Ford’s transformational “Trip to Bountiful”
A play written in and set in the 1950s, The Trip to Bountiful, now at Ford’s Theatre, gently explores how differently a family can experience dislocation, anxiety and nostalgia based, in part, on their openness to reflecting on their past. Playwright Horton Foote, who some have called “the greatest playwright you’ve never heard of,” wrote plays about families in Texas. But his... READ MORE
Singers gotta sing — and serve others
“Sing well. Have fun. Serve others.” That’s the motto of ShowTime Singers, a community chorus based in Ellicott City. Its singers, who range in age from 30 to 82, perform at assisted living facilities, libraries and senior centers throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The group’s motto guides its actions, said Cathy Johnson, music director of ShowTime... READ MORE
Tamron Hall hopes to inspire women
Two sparkly golden trophies gleam behind Tamron Hall on the New York set of her nationally syndicated talk show. But despite entering its fourth season, the “Tamron Hall” show is not a well-oiled machine — and that’s intentional. “The only thing that shines in this room are the Emmys. I want this show to evolve. And if it’s well-oiled, I believe that you’re not looking... READ MORE
Playing music for others and with others
The first time Alexandrian Lynn Falk, 87, heard a mandolin orchestra’s tremolo at a concert, “It was like butterflies singing. It was so beautiful,” she said. That was 40 years ago. She’s been playing a mandolin ever since with The Mandoleers, a Washington-area orchestra. Her friend Kathleen Graham was moved as well when she attended a concert at the Smithsonian Institution.... READ MORE
Books with good advice on healthy aging
The Bibliophile These three books approach the subject of aging from three perspectives: sharing life lessons, advocating against the mistreatment of elders, and encouraging physical activity to enhance health. The Second Half: Forty Women Reveal Life After Fifty, by Ellen Warner, 242 pages, Brandeis University Press hardcover, 2022 Be inspired by the stories of women over age 50... READ MORE
I’m not my kids’ pet sitter! Or wait, am I?
By the time we reach a certain age — and I’ve reached it — we stop apologizing for our crankiness and our crustiness. We dig in. We don’t bend. Which is my way of saying that I will not — repeat NOT — take care of the pets of my adult children. I have told them until I’m blue in the face that their precious beasts are not my grandchildren. Or my grandpuppies. Or my... READ MORE
“The Color Purple” blossoms at Signature
Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel The Color Purple is a story of triumph in which a young Black woman overcomes seemingly impossible circumstances, including abusive relationships, racism and personal tragedy, to grow into a beautiful, independent woman. Stephen Spielberg directed the 1985 film adaptation, starring Whoopi Goldberg as the protagonist Celie, and Oprah... READ MORE
Candlelight Society celebrates 50 years
Almost five decades ago, a music teacher living in the newly established city of Columbia spotted an ad in the local paper. “In the fall of 1974, I saw a small notice in the Columbia Flier saying anybody who would like to see chamber music continue in Howard County, please come to an organizing meeting,” said Philip Press. “And that was the genesis of what became, a few months... READ MORE
Actor has world premiere as playwright
One winter day on a college campus in the Midwest, Tuyet Thi Pham fell in love with theater. The first show she ever saw, Angels in America, would set the stage for the rest of her life. To her amazement, despite the freezing weather, throngs of people were protesting the production. She was astonished that a show could produce such a public reaction. Eight hours later, following the... READ MORE
Thoughts of auntie and her pink Cadillac
I can still hear her upstate New York accent all these years later. “Robbit,” she said, “I just went and bought it.” “It” was a car. But not just any car. In her 83rd year, my aunt had gone and purchased a brand-new Cadillac. She knew every one of its virtues — power steering, power seats, air conditioning — that made Florida tolerable for the hottest half of the... READ MORE
Arts 2024
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