Chicago Lighthouses

This spring, I was asked if I would like to be a part of a lighthouse. If yes, my image would be placed on the side of a lighthouse which would be placed along the famed Magnificent Mile in Chicago. I said, yes!

From June 19 until August 11, I appear alongside several actors on a lighthouse at 600 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Afterwards, those lighthouses will be auctioned off for a nonprofit. Please stop by 600 N. Michigan Ave to take a picture with my image. Or, simply stop by to speak sweet lovely words to it.

Serving The Sentence At Fillet Of Solo

Don't cha wish your boyfriend was fun like me? Don't cha? Whenever I am selected to write and perform a story at an event, I always attempt to have fun. I want the audience to see how much fun I'm having up on stage. I want each audience member to laugh. In 2017, I had the privilege to perform at Lifeline Theatre's Fillet Of Solo Festival. It is one of the premiere festivals for solo artists in Chicago and the nation. I will have an opportunity to perform at this year's Fillet Of Solo Festival. As I did last year, I will join a talented group of performers organized by the wonderful, Kendra Stevens. I always love sharing the stage with Kendra. She is such a talented writer, storyteller, and rapper.

If you are interested in seeing the show, Serving The Sentence at Fillet Of Solo, please log on to the event's Facebook page to buy any remaining tickets. The shows do sell out. Last year's did.

Serving The Sentence at Fillet Of Solo
Sunday, January 28, 2018
4p.m.
Heartland Studio
7016 N. Glenwood Ave.

Serving The Sentence At Fillet Of Solo

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.

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

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/

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

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

Look Back At Sweet '16

At the start of 2016, strangers continued recognizing me from the Chicago Athlete Magazine cover featuring Wendy and me. Attention and praise make me uncomfortable. This year, I received plenty of both. Instead of discomfort, I found joy.

In February, I joined Keri Serota, Melissa Stockwell, and Levi Kane presenting at a Francis Parker school assembly. 1,000 students and administrators watched in awe as we shared stories of personal triumphs through national and international elite level Paratriathlon and the Dare2Tri Paratriathlon Club. Principal, teachers, and administrators told me how inspiring I was. Keri, whom I have known for seven years, said, “Wow! I had no idea you were such an amazing storyteller.”

In April, Ryan Nord guided me through the BOA Shamrock Shuffle 8K. In June Lindsey Cook was my eyes all weekend at the Dare2Tri triathlon camp. The camp ended with a triathlon where I front crawled the swim finishing in minutes. We hit 26MPH on the bike. A photo of Lindsey and me racing to the finish line appeared in a local newspaper. In August Dan Tun guided me for the Chicago Triathlon super sprint. It was our first race together since Dan guided me to my second straight regional title in 2014. Thanks to Cynthia Shur Petts and Kyna Lenhov for offering me a slot at the August This One Woman variety show. I brought down the house. Having the audience roaring throughout gave me confidence I could do stand up.

September was life changing. Director, Nich Radcliffe, asked me to audition for the role of Greg, a blind character, in a production of the hit classic, Bleacher Bums. Fifteen hours after receiving the sides, I did. I had the great privilege to audition alongside beautiful and talented, Katherine Bellantone, who was part of the cast. I was anxious, but she insisted I did well. Nich offered me the role on the spot. I accepted. The experience was more than I ever dreamed. I was in awe of each actor and crew member on a daily basis. From day one, I felt overwhelmed and out of place. Opening night. Katherine initiated the most significant conversation I have had since Jenna Parker encouraged me to qualify for Paratriathlon Nationals. Katherine inspired me to embrace my greatness and magnificence. She looked into my eyes down into my core and brought me to life. I will forever love and respect Katherine for all she has said and done to change my life in ways she may never realize!

Because of Bleacher Bums, I was interviewed by Janet Davies of ABC7 and Chris DeRosa of WCIU. Doors have been opened for me at Victory Gardens, Prop THTR, Telling Tales Theatre, and 16th Street Theatre to write and perform.

I made my Serving The Sentence debut in September then brought down the house at Is This A Thing Chicago in October. Erica Alansari and Mike Casey guided me for my seventh Chicago Marathon and seventh Boston Marathon qualifier. I inspired grade school children at a assembly and company managers at a corporate gig.

Thanks to Pinnacle Performance Company for sponsoring my marathon and triathlon dreams. Thank you to triathlete, surfer, writer, actress, model, director, Jenna Parker, for being my coach and friend. Thank you for reading this post. Whatever comes my way, in 2017, I hope you will come along for the ride.

Badass Mother Runners

Cynthia Shur Petts and Kyna lenhov created This One Woman, a monthly variety showcase in Chicago. Artists write and perform a piece inspired by a woman which Cynthia and Kyna assigned based on audience suggestions. I performed in August. I tend to evoke, inspire, and connect when I write and perform dramatic pieces. I prepared a dramatic spoken word piece. I had second thoughts. Five hours before call time, I scrapped it. I mentally outlined a stand up comedy routine.

I was nervous that this would be my stand up debut. As Cynthia introduced me. I walked towards the stage. Audience members roared! Standing ovation. I could not start because the crowd kept roaring. Finally, I began. Within five seconds, they laughed. They laughed throughout. I brought down the house. Several including Cynthia and Kyna, are experienced and accomplished stand up comics. They praised my timing, delivery, and originality. I became Facebook friends with Kyna. I posted how several friends have completed Ragnar Relay, the 200 mile overnight relay race. I have raced Warrior Dash, qualified for Boston Marathon seven times, won the USA National Championship in Paratriathlon, and raced for a World Championship. I wish to add Ragnar to that list.

Kyna Lenhov invited me to join her Ragnar team. I asked beautiful, intelligent, inspiring, Samantha McBirney to be my eyes. In June 2017, Sam will guide me as a member of the Badass Mother Runners from Madison to Chicago.

I can not wait to run Ragnar. I can not wait to run alongside Sam. I can not wait to be a Badass Mother Runners. Since losing my sight, I feel most alive when I run. I feel most like my sighted self when I run fast. I will feel alive and run fast at Ragnar.

I Perform At Fillet Of Solo 2017

At the start of 2016, my friend, Cynthia told me she and fellow funny woman, Kyna, would begin a new live lit show in Chicago called This One Woman. Cynthia asked if I wished to perform at one of the events. Each month, performers get to share a piece inspired by or having to do with a famous woman. I said yes. In August of this year, I made my This One Woman debut. I wanted to share a heartwarming dramatic spoken word piece, but several hours before showtime, I scrapped my piece and crafted a stand up comedy routine on the fly. I brought the house down. Two months later, I performed at Is This A Thing Chicago. I chose to share a funny story about the first time I broke four hours in a marathon. I had the mostly female crowd roaring! Having also written and performed a story at Serving The Sentence, the good folks at STS offered me a chance to perform at Fillet Of Solo. I am excited to perform next month as part of this wonderful well known festival.

As the date nears, I will provide updates on my day and time should you wish to buy and ticket and see my performance. I may also do a comedy set that week at an event hosted by the beautiful and talented author, TV personality, radio host, newspaper writer, actress, comedy host, Jenniffer Weigel. More news to come on that front soon.

Here is a link to Fillet Of Solo Festival.

Fillet Of Solo Festival

special $10 Cash Tickets Open Space Theatre Bleacher Bums

The Chicago Cubs lead the National League Championship Series three game to two. The team has two chances to clinch a birth to the World Series at Wrigley Field. If you can not get enough of Cubs related material, you should check out Bleacher Bums now playing at the Pride Arts Center in Chicago. Open Space Theatre presents Bleacher Bums every Thursday to Saturday at 7:30p and Sunday at 3p.m. Open Space Theatre is offering a special deal for anyone who walks up tonight or tomorrow night without reservations. $10 cash tickets at the door.

If you hear people complain that high price tickets prevents them from taking their family to a show, game, or concert, then tell them about this special $10 cash ticket offer. Bleacher Bums at Pride Arts Center presented by Open Space Theatre. 4139 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Here is some information about the show:

Bleacher Bums

Open Space Theatre Bleacher Bums On WCIU You And Me This Morning

On a Thursday prior to a performance of Open Space Theatre's Bleacher Bums, I had an opportunity to join Amy Sunshine and David Zak in being interviewed by the talented, Chris DeRose of WCIU You And Me This Morning. A few days prior, the Bleacher Bums cast ran through a few scenes giving a camera crew a chance to get some B-role. This footage accompanied the segment which appeared on WCIU.

If you missed it or wish to watch it again, here is a link to the piece on Open Space Theatre's Bleacher Bums now playing at Pride Art Center at 4139 N. Broadway in Chicago. Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30p and Sunday at 3p. Performances run through November 6.

Thank you WCIU. Thank you Chris DeRose.

Bleacher Bums WCIU You And Me This Morning

Daily Herald On Bleacher Bums

Since Labor Day weekend I have spent stretches where every waking hour was focussed on the play, Bleacher Bums. As one of those starring in the Open Space Theatre production at the Pride Arts Center in Chicago, I have been working to memorize my lines and tap into that which will help bring my character to life.

We have been receiving plenty of press. We opened last weekend. There has been a surge in ticket sales for all performances throughout October. Here is a piece by Burt Constable for the Daily Herald. Please read.

Burt Constable Daily Herald

I Was Just Cast In Production of Bleacher Bums!

On Saturday evening, my long time dear friend, Rani, contacted me to say her friend, Nich, was looking for me. Nich Radcliffe is an accomplished talented director who is casting his next project. After Rani contacted me, I read Nich’s note and called him immediately.

Nich is casting the role of Greg in the play, Bleacher Bums. It first premiered in the 1970s and was updated in the 1990s. It has had many productions in Chicago and around the country over the last forty years. Just in time for the Cubs 2016 playoffs and World Series push, Bleacher Bums gets another production from September to November.

I auditioned this afternoon. Apparently, I “wowed” Nich and the producers for they offered me the role of Greg on the spot. I accepted! Cast read-through is tonight. Rehearsals begin Tomorrow morning. If it means eight hours in rehearsals on Labor Day in order to learn my lines and get to start building a relationship with my cast mates, then yes, sign me up for that.

Here is a quick blurb from Morgan Green of the Chicago Tribune. I can not wait to get started. I hope you will come to this.


Bleacher Bums Production

This One Woman: Gabby Douglas

Each month, Cynthia Shur Petts and Kyna Lenhof present a variety showcase, This One Woman. Performers are selected to give an artistic performance of their choosing inspired by a specific woman. For August, This One Woman will showcase USA Olympian, Gabby Douglas. Each artist will deliver a piece in five to eight minutes.

I am one of the seven who will present. My piece will be a little storytelling a little standup comedy and I hope, plenty of entertainment.

THIS ONE WOMAN
Gabby Douglas
Monday, August 22,
Hopleaf Bar
5148 N. Clark Street
7:30p.m.

This One Woman Facebook

Starting 2015 By Shuffling

It was a wild up and down season in 2014 which began with my running the Boston Marathon along side the beautiful and talented, Jen Pfaff. 2014 concluded with my running my fifth consecutive Chicago Marathon. This time along side two beautiful fast women, Wendy Jaehn and Erica Alansari.

On Sunday, March 29, I will toe the start for my first race of 2015. It will be my first since October’s 26.2. Once again, it will be a Bank Of America event. The Shamrock Shuffle 8K. Special thanks to the beautiful and fabulous, Caroline Gaynor for introducing me to a wonderful elite marathoner and Ironman triathlete, Ryan Nord, who will be my eyes for the 8K. Ryan and I managed to get a couple training runs in together. I feel confident trusting him with my life. I believe he is confident for the challenge of guiding.

I spent most of last season training and racing through injuries. I am excited to be toeing the start line tomorrow in good health. Thank you to my friend, the amazing, lovely, wonderful, Jenna Parker for once again preparing me for my race. I am happy to enter another season with her as my coach. She is simply, the best! After all, she took a back of the pack finisher and turned me into a multiple Boston Marathon qualifier, a USA National Champion in Paratriathlon, and a member of Team USA World squad.

Thank you to the great folks at Pinnacle Performance Company for agreeing to once again sponsor me for the 2015 marathon and triathlon season. I am so grateful to Gary Mills who provided the steady hand when I wrote my first four plays as a student in his Playwright For The Actor class and who, as cofounder/co-CEO believed so much in me that he offered me the opportunity to offer Pinnacle sponsorship.

There is a long and fun season awaiting me. I am looking forward to getting started along side Ryan Nord. I do not know how fast I can run or how the weather will be, but I know when I run that course, I will be happy to be doing what I love. Running.

Pinnacle Performance believes in me, Jenna Parker has prepared me, Reliv International fuels my nutrition, and now it is time to take my spot along side a fabulous person to guide me. Good luck to my friends racing in the event. I am looking forward to see if the magnificent, Tera Moody will once again shine while running faster than everyone else. Good luck to the inspiring, Michelle Mirzoian, into whom I ran today. I hope you, my reader, will join me on this season’s journey to where it may lead me. Together, we can make memories to last a lifetime.

Laura Sturm In Same Time, Next Year

Several years after graduating college, I researched acting schools. I found one in Chicago in which I was interested because one of the instructors had recently received her MFA from the same university from which I graduated. Although that was not the ultimate reason to attend that school, I thought it fun to have that kind of a connection as I prepared to throw myself into a world with which I had very little to no experience. I made an appointment to meet with one of the artistic directors and instructors, Ted Hoerl, but before the date arrived, I happened to attend a party where I had a conversation with one of the then CEOs of the school, Dave Lewis. Dave said he noticed I was to have an interview with Ted the following week and wanted to talk to me about my goals, ideas, and questions. Knowing I was inexperienced with acting classes, he suggested I meet with instructor, director, and actress, Laura Sturm. If Laura felt comfortable working with me, I could sign up for her Beginning Scene Study class. Dave figured Laura and I could bond over having attended the same university at about the same time. Sure enough, Laura was magnificent. She taught me so much and was exactly what I needed to help me grow as a person and artist. I can not begin to say how much work and effort Laura put into tearing down my emotional and physical defense walls one brick at a time. She fully understood all the barriers I placed to defend myself from the world after losing my sight. She made sure to provide me a safe environment in which to experiment and learn. She knew when to be understanding and go easy on me as well as knowing when to push me and demand more from me. As I made more and more breakthroughs as I advanced through the program, others took notice. By the time I completed my time at the school, Ted Hoerl praised me for being willing to stick it out and challenge myself. He said that by the time I had finished, I had put myself in a position to be on the verge of being an artist. All I had to do was take the leap and dive into the water. Ted said it was obvious that the work Laura did with me was making a difference. Three years after I first met Laura Sturm to see if she would want me in her class, she attended a performance of a play I had written and in which I was starring at Chicago's Prop THTR. It was such an emotional night for both of us. I finally had the opportunity to show Laura what I could do on a professional theater stage. She finally had a chance to watch her effort pay off by watching me "go for it" in front of a live audience and critics.

Laura has remained one of my dear friends. This beautiful, talented, amazing woman will always have a place in my heart. I will always cheer for her continued success. I will always find myself learning and growing as an artist and person through knowing and observing Laura. She is currently starring in a production of Bernard Slade's award winning Same Time, Next Year at the Skokie Theater. Performances run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through February 22. General admission tickets are $28. Discounts are available for students and seniors.

Here is a theater review from Evanston Now:


You can get tickets at the following site:

A Perpetual State Of Awe

Growing up, I loved allowing my mind to take me to lands and worlds beyond that which I had experienced. I enjoyed putting pen or pencil to paper and writing allowing my creativity to control my hand. In high school then college, I was able to continue writing stories. Some times, I would do it for an assignment. Other times, it was merely for my own pleasure. After I wrote a few plays and screenplays, I tried to write a novel. For some reason it did not feel comfortable to me. I had always enjoyed creating short stories, but those too did not flow out of me as easily as they previously had. A few years ago, I rediscovered the ability and pleasure of crafting short pros. I credit the lovely and talented, Jen Knox. I have been beyond lucky that a talented writer and instructor has become my friend. She has so graciously offered me advice and critique which meant so much to me that I have written several additional pieces as a result of her feedback.

Jen Knox has a piece entitled A Perpetual State Of Awe which you can read by activating the following link. If you do not know her work, please take the time to familiarize yourself with her work. You will be glad you did.