What are their favorite winter activities?

Pre-Analiese, Cara enjoyed living somewhere that pretty much guaranteed her a white Christmas. She liked having snowball fights with her sister, and coming inside to have hot chocolate (even better if it was mint!). She also enjoyed rereading A Christmas Carol each year, and while you could argue that Little Women is not a Christmas book, she says that it is (any excuse to read it, really).

Currently, again, she rarely knows what month it is and snow is more of a driving hindrance than anything else. However, if she does on the off chance remember what time of year it is, she’ll treat herself to a mint hot chocolate. And while A Christmas Carol is not one of the few books in her duffel bag, Little Women is. So if she gets the chance to sit and drink some hot chocolate and read a few chapters, then that is a huge treat for her and a touch of home.

Tag games!

Shuffle your music and post the first 20 songs:

1. God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande

2. What Makes A Woman by Katy Perry

3. Don’t Shy Away by Sophie Ellis Bextor

4. Mabel’s Prayer from Fame the Musical

5. Malibu by Miley Cyrus

6. Te Ka Attacks from Moana

7. Sun and Moon (Reprise) from Miss Saigon

8. Campfire from Tangled

9. Elita by Gary Barlow, Michael Bublé and Sebastián Yana

10. Stronger (Glee Cast Version) by the Glee Cast

11. Hard to Be The Bard from Something Rotten

12. What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

13. Chlorine by 21 Pilots

14. Reach by S Club 7

15. Scream and Shout by will.i.am

16. History by One Direction

17. Marley and Marley from Muppet Christmas Carol

18. Cheetah Sisters (Barcelona version) by the Cheetah Girls

19. Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid on Broadway

20. Fame by Irene Cara

Appearance

I’m an I-need-to-pull-the-driver-seat-all-the-way-in kind of a person // i wear glasses or contacts // i have blonde hair // i prefer loose clothing to tight clothing  // i have one or more piercings // i have at least one tattoo  // i have blue eyes // i have dyed or highlighted my hair // i have gotten plastic surgery // i have or had braces // i sunburn easily // i have freckles // i paint my nails // i wear makeup // i don’t often smile // i am pleased with how I look // I prefer nike to adidas // i wear baseball hats backward

Hobbies

i play a sport // i can play an instrument  // i am artistic // i know more than one language // i have won a trophy in some sort of competition // i can cook or bake without a recipe // i know how to swim // i enjoy writing // i can do origami // i prefer movies to tv shows // i can execute a perfect somersault // i enjoy singing // i could survive in the wild on my own // i have read a new book series this year // i enjoy spending time with friends // i travel during school or work breaks // i can do a handstand

Relationships

i am in a relationship // i have a crush // i have a best friend i have known for ten years // my parents are together // i have dated my best friend // i am adopted // my crush has confessed to me // i have a long-distance relationship // i am an only child // i give advice to my friends // i have made an online friend // i met up with someone i have met online

Aesthetic

i have heard the ocean in a conch shell // i have watched the sunrise // i enjoy rainy days // i have slept under the stars // i meditate outside // the sound of chirping calms me // i enjoy the smell of the beach // i know what snow tastes like // i listen to music to fall asleep // i enjoy thunderstorms // i enjoy cloud watching // i have attended a bonfire // i pay close attention to colors // i find mystery in the ocean // i enjoy hiking on nature paths // autumn is my favourite season

Misc

i can fall asleep in a moving vehicle // i am the mom friend // i live by a certain quote // i like the smell of sharpies // i am involved in extracurricular activities // i enjoy mexican food // i can drive a stick-shift  // i believe in true love // i make up scenarios to fall asleep // i sing in the shower // i wish i lived in a video game // i have a canopy above my bed // i am multiracial // i am a redhead // i own at least one dog // i have a cat

Thank you so much to @jake-and-ames for tagging me in this! And ik this is lazy but I’m just tagging anyone who wants to do this!

Wintery/ Holiday Round-Up! 

I was chatting with @mariaslozak​ about A Kiss for Midwinter and how we need some seriously good suggestions for the oncoming winter and holiday season. I actually don’t have too many but here is what I have got. Please reblog with your favorites/ additions/ things you are looking forward too! 

1. How the Dukes Stole Christmas (Multiple Authors) 

This is the cutest anthology that came out last winter and was re-released this year! Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan and Joanna Shupe all team up with adorable mini standalone novellas/ short stories. All are adorable and some with more action/ bedroom action than others but all are super sweet! Definitely, one I will reread this year! 

2. Last Chance Christmas Ball (Multiple Authors) 

Phew, this is a strange combination of stories all happening simultaneously with some really great ones (my favorite is A Scottish Carol. Honestly maybe just read it for that one?!) and some really just plain odd ones but it is a rather Christmassy story and definitely snowy! This team-up includes Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Joanna Bourne, Patricia Rice, Nicola Cornick, Cara Elliott, Anne Gracie, and Susan King.

3. Wallflower Christmas (Lisa Kleypas) 

Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflower Christmas needs a mention. It isn’t my favorite thing by her but it is fun to see the Wallflowers (or most of them - Daisy gets shafted) again. 

4. A Kiss for Midwinter (Courtney Milan)

I ADORE THIS STORY. It has one of my favorite heroes and a heroine who is an amazing combination of soft and tough.  It has some intense themes (teen pregnancy and miscarriage in particular) but it is fabulous. You also don’t need to have read any others in Courtney Milan’s Brother’s Sinister series. For my full thoughts look here.  And for further enticement - here have a mood board. 

5. Once Upon a Winter’s Eve (Tessa Dare) 

A short story from Tessa Dare - very snowy, very sweet but a bit meh overall... No need to have read the others in the Spindle Cove series. 

6.  The Lady Most Willing (Multiple Authors) 

Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Connie Brockway team up for a novel told in three shorter stories. It is adorable and I always reread it during the first major snow of the year. It is more wintery than holiday but deserves a mention. It also has some darker themes but overall an absolutely hilarious sense of humor.  

7. Christmas Under the Stars (Karen Swan)

This is the only thing I have read by Karen Swan and honestly... it was stellar. I randomly picked it up in the teacher’s room at school and it was insane. Bit of a mystery, lots of angst and a bit of pining. But all with the backdrop of a terrible snowstorm and the Canadian Rockies. I wouldn’t say that this is strictly romance? But it has strong Hallmark Holiday Vibes. 

Ones I haven’t read but are stocked up on... 

These are ones that I want to read but don’t know all that much about them... I am also suuuuper ready for some recs so bring them on! 

1. Love in a Snowstorm (Zoe York) 

I have read others by Zoe York and liked them but who can resist a snowed in best friend’s little sister with mutual pining?!

2. Christmas on the Island (Jenny Colgan) 

Colgan books are always Soft (TM) stories and this one takes place in Scotland!

3. Wrapped Up for Christmas (Katelyn Duncan) 

Grabbed it when it was free ‘cause it looked wintry. Seems very Hallmark? Might be too saccharine for me? I don’t know. Looks like handsome stranger and instalove?

4. Cowboy Boots for Christmas (Carolyn Brown) 

I mean - old friends and possibly grumpy hero?! I am ready for it. (Plus I have a student who will only read Cowboy Romance so I will get to read it with her.) 

I was tagged by @hxhhasmysoul, yay!! thank you very much!! XD

List 20 songs you’ve been listening to and //coughs//  tag 10 people  inogoodwithtaggingsorry

1) I Scare Myself --- Beth Crowley

2) Hate Me --- Eurielle (this song gives me The Promised Neverland Vibes, maybe bc i was listening to this while binge reading the manga haha XD )

3)  Meet Me On The Battlefield --- SVRCINA 

4) Astronomical ---  SVRCINA

5) What’s My Name (Nightcore Version) --- Descendants 

6) Star Sky ---Two Steps From Hell 

7) Fly Me To The Moon --- Lofi Cover (Prod. YungRhythm)

8) Fly Me To The Moon --- Frank Sinatra 

9) Criminal (Nightcore Version) 

10) Bury A Friend --- Billie Eilish 

11) Bad Guy ---  Billie Eilish

12) From Now On --- The Greatest Showman 

13) Scars To Your Beautiful --- Alessia Cara

14)  Audrey's Christmas Rewind --- Sarah Jeffery, Jadah Marie (Descendants) 

15) Carol Of The Bells 

16) Beauty and the Beast (2017) Prologue | Trailer Music

17) Sugar Sugar Rune opening song 

18) Liar --- Camila Cabello 

19) Give Me Love --- Ed Sheeran 

20)  Holding On And Letting Go  --- Ross Copperman

Anyone can do this tag if they want to! XD

Not a Normal Christmas

Chapter 1 of a Rumbelled Die Hard. Yup, apparently I am crazy, but hey you all knew that right?

Rated G at the moment, but that will go up pretty quick if I continue this.

-oxo-

“Ladies and gentleman, welcome to New York. I hope you all packed a warm Christmas jumper, because it’s a winter wonderland out there. Thank you for flying with us, and have a happy holiday.”

Belle’s grip on the arm rests had turned her knuckles white. She blew out a shaky breath and relaxed a little now she was back on solid ground. The guy in the seat next to her peered across at her with a concerned look.

“Nervous flyer?”

He’d been a pleasant seatmate, after a polite hello, he’d left her alone. A vast improvement on the man on the flight out to California, who had demanded her attention the whole time, and insulted the book she’d been reading.

Belle chuckled; “What gave it away?”

He glanced at the armrest that bore a shiny trace of how clammy her palms had been with a shrug.

“I’ll give you a tip, when you get where you are going, take your socks and shoes off and make fists with your toes in the carpet.”

He smiled at her disbelieving look; “I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve been flying for ten years and that’s the best thing I found to get rid of flying stress.”

It was perhaps the oddest flying tip she’d ever been given, but sounded harmless enough, unlike Cara’s suggestion of a Valium and a double G and T. Belle fallen asleep in the departures lounge and missed her flight after trying that one. She gave the man a thumbs-up and said; “I’ll try it, thanks.”

She wrestled the giant plush dragon from the overhead compartment and almost bumped into the redhead flight attendant who had been flirting gently during the flight. She smiled back at the woman, and joined the shuffling mass of passengers disembarking the plane.

 -x-x-x-

Gold doubled checked the figures as he strolled down the corridor to his office, everything was looking good. Excalibur Industries would finish the calendar year on target, financially at least. Two workmen dodge past him with muttered apologies. Gold shook his head; Saint Michael’s Tower had been dubbed Camelot by the staff and the name had been taken up by most of the city. Not a bad play on the name of their CEO, Merlin Glendower, and perfectly in keeping with the thematic names of Arthurian legends that the company favoured for projects. Whatever it was called the building was set to be a shining showcase of sustainable energy and ethical building techniques; if they ever got the damn thing finished.

“Gold!”

Gold cringed internally, he couldn’t stand Zelena Greene, but his dislike didn’t stop the woman flirting with him every chance she got, she seamed to think that his wedding ring was just a fashion accessory.

“Zelena.”

She fell into step with him, far to close for his comfort, and smiled; “Have dinner with me tonight?”

He cocked his head at her and frowned; “It’s Christmas Eve. Time to be spent with family, watching Muppets Christmas Carol and the Snowman, hanging stockings and wrapping last minute presents. Any of this sound familiar?”

They had reached the door of his office now and Zelena leaned against the doorframe and batted her eyelashes at him; “I was thinking more along the lines of mulled wine, fine food and perhaps,” – she ran a finger over his tie, - “You could hang my stockings at the end of your bed.”

Gold plucked his tie from her fingers and said firmly; “Go and enjoy the party Zelena.”

He waited until she’d moved away down the hallway and shuddered slightly, before taking a breath and strolling into his office. He gave an affected groan at the sight of his assistant, Ashley, who was still hard at work.

“Go and join the party Ashley, you’re making me feel like Scrooge.”

“Just finished Mr Gold. Think the baby will let me eat some shrimp?”

She heaved herself out of her chair and rubbed a hand over the pregnant curve of her belly. Ashley was seven months along and was carrying twins.

“I reckon if the troublesome twosome can make you crave snickerdoodles and marmite, they can cope with some shrimp.”

Ashley chuckled at him and headed out to the party in the Arboretum. Watching her waddling gait triggered a memory of Belle when she’d been at this stage of her pregnancy with Gideon. He sat down at his desk and looked at the wallpaper on is cell; a photo of the three of them last year on a picnic in the park, before Belle had received the offer to go work at Berkeley, and before he had buggered up massively. Christmas morning would dawn and hopefully a new chapter in their lives. He sighed and punched the contact for home.

“Hello Papa!”

The excited voice at the other end of the phone brought a wine smile to his face.

“Hello Gid, how did you know it was me?”

“I am six and a half, Papa. I can read the caller id, y’know.”

“Of course. Are you being good for Grandpa?”

“Yup. We’ve been building a massive castle out of Lego. Papa? Is Mama coming home with you?”

Gold wanted to say of course, but he’d not heard from Belle yet and didn’t want to promise something he couldn’t deliver.

“Santa and I will see what we can do Gid. Can I talk to Grandpa?”

“Okay, see you later Papa!”

There was a pause and then Belle’s father came on the line; “Evening Gold, before you ask, Belle phone before she got on her flight. Said her phone battery was almost flat and she’s forgotten her charger.”

Gold relaxed for the first time in hours, Belle was coming home for Christmas; “Okay, thanks Moe. We’ll be home in a few hours.”

 -x-x-x-

 In the arrivals hall Belle dodged past the happy reunions. There had been a time when Rum would have been here waiting for her with Gid to welcome her as enthusiastically, but their marriage had strained to breaking point when she was offered the job at Berkeley. For the past six months they’d been in a holding pattern, not daring to deal with their problems for fear of destroying the tentative balance they had found. She hoped they could keep that truce over Christmas for Gid’s sake, but at some point, they were going to have to talk about their future, and that was bound to cause fireworks.

She missed a step and did a double take at a sign held by one of the waiting drivers. Dr Belle Gold. It suddenly hit her that she’d not seen her married name written down like that for six months, at Berkeley she was Dr Belle French. She chewed on her bottom lip, that she’d gone back to using her maiden name for work had been one of the arguments her and Rum had had before she left; he’d accused her of taking the first step out of their marriage, she’d accused him of being possessive. It had been ugly, the only saving grace had been that Gideon was at school when they had yelled at each other.

She walked over to the driver; “I’m Belle Gold.”

He gave her a wide smile; “Good evening. I’m Jefferson, your limo driver.”

His smile faltered a little and Belle got the distinct impression that he was new at this.

“Well, this is my first time in a limo, so what do we do now?”

Jefferson laughed; “This is my first time driving one, so I guess we’ll muddle through together. Shall we?”

He made a flourishing gesture towards the exit and Belle couldn’t help, but chuckle.

 -o-o-o-

 The dark-haired man checked the bags once more and gave a curt nod.

“Time to move out.”

Only one member of the crew gathered around him didn’t hop to and jump into the truck. He stood wringing his hat in his hands. The dark-haired man rolled his eyes and huffed a frustrated sigh.

“Problem?”

“We’ve never done anything this big before.”

He jumped as a hearty arm landed across his shoulder, and he was subjected to a wide smile.

“We have done heists more dangerous than this. I know we can handle a few drunken businessmen and their pretty secretaries. Buck up Smee. By Boxing day we’ll be filthy rich, drink rum on a beach in the Caribbean.”

Greed gleamed in Smee’s eyes, eclipsing the fear. He grinned widely and hurried to the truck. Killian Jones followed Smee and swung himself up into the front seat.

“Gentleman, let’s pay a visit to Camelot.”

The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Marley's Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free. Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives. He had been quite familiar with one old ghost in a white waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below upon a doorstep. The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever.

Go off, Charles.

Dickens really said "I think if you prioritize wealth over the wellbeing of your fellow humans, you're doomed to spend eternity wrapped in chains of your own making, a howling restless spirit, knowing that you've doomed yourself and are unable to change it" and I think that's very sexy of him

LIVE READING SERIES AUGUST 7TH 7PM! American Blues kicks off new play reading series on August 7th!  American Blues Theater announces “The Room” Live Reading Series Monthly live reading series kicks off August 7, 2020 with A Shot: #A Love Story Inspired by Black Lives Matter  By Gloria Bond Clunie, Directed by Chuck Smith Chicago, IL– American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces “The Room”, a brand-new reading series that brings original work, plays in development, and new stories to Chicago audiences. Offering in-depth discussions as well as action steps for patrons that intersect with themes of the plays, “The Room” will debut virtually via Zoom for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic with the intent to transition into an in-person experience in the future. Inaugurating the series is A Shot: #A Love Story Inspired by Black Lives Matter by Gloria Bond Clunie, directed by Ensemble member Chuck Smith and featuring Ensemble members Wandachristine and Ian Paul Custer. Artistic Affiliate Cara Parrish is the Production Stage Manager. The reading of A Shot: #A Love Story Inspired by Black Lives Matter takes place Friday, August 7, 2020 at 7pm. Gwendolyn Whiteside notes, “It has long been our desire to host a regular reading series to highlight new work, original commissions, and plays in development. Postponing our in-person work due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic allowed us time to launch the reading series. While we anxiously await the day when we can safely gather together in-person again, we’re thrilled to connect with audiences virtually via ‘The Room’.” Tickets for A Shot: #A Love Story Inspired by Black Lives Matter are Pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $10, and are currently on sale at www.americanbluestheater.com. Ticket holders will be sent a pre-reading email complete with instructions on joining the virtual reading via Zoom. Future readings in “The Room” series include: September Yes, My Name is...Lucy Written by Ensemble member Wandachristine Directed by Ensemble member Chuck Smith Featuring Tony Award winner Deanna Dunagan & Artistic Affiliate Camille Robinson October Alma Written by Benjamin Benne Directed Ana Velazquez Winner of 2019 Blue Ink Playwriting Award November Days of Decision - the music of Phil Ochs Written & performed by Artistic Affiliate Zachary Stevenson Songs by Phil Ochs December Red Bike Written by Caridad Svich ABOUT A Shot: A Love Story Inspired by Black Lives Matter Friday, August 7, 2020 at 7pm Runs: 35 minutes; followed immediately by a post-show discussion When Mrs. Nettie Morris (Wandachristine) goes to the storefront campaign office of congressional hopeful Jeffrey Talbott (Ian Paul Custer) determined to save her grandson from Chicago’s violent streets and incarceration with an ingenious plan – a very personal life and death struggle takes a surprising turn. GLORIA BOND CLUNIE (playwright) is an award-winning playwright, director, and educator. She is a founding member of the Playwriting Ensemble at Chicago’s regional Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theater where her plays North Star, Living Green, and Shoes premiered and the founding Artistic Director of Evanston’s Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre. Other works by this Northwestern University graduate (B.A. Theater, MFA-Directing) include Sweet Water Taste, Smoke, Blu, Quark, Buck Naked, Bankruptcy, #Lovestories inspired by Black Lives Matter, My Wonderful Birthday Suit, and the adaptation of The Last Stop on Market Street. Theaters presenting her work include The Goodman, Triad Stage, Chicago Children’s Theater, Children’s Theater of Charlotte, and Orlando Shakespeare. This Dramatist Guild Fellow has numerous awards including a Chicago Jeff, Theodore Ward African-American Playwriting Prizes, NEA and Illinois Arts Council Fellowships, the American Alliance for Theater’s Education Distinguished Play Award, YWCA YWomen Leadership Award, a Dramatist Guild Fellowship, and the Evanston Mayor’s Award for the Arts. CHUCK SMITH (director) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater. At Blues, he directed Leroi Jones’ Dutchman and Pearl Cleage’s Flyin’ West. He is a member of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees and is Goodman Theatre’s Resident Director. He is also a resident director at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota, Florida. Goodman credits include the Chicago premieres of Pullman Porter Blues; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; Race; The Good Negro; Proof; and The Story; the world premieres of By the Music of the Spheres and The Gift Horse; James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner, which transferred to Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company, where it won the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Award for Best Direction; A Raisin in the Sun; Blues for an Alabama Sky; August Wilson’s Two Trains Running and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; Objects in the Mirror; Having Our Say; Ain’t Misbehavin’; the 1993 to 1995 productions of A Christmas Carol; Crumbs From the Table of Joy; Vivisections from a Blown Mind; and The Meeting. He served as dramaturg for the Goodman’s world-premiere production of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. He directed the New York premiere of Knock Me a Kiss and The Hooch for the New Federal Theatre and the world premiere of Knock Me a Kiss at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theater, where his other directing credits include Master Harold… and the Boys, Home, Dame Lorraine, and Eden, for which he received a Jeff Award nomination. Regionally, Mr. Smith directed Death and the King’s Horseman (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Birdie Blue (Seattle Repertory Theatre), The Story (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Blues for an Alabama Sky (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), and The Last Season (Robey Theatre Company). At Columbia College he was facilitator of the Theodore Ward Prize playwriting contest for 20 years and editor of the contest anthologies Seven Black Plays and Best Black Plays. He won a Chicago Emmy Award as associate producer/theatrical director for the NBC teleplay Crime of Innocence and was theatrical director for the Emmy-winning Fast Break to Glory and the Emmy-nominated The Martin Luther King Suite. He was a founding member of the Chicago Theatre Company, where he served as artistic director for four seasons and directed the Jeff-nominated Suspenders and the Jeff-winning musical Po’. His directing credits include productions at Fisk University, Roosevelt University, Eclipse Theatre, ETA, Black Ensemble Theater, Northlight Theatre, MPAACT, Congo Square Theatre, The New Regal Theater, Kuumba Theatre Company, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, Pegasus Players, the Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He is a 2003 inductee into the Chicago State University Gwendolyn Brooks Center’s Literary Hall of Fame and a 2001 Chicago Tribune Chicagoan of the Year. He is the proud recipient of the 1982 Paul Robeson Award and the 1997 Award of Merit presented by the Black Theater Alliance of Chicago. WANDACHRISTINE (Mrs. Nettie Morris) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater. She has starred on many stages throughout the country in notable productions as the touring company of Fences, The Vagina Monologues, Gee’s Bend, and Thyestes. For her work in Old Settler, she received a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for Supporting Actress and a Best Actress nomination for the noted Ruby Dee/Black Theater Alliance Award. For her work in American Blues Theater’s production of Beauty’s Daughter, she won the Ruby Dee/Black Theater Alliance Award for her solo performance. She’s toured regionally in Danai Gurira’s (“Black Panther” & “Walking Dead”) production of Familiar as well as the San Diego’s Old Globe production. Other recent productions include A Wonder in My Soul at Baltimore Center Stage and Incendiary at Goodman Theater. In film she’s worked alongside Whoopie Goldberg in “Clara’s Heart” and starred in the hit comedy as Mrs. Jones in “Me and Mrs. Jones” with Kym Fields. She’s appeared in the television series “Chicago PD”, numerous commercials, and voiced the animated characters in “The PJ’s”, “The Justice League”, and “Scarface” the video game. She’s written a fiction novel, “I Love You More…Than Shoes!” about four actresses over 50 years old still trying to make it in Hollywood; she working on a Zoom production of the popular novel. As a playwright, she’s written for American Blues Theater’s Ripped Festival for 3 years. Her newest play, Yes, My Name is…Lucy! was commissioned by Ensemble member Chuck Smith. It will receive a reading in American Blues Theater’s The Room – reading series. To all her friends, she’s known as…”The Woman Who Can Do It All!” IAN PAUL CUSTER (Jeffrey Talbott) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater. He’s previously appeared in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Jeff Award – Best Ensemble, Best Musical), Little Shop of Horrors, The Columnist, and 8 years with It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! Chicago credits: 33 Variations (Jeff Award – Best Production), To Master the Art (TimeLine Theater/Broadway Playhouse); Bad Jews (Theatre Wit); Annie Bosh is Missing (Steppenwolf Theatre, Next Up); High Holidays (Goodman Theatre); Princess and the Pea (Marriott Theatre); Watson’s Go to Birmingham (Chicago Children’s Theatre). Regional credits: Hero: The Musical (Asolo Rep) and Peter Pan (360 Entertainment – London, UK). Television credits: “APB” and “Empire” (FOX); “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago PD (NBC). Ian is a graduate of The Theater School at DePaul University and is represented by Gray Talent Group. CARA PARRISH (stage manager) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater where is also the Human Resources Coordinator. Chicago credits: Gem of the Ocean, Electra, Hard Problem, Photograph 51, Five Guys Named Moe, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, & Lady From the Sea (Court Theatre); WITCH, Port Authority, Yellow Moon, The Letters, The Caretaker, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf, & The Blond, The Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead (Writers Theatre); Too Heavy for Your Pocket & The Vibrator Play (TimeLine Theatre Company); James and the Giant Peach (Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook); Jabari Dreams of Freedom (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Romeo and Juliet & Emma (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Beauty’s Daughter & Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (American Blues Theater). Cara is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. ABOUT American Blues Theater Winner of the American Theatre Wing’s prestigious National Theatre Company Award, American Blues Theater is a premier arts organization with an intimate environment that patrons, artists, and all Chicagoans call home.  American Blues Theater explores the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves. The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago.  The 31-member Ensemble has 600+ combined years of collaboration on stage. As of 2020, the theater and artists received 221 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 38 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.  

Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe (2016)

Bencana Natal Hank Zipzer mengikuti Hank menjelang Natal saat ia mempersiapkan adik laki-laki yang baru lahir. Tapi kehidupan Hank tidak pernah berjalan dengan lancar dan segera Nona Adolf mengubah Mr Rock's Rudolph the Rock'n'Roll Reindeer menjadi seorang wanita Christmas Carol - dua inspektur sekolah terluka dalam kecelakaan kereta luncur aneh dan Mr. Joy mencoba untuk membatalkan Natal sama sekali. Dalam usahanya untuk menyeret kemenangan dari jurang kehancuran, Hank akan meluncur ke bencana, hampir menabrak pohon Natal menjadi kerumunan, membuat dirinya dan teman-temannya ditangkap, membuat guru kesayangannya dipecat dan kehilangan cinta dalam hidupnya. Kali ini, dia benar-benar telah mengecewakan semua orang. Tentunya bahkan Hank tidak bisa keluar satu ini. Beruntung bagi kita, tidak ada cara untuk mengatakan itu pada Hank. Read the full article