内容摘要：Palestinians walk by the gate of the Islamic University in Gaza City, which now is a shelter for displaced Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinians walk by the gate of the Islamic University in Gaza City, which now is a shelter for displaced Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

“When, in 2015, the current President, Uhuru Kenyatta, received me at the State House, I made up a line. ‘Jomo Kenyatta sent me to prison, guest of the state. Daniel arap Moi forced me into exile, enemy of the state. Uhuru Kenyatta received me at the State House,’” Ngũgĩ later told The Penn Review. “Writing is that which I have to do. Storytelling. I see life through stories. Life itself is one big, magical story.”NEW YORK (AP) — Three-time Tony Award-winner Charles Strouse, Broadway’s industrious, master melody-maker who composed the music for such classic musical theater hits as “Annie,” “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Applause,” died Thursday. He was 96.

Strouse died at his home in New York City, his family said through the publicity agency The Press Room.In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Strouse wrote more than a dozen Broadway musicals, as well as film scores and “Those Were the Days,” the theme song for the sitcom “All in the Family.”Strouse turned out such popular — and catchy — show tunes as “Tomorrow,” the optimistic anthem from

and the equally cheerful “Put on a Happy Face” from “Bye Bye Birdie,” his first Broadway success.“I work every day. Activity — it’s a life force,” the New York-born composer told The Associated Press during an interview on the eve of his 80th birthday in 2008. “When you enjoy doing what you’re doing, which I do very much, I have something to get up for.”

Deep into his 90s, he visited tours of his shows and met casts. Jenn Thompson, who appeared in the first “Annie” as Pepper and directed a touring version in 2024, recalls Strouse coming to auditions and shedding a tear when a young girl sang “Tomorrow.”

“He was tearing up and he put his hand on mine,” she recalled. “And he leaned in to me and very quietly said, ‘That was you. That used to be you.’ And I thought I would die. I thought my heart would drop out of my shoes.”“It’s a cruel irony that the Bears’ Ironman succumbed to this dreaded disease,”

. “Yet Steve showed us throughout his struggle that his real strength was internal, and he demonstrated on a daily basis his class, his dignity and his humanity. He is at peace now. We offer our condolences to Misty, (daughter) Macy, the rest of Steve’s family, his teammates, and countless friends and fans of a great Bear.”Pro Football Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said in a statement: “Steve McMichael told everyone he would fight ALS with the same tenacity he showed for 15 seasons in the National Football League. And he did just that. Everyone who played with or against Steve shares the same opinion: No one battled longer or harder from the snap until the whistle than Steve the player.”

Soon after his career ended, McMichael got involved with wrestling.In April 1995, he was in Lawrence Taylor’s corner at the WWF’s WrestleMania when the New York Giants great met Bam Bam Bigelow. Later that year, he started with WCW as a commentator.