Senior admires personal connection with artist - Fans of JJ Heller appreciate her folksy, acoustic songs that carry important messages about God's love, while showing off her incredible voice, which is complemented well by harmonies sung by her husband, Dave. I first began listening to their music... This article first appeared in The Feather online, May 11, 2012.

Choral group enhances senior's singing passion - When I first enrolled to Fresno Christian as a seventh grader, I fought my parents on the decision to send me to a private school, away from my best friend from sixth grade, who would be attending a public junior... This article first appeared in The Feather online, May 9, 2012.

Esterlyn lead shares modest start - When the band Esterlyn gave a free concert in Fresno Christian's Ground Zero, I was incredibly impressed by their collective talent. I was especially moved by lead singer Luke Caldwell's willingness to devote his life to whatever God calls him... This article first appeared in The Feather online, April 26, 2012.

Special effects surprise audience in 'Singin' in the Rain' - Singin' in the Rain is an iconic story filled with romance, friendship and catchy song and dance numbers. After its wide popularity as a movie, with the help of a live orchestra and director Jonathan Church, Broadway. Kathy's down-to-earth personality... This article first appeared in The Feather online, April 18, 2012.

Masterful company brings Shakespeare to life - Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors encompasses a tale of outrageous confusion, mistaken identities and the potential to reunite a long-separated family. Director Amir Nizar Zuabi and the Royal Shakespeare Company tackle this hilarious yet sometimes dark masterpiece, performing at the... This article first appeared in The Feather online, April 11, 2012.

1000th 'Memphis' performance displays energy - Since its Broadway premiere in 2009, Memphis has claimed the title of "Best Musical of the Year" according to the Tony Awards, and continues to impress with its 1,000th performance. The musical is held at the Shubert Theatre in New... This article first appeared in The Feather online, March 19, 2012.

Collaboration concert centers on worship - Christian bands A Current Affair and Esterlyn held a free concert/worship service in Ground Zero. Although this performance was open to all students, only a small portion of the student body showed up to experience what turned out to be... This article first appeared in The Feather online, March 7, 2012.

Ballet companies put contemporary spin on children's classic - A beautiful ballet rendition of The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, graced the William Saroyan Theatre, March 2-3. The State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara teamed up with the Fresno Ballet Theatre to bring this classic children's tale to... This article first appeared in The Feather online, March 5, 2012.

Lackluster play fails to maintain interest - When We Are Married, written by J.B. Priestley and directed by Dan Pessano, opened at the Second Space Theatre, Feb. 23. In the past, I have always enjoyed the productions put on by this company, so I was eager to experience... This article first appeared in The Feather online, February 28, 2012.

Divas deliver wicked performance at Saroyan Theatre - Saturday, Feb. 11 brought Broadway stars Emily Rozek and Nicole Parker to the William Saroyan Theatre to perform with the Fresno Philharmonic in Wicked Divas. This show is dedicated to the powerful female stars in the musical Wicked, as well... This article first appeared in The Feather online, February 16, 2012.

Seemingly dark plot lights up stage - A production that predominantly features the topics of a manslaughter charge, suicide, lost opportunities and the harsh reality of growing older would not typically be thought of as a comedy. However, when coupled with a fabulous cast and a cleverly-written... This article first appeared in The Feather online, February 2, 2012.

Pianist delights audience with world-renowned skills - Garrick Ohlsson, winner of the 1970 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, graced the community with a memorial recital at The Julliard School in New York City, which is an accomplishment worthy of praise. This veteran of piano is no stranger... This article first appeared in The Feather online, January 18, 2012.

Seinfeld evokes laughs through acclaimed, off-beat humor - The legendary Jerry Seinfeld visited the William Saroyan Theatre to grace the city of Fresno with his hilarious stand-up comedy act, Jan. 6. The 57-year-old master of humor has been performing onstage since the age of 21. As a huge... This article first appeared in The Feather online, January 11, 2012.

'Game of Shadows' continues quirky detective's tale (VIDEO) - Directed by Guy Ritchie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows premiered, Dec. 16. Starring Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. James Watson, this unbeatable pair returned to deliver the second Holmes movie in the current... This article first appeared in The Feather online, January 9, 2012.

FSU takes modern twist on 'The Tempest' - The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, tells the story of familial betrayal, first love and redemption that come as a result of being stranded on a deserted island. Under the direction of Kathleen McKinley, California State Univeristy, Fresno's theater department set out... This article first appeared in The Feather online, December 7, 2011.

Sacramento 'Nutcracker' exceeds expectations - The Nutcracker, choreographed by the Sacramento Ballet's artistic directors Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda, tells the timeless tale of a young girl's imaginary journey into a world of confectionary delights on Christmas Eve. The Sacramento Ballet partnered with about 100 local... This article first appeared in The Feather online, November 29, 2011.

Thanksgiving memories: Join the discussion, 2011 - For many, the Thanksgiving holiday is a time filled with traditional, family-oriented celebrations, such as watching football and gathering around a crowded table to eat a delicious meal of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. However, this stereotypical description does... This article first appeared in The Feather online, November 21, 2011.

Fresno Pacific fails to employ show's potential - Neil Simon's classic romantic comedy, Barefoot in the Park, highlights the ups and downs of a young couple's first few weeks of marriage. Fresno Pacific University's (FPU) drama department decided to add a modern twist to this light-hearted love story... This article first appeared in The Feather online, November 18, 2011.

Behind the scenes of 'Gift of the Magi' - The Gift of the Magi, FC's fall drama production, marks seniors Kendall Wheeler's and Jacob Williams's second-to-last high school performance. I met with both students to gather information about their feelings regarding this bittersweet occasion. Their accomplishments of attaining the lead... This article first appeared in The Feather online, November 18, 2011.

Good Company Players adapt Christmas classic - Jean Shepherd's A Christmas Story is most likely categorized as a Christmas staple by anyone wishing to experience the feeling of holiday spirit. The plot centers around middle-aged Ralph Parker's recollection of a Christmas year that was very monumental to... This article first appeared in The Feather online, November 7, 2011.

Band marches in 1st Annual Big Fresno Fair Big Band Review - Competing against ten other local high schools, FC's band marched around the dirt horse tracks at the Big Fresno Fair's First Annual Big Band Review, Oct. 12. Despite the difficulty of the uneven ground provided, the band managed to take... This article first appeared in The Feather online, October 13, 2011.

FCC production evokes audience emotion - The Illusion, written by Pierre Corneille and adapted by Tony Kushner, explores the mystical and elusive world of memories transfered to the theatre. The illusion of love and the profound power it has over those in its grasp is explored... This article first appeared in The Feather online, October 12, 2011.

Senior gains musical insight from Beatles tribute band - I had the pleasure of attending a concert by Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, Sept. 22. This group has been providing Beatles fans with an uncanny reenactment of the iconic band that revolutionized music in the '60s for two... This article first appeared in The Feather online, October 4, 2011.

Abbey Road stages Beatles tribute (VIDEO) - As a huge fan of the The Beatles' music, I was excited but also a bit skeptical when I heard that Abbey Road, a Beatles tribute band, was scheduled to perform in Fresno's Tower Theater, Sept. 22. The show opened with... This article first appeared in The Feather online, September 27, 2011.

Shakespeare in the Park pays homage to 'Romeo and Juliet' - For hundreds of years, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has inspired readers with the notion that unyielding love has the power to draw people together in a way unlike any other emotion. Under the direction of Daniel Moore, this well-known tale... This article first appeared in The Feather online, September 13, 2011.

Exceptional cast, tragic plot fuel 'Les Miserables' - With an amazing musical adaption of Victor Hugo's literary masterpiece, Les Miserables, a heart-wrenching tale of romantic entanglements amidst a war-torn French village is brought to life on stage. ... This article first appeared in The Feather online, August 22, 2011.

Grannis gleans acting wisdom, experience - Whenever I witness a terrific live theater production, I am struck with the desire to be involved in acting after high school. An individual who lives out this aspiration is Greg Grannis, President of Roger Rocka's Junior Company Foundation, a division... This article first appeared in The Feather online, May 26, 2011.

'Glee' commentary, Part II - This review follows the FOX show "Glee," which airs at 8 PDT on Tuesdays. Check here regularly for a synopsis and commentary on each episode. Author's note: "Glee" is rated TV-14, so I recommend that each viewer discern for herself whether... This article first appeared in The Feather online, May 25, 2011.

Drama provides theater administrator with personal merit - This article is the first in a two-part series about Greg Grannis, a local performer and director who works with Roger Rocka's Good Company Theater. Check back May 26 for the second installment. Whenever I witness a terrific live theater production,... This article first appeared in The Feather online, May 18, 2011.

Rapture predictions, atheist billboard mislead Christians - A billboard declaring, -Don't believe in God? Join the club,-- was put up on Tuesday, May 3 at Blackstone avenue by a local atheist group called the Central Valley Coalition of Reason, which is comprised of three local atheist groups.... This article first appeared in The Feather online, May 13, 2011.

'The Tourist' tells mediocre spy tale - Starring Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and Paul Bettany, The Tourist (2010) is an action-packed film nominated for three Golden Globes. With such a talented group, this film has the potential to be terrific. The movie centers around Frank Tupelo (Depp), an... This article first appeared in The Feather online, January 21, 2011.

'Glee' commentary, Part I - This review follows the FOX show "Glee," which airs at 8 PDT on Tuesdays. Check here regularly for a synopsis and commentary on each episode. Author's note: "Glee" is rated TV-14, so I recommend that each viewer discern for herself whether... This article first appeared in The Feather online, December 8, 2010.

Thanksgiving memories: Join the discussion - The word "Thanksgiving" often conjures up visions of family gatherings, complete with stuffing, pumpkin pie and a turkey cooked to perfection. However, some recall Thanksgiving events that are a bit different from the norm. Because this holiday is just around the... This article first appeared in The Feather online, November 24, 2010.