Tempe, AZ - Moulin Rouge at Gammage — and My Art on the Walls!

Thursday night was one for the books. I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Moulin Rouge at ASU Gammage, and from the very first beat, I was swept into the glittering, heart-thumping whirlwind of music, passion, and pure theatrical magic. The songs are still dancing in my head!

But what made the night unforgettable wasn’t just what happened onstage—it was what surrounded it.

All around the theater, four different galleries were filled with my Paris-inspired artwork—about 35 pieces in total. From the view above the ticket booth to the hallway near Portal 10, my photographs of rooftops, street cafés, churches, and markets—each a captured memory from the City of Light—were on display for all to see.

To stand among those works during a show that celebrates the spirit of Paris? That was a high point in my life. Truly. Seeing guests stop, smile, and snap photos of the art filled me with gratitude and a deep sense of joy. I also ran into two coworkers, Lynn and Tami, and was so pleased to tell my story.

So if you're headed to Moulin Rouge at Gammage, be sure to look around before the curtain rises. Paris is in the building—in more ways than one.

Tempe, AZ A Tiger Named Richard Parker, and the Power of Storytelling

Reflections on Life of Pi at ASU Gammage

From the moment the curtain rose at Gammage, I was transported. The lighting, set, and overall mood immediately immersed me in Pi’s world - a space where family, community, and cultural backdrop mattered. It wasn’t flashy or loud; it was deeply rooted, quietly establishing the emotional and spiritual landscape of the story.

The puppetry in Life of Pi was nothing short of remarkable. The animals were not just convincing - they were alive with presence and purpose. Richard Parker, the tiger, was especially unforgettable. His movements, expression, and behavior were so nuanced that he became a character as real as Pi himself. His evolution through the story, including the eerie and unexpected shift when he took on a French identity, left me both intrigued and unsettled.

One moment continues to linger in my mind: when Pi retells his story, replacing the animals with people. The shift was jarring, emotional, and masterfully done. That duality - between myth and memory, survival and sorrow—was profoundly moving. It challenged me to reflect on the purpose of storytelling and the truths we choose to carry.

The themes of Life of Pi came through with clarity and power. Survival, faith, and the human need for narrative were woven through each scene, each interaction. I especially appreciated the treatment of religion - not heavy-handed, but gently interwoven with Pi’s identity, giving light to what can often be a weighty conversation.

Though I hadn’t read the book and only had a loose sense of the plot, the story surprised me as it unfolded. Visually stunning, emotionally rich, and thought-provoking, Life of Pi is a production I would recommend to all audiences. It’s more than a play—it’s an experience of wonder, belief, and the strength of the human spirit. 

La Bocca and a play

ASU Alumni offered free tickets to see "Sunday in the Park with George". I decided to accept the two tickets and take the Light Rail to Tempe for dinner and a show. I had several ideas in mind for the pre-show meal, but we walked past those choices, pulled on by new adventure. We crossed the street to go to a sushi restaurant, only to discover that it had closed. As we stood looking up at the darkened restaurant windows, we spotted a new restaurant. Well, new to me. I had eaten in the "sandwich shop" when I had classes in the engineering classrooms as ASU. The outdoor seating looked very inviting, but the interior drew us inside.

La Bocca, billed as an "urban pizzeria and wine bar", is far from a pizza joint. We were seated right away and approached immediately by Matthew, our guide for the night. He explained the menu, and proudly pointed out that many of the items used locally produced items. Several of my favorites were prominantly placed on the menu: Schreiner's Sausage (shout out to Nancy and the family!) and Queen Creek Olives. The menu was simple, easy to read, but VERY hard to make a choice because everything sounded so yummy. We decided to start with a home made cocktail called Clean Slate Martini {Gin, Cucumber} $7 and Septima Malbec, Argentina 2007 $8 (but at "relaxed pricing of $4). The Clean Slate Martini was incredible and destined to be a summer favorite. The Malbec was smooth and yummy.

We then had to make a choice on the food. We decided to start with bruschetta planks {$12}. We had to choose four out of the six offerings and while we picked four, we decided that we would have to return to try the other two. (Roasted tomato, pesto & parm and roasted artichoke & peppers would have to wait for our return.)

The plank that we selected had wonderful tastes with every bite. There was definitely some moaning going on at the table! Pictured below in order from left to right:

queen creek olives & ricotta
caprese with fresh pulled mozzarella
norwegian smoked salmon & mascarpone

prosciutto, fig & mascarpone

We snacked on the brushetta and then decided on a pizza. Again, not an easy task, and we finally selected bocca trio ‘ crushed san marzano tomatoes, pepperoni, genoa salami, schreiner’s “sicily” sausage, mozzarella & fontina, queen creek olives {$13}. The taste was incredible. The toppings were distinct and the sauce was extremely tomatoey tasty.Of course, Matthew is paying a tremendouse amount of attention to us and sharing all of his knowledge and enthusiasm about the food. I asked if they were going to feature any dishes with Schepf Farms peaches this month, since this was THE TIME to pick them. Matthew brought Peter over to the table to chat about the peaches, and I clued him in on my experiences at Schnepf Farms for the Peach Festival. There is timing to consider (before the huge crowds arrive) and the weekend that the EarliGrande peach orchards are open. That is a MUST and is worth all of the effort to get these particular peaches.

This is Matthew and Peter. Two fun guys who made the dinner a great experience. I now feel like part of the family, and that type of ambiance is not easy to get on a first visit. After some great conversation about local restaurants and the sights of the area (I sent Peter and the family to Rock Springs for pies), desert was served and there is absolutely nothing better than a warm brownie topped with Mary Coyle ice cream. OMG (and that is a great name for this desert!) for two ‘ a decadent house made ghirardelli triple chocolate espresso infused brownie cooked in a hot skillet and served with mary coyle vanilla bean ice cream {$7}

By the way, did you notice the prices? This was so wonderful and so wonderfully priced that it deserves a trip on the Light Rail to come to the restaurant alone. From what I have seen so far, this is a place that is worth spreading the word about.

After that wonderful dinner, we walked down to the Evelyn Smith Music Theatre at ASU to watch "Sunday in the Park with George". A Sondheim musical, this was just another reminder that there is so much to do in the city and a lot of talent.

Shear Madness

A very funny show put on by the Civic Light Opera. There is a murder and all of the suspects are on stage. The audience then participates to determine who is guilty. Hilarious!

Here I am with the cast. Can you pick me out of the line-up?