Muse of the month...Rosemary Clooney

It has been an inspiring week of music for Dennis and I. We have been rewriting one of our shows for a private event we are doing at the end of the month.  They would like all  of the songs to be from the Great American Songbook, the 20’s through the 40’s.  Honestly, I really had no idea the amount of material and actually what songs are on that list!  Many of these songs are already favorites of mine, but some new gems are “Blame It On My Youth”, “Fly Me To The Moom” and probably my newest fave song, “White Cliffs of Dover”.  It is one of those rare songs that as soon as you hear it, you are immediately brought to the emotional place for which it was written.  Add to that, Rosemary Clooney’s rendition and it truly becomes magical.  

We have our work cut out for us to capture the true essence of the Great American Songbook.  It will definitely be a labor of love....

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Summer of 2010...It's Over?!

Stella & Dot Launch Trunk Show!

after the show!

Honestly, it is astounding that Labor Day is NEXT weekend.  Equally astounding is the fact that we went back-to-school shopping this week because the Little Man is starting preschool next week.  What?!  Time is flying by and I am trying to be present and in the moment, everyday of my life.  I am striving to be a shining example of living my dreams so that the Little Man knows that he can do and be,  whatever he wants to be.

This summer I decided to become a Stella & Dot stylist!  It is fun and stylish and is allowing me to have more time to concentrate on what’s important, my family and my music.  If you would like to be even more stylish than you already are ( and I know ALL my friends are super stylish!) click here to see this gorgeous and affordable line. You can shop online!  How fun is that?!

The Little Man asked if he could go to preschool (we are guessing Caillou was instrumental in that), so not only did he have to become potty trained, he had to count to 5 and know some colors and shapes.  I am the luckiest Mommy in the world because this child pretty much became potty trained overnight!  He is so excited to meet new friends and go to school.  Please God, let that sentiment continue. 

It was the summer of creativity with many of my oh-so-talented friends putting on some fantastic shows.  Fifth Ave (Rob Hyatt, Jerry Jones, Bryce Robinson and Jeff Celentano) was the headliner at the SunCoast in June and they were nothing less than spectacular!  The arrangements these boys sing (thank you, Rob Hyatt) are both musically complex and sound gorgeous.  With Bill Fayne as the musical director,  fab musicians from the acclaimed Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, Jamie Hosmer (keys), and Lenny Lopez (percussion), with Jozef Bobula (bass), John Wedemeyer (guitar) and Mike Mechem (drums), how could you go wrong!?  

One of the Curves and one of my dearest, Lisa and her hubby Ron, wrote produced and performed an original broadway revue, “Back to Broadway”.  The stage setting looked awesome and two show highlights for me were, “The Song That Goes Like This”  from Spamalot (who knew Ron could “throw” his hair!) and “Therapy”  from Tick, Tick Boom.  Well sung and well performed.  It was absolutely fantastic and we are so proud of them!

Dangerous Curves is moving towards entering the cabaret world and we couldn’t be more excited!  We are looking at original songs, songs from Glee, we interviewed a perspective MD and more.  I predict an amazing 2011 for the Curves!

My show, (working title, “Walkin’ Thru Life in My Jimmy Choos) is actually (and finally!) coming together.  The hubs and I are writing this show together and I am so excited because not only is Den a fabulous performer, he has some unbelievable ideas for me!  Look for this debut in early 2011.

Friends, it is good to have you in my life and I look forward to a fall and holiday season filled with love and laughter and beautiful music.

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Linda Eder and the Beach!

Just reading the title of my blog this week makes me happy!  What a fantastic July we are having!  When I found out that one of our very favorite singers was performing  at a theatre run by Stargazer Productions, that was all it took to make vacation plans!

Linda Eder was performing  at the Center Stage in Fontana, California a fabulous little gem of a theatre that hosts not only only a Broadway/Cabaret series, but regularly hosts a dinner theatre with fabulous food and an extremely talented wait staff that also performs the show! They also have a location at the Queen Mary.

We have seen Linda perform several times before but this time was completely magical.  Her instrumentation was piano by Billy Stein and guitar by Peter Calo and both of these musicians were absolutely amazing.  Generally speaking, I enjoy a full band.  However, the amount of music these 3 performers made was ridiculous!  Linda’s stunning voice, her performance, her patter were all spot on.  Billy and Peter lent their support not only on their instruments, but with their voices.  The talent on that stage was truly breathtaking.  My fave moments of the show were the duet between Linda and Peter “Falling Slowly” (2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song from the movie, “Once”), “If I Could” (Den and I and Jen cried like babies!) and her encore, “Vienna”.  

My personal highlight was actually meeting Linda and having the chance to chat with her.  She is lovely, gracious and a woman and mom to be admired.  I am challenged to work harder to be an artist of note and a mom full of love and inspiration.

The other side of this fabulous vacation was the Little Man’s first visit to the beach and spending time with family and friends.  We stayed with our cousins and their 2 sweet babies our first night and my girlfriend’s home the second.  I am usually a hotel kind of girl, but it was really wonderful to enjoy morning coffee with my cousins and friends and watch the kids play together.  So much love and thanks to Angela and Jamie and Jen and Todd and their lovely families and warm and cozy homes! Without a doubt you helped to make this an unforgettable vacation for us.  

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Rebecca Spencer and Philip Fortenberry

So today was a great day on SO many levels!  First of all, its Father’s Day and we are so happy to be Mommy and Daddy!  But today, Gramma and Poppa took the Little Man for the afternoon and we got to have an adult afternoon of conversation and fabulous performing!

Rebecca Spencer, (on the roster of KMP Artists) formerly of “Phantom, the Las Vegas Spectacular” and quite frankly, formerly a plethora of other cool things, performed her new cabaret show “Waitin’” at one of my fave places in town to perform, the Flamingo Library Theatre.  

It was so completely thrilling and inspiring to have what I would call “straight ahead New York style cabaret” right here in our little town of Vegas!  The stage was set beautifully with flowers and candles and decor.  Rebecca opened with the title of the show, “Waitin’”, a song I didn’t know but now love!  Rebecca is a beautiful singer, which I fully expected, but I was also hoping to see how she handled the “cabaret” experience.  The cabaret experience for me is one that does several things.  First it lets the audience in on some intimate moments of the performer’s life. Secondly, makes them feel something that relates to their life and finally gorgeous singing and music, which, of course, makes you feel something inside, as well.  

Well, feel something, we did!  Rebecca is a masterful storyteller.  There were times when I felt like we were having our own conversation and I was learning more about her life, as if we were new friends having a conversation about the past.  I just loved how the songs were interwoven into her patter.  It was a seamless transition from spoken word to sung.  Of course, this was due in part to her BEYOND fabulous collaborator and pianist, Philip Fortenberry.  The way her followed her and wove his own musical story around hers tells me that theirs is a relationship of some depth.  He even took a couple of moments in the show to new heights with his spectacular playing, my favorite being when he put the Mozart Piano Sonata No. 16 in C right in the middle of the Ragtime Medley!  Clever!  For her, my favorite musical moments were “The Wildhorn Years”, the original song by Nicole Pryor (wow, I have talented friends!) ”The Mirror Holds the Key” and the original song by Keith Thompson (just the director and conductor of Jersey Boys!) “Eat, Drink and Be Mary!”  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Bruce Ewing ( a local amazing talent) who sang “Sarah” during “The Wildhorn Years”.  I haven’t had the opportunity to hear him recently and it was a real treat.

After the show, Rebecca was gracious and warm with her group of fans and friends alike. Many of Vegas’ supporters and performers of live music were there including Susan Haller, Tina Walsh, KMP Artists and the super sweet and sassy Esther Lynn of the Claire Voyant column.  

I think cabaret is the perfect way to spend an afternoon or evening.  And, Rebecca Spencer and Philip Fortenberry certainly did give us a perfect afternoon!

Do you need fabulous entertainment for your next event, wedding or party?  Let me help you make your next event unforgettable!  You can find me at Gigmasters, LinkedIn and Twitter and of course, at karenmerstikmichaels.com!

"Girl Talk" and Courage

Its funny when things are really in sync.  The last 2 weeks have been absolutely brimming with activity for my vocal trio, Dangerous Curves, which means I have been one busy Chicksinger.  

Last night we performed to a nearly full house at the Starbright Theatre in Las Vegas.  It was a completely self-written, self-produced and self-promoted show.  Now, this is not to say we didn’t have help.  Of course, we did!  The theatre has a number of regulars, so they sent out a press release, our families and friends who ran errands or helped that day with backstage or filming, a few of our super talented friends wrote arrangements for us, things like that.  But for the last 4 months, the girls and I have met 2-3 times a week, rehearsing songs, working on new ideas, staging, doing all the social media marketing, etc.  Then, in the last 2 weeks, in addition to rehearsals which now included our musical director and band, we did 2 live performances to promote ourselves as well.  Holy Moly!  What a huge amount of work and sacrifice, time and money.   It also took a great deal of courage, which happens to be the Sunday Scribblings writing prompt for the weekend!  Synchronicity!  You gotta love it.

Funny thing is, now that this project is over, we (the girls)are taking 2 weeks off to catch up on our personal lives and bask in the glow of our awesome endeavor. I am so happy with the work we did (I even did a comedy song!) and very proud of the girls as they were absolutely fantastic!  

I have several pet projects waiting in the wings and now that I will have the time, I am wondering,  will I have the courage to pursue these personal and oh-so-important dreams and goals?  

I would have to say, based on the accomplishment just realized, all I need to do, is jump in with both feet and all my curves and success will be inevitable!  Here’s to a rockin’ summer! 

Do you need fabulous entertainment for your next event, wedding or party?  Let me help you make your next event unforgettable!  You can find me atGigmasters, LinkedIn and Twitter!

Menopause the Musical, Dangerous Curves and more!

It was my distinct pleasure along with Dangerous Curves to perform as the spotlight guest on Thursday afternoon with some of the ladies from Menopause The Musical (currently playing at the Luxor Hotel) at the lovely Suncoast Hotel and Casino.  The Curves love performing there as the audience is welcoming and fun and the stage is beautiful.  

There was certainly a lot of chicksingers present as the hostess for the afternoon was Ms. Skye Miles and the featured performers were some of the ladies from her cast of Menopause.  Laura Lee O’Connell, Annette Verdelino and Lori Legacy rounded out the talent filled afternoon.  These girls are not only great singers, but also fabulous actresses and awesome girls and loads of fun backstage.  And, let me tell you, Ms. Skye Miles is one helluva singer and did a wonderful job hosting. 

On Saturday, we had a great rehearsal with one of our special guest stars, 5th Ave.  Rob Hyatt has arranged an absolutely killer version of God Bless America for us and them to perform at our show on Saturday, May 8th.  Yes! It’s 6 parts!!! OMG, people, it is gorgeous.  Rob is like arranger extraordinaire and I am so excited to have him around us!

It’s now just 6 days until our show at the Starbright and I can’t wait!  Next post, I’ll fill you in on all the happenings!

Check me out on Twitter, karenmerstikmichaels.com and my vocal trio at dangerouscurveslasvegas.com.

Gigmasters!

I am thrilled to write a quick word on the fact that I have joined the ranks of performers at the online booking site called Gigmasters!  Click to see my fabulous new profile and all the shows I offer.  I am really excited!

They are organized by type of entertainment, type of event, place of origin, etc.  I am listed primarily as a “jazz singer” with sub-categories like, “big band singer”, “40’s singer”, “cabaret singer”, you get the picture.  You may upload video and audio and of course, a bio about the type of entertainment you offer.  I have been working on it all afternoon.  I have a lot done, but my husband is going to help me with video clips this week, so they’ll be up later.  They have a huge database that comes up quickly and easily in Google, so people can find you to entertain for their event!  

I am really put things to the Universe that I am ready, willing and able to do what I was put here on Earth to do. Perform, of course!  Gotta go!  I’ve got to get my new gig book put together!  

I must give a big huge shout out to Lisa Smith, who has been MOST encouraging and most helpful and all around the kind of friend you would be lucky to have.  Not to mention, talent-Full!!!  :-)

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