When the movie version of “Wicked” hit theaters last fall and skyrocketed to critical and commercial success, musical theater enthusiasts everywhere felt validation. The blockbuster adaptation of the hit musical struck a chord with devoted fans, casual viewers, and anyone with a passing familiarity with “The Wizard of Oz” mythos.
Embracing My Inner Alien - a column by Kevin Schaefer
Stephen King’s “The Shining” shows what happens when someone spends too much time cooped up indoors. Sure, supernatural forces provide the basis for the main character’s descent into madness, but a defining element of the novel is that it takes place in a remote hotel during winter snowstorms. I imagine…
I was always a “Star Wars” acolyte, but I became interested in the world of the “Star Trek” science fiction franchise when I was in high school. Whereas “Wars” is a giant space opera that takes place in the distant past with characters from a faraway galaxy, “Trek”…
The album “A Whole New Sound” is a treasure trove of nostalgia for millennials. Released last month, it features early 2000s punk rock bands performing covers of iconic Disney songs. Listening to Simple Plan’s rendition of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” fuses every ’90s kid’s…
In the family classic “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” all four of Charlie Bucket’s bedridden grandparents share the same sleeping space. It’s a bewildering arrangement that fans have poked fun at throughout the years. Every time I watch the movie, I’m left wondering how these people share…
In the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, each movie starts with Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, opening an encrypted message that outlines his next assignment. As an agent for the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), Hunt uses his unique skills to take down global threats that are too much to handle…
My 7-year-old niece, Lily, has an unparalleled level of curiosity. She asks questions about the world, when we’re going to Disneyland next, and whether I’ve seen every episode of “Full House.” The answer to the latter is yes. Lily also inquires about my life with SMA, and…
“It’s just a flesh wound.” The black knight utters this famous line in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” after losing both arms in battle. He then continues to fight in a slapstick manner and taunt his opponent as blood gushes out of his sides. Ah, I love…
On a recent episode of my favorite podcast, “Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People,” host Chris Gethard spoke with an occupational therapist (OT). When this caller discussed her profession, she asked Gethard if he had any experience with her field as a patient. Admittedly, he knew little about it and…
In the documentary “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” the famed actor recounts how he hid his Parkinson’s disease for several years after his diagnosis. Even as his symptoms became noticeable, Fox wanted nothing more than to suppress that part of him and retain his…
