Hello all you wonderful homo sapiens…!
i’m looking at the world around me today, as though for the first time; like a baby bird poking its head over the rim of its nest to see what’s on the other side…
i have been so fervently bent over blank manuscript paper these past few months (which didn’t stay blank for long), i hardly knew winter had come and gone. i looked up – and suddenly, it’s spring!
ah, spring. my favorite time of year, next to autumn. but here in colorado lovely spring is frequently accompanied by fickle changes in the weather. a perfect match for my mood, it seems…
this notice is brief. very brief. briefer than any newsletter i’ve ever written! suffice it to say that i’ve been working on music – there are lots of gigs coming up with various musicians and musical instrumentation which calls for different charts for each group with whom i’ll be sharing the stage. i’m terribly slow at writing out these charts – i do it by hand instead of using a software program because…well, because it’s a better way to learn. for me, anyway.
aside from the upcoming gigs, i’m doing “slut energy theory – u’dean” again for one day only as a benefit for the bias incident hotline in boulder, colorado. see below for the specifics. a big thank you to all of you who have purchased the “slut energy theory – u’dean” soundtrack – especially those of you who haven’t seen the play! i take that as a true vote of confidence. we are furiously working on bringing the play to other parts of the u.s. but, as i am painfully and exasperatingly finding out, it takes some doing…
i’m excited to announce a series of 3-day workshops i’ll be conducting here in colorado this summer. it’s what i call “vocal therapy” and the theme of the workshop is “sing like a murderer”. now, don’t get all upset by the title, y’all. i’ll expound upon things in another email that will closely follow on the heels of this one. but for now, the tentative dates are june 18-20, july 9-11, july 16-18. the cost is $250.00 for the entire weekend. there will be no more than 10 participants for each workshop. if you think you’d like to attend, do not send in a deposit to reserve a spot just yet. it’s too early. just give me a little bit more time to finish working out the details. i should have everything cemented by the end of april and then i can start accepting deposits and taking reservations.
well, aside from what i’ve written above and the dates listed below, that’s it for now. told ya, didn’t i?
TUESDAY, APRIL 20 @ 7:00pm – “SLUT ENERGY THEORY – U’DEAN” in BOULDER, COLORADO at NOMAD THEATER: 1410 Quince Ave., Boulder, CO 80304. ONE NIGHT ONLY! A ONE-WOMAN SHOW ABOUT INCEST, ABUSE AND PUSHIN’ ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE. WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY RENE MARIE. Read a review at Westword. PERFORMANCE TO BENEFIT BIAS INCIDENT HOTLINE PROJECT. Tickets $20. To purchase tickets, visit Brown Paper Tickets.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 @ 7:30pm – PRIVATE EVENT FOR THE GATHERING PLACE. The Gathering Place is Denver’s only daytime drop-in center and exists to support women in distress and their children who are experiencing homelessness or poverty by providing a safe daytime refuge and resources for self-sufficiency. An average of 365 women and children are assisted every day. On November 30, 2009, The Gathering Place served 649 women and children in a single day – their busiest year since opening in 1986.
FRIDAY, APRIL 30 @ 8:00pm – IN CONCERT AT COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE in BRECKENRIDGE. Tickets are $20. Please call 970-453-6757 to purchase.
SATURDAY MAY 1 @ 7:00pm – IN CONCERT with SOUND CIRCLE at Broomfield Auditorium located at 3 Community Park Road in BROOMFIELD, CO. Sound Circle, the 16-voice Boulder-based women’s a cappella ensemble, will collaborate with photographer Christopher Brown, jazz vocalist Rene Marie, Southwestern singer/songwriter Becky Reardon, harpist Christine Tulis with percussionist Kem Stralka, and Tree Andrew playing Native American flute. The goal of this performance, a continuous flow of song, soundscape and visual imagery, is to offer the audience a contemploative journey through the Grand Canyon. The concept for this performance was borne out of passions for both the Grand Canyon and choral singing shared by Sound Circle Artistic Director Sue Coffee and Christopher Brown. The concert will move between visual and aural, realistic and abstract, song and sound. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors and children. To purchase tickets, go to Brown Paper Tickets or call 1-800-838-3006; advance purchase is recommended.
SUNDAY MAY 2 @ 1:00pm and 5:00pm – IN CONCERT with SOUND CIRCLE at Broomfield Auditorium located at 3 Community Park Road in BROOMFIELD, CO. Sound Circle, the 16-voice Boulder-based women’s a cappella ensemble, will collaborate with photographer Christopher Brown, jazz vocalist Rene Marie, Southwestern singer/songwriter Becky Reardon, harpist Christine Tulis with percussionist Kem Stralka, and Tree Andrew playing Native American flute. The goal of this performance, a continuous flow of song, soundscape and visual imagery, is to offer the audience a contemploative journey through the Grand Canyon. The concept for this performance was borne out of passions for both the Grand Canyon and choral singing shared by Sound Circle Artistic Director Sue Coffee and Christopher Brown. The concert will move between visual and aural, realistic and abstract, song and sound. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors and children. To purchase tickets, go to Brown Paper Tickets or call 1-800-838-3006; advance purchase is recommended.
TUESDAY MAY 11 @ 7:00pm and 9:00 pm – IN CONCERT in RICHMOND, VA for RICHMOND JAZZ SOCIETY’S GUEST EDUCATOR’S SERIES at the Capital Ale House, 623 East Main Street (6th and Main St.) Richmond, VA 23219. Tickets: $20 in advance for Students and RJS Members; $25 in advance for General Public; $30 at the door. To purchase tickets, call Richmond Jazz Society @ 804-643-1972. Advance purchase is recommended.
SATURDAY MAY 15 @ 8:00pm – IN CONCERT in NORFOLK, VIRGINIA for VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL at Attucks Theatre. 1010 Church Street, Norfolk, VA 23510. Tickets: $20. To purchase tickets in advance, call 757-282-2822. Click here to purchase tickets online.
SUNDAY JUNE 6 @ 3:00pm – IN CONCERT in PORTLAND, OREGON with SOUND CIRCLE. Hosted by Portland Gay Men’s Chorus at First Congregational Church. 1126 SW Park Avenue Portland, OR 97205. Tickets $15 (economy) and $20 (premium). To purchase, click here.
JULY 25 – AUGUST 1 – WORKSHOP in PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON sponsored by CENTRUM. Whether you’re a working professional, aspiring professional, or committed avocational vocalist , the week long workshop at Jazz Port Townsend, July 25—August 1, 2010, is the perfect opportunity to meet other excellent musicians, soak up a week of jazz in a seaside paradise, and leave as a better musician. For more information on the workshop or to register, click here. Then, starting on Thursday, July 29 and running through Sunday, August 1, we hit the lights and the renowned artist/faculty take to the stage for mainstage performances in Fort Worden State Park’s WWI-era McCurdy Pavilion, and for club performances in Port Townsend’s historic downtown and uptown districts. Tickets (for these performances go on sale to Centrum Members on April 15 and to the General Public May 1). Click here to purchase tickets.