Dinner Was Pun—They Ate My Words

I’ve had many strange gigs over my three decades in music theater, but the strangest came courtesy of Joyce Heitler. For 16 years, Joyce was a mainstay of the Chicago entertainment scene—one day of the year.

The retired Chicago kindergarten teacher and publicist suffers from an incurable case of paronomasia: She can’t stop punning. Joyce even remembers her first pun, which she made at age 5: “Do you want to see Europe?” she asked her parents. “Look in the mirror after you get out of bed. You’re up!” At 13: “Why can people with small hands be on the radio? Because you need wee paws for station identification.” Another Joyce favorite: “What happens when four nuns go on a date? Two of them play hymns.’’