Category: Entertainment

The Paramount Theatre in Aurora recently launched their Bold series at the renovated Copley Theatre, located across the street from the Paramount. They kicked off the series with Sweat, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a small town in the United States where most people’s goal is to work in the local plant and get their union card. The story moves through the characters’ dreams and struggles, working up to the event that landed two young men in prison and interactions with their parole officer upon their release. This is live theatre at its finest, in a small enough venue that every member of the audience feels a connection to the performers on stage. It packs a punch though, leading to conversations about unions, privilege, and the poor decisions people make out of desperation.

A week later, in an entirely different presentation style, I watched a 15-minute story called The Key on my Oculus. Virtual reality is definitely one step up the immersive ladder from a small theatre, and the story is designed with some interactive points. There’s not a lot I can say without spoilers, but the presentation and story were both riveting. The narrator leads you through their dreams and their struggle to remember the meaning of key objects in them. The story is available for free on the Oculus, or you can watch the story in a less immersive format on YouTube.

Both stories hit hard, each in their own distinctive way, and both are absolutely worth the time.

It seems like just yesterday that Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, was released in theaters. Alas, yesterday was closer to thirty years ago in this case. The basic premise, as described on IMDB.com is “A self-centered Pittsburgh weatherman finds himself inexplicably trapped in a small town as he lives the same day over and over again.” Needless to say, hijinks ensue as he moves through shock and denial to some extreme actions, followed eventually by making the most of it.

Broadway took what’s already an entertaining concept and added music to it, and the Paramount Theatre in Aurora included it in their Broadway series this year. Weatherman Phil sets the mood in the prelude with a handful of snarky comments, movie references, and swearing that he will never take the Punxsutawney assignment again. He doubles down on this attitude in his first song, singing about how much he hates Small Town USA.

The musical proceeds as expected given that it’s based on a movie many of us already know and love. Where the Paramount excels, as always, is some great stage effects, like watching Phil drive drunk in a snow storm pursued by a police car. Why yes, of course they crash… you could almost feel it.

As with previous shows this season, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required to attend (and they’ve partnered with a local place for the test), and you’re expected to wear a mask the entire time expect when taking a sip of your drink. Unless you’re the idiots behind our subscription seats, who thought they were exempt from the rule. (I’m sure there are others, those were just the ones we could see. Sat down, took off their masks. Put them on again when the usher reminded them of the rule, but they were off again at intermission, and during the second half when there was a brief pause to resolve technical issues on stage.)

All in all, another fantastic show at the Paramount. Go see it if you can.

Earlier this year, I was shopping for a card on Lovepop and stumbled across an Advent calendar in their sales section. If you’re not familiar with the website, they specialize in super cool pop-up greeting cards, including some Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel ones, among others. (Oh, I probably shouldn’t have looked at that page, now I want some cards.)

Half a year early, I purchased the Pancake the Penguin’s Christmas Adventure pop-up Advent calendar. The real miracle is that I remembered about it in late November and knew where it was, setting it on the dining room table on December 1st. Every day, I assemble some of the previous items, read the story snippet and open the day’s pouch, revealing another piece for the story.

Pictured above is the calendar box in the upper left; Pancake in the upper right; Pancake (wearing a cute little backpack to carry her golden key) and her adopted sister, Pep, in the bottom left, where they have discovered some Christmas trees; and Pancake and Pep traveling from the ice cream forest to the “icey forest” (that’s how it’s spelled on their map).

Wait… why do I re-assemble the pieces every day instead of just leaving the display? On day 1, I revealed Pancake the Penguin, the star of this adventure. On day 2, with only Pancake and her home on the table, Zuko jumped up and stole Pancake. After a quick chase in the kitchen, I determined it would be safer to keep the pop-ups in a container.

As we wrap up this year’s calendar, I’ve noticed that Lovepop has some other Advent calendars. I’ll keep those in mind for next year. And determine what catproofing is needed.

Have a great Christmas!

More than a year after it was originally scheduled, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora has restarted their Broadway Series with Kinky Boots, an amusing musical about a floundering shoe company whose new owner decides to produce a line of high-heeled boots for drag queens. In a typical Broadway style, the story is both funny and moving, with lessons about accepting yourself and people around you.

But hey, isn’t there still a pandemic going on? Why yes, there is. The Paramount Theatre implemented a strict COVID policy, requiring proof of full vaccination and photo ID for people who are eligible for the vaccine, a negative COVID test for people unable (or ineligible, for children under 12) to get the vaccine, and masks for everybody in attendance. (Noting that this particular show is recommended for ages 12 and up due to sexual content and adult language.)

It makes for a different sort of look at the theatre. I’m sure some people color coordinate their masks and attire. Clearly, I’m not one of them. The only people I saw unmasked inside were the cast, the occasional group taking a quick photo with the backdrop, and people quickly sipping drinks and replacing their masks.

I was delighted to return to a live show, and particularly this one, which garnered a standing ovation during the final song. I’m look forward to the other shows this season, hoping that as more people get vaccinated and this pandemic fades into memory, the performers will be able to see the smiling faces in the audience once again.