Improv is kind of a double-edged sword. Most every good actor agrees that improv classes are invaluable learning tools that enhance reaction time, stage presence and critical thinking abilities. However, when those workshops are exposed to the light of day and put in front of an audience, the results are
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Posted July 03, 2013in Political Mercury
Mixed in with the blonde Bond Girls and gotcha gadgets, umbrella guns and lethal cigarette lighter sneakiness, The International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. features a display with a cyanide capsule, the quick out for spooks pulled in from the cold to the heat of interrogation. Snap off the end
Read More →Dexter meets the woman who made him a killer In episode two of its nail-biting, final season, our psychopathic hero (Michael C. Hall) in “Dexter” makes a troubling discovery about his past (Sunday, 8 p.m., Showtime). A renowned expert on psychopaths, Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling), reveals that she’s the
Read More →When does musical parody gain legitimacy? Spinal Tap was created for a comedy sketch, and I don’t think Michael McKean, Christopher Guest or Harry Shearer would classify themselves as a real band, and yet they’ve played Wembley Arena and released three actual, real-life albums, two of which have cracked the
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Posted July 03, 2013in Civic Skinny
April Gayle Linder is a member of the Polk County GOP leadership team. She is an executive committee member for the group. She serves on the planning committee for Polk County GOP fundraisers, which is kind of interesting. And, according to Will Rogers, Polk County GOP Chair, “Her political experience
Read More →The Civic Music Association has announced three new board members for the 2013-14 season. Coming on board for new three-year terms are Joel Fortney, Mary Kay Tamasi, Richard Hodges, Sheila Navis and Eric Ferring. The new board members were sworn in at the Civic Music Association Annual Meeting held on
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Posted July 03, 2013in Joe's Neighborhood
Fear can raise a rebellion even in the smallest of hearts. It certainly was the force that propelled me at the age of 8 to barricade myself in the family station wagon on a hot summer day many years ago. The windows were rolled up, and my parents and seven
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Posted July 03, 2013in Cover Story
The rains and gloom of spring have passed us by, and summer is now in full swing. That means it’s time once again for the flagship event from the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) — 80/35 Music Festival. Now in its sixth year, 80/35 has become a destination event
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Posted July 03, 2013in Film Review
“Man of Steel” 3 stars PG-13 143 minutes Action Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon Man of Steel delivers a fresh approach to the shop-worn Origin of Superman narrative (originally published in 1938). Alas, fresh is not enough. State-of-the-art special effects are deployed to deliver the double theme of
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Posted July 03, 2013in Belly Up To...
A lot of bar owners contrive all kinds of different gimmicks to lure patrons into their establishments. They come up with clever names above front doors, snappy logos on their products; they tout signature drinks with sexual names and drinking games to draw the college crowd. But there’s just something
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