Loretta Murphy-Birster has been a writer since the age of 8 when she wrote a full length story about a black stallion named Lightening long hand on a yellow legal pad. After a 30 year nursing career (achieving both a bachelor's and a master's degree) and raising two children , she is finally, at the age of 51, seeing her first book "The Pipes Are Calling" published.

A story teller, she is currently completing her second novel, wwwirishheartdotcom. She has written enough poetry to fill a few books, as well as several short stories. Her work can be sampled on the Irish website, www.sceala.com.

Her passion is Ireland and traveling there in 2005 fulfilled a wish she had dreamed since childhood. A lover of all thing Irish, she has dabbled in Irish stepdancing, learning to play the tinwhistle, and studying the island nation's culture. Murphy-Birster is a historian of sorts and has researched the labor group, the Molly Maguires, extensively. Her novel, The Pipes Are Calling, tells a bit of the Molly Maguire legend.

She is an active member of the Ladies Ancient Order of the Hibernians in America but one day hopes to reside on Irish soil. A modest little cottage on the West Coast in Donegal would suit her just fine.

Murphy-Birster is also an entertainer. She has been involved in acting and directing for over twenty years. Her work has included stage as well as improvisational street theater. She is a singer and her interests range from folk and celtic music to classic rock and roll. She was a member of a female quartet called The Wylde Roses for many years.

Her favorite groups are the Chieftains and the Beatles. Murphy-Birster's ultimate musical fantasty would be to perform with the Chieftains.

My passion is ...

Ireland and the Irish

I know too much about ...

Ireland's struggle for independence

My parents always told me ...

many hands make light work

My childhood ambition ...

to be a writer

My favorite memory ...

my trips to Ireland in 2005

Why I write ...

Writing reaches more people than speaking

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

silence

My first job ...

a library aide

My best moment ...

there were two - watching both daughters graduate from high school

My inspiration ...

what it means to be Irish and to pass that passion to my children

Arts & Humanities > Theater & Drama Are standing ovations becoming overused by theater audiences?

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Are standing ovations becoming overused by theater audiences?

Standing ovations are absolutely being overused by theater audiences these days. In my stating this opinion, let me also add this disclaimer: audience appreciation is a wonderful thing. Unless the theatrical experience has been The Play From Hell, there is no excuse for an audience not to express their thanks to the cast and crew for their efforts in showmanship. Applause is a symbolic gesture of good will that makes everyone - from the person applauding to the one being applauded - feel good about the performance.

However,...

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