Kenneth Branagh (Leontes), Dame Judi Dench (Paulina), Miranda Raison (Hermione), Jessie Buckley (Perdita), Hadley Fraser (Polixenes), Tom Bateman (Florizel), John Dagleish (Autolycus) The Witches of Eastwick - UK Tour - April 4, 2009 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: James Graeme (Clyde), Marti Pellow (Darryl), Poppy Tierney (Jane), Rachel Izen (Felicia), Rebecca Thornhill (Sukie), Ria Jones (Alex) NOTES: Beautifully filmed from the balcony, with a great mix of close-ups and full stage shots. Crystal clear. Widescreen. The Wiz - NBC Live! - December 3, 2015 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (4K) CAST: Shanice Williams (Dorothy), David Alan Grier (Lion), Ne-Yo (Tinman), Elijah Kelley (Scarecrow), Uzo Aduba (Glinda), Queen Latifah (The Wiz), Mary J Blige (Evillene), Stephanie Mills (Aunt Em), Amber Riley (Addaperle) NOTES: A live production of the 1975 musical The Wiz produced for television; excellent video. A+ The Wizard of Oz (Webber) - First National Tour - September 28, 2013 FORMAT:  VOB (no smalls) (SD) CAST: Danielle Wade (Dorothy Gale), Jamie McKnight (Scarecrow/Hunk), Mike Jackson (Tin Man/Hickory), Lee MacDougall (Cowardly Lion/Zeke), Jacquelyn Piro Donovan (The Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch), Cedric Smith (The Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel), Robin Evan Willis (Glinda the Good Witch), Charlotte Moore (Aunt Em/Munchkin Barrister), Larry Mannell (Uncle Henry/Philippe/Head Guard) NOTES: Nice capture of Andrew Lloyd Webber's re-imagined classic; no obstruction and very little washout; a few quick dropouts in act one and a couple in act two, only last about three minutes all together; filmed in 16:9 with a mix of wides, mediums,and close-ups. The Woman in Black - West End - July 8, 2001 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Christopher Ravenscroft (Arthur Kipps), Sebastian Harcombe (The Actor) The Woman in White - Broadway - November 30, 2005 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Adam Brazier (Walter Hartwright), Angela Christian (Anne Catherick), Jill Paice (Laura Fairlie), Lisa Brescia (Marian Halcombe), Michael Ball (Count Fosco), Ron Bohmer (Sir Percival Glyde)  

The Woman in White - West End - February 25, 2005 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Maria Friedman, Michael Ball, Adrian der Gregorian (u/s), Oliver Darley, Jill Paice, Elinor Collett (u/s) NOTES: Nice video with good closeups and zooms and great sound. Woman of the Year - Broadway - March 27, 1982 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Lauren Bacall (Tess Harding), Harry Guardino (Sam Craig), Eivind Harum (Alexi Petrikov), Roderick Cook (Gerald), Grace Keagy (Helga), Jamie Ross (Larry Donovan), Marilyn Cooper (Jan Donovan), Rex Everhart (Maury) NOTES: Good color video with clear sound with some generation loss, but a nice video. B+ Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - Broadway - December 29, 2010 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Sherie Rene Scott (Pepa), Laura Benanti (Candela), Patti LuPone (Lucia), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Ivan), Justin Guarini (Carlos), de’Adre Aziza (Paulina), Danny Burstein (Taxi Driver), Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Marisa), Mary Beth Peil (Pepa's Concierge/TV and Radio Announcer), Samantha Shafer (u/s Woman at Train/Ana) NOTES: Also includes press reels, cast/creative interviews and video of David Yazbek singing songs from the show.

  Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - Broadway - January 2, 2011 (Matinee) FORMAT:  MP3 (tracked) CAST: Sherie Rene Scott (Pepa), Laura Benanti (Candela), Patti LuPone (Lucia), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Ivan), Justin Guarini (Carlos), de’Adre Aziza (Paulina), Danny Burstein (Taxi Driver), Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Marisa), Mary Beth Peil (Pepa's Concierge/TV and Radio Announcer), Samantha Shafer (u/s Woman at Train/Ana) NOTES: Also includes press reels, cast/creative interviews and video of David Yazbek singing songs from the show. Wonderful Town - Television Production - November 30, 1958 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Rosalind Russell (Ruth Sherwood), Sydney Chaplin (Robert Baker), Jacquelyn McKeever (Eileen Sherwood), Joseph Buloff (Mr. Appopolous), Dort Clark (Chick Clark), Jordan Bentley (Wreck), Cris Alexander (Frank Lippencott), Jack Fletcher (Night Club Patron), Michele Burke (Helen Wade), Ted Beniades (“Speedy” Valenti), Isabella Hoopes (Mrs. Wade), Ray Weaver (Shore Patrolman), Gene Carrons (Violet), John Wheeler (Officer Lonigan), Don Grusso (Fireman) Wonderland - Broadway - March 23, 2011 (Preview) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Janet Dacal (Alice), Kate Shindle (Mad Hatter), Carly Rose Sonenclar (Chloe/Ellie), Edward Staudenmayer (The White Rabbit), Karen Mason (Queen of Hearts), Darren Ritchie (Jack the White Knight), E Clayton Cornelious (Caterpillar), Jose Llana (El Gato/Chesire Cat), Danny Stiles (Morris the March Hare), Darren Ritchie (The Victorian Gentleman), Karen Mason (Edwina) NOTES: Very limited trade 3:1 at the master's request. Wonderland - Broadway - April 2, 2011 (Preview) (SunsetBlvd79's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (SD) CAST: Janet Dacal (Alice), Kate Shindle (Mad Hatter), Carly Rose Sonenclar (Chloe/Ellie), Edward Staudenmayer (The White Rabbit), Karen Mason (Queen of Hearts), Darren Ritchie (Jack the White Knight), E Clayton Cornelious (Caterpillar), Jose Llana (El Gato/Chesire Cat), Danny Stiles (Morris the March Hare), Darren Ritchie (The Victorian Gentleman), Karen Mason (Edwina) NOTES: Beautiful bright capture of this short lived show that only played 31 previews and 33 performances. I thought this show was very enjoyable and fun with great music. Great performances and voices from the cast! A+ Wonderland - Broadway - May 12, 2011 (juniper47's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Janet Dacal (Alice), Kate Shindle (Mad Hatter), Carly Rose Sonenclar (Chloe/Ellie), Edward Staudenmayer (The White Rabbit), Karen Mason (Queen of Hearts), Darren Ritchie (Jack the White Knight), E Clayton Cornelious (Caterpillar), Jose Llana (El Gato/Chesire Cat), Danny Stiles (Morris the March Hare) NOTES: Filmed in widescreen with very few obstructions except for a head blocking the farthest corners of downstage stage left and right, but very little is missed there. Very good video and excellent picture and sound. Wonderland - Broadway - May 12, 2011 (juniper47's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Janet Dacal (Alice), Kate Shindle (Mad Hatter), Carly Rose Sonenclar (Chloe/Ellie), Edward Staudenmayer (The White Rabbit), Karen Mason (Queen of Hearts), Darren Ritchie (Jack the White Knight), E Clayton Cornelious (Caterpillar), Jose Llana (El Gato/Chesire Cat), Danny Stiles (Morris the March Hare) NOTES: Filmed in widescreen with very few obstructions except for a head blocking the farthest corners of downstage stage left and right, but very little is missed there. Very good video and excellent picture and sound. Wonderland - UK Tour - June 10, 2017 (Matinee) (bestworstcase's master) FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Rachael Wooding (Alice), Francesca Lara Gordon (u/s Mad Hatter), Naomi Morris (Chloe/Ellie), Dave Willetts (The White Rabbit), Wendi Peters (Queen of Hearts), Stephen Webb (Jack the White Knight), Kayi Ushe (Caterpillar), Dominic Owen (El Gato/Chesire Cat), Ben Kerr (Morris the March Hare) NOTES: DVD menu states June 6 2017 matinee, but all other evidence, even the master's weebly claim it's June 10 2017. Good video! Wonderland (Beth Steel Play) - Hampstead Theatre - July 14, 2014 (Pro-Shot's master) FORMAT:  MP4 (SD) CAST: Unknown NOTES: Livestreamed April 2020. The Worst Witch - West End - August 22, 2019 (Matinee) (wheredidtherockgo's master) FORMAT:  MTS CAST: Danielle Bird (Mildred Hubble), Rosie Abraham (Ethel Hallow), Molly-Grace Cutler (Miss Bat/Piano/Guitar/Cello/Dulcimer), Meg Forgan (Fenella Feverfew/Bass Guitar), Rachel Heaton (Miss Hardbroom), Rebecca Killick (Maud Spellbody), Emma Lau (Drusilla Paddock), Megan Leigh Mason (Miss Drill/Guitar/Drums/Percussion/Clarinet/Bass Guitar), Polly Lister (Agatha/Miss Cackle), Consuela Rolle (Enid Nightshade), Lauryn Redding (Griselda Blackwood/Sax) NOTES: A very good show! It’s a show aimed more toward kids so there was a lot of kids in the audience. An amazing performance by Polly Lister as Agatha/Miss Cackle in particular. The Wrong Man - Off-Broadway - November, 2019 (StarCuffedJeans's master) FORMAT:  MP3 (untracked) CAST: Joshua Henry (Duran), Ciara Renée (Mariana), Ryan Vasquez (Man in Black), Amber Pickens, Anoop Desai, Debbie Christine Tjong, Julius Williams, Libby Lloyd, Malik Shabazz Kitchen, Tilly Evans-Krueger NOTES: Near perfect HD capture of this new Off-Broadway show with fabulous performances by the whole cast. There is some wandering throughout but overall a very centered orchestra video with extremely vivid colors. Please do not post screenshots of this video on Twitter ever. Gifs on Tumblr are okay after the NFT date, but don't go linking things to actors and shows. Das Wunder von Bern - Hamburg - July 6, 2015 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Ruben (Matthias Lubanski), Vera Bolten (Christa Lubanski), Patrick Imhof (alt. Richard Lubanski), Marie Lumpp (Ingrid Lubanski), Patrick A. Stamme (alt. Bruno Lubanski), Elisabeth Hübert (Anette Ackermann), Florian Soyka (alt. Paul Ackermann), Robin Brosch (Sepp Herberger(Bohse), Jogi Kaiser (Tiburski/Putzfrau/Adi Dassler), Tetje Mierendorf (Pfarrer Keuchel), Alexandra Farkic/Franziska Trunte/Esther Mink (Wunderfräulein), Dominik Hees (Helmut Rahn), Mark Weigel (Fritz Walter), Dennis Henschel (Berni Klodt), Robin Koger (Horst Eckel), Matteo Vigna (Max Morlock), Hendrik Schall (Toni Turek), Matt Cox (Werner Kohlmeyer), Daniel Therrien (Ottmar Walter), Giuliano Mercoli (Josef Posipal), Fabian Kaiser (u/s Karl mai/Fußballartist), Dominik Kaiser (Hans Schäfer/Fußballartist) NOTES: This video was recorded right after some changes on the show were made (doesn't include the new song which will be published on 11th July, 2015). Full show; beautiful picture quality and nice close-ups but rather shaky in the beginning/end of both acts Das Wunder von Bern - Hamburg - July 23, 2015 FORMAT:  VOB (with smalls) (SD) CAST: Tanja Schön (u/s Christa Lubanski), Patrick Imhof (alt Richard Lubanski), Marie Lumpp (Ingrid Lubanski), David Jakobs (Bruno Lubanski), Shari Lynn Stewen (alt Anette Ackermann), Patrick A Stamme (alt Paul Ackermann), Mark Weigel (Sepp Herberger/Bohse), Michael Ophelders (alt Tiburski/Putzfrau im Hotel/Adi Dassler), Tetje Mierendorf (Pfarrer Keuchel), Alexandra Farkic (Wunderfräulein), Amaya Keller (Wunderfräulein), Franziska Trunte (Wunderfräulein), Dominik Hees (Helmut Rahn), Florian Soyka (alt Fritz Walter), Hendrik Schall (alt Berni Klodt), Robin Koger (Horst Eckel), Matteo Vigna (Max Morlock), Fabian Kaiser (Toni Turek), James Cook (Werner Kohlmeyer), Daniel Therrien (Ottmar Walter), Pasha Antonov (Josef Posipal), Adrian Fogel (Kar Mai/Fußballartist), Dominik Kaiser (Hans Schäfer/Fußballartist) NOTES: "Julius" as Matthias Lubanski. Full show. Great picture quality and beautiful close-ups, though some little obstruction due a railing. The last few minutes of both acts are shot blind without zooms but still capturing the action on stage

MUN FACT LIST!

(Happy Munday! Let your followers get to know you!)

Name : its on a need to know basis sorry

Nickname / s: Midori

Height : 5′10′

Nationality : ‘Merican!  (Spaniard, French, Russian, Irish, Filipino, Japanese, English, and some German. i’m a mutt)

Favourite fruit : Lychees, pinapple and Strawberries

Favourite season : Winter

Favourite scents : Lavender, cotton candy, bergamot

Favourite animals : Manatees, big cats, SLOTHS!!, thylacines

Phone : Iphone 7

# of Siblings : 3 younger

Hogwarts house : Slytherin

Last Music Video You Watched: diabalos - gackt

Number of blankets : one or two

Dream trip : probably iceland or back to japan

Astrological sign : cancer, water dog

Tea, coffee, hot cocoa :  tea (iced or hot no added anything), mugicha

Average hours of sleep : 3-12 it depends

When my blog was created : this blog? sometime in May of 2019 but i’ve been on this hellsite for like more than 11 years now

# of followers : at the moment? 37

Random fact : I danced at the Obon festival every year at the Buddhist center since I was like five.

Favourite food : omg i love food... probably unagi though okonomiyaki comes in second

Favourite t.v. shows :  the office! uhmm... the simpsons treehouse of horror, paranormal caught on tape, the x files, castlevania, peewees playhouse

Favourite movie : legend by ridley scott, Labyrinth, never ending story, interview with a vampire, the dark crystal, the great out doors, ghost busters (original), swing kids, lost boys, HOWLS MOVING CASTLE

Favourite vine : what like wine? Uhhh moscato

Sexuality : its there somewhere...

Pronouns : im a girl?

Favourite book series : jfc really? I have like 800+books in my nook! um... Eschaton Cycle series by Matt Larkin, Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (she’s my queen), The sandman series by Neil Gaiman (i’m a total slut for neil’s work), the Archangel series by Sharon Shinn, the first 10 anita blake books by Laurell K Hamilton, of course A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM, Lord of the rings and the hobbit by Tolkien uhhh... ya’ll i work in a bookstore okay i have a lot!

Favourite video game / s : Final Fantasy!, Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, CASTLEVANIA!!, Vampire Hunter D, Devil May Cry, Tetris (the og one), Street Fighter, Super Mario Bros., Mario Cart

Last time I cried / why? : like probably an hour or two ago because my mom is an asshole

Favourite fandoms : I don’t have any because the ones I used to be in became toxic as fuck because of certain people (my ex) so I’d have to say non.

Include a favorite picture of yourself! :  

Presented by The Mono Box and Apatan Productions, Reset the Stage consists of a series of short films featuring actors Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Star Wars: Rogue One), Ken Nwosu (Killing Eve) and Danny Kirrane (Don’t Forget the Driver); and introduced by Patrons of The Mono Box: Sir Derek Jacobi, Youssef Kerkour, Susan Wokoma and James Norton.

Dipo Baruwa-Etti’s The Madness is performed by Sharon Duncan-Brewster at the Almeida Theatre; Screams by Kiran Benawra is performed by Thalissa Teixeira at the Arcola Theatre; Daniel by Charles Entsie is performed by Ken Nwosu at the Bush Theatre; Roberta Livingston’s Joy is performed by Joan Iyiola at the Young Vic; maatin’s Sharia’s Law is performed by Shane Zaza at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; Rush by Sid Sagar is performed by Danny Kirrane at the Southwark Playhouse; and Cynthia by Vivan Xie is performed by Isabella Laughland at the Soho Theatre.

Through mentorship with leading playwrights including Duncan Macmillan, Alice Birch, Lucy Prebble and Theresa Ikoko these seven young writers have been encouraged to speak boldly about where they are and where they would like to be. Directed by Roberta Zuric, Reset the Stage also partnered with creator of photographic series Our Empty Theatre - Helen Murray.

All ticket sales will raise money for the continual work of the company nurturing and providing opportunities to emerging theatre talent.

The nominees for the 20th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards have been announced.

The WhatsOnStage Awards are the only major UK theatre awards in which the audience are the judges.

All professional productions that began between December 2018 and November 2019 are eligible in 21 of the 25 categories, with four exceptions – Best Regional Production, Best Off-West End Production, the Equity Award and the Best West End Show category, which will be rebranded for this year's ceremony, with more details being announced imminently.

This year, the nominees for the nine creative categories (Choreography, Costume Design, Direction, Graphic Design, Lighting Design, Musical Direction, Set Design, Sound Design and Video Design) have been decided by an independent panel of industry experts appointed by WhatsOnStage. Their shortlist will then be voted on by the general public.

In the acting categories, the Best Actor in a Play Award sees previously nominated Andrew Scott, alongside Matt Smith, Wendell Pierce and Laurie Kynaston, up against 2015 award winner Tom Hiddleston. Hiddleston's co-stars Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox were also nominated for their performances in Jamie Lloyd's Betrayal in the West End, with Ashton facing off against Claire Foy, Hayley Atwell, Sharon D Clarke and Juliet Stevenson in the Best Actress Category.

The musical categories were dominated by & Juliet (13 nominations), while Jamie Lloyd's production of Evita at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre was nominated for eight. Both new musical Waitress and the Hope Mill Theatre's revival of Mame were nominated for seven.

The Old Vic received 13 nominations, the most of any producing house, with its production of Present Laughter receiving eight nominations. Nominees were recognised from all over the country – with shows in Manchester, London, Leicester, Sheffield and on tour featuring in the list of nominees.

Voting closes on 27 January 2020, with the winners being revealed at a ceremony at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 1 March 2020.

Details about replacements for the Best West End Show category will be revealed soon.

Voting for the winners is open now

The full list of nominees:

Best Actor in a Play, sponsored by Edwardian Hotels

Tom Hiddleston – Betrayal – Harold Pinter Theatre Andrew Scott – Present Laughter – The Old Vic Matt Smith – Lungs – The Old Vic Wendell Pierce – Death of a Salesman – Young Vic / Piccadilly Theatre Laurie Kynaston – The Son – Kiln Theatre / Duke of York's Theatre

Best Actress in a Play, sponsored by Tonic Theatre

Claire Foy – Lungs – The Old Vic Zawe Ashton – Betrayal – Harold Pinter Theatre Hayley Atwell – Rosmersholm – Duke of York's Theatre Sharon D Clarke – Death of a Salesman – Young Vic / Piccadilly Theatre Juliet Stevenson – The Doctor – Almeida Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Play

Alexander Vlahos – Peter Pan – Park Theatre Charlie Cox – Betrayal – Harold Pinter Theatre Hareet Deol – My Beautiful Laundrette – A Curve Leicester, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Leeds Playhouse co-production Hammed Animashaun – A Midsummer Night's Dream – Bridge Theatre Giles Terera – Rosmersholm – Duke of York's Theatre

Best Play Revival, sponsored by JHI Marketing

Betrayal – Harold Pinter Theatre Death of a Salesman – Young Vic / Piccadilly Theatre Present Laughter– The Old Vic A Midsummer Night's Dream – Bridge Theatre Lungs – The Old Vic

*note from me: Tom didn’t win in 2015; David Tennant did

Marcella Meharg

The Fountain Theatre community is a devoted band of folk who love theatre and often, one another. Normally The Fountain enjoys shining a light on members of our theatre family in our show programs. During this 2020 pandemic, however, with no show programs to print, The Fountain continues our tradition of honoring members of our devoted community here on the Fountain Blog.

Happy 90th Birthday Marcella Meharg!

Today we honor Marcella Meharg — on the occasion of her recent 90th birthday, and her life-long love of theatre — with two tributes. The first comes from a group of old friends who made a generous contribution in honor of Marcella’s milestone celebration:

“We are a group of former colleagues who worked for Los Angeles County as child welfare workers in the Metro North office in East Hollywood. We met Marcella in the early 70s. From colleagues to friends, we bonded over the years as we worked, raised our children, went to school and lived our lives. Lunches during the work day were a time to catch up. After retirement, lunches became monthly dinners and/or monthly lunches and have continued for over 15 years. The theater has always been an important part of Marcella’s life. Others in the group also have regular subscriptions to theaters in Los Angeles and the Fountain Theatre is one of our favorites. During this pandemic and difficult times for the arts, it seemed so appropriate that Marcella’s gift on the occasion of her 90th birthday would be a donation to the Fountain Theatre. ” Selma Anderson Sheila Beving Ellen Broms Kay Erland Carol Fox Elayne Landy Bill Lewis Sharon Mayer Elaine Smitham Julie Wheeler Rochelle Ventura

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The second tribute comes from Sylvie Drake, whose own contributions to Los Angeles’ theatre community are legendary. She is a former theatre critic and columnist for the Los Angeles Times and graduate of The Pasadena Playhouse. She is a current contributor to culturalweekly.com and member of the American Theatre Critics Association.

“Marcella Meharg and I did not choose one another. We were thrown together, like it or not, in a dormitory room at the Pasadena Playhouse when we were 19. And it took. It took so well that, when she came down with a light case of the chickenpox, she eagerly passed it on to me, improved and with bells on. I was sick as a dog. That nasty little episode only drew us closer together. It’s the kind of thing that happens when you’re young, in “theatre school,” mutually passionate about the “art,” the success you’re certain will follow, the boy-friends and assorted other wonders. You form bonds — good and bad — that become indelible. Our post-Playhouse lives took paths that were at once divergent and not. We didn’t hit fame and fortune, but each of us married and each had two children at roughly the same time. Life went on, separating us as it often does, but not forever.

Marcella became a social worker and went on to run the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild’s Julie Harris Playwriting Contest for a number of years. She also co-produced an Ovation-nominated play and wrote one, which had a reading at Hollywood’s Samuel French Bookstore just before it went dark.

By the time we were both older and ready to take a step back, we rediscovered our friendship on a pleasant leisurely basis. By then I was writing reviews more selectively for culturalweekly.com than when I was writing them for The Los Angeles Times, and Marcella became my go-to theatre companion, chiefly because our tastes in theatre matched and our lengthy relationship made for lively conversations that we both enjoyed. What was invigorating is that we didn’t always admire the same productions and our disagreements were often more interesting than our agreements — until the pandemic hit, interrupting all the fun and the tooling around town, popping in and out of shows.

When some of Marcella’s friends smartly decided to celebrate her 90th birthday by contributing in her name to a theatre of her choice, the decision, she tells me, was easy. The Fountain is where we both spent many fascinating hours and hope to spend many more once the world returns to some kind of normal.

Happy birthday, Marcella. I’ve always known you had good judgment.” – Sylvie Drake

Do you have a Fountain family member you would like to honor? Let us know. Email us at [email protected]

Fountain Spotlight: Marcella Meharg The Fountain Theatre community is a devoted band of folk who love theatre and often, one another.

"Big River" at Sharon (CT) Playhouse has energy and panache

“Big River” at Sharon (CT) Playhouse has energy and panache

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Lot’s Wife. Sharon D. Clarke. Playhouse Theatre. 

no one is probably awake for this but i have a sharon/sam idea i want to share!

okay so this originally was supposed to be a winteriron fic but i decided to change it to sharon/sam with background winteriron because of reasons (mainly i just want more sharon & sam content) and it’s basically an au of a playhouse 90 ep called requiem for a heavyweight (which you can watch here if u haven’t seen it—which i really recommend that u guys do bc it’s so good!!). 

but like it’s basically gonna be about sam who was this big boxer that is now at the end of his career (he lost his last fight to a new and younger boxer and his doctor was like dude u gotta stop boxing bc his next fight could possibly blind or even kill him), and sam’s like “what? but boxing is all i know!! i’ve been doing it since i was 18!!” and sam is like scare to do anything new. but eventually sam is like “fine, alright i’ll quit!” 

and so his cut man, bucky, takes him to an employment agency where he meets sharon, the worker who is trying to help sam transition careers. and bitch!! sam??? he’s a smitten fool when he mets and starts talking to sharon. sharon suggests that sam work with kids at like a summer camp. and then they end up going on a cute lil date a few days later and they’re v cute and shy with each other.

but then later sam’s manager, idk who yet—maybe rumlow????, finds out about sam trying to quit boxing and said manager gets mad and convinces sam to try professional wrestling. and then bucky finds out about this and tells sam that said manager has been betting against him in his fights and the only reason manager is so eager for sam to do wrestling is bc manager owes money to the mafia. and then sam gets pissed and ends up leaving (probably to go sulk in his apartment). 

bucky and tony then met up sharon and the three of them talk and at the end of their lil meet up bucky and tony give sharon a train ticket for her to give to sam. later sharon gives the ticket to sam and is like “you should go back home for a bit” and sam’s like “yeah, i’ll probably will. gotta get myself ready to help out with the kids this summer.” and then the two idiots smile at each other, kiss, sam leaves but comes back and finally gets together with sharon and they have the most beautiful wedding, have double dates with bucky and tony, and have the cutest kids! 

The first steps..

Hello world. My name is Lauren. I live in Kentucky. 

I am creating this blog to capture my thoughts and catalog my experiences while outside. In doing that, I am also going to try to sum up my backstory. Sometimes my summations can be long-winded, we'll see what happens.

Growing up, I was one of those kids that knew what they wanted to do, in a broad sense. As long as it was outside, preferably with animals, you could count me in. It began when I was 6, if not earlier, where the main space I occupied at our house was the backyard. While we lived in an urban area and the backyard itself was reasonably small, it offered different areas for me to explore such as a small tree, a playhouse, and a row of shrubs. The tree was a native flowering dogwood and the shrubs are a nonnative Rose of Sharon. It wasn’t until years later that I could identify these species for myself, but they imprinted themselves during these formative years so I could easily recall them as I began to learn identification. Anyways, the dogwood was next to the playhouse that my dad built for my siblings and I. When I say “playhouse”, that is an understatement; it stood at about 7 feet tall with a square foot of at least 30, had a front porch, windows, and knowing my dad I’m sure it had shingles and siding that I don’t remember. I would make mud pies on the front porch and bury small toys around the house like a squirrel saving them for later. The small tree offered a way to vertically explore and I felt as safe on the low hanging branches as I did in the playhouse. I collected rocks, watched the carpenter bees working on our porch, and learned to climb higher in the tree. Then we moved and I explored again. This house had no fence except for berries that lined the ditch in the back where I would look for frogs. After a year, we moved again, to a house with a very nice sized back yard and I quickly began to explore. Behind the garage, where you could play for hours unseen, there was a large tree where a tire swing was installed with my oldest brother’s old lasso. A turtle pin (yes, with live turtles) was created around the azalea bushes and I would monitor them daily to ensure their safety and deliver them freshly caught bugs. Long story short, I loved all of our backyards as they allowed me to create a sense of imagination and exploration outside that continued into my adult life.

Over the last few years, I have really come into myself and have many goals for myself oriented around being outside. I want to get more miles under my feet and hours of sun on my skin. I want to learn more about myself through the challenges you face as a thru-hiker. I want to see more streams with my face in the water. There is a lot of grey area where I’ll be traveling but feel free to follow along.