SHOWS YOU SHOULD GO SEE NOW!

I had the pleasure of seeing several amazing shows at the theatre recently, and wanted to take the time to recommend them to you in case you have not yet had the pleasure of seeing them.

1.) Walter Cronkite is Dead at Signature Theatre.

With amazing performances by Sherri L. Edelen and Nancy Robinette, this piece kicks in from the first flight delay announcement, and takes off from there. Written and directed by Joe Calarco, this play concerns two women stuck at Reagan National Airport due to weather conditions. These women are from two very different walks of life and have totally different belief structures, yet make touching connections in their time spent together at a table at the airport. The play goes to so many different and fascinating places, and makes you think about the people that make up the "blue states" or "red states" as just what they are...people. If only such meetings like the one between Patty and Margaret would happen on a grander nationwide scale, we might all become more of a shade of purple. Wouldn't that be amazing? Don't miss this show, running until December 26th at Signature Theatre. Visit HERE for details.

2) The Odd Couple at Theatre J.

This hysterical revival of the Neil Simon play only runs another 3 performances (Saturday evening, 2 shows on Sunday) and if you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and go! Starring a top notch cast of character actors headlined by Rick Foucheux and J. Fred Shiffman, you will not stop laughing from the first poker game forward.

But to say that The Odd Couple is funny is not a piece of breaking news, what is interesting about seeing this play, besides the uproarious humor, is the fine technique of the actors on the stage. Each of these characters were finely nuanced and layered. I felt like I knew each one of them within a few lines of dialogue, which only highlights the skill of this talented cast. Go, get there now. 3 more shows left! GO!

For info, click HERE.

3) Oklahoma! at Arena Stage.

I had the pleasure of seeing Arena Stage's production of Oklahoma! a week or so ago, and it has been on my mind much of the time since. With knockout choreography by Parker Esse, a fantastic ensemble who dance their legs off, and a core of fantastic leading characters, it was truly a great night in the theatre.

As everyone in the world knows by now, Eleasha Gamble stepped into the role of Laurey just days before the opening of the show. Her work in this show is the best work she has ever done. And believe me, I've seen her in EVERYTHING. She is a spit fire of a Laurey, and has (as we also all know) the voice of an angel. She is matched perfectly by Nicholas Rodriguez as Curly, and E. Faye Butler as Aunt Eller. These three find levels to their characters that are so grounded in reality that the pay off is huge. By the end, you would riot of they didn't have a happy ending. Nehal Joshi as Ali Hakim made things funny in the script that I have never even thought of as funny lines. That, my friends, is skill. Everyone is truly fantastic. The show has extended to December 30th, so hop on your horse and ride on down to Arena's new space and see for yourself! You won't regret it!

For info, visit HERE.

Support live theatre, folks! Now is the time to do so more than ever!

XOXOXOXO

SGS

"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

COMING UP!

FROM SIGNATURE THEATRE'S NEWSLETTER...

Page To Stage Monday: December 6

Conversation with STEPHEN GREGORY SMITH

Monday, December 6
7:00 – 8:00 PM

Arlington Public Library, Shirlington Branch
4200 Campbell Avenue

Arlington, VA 22206

Stephen Gregory Smith has performed on the Signature stage for over ten years! In 2004, he received the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance in 110 in the Shade. He was also a member of the Helen Hayes Award-winning cast for Best Ensemble in Les Misérables and in 2009, Stephen played the lead role in Signature's eagerly anticipated new musical The Boy Detective Fails, based on the book by Joe Meno.
Other work at Signature over the last decade has included Kiss of the Spider Woman, Into the Woods, Assassins, One Red Flower, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and numerous cabaret performances.
Recently, Stephen has branched out in areas other than acting. He is the book writer for a new musical NightoftheLivingDead which had a reading at Kensington Arts Theatre in October. Stephen has been instrumental not only in the creation of the musical, but also in bringing it to life financially. He launched a Kickstarter online fundraising campaign that resulted in raising close to $10,000 to support the show. In addition, Stephen teaches art, creative drama, and improvisation to Fairfax County students through Creative Cauldron in Falls Church.
Now, Stephen Gregory Smith can be seen again on the Signature stage in Sunset Boulevard. Take this opportunity to talk with Stephen about any aspect of his varied career endeavors.
Page to Stage Mondays are free to the public. No tickets or reservations are required.





For tickets to see Stephen in Sunset Boulevard, click here or call 703 573 SEAT.





AND ALSO...



Matt Conner's Debut CD

Matt Conner, a Signature Theatre composer, actor and our lobby pianist, has recorded his first album, entitled WINTER. This Signature-produced CD of holiday favorites with two original songs by Conner is a perfect holiday gift for family and friends. If you've enjoyed Matt's music in the Signature lobby or saw his musical Nevermore, you'll love this mix of holiday songs played by Matt in his Signature style. The CD features 14 melodies including "Jingle Bells" and "O Holy Night" and is available in the Signature Shop beginning November 15.
Be one of the first to purchase this album by attending Matt's WINTER CD signing and release party on Monday, November 15 from 6:30 - 8:30pm in the Signature Lobby. Matt will be on-site to autograph CDs. Join us for a glass of wine and a special concert of the songs from 7:15 to 7:35pm.
WINTER is available for $20. If you purchase 4 CDs, you get one for free.
It's the perfect holiday gift for friends and family!

Photos - Shirlington Zombie Walk

A few shots from the 1st Annual Shirlington Zombie Walk!

1ST ANNUAL SHIRLINGTON ZOMBIE WALK!!!

On Sunday, we begin a tradition in Shirlington. Silver Spring has one. DC has one. Now Virginia has one! The First Annual Shirlington Zombie Walk will begin on Sunday, Halloween Night at 9pm. We will meet at Ali's Bar in the lobby of Signature Theatre. Come to the sky bridge entrance on the second floor and bang on the door to get in. There will be drink specials on "Zombies" - my special recipe called the "Shirlington Zombie" - Gold rum, clear rum, agave nectar, pineapple juice, orange juice, amaretto, lime juice, triple sec and sour mix - $9 a drink. after we have hoarded our legions (and protest posters with blood spatters, no words, are recommended), we will walk to Capital City Brewing Company, have a round there, and work our way to Bungalow Billiards. Once finished, the final act of zombiedom will commence; we will walk en mass to Harris Teeter and purchase raw meat. Bring your cameras especially for this facet of the night. This tradition will be kept alive each year, so let's make the start of this one special. Bring your best zombie self, prizes awarded to the top 2 zombies.

For more information, email me at stephenishome@yahoo.com

xoxo

SGS

Snapshot

NOTLD Kickstarter Article

NightoftheLivingDead the musical was featured on DC Theatre Scene in an article about how the project was funded through Kickstarter.com. I was interviewed alongside another creative team who also raised funding for their show in the webite. To read the article, click HERE.

Johnny and Me - music video

Here is a music video of "Johnny and Me" from NightoftheLivingDead the musical featuring Karissa Swanigan. Music by Matt Conner, Lyrics by Stephen Gregory Smith and Matt Conner.

The reading of our show is Monday, October 18th at 8pm. It is free and open to the public. Visit www.katonline.org for details.

The final fund raising total was $9,520.00!!!! Thanks to all who helped fund this project. Your donations will help to give it life after the 18th!

Till tomorrow, (which is now today), goodnight.

xoxoxo

sgs

Only hours remaining...

Only 4 hours remain in our Kickstart fundraising event! It is unbelievable to me that about one month ago we started this fund raising page on a whim. 30 days later, we have more than reached our goal, and are inches away from reaching $10,000!!! There is still time to donate to the show, if you can find it in your heart and your budget.

We have been having some music rehearsals here and there, and things are sounding amazing. I am so excited to share this piece with an audience on Monday, October 18th at Kensington Arts Theatre.

To donate (and you only have under 4 hours left to!) go to THIS LINK.

Thank you all, and more details will follow soon!

XOXOXOXOXO

SGS

CHICAGO OPENS OCTOBER 8TH!

Chicago opens at Kensington Arts Theatre on October 8th, directed by my friend, Diego Prieto, and starring another friend, Dani Stoller as Roxie, who also will be appearing as Judy in our reading of NightoftheLivingDead the musical on October 18th. Please check it out! Dani is nothing short of amazing! Here is their press release:

Opening Oct. 8th: Chicago – Cabaret Tables and Speakeasy Parties

In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap...until he finds out he's been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another "Merry
Murderess" Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately
joining forces in search of the "American Dream": fame, fortune and acquittal.
This sharp edged satire features a dazzling score that sparked immortal staging
by Bob Fosse. You can also now enjoy the show from reserved cabaret-style
two-person tables, with full service before the show and during intermission and
a bottle of wine (red or white). We will only have eight tables per performance,
and they are available online for $60. Click on the Buy Tickets button and look
for the cabaret-style tables link for the date you want to attend (tables for
10/23 performance are SOLD OUT!). Finally, on two special evenings, you can come
for the show, and then stay and party with the cast of CHICAGO! Relive the
Prohibition era as KAT presents a speakeasy-themed afterparty following the
performances on Saturday, October 16, and Saturday, October 23. Join our host,
Tony Award-nominated actor Brad Oscar (who will also provide some
entertainment), as well as KAT regulars for a night of reverie. Mingle with the
cast and enjoy a glass of wine along with all that jazz. Tickets: $10, includes
entry to the party and one drink. Additional drink tickets available for $5
each, or 3 for $10.

Find tickets HERE!

15 Days Remaining to Donate!!!

Donate to our show, Night of the Living Dead the musical, by clicking HERE.

Your support will help give our piece more of a chance at life after death! Thanks so much!

xoxoxoxo

SGS

A Journey to the Cemetery

The wig sat on the kitchen table on a wig head. The raincoat had just come back from the dry cleaners and was hanging in my closet. Karissa was almost to my house, and I stood in the dining room for a moment, unsure of what to do. I had not been to my Nana's grave since she was buried there, due to my own irrational fears, and I suddenly felt that I was wearing the wrong thing for such an occasion. I looked down at the shorts, flip flops and tee shirt and thought that something a little more appropriate was in order. I changed into a black suit and tie. I packed my bag full of batteries for the camera, the camera itself, water bottles and the ice breaker mints that I am addicted to. I was ready to go.

Karissa arrived and started putting on her make up, and I told her that I had to take Buddha out before we left. As I walked my little puglet, my mind was racing. I was about to go to my Nana's grave for the first time in seventeen years. I was also taking Karissa, dressed in full Barbara wear to the cemetery for a photo shoot. These things combined were making my mind reel.
I have been working on this show off and on for the past eight years. Suddenly, due to Matt Conner's recent involvement with the project, it is all becoming a reality. Suddenly I was driving Barbara to the cemetery.

I had looked around for a cemetery to take her to, and it turned out that the one that my Nana was buried in happened to be the closest to me. I had only just discovered that the cemetery was right around the corner from one of my places of employment, ArtSpace Falls Church. That alone had made me think, "Hmmm. There's Nana, trying to bring me closer to her." When a google search yielded her cemetery as the best location for the photo shoot, I sighed and thought, ok Nana. I hear you. It's about time to make that trip out to see you.

I'm not sure why, beyond the obvious reasons, that I developed such an acute fear of graveyards, funeral parlors, and the like. Perhaps the film that I am musicalizing is at the heart of it, but I'm not so convinced of that. The person that I lost at 15 was one of the closest people to my heart. The loss I felt was so severe that I equated everything to do with the funeral and burial as horrific beyond belief. Every time that my parents would come down to visit me and go to Nana's grave, they would ask me if I wanted to come. I always found an excuse not to. I don't know why I kept doing this, but I thought to myself that seeing the finality of that gravestone would rip open the seams of an old wound that took a very long time to heal. So I always politely declined. This time, Nana was having none of it. If I needed to shoot pictures in a cemetery, it was clearly going to be hers.

I finished walking Buddha and walked into the apartment, and Karissa stood in the dining room with the wig on, and her make up done. I almost fell over. Vincent A. Hill had gorgeously cut and styled a fall that matched Karissa to a tee. It looked the spitting image of the fall worn by Judith O'Dea in the film. Karissa had done a "mod" style make up and looked exquisite. Next came the raincoat. I almost passed out at this point. It was so close to the original that it was shocking. The time on the clock said 6:35pm. It was time to get going if we wanted to arrive at the right time to get some shots at dusk. So off we went.

I think that the only way to break the curse of my fear was to combine this photo shoot with the first time back to the cemetery. That was the right formula to put an end to the bugaboo that had hid in my mind for so many years.

As we neared the cemetery, I started to feel my body tense up again. I immediately decided to fight this with the joy of my project. I put the cassette tape of the soundtrack to Night of the Living Dead into the tape player and the music that plays when they are driving up the hill to the cemetery started to play. This helped.

We pulled into the gate.

There it all was again. Just as I remembered it. I turned left on instinct and passed the fountain. The music from the film was playing, and I looked over at Karissa/Barbara and everything at once was all too surreal. She asked me, "Do you know where it is?"...not quite the line from the film (which happens to be "Which row is it in?"), but close enough to snap me out of my trance.

This place didn't seem so scary. It actually seemed quite peaceful and gorgeous. The fountains and statues in the grounds are quite beautiful. I knew that I would never find the flat marker on my own, so I called my Mom and asked her where to look. After some confusion on my part about which spigot to park by (I parked at the first, turns out I wanted the second one), I ended up on the right side of the hill.

Right at about that time, I heard Karissa/Barbara call over to me, "She's here! I found her!".

And there she was.

I didn't feel that ripping and tearing at my heart that I thought I would. I only briefly felt my eyes gain some moisture as I said, "Hi, Nan...it's been a long time." And just like that, the curse was broken. This wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be, and not so terrible to revisit. I was finally able to concur my fear and break the spell. But now, I had work to do. I said, "I'll be back, Nan, I've got some pictures to take!" And we went to the top of the hill to begin our shoot.

The pictures came out incredibly well, and I love the blurriness of some of them. They have a ghostlike quality that I find eerie. These photos have all been edited now to look like they are film grain black and white. As we shot, I noticed that moon was brighter than usual, and the sky was totally clear. I was ten years old again. There in my photo lens was Barbara/Karissa. It could not have been more perfect. Here are the shots that we took...

I was very happy with what we shot, and it was getting dark. We walked back to Nana's marker before we left. I talked briefly with her, telling her what craziness I was up to traipsing all about the cemetery with a camera and a girl in a wig and raincoat. I'm sure she got a kick out of it. I said my goodbyes, and promised her that I would be back again, and that it wouldn't be another seventeen years until I did. And then we drove away.

I can't tell you how relieved I felt, knowing that I had done this. Leaving, I felt happy about the photos, but happier that I had been able to conquer my fear and face it down. It was an evening full of accomplishments.

Good to see you Nan. Thanks for helping me back to you.

xoxox

sgs

Night of the Living Dead the Musical

We finally reached our goal on Kickstarter.com. We are over the moon in so many ways. Any further donations will only go to increase the life of this show after death' so please open your pockets and give if you can. The fundraising page closes on October 7th at 5pm.

So tonight I performed a song from NOTLD with Dani Danger Stoller called "What You Say". It was met with a tremendous response, and the video will be forthcoming.

Tomorrow I will be doing a photo shoot with Karissa all dolled up as Barbara in a graveyard. This graveyard happens to be where my Nana is buried, and I have not gone there since she was interred in 1993. It turns out the cemetery is around the corner from Creative Cauldron. And it also happens that it is the closest one to me. See. There is Nana pulling me closer, wanting me to come and see her.

So I will go.

Tomorrow I drive "Barbara" to the cemetery. Photos to follow.

Thanks so much for giving this project it's wings!

Donations page is here - http://kck.st/bpVSDb

Thank you all for your support. A VERY SPECIAL edition of this blog will come out tomorrow night after we return from the cemetery.

XOXOXOXOXO

SGS

discovery...

uh oh...i have discovered that i can blog from my phone...

Ten Minutes till Three - new song from Night of the Living Dead the musical...by Matt Conner

The beginnings...

I first saw the film on an October night in the 1980's. I must have been about ten years old. I remember that my mother was next door visiting my neighbor, and that my father was at work. I was home alone, and snuck a tape into the vcr to record a movie whose title brought chills to my spine. Night of the Living Dead. I knew that I might not be able to watch the whole film, as my mother might return at any minute and I would shut the tv power off, put something in front of the red "rec" light that indicated a recording in progress, and suggest to my mother that we go do something other than watch tv. She would love that, I thought. I turned the tv on, and the movie started. The strange, tinny sounding music began to play as I watched a car slowly roll through the Pennsylvania hills. I was not even to the first spoken line in the film, and I felt like screaming at the people in the car to turn around and go back the way they came. I didn't even know why, I just knew that the music sounded terrifying, and made me uneasy. This feeling of dread only got worse as the film went on.Every five minutes, I would run to the window the make sure that my mother wasn't walking back home, and I would return to the tv only to see Barbara doing the same thing, looking out the window, terrified of what she would see, or how many of "them" were out the window.

"Them". How terrifying they were.

I remember several weeks prior to the night that I watched my favorite film for the first time, I was at a funeral of a distant relative. It was the first funeral that I had been to, and I didn't quite know what was going on. I remember the slow walk up to the casket, and seeing the form of someone I vaguely remembered laying like they were asleep in front of a room full of people. How the light above the coffin cast a strange, pink light on the area. How it almost looked like they were still breathing. I expected their eyes to open at any minute and for them to sit up and look at me.I decided that day that I did NOT like funerals, or graveyards, or anything to do with death. Period. And now, on the screen was death, not caring if you liked it or not, pounding on the walls of your house, desperate to get in and get you.I remember looking around my house and wondering what I could barricade the doors with or use as a weapon in a pinch. The next time I ran to the window to see if my mother was coming back, imagine my horror to see a figure close to the driveway walking towards the front door. Yes, of course, it was my mother, but for a moment...for just one moment my heart stopped.I taped the movie silently and watched the horrifying end of it the next day. As the credits rolled, I was devastated, stunned, and shaken to my core. This was the first time that I had truly been disturbed by something. The feeling was strange, and I didn't quite understand it, so I decided to better understand why, I would watch the film again. And again. Thus began an obsession.

I still watch the film with alarming regularity, and ten years ago began to dream up an idea of a stage version of this film that would terrify the audience as much as the film scared the ten year old boy so many years ago. But the second that people start seeing shlocky zombies chasing after people in a theatre, it becomes camp. So how to make it just as terrifying? That has been the journey of the past ten years, and now to have finally heard the first several songs written by the brilliant composer, Matt Conner, this show is finally taking off. If I make just a few people in the audience feel like that ten year old boy, looking out the windows and jumping at noises in the house, then I will have succeeded. My love and appreciation to all of you for getting on board with me as I drive us to the farm house.

To donate to the show, please visit this link: http://kck.st/bpVSDb

XOXOXOSGS

Hump Day update

What's up? What's new? What's going on? Well...I am fighting off a cold, now for the 4th week straight, which just really sucks. I am so tired of being sick, it is driving me insane. But that is hardly breaking news.

In other news, this weekend is a very special one at ArtSpace Falls Church, as the FOURTHwall cabaret series has been extended into September due to popular demand, and kick off the extension week is none other than Matt and Penny Conner. Yes, you heard right. Here is the press release:

"Matt Conner is going back to his roots of Gospel Music and celebrating with his mother Penny. A life long singer and former lead singer with the band "Lonely hearts",she will be singing some of her favorites including Consider the Lillies, Patsy Cline's Crazy, and The Rose, just to name a few. Matt and mom will be sharing stories from childhood including the Annual Christmas Pageants, that were written by Matt, and the many country funerals and weddings. Take a glimpse into a past that has one common family thread: Music!!!"

That is this Saturday, September 11th at ArtSpace Falls Church. Not to be missed. ‎571-239-5288 or http://www.creativecauldron.org/ for tickets.

What else? I just sang at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage for the 5th year in a row. We presented work in development at Signature, including "The Hollow" and "The Boy Detective Fails". You can watch the archive video HERE. Then when you get there, click on the 9/6/10 performance, and there we will be!

Fundraising continues for me and Matt's show, Night of the Living Dead the musical. The Kickstarter web page was started not 24 hours ago, and we are already at over $400!!! We have 29 days to go, so please help me spread the word! Even one dollar will help to raise the dead!!

In case I have not battered you over the head with it enough, HERE is the link to donate.

The first reading of the piece will be held at the Kensington Armory on Monday October 18th at 8pm. It is free and open to the public. Details to follow.

That's about all I know right now, but will check in with more news as it happens! Happy Hump Day, y'all!!!!

HELP ME RAISE MONEY FOR MY DREAM!

Matt and I are raising money for our production of our new musical based on "Night of the Living Dead". We have started a Kickstarter page to help raise the money. We have 29 days to raise it. Please help us meet our goal.
When I was 10, I first saw this film and was enraptured by it. It is my dream to bring it to the stage. I have worked on it for 10 years. This is the first time that I have found a composer that fits the piece, and the first time that I have ever asked you, the blog family to help me. Even if you donate one dollar, you advance us one dollar closer to our goal. Please check out our link and help us reach our goal. There are awards for different pledge levels. Please, in all honesty, help me reach my dream.
I love you all.
HER IS THE LINK:
http://kck.st/bpVSDb

XOXOXO SGS

Save the Last Dance for Me - Photos

Here are some photos, taken by Jose Luis Diaz of my last cabaret, Save the Last Dance for Me. Photos feature yours truly alongside Karissa Swanigan. Enjoy!

Eyes on Earl

I have my attention focused on Hurricane Earl this week, and hope that it doesn't wreck the last weekend of summer in our area. He is a category 3 right now, is forecast to become a category 4 by tomorrow morning, and the cone of possibility could take it to our area by Friday. I will be watching it verrrrry closely.