Victory Gardens, Ragnar Relay, Another Marathon

How do I top starring in Bleacher Bums and running a 7th straight Boston Marathon qualifying time? These are the ways I tried in 2017.

Because of being in Bleacher Bums at pride Arts Center, I was invited to join the Artist Development Workshop at Victory Gardens. I met Calamity West, Laura Baker, and Mike Ervin. Calamity is a superstar playwright who joined Tanya Saracho and Annie Baker as three of my favorite playwrights. Laura is an amazing director. Mike is a talented writer, activist, and networker. I spent 2017 rewriting my previously produced autobiographical play.

Because of Bleacher Bums, I was offered a spot in Tellin’ Tales’ Divercity 2017 show. I wrote and performed a solo piece featuring love, lust, risk. My performances opened with What You’re Told by Liz & The Lovelies. Thank you Liz Chidester for permission to use the song. Performances took place at Prop THTR on the very stage where I performed in the world premiere production of my autobiographical play years ago. Scenes from my autobiographical play were performed at Victory Gardens for Sketchtopia. Laura Baker directed. I was in awe at how Laura knew my intension with each line, character, and storyline.

Kendra Stevens invited me to perform at Serving The Sentence at Fillet Of Solo. Next, I joined the Is This A Thing Chicago lineup for Freedom Of The Press where I shared stories of being censored for editorials I wrote in grade school and high school as well as similar stories from my days as a radio reporter and host who dared to ask questions and follow-ups till I received satisfactory answers. This One Woman invited me to write and perform a piece inspired by Martha Stewart.

Pinnacle Performance Company sponsored my racing season once again. I raced my first ever Ragnar Relay. 190 miles from Madison to Chicago on team Bad Ass Mother Runners captained by Kyna. Mark McHugh guided me for three legs over thirty hours. Thank you Meg Sullivan for connecting me with Mark less than two weeks prior to Ragnar.

Lindsey Kane graciously guided me for the Universal Sole Burgers and Beers 5K. As always with Lindsey, it was a blast.

After years of wanting to meet and run with the beautiful elite Jill Czarnik, I finally did when she guided me for the Big 10 10K. Thank you to the kind folks at RAM Racing for making it possible. It was hot and I was fresh off an injury. I was ready to walk midway through the race, but Jill did not let me. She made me run faster. After a quarter mile that desire to walk disappeared. I pushed. The faster I ran the more Jill pushed me. To run with Jill and more important, to be friends with her, is a case where dreams do come true. When they do, reality is even better than the dream ever was.

What I learned from Jill I applied in my next 10K next to Eric Robb at RAM Racing’s Mag Mile 10K. I started slow then began to build. At the midway point, I flipped my hat backwards and went to work racing home with a negative split.

Buck town 5K. Kristine raced me home to a solid performance there as we took it slow for the first half then pushed it especially in the final half mile.

A week before my eighth straight Chicago Marathon, I pulled my hamstring. I knew I would not run fast, but I wanted to finish strong to my eighth consecutive BQ. Ironman triathlete, Todd Smith took me the first 13.1. Elite marathoner, Erica Alansari took me the second half. I found a pace and sat on it. Seven miles in, I learned I was running consistent splits. Jenna Parker had always wanted me to get to the point where I could just feel my pace and not rely on a GPS. Todd, “You’re a machine, baby!” Through thirteen miles, I was running even splits. Once Erica took over, the pace continued. I rolled through the first twenty-two miles running each mile within seconds of each other. I was a machine! In fact, no one ever told me my splits. I just smile as my guides marveled at my consistent pace.

Todd Smith organizes yearly Beer Miles. I jumped at the chance to run alongside a beautiful talented athlete who is an American Ninja Warrior National Semifinalist. Runners chug beers prior to each quarter mile. Word is I set a world record for fastest beer mile by a blind person.

Thank you Pinnacle Performance Company for sponsoring my races in 2017. Thank you for sponsoring me in 2018. Thank you Jenna Parker for being my coach, friend, inspiration. Thank you Jill, Mark, Lindsey, Eric, Kristine, Todd, Erica, and Tom for guiding me in races. Thank you Calamity, Laura, Mike, Tekki, Kendra, Jake, Kyna for my theater and storytelling experiences.

Matt Miller 70.3

I tried bulking up for several years. I wanted to be huge. Then two women friends told me that muscular build was disgusting. What turned them on what caught their eye was a lean physique like that of Bruce Lee. Several more female friends agreed. After some planning, I set out to undo the work of the previous few years by slimming down. Over the next several years, I lost fifty pounds and became lean. I looked into doing triathlons. Maybe participating in those events would help me maintain that lean Bruce Lee look.

I read about triathlete, model, filmmaker, philanthropist, entrepreneur, Matt Miller. I introduced myself to Matt who invited me to run my first half marathon in Fort Lauderdale. I flew down to meet Matt and others. A few hours after I met Matt, he told me that he believed I had the talent and personality to be more than just a person participating in races. Matt felt I could be elite. I could inspire people and change the world!

Matt witnessed me jump into the Hudson River at the start of my first ever triathlon. Years later, as ABC staffer and Ironman triathlete, Justin Sternberg guided me to a first place finish helping me qualify for the Paratriathlon USA National Championships, which I would win, Matt ran alongside recording the moment and choking up at how far I had come from that initial e-mail. Because of Matt, I have met so many amazing individuals who inspire me and who remain my dear friends. Matt took time to discuss his journey and mentioned many of those very people. I hope you will take the time to read his entry at the link below.

Matt Miller Base Performance

Corinthians: Katherine Bellantone As Barbara

Last September, I had the great privilege of meeting the beautiful and talented, Katherine Bellantone. She truly is phenomenal in every way!

Here is a recording Katherine did in the summer of 2016. I love it. You will too.

Katherine Bellantone Sings

Divercity 2017

Some times, you can go home again. My very first produced play had it's world premiere production at the Prop THTR. I was lucky enough to star in it. Last year, the Artistic Director at Tellin' Tales Theatre attended a performance of Bleacher Bums at Pride Arts Center. She loved my performance and insisted I needed to be a part of a show at Tellin' Tales. She finally had her wish when I joined Divercity 2017.

As it turns out, the performances for this show occur at Prop THTR. I get to perform on the very stage my first play was produced.

Sunday, June 18 is the final performance. Please come see the show.

Tellin' Tales Theatre
Divercity 2017
3502 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, Il 60618
2p.m.

For more information and tickets:
Tellin' Tales Divercity

Kate Bergeron On ABC Speechless

Kate Bergeron is an actress, singer, director, teacher, and dreamer with big balls…big metaphorical balls! The Portland, Mi native spent several years in Chicago working on her artistic talents before heading west to Los Angeles where she has been making a life while making her dreams a reality. I am privileged to know Kate. I have learned so much from her throughout the last decade. She inspires me frequently. She is one of the “good ones” for whom it is easy to cheer. Tonight, I will cheer as I watch the talented, wonderful, beautiful, Kate in the role of an inept English teacher on network television. Will you please join me in watching Speechless on ABC? Make sure to follow Kate on social media and sign up for her e-mail list. Kate is a superstar.

Kate Bergeron
Speechless
ABC
8:30p/7:30p C

Visit
Kate Bergeron

Follow Kate on Twitter
K8Bergeron

4 Reasons To Vote For Liz & The Lovelies

“Liz & the Lovelies is a Chicago based band formed by the singer-songwriter Liz Chidester.
With a core of sibling harmony and raw storytelling, folk and electronic instruments intertwine to marry the past with the future.”

You will see those words when you visit Liz & The Lovelies
The Deli Magazine runs a poll to determine Deli Magazine’s Artist Of The Month. One of the bands featured on Deli’s current poll is Liz & the Lovelies.

Here are 4 reasons to vote for Liz & The Lovelies.

•Liz Chidester is a beautiful and talented singer, actress, artist deserving of your vote.

•Last fall, I appeared in a play with one of The Lovelies. He is a handsome talented man who looks like Aaron Rogers. A vote for Liz & the Lovelies is a vote for packers Nation!

•Liz & the Lovelies have a winning combination of vocals and sound. Vote for a winner.

•I love delivering for my friends. A vote for Liz & the Lovelies shows I can deliver.

Please vote:

Artist Of The Month

Laura Sturm directs Phantom Pain

Laura Sturm celebrated having a new acting student unaware he would be one of her greatest challenges. The man had a goal. He had a desire. He had a cane. A student needed eyesight to make observations and perform movements. Laura had many questions, but all resulted in the same answer. It is impossible to teach these techniques to a blind person. Laura was determined to make possible the impossible. As he who benefited from Laura’s determination, I wrote about it.
Laura Sturm Movement

The beautiful and talented, Laura Sturm continues to bring the best out of talented artists. I asked her some questions about the play she is currently directing. Phantom Pain by Barbara Lhota. This world premiere production, which runs March 15-April 2 at The Greenhouse Theater, stars Lisa Herceg, Pamela White-Raines, Stephanie Sullivan, and Kristen Williams.

Q: Barbara Lhota has written 200 plays and has had 60 productions.
 Is this the first time you’ve been involved with a production of one of her pieces?
LAURA: No, I have been an actor in a couple of staged readings of her play GIRL FOUND, also set in Detroit.   I have also been an actor in her short play, 85 Billion Neurons to Forever, produced with Women's Theatre Alliance and Other World Theater's Paragon Fest.  I know she's working on developing that into a full-length, and I hope to be involved in working on the development of that with her.  

Q: What drew you to Phantom Pain?
LAURA: A number of things really - it's a play focused on a group of vibrant, interesting women who aren't just wives, mothers or sexual objects; the idea of looking back at the past and how it shapes you, both in your life and historically; reminiscing about the 70's and 80's; the exploration of different perspectives from different characters (liberal vs. conservative); and of course, the racial issues that spring up in the show and how each character reacts to them.  These conversations need to be had, and I'm not sure they are.  I don't think this show preaches, and yet watching it, you learn something and really have to think about some things.  No character is 100% good or bad - all have their strengths and flaws - Each character is very multi-dimensional, and I love that.  Plus Barb's writing feels real to me - it's how I talk, in my world, so I am drawn to that as well.  She adds a lot of humor to the tough stuff, which makes it all that much more poignant, from my perspective.

Q: Is there extra excitement or anxiety because it’s the world premiere production of Phantom Pain?
LAURA: Both, really.  We've been working since long before rehearsals started to get the best version of the script, and then each week, Barb would watch rehearsals and send changes.  We cut a lot of excess away and pared it down quite a bit.  So, it takes a little more time than just rehearsing a play that won't change at all, and you're always asking - should we have cut that?  Should we have left that in?  And yet, it's so exciting to be the first folks to really fully actualize the piece - the final script that remains will have pieces of all of us in it, and that's kind of a legacy, isn't it?  Even if no one remembers that but Barb.  :)  With a new play, there's the excitement and anxiety over how people will respond to it - you just never know, which is a little scary, but it's also really exciting when they do respond positively. 

Q: How much did you lean on Chicago based Barbara Lhota during the rehearsal process?
LAURA: She was at the majority of the rehearsals.  If I had a question about what something meant, instead of hypothesizing what the playwright meant, or researching it and making a choice, I just asked her.  Sometimes she would answer specifically and other times she'd tell me to make the choice that made sense to me.  Barb is an incredibly giving playwright.  Plus she's incredibly knowledgeable and a lot of fun!!!

5. What excites you about the performances Lisa, Kristen, Pamela, and Stephanie will give?
I feel so fortunate to have been able to assemble such a strong cast.  All of these actors are really dedicated to the truth of the moment in their acting, which is enormously important for me.  They get uncomfortable when they miss the honesty in the moment, and are constantly working to achieve that, so it really doesn't happen that often.  I feel that I'm just helping shape that honesty for the audience, so it is clear and interesting.  They have also developed into quite a lovely team - you see them each supporting each other and going out of their way to help each other out onstage and off.  I think this team of women, with their wonderful truthfulness and the intimacy and vulnerability they allow themselves to achieve, will allow the audience to fully immerse into and enjoy this very intimate piece, almost as if they were sitting in the living room themselves!

PHANTOM PAIN
Playwright: Barbara Lhota
Director: Laura Sturm
Organic theater
March 15, 2017 - April 2, 2017, Wednesday to Sunday

: http://organictheater.org/

Amanda In NBC Crossover event

Amanda Marcheschi is a beautiful actress, model, singer, dancer, and teacher. She is one of the nicest, kindest, warmest people I have ever known. For over ten years, she has been one of my dearest friends always encouraging, supporting, and inspiring me. Since November 2015 Amanda has played Nurse Dina on Chicago Med which airs on NBC. The show is part of Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise which includes; Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and Chicago Justice. Starting Wednesday, March 1, the franchise will feature an epic four show crossover event. Amanda as Nurse Dina will be in the middle of all the action.

Amanda Marcheschi as Nurse Dina from Chicago Med will appear on an episode of Chicago PD on Wednesday, March 1 at 8P.M. Eastern/7P.M. Central on NBC.

Please follow Amanda on Twitter at:

AmandaMarches

Money Make Em Smile

I was nervous. Then I met her and my anxiety increased. Not only was I about to audition for a play, I was about to do so alongside a talented and beautiful actress. She put me at ease. After my audition, she insisted I did well. As I sat next to her, the director offered me the role. I was thrilled to be cast. I was even more excited that I would get a front seat to watch such a wonderful actress be amazing. Katie Bellantone proved to be all that and so much more. From day one, I was speechless each time she took control of the stage. I learned plenty by observing her. She was kind, warm, and charming. She inspired, challenged, and motivated me to be a better actor and person. Katie Bellantone was truly the most important and influential person for me in that production.

Katie Bellantone can currently be seen in Her Story Theater’s Money Make Em Smile at the Greenhouse Theater. This piece is theater about youth for youth. Money Make Em Smile tackles the subject of sex trafficking. The average age of a child sold into the world is twelve years old. The average number of years a young person lives this nightmare is seven years. Her Story Theater shines a light on this dark subject while educating young people. One may think sex trafficking happens to other kids in other countries. Chicago is the third largest hub for buyers and sellers.

Money Make Em Smile is must see social justice theater. Katie Bellantone is a must see beautiful, talented, magnificent actress!

Money Make Em Smile
The Greenhouse Theater Main Stage
2257 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, Il 60614
Tuesday, February 14 to Saturday, March 10
10:00A.M.

For more information and to buy tickets:

Money Make Em Smile

Freedom: Is This A Thing?

On Monday, February 13, 2017 the monthly live lit show, Is This A Thing returns to Chicago's O'Shaughnessy's Public House. Storytellers write and perform a piece based on the assigned theme for that month's show. For February, the theme is Freedom. The piece can be comedy or drama. It can be whatever the storyteller wishes. Mainly, it should entertain.

I will be one of the performers at this Is This A Thing event. You should come. Whether by yourself, with a date, or group of friends, you will have a splendid time. Here is the information.

Is This A Thing
O'Shaughnessy's Public House
4557 N. Ravenswood Ave.
7:00p.m.
FREE

Serving The Sentence At Fillet Of Solo

I am excited that later today I will perform in Serving The Sentence at Fillet Of Solo. Serving The Sentence is a monthly live lit event where performers are given one sentence with which they must begin their stories. The stories can be funny, dramatic, fiction, nonfiction, read, memorized. Fillet Of Solo is a long running festival celebrating storytellers. This is the first time I have been selected to participate. I am thrilled that so many of my friends are performing throughout the three week event.

The word is that today's event is sold out, however some limited standing room only tickets remain. Serving The Sentence begins at 5:30p at Heartland Studio 7016 N. Glenwood in Chicago. For more information or to reserve some tickets at the last minute, please visit:

Fillet Of Solo

Kimberly's The Selfless Mile

In 2010, I ran my first ever marathon. The Chicago Marathon. Not knowing what to expect and not having proper training, I gutted out 26.2 miles in five and a half hours. I ran the final twenty-two miles with a severely sprained ankle. In 2011, I registered for Chicago again. Surely, I could run faster. It had special significance as I dedicated my race to dear friend, Michelle. I met her while in college. At such a young age, she lost her life to cancer. Through the power of Twitter, several women who worked for Imerman Angels One-On-One Cancer Support introduced themselves and encouraged me to run on Team Imerman. As a result of being a runner and fundraiser for IA, I had access to training with NJOY Racing. Owner, pro Ironman triathlete, Kimberly Shah, welcomed me with open arms. After only twenty minutes of knowing me, she offered to guide me for the marathon.

This is Kimberly's story of that experience. Thank you, Kimberly!

The Selfless Mile

Laura Sturm Movement

After writing several short films and a full length screenplay, I felt it was best to register for acting classes. I researched various schools reading about courses, instructors, and techniques. I researched experiences and biographies of instructors, administrators, and board of directors. Eventually, I came across Laura Sturm. Almost instantly, I knew I had to meet her. I made an appointment to meet with the school’s Artistic Director. A few days later, I attended a party where one of the co-CEOs of the acting school introduced himself to me. After we spoke for a bit, he suggested I meet with Laura Sturm. He felt Laura and I would connect. Sure enough, within minutes of meeting her, I knew I needed to study with her. She felt similarly.

I struggled mightily. Laura could not get through to me. Years later, I learned she contacted mentors, teachers, and colleagues for guidance in how to best help me. All agreed that Laura had to realize there was a reason blind people did not study the Sanford Meisner Technique nor Lloyd Williamson Movement. There was not a way to accommodate the requirements to fit a blind person. Laura insisted on creating a way. Eventually, she realized that life caused me to build walls to protect myself from pain, injury, and heartbreak. To successfully connect with me, she would have to remove my wall one brick at a time. We were in this together and we would succeed together. one week, I would take one giant leap forward. The next week, I would regress. I was frustrated and angry. If she was, she never displayed it. Laura was always positive. She encouraged me placing her arm around me knowing I was emotionally fragile. She believed that one day it would fall into place and I would make my much anticipated break-through. It took much longer than I expected, but Laura did it! She broke down my walls, reached inside of me, and pulled out the artist. Artistic Director, Ted Hoerl noticed that Laura’s efforts took me from nothing and going nowhere fast to placing me on the edge of being an artist. Ted said, “Laura brought you to the edge. Now it’s up to you to believe in yourself and leap!”

I always feel so touched when Laura Sturm attends a performance of any show I do. I continue to be grateful for all her effort and belief. To this day, I live to make her proud each time I am on stage. To learn about the type of work Laura did with me, I point you to an article PerformInk published. Laura Sturm wrote the piece. This is the movement class I took with Laura.

Laura Sturm PerformInk

After The Gazebo

As a prepubescent, I wrote stories. I wrote and wrote. Page after page. I never knew the ending, but I loved watching my fingers form the letters. I kept going till my fingers and wrist hurt. I rarely shared my stories with anyone. I sat in class hoping the teacher’s next assignment would be to write a short story so I could submit, but the teacher never did, so I never did. By high school, I had a computer. I missed and still miss the tactile feel of forming the letters with my hand. I wrote poems. I printed out seven of them and gave them to one of my English teachers for feedback. She told me they were all bad, but had potential because I had talent which needed some nurturing. She felt I would eventually be published. In my senior year, two of those poems were.

While in college, I wrote my first screenplay. A thirty minute short film. After a couple screenplays, I tackled plays. Friends asked why I did not write plays sooner given my love for dialogue. I missed writing short stories. I returned to them, but quickly discovered I could not write them. I started a novel. Two pages into it, I deleted it. I immediately opened another blank file and began writing it as a screenplay. I had become more comfortable with slug line, action, dialogue. Eventually, that idea for the novel became a screenplay and stage play. The theater piece was in development, but something went sideways with the theater group. Along came the talented Jen Knox. She and I became friends. I read her blog and stories. She was amazing. She wrote an entry on her blog about flash fiction. I wanted to write those. Jen encouraged me. She offered to help where she could. I asked if she would read my work and offer feedback. She told me I was great at sensory description. I had a way of painting a picture and evoking a response. I was moved that a talented writer whom I respected thought so highly of my work. Jen breathed life back into my love for short stories. She inspired me to tackle writing a novel.

Jen Knox’ latest book, After The Gazebo is available for download for the low price of $6.95. If you have not heard of the award winning wonderful, Jen Knox, please visit the link below to familiarize yourself with her work.

AFTER THE GAZEBO