The initial reaction of many people to the idea of staged readings of comic books would be, "Why would I ever go see that?" And if you're no comic-book geek, that's a perfectly normal and healthy reaction. If, however, you love comic books to the extent that you understand the concept of the Rainbow Batman, that you remember when Superman claimed to have super-weaving powers, that you can name the metal that forms Wolverine's claws and skeleton (adamantium) -- well, you probably don't even need

Gritty modern productions of “Romeo and Juliet” are commonplace. Wild emotions, violence, societal repression — how did anyone ever stage this as a stilted classical piece? The same thought might occur to audiences of Shakespeare Theatre’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona.” One of the bard’s early comedies, it’s generally performed as an over-the-top farce — self-serious […]

The little boat was speeding through Saint George’s Channel off the coast of Wales pre-COVID, and I was thinking about throwing my phone into the water. Our phones are miraculous, communicator and encyclopedia and map and camera in one, but they’re…

What’s the antidote to a lonely 2020 holiday season? Planning a trip for 2021! No really: A recent study found that 97 percent of people say having a vacation planned boosts their mood. While we can’t advise you to buy tickets just yet, there are no…

When rescuers came for Ada Blackjack, she was alone except for a cat named Victoria, or Vic for short. The pair were the only survivors of a quixotic five-person expedition to an Arctic island, with hopes of claiming the land for Canada. Instead, the…

In 10 years, Ken Jones would like to be out of business. In an ideal world, his small business would run out of customers and be consigned to history. But it’s not going to happen. A mechanical engineer by training, Jones stumbled on his calling in…

One of the strangest characters of the 20th century was France’s Monsieur Mangetout, born Michael Lotito, who would eat anything put in front of him except bananas, which he detested. He ate bicycles, grocery carts, chandeliers, the glass in which…

There are all sorts of terrible reasons to have a baby: You want to placate your in-laws, keep up with your friends or save a failing relationship. Maybe you’re allergic to pets. Or maybe because someone will give you more than a thousand times your…

Nothing can stop the march of progress — not even 2020. Read on to learn about the trends and future paradigms driven by America’s most fascinating female CEOs and entrepreneurs, the women who are shaping the world for the next decade. They include…

Marguerite Stern has taken Paris by storm with her movement to create street art protesting the harassment of women. But Stern’s views on trans women have drawn pushback, and in response, she’s formed a splinter group. Stand on almost any street in…

The first widespread use of vote-by-mail was for Civil War soldiers. The Confederacy led the way, while adoption by Union states ran into all kinds of political and legal challenges. As of Oct. 22, the U.S. Postal Service reported that 48,000…

At this point in an election cycle, is thinking about politics ever fun? Does it bring you joy? Do you do it on purpose? It’s hard for those of us who work in professions where reading the news all day is a requirement, but some people must enjoy it,…

Friday’s stunning news about President Donald Trump contracting the coronavirus raised all sorts of questions about the pandemic, the impending election, the global economy and national security. Could there be a worse time to fall prey to a…

Iranian-born *Afsaneh Beschloss rose through the ranks at J.P. Morgan and the World Bank before becoming CEO of her own investment firm, RockCreek. A woman of boundless energy — no, really, she led the World Bank’s energy investments — Beschloss…

In mid-June, Lincoln County, Oregon, required its community to wear masks in public as part of its fight against the coronavirus. Well, not the whole community: Kids under 12 were exempt, as was anyone with a disability or medical condition that made…

In 1961, Ruth Bader Ginsburg had already lived through a lot. She was part of one of the first Harvard Law School classes to admit women, had nursed her husband Martin through testicular cancer and had given birth to a daughter, Jane. She’d been…

An academic in Wales, Ashley Frawley is causing a stir by questioning why everyone is so focused on individual happiness rather than challenging society. The 34-year-old is tied into a network of influential U.K. conservatives, even though her ideas…

The most tech-savvy generation in the history of humanity, which grew up with smartphones and apps, is the least excited about working remotely. The novelty of the workplace for this young generation coupled with space constraints might be fueling…

Investors have found a new way to make bank: the search for a coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine itself is unlikely to arrive before the end of the year, but senior executives who sell their shares in firms that are working toward a vaccine right after…

A look at historical statistics during recessions serves up pointers on what to expect with marriages and divorces in the coming months. American marriages went down dramatically during both the Great Depression and the Great Recession. At a time…