Happy 21st Birthday, The Walking Dead!
Skybound & Image Debut Lineup of The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 Variant Covers

The Comic’s Historic 100th Issue Celebrated with Ten Covers, Skybound Store Exclusives

In celebration of the landmark comic series’ 21st anniversary today, Skybound and Image Comics revealed a stacked lineup of variant covers for The Walking Dead Deluxe, including Skybound.com exclusives. The covers for the monumental 100th issue will hit comic book shops on November 6, 2024.

These all-new covers will appear as variants to The Walking Dead Deluxe #100, with the issue presented in full color format for the first time from writer/creator Robert Kirkman, artist Charlie Adlard, and colorist Dave McCaig. Fans will also receive a new look at the worldwide pop culture phenomenon with pinups and exclusive “Cutting Room Floor” commentary by Kirkman, celebrating the secret history of the series.

In addition to the main cover by Adlard & McCaig and its wraparound variant, The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 will be released with seven additional covers by comics talent David Finch, Mattia De Iulis, Julian Totino Tedesco, Arthur Adams, Yasmine Putri, Simon Bisley, and Derek Hunter, as well as a blank sketch cover.

The “Something to Fear” arc continues here! This extra-sized chapter contains one of the darkest moments in Rick Grimes’ life, and one of the most violent and brutal things to happen within the pages of this series—finally in color!

“How many comic book series have had the honor of reaching issue 100? Now tell me how many have had the fortune to do that twice!” Said creator, Robert Kirkman. “Holy moly, I’m just blown away by the level of support our fans have gifted us with year after year. What an incredible ride this continues to be. If you’re not experiencing this deluxe presentation of the series, featuring glorious color from the master Dave McCaig, you’re really missing out.”

Also on November 6, Skybound will release an exclusive The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 variant cover that is an homage to the original Bloody Lucille Skybound Exclusive by series artist Charlie Adlard, released in 2012 (SRP: $30.00). The cover features a red spot foil logo and spot gloss on the bloodied Lucille. Preorders are open now on the Skybound store, and purchases are limited to two per order.

Preorders are also open now on Skybound.com for The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 Yesterday’s Slabs Cards (SRP: $20.00). Each Slabs card features one of the nine new TWDD #100 covers, and one in ten Slabs cards will be autographed by Charlie Adlard.

On October 8, 2003, The Walking Dead #1 debuted in comic shops and began a historic run from creator Robert Kirkman that would change the face of pop culture. For nearly sixteen years, The Walking Dead rewrote the rules of comic book storytelling, including its surprise ending at issue #193, and has since expanded to include special one-shots, graphic novels, video games and an unprecedented hit television franchise on the AMC network. The franchise continues to grow in new directions, from the Clementine YA graphic novels by superstar Tillie Walden to dynamic interactive experiences like The Walking Dead: The Last Mile and further expansion of AMC’s The Walking Dead universe.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 (Lunar Codes Below | SRP: $4.99) will be available comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

The full list of covers is below:

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR A by David Finch (Lunar Code: 0924IM293)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR B by Charlie Adlard & Dave McCaig (Lunar Code: 0924IM294)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR C (Connecting) by Mattia De Iulis (Lunar Code: 0924IM295)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR D by Julian Totino Tedesco (Lunar Code: 0924IM296)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR E by Arthur Adams & Dave McCaig (Lunar Code: 0924IM297)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR F (Wraparound) by Charlie Adlard & Dave McCaig (Lunar Code: 0924IM298)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR G by Yasmine Putri (Lunar Code: 0924IM299)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR H by Simon Bisley (Lunar Code: 0924IM300)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR I by Derek Hunter (Lunar Code: 0924IM301)
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR J (Blank Sketch Cover) (Lunar Code: 0924IM302)

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR A by David Finch

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR B by Charlie Adlard & Dave McCaig

The Walking Dead Deluxe #99 CVR C by Mattia De Iulis

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR D by Julian Totino Tedesco

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR E by Arthur Adams & Dave McCaig

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR F (Wraparound) by Charlie Adlard & Dave McCaig

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR G by Yasmine Putri

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR H by Simon Bisley

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR I by Derek Hunter

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 CVR J (Blank Sketch Cover)

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 Bloody Lucille Skybound Exclusive (Foil) by Charlie Adlard

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 Slabs Cards

• PETER PAN
• Starlight Theater, Kansas City, Missouri
• September 17, 2024

“Peter Pan” needed more fairy dust

As the last show of Starlight Theatre’s Broadway season, “Peter Pan,” which is playing through Sunday, tries to take us on magical journey with a few pinches of fairy dust and some loud crowing. While the talented cast does their best to make it an unforgettable experience, “Peter Pan” the musical falls a little short of taking us back to Neverland.

It’s hard to believe how old the story is, but “Peter Pan” was first conceived as a play in 1904 by Scottish novelist and playwright, Sir James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937). In 1911, Barrie adapted it into novel form with the title “Peter and Wendy.” It was adapted as a musical several times including in 1950 with music and lyrics by legendary conductor, Leonard Bernstein. However, it was the 1954 Broadway adaptation with actress Mary Martin playing the title role that put it into the stratosphere, resulting in multiple television broadcasts which enabled generations across the country to see it.

The story of “Peter Pan” is well-documented so there is not a lot of need to delve into the storyline’s details. What is more important is a discussion of the touring production itself. On the plus side, Nolan Almeida as the title character and Hawa Kamara as Wendy displayed amazing vocals throughout the entire opening night performance. Cody Garcia as Captain Hook almost stole the show as the dastardly pirate villain. His red and gold costume also equally stood out and was perhaps the best of the production.

The dance sequences were largely in sync and some special effects, most notably a scene involving Pan interacting with his shadow, were captivating. Unfortunately, the set design was less than inspirational with little to no wow factor. The same was true for the costumes. The story itself was bland even though there are attempts to modernize some of the dialogue, which doesn’t suit the story all that well. While the cast did their best, “Peter Pan” was less than magical and needed a whole lot more fairy dust.

“Peter Pan” will run through September 22 at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City.  For ticket information, CLICK HERE.

• COME FROM AWAY
• Starlight Theater – Kansas City, Missouri
• August 6, 2024

In “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Blanche Dubois famously stated, “ I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”   Now imagine there are 7,000 Blanche’s in a small Newfoundland town and you have the Tony nominated musical “Come From Away.”

Gander.  A small town whose airport was once one of the world’s busiest.  However, with the invention of newer and longer distance planes, it’s usually pretty quiet on Tuesday afternoons.  But today, September 11, 2001, is not an ordinary Tuesday.  Following the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, the government has closed all airspace.  My current job at the time required me to drive directly past Kansas City International Airport and I remember thinking to myself how odd it was not to see, or hear, a plane taking off or landing overhead.  Over two dozen planes are diverted to Gander and, curing the course of the show, we meet the passengers and the townspeople on whose kindness they will depend.

Nominated for seven Tony awards, “Come From Away” is an uplifting story about the human spirit and the ability for strangers to come together.  We are introduced to several of the townspeople, including the Mayor, a worker at the local animal shelter and a news reporter on her first day on the job.  It’s business as usual until news comes of the day’s tragedy.  As if a switch has been flicked, problems that may have seemed major only hours earlier – school is about to start and the bus drivers are on strike – pale in comparison to how to feed, house and clothe 7,000 people.  The passengers are an eclectic mix – a British businessman, an experienced pilot and a gay couple, both oddly named Kevin, are among the stranded, doing their best to stay sane while basically unsure as to what has happened.  Once the word gets around, a lot of eyes are turned towards a passenger from the Middle East, and not sympathetically.  As the days begin to build up we learn their back stories and, for some, their futures.

I had the great fortune of catching this show on Broadway in September 2021, right after the 20^th Anniversary of 9/11.  It was the time of COVID and it was eerie to stand in line, wearing a mask, waiting to show your vaccination card before you get go into the theater.  But the show was amazing, as is this production.

The cast is outstanding.  Many of the featured players portray more than one character, with only a slight change or clothing or location to help you differentiate them.  That there was never a false moment in the show, or a “hey, that’s the guy that played Bubba” moment is a true testament to the talents of the cast.

The book is very well written, with humor added when needed, never gratuitously.  Even in song the events of the day are treated respectfully.  The big difference between Broadway and this production is that there is no intermission.  Also, after the curtain call the audience was introduced to Kevin Tuerff, one of the real life “Kevins” featured in the show, who speaks to the audience and takes questions promoting his PayItForward 9.11 foundation.

Up against the juggernaut that was “Dear Evan Hansen,” the only Tony award “Come From Away” won was for it’s direction.  Almost a decade later, “Come From Away” continues to resonate with audiences while “Dear Evan Hansen” has gone the way of many similar shows that caught fire then slowly faded.  This is a show that not only entertains but informs.  Don’t miss it.

On a scale of zero to five I give “Come From Away” ★★★★★

For more information on the PayItForward 9.11 foundation, click HERE. 

“Come From Away” continues at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City through Sunday, August 11^th.  For tickets to this engagement or future shows please click HERE. 

• MOULIN ROUGE! – THE MUSICAL
• Music Hall – Kansas City, Missouri
• July 29, 2024

An unforgettable experience!

After more reviews of theatrical productions than I dare to count, I can say unequivocally that the current Broadway touring production of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is one of the best I have ever witnessed. Currently running at the Music Hall in downtown Kansas City, “Moulin Rouge!” has everything you would expect from a production that was once the recipient of 13 Tony nominations and 10 Tony awards including Best Musical. Based upon the Oscar nominated 2001 film by director Baz Luhrmann, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, “Moulin Rouge!” is simply a show you will never forget.

Inspired by the nearly 135-year-old Moulin Rouge club in Paris, France, the musical is set in the year 1899 when an aspiring songwriter named Christian (Christian Douglas) arrives from Ohio. He encounters a pair of Bohemians in Toulouse-Lautrec (Nick Rashad Burroughs) and Santiago (Danny Burgos) who, after recognizing his talent, convince the young American to go to the Moulin Rouge with them. There, they hope he can audition a song in front of Satine (Gabrielle McClinton), the star performer and most sought-after courtesan at Moulin Rouge. The trio believes if she is impressed then it will increase their chances to get it approved by its charismatic manager, Harold Zidler (Robert Petkoff). However, when the ruthless Duke of Monroth (Andrew Brewer) enters the picture with deep pockets then the trio’s plan and love affair that sprouts between Christian and Satine becomes a bit complicated.

“Moulin Rouge!” is nothing less than bedazzling with its superb set design, not to mention its wonderful costumes. Its choreography is thoroughly entertaining as well with music that will encourage to hum or sing along. Like what Luhrmann did with the original movie, “Moulin Rouge!” interweaves pop music songs, including ones released since 2001, to create a unique theatrical experience. It also goes without saying how incredibly talented the show’s cast is. Douglas and McClinton shared terrific onstage chemistry with one another, and the cast clearly had a good time performing the show. If you are going to see just one Broadway show in your lifetime then “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” must be the one.

On a scale of zero to five, “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” receives ★★★★★

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” will run through August 4 at the Music Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.  For ticket information, click HERE.  

Enjoy big-time family fun at Monster Jam®, where the world’s best drivers and their 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in intense competitions of speed and skill. Witness crazy skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to head battles for the Event Championship. You’ll be close to the action as the world’s most popular trucks like Grave Digger®, El Toro Loco®, Megalodon® and more push the limits in Freestyle, Skills, Donut and Racing competitions. Monster Jam also features breathtaking Freestyle Motocross exhibitions. Make memories to last a lifetime. Monster Jam. As Big As It Gets!™

Tickets: Ticketmaster.com
More info: MonsterJam.com

Kia Center
Saturday, August 3 Pit Party: 10:30am-12pm; Show 1pm
Show 7pm

Sunday, August 4 Pit Party: 10:30am-12pm; Show: 1pm

** Doors open one hour prior to show time.
** Any child who has reached their 2nd birthday needs a ticket.

The fun begins at the Monster Jam® Pit Party, where you can get up close to the massive trucks, enjoy family friendly activities, meet your favorite drivers, get autographs and take pictures. This fun-filled experience is the only place to get an insider’s look at how these 12,000-pound trucks are built to stand up to the competition. Family-fun activities vary by location. The Monster Jam Pit Party—there’s nothing like it. (Fans must have pit pass and same day 1pm show ticket to enter pit party.)

Special discount for fans of MediaMikes.com:

Save 20% on select seats when you use code 2MOM4 online at www.MonsterJam.com.

Enter code to unlock savings prior to seat selection. Offer valid on select price levels. No double discounts. Service charges, handling and facility fees may apply. Tickets are subject to market supply and demand. Offer expires 8/2/23.

• ROCKY
• Musical Theatre Kansas City, Shawnee, Kansas
• April 14, 2024

It’s my second favorite film of all time.  The story of a boxer and his million to one shot.  So, when I first heard a few years ago that ROCKY was coming to Broadway, I was ecstatic.  I never made it to NYC to see it, but a friend of mine sent me the Original Cast CD and I liked what I heard.  So I was happy to see that the talented people at MTKC was staging the show locally.

November 1975.  Club fighter Rocky Balboa (a well-cast Drew Starlin) is making his living as a “debt collector” by day and a club fighter by night.  As he tells his manager, Mickey (Rick Averill), “it’s a living.”  But he wants more.  More includes Adrian (Jasmine Hall,” the shy sister of Rocky’s best friend, Paulie (Chris Clements).  When the forementioned “million to one shot” lands in his lap, Rocky finds himself in the biggest fight of his career.

Based on the film script by Sylvester Stallone, with a book by Stallone and Thomas Meehan (the Broadway shows “Annie,” “The Producers,” “Hairspray”), ROCKY is a very faithful adaptation of the film, The actors on stage are accompanied by a pretty impressive multi-media background, giving even the simplest set a larger feel.  This is most evident during the final fight between Rocky and Apollo Creed (Shane St. James).

The songs, by Stephen Flaherty (“Seussical” and Lyn Ahrens (“My Favorite Year,” “Ragtime”) capture the emotion of the situations unfolding onstage.  The cast is strong, especially Mr. Starlin and Ms. Hall, who, rather then doing an impression of the original film’s actors, give the characters a sweetness and vulnerability that extends throughout the show.  And a special shout-out to Mr. Clements, who truly captures the mixed emotions felt by Paulie.

A few technical glitches aside, the presentation was smooth and the audience I was in cheered at all the right places.

On a scale of zero to five, I give ROCKY ★★★★

ROCKY continues at MTKC on Friday, Saturday and Sundays through April 28^th.  For tickets and more information, click HERE.

• CLUE – A New Comedy
• The Kauffman Center, Kansas City, Missouri
• April 2, 2024

Last week audiences at the Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City learned the answer to a mystery: Could the laughs from Jonathan Lynn’s 1985 movie adaptation of the game Clue work on stage?

It didn’t take Sherlock Holmes, Jessica Marple or even Beniot Blanc to know the answer was yes. Because Lynn’s movie had a single location and was set in roughly real time, it didn’t take much effort for Sandy Rustin, Hunter Foster and Eric Prince to make the tale work in another medium.

In many ways Clue is funnier live. Watching the cast scampering from a potential killer seems sillier on stage because there isn’t far for them to run. In addition, any fisticuffs that occur during the play seem amusingly innocuous. Greg Balla’s fight choreography ensures the struggles don’t stray into the sadistic or macabre.

Lynn’s storyline and much of his dialogue remains. A group of anonymous strangers have been lured to a mansion by a series for letters. Professor Plum (Jonathan Spivey), Mr. Green (John Shartzer), Miss Scarlet (Michelle Elaine), Mrs. White (Tari Kelly), Mrs. Peacock (Joanna Glushak) and Col. Mustard (Jon Treacy Egan) are not using their real names, and there is a good reason for it. All have managed to run afoul McCarthy-ite witch hunts in 1954 and have additional issues that would be golden for a blackmailer.

Their host, the butler Wadsworth (Mark Price), reveals that they are the victims of a blackmailer named Mr. Body (Alex Syiek). He appears and informs them his demands are going to increase. When the lights in the New England mansion go out, so does the chaos that ensues receives some help from Lee Savage’s sets, which morph into different rooms with interrupting the action. As a result the story leaps floors and covers more ground.

The original movie featured a dream team of character actors (Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn), but the current touring cast is up for the task as well. Shartzer and Elaine, in particular, seem to enjoy sinking their teeth into their roles and lead viewers to hope their characters aren’t the ones who made Mr. Body live up to his name. There are no intermissions in the current production, so the play is a test of the cast’s endurance, and they handle the demand of being “on” constantly effortlessly.

For fans of the game there are dozens of little nods to how a round of it would proceed. The weapons come straight for the box that Hasbro sells.

As of this writing, the current producing is in Cleveland, and audiences there are in for a treat. Clue manages to be a frothy delight despite the fact it involves fatalities. If the game Ais afoot in your city, you won’t have to be a Hasbro stockholder to enjoy the fiendish plot unraveling.

Jamie Lee Curtis, GWAR, R.L. Stine, Devon Sawa, Matthew Kiichi Heafy, and Jeffrey Reddick Will Appear in the Hit Horror Comic Book TRUE BELIEVERS

Bestselling Novelist Stephen Graham Jones, Acclaimed Writer Joshua Viola, and Artist Ben Matsuya Present A Cosplay Slasher Comic Book Set at the Colorado Festival of Horror

Some of the biggest names in horror — iconic actress Jamie Lee Curtis, the band GWAR, bestselling novelist R.L. Stine, screenwriter and film director Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination), musician Matthew Kiichi Heafy, actor Devon Sawa, and the characters from the cult horror film Deathgasm — will make cameo appearances in TRUE BELIEVERS, a gripping and grisly new comic book mini-series co-written by bestselling Bram Stoker Award-winner Stephen Graham Jones and Denver Post bestselling writer Joshua Viola, featuring artwork by Ben Matsuya. The three-issue series, which delves into the world of cosplay and fan conventions, is set at the Colorado Festival of Horror. A Kickstarter campaign for the second issue features lettering by Jeremiah Lambert and variant covers by Matthew Therrien, Skinner, GWAR’s Matt Maguire, Luigi Scarcella of Half Sumo, and Ben Matsuya, as well as all-new, limited edition variant covers featuring Jamie Lee Curtis and R.L. Stine and Deathgasm by Therrien.

In TRUE BELIEVERS #2, a year has passed since the harrowing events of issue 1, which introduced readers to the bone-chilling slasher character, Killr™. Now a mysterious new figure emerges, adopting the enigmatic Killr™ persona—but is it just another obsessive fan or a new threat on the horizon? Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of suspense and humor with a fresh ensemble of characters. With new mysteries, hilarious gags, and an extra dose of blood, issue 2 promises a thrilling ride for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike.

“We’re incredibly honored to have iconic Scream Queen — Jamie Lee Curtis — featured in our slasher tale,” said Joshua Viola. “As a special treat for fans, we’re offering limited Jamie Lee Curtis variant covers by Matthew Therrien. But it’s more than just a cool cover. For every purchase of her variant, I will personally match that amount and donate it to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, in support of Jamie’s charity, My Hand In Yours. Your contribution to the campaign will make a significant difference in the lives of critically ill & injured children.”

“Nothing better than being at a horror convention, and the Colorado Festival of Horror does it right,” Stephen Graham Jones says. “Only thing better might be . . . I don’t know. Maybe being there and feeling like you’re walking through the panels of a slasher comic book?”

Rewards for the project include a 30 minute original score crafted by lead vocalist and guitarist of the Grammy-nominated band Trivium, Matthew Kiichi Heafy (available in limited blood-red saw-blade vinyls and cassette tapes), a Friday the 13th-inspired samurai latex mask donned by Heafy in the comic, Killr™ prop shears by Oktober Studios, a signed Matt Heafy Les Paul™ custom guitar, signed GWAR skate deck and drumsticks, and more.

For updates, follow Hex Publishers on X and Facebook. To support the project, visit Kickstarter.

NO REMORSE: THE ILLUSTRATED TRUE STORIES
OF LEMMY KILMISTER AND MOTÖRHEAD

For Motörhead’s 50th anniversary, Z2 gathers over 50 Rockstar contributors including
Dave Grohl, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Triple H, Chrissie Hynde and Lars Ulrich to participate
in the oral history of the man and the legend, Lemmy Kilmister

PREORDER AVAILABLE FOR THE BOOK AND EXCLUSIVE VINYL 2 LP SET NOW ON Z2

In celebration of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the legendary Motörhead, Z2 has gathered a staggering line-up of icons to narrate their personal encounters with the man that came to define the sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll lifestyle, Lemmy Kilmister. NO REMORSE: THE ILLUSTRATED TRUE STORIES OF LEMMY KILMISTER AND MOTÖRHEAD kicks off this 176-page tribute with a deeply personal foreword by his dear friend Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and a truly touching afterword by his longtime friend and collaborator Ozzy Osbourne.

The book pairs 25 rockstar contributors with 25 acclaimed illustrators to tell the stories of their true and unbelievable personal encounters with the heralded founding father of Motörhead. Recounting their history with Lemmy over the span of his life and career are the greatest living musicians – Ozzy Osbourne, Lars Ulrich, Slash, Chrissie Hynde, Dee Snider, Dave Navarro plus world-class writers Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, pro-wrestling giants Triple H, Corey Graves, TV & Film luminaries including Matt Pinfield, Penelope Spheeris, Riki Rachtman, as well as his bandmates Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee, and Slim Jim Phantom.

With a gorgeous variety of visual approaches the artists of NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead; including Dave Chisholm, Bob Fingerman, Jay Jay Jackson, and Jim Mahfood capture the many facets of these incredible TRUE TALES of Lemmy Kilmister. The cover art is illustrated and designed by comic book legend Tim Bradstreet (Punisher, Hellblazer) and features the gleam of a holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs!

“Anyone who ever crossed paths with Lemmy Kilmister left with a very unique experience and stories to share for a lifetime,” says Josh Bernstein, Z2 President and the book’s co-editor/designer. “The outpouring of those stories from his friends and family, paired with some of underground art’s greatest illustrators, brings Lemmy and Motörhead roaring back to life on every page.”

Like all Z2 collaborations, this book comes in a variety of highly-collectible editions, including the 1:5 “All-Access” Edition which features a framed AAA Artist Pass from Lemmy’s 70th birthday party at the Whisky A Go-Go; and the 1:25 “Backstage” Edition that comes with a framed original 2012-2013 Motorhead tour laminate. All of these artifacts are from the personal collection of Lemmy Kilmister. The “No Remorse” editions of the book will come with an exclusive white vinyl variant of the legendary Motörhead double LP, No Remorse, a poster triptych set by renowned designer Hydro74, and a three-card collectors set presented in a custom frame featuring the art of the iconic thrash-metal painter Ed Repka (Megadeth, Super7).

All collector editions will include the oversized deluxe volume of the NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead book contained in a metallic foil embossed slipcase, with die cuts that reveal the holographic coating on Lemmy’s classic aviator specs on the cover of the book. All editions available for PREORDER now!

From his early years, Lemmy gravitated to the live-fast attitude of rock & roll, starting out as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, joining the seminal space-rock outfit Hawkwind and famously getting fired from the band for “doing the wrong drugs.” Forming Motörhead in 1975 after his dismissal, he set out to kick things up and create an aural assault, the likes of which had not been heard. Lemmy Kilmister became the unequaled standard for the Rock & Roll lifestyle.

Of their first meeting, Dave Grohl recounts, “until then I’d never met what I’d call a real rock ‘n’ roll hero before. Fuck Elvis and Keith Richards, Lemmy’s the king of rock ‘n’ roll. A living, breathing, drinking, snorting, fucking legend. No one else comes close.” It’s the life of a Rock & Roll legend, and NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead captures it all.

STORY CONTRIBUTORS: Sir Neil Warnock, Wayne Kramer, Michael Moorcock, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Campbell, Chrissie Hynde, Kim McAuliffe, Slim Jim Phantom, Lars Ulrich, Neil Gaiman, Dee Snider, Slash, Steffan Chirazi, Lita Ford, Riki Rachtman, Penelope Spheeris, Dave Navarro, Mikkey Dee, Mikael Maglieri Jr., Todd Singerman, Lar Frederiksen, Dave Grohl, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, Matt Pinfield, Josh Bernstein, Steve Luna, Corey Graves

ARTIST CONTRIBUTORS: Piotr Kowalski, Pat Moriarity, John Bergin, Joe Simko, John Bivens, Chris Visions, Fred Harper, Bob Fingerman, Steve Chanks, Dave Chisholm, JayJay Jackson, Felipe Sobreiro, Gideon Kendall, Ron Joseph, Steve Kurth, Shane Patrick White, Jim Mahfood, Luke McGarry, Ryan Dunlavey, Koren Shadmi, Jeff McClelland, Jeff McComskey, Wes Hargis, Brent Engstrom, Erik Rodriguez, Sean Pryor, Josh Bernstein, Frank Powers, Tony Parker, Tim Bradstreet, Ed Repka, Hydro 74

NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead will be available in hardcover via Z2 (Simon & Schuster) for a list price of $35.00 (ISBN: 9798886561340) and at retailers everywhere this summer.

• “Mamma Mia!”
• Music Hall – Kansas City, Mo  
• March 5, 2024

Borrowing a phrase from the classic Alka Seltzer commercial, “MAMMA MIA!  That’s a spicy musical!”

What a totally enjoyable presentation for the 25^th Anniversary Tour celebration of the London premier in 1999.   The jukebox musical pulls you in from the opening notes and flows through the hits of ABBA one after another, and you know them all…of course you do, or you probably wouldn’t bother being in the audience.

The show presents the story of Sophie (Alisa Melendez) a young woman who has been raised by her single mother Donna (Christine Sherrill) on a Greek Island and who is planning her upcoming wedding.  Sophie has a dilemma; she doesn’t know who her father is, and to make matters worse, neither does her mother!

Donna is an aging “wild child” of the 70’s who, along with her two besties, Tanya (Jalynn Steele) and Rosie (Carly Sakolove) were once Donna and the Dynamos.   However Donna, after finding herself pregnant, has lived a quiet, reclusive life running a café’.   Sophia sneaks into her mother’s diary and discovers entries that may point to who the father could be…. Harry, Bill or Sam, all of which Donna had “intimate moments” with 20 years ago.   Sophie sends them invitations to her wedding without telling her mother…and as the guests begin to arrive for the wedding, all three men appear, and Sophie starts to deduce which one is her father.  Hilarity ensues.  All is well in the end and everyone finds what they were searching for.  The acting woven throughout the musical numbers is done well, show stealers for me were the Dynamo Girls, and Bill from the “dads”.

Musical highlights:   Dancing Queen, The Name of the Game, SOS, and of course Mama Mia.  But the curtain call encore is a rousing party montage of Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, and Waterloo, with full ABBA style costuming, choreography and invitation for participation, and the audience at this performance sure did.

On a scale of zero to five I give “Mamma Mia!” ★★★★1/2

“Mamma Mia!” continues at the Music Hall in Kansas City through March 10th.  For tickets to this and upcoming shows on the tour please click HERE.

– AdventHealth Broadway in Orlando 24/25 Season brings Girl From The North Country, THE BOOK OF MORMON, Cher, Some Like it Hot, MAMMA MIA!, A Beautiful Noise, MJ The Musical, Mean Girls, Disney’s The Lion King, Shucked and STOMP to Walt Disney Theater –

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2024) – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is excited to announce the lineup for the 24/25 AdventHealth Broadway in Orlando season. The dynamic 11-show lineup in Walt Disney Theater features the return of three blockbuster musicals Disney’s The Lion King, THE BOOK OF MORMONand Mean Girls, along with Broadway sensations, Cher and MAMMA MIA! and the Orlando debuts of Girl From The North Country, Some Like it Hot, A Beautiful Noise, Shucked, MJ The Musical and STOMP.

Dr. Phillips Center and Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with Broadway Across America presents AdventHealth Broadway in Orlando’s 24/25 season. Since opening in 2014, the arts center has become one of the top Broadway markets in the country and it is the breathtaking Walt Disney Theater that has been the home to Broadway for the past eight seasons.

If you are an AdventHealth Broadway in Orlando subscriber, renewals begin at 11 a.m. Join the waitlist at BroadwayinOrlando.com to be among the first to know when new subscriptions go on sale.

Show Descriptions:

About Girl From The North Country – Sept. 24-29, 2024

Girl From The North Country is the Tony Award-winning musical set in 1934 Duluth, Minnesota, where we meet a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope. This production is a vividly human experience brought to life by an extraordinary company of actors and musicians. Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring Tony Award-winning orchestrations by Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country reimagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.”

Media assets here.

About THE BOOK OF MORMON – Oct. 22-27, 2024

The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical. This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, THE BOOK OF MORMONhas truly become an international sensation. Contains explicit language. For more information, visit TheBookOfMormonTour.com.

Media assets here.

About Cher – Nov. 12-17, 2024

Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture – breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. THE CHER SHOW is the Tony Award®-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. THE CHER SHOW is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy®, and enough Tony Award ® -winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have audiences dancing in the aisles!

Media assets here.

About Some Like it Hot – Dec. 17-22, 2024

Some Like it Hot is a four-time Tony Award® winner, including Best Choreography and Best Costumes, and Grammy Winner® for Best Musical Theater Album. Set against Prohibition-era Chicago when everyone was thirsty for a little excitement, two musicians are forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters watching their every move, they catch a cross-country train for the life-changing trip of a lifetime. From the set design to the wig styles, the Broadway musical creates a richly detailed vision of the 1920s and ’30s with a captivating union of heart and laughs, song and dance. Some Like It Hot was named Best Musical by the Drama Desk, The Drama League and the Outer Critics Circle. Featuring music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, a book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin and stellar direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.

Media assets here.

About MAMMA MIA! – Jan. 14-26, 2025

A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! 

Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago.

For nearly 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show.

Media assets here.

About A Beautiful Noise – Feb. 4-9, 2025

The untold true story of a Brooklyn kid who became a chart-busting, show-stopping, award-winning American icon. Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is the uplifting true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, show-stopping American rock icon. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline,” an induction into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold-out concerts around the world that made him bigger than Elvis, Neil Diamond’s story was made to shine on Broadway-and head out on the road across America. Like Jersey Boys and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical before it, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL is an inspiring, exhilarating, energy-filled musical memoir, that tells the untold true story of how America’s greatest hitmaker became a star, set to the songs that defined his career.

Media assets here.

About MJ The Musical – March 4-16, 2025

He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to Orlando as MJ, the multi Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its Florida premiere at the Dr. Phillips Center in March 2025.

Media assets here.

About Mean Girls – March 28-30, 2025

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is an incredibly entertaining hit musical from award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blond) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). Don’t be fooled by the pink! Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing could prepare her for the primal ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

Media assets here.

About Disney’s The Lion King – April 23 – May 18, 2025

On Broadway since 1997, there is simply nothing else like Disney’s The Lion King. Join more than 100 million people around the world and experience the entire Serengeti come to life as never before with awe-inspiring visual artistry, unforgettable music and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage. Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Disney’s The Lion King is born from one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. Also featuring the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music including “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” and “Hakuna Matata,” crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.

Media assets here.

About STOMP – June 6-7, 2025

STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, startlingly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. Created in 1991 by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, the international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards including an Olivier Award for Best Choreography and Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatre Experience. This worldwide phenomenon has performed in over 350 cities in 36 countries, picking up numerous rave reviews along the way and securing several appearances on national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. See what all the noise is about.

Media assets here.

About SHUCKED – June 24-29, 2025

SHUCKED is the Tony Award®–winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “flat out hilarious!” And nobody knows funny like economists. Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Award–winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”), and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater. SHUCKED is recommended for ages 10+. SHUCKED contains adult themes, moments of adult language and a harvest of corny innuendo.

Media assets here.

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About Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in downtown Orlando supported by the City of Orlando, Orange County, the City of Winter Park, the State of Florida and generous donors and sponsors. The 698,312-square-foot venue includes performance spaces like the Walt Disney Theater, the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, the Steinmetz Hall and Judson’s Live; and event spaces like the DeVos Family Room, the Rooftop Terrace and the Seneff Arts Plaza. In addition, the arts center’s AdventHealth School of Arts offers performing arts education year-round. For more information, visit drphillipscenter.org. Follow on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. 

About the AdventHealth Central Florida Division: AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division encompasses 17 hospitals and ERs in the four counties in and surrounding metro Orlando. The world-class hospitals, combined with a comprehensive outpatient care network, see more than 3.5 million patient visits annually. AdventHealth also has an expansive research portfolio in Central Florida, with more than 650 clinical trials and studies in progress. The organization has a deep commitment to serving the community and has a local financial impact of more than $1 billion annually. AdventHealth and its employees are responsible for nearly 20 percent of Central Florida’s economy. The division’s flagship campus — AdventHealth Orlando — boasts nationally and internationally recognized programs, and serves as a major tertiary and quaternary referral hospital for much of the Southeast, the Caribbean and Latin America. Quality specialty care is provided through AdventHealth Institutes, which is nationally recognized in numerous specialties. AdventHealth Orlando has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and the Leapfrog Group. Learn more about the Central Florida Division on our Newsroom. 

The John Gore Organization is the leading presenter, distributor, and marketer of Broadway theater worldwide. Under the leadership of 20-time Tony-winning theater producer and owner John Gore, its family of companies includes Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. The company presents shows in 48 cities across North America as well as on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, Japan, and China. It has won Tony Awards in every producing category as well as numerous other Drama League, Drama Desk and Olivier Awards.  The John Gore Organization is committed to supporting theater access and education programs that introduce Broadway to the next generation of audiences and theater professionals.

Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands.  Led by 20-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current productions include &Juliet, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: The Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Florida Theatrical Association – the non-profit presenter of Broadway in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami – was founded with the charge of educating and developing new theater audiences and encouraging and preserving the presentation of touring Broadway theater. Since 1989 Florida Theatrical Association has presented over 1,100 Broadway performances and distributed over $1.8 million in scholarships and grants to arts organizations across the state of Florida.

“Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind”

Various Authors
Z2 Comics
Hardcover: 141 pages

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

40 years have passed since the release of IRON MAIDEN’s groundbreaking fourth studio album, PIECE OF MIND. Released in 1983, “Piece Of Mind” was the band’s first album to enter the U.S. Billboard Top 20, peaking at #14, achieving RIAA platinum certification in the U.S. To celebrate this classic album Iron Maiden have partnered with award-winning publisher Z2, to bring the multi-platinum album Piece of Mind to book form. “IRON MAIDEN: PIECE OF MIND”, is a love letter to fans from one of the most celebrated metal bands in music history.

Just like the album itself “Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind” the graphic novel wastes no time transporting readers into the world of all things Eddie and Iron Maiden. Starting off with an introduction titled “Piece of Mind at 40” by long time manager Rod Smallwood, the commemorative book is packed with vibrant art, testimonials from acclaimed writers, artists, actors and musicians along with newly written interpretations of each of the albums 9 signature tracks.

No matter if you are new to Iron Maiden or a long time listener the latest offering from the British metallers and Z2 comics puts a whole new spin on one of the bands most legendary release. Though there is not one seamless story line tying the book together readers instead get 9 different stories all by different writers and based on their interpretation of one specific song. To go along with each story is a bevy of new artwork which only further adds to the books overall appeal. I really enjoyed the writing of Steven Grant “Where Eagles Dare”, Sacha Gervasi “Die With Your Boots On” and Brian Posehn “Quest for Fire” along with the artwork by artists Damien Worm “Revelations” and Staz Johnson “The Trooper” but what I think I enjoyed most about the book is that it provides a nice balance of text and pictorials. Across the heavy weight, glossy 141 pages there was never too much or too little of each as page after page provided was equally enjoyable. To top things off  Maiden’s very own frontman Bruce Dickenson pens the story for “Revelations” which is very cool addition in my opinion.

If you are looking for something a little different apart from the standard remaster of an album or a brief retrospective article then “Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind” is something you will definitely want to grab. The books unique written and visual presentation adds a whole new level to the “Piece of Mind” mythos in a way unlike no other making it a great companion to the audio release.

• TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL
• The Music Hall – Kansas City, Missouri
• December 5, 2023

I first fell in love with Tina Turner as a 15 year old boy after seeing her in the film “Tommy.”  I didn’t know I was in love until she rocketed back to stardom in the early 80s.  Then I was hooked.  I went to her shows, bought her albums and tried to devise a way to ask her to marry me.  My crush on her was so powerful that when she sadly passed away earlier this year, friends who I hadn’t heard from in years sent me condolence messages.  Which brings me to this week at the Music Hall in Kansas City where I attended opening night of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical.”

Opening with a gospel themed rendition of “Nutbush City Limits,” “TINA” is a nearly three-hour journey into the often tragic life of one of the most powerful voices in rock and roll history.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Anna Mae Bullick left her Tennessee home to join her sister Alline in St. Louis.  There she met Ike Turner a musician with a bad temper.  As the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, they toured the country, appearing in concert and on television.  However, behind the scenes, it was a living hell.

Parris Lewis

A show is only as good as its cast, and the cast of “TINA” was amazing.  Every character has a chance to shine, from young Anna Mae to the hard dancing Ikettes.  I apologize her for not naming the young actress who played Anna Mae.  There are two young ladies playing the roll and there was nothing inserted into the “Playbill” to tell me which one it was.  Whoever you are, young lady, you were amazing.

It’s a testament to the talents of actor Wildlin Pierrevil that, when he took his curtanin call as Ike Tuner, some in the audience booed him.  Not the performance, mind you, but Ike Turner the man.

There are also two actresses playing Tina Turner, and this performance featured Parris Lewis, who seemed to have absorbed Tina Turner into her DNA as she gave one of the best performances I have seen on stage this year.  Brava!!

I will warn readers who may hope to influence the younger generation with Tina’s music by taking them to the show, it does get a little dark thematically at times.  It’s well documented that Ike Turner was an SOB, and there are scenes of domestic violence that had the audience cringing.  However, it’s those early scenes that make Tina’s triumphs even sweeter.  She really was, as she sang, Simply the Best!

On a scale of zero to five, I give “TINA: The Tina Turner Musical” ★★★★★

“TINA: The Tina Turner Musical” runs in Kansas City through December 9^th.  For tickets to these or future shows, please click HERE.

To check out my interview with actresses Parris Lewis and Ari Groover, please clickHERE.

How do you go about playing one of the most popular and successful women in rock and roll history night after night?  If you’re portraying the title character in “TINA: The Tina Turner Musical,” you share the spotlight. 

Due to the enormous amount of energy, both physically and vocally, expended over the course of nearly three hours and twenty-two songs, two very talented actresses share the role.  While taking a break during their recent stop in St. Louis, both Ari Groover and Parris Lewis took a few minutes out of their busy schedule to speak with Media Mikes.

MIKE SMITH:  Can you both tell us how you got the role of Tina Turner?

ARI GROOVER:  I was actually fortunate enough to have been in the Broadway company (Ms. Groover played the role of Alline, Tina’s sister and also served as the Understudy for Tina).  Because we were still dealing with the experiences of the Pandemic, I went on quite a bit.  That allowed me to get in a lot of practice playing Tina Turner.  I’m happy to be with the tour doing Tina full time and sharing the journey with Parris, who has a very similar story.

PARRIS LEWIS:  My story is very similar to Ari’s.  I didn’t start on Broadway but when the show closed and the tour started, I played Alline Bullock and covered Tina.  I did that eight times a week and covered Tina whenever one of the “Tinas” were out.  So with a whirlwind of a year playing both roles, like Ari I had a lot of experience.  Although we had two “Tinas,” being on tour is hard.    So whenever the young ladies were out, I was on, which was quite often.  It afforded me the opportunity to improve so when the tour opened up for year two I was able to, kind of graciously, walk into it. 

Ari Groover

MS:  I saw Tina Turner many times in concert.  Her last tour started here in Kansas City.  She always put on such an amazing show.  It must be exhausting to play her.  Not only the musical numbers but, I’m sure the show also delves into the issues in her personal life.  Emotionally, it must be a work out every night.

PL:  Oh, yeah.

AG:  It surely is.

MS:  Is that why there are two of you?

PL:  Not necessarily physical exhaustion.  More for vocal health.  It’s a beast of a show.  We sing twenty-two, twenty-three songs in the span of three hours.  It takes a toll, the wear and tear, on any artist.  I think they decided that it would be best for the role to be shared.  These were things that were learned before we got the tour.  Touring is harder than sitting still somewhere.  You’re constantly moving and lugging yourself.  It gives the “Tinas” time to recoup, be it energy, physically or vocally.  You get that chance to catch your breath.

MS:  Ari, since you did do the show on Broadway, did you ever have the opportunity to meet Tina Turner?

AG:  No, I didn’t get a chance to meet her because I joined the show a little bit later.  Tina came to the show on opening night in October 2019 and I didn’t join the show until the first of the year in 2020.  But she did keep in contact with most of her “Tinas” around the globe.  Anybody that played her…she would send beautiful notes and messages.  Though I have not met her, I have MET her.

MS:  What led you both to pursue acting?

AG:  Great question.

PL:  Yeah, great question.

PL:  For me it started through music.  I was studying music as a young person, studying voice, whether it was chorale or classical, that was really where my journey began.  Even as a young dancer, taking dance classes, you learn that you have to emote.  It isn’t just a physical thing.  And vocally, you have to be able to tell a story while singing.  Through my transition from high school to college I really began to fall in love with seeking more outside of singing.  I learned that acting really allowed a person to tell a story and show up.  Also, being a young writer, I would write stories and poems and plays of my own. 

Parris Lewis

AG:  I’m very happy that my mom was able to surround me with the arts.  She didn’t shy away from anything so I was exposed to different mediums as a kid.  I’ve always had the “bug.”  The funny thing is I really didn’t see myself performing in musical theater.  Even when I got to college, I didn’t see myself doing musical theater.  I actually went to school for visual arts and illustration because I wanted to do graphic novels or storyboards for animation.  That’s where I thought I was going to go.  Or I thought I’d be a backup dancer because that was one of the big things in Atlanta….music videos.  That’s what I had in mind.  I didn’t really put together that I was good at doing all three things.  Though I had done plays and done musicals, I just really didn’t see myself on the great white way! 

MS:  Is there a dream role you’d like to play?  Something you’d drop everything for if they called and said, “would you come play this”

PL:  Would I drop everything? (laughs).  I don’t know.  It depends.  It’s not just the role.  There are so many things that come into play.  In theater there are two roles that I’d love to play.  One is an older role and the other is more current.  One is Persephone in “Hadestown.” 

AG:  Oh my God, you’d be great in that!

PL:  I love that show.  It’s just so beautiful.  I really would love to play Persephone.  I would also drop things to play Aida in “Aida.” 

AG:  I get asked this question a lot, but I never know the answer.  Sometimes I don’t know if it’s something that hasn’t been created yet, or if it’s something that I have to create.  I don’t know what is the perfect dream role for me.  I do think it’s something that hasn’t been created yet.  Maybe it’s something that has to come from my mind. 

IRON MAIDEN: PIECE OF MIND

A stunning love letter to fans from one of the most celebrated metal bands in music history!

Z2 Comics release, Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind features original stories for each of the nine album tracks including Where Eagles Dare – written by Steven Grant (The Punisher) illustrated by Carson Thorn (Batman the Barbarian), Revelations – fittingly crafted by Bruce Dickinson with Tony Lee (Doctor Who) and illustrated by Damien Worm (The October Faction); (“Revelations” being the first track in Maiden history to be solely-credited to Dickinson), Flight of Icarus by Eisner nominee Ivan Brandon (24Seven, Viking) illustrated by Francesco Dossena (Dylan Dog), Die With Your Boots On by Emmy-winning director and screenwriter Sacha Gervasi with art by Christian Rosado, The Trooper by Antony Johnston (Atomic Blonde) illustrated by Staz Johnson (Rogue Trooper), Still Life by Leah Moore & John Reppion (Conspiracy of Ravens) painted by John Pearson (Mindset), Quest for Fire from metal authority Brian Posehn (writer, comedian, actor) with art by Michael Avon Oeming (Powers), Sun and Steel by multiple World Fantasy Award-nominee Chris Roberson (iZombie) with art by Danijel Žeželj (Luna Park), and To Tame a Land, written and illustrated by Alison Sampson (Hit-Girl). In addition, between each story, the book is packed with original pieces of art by acclaimed illustrators, including Montos, Ghoulish Gary, Steve Chanks, Jan Meininghaus, Kyle Hotz, Jay Geldhof, Darin Hazmat, Travis Knight, Akirant, and Nat Jones.

With Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind, collectors will have five variants available to purchase, including The Trooper cover by multiple Eisner-nominee J.G. Jones (Y: The Last Man), Asylum Edition with cover by multiple Society of Illustrators-winner Jason Edmiston, Die With Your Boots On cover by UK Iron Maiden illustrator Dan Mumford, and The Flight of the Icarus cover by Eisner-nominee Martin Simmonds (The Department of Truth) with an additional The Trooper Cutaway cover by famed poster artist Travis Knight.

Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind will be available in hardcover via Z2 distributed by Simon & Schuster for a list price of $40 (ISBN: 978-1-95492-826-8) at comic shops on November 22.