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This is Hell in a Handbag's 15th Season and yet every year I look forward more than ever to seeing a Christmas show that's as irreverent and funny as "Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer". This year Handbag's Artistic Director and writer of the original, and yearly refreshed, Christmas production, David Cerda, delivers not only his much beloved impression of Gladys Dasher with ruby red lips, jet black bouffant and commanding personality reminiscent of Joan Crawford, he also delights the audience with a spot-on characterization of Ivanka Trump (pronounced Iwanka). Cerda is a delight in this new role playing the mush-mouthed, often victimized, blonde wife of Santa Claus.
There is a wonderful rewrite of the entire opening of " Rudolph" this year regarding Trump and Iwanka and how they have affected the Gay community that resounded well with the audience and got huge laughs of recognition and applause.
"Rudolph" is a fabulous LGBT version of the old tale where Rudolph is left out of playing reindeer games and is bullied mercilessly because he is too effeminate to pull Santa's sleigh. Along the way we meet many other characters who've been marginalized as well, like the toys banished to the island of badly built toys and even Rudolph's girlfriend Clarice who is secretly a bi-sexual feminist who is perfectly happy with Rudolph as her friend no matter what he likes to wear out in the snow, red hose and heels notwithstanding.
There was a mix of old and new faces from Hell in a Handbag's extremely talented singers and dancers from their revolving base of performers and I really felt like I was seeing the finest lineup and the most energetic, funny cast of this production in past years with Graham Thomas Heacock as Rudolph, Kristopher Bottrall as Herbie, Allison Petrillo as Jane Donner, Chase Wheaton-Werle as Tom Donner, Michael Hampton as Santa, Tommy Bullington as Mrs. Claus, Sydney Genco as Elfina, Colin Funk as Spike, Michael Rawls as Score, Josh Kemper as Coach Comet, Lori Lee as Yukon Cornelia, Terry McCarthy as Connie Blitzen, David Cerda as Gladys Dasher, Christea Parent as Clarice and Matthew Sergot as Sam the Snowman.
Given that this year full of Trump's insane negativity and lawlessness is without a doubt the most frightening, turbulent New Year's and Christmas ever for all unique individuals, from little girls to grown men and women of every race, gender and religion. Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer is the type of heart lifting entertainment full of really great laughs and gags from beginning to end that Chicago audiences need more than ever!
I highly recommend this classic hilarious tale about being who you really are and fighting back against evil that conspires to divide and punish people based on their perceived frailties for EVERYONE. If you've seen it before you must see it again because this year's script and cast of Rudolph really delivers the heart and the funny with a comic ferocity like never before.
With a hilarious script and songs that are as relevant to our current political climate as they are funny, "Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer" is being performed at Mary's Attic through January 1st. More information on this great Chicago holiday tradition can be found at www.handbagproductions.org.
The "Girls" are headed to Boystown! After an eleven-week sell-out run, including two extensions at Mary's Attic in Andersonville, Hell in a Handbag Production' campy world premiere THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPISODES is transferring to Lakeview's Stage 773 for an additional six-weeks. The new condensed late-night edition will feature the best of the original run – plus new material. Written by David Cerda and directed by Shade Murray, the campy parody of one of TV's most beloved sitcoms will play Saturdays at 10:30 pm from October 7 – November 11, 2017, following performances of Handbag's upcoming world premiere of BEWILDERED, a musical parody of the classic TV sitcom Bewitched. Tickets for both productions are are currently available at www.stage773.com, www.handbagproductions.org, in person the Stage 773 box office (1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago) or by calling (773) 327-5252.
Enjoy lost, never-before-seen episodes of The Golden Girls featuring Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, Sophia and all of the siblings, daughters, sons, characters and rare diseases that were mentioned once, but never again. The production also features The Golden Girls trivia and games to help fully embrace the Miami experience.
The late-night edition will feature original cast members David Cerda as the forthright Dorothy, Ed Jones as the sweet airheaded Rose, AJ Wright as the lusty Blanche and Adrian Hadlock as the sharp tongued Sophia with Chazie Bly and Robert Williams. Plus, watch for special guest stars!
In keeping with the Handbag tradition, THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPISODES is an original parody of the beloved show. Our Golden Girls find themselves in situations never before seen on television – that's why they're lost episodes! See Dorothy battle nature as they serve as Den Mothers to a group of Sunshine Cadets. Watch them band together as Rose struggles with a debilitating malady that threatens to tear them apart. Plus, the Stage 773 version will feature a new episode featuring Blanche and a very hot and steamy encounter with a much younger man!
The production team for THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPISODES includes: Roger Wykes (set design), Myron Elliot (costume design), Cat Wilson (lighting design), Sydney Genco (make-up design), Mealah Heidenreich and Rachel Summerfield (props design).
Title: THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPISODES
Playwright: David Cerda
Director: Shade Murray
Cast: David Cerda (Dorothy), Adrian Hadlock (Sophia), Ed Jones (Dorothy) and AJ Wright (Blanche) with Chazie Bly and Robert Williams.
Location: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Dates: Saturday, October 7 – Saturday, October 11, 2017
Curtain times: Saturdays at 10:30 pm Oct. 6 thru Nov. 11
Tickets: $22. Group rates $17 for 10 or more. Tickets are currently available at www.stage773.com or www.handbagproductions.org, in person at the Stage 773 box office or by calling (773) 327-5252.
The original run of THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPIDODES continues through September 16, 2017 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Tickets are www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.
Fun! Funny! Funnier! If you are fan of The Golden Girls TV show, then run, don't walk, to see Hell in a Handbag's The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes at Mary's Attic before its special, recently extended, run is over. The show opens with a heart lifting, hug your best friend singalong of the sitcom's famed theme song, "Thank you for being a Friend" - in its fantastic entirety!
Plenty of fans arrive in costume to see the show and in between the hysterically funny, bawdy, R-Rated "Lost Episodes" theatre goers are entertained by Golden Girls trivia contests with fun prizes, so live it up.
Hell in a Handbag Artistic Director David Cerda wrote the show which parodies the famed 1980's sitcom where four women who share a home in a Miami Senior Community are not ready to stop living life to the fullest. Cerda is fantastic as the deadpan Dorothy even with the use of just one syllable – "Mah!" David, who recently won a well-deserved special Jeff Award (Congrats!) for all of his amazing contributions to theatre in Chicago with his much beloved production company Hell in a Handbag, evokes laughs with every shoulder-padded shrug and anchors the show with his dead-on funny accuracy in the role of Dorothy that actress Bea Arthur made famous.
I don't know how he does it but every single show David writes is unique, displays every cast members talents superbly, heartfelt and funnier than the last. In this show, he takes the iconic TV show and brings it to a new level, creating hysterically campy "lost episodes" that one could only wish took to the air during the series' heyday.
Blanche is played with true southern sex appeal by A. J. Wright. Wright is mind-blowingly accurate in his portrayal of the flirty man-eater. Wright is so convincing, I had to occasionally close my eyes and just listen with delight, because I really felt he was a woman channeling Rue Clanahan, not a man in drag. The razor-sharp tongued Sophia played by Adrian Hadlock is also right on the mark with his dry as a martini, machine gun-like delivery of every single one-liner.
Ed Jones rounds out this fearsomely funny foursome with his always gentle, never forced portrayal of the delicate and ditzy, Rose, often forced to do and say indelicate things! Handbag favorite Ed Jones is - as ever, roaringly funny and true to Betty White's every gesture, even to her dazed and confused looks of naivety. As in all of Handbag's productions, Golden Girls is equipped with a stellar ensemble, this show including hilarious performances by Chazie Bly, Kristopher Bottrall, Grant Drager, Lori Lee, David Lipschutz, Terry McCarthy, Michael S. Miller and Robert Williams.
Not ignoring the other fine touches that make this such a fun experience, Myron Elliot's costumes and Keith Ryan's wigs and makeup are a laugh riot in themselves and really help each actor achieve the eerie accuracy that makes this a true golden fest for fans of the show.
David Cerda and I have some kind of strange psychic connection in that his shows always seem to coincide in some synchronistic way with things going on in my life and family, and Golden Girls was just what I needed to see. My mother and I lived in Miami Florida throughout my whole young adult life and the week I saw this production of Golden Girls (one of my mom's favorite shows to watch with me) she was in the hospital and I was extremely stressed and worried about losing her. When David says as Dorothy about her mother Sophia, "She's probably thinking back to her youth in the fields of Sicily," and then sighs, "God, I'd wish she'd just die," I had to let out a cathartic laugh because it was just such a perfectly funny, subtext of compassion coupled with frustration of the statement of all mother/daughter love when stretched to its limits. I loved it. Naturally, I don't wish such a thing, but Cerda's writing has a way of somehow finding love and humor in even such a statement.
I didn't stop laughing or smiling from start to finish of this uproariously funny take on the Golden Girls that no fan should miss. Even if you are not familiar with the show, it's worth checking out. Don't worry, you'll pick it up quickly. And like many Hell in a Handbag shows, there is an intermission long enough to stretch, grab a drink and use the restroom which allows you to really allow the funniness of the first act to sink in. Increasingly I find myself enduring 90-minute or longer shows with no intermission as if the audience is trapped in some kind of marathon endurance test of our concentration and bladders! But not at Hell in a Handbag shows, which proves yet again that David Cerda is in tune with everything a Golden Girl needs to truly enjoy a laugh packed night out with your best friends. Much Thanks to David Cerda for "being a friend!"
Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes is being performed at Mary's Attic in Andersonville on Wednesday and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m now extended through September 16th. Saturday dates have been added for August. Tickets are $20, but are just $16 if purchased in advance. To purchase tickets or to find out more about this hilarious show wonderfully directed by Shade Murray, visit handbagproductions.org.
Set in the 1930's, this melodrama has all the ingredients you'd expect, sex, drugs, murders and the quick, clever banter of women fighting for their lives in a film noir-colored seedy underworld of a dance hall/nightclub/whorehouse.
In the latest Hell in a Handbag production "Lady X - The Musical", director and writer/composer David Cerda plays Scarlet stunningly dressed in delicious blood-red with all of the oomph, hilarity and confident power of his Joan Crawford character. Cerda really is the sun around which all of the talented planets in his cast revolve and he does it with great force and superb dry humor that trumps all and anchors the show with fear of the ultimate female "mob boss" that Hell in a Handbag fans have come to love and expect. Like Cerda says at the end of the show, "Hell in a Handbag is not just a theatre company it's a cult!"
Christea Parent as Mary Dwight, is Lady X whose innocent younger sister comes to town to finish school but ends up tragically caught in the champagne filled "make it rain" dollars mentality. Christea Parent is unbelievably on point as the leader of the dames, the only one with a real purpose in life and the brains enough to stay out of the clutches of the gross "john" and the abusive bosses who take over the club by murdering the previous owner.
Christea Parent, with the help of Kate Setzer Kamphausen's fabulous period costumes, Keith Ryan's hysterical and yet perfectly designed and coiffed wigs and Sydney Genco's detailed makeup designs, (right down to the different types of fake eyelashes for each character) dominates the show with her singing, dancing and fast-talking character reminiscent of Barbara Stanwyck. I was dazzled by her mastery of the period acting while keeping her character both funny and deserving of compassion at every level.
Almost all of my Hell in a Handbag fave performers were featured well in this production like Ed Jones, as Estelle, the "oldest whore" in the bunch. Jones is hysterical as always with his slightly breathy, tongue-in-cheek, sympathetic "grandmom" character of the group. Estelle, despite her age has found her perfect baby boy lover in the young Val, played with adorable youthful energy by another Handbag regular, handsome Chazie Bly. Their duet, "A Lovely Pair", got some of the biggest laughs in the show's numbers and the perfect casting made their May/December romance absolutely understandable and even enviable.
Caitlin Jackson, who blew me AWAY as "Bette, LIVE at the Continental Baths" a few months ago at Theater Wit is Gabby. Her aging and wise Betty Boop-style character is fully formed, lovable and again Jackson brought down the house with her amazing voice during the showstopper "Flim Flam Floozy".
Elizabeth Lesinski another Hell in a Handbag regular does an amazing job in her role, her comedic touch as perfect as ever.
Wide-eyed director Steve Love enters the show to co-star as Betty Dwight, Mary's naive kid sister who Mary is trying to keep in school and off the streets. Love is a breath of fresh air in the snake pit of despair these women swim in as the hopeful innocent, tap dancing her way into the audience's hearts.
Laura Coleman, one of the women playing a man characters is really funny and sharp as Frank Gorham, the attorney seeking justice of his own while Adrian Hadlock, also plays several characters and is really ingenious in his multi-layered portrayals of Crandall, Louie and the Judge.
"Lady X" has so many fun and wonderful twists and turns, it would be shame to spoil them all by giving them away, but suffice it to say David Cerda has once again created a whole new world all his own where the lines between male and female, innocent and guilty are marvelously blurred to show the vulnerability of all humankind when pressed to fight for their lives, livelihood and self-respect.
Cerda's play is full of belly laughs from beginning to end and contains several very touching song numbers, like white picket fence, flower-filled "The House on the Hill", which all the women dream of retiring to, the song rounding out the hilarity with genuine sentiment.
"Lady X" is destined to become another Hell in a Handbag hit.
I highly recommend "Lady X" for ladies , gentlemen and flim flam floozies everywhere seeking to escape from the horrors of the current political landscape facing the LGTBQ community and instead be surrounded by a joyous, celebration of strong women from all walks of life and the dangers they faced in the 30's as well as the dangers they face now.
"Lady X - The Musical" is being performed at Mary's Attic in Andersonville through June 17th. For more show information or to purchase tickets visit http://www.handbagproductions.org/.
Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to open its 15th season with the world premiere of LADY X – A MUSICAL, a shocking exposé ripped from the headlines of yesteryear, playing from April 21 – June 10, 2017 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.
Based on Handbag's 2010 play of the same name, LADY X – A MUSICAL takes on the black and white crime melodrama films of the '30s and '40s. It's the story of seedy nightclubs, the menacing gangsters who run them and the loose women that keep the customers coming back for more! Co-directed by Tommy Bullington and Steve Love with music direction by JD Caudill, the campy new musical parody features a book by Artistic Director David Cerda and music by Cerda and Scott Lamberty. Join Handbag for a glimpse into the world of the 'clip-joint' from days gone by filled with sassy dames, crooked hoods and the regular Joes trying to make a buck.
LADY X – A MUSICAL will feature Chazie Bly, David Cerda, Laura Coleman, Sydney Genco, Adrian Hadlock, Michael Hampton, Ed Jones, Josh Kemper, Elizabeth Lesinski, Steve Love, Michael S. Miller and Christea Parent.
Mary Dwight (Christea Parent) is a gorgeous dame and a tough cookie who knows the score (and then some). Mary spends her nights as a 'clip-joint hostess,' making the customers feel welcome, whether it's sharing a drink with them – or the evening. Mary's got all the angles figured out, until Scarlett Fontanelli (David Cerda) enters the picture. As deadly as she is beautiful, Scarlett will stop at nothing to gain control over this world of underground crime. But Frank Graham (Laura Coleman), a young idealistic Assistant District Attorney, will stop at nothing to bring Scarlett and the Fontanelli syndicate to its knees. Frank wants justice for decent citizens everywhere and for his sister Barbara, a casualty of the Fontanelli family business.
Join Mary and her unforgettable pals, the not so bright Emmy Lou (Elizabeth Lesinski), Estelle (Ed Jones), the good-natured tramp with a penchant for funnels and all the good time gals in a tale so startling... so lurid... that only Hell in a Handbag Productions would dare tell it!
The production team for LADY X – A MUSICAL includes: Roger Wykes (set design), Austin Lemoine (costume design), Rachel Lake (lighting design), and Mealah Heidenreich (props), Sydney Genco (makeup design) and Michelle Kidd (asst. stage manager).
Title: LADY X – A MUSICAL
Book: David Cerda
Music: David Cerda and Scott Lamberty
Co-Directors: Tommy Bullington and Steve Love
Music Director: JD Caudill
Choreographer: Steve Love
Cast: Chazie Bly (Val), David Cerda (Scarlett Fontanelli), Laura Coleman (Frank Graham), Sydney Genco (Ruby), Adrian Hadlock (Crandall), Michael Hampton (Ape), Ed Jones (Estelle), Josh Kemper (Nelson), Elizabeth Lesinski (Emmy Lou), Steve Love (Betty), Michael S. Miller (Gordon) and Christea Parent (Mary).
Dates: Previews: Friday, April 21 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, April 23 at 6 pm and Thursday, April 27 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Saturday, April 29 – Saturday, June 10, 2017
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 6:00 pm. Please note: there will not be a performance on Sunday, May 7 or Sunday, June 4.
Tickets: Previews $12. Regular run $26 in advance, $30 at the door. VIP tickets with cocktail $38 and up. Group rates $21 for or more. Tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.
About the Creative Team
David Cerda (Book/Music) is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Hell in a Handbag Productions. He has written and appeared in POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical, The Birds, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, SCARRIE The Musical, Caged Dames, Lady X, How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened, TROGG! A Rock and Roll Musical, Christmas Dearest, Scream, Queen! SCREAM!, The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular and Sexy Baby. His plays have been produced around the country. He has also worked as a songwriter/lyricist with Amazon Films on an animated project and as an actor with various theater companies throughout the city of Chicago. This year Cerda has also been named as an inductee into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for his contributions to Chicago theatre.
Scott Lamberty (Music) is a composer, arranger, sound designer and audio engineer who has been bringing sound and music to the Chicago theater scene since the early 1990s. He has written and produced musical scores for more shows than he can count including The Bad Seed The Musical and The Passion Follies at Corn Productions; and Poseidon An Upside Down Musical, The Birds and Rudolph The Red-Hosed Reindeer at Hell in a Handbag Productions. His work as an audio engineer has included the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, Chicago a capella, Music of the Baroque and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. He is the recording engineer for the Ravinia Steans Music Institute.
Tommy Bullington (Co-Director) is excited to return to Hell in a Handbag Productions after being seen onstage in The Rip Nelson Holiday Spectacular and served as understudy Chaz Bono in Skooby Don't. Other creative credits include co-directing Circle Theatre's hit comedy Triassic Parq, serving as assistant director for Factory Theatre's Hey Dancin! Hey Musical! and assistant directing Drury Lane Oakbrook's Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Performing credits include Urinetown the Musical (Officer Barrel) with Boho Theatre, 180 Degree Rule (Berlitz/Freddy) with Babes with Blades Ensemble, Jesus Christ Superstar (King Herod) with Theo Ubique and Return of Neverland (Smee) with Quest Theatre for which he won a Jeff Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Tommy has also worked with such companies as Porchlight Music Theatre, Raven Theatre, Kokandy Productions and Emerald City Theatre.
Steve Love (Co-Director/Choreographer) is a Handbag ensemble member, and a two-time Jeff Award nominee (Best Supporting Actor, Best Choreography). Recent creative credits include last year's production of Christmas Dearest (Director/Choreographer, HIAH), and Northlight Theatre's production of Charm (Choreographer). Recent performing credits include Miracle! (Helen) with HIAH; Kin Folk (Arethin) and Stanley in the Name of Love (Stanley) with The New Colony. Steve has worked on stages on the East Coast, the Midwest and throughout the Caribbean aboard Disney Cruise Lines.
JD Caudill (Music Director) is an emerging director and music director from Ohio, where they studied musical theatre performance, directing and psychology at Bowling Green State University. Since arriving in Chicago two years ago, they have directed for The New Colony (Face the Day), Arc Theatre (Can Cause Death; Homecoming), Hobo Junction (Aquaman!; Urges), Broken Nose Theatre (Tuesday), 20% Theatre (Ellen, The Bean, and Nelle), Red Theatre (Ring a Bell), The Runaways Lab Theatre (Spectrum), Paragon Theatre (The Rhode Island Chapter), co-directed After Orlando (Pride Plays and Films), and was featured as a director in Haven Theatre's first Director's Haven (Jane Doe 232). This is JD's fourth time music directing for Hell in a Handbag Productions (Skooby, Don't!; The Rip Nelson Holiday Spectacular; Christmas Dearest), and they created harmonies and coached vocals for The New Colony's Stanley in the Name of Love. Along with directing and music directing, they've stayed busy assistant directing for The New Colony (Kinfolk; Stanley in the Name of Love), The Metropolis (R&G Are Dead), 16th Street Theater (Merchild; Agreed Upon Fictions), and Hobo Junction (Sure Thing).
About Hell in a Handbag Productions
Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit.
For additional information, visit www.handbagproductions.org.
Hold the presses! Hell in a Handbag Productions announced today it will open its 15th season with the world premiere of LADY X – A MUSICAL, a shocking exposé ripped from the headlines of yesteryear! LADY X will replace the previously announced musical VALLEY!, from April 21 – June 11, 2017 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago.
Based on Handbag's 2010 play of the same name, LADY X – A MUSICAL takes on the black and white crime melodrama films of the '30s and '40s. It's the story of seedy nightclubs, the menacing gangsters that run them and the loose women that keep the customers coming back for more! Co-directed by Tommy Bullington and Steve Love with music direction by JD Caudill, the campy new musical parody features a book by Artistic Director David Cerda, music by Cerda and Scott Lamberty. Join Handbag for a glimpse into the world of the 'clip-joint' from days gone by filled with sassy dames, crooked hoods and the regular Joes trying to make a buck. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006. The press opening is Friday, April 28 at 7:30 pm.
Mary Dwight is a gorgeous dame and a tough cookie who knows the score (and then some). Mary spends her nights as a 'clip-joint hostess,' making the customers feel welcome, whether it's sharing a drink with them – or the evening. Mary's got all the angles figured out, until Scarlett Fontanelli (David Cerda) enters the picture. As deadly as she is beautiful, Scarlett will stop at nothing to gain control over this world of underground crime. But Frank Graham, a young idealistic Assistant District Attorney, will stop at nothing to bring Scarlett and the Fontanelli syndicate to its knees. Frank wants justice for decent citizens everywhere and for his sister Barbara, a casualty of the Fontanelli family business.
Join Mary and her unforgettable pals, the not so bright Emmy Lou (Elizabeth Lesinski), Estelle (Ed Jones), the good natured tramp with a penchant for funnels and all the good time gals in a tale so startling... so lurid... that only Hell in a Handbag Productions would dare tell it!
The production team for LADY X – A MUSICAL includes Austin Lemoine (costume design) and Mealah Heidenreich (props).
Title: LADY X – A MUSICAL
Book: David Cerda
Music: David Cerda and Scott Lamberty
Co-Directors: Tommy Bullington and Steve Love
Music Director: JD Caudill
Choreographer: Steve Love
Cast: David Cerda (Scarlett Fontanelli), Ed Jones (Estelle) and Elizabeth Lesinski (Emmy Lou). Additional casting to be announced.
Dates: Previews: Friday, April 21 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, April 23 at 6 pm and Thursday, April 27 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Saturday, April 29 – Sunday, June 11, 2017
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 6:00 pm. Please note: there will not be a performance on Sunday, May 7 or Sunday, June 4.
Tickets: Previews $12. Regular run $26 in advance, $30 at the door. VIP tickets with cocktail $38 and up. Group rates $21 for or more. Tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.
Question: Is Shakespeare really that sexual?
Answer: Yes, as it turns out.
Fifty Shades of Shakespeare not only proves that the plays of William Shakespeare carry some very heavy sexual undertones, which is fantastic, but also provides an insight towards gender fluidity and sexuality. This is all done by using Shakespeare to help talk about sex.
In its fourth year, Fifty Shades of Shakespeare is brought to you by the (re)discover theatre. It is the brainchild of Jess Shoemaker and the (re)discover theatre.
Upon arrival to Mary's Attic, I grabbed a drink from the bar in back and found a seat near the front in the second row. I wanted to be as close to the action as possible because I had no idea what I was in for, but was very intrigued to say the least. Once I took my seat I was greeted by a cast member and regaled with an excerpt from a grocery store romance novel. That immediately set the tone for the night. Not much soon after that I was asked if I would like to contribute to the "Box of Secrets" that actually wasn't very secret. The idea is this: you are handed a piece of paper that has a question. You write down your answer with as much or as little detail as you want. Then during intermission and different breaks someone from the cast reads responses that have been handed in. My question was, "What was the dirtiest thing you've ever said in bed?" I accepted the challenge and answered truthfully and honestly. Unfortunately, my response was not read to the audience. Bummer.
The show itself consists of twelve scenes, all from the Shakespeare canon. These are the greatest hits, if you will. The cast is made up of only four (yes four) actors: Amelia Bethel, Tanner Bradshaw, William Delforge, and Madeline Moeller. That means that these four are playing 23 different roles. However, the big twist is that the roles are chosen at random, by the audience, before the show begins. The cast switches roles every evening, making each evening a new experience.
If you're already familiar with Shakespeare, then buckle up because shit gets real the instant they dim the lights. It is a show that provides nonstop laughs and energy for two hours. This is accomplished by the random casting of roles that explore and break down not just gender fluidity, but sexual expression. It does not matter if it is two men portraying Romeo and Juliet or having Macbeth played by a woman and Lady Macbeth played by a man. Or even turning a scene where two men dabble in some light-ish bondage. I should point out that Shakespeare's plays were originally performed by all male casts.
This show breaks down the beauty of love into its most raw and animalistic instincts. Shakespeare just provides the rich subtext so the performers can really unleash. You may walk out of the show unsure what you just saw, but you will have been entertained to the fullest. Fifty Shades of Shakespeare speaks to a new day and age that we, the majority of society, are entering a new kind of sexual revolution where nothing is off limits. And it's for the better.
Fifty Shades of Shakespeare is playing at Mary's Attic from now through February 27th on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evenings at 8:00 p.m. If you don't have plans yet or are the last-minute planning type, then I would suggest checking out their special Valentine's Day show Tuesday night February 14th. Tickets can be reserved by clicking here.
Hell in a Handbag Productions is thrilled to kick-off 2017 with the announcement of its 15th season. Comments Artistic Director David Cerda, "We really want to thank our audiences for keeping us going for the past 15 years with their love and support, so we are doing a mix of new, old and most requested from our audience for our audience."
The 2017 season launches in the spring with the world premiere of VALLEY!, a rollicking unauthorized musical parody of the camp classic film and best-selling book Valley of the Dolls. Written by David Cerda, Handbag tells the tale through the lens and life of its legendary author, Jacqueline Susann. Expect lots of booze, pills and (gasp) pre-marital sex!
For Halloween, Handbag definitely offers up a treat with the world premiere of BEWILDERED, a musical parody of the classic TV sitcom Bewitched, with book by Ron Weaver, lyrics and music by Ron Weaver and Aaron Benham and directed by Brigitte Ditmars. The spellbinding throwback is told from the point of view of Gladys Kravitz, the poor, misunderstood neighbor who keeps seeing crazy things at the home of Samantha Stephens, a beautiful witch, and her 'ordinary family.' Gladys' husband Abner has had enough and is about to take drastic measures. Can Gladys prove her visions are real without destroying the Stephens family – or is she doomed to a life of pills and institutions? BEWILDERED will feature ensemble members Caitlin Jackson as Gladys Kravitz, Ed Jones as Uncle Arthur and David Cerda as Endora.
Finally, Handbag celebrates the holidays by bringing back its most popular show ever, RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER 2017 by David Cerda and directed by AJ Wright. A parody of the 1967 Rankin Bass television special, Rudolph has become a subversive Chicago classic that celebrates the MISFITS of the world. Chicago's favorite transvestite reindeer celebrates his 21st anniversary this year – and Cerda always adjusts the show to fit the current social climate.
In addition to its mainstage shows, Handbag is also pleased to present THE GOLDEN GIRLS – THE LOST EPISODES. Join Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia on the lanai at Mary's Attic this summer for some episodes that didn't quite make it on the air. Plus, Handbag's very own celebrity Rip Nelson's long lost talk show has finally surfaced in Rip Nelson, AFTER DARK. The original tapes were thought to be destroyed in a grease fire at Dom Deluise's annual legendary Hawaiian themed Labor Day pig roast – but now they've been restored for Handbag audiences to enjoy late night at Stage 773
Handbag's 15th Anniversary Season will be staged at Mary's Attic (5400 N. Clark St., Chicago) and Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago). Season subscriptions and single tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org.
Hell in a Handbag Productions' 15th Anniversary Season includes:
April 27 – June 10, 2017
VALLEY! – World Premiere!
An Unauthorized Musical Parody
By David Cerda
at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago
Handbag presents a musical parody of the cult camp classic Valley of the Dolls like only they could. Join aspiring model/actress Ann Wells Fargo, the talented and self-destructive Needy Mascara, and the beautiful but doomed Jennifer South for an evening of fame, fashion, sex and dolls…so many dolls…
June 6 – July 12, 2017
By David Cerda, Directed by Shade Murray
at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago
Handbag's way of thanking you for being a friend this summer! Enjoy lost, never-before-seen episodes of The Golden Girls featuring Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, Sophia and all of the siblings, daughters, sons, and rare diseases that were mentioned once, but never again. There will be Golden Girls trivia and costume contests to help fully embrace the Miami experience.
September 27 – November 11, 2017
BEWILDERED – World Premiere!
Book by Ron Weaver, Music and Lyrics by Ron Weaver and Aaron Benham
Directed by Brigitte Ditmars
Featuring ensemble members David Cerda (Endora), Caitlin Jackson (Gladys Kravitz) and Ed Jones (Uncle Arthur)
at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
A reimagining of the beloved '60s and '70s television sitcom Bewitched, as seen through the eyes of Gladys Kravitz, Samantha Stephens' iconic nosy neighbor. Poor Gladys knows what she sees next door is real, but can she prove it in time to save herself from being committed? Gladys finally gets her due in this fun and magical musical parody.
October 14, 2017 – November 11, 2017
By David Cerda
Featuring ensemble member Ed Jones
at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Ed Jones returns as Handbag's favorite faux D-list celebrity – and this time he's a late, late night talk show host with a bevy of C-list celebrities. Come see Rip Nelson in his little known talk show with some of the most intriguing mix of actors, singers and comedians of the time. Relive the smoke-filled gabfests of long ago with your favorite long lost entertainers in an intimate setting.
November 25 – December 30, 2017
at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago
Chicago's favorite cross-dressing reindeer is back and he's 21 years old! Hell in a Handbag closes its season with its most popular show ever. RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER, a parody of the classic children's television special had its first reading in 1996 and has evolved into one of Chicago's best anti-holiday, holiday shows. Join Rudolph and all of his misfit friends as they struggle with fitting in and being 'normal' in an increasingly abnormal world.
About Hell in a Handbag Productions
Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit.
Are you old enough to remember Saturday morning cartoons? I mean when there was no other place or time on TV to watch three hours of children's cartoon TV shows? Well, if you are, like me, you'll remember the "Scooby Doo" show whose lead character was a talking dog who rolled with the teenage mystery solvers from Mystery Inc.
In "Skooby Don't" written by David Cerda, Artistic Director of the wonderful Hell In a Handbag Production Company, every hysterical aspect of the original show is poked at, like the fact that Scooby and his pal Shaggy both look and act like stoners the whole time and that the whole gang runs screaming in fear every time they finally confronted a ghost/monster.
But Cerda as always, takes a funny satire and turns it into a touching and even educational LGBTQ production that leaves the whole audience with something interesting and uplifting to ponder over long after they've left the theater.
In order to stay safe of copyright laws the characters names have been slightly changed to even funnier names. Daphne is called Daffy played delightfully by ensemble member Elizabeth Lesinsky, smart and sassy Velma is now Velva (or "Vulva") also very funnily played by Caitlin Jackson. I recently reviewed Ms. Jackson in her role as Bette Midler and she has an AMAZING singing voice as well. Fred is Fredd with two D's, Shaggy becomes Scaggy and Scooby Doo trades in his "C" for a "K," becoming Skooby and instead becomes "Don't". Cerda even jokes at one point about the subtle changes.
When Velva decides to take the whole gang to her aunt's house for a reunion vacation her aunt turns out to be Cher! Cher played by ensemble member Ed Jones is joined by two famous contemporary house guests Caitlyn Jenner (Chazie Bly), Kris Jenner (Cerda) and Cher's disgruntled bellboy/son Chaz (Caitlin Boho). With this wild cast of characters only Cerda could put together, it doesn't take long before a zany mystery ensues and the gang quickly becomes detectives.
This quartet of famous faces was absolutely a collection the funniest bits in the whole show. Ed Jones makes the BEST, funniest, tongue to lip touching Cher I have ever seen! David Cerda as Kris Jenner and Chazie Bly as Caitlynn Jenner have all the gestures and voice patterns down pat while Caitlin Boho who plays a plump, unshaven Chaz, had me laughing out loud with almost every single line she delivered.
Kudos and credit must go to their AMAZING costumer Kate Setzer Kamphausen and Hell in a Handbag's wig master Keith Ryan because their makeup and hair fit EVERY character to a tee!
People ask me why I enjoy Cerda's characters so much, enough to go to every production they put on without question and the reason is simple. They are always brilliantly funny. Add the fact that if these men and women can do such a great job of playing full on "dress up" and do it with such care and relish, it always makes me feel that SOMEONE else understands how hard it is to be a woman!
Cerda's characters don't make fun of women, they celebrate women and men of all kinds, sizes and shapes and even though they have to wear a lot of makeup, wigs and six inch heels they do it because they ENJOY doing all the things they associate with being women. David Cerda has a wonderful and blessed knack for creating female characters in his plays, even those beautiful women with "resting bitch face" - like his very popular Joan Crawford - to be worthy of love and respect by the end of each show.
The entire cast including the supporting roles were dynamite. Cerda, Jones and Lesinsky just seems to get funnier and funnier with each production, this time capturing the precise essence of the vain and ditzy Daffy. In Skooby Don't, Cerda puts forth yet another all-around stellar ensemble, perfectly casting the Mystery Gang and guest characters.
I highly recommend this fun, campy yet sympathetic piece, which is kind of like a transgender Halloween party! Skooby Don't is currently being performed at Mary's Attic in Andersonville. For tickets, showtimes and more show information, visit www.Handbag productions.org.
I've seen Hell in a Handbag's production of "Christmas Dearest" before and the dazzling funny and yet touching show has now officially become part of my true Holiday tradition. The reason being is that it takes the classic tale "A Christmas Carol" and throws some six-inch, size 11 heeled, f*ck me pumps on it, tosses back a martini, lights up an extra-long cigarette and says "We love you just the way you are". It is Christmas time - the time for Love and Acceptance is really here happening in Chicago!
David Cerda wrote the script and the book for this adorable musical theater piece and I am continuously blown away by his huge amount of talent.
Always one to give his shows 110 percent of his energy, no matter how many hats he has to wear at once, I must say Cerda was absolutely on FIRE with the spirit of Joan Crawford at the opening night performance!! Joan has been asked to play "Mary, the Mother of God" on the big screen and Cerda plays her searingly with beauty, ugliness and star charisma.
Crawford is cheap and cruel and wants to force the entire cast to work on Christmas Day. Soon the witchy Crawford is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Even the actual "Mary, Queen of Heaven" comes down from her Royal Heavenly Throne to advise Crawford that she better shape up or she'll be dead soon, along with her dying career.
Hell in a Handbag's company of regulars are essential including the ever-reliably hysterical Ed Jones as Crawford's empathetic assistant/slave. New additions also add punch such as recent Northwestern graduate Frankie Leo Bennett as Crawford's now infamous biographer daughter, Christina, and Roosevelt University undergrad Alexa Castelvecchi who has a great voice and lovely stage presence as a young Crawford who is shown to have once been a caring, generous young girl before "Hollywood casting couches" and politics ruined her psychologically.
Also deserving of extra special mention is "Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come" in the form of Bette Davis, played to laughable perfection by Caitlin Jackson dressed in a fantastically dead on and literally dead "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" costume.
The hysterical and perfectly tailored costumes for every single character by Kate Setzer Kamphausen, and equally indispensable wigs designed by Keith Ryan were colorful and perfectly dated in the most kitschy way possible for maximum laughs.
Now there are some great theater companies in Chicago where the founder or artistic director would not be missed if absent from a single production but David Cerda is not one of them. Cerda displayed his complete control over the cast and audience when he reached for a martini accidentally placed a few feet too far from his chaise and got the biggest laugh from the audience when he addressed us with a droll improvised "Eight weeks of rehearsal...".
I highly recommend this darling, genuinely laugh out loud funny and open-minded musical production to everyone ready to rock and possibly drink their way through their heartbroken holidays! Christmas Dearest is being performed at Mary's Attic in Andersonville through December 29th. For tickets and/or more show information visit www.handbagproductions.org.


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A Poem by terasinas
Created: February 25, 2012 at 01:11 pm
Upload Type: Poem, G (All)
Category: Inspirational | Spiritual | Philosophy
Upload Stats: 5 Stars by 1 users with 2 comments and 653 views
Reach WithinWe need to reach, reach ...
farther than we ever dared!
Reach, to places never explored
but places feared
Not to planets in a far off place,
but deep within that secret space
Deep within our depths we go,
where few dare venture, and explore
Deep within the endless well
to reach where hollow echoes dwell
Deep and deeper still,
until we awake to see ...
The true reward
No more struggle or pain
Until we hit the nerve, the vein
and wake at last to find again ...
Ourselves in higher planes
Enlightened ... and truly free
Last Modified: February 25, 2012 at 02:05 pm
© terasinas - all rights reserved
Author Notes
Too many of us spend our time grasping for the wrong things in life, things outside ourselves that help us to live in the world, but ultimately that don't matter. Thus there are so many in the western world who may have so much but who are basically empty inside and lost, with no true substance.
This is a mantra that came to me to help dispel our search of nothingness and instead find a meaningful fullness, within
The author would love to hear your feedback but you must be logged in to do that. If you are a member of Writers-Network click here to login and review this writing entry.
Not a member? Not a problem! You can register here, it's free for everyone
Comments & Reviews
April 09, 2012
|A poem from your soul
I devoured this poem. I ravished it and still it has meaning, too me.
Look inwards before looking outwards, is the vibe I get.
Additional Comments (1)
Thank you so much Bevan. Your words make me very happy because the it had such an affect on you and it is also one of my favorites. It wrote itself basically, I was the vehicle, driven by some unseen force inside and all around me. I feel it carries an important message all should hear.
terasinas replied on April 09, 2012
February 26, 2012
|I think
fullness is always found by reaching....and seldom by gaining. It is the ironic ingredient that makes a life worthwhile.
I'll be reading more. :-)
Additional Comments (2)
hmm, I am sure there is some truth to that Synchro, perhaps a lot .... it's a good thought to ponder as we relate it to our own lives and experiences. Depends how we got to that fullness, was it easily attained or handed to us through good luck or forture, or was it something ultimately arrived at after much striving or reaching. As well as, what did we learn along the way of that striving? Did we learn compassion for others? As humans we tend to take things for granted when they are given to us freely. Those, where things have always came easy to them, tend not to value the important things as much as those who have struggled.
terasinas replied on February 28, 2012
You are correct, of course. Compassion is the key...and I see it more and more.
Synchro replied on February 28, 2012
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Motive: Burn Down Brooklyn
Indie-Rock Seattle transplants, now Brooklynites, Motive released the first single Burn Down Brooklyn, from their upcoming debut full-length album coming out March 2014. The first track off of the LP features the band's signature electric guitar and catchy garage-rock revival driven sound with a modern indie sensibility. Burn Down Brooklyn and the second single Mammals were recorded at a Converse Rubber Tracks session and were produced and mixed by Jason Finkel (Hundred Waters) and mastered by Justin Shturtz (JET, Alice In Chains) at Sterling Sound.
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When you add a custom module to your Sugar instance, you probably also want to include it as one of the modules available for Global Search, right?
Here's an upgrade-safe way of adding a custom module to Global Search.
- Open the file (or create it): custom/Extension/modules/YOUR_CUSTOM_MODULE/Ext/Vardefs/vardefs.php
- Append the file with these lines:
$dictionary['YOUR_CUSTOM_MODULE']['unified_search'] = true; $dictionary['YOUR_CUSTOM_MODULE']['unified_search_default_enabled'] = true; $dictionary['YOUR_CUSTOM_MODULE']['fields']['NAME_OF_FIELD_TO_SEARCH']['unified_search'] = true;
- Run a Quick Repair & Rebuild
If the module was created with Module Builder, remember to use the format pckge_Module, which you can find by looking through your ./custom/modules directory.
In my example, I deployed a package through Module Builder with the package name abcde, and the module name Orders, and I want to search on the Name field. Using the above steps, filling in the blanks with my particulars:
- Open the file (or create it): custom/Extension/modules/abcde_Orders/Ext/Vardefs/vardefs.php
- Append the file with these lines:
$dictionary['abcde_Orders']['unified_search'] = true; $dictionary['abcde_Orders']['unified_search_default_enabled'] = true; $dictionary['abcde_Orders']['fields']['name']['unified_search'] = true;
- Run a Quick Repair & Rebuild
That should do it! This method is upgrade-safe, and can be included in modules you distribute as well.


text: Hello, 2010/6/9 Daniel Kahn Gillmor <email@example.com>: > Both you and Hector Oron submitted ARM BoF-type events, but they were > submitted well after the submission deadline, so they won't even be > reviewed for submission into the published schedule. (i'm currently the > point person for the schedule for some reason). True, I requested a slot (after one irc line discussion with Riku) at debconf, but it was too late. I wanted to make an announcement here, but as we have not a reserved slot, i was conservative regarding such point. It would also be nice if we could discuss a little agenda on what people it is motivated to devel/maintain/qa/test/v&v on. There is also at least one hardware vendor (genesi-usa.com) which might be giving away some free (as in beer, sadly, not as in speech) hardware (efikamx) based arround i.MX51 cores. I also requested an slot to give away such hardware to interested developers and show a little how to play with it with Debian tools. I think it would be good to discuss how to better use such hardware for Debian and Genesi interests, vendor is not interested in giving away hardware which just goes directly to the drawer. But beware there is not yet a 100% agreement on it. Cheers, -- Héctor Orón "Our Sun unleashes tremendous flares expelling hot gas into the Solar System, which one day will disconnect us."


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Colorado hospitals were responsible for about $18.8 billion in economic output last year, according to an impact study released Wednesday by a trade association.
The Colorado Hospital Association commissioned the report to study the employment stability of the health care sector and the impact hospitals have had during the economic downturn.
The study, conducted by Colorado State University, found that hospitals in the state employed nearly 72,000 people last year and that spending by the facilities and their workforce created another 61,400 jobs.
"Hospitals are important to all aspects of health, whether we're referring to the physical health of our family, friends and neighbors or the economic health of the community," hospital association president and chief executive Steven Summer said in a news release.
"When we think about the community benefits of hospitals, we often think about the compassionate care hospitals provide to patients regardless of their ability to pay," he added. "This study shows that hospitals' impact on local communities is so much more than just providing care — it's also about providing job growth and economic stability statewide."
The study also found that Colorado hospitals did not see the same job losses during the recession from 2007 to 2010 as other industries experienced. In fact, hospitals added nearly 5,000 jobs while the rest of the state lost about 123,000 jobs, the study found.
Colorado is home to 108 hospitals and health systems. In 2009, they provided health care services for more than 8.9 million patient visits.
The average annual income for hospital employees and the spin-off jobs created by the hospitals was $55,700.
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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The Rag & Bone SS14 campaign focuses on two subjects centred around downtown L.A.
Stacy Martin from Lars Von Triers' Nymphomaniac and Emile Hirsch from Lone Survivor are seen idling around the streets of L.A. Glen Luchford shot the campaign using 35 mm film, which adds a dreamy, grainy and overexposed feeling to the collection. Hirsch is seen laying on a broken lawn chair, or casually contemplating on his bed while Martin is dressed in simplistic, minimal clothes with perfectly messy hair and an expressionless look on her face.
This campaign is among many stylish Rag & Bone photo shoots. With its minimal looks and care-free attitude, Rag & Bone is setting the standard of cool. It offers grungy, yet chic looks that anyone can pull off and exemplifies the looks that are sought-after at the moment.
Minimalist Grayscale Fashion Series
More Stats +/-
Surprisingly Demure Starlet Snaps
Unexpected Silhouette Editorials
Sensually Nonchalant Photoshoots
Neo-Tribal Editorials
Boho Cowgirl Editorials
The Rag & Bone SS14 Campaign Features Hazy Models Downtown
- By: Janelle SavelApr 7, 2014
References: rag-bone & fashionmenow.blogspot
References: rag-bone & fashionmenow.blogspot


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ago530 days ago
2013 '13 Citroen Berlingo 1.6HDi 725x 5 seat factory built crewvan, factory white in colour, one owner from new, not ex construction or trades van, fantastic rear load space with rear seat folded up or down, super clean throughout. TWin side doors, amber beacon(can be removed). As always there are many van for sale on the 'net and they all look good in the pictures but this one is as good in the flesh as you see here. In short we dont sell bruised, battered, knackered high milers This Berlingo is a lovely straight van in fabulous origional condition there 'may' be others as good but certainly wont others any better £99+vat (mainland) delivery within 100 miles, 3 month UK wide warranty (Scottish Motor Trade Assoc issued), all stock fully workshop inspected – report available. Please feel free to give us a call or pop in for a coffee – we don't do sales patter Clarkson Commercials a friendly family business selling outstanding used vans UK wide since 1978
ago390 days ago


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Homemade Chorizo Sausage Recipe
1 pound ground pork
1 Tablespoon coarse (kosher) salt
Categories: Sausage Recipes Tags: Homemade chorizo, Homemade chorizo recipe, Homemade sausage recipe
Homemade Sausage – Breakfast Sausage Recipe
4 lb Ground Pork
1 tsp Black Pepper
3 tsp Sea Salt
4 tsp Ground Sage
1 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Thyme
Mix all of the homemade sausage seasonings together. Add spice mixture to the ground pork and mix well. After well mixed, form into sausage patties and pan fry, or stuff into sheep casings for homemade sausage links. Once you make your homemade breakfast sausage links try cooking them on the grill, you'll love them. Good luck with your breakfast sausage, I hopr you enjoy the recipe.
I think you will enjoy making your own homemade sausage. This recipe is quick and easy. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Thank you for looking at my homemade breakfast sausage recipe. If you enjoyed the recipe and found it helpful please check out the Rachael Ray store and click the link below. It's one of my favorite online stores, and I'm sure you will fall in love with it as well.
Categories: Sausage Recipes Tags: Breakfast Sausage, Country Sausage Recipe, homemade sausage, Homemade sausage recipe, Sausage Recipe


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You know how I love these bikes. Well they're giving one away each week! Click below to check it out!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Pearly Whites
Teeth were obviously a big part of my life growing up since my dad was a dentist - they still are. Now I have two brothers pursuing dental careers. My brother, Brady, is doing research at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and was wondering if my cool friends would help him out. It's short and just think - you may be helping someone out there have a healthier life and a healthier baby. Here is his message: Oh and anyone can do it - you don't have to be pregnant!
Marketing an Oral Health Message:
I am a Dental Student at University of Washington. I am working on a really important research project looking into the health of your teeth and how it affects your baby. The website is very informative and I invite you to take part. If you want to participate or know someone who is pregnant, please spread the word.
The site consists of a Survey, followed by a short one minute commercial, and most importantly please take the follow up survey before finishing. This followup survey is very important to tie in the work. If you are interested in helping in this cause, please go to the following site:
Thanks for your help!
S. Brady Bates
University of Washington School of Dentistry
Class of 2012
Contact Information:
(509) 868-1623
Shared by Malerie on Thursday, August 20, 2009 3 comments:
Monday, August 17, 2009
My Two Favorite People
I couldn't resist snapping a shot of these two having a little father-daughter chat. Oh how I love these two...
Shared by Malerie on Monday, August 17, 2009 6 comments:
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Little Farm Girl
Matt is doing an away rotation at the University of Utah this month. Madeline and I are in Spokane, WA for two weeks and then onto Salt Lake City for the last two weeks. We also spent a week at Newport Beach with Matt's family. Basically we are having too much fun. I haven't downloaded all of my pictures yet, but I didn't love the topic of my last post and didn't want it sitting at the top of my blog anymore. So here is a little glimpse of just how much fun we are having...
Shared by Malerie on Sunday, August 09, 2009 8 comments:
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After David Beckham's press conference to formally announce that he has bought the franchise rights to a Major League Soccer team that will call Miami home, I walked away from the event with more questions than answers, a lack of confidence that Beckham and his investors are anywhere close to having a sound financial plan in place, and — most worryingly of all — the opinion that Beckham does not understand the Miami market.
In Wednesday's press conference, Beckham held up Seattle as an example of what he wants to see in Miami, with fans walking en-masse to the stadium:
"The [stadium] will be downtown. I think it's important that we are in this part of the city because I've seen what [the owners of the Miami Heat] have done. I've seen the arena. I've seen the buzz.
"Soccer fans love to commute. They love to walk. I'm hoping that's the same in Miami.
"I've seen what it's like in Seattle. I've seen the fans, the way the passion is there. I know we're going to have that here."
Without any shadow of a doubt, Miami is not Seattle. There are huge differences between both cities:
1) Residents of South Florida love to drive. It's rare that you see people walking down the streets, partly because of the heat and humidity, but South Florida and Miami is definitely not a walking community.
2) Downtown Seattle is not downtown Miami. Downtown Seattle is a thriving area where people live, work and play. While downtown Miami is growing and under renovation, there isn't that same buzz downtown. You don't get a sense that you're in a community. Once the five o'clock whistle sounds, there's typically a mass exodus of people as they head north, west or south.
Beckham and Claure have declared that they have their hearts set on building a stadium in downtown Miami. Both men envision soccer fans parking their cars in downtown Miami and then walking across the Port Boulevard bridge which, at its shortest distance, is 0.5 miles uphill. That doesn't sound that bad, but that's the best case scenario. With 20,000 fans in the downtown area, it's possible that fans will have to park farther away in downtown so the walk would be greater. Even at 0.5-1.0 miles, you have to consider the scorching heat and humidity. If you've ever walked in South Florida for that distance between March-September, you'll know how uncomfortable the weather is.
When Beckham said that soccer fans love to commute and love to walk, that's true. But that doesn't mean that the same applies to South Florida. And for Beckham to believe that, it shows how out of touch he is with the South Florida region. I'd like to see Beckham take the walk himself in the sweltering summertime heat to get a better understanding of what it feels like.
If Beckham does decide on the PortMiami option, walking is the only solution to get that many fans over the bridge to the stadium. There'll be little to no parking available around the stadium itself.
While Beckham has unrealistic dreams of Miami becoming a Seattle, other issues persist. To date, Beckham's perception of Miami has been largely driven by his interaction with the Miami Heat — going to NBA games in downtown Miami, and hanging out with basketball stars such as LeBron James. To my knowledge, he has attended zero soccer games in South Florida, but has attended several Heat games as well as being wined and dined by Miami-centric businessmen Marcelo Claure, the Bolivian billionaire, and Carlos A. Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Mayor.
Not that there's anything wrong with going to Heat games, but Beckham's visits to the Miami Heat games have clouded his vision and given him an inaccurate impression of what the South Florida sports market is like. Beckham would be wise to experience games at other local stadia for a team that doesn't have the winning buzz of the Heat — namely the Florida Panthers ice hockey team, with the fourth worst attendance in the league this season, and the Miami Dolphins who, while they have an average attendance of 60,000, are still in the bottom half of the NFL when it comes to the success of putting butts in a seat.
When Beckham is asked about Miami, he consistently mentions the Miami Heat as his frame of reference. It's clear that Beckham wants his Miami MLS team to be the equivalent of the Miami Heat — a global brand, filled with star players and champions. But the Miami Heat and NBA are not MLS. The salary caps are a lot stricter in Major League Soccer, so Beckham isn't going to be able to build a team with world-class players in each position. The success of the Heat can be an aspiration to work towards for Beckham's team, but the sooner he ejects himself from the Heat buzz and tries to connect with the soccer community in South Florida, the better.
While the glitz and glamor were on full display in this week's press conference next to the water in downtown Miami, there were several other worrying signs. There's no guarantee that Beckham and his lobbyist will be able to convince the State of Florida to provide funding to help pay for part of the stadium construction. If that fails, what's Plan B? In terms of investors, Marcelo Claure still appears to be the only key figure even though LeBron James has expressed interest in becoming involved. At the same time, the 20-30 supporters who were in the crowd to sing, chant and raise their scarves are the same 20-30 fans who have spammed Don Garber with e-mail for the past few years, as well as showing their support outside arenas and in social media to try to bring a team here. By now, you would expect the same group of 20-30 fans to have swelled to ten times that number.
The Miami MLS market could be success. And with Beckham's name attached to the franchise, the first season is guaranteed to generate a buzz with soccer moms, teenage girls and soccer fans going to the stadium for a glimpse of Beckham and to watch a game of soccer. The worrying concern is what happens after season one ends and the novelty has worn off. Based on the current path that Beckham has committed to, he's going the wrong direction and has set his heart on a stadium project that, while it's in a beautiful location, will fail.
Overall, my chiefest concern all along has been that the team has been advising him and sharing what makes the Miami market different has been too focused on downtown Miami. The Mayor is, of course, going to push his own agenda. And Claure, like Beckham, is infatuated with the Miami Heat.


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About Us
At Sensual Surprises Apparel, we believe the desire to feel and look attractive is a natural part of who we all are. We also believe that everyone has the ability to look sexy, which is the reason we have apparel and accessories for women and men in various sizes to flatter all body shapes and compliment different personalities. From special occasions to the everyday, Sensual Surprises Apparel has a wide variety of intimates, swimwear, dresses and accessories to suit various personality styles and body types. With over 5000 items in our online boutique it's easy to find something to help you feel sensual from the inside out.
Sensual Surprises began specializing in sales of lingerie and leather lingerie. After listening to our customer's needs about wanting a wide variety of fashionable clothing to fit their body shape and personality style, our apparel and accessory selection has grown by the thousands. We have a selection of evening gowns that range from elegant to seductive, cocktail dresses that are charming or daring, swimsuits that are sporty or bold and even heavenly or mysterious costumes. Many of our manufacturers feature high quality hand-made dresses, shoes and boots and some even allow customizations to make that item uniquely yours. In addition, all American made products proudly display "Made In USA".
Whether you desire to be stunning or suggestive, provocative or passionate, dainty or daring, we have the collection to help women and men of all ages feel fabulous.
Venture inside our sensual online boutique and see how our collections of apparel will make you feel youthful, vibrant and sexy too...
Sensual Surprises currently supports the following organizations:
Sasha Pejčić's Shelter in Nis, Serbia


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You can find certification results for prior releases of Autodesk® Flare™ software at the Flare Certified Hardware link.
Autodesk Flare graphics certification testing was done using Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® for 64-bit x86-64 AMD®/Intel®; CentOS for 64-bit x86-64 AMD®/Intel® for versions 5.2, 5.3 and 5.5. To find out which version of the operating system is installed, run the command cat /etc/redhat-release in a shell.
For information on systems certification, visit the Flare Hardware System Certification site: www.autodesk.com/flare-hardware.
To report a problem directly to the Hardware Certification group, use the Report a Problem form.
Autodesk and Flare are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. © 2011 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.


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About My Posters
All of the posters and cartoons on this website are available for download and printing.
Much of the artwork displayed here is "graphic design". This means that i sometimes make use of existing art resources, frequently modified for the specific design purpose.
Posters that have "1117" in the filename are 11 inch by 17 inch format. These require a special printer.
Printing directly from the page probably won't always work well. If you have Windows, you can manipulate the individual graphics by first right-clicking.
About My Posters
About the Industrial Workers of the World | I.W.W. Posters | I.W.W. Prose | I.W.W. Poetry
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Izzo SWAMI WATCH GOLF GPS
It's the Swami you wear on your wrist. This compact device makes it easy to get accurate distances, includes auto hole advance, shot distance measurement, digital scorecard and comes pre-loaded with 25,000+ worldwide courses!
Accurate Distance to Front, Center & Back of the green
Pre-loaded with 25,000+ worldwide courses (No computer downloads or annual subscription required)
Large, Vibrant 1.3" Display – Easy to operate & Read (even in bright sunlight)
Course map edit function allows you to re-program front/center/back distances
Additonal Features include auto hole advance, Shot Distance Measurement & digital Scorecard
Rechargeable Li-polymer Battery – holds a 6-8 hour charge (golf mode)
Supports watch functions – time/date, odometer & alarm (40 day battery life in time mode)
Durable & Waterproof – 90 day Limited Warranty


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We have a special offer for home builders and their customers.
Building a home means spending a lot of time paying attention to the details, from blueprints to paint and everything in between. Luckily, choosing the loans that will finance your new home isn't as complicated.
Simplify your financing with a construction loan and mortgage loan from Bank of American Fork. In addition to saving money, we'll save you the headaches that can come with financing your dream home.
Bank of American Fork can help turn your dream into reality with a 3.99% construction loan (14.017% or 11.825% estimated APR*, depending on term) for loan amounts up to $417,000. Loans must be for new construction only (no remodels) on a primary or secondary residence (no rental properties).
Here's what you'll get with our low-rate, high-service, home-construction loans:
• Low, fixed rate for the 4-month or 6-month term† of the loan, a substantial savings off typical construction rates
• 1.5% or 1.75% origination fee (1.5% for 4-month term or 1.75% for 6-month term)
• An interest reserve will be set up to make the monthly interest payments during the term; the monthly interest payment will increase as the balance increases
• A balloon payment will be due at the end of the 4- or 6-month term
• Fast approval
• Multiple free draws
• Exceptional service
Save thousands more with no long-term mortgage origination fee when you get both your construction and mortgage loans from Bank of American Fork.‡
A low, fixed rate for either four or six months and no mortgage origination fee, combined with low building costs, can potentially save you thousands on your dream home.
|Origination Fee
|Interest Rate
|Estimated APR
|4 months
|6 months
How much will I save, what is the normal origination fee?
On separate loans you would normally pay 1% origination on the construction loan and another 1% on the long-term mortgage.
How are you faster than the competitors?
Our loan decisions are made locally by our loan committee who meet twice a week. Additionally, local management of your construction loans allows for quicker receipt of checks on draws and now charge for additional draws so you save time and avoid construction delays.
Will I have to still have to fill out two loan applications?
Learn more about this offer here or by contacting a mortgage loan officer at 800-815-BANK or email@example.com .
*Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The estimated APRs are based on a $417,000 construction loan at 3.99% with Bank of American Fork's standard construction loan fees and either a 4-month or 6-month term. The standard construction fees are: 1.5% (4 months) or 1.75% (6 months) origination, $300 inspection, $50 appraisal review, $15 flood determination, $5 credit report (per borrower), title insurance (varies), recording (varies), and appraisal (varies). Maximum loan amount is $417,000. Payment example: Assuming that a loan balance of $417,000 was 50% disbursed for a 4-month term, the monthly interest payments are estimated to be $690 and the balloon payment is estimated to be $416,974. Subject to credit approval. Other discounts may be available if necessary for loans exceeding $417,000. Inquire for details. Only valid in Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Tooele, and Wasatch counties.
†An additional 2-month extension with a 0.25% extension fee may be available if necessary. The reduced-construction-interest-rate program lasts until 12/31/13.
‡The 1.5% or 1.75% construction loan origination fee applies whether the mortgage loan comes from Bank of American Fork or not. The no-mortgage-fee promotion lasts until 12/31/13. The mortgage must follow a construction loan originated on or before 12/31/13. Only valid in Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Tooele, and Wasatch counties.


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On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 11:57:03PM +0900, Izumi Tsutsui wrote: > wrstuden%netbsd.org@localhost wrote: > > > > > Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm using a fixsa userland. So you'll need a > > > > fixsa libpthread. :-) > > > > > > Maybe it would be worth to run the regress tests with a plain 4.0 pthread, > > > and compare outputs on 4.0 and revivesa kernels. > > > > That would be fine. That would avoid the concern I had, which is that the > > 4.0 libpthread had problems. ;-) Since we're keeping it constant in the > > testing, the new kernel doesn't get blamed for a broken library. :-) > > - "make regress" in src/regress/lib/libpthread on stock 4.0 enviroment > with a revivesa kernel is passed successfully. Great! Thanks! > - "make test" in pkgsrc/lang/perl5 on the same environment > works similar with 4.0 kernel (fails in 4 thread tests as well). Great! > - An assertion caused by firefox3 on 4.0 environment I reporeted > can't be reproducible 100%. (some race condition?) Yes. I believe the problem is in delivering two or more unblocked upcalls at once. The second one comes out garbled. Last night, I looked at the code, and I can't see a substantive difference between the two. I'll try again tonight. I also have a test case program in mind. > - Maybe it's much better to do these tests on any SMP box > (I don't have MP machines) and amd64 (or any other ports). That would probably be good. I have tried the tests on an SMP box (VMware Fusion 2-CPU VM i386), but I have not tried amd64 or other ports. > - sysctl kernl.no_sa_support returns 1 even on revivesa. > Is it better to make it writable? Yes, thank you. I forgot about that. Take care, Bill
Description: PGP signature


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Image of music score for "Amazing Grace". Image created by M. Grayburn.
A new time signature! How many beats per measure in Amazing Grace?
Notice the common rhythm of TA-A TA (half note followed by quarter note).
Be sure to count measures 7 & 8 correctly. How many beats does the D actually get?
Look for the dotted quarter notes. How many beats does each of them get?
You have been playing songs with paired eighth notes. Can you find the single eighth notes in this song? How many beats does it get?
The fermata at the end of the song (over the last note) tells you to hold that note even longer. It is sometimes called a "bird's eye". Can you figure out why?
Click below for a recording a recorder playing Amazing Grace with the accompaniment.
Click below for the accompaniment for Amazing Gracce.
Click below to download the score, as shown above, for Amazing Grace.
Click below to download a score for Amazing Grace that will allow you to write in the letter names of the notes. You can write all of them in OR you can just write one in occasionally to help you.
Amazing Grace was written by John Newton in the early 1700's. Watch this video to see the history of this amazing song. The performance in this video uses a variation of the original song.
Video of the history of "Amazing Grace".
Video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfoCSmw-EaE
Celtic Thunder is a group of male vocalists from Ireland who sing in four part harmony. Listen to their performance of Amazing Grace. Can you hear all four parts?
Video of Celtic Thunder singing "Amazing Grace".
Video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qni5bIN5qmU
- Have I learned to play the dotted quarter note rhythm correctly?
- Did I play with a warm, legato sound?
- Did I articulate each note (tongue) while playing Amazing Grace?
- Did I breathe correctly with the phrases?
- What else did I learn?
- Have you completed your recorder test with your teacher?
- Don't forget to download and turn in your self-evaluation form.
Interactive Fingering Chart from http://www.musick8.com/rkdojo/rkchart.php
Extending the Learning
- Create a short instructional video for how to read and analyze the music score for Amazing Grace.
- Create a short instructional video for how to play Amazing Grace on the recorder.
- Write another verse for this song. Can you use lyrics that extend the meaning of the song?
- Find another song that is like Amazing Grace. Create a graphic organizer that shows the connections.
- Draw or paint the scene of the storm that led to the creation of the song.
- Find another version of the song that is played by another instrument.
- Write a story about what you've learned about courage in the face of trouble.


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| Originally Posted by ashjanbro
Thanks Karla,
I will check into Marshalls as well.
Amy, I think we have the same bridesmaid dresses. Is that a Jasmine?
Oh and my mom actually carried on my dress. They put it in the first class closet. They said the toughest part was putting it through security. it got a little smooshed going through the security thing... Oh and nothing broke in my suitcases. I wrapped it all up.


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February Sales: The Best Time To Stock Up On Winter Bedding
Spring might seem like a million months away, but retailers are already putting winter bedding on major sale. Here are a few of the best deals I've found for clearance coziness...
- West Elm Diamond Stitch Cloudcover Comforter and Shams, formerly $34-$149, now $16-$79
- Target Threshold Flannel Sheet Sets, formerly $24.99, now $17.48
- Garnet Hill Newgate Quilt and Sham, formerly $48-$158, now $14-$98
- Anthropologie Woven Check Throw, formerly $78, now $49
- Eddie Bauer Portuguese Flannel Sheet Sets, formerly $80-139, now $59-$104
- Garnet Hill Tumbled Swirl Coverlet and Sham, formerly $38-$148, now $14-$88
- Anthropologie Sophie Linen Duvet, formerly $58-$288, now $39-$169
- West Elm Valley Quilt and Shams, formerly $34-$189, now $14-$99
- L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Comforter Cover, formerly $89-$129, now $69-99
- L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheets, formerly $34-$46, now $26-$34
Each of the retailers listed above has many additional bedding options on sale- these are just the ones I thought you'd like best!


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My husband and I didn't take too many summer vacations at my parents' home when our kids were growing up. We saved our visits for every third Christmas. In addition, my parents visited us once or twice a year in Kansas City, and we sent our kids out to Washington State without us as soon as the airlines would let them fly by themselves.
But I recently pulled out a random envelope of snapshots my father had taken of one summer vacation we did take in Washington State at my parents' house.
I can't recall exactly which summer it was. The pictures were taken at the large house my parents had in the Meadow Springs development of Richland, Washington. They owned this home between the summer of 1986 and about 1991. I know this wasn't our first visit there—we'd visited them at this house over Christmas 1986. My daughter looks to be about three or four in the pictures, with my son about six or seven, so I'm guessing it was the summer of 1988 or 1989, but it could have been 1990.
The house had a swimming pool, which our kids loved. My daughter couldn't swim yet, so had to wear water wings. My son could swim, and most likely lorded his wing-less state over his little sister. My mother's mother, Nanny Winnie, visited that week also, and she loved to swim. She was always happy to supervise afternoons at the pool.
My parents had a Schnauzer named Mitzi. Mitzi wanted to be a part of the pool parties, particularly when the pool skimmer was operating. The dog could swim, but she couldn't get herself out of the pool. Later, my younger brother taught Mitzi to paddle to the stairs so she could climb out, but at the time of our visit, she had not yet learned this escape route. One time during our visit that week, I had to dive in after her and pull her to safety. She didn't seem too grateful, and scrabbled and scratched to get out of my helpful arms.
On the weekend we were there, when my father wasn't working, my husband, son, father and I went canoeing on the Wenatchee River. We drove through the lovely mountain town of Leavenworth, Washington, rented canoes from an outfitter, and put in on the river somewhere near Lake Wenatchee. Then we floated downstream through the alpine Wenatchee National Forest for a couple of hours. We stopped for lunch on a gravel bar, then took out where the outfitter had designated and awaited our pick up.
We had two canoes—my husband and son paddled one, and my father and I had the other. This was the first canoe trip I'd been on where I wasn't in the same boat as my husband. I was used to relying on his skills to get us through any whitewater, but we decided our son needed a strong paddler more than I did. Our son was young enough that his paddling was more for show than power. (As was mine, though I at least had an intellectual understanding of what I should be doing.)
My father was definitely not as competent at paddling as my husband. Still, he and I didn't have much difficulty until we reached the take-out point. There, even with both Dad and me paddling as hard as we could, we almost didn't reach shore. I finally had to step out of the boat to pull us out of the current just as we passed the gravel river access road where we were supposed to meet our ride. Dad may have gotten wet also—there is photographic evidence of my wet shoes, but he was taking the pictures, so there's nothing to verify his actions.
I was happy to find these pictures and to remember that summer vacation back in my birthplace—Washington State, and Richland in particular. In recent years, I've only been to Richland for my parents' funerals in 2014 and 2015. There's no one left to bury in Richland, and I sometimes wonder if I will ever go home again.
What do you remember of visits to your hometown?