White Christmas

Well, it doesn't look like snow right now,  but I'll be humming White Christmas tonight I'm sure when I cover the tour coming to DeVos Performance Hall.

And we're off!

Today's the first event of my Traverse City Trifecta Book Tour. I'll be signing books from 2-4 p.m. at Horizon Books which has been doing well selling my books this month. Then Monday morning, Ron Jolly will interview me on WTCM radio. The big finale is Live at the Library Tuesday evening where I'll get a chance to read from the books, which was such a hit at Schuler's last summer. It's Laughing for a Living, up close and personal!

Thanks, Lou!

Today's tough assignment was to interview Ed Asner who will bring his one-man show, FDR, to Van Singel Fine Arts Center Oct. 20. What a delight he was to talk with. I told him his Emmy-winning character, Lou Grant, epitomizes every city editor I've ever worked for. They didn't all look like him, especially the women, but they all seem to have that same dog-with-a-bone determination. "I feel like I've been working for you all my life," I told him. We talked about the challenges newspapers face today and he asked about my career. I told him I took the buy out two years ago. "You can always write books," he said. I told him I'd been doing just that on a small scale. He compared my books to his one-man show. "You're on the stage alone but at least you are out there." Thanks, Lou.

What a hoot!

Kent District Library has invited some local authors to set up tables at their 75th anniversary celebration from 7-10 p.m. Oct. 18. It will be the first time somebody has paid $75 for a ticket to see ME. But I guess there are plenty of other attractions.  Check it out.

Gaga for Greek God

OMG. Yesterday I interviewed Martin Harvey who was in Detroit with the tour of "Come Fly Away," which is coming to Grand Rapids in October. It's a shame the audience will never hear his lovely British accent, since the dancers in "Come Fly Away" don't speak, but from what I've read, this sexy dancer can say it all with his moves. He starred in the London production of "Dirty Dancing."

       "I started out as an actor and became a ballet dancer against my type," he told me. " I always felt like an imposter. But years of ballet training made me aware of every muscle in my body. It's a wonderful tool in my bag."

       Dare I point out his bag is bulging already with rugged good looks? You can see why he is cast as a Greek God in an upcoming television movie pilot, "Siren." Oh, yeah, and he recently married Grand Rapids native Maria Kowroski, a ballerina with the New York City Ballet. Congratulations, Maria and Martin.

One never knows, do one?

Ken Tepper and the Circle Theatre cast have done a great job with "Ain't Misbehavin'," the Fats Waller musical revue that's really the first of all the "juke box" musicals.  It never ceases to amaze me that I can see a show several times and always see something different. This one was a lot smoother, sexier than I remember. It almost sneaks up on you. With a racially diverse cast it's not as much of a political statement. It's just the music and this cast does a great job with singing and dancing. Read the review

Labor of Laughter

When you laugh for a living, Labor Day is the perfect time to look back at some great interviews and look ahead to some wonderful shows. Last week I chatted with Joseph Leo Bwaire who will be portraying Frankie Valli when the long-awaited Jersey Boys opens in Lansing later this month. He's not exactly a household name but I was really impressed with his enthusiasm during the interview.  Sounds like he's going places. Then this week I'll be reviewing two great shows. Circle Theatre ends its summer season with "Ain't Misbehavin'" on Thursday and Civic Theatre kicks off its 86th season with "12 Angry Men" on Friday. See what I mean about the rough life I lead? Read about  "Ain't Misbehavin'"  and "12 Angry Men"