How I Spent My Summer Vacation.


Well - not really. Performers never have summer vacations - or holidays with family either, sometimes. Church jobs have a way of taking up your time around the holidays. But hey - the money is good, and I'll be singing some good music too.


At any rate, although I do wish there was some way to have gotten back to

Rising Sun for the Rising Star Singers' Audition Works in July, I found ways to keep myself busy. (Rising Star is a fabulous program, BTW. I highly recommend it.)


First, my church job with Atonement Lutheran Church kept going through the summer, with some lighter (meaning pop) solos than I usually do, including some great stuff by Keith and Melody Green. If you don't know their music, check it out. I love the no-holds barred presentation of the messages in their lyrics.


Now, for the theater: first was Cortland Rep's Music Man. I had a blast with everyone there and learned a lot in the process. I got to be one of the Pick-a-Little Ladies (Maud Dunlop, who utters the immortal words: "Linus, play to me son, play to me!" at the end of the show. A big thank you to my sister (her blog is at: http:closetdiva.blogspot.com ), who put up with me singing the Pick-A-Little number every time we drove up to camp when we were younger, and for never complaining about singing the "Good Night, Ladies" parts. And a big hug to all my fellow Pick-A-Littles! I think we did kick some "pickle butt"! I miss our Shipoopi dancing offstage!


In the middle of all that came an offer to do a voice over with Full Cast Audio, a book-on-tape company started by fabulous children's author Bruce Coville. The book to be recorded was Tamora Pierce's Wild Magic. If you don't know Full Cast Audio, check them out. The concept is that the book is not recorded with one person doing all the parts, but with - well - a full cast of characters as well as the narrator. I got to read the part of Buri, for those of you that know the books. Fascinating character. I'd love to tell you more, but just do yourself a favor and go read the books. I knew her writings before, but found time to delve into them this summer while sitting backstage at Cortland Rep when I didn't have to be on stage. It was interesting, being a female warrior during the day and a prissy, gossipy Pick-A-Little at night!


Lastly, but not least, Syracuse Opera Ensemble did a concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer. I got to sing the role of Constance, sighing and falling in love with the wrong person with that great waltz number at the beginning of the second act! I wouldn't mind doing that part on stage some time. If you don't know Gilbert and Sullivan's music, check out the following web site:


Gilbert and Sullivan Archive


Hey, check it out, even if you are familiar with their music. It's a wonderful resource!