Benjamin Ashford|Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Ladybird

There are Benjamin Ashfordspoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Ladybird

Constructors: Shannon Rapp & Will Eisenberg

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructors

Shannon & Will: We found the inspiration for this puzzle in a trip to the zoo, a place that always seems to be packed to the brim with theme ideas for us. Our original set included JAY PHAROAH, and was called “Early Birds,” but that theme had already been done at USA Today. Shannon had the idea to limit our set to just the women and title it “Ladybird”, and the rest was history.

We are both editing for Lil AVC X this year, where Will is also a member of the leadership team. Lil AVC X is an indie crossword organization that publishes two midis a week and places an emphasis on fun, innovative puzzles that maintain the constructor's voice. Shannon is co-directing (with Sally, as a matter of fact!) the first Midwest Crossword Tournament in October, which will be held in Chicago, Illinois.

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• TESORI (8D: "Kimberly Akimbo" composer) Kimberly Akimbo IS A 2021 musical composed by Jeanine TESORI. It is based on a 2001 play of the same name written by David Lindsay-Abaire. The show tells the story of Kimberly, a teenage girl who has a disease that causes her to age rapidly, giving her the appearance of an old woman. Kimberly Akimbo won five Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical. Jeanine TESORI and David Lindsay-Abaire won the Tony Award for Best Original Score.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• RAP (1A: Ice Spice genre) Ice Spice began her RAP career in 2021. Her song "Munch (Feelin' U)" went viral on TikTok in 2022. In 2023, she won a People's Choice Award for The New Artist of the Year. This answer made me smile, because constructor Shannon Rapp managed to start this puzzle with a homophone of her last name.
• DOVE CAMERON (24A: She played both lead roles on "Liv & Maddie") In the TV series, Liv and Maddie, DOVE CAMERON plays dual roles. She plays the role of Liv, an actress returning to her home after living in Hollywood for four years and starring in a popular TV series. She also plays the role of Maddie, Liv's identical twin sister who remained in their hometown.
• IRISH (24A: Like someone from Dublin) Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland.
• PAN (26A: Attracted to people of all genders, for short)  PAN is short for pansexual, and refers to someone whose romantic, sexual, or emotional attraction to others is not determined by a person's gender.
• SLEUTH (33A: Nancy Drew or Harriet the Spy) Let's hear it for the female SLEUTH! Nancy Drew first appeared in the 1930 book, The Secret of the Old Clock. A number of authors have written about Nancy Drew under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. I credit this teenage SLEUTH for my love of mystery novels. Harriet the Spy is a children's novel by Louise Fitzhugh. First published in 1964, the book centers on the sleuthing adventures of 11-year-old Harriet, who spies on her classmates and the people in her neighborhood.
• RHEA SEEHORN (37A: She played Kim Wexler in "Better Call Saul") RHEA SEEHORN plays the role of lawyer Kim Wexler on the TV show Better Call Saul. Both a spin-off and prequel of the series Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul's sixth and final season aired in 2021.
• ROBIN WRIGHT (56A: She played Claire Underwood in "House of Cards") The TV series, House of Cards, originally aired on Netflix from 2013-2018. The show is based on a 1989 novel of the same name by Michael Cobbs. ROBIN WRIGHT won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Drama for her portrayal of Claire Underwood. This clue is perfectly sufficient – but in my humble opinion – there's a missed opportunity here. This clue could have referenced the iconic 1987 movie, The Princess Bride, in which ROBIN WRIGHT portrays Buttercup, who is forced to become the Princess Bride and marry Prince Humperdink instead of her true love, Westley. 
• KOREA (61A: Asian peninsula) The region known as KOREA is located in East Asia on a peninsula that extends into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. Since 1945, KOREA has been divided into North KOREA and South KOREA. The capital of North KOREA is Pyongyang, and the capital of South KOREA is Seoul.
• SHE'S (63A: "___ All That" (1999 rom-com)) SHE'S All That is a rom-com about a high schooler named Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.), who after being dumped by his girlfriend, makes a bet that he can turn any girl in the school into a prom queen in six weeks. 
• EYRE (66A: Bronte heroine Jane) Jane EYRE is the title character of Charlotte Bronte's 1847 book, which was originally published under the pen name Currer Bell. I read Jane EYRE many years ago. Most of my current familiarity with the story comes from one of my favorite book series, The Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde. The first book in the series is titled The EYRE Affair, and features characters and plot elements from Jane EYRE.
• PELVIC (3D: ___ floor (target of Kegel exercises)) Kegel exercises, involving contracting and relaxing the muscles of the PELVIC floor, are named after gynecologist Arnold Kegel, who published a description of the exercises in 1948.
• MOSES (6D: Grandma ___ (folk artist)) Anna Mary Robertson MOSES (1860-1961), better known as Grandma MOSES, was a folk artist known for her painting and embroidery. Grandma MOSES did not begin her painting career until she was 77 years old. She was known for painting nostalgic scenes of American life.
• CHILE (21D: Closest country to Antarctica) Located along the western coast of South America, CHILE is the southernmost country in the world, making it the closest to the continent of Antarctica. CHILE claims 480,000 square miles of Antarctica as its territory, although this claim is suspended by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty (that Chile signed), which froze territorial disputes and established that Antarctic activities be devoted to peaceful purposes.
• FIR (43D: Tree with anti-inflammatory properties) The resin of some species of FIR trees, and the essential oil derived from the cones, needles, and twigs of those trees have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity.
• PETTED (48D: Stroked) While I was writing this, my cat, Willow, jumped up on my lap and demanded to be PETTED.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• DOVE CAMERON (20A: She played both lead roles on "Liv & Maddie")
• RHEA SEEHORN (37A: She played Kim Wexler in "Better Call Saul")
• ROBIN WRIGHT (56A: She played Claire Underwood in "House of Cards")

Each theme answer is the name of a LADY, whose first name is also the name of a BIRD: DOVE, RHEA, and ROBIN.

No spotted beetles in today's puzzle, but we do see a different type of LADYBIRD. In addition to the answers I've highlighted above, I also enjoyed DOMINO, REINDEER, and I'M READY. Thank you, Shannon and Will, for this superb puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
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