IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME!
Thanks to everyone who helped make my Birthday Bash such a great success!
Monday, March 19th was a fabulously fun evening filled with songs and food!
The shameless premise of the evening was that I was using the occasion of my 50th birthday (I know, I know – I don’t LOOK like I have a daughter in college!) to fundraise money to extend my eight-month contract at ANMT.
The party was free to attend – but anybody who wanted to perform had to make a donation to ANMT of $25. For only $50, you could “buy” five minutes of my time and I would sing whatever you wanted me to sing! (I’ve got some nerve, don’t I?!)
The event turned out to be a blast – and a very successful fundraiser. Thanks to you my eight-month contract is now TEN months!
Many many thanks to all of you who made this possible!
Elise
The evening saw the world premiere of Der Strunkenwhitenlieder, a chamber opera in eight movements for Ordinary Baritone and Transubstantial Soprano, with book & lyrics by Scott Guy and music by Liza Lehmann (Scott’s favorite kind of composer – a dead one).
Scott sang the role of “Joe”, and I was “Apostrophe”.
At the piano all evening long was the absolutely extraordinary Ed Martel.
If you ever need an accompanist or music director for anything whatsoever – contact this amazing man!
Throughout the evening, in keeping with the crassly monetary tone I had set for the event, I encouraged audience members to make donations in support of the songs I was singing – with the promise that at the end of the evening I would encore the song that had earned the most money.
It was a tight race, with Mitch Glaser and Larry Klug’s Discinclined coming in a close second, but the winner (and, therefore, the number I encored) was Jack’s House by Cathy Elliott. What made this especially memorable for me is that Cathy’s musical Fireweeds was the first show that I ever got involved in as a dramaturge. (I also directed the world premiere of Fireweeds in Canada in 1992, and Cathy is still one of my best friends.)
I'm Not My Grandmother's Fifty
Angry Words
You've Flown
I've Got It Bad For You
You're Not "For Real" Country
Disinclined
Jack's House
Der Strunkenwhitenlieder
Candyman
Gardenias
Full-Fledged Woman
The World Is Changing
Tall People
I was also serenaded by some wonderful folks who graciously shared their talents with the assembled crowd!
Veronica Scheyving (who also sang a song written by Carla Porter)
Erica Stux
Robert Hecker
Sandy Shanin
Terri Weiss (by way of her lovely student!)
Ken & Dottie Reiner
Neville Johnson
Jeffery Lyle Segal
Adam LeBow and friends (are you ever sorry you missed this one!)