Back on Track

We now have a new computer at home. Our new computer is a used computer, so not new, but newish. It is from Hilary Clinton's campaign, and we got it through a friend who knew she was selling them off cheap and we took advantage of it.
I am glad to be back up and running at home, where I write the best.
I am discovering and uploading photos that I forgot I had. I have been offline at home all summer. Hard to believe.
So...
what is up?
Insomnieoke is over. I loved doing it, but am glad that it is done. I got very naked doing that one. Very naked.
Emotionally, that is.
And somewhat physically, I guess.
Thank all of you for coming, and for coming to Signature's Open House.



It was fun, if not exhausting.

















Fred, Kurt, Matt and I went to see Jerry Springer the Opera tonight.
What a funny show. The cast is great, and I laughed VERY hard.
The problems I had with the show are directed at its book, and the direction the show goes in Act 2. That being said, I still had a great time.

We did quick cocktails pre-show at Playbill, then went and had a blast.
I don't think I have had as much profanity in one day since the last tech rehearsal that I have had.
What's up with me other than that?


I will be performing at Kensington Arts Theatre's Benefit, which in their words "Saturday, August 23rd, will be hosted by and starring KAT favorite Diego Prieto (Side Show, Cabaret, Closer Than Ever, The Rocky Horror Show, Company) and Brad Oscar, who originated the role of Franz Liebkind in the Broadway production of The Producers and received a 2001 Tony nomination for his performance. Brad later succeeded Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock for over 1200 performances on Broadway, on tour, in London, and he originated the role in the Las Vegas production at the Paris Casino. "
Matt and I will be appearing there. I will be singing from One Red Flower and 110 in the Shade. A package of my September Candles will be up for auction there.
Check it out HERE.

Also, On Monday, September 1st, we will be back at Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center for our annual Signature Theatre hour. This time it is a little bit more exciting for me, because it is an hour of totally my husband, Matt Conner's work.
New things that no one has even heard yet.
Here is their take:
"September 1, 2008
Signature Theater presents a showcase of three new musicals by one of The Next Generation–commissioned artists, composer Matt Conner—Crossing, Senior Moments, and Sleepy Hollow (with book writer Hunter Foster)"
You can even watch it LIVE on the day of.
My August Candles are doing VERY well.

The smells are amazing, the design is one of my best, and they are flying off of my shelf.


Get yours at my link over there on the right.
So that is what is up right now. Expect to hear more from me now that I have a computer at home now again. I have missed this.
I have MUCH to share with you.
My 1000th post is like 2 away, so stay tuned.
Thanks for reading, and goodnight (morning?)
NIGHT.
Love,
Steve

LAST CHANCE: INSOMNIEOKE @ SIGNATURE THEATRE

Ok...this is the last chance to catch INSOMNIEOKE, my one man cabaret/sleep over/karaoke night at Signature Theatre. The last performance will also be the last performance of Signature's Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret Series, which will be tomorrow night at 9:30pm. Tickets are priced at $15.
This will be the official last time to catch the full shebang.
The next day (Saturday) Signature is having it's OPEN HOUSE, which I will participating in several events. One of which will be "Selections from INSOMNIEOKE", which will NOT I repeat will NOT be the same as what you will see tomorrow night.
SO come for the full shebang tomorrow, and hopefully you will come to Signature's Open House on Saturday. It is a full day of free events and should be a fantastic time. I might drop dead from exhaustion by Saturday night, but other than that, it will be a blast.
:)
Hope to see you over the next 2 days!

INSOMNIEOKE - FINAL PERFORMANCE - AUGUST 1st - 9:30PM@ SIGNATURE THEATRE

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Easy like Sunday morning...

Ok...much better last night. Not quite perfect, and still working out a few kinks, but at least I had a good time. For the time being, however, I don't even want to think about it. I have 2 weeks vacation from the sleepless night Cabaret. And last night was the first decent night's sleep that I have had in weeks. So on to talking about other things for the next 2 weeks. I'm sick of talking about myself!
:)
Like this picture, for instance.


My friend Damien sent me this picture. It is from 10 years ago, when we were doing Sweet Charity at SU. God I look like a child. Anyways, I kind of love this picture, and wanted to share it with all of you.
Also, I am blogging from the Arlington Library below Signature right now. Kind of weird. God I can't wait till I get my computer fixed!
Till tomorrow!

Where is the steering wheel?

Well...last night was interesting. The audience had a good time. I learned a lot about the show, what works, what doesn't, what needs to be honed in on more, and what angles need to be cut out.
I am still compiling all of this information and feedback in my head. The show that I did last night was made up on the spot. Entirely. It contained elements of the original idea, but was not the complete original idea.
I think what my problem is is this: I am an ambitious dreamer. I want to give people an entertaining, hysterical, irreverent and enjoyable evening. I want them to identify with the places the human brain can go when left to its own devices late at night. The problem is that I bring SO much to the table that I tend to lose myself in all of the everything else. I got stuck in an idea of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as torture late at night as it gets stuck in my brain and keeps reoccurring.
Hence the puppets that you see below.
This idea started to force me into a creative corner, and I was getting stuck there.
At 6:30pm last night, after I sound checked and had already gone through my show order and lights, I went home and had a meltdown.
Not kidding, here. A serious meltdown. Most of this, funny enough, is because the cabaret about not being able to get to sleep has done the same thing to me in my real life. I have been working 4 jobs while trying to put all of this together in my living room, with no director or editor's eye. And all on about 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night.
And when I came home, I realized that I had bit off more than I could chew. There was simply not enough time to pull off all that I wanted to do. I had roughly 20 minutes to load in my set and props.
I realized that this would not afford me the time to devote to everything that I had intended.
I sat in my house with my ever valiant partner and he helped me to simplify the big mess that I had made for myself. The resulting evening was far less of a disaster than it would have been without his help. I really and truly don't know what in the world I would do without Matt Conner. He is everything.
So, long story short...last night, while fun, was a sort of hodge podge of what I had originally intended. Tonight, I have honed down many elements, cut some songs, and am much more aware of what I am doing.
Thank God.
You have no idea how terrifying it is to stand on a stage and look out at all of you wonderful people and feel like I am not doing the best that I can do. To fear that I am not entertaining you. From the wonderful feedback I heard from last night, I am gathering that I did entertain you.
But last night was about many things, and last night is over.
Tonight, I'm taking this horse's reigns back in my own hands. I'm driving the bus tonight, and you are in for a wonderful ride.
Till it's time for beddy-byes,
SGS

Here we go...

Ok, everyone! This will be my last post until Saturday, as I won't have computer access until then, so when next we talk, Insomnieoke night 1 will have passed.
As always, life imitates art imitates life, and I have not really slept much this past week. No, not trying to be method, I just literally have had trouble sleeping.
Funny how my little show about not being able to sleep has been causing me to lose my sleep in real life.
Well, I hope you all enjoy the show, and feel free to leave comments about it here.
I hope you all enjoy this little piece of insanity that I have crafted especially for you.
Goodnight!
Luv,
SGS

Bring it..

Alrighty folks...
Gearing up for Insomnieoke this Friday night at Signature Theatre. I had a sound check with sound designer to the stars, Matt Rowe last night, and I have to say that the Ark will be rockin' for sure! We also worked on some other sound effects that will be...well...I think they will be hysterical to say the least.
My stuffed animals have been costumed by me and none other than the gorgeous and talented Amy McWilliams...


These stuffed animals will become characters of their own as the night plods into the depths of insomnia, and my own nightmare version of Mr. Rogers' Land of Make Believe comes to life in my bedroom.












The space is empty and in prep right now, but when you come this weekend, you will be stepping into my own version of my bedroom. I am so excited to share this crazy evening with all of you, and hope you will come and join me July 18th,19th, or August 1st.
Come and stay up all night with me this weekend!
Luv,
SGS

My Supporting Cast in Costume...

My supporting cast rehearsing a scene from my upcoming cabaret, Insomnieoke.
Buy tickets HERE!

These are my friends...

A sneak peek at the supporting cast of Insomnieoke...


Hey everyone, since my computer is still down and out, Today will unfortunately be the last day that I am able to post anything on here till next week.
So until then, I guess this is so long.
Next week I will have coverage of our 4th of July, my 30th birthday (Saturday), and many more sneak peeks into the wonderful world of Insomnieoke.
Till then,
SGS

Up All Night with me: 7 things you always wanted to know...*but were afraid to ask*

So, I am putting this out there. Shameless self promoter that I am, I am asking you the reader to tell everyone that you know about my show,Insomnieoke, which runs July 18th and 19th and August 1st at Signature Theatre.
Times are hard, which means ticket sales are low for everyone. Here are a few things that you should know.
1) A couple of people have said, "How the heck do you say that title?" Here it is for you : IN-SOM-KNEE-OAK-EEE
2) The premise is simply this: I am awakened in the middle of the night by...something that I don't want to reveal before you see the show. I spend the rest of the evening (about an hour: I promise I won't keep you up too late) trying to get back to sleep through various methods, which lead me to different song selections.
3) Have you ever been in bed trying to go to sleep and you CAN"T GET A SONG OUT OF YOUR HEAD? It is enough to drive you crazy. Well...many of the songs featured in INSOMNIEOKE are some of those catchy feel good tuners that get stuck in your head.
The cabaret act features mostly pop music that spans from the 60's to today. There is quite literally something for everyone.
4) Though as the title implies, I am accompanied by karaoke tracks, these are not cheesy synthed up sounding tracks. I was amazed to discover in my research finding these karaoke songs that the quality was remarkably good. Sounding just like the original songs, actually. So it will be like I am singing to a live band that exists entirely in my head.
5), I promise you that I will not make you the audience sing by yourself, karaoke style.
Unless you really want to.
6) Parents: Can you bring your children? Umm...yes. I would rate this show PG-13.
If you need to ask me further questions regarding why, please e-mail me and I will tell you. I don't want to post spoilers on here. :)
7) Seriously. The tickets are CHEAP! $15 gets you great night of great music (Carpenters, B-52's, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Dixie Chicks, Amy Winehouse, George Michael, etc.)and what is shaping up to be a very funny premise. I am a cheap date. Come on.


Click RIGHT HEEEEERRREEE to buy tickets!

INSOMNIEOKE

How do you say the name of this show, some have asked...Think of it like this:
A) Insomnia
B) Karaoke
Put them together and what do you get?
INSOMNIEOKE at Signature Theatre
July 18th, 19th and August 1st all at 9:30pm
All tickets ONLY $15!!!!
GO HERE to buy them!

tick,tick,tick...

Well, here it is Friday, and I am blogging from work during lunch. Still no computer at home. (Something about I need a new router?). So it is this tedious work blogging holding pattern. I have a few things to post today, so I will throw them up as I can the rest of the day.
What's new?
I've been working on my latest cabaret, Insomnieoke non stop. Also working almost non stop at day jobs. Tomorrow it will be exactly one week until my 30th birthday. *tick,tick,tick,tick*
And I just found out that due to scheduling problems, I will spend a majority of that day WORKING at TicketPlace.
I was so bummed.
I just wanted to spend the day doing fun things that I love doing, and now I will be selling tickets to Shear Madness to grumpy tourists. Not my idea of a fantastic 30th. Oh well. It is what it is.
I am going to go see Irma Vep tonight at Arena. I am excited to see Fred and Brad, and can't wait!
I will be posting a few more things shortly, but that's about it for now.
Talk soon,
SGS

INSOMNIEOKE - JULY 18, 19 AND AUGUST 1ST

Well, I have finalized my song list, and I have to say that I think you will have an absolute blast if you come to see me! You will hear songs by:
Amy Winehouse
George Michael
Stevie Wonder
Dixie Chicks
The Carpenters
and...wait for it...
Olivia Newton-John.
oh yes.
It is going to be a fun evening, so put on your pajamas and come have a sleep over!
Visit SIGNATURE THEATRE's website for tickets, which are ONLY $15!!!
Hope to see you there!

Sh*t I like right now...

Our computer is still out of commission and I am about to crawl up a wall. Sorry no recent posts, but it is hard to find time at work to do much on here.
So let's play a quick game of catch up with each other...
My parents paid a visit last weekend, and it was fantastic as always to spend time with them. The time is never enough, of course, and I wish I didn't have to work so much and could take off and see them more, but that's how it goes.
I have been working at the tanning salon and TicketPlace, making candles, and working on my upcoming summer cabaret, entitled Insomnieoke. Details to follow.
The Kander and Ebb Lucy Bowen McCauley show ended on Sunday afternoon, and went very well. I hear that there are great pictures from it, and as soon as I get them, I will share with all of you.


I just finished reading The Alchemist, and I have to say that I thought it was an amazing book that has totally changed my way of thinking. It is a life changing book, and I am so glad to have read it. Kurt Boehm got it for me and Matt for Christmas, and I read it this past week. Thanks so much for sharing that book with us, Kurt! I really loved it.


My last Netflix was:
The Tingler

A real campy treat of a film. I watched it the other night with Kara Tameika Watkins, and we laughed the whole way through. What fun it must have been to be in the movie theatre when the screen goes black and Vincent Price's voice yells,"The Tingler is loose in this theatre - scream - scream for your lives!!!"
*sigh* Good times.





I'm not much on contemporary pop music, but I have to say, I've been really digging Madonna's Hard Candy. Great beats and hooks, and just makes you want to dance. Favorite tracks: 4 Minutes to Save the World, Candy Shop, Give it To Me.



Ok, that's a quickie from me to you. Talk to you soon.
SGS