Carbon—C Oxygen—O Actinium—Ac Hydrogen—H. Cross country coach and chemistry teacher Patrick Krall guides his son through the periodic table’s basic elements, murmuring over the plastic-covered tablecloth. A vase of white-and-pink speckled hydrangeas overlooks the father-son pair.  Growing up in a family of educators, Krall saw the myriad of difficulties surrounding teachers...

It’s ethereal, almost. Beyond the ledge of the stage, out in the blackness, white lights float through the air, forming a not-quite-cohesive but still beautiful wave. They’re like stars speckled in the night sky – the perfect backdrop to Poison’s “Something to Believe In”. Guitar in hand, Jeffrey Stirl croons the opening verses into the microphone. Although the audience gathered is...