In The Heights is streaming on HBO Max I wasn’t a fan of musicals until I was. It took a while. The problem began with old black and white movies. Fred Astaire. A vibe right at home in the 30s and 40s. The kind of thing that was a fairly reliable moneymaker in theaters up until the 60s. And, yes, there are a few films that, even then, I recognized as classics. What kind of monster dislikes Singin’ In The Rain? Andrew Lloyd Webber’s output didn’t help matters. I saw The Phantom of the Opera and even bought an overpriced t-shirt in a misguided gambit to try and fit in with the theater kids... Read More

Am I really the right guy to be talking about representation? I know. I get it. In 2018, Mr. Straight White Dude is better off sitting down, shutting up, and passing the microphone to somebody who’s…well…not also a straight white dude. Still, I’m going to give it a shot, and let’s take a minute to talk about why real representation matters. As an aforementioned SWD, representation is 100% a non-issue for me. It never has been. I can see a movie, watch TV, or go online, and see hundreds of thousands of examples of SWD’s taking part of the vast tapestry of the human condition.... Read More