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Lately I’ve been totally preoccupied with singing, booking, developing projects and travelling.  Feels like there’s been too much going on to write, but there is lots of great news- including awards at Indie Festivals for Bitchy Witchy (!)

But what I really want to share with you today is information about a musical I’m directing this month in the Zürich area.  

For the first time  in Switzerland and certainly for the first time in English, Jason Robert Brown’s  Songs for a New World opens at the Adliswil Kulturschachtle on April 29 and runs through May 8.  Here is the ticket information.  

I want to encourage especially all my English speaking friends because, let’s face it, there is very little live native English speaking entertainment in Switzerland and most of us all hunger for more than a bit now and then;) 

Here’s one of my favourite songs from the show- Stars and Moon performed by Audra McDonald.  Enjoy!

Wow! After a year of filming and waiting, My Bitchy Witchy Paris Vacation opens online THIS Saturday! (October 9, 21:30 Paris time) Check out www.bitchywitchythefilm.com for the trailer and details about linking into the party.  It’s free and easy.  The cast and crew will join in from all over the globe!  Preview: My Bitchy Witchy Paris Vacation 

I’m very excited – and nervous – I’ve only seen the trailer so far. The music is great – created by LA indie film scorer Rob Gokee.  (I suppose it’s natural I would tune into that part of the experience but in this film, I’m acting, not singing.  I play Diane, a writer-mom from Boston who takes her two daughters to Paris; one is a late blooming teenager and the other is pregnant.  

From a Preview: 

“Cultures and hormones clash. Writer Alexis Niki has penned a story that on the surface is about female hormones and how they seemingly define women. But ultimately Bitchy Witchy is about the pain and anxiety of the transitions we all go through.”     

       All women struggle at some point with life changes – menopause, career goals, and balancing private life with family life; simply trying to be a “good” mom – and I’m hoping my character, Diane, contributes to the humorous aspect of these situations.  It was a lot of fun to film.  There are lots of laughs, some bickering and I get an unexpected cougar moment with Sébastien Gallucci who plays a hot French waiter. 

All the shots were done live in Paris and for all those who love the City of Lights, check out that Paris joie de vivre. My hope is that Bitchy Witchy promotes more understanding between women, families, and gives  perspective of that terrible adolescent peer pressure our kids sometimes go through to be the “same” as their friends. Bitchy Witchy deals with life’s inevitabilities.  It’s  for women who are moms, sisters and daughters… and those who love us.   Join us on Saturday, October 9 21:30 Paris time (3:30 EST / 12:30 PST). Go to www.bitchywitchythefilm.com

Sometimes creating can be so easy; it flows so naturally. At other times, it can be so difficult I wonder if sticking pins in my eyes would be easier. The dedication, time and freedom it takes to sing a phrase the way you want, or to write a story, or create a performance… to find the magic needed can be so elusive, it really can make you want to scream – or at least indulge in several bowls of chocolate ice cream.

How do we keep our motivation, our magic and our dreams alive on days when it seems impossible?

For me, on those days when the magic just doesn’t seem to be there, I find a lot of comfort in putting first things first, along with as much sunshine as possible. What does that mean “putting first things first”?

A teacher wanted to demonstrate a concept to her students. She takes a large-mouth jar and places several large rocks in it. She then asks the class, “Is it full?

“Unanimously, the class reply, “Yes!”

The teacher then takes a bucket of gravel and pours it into the jar. The small rocks settle into the spaces between the big rocks.

She then asks the class, “Is it full?”

This time there are some students holding back, but most reply, “Yes!”

The teacher then produces a large can of sand and proceeds to pour it into the jar. The sand fills up the spaces between the gravel.

For the third time, the teacher asks, “Is it full?

“Now most of the students are wary of answering, but again, many reply, “Yes!”

Then the teacher brings out a pitcher of water and pours it into the jar. The water saturates the sand. At this point the teacher asks the class, “What is the point of this demonstration?”

One bright young student raises his hand and then responds, “No matter how full one’s schedule is in life, he can always squeeze in more things!”

“No,” replies the teacher, “The point is that unless you first place the big rocks into the jar, you are never going to get them in. The big rocks are the important things in your life …your family, your friends, your personal growth. If you fill your life with small things, as demonstrated by the gravel, the sand, and the water…you will never have the time for the important things.

For me, singing is a personal rock. In fact, any creative piece or work that I have underway is a rock. And if I get my “rocks” in first thing, I can fill the sand of my day with other items. It’s hard on some days – in fact; it’s much easier to do almost anything else.

Comfort can be had from a story I once heard of how the famous conductor Richard Bonyage chided his famous singer wife Joan Southerland away from ironing to work on her Lucia. At least I’m not the only one who can find domestic chores – even ones I hate – to be a pleasant diversion. However I’m aware if I can get that rock in – if I can hit the studio practice room, keep that lesson date, be prepared for that rehearsal – that bit by bit the work I put in will show up and make a difference.

Glen Gould said: “If I don’t practice for one day, I can tell. Two days, my family can tell. If I don’t practice for four days, the audience can tell.”

Over the years, people have wanted to know how I keep myself busy. “What does an artist/manager filled their days with?” they ask.  “Do you have a lot of free time on your hands?”

So I thought I’d keep some notes on a typical day…

Breathing Deep and Giving Thanks – A Day in the life of a Performing Artist-Manager

7:00 –   Rise and shine!  Breathe deep.  Give gratitude for beautiful, sunny day.

7:15 –   Feed cat, feed fish.  Put on pot of fresh tea.  Follow rushing husband around house reviewing events of day.

7:45 –   Pour second cup of tea.  Breathe deep.  Give thanks for living so close to downtown.    Busy day.

7:55 –   Answer emails that have come in from all over while asleep.  Field call from hysterical singer at wrong address for her 8:00 audition.  Hauptgasse is two streets over from Hauptstrasse.

8:45 –   Shower / dress for day’s meets while organizing dinner schedule.  Call and remind husband to pick up microphone receivers for performance tonight.

9:45 –   Pour third cup of tea.  Breathe deep.  Give thanks for godsend iPhone.

10:00 –     Fix quick breakfast.

10:05 –     Search for mewling cat.

10:15 –     Find mewling cat in closet.

10:16 –     Hang load of laundry on terrace to dry.

10:27 –     Answer unexpected door knock.  Walk around with Swiss meter reader staring into dark corners.  Make mental note of new places to vacuum.

10:45 –     Eat three bites of breakfast while putting on shoes and coat.

10:58 –     Review audition with excited singer while standing in tram with loud 2^nd grade class.  Make mental note to call casting agent for feedback and callback information.

11:04 –     Late to meeting with accountant.  Give thanks he is Swiss and easy-going.  Think of 10 things need to do when meeting done.  SMS husband “hugs” while accountant takes another call.

12:35 –     Note down 3 things remembered to do.  Decide after 20 typos that iPhone is not better than chocolate or sex.

12:45 –     Hungry. Forget for moment what meeting is next.  Check iPhone, which has now redeemed itself.  Field call from daughter about where she can buy molasses in town.

13:02 –     Meet with company representative for upcoming event at chic restaurant overlooking Rhein.  Thank goodness no rain predicted.  Don’t have umbrella.

13:35 –     Very hungry.  Very nice staff.  Very slow staff.  Order second tea. Think of 9 things need to remember to do when meeting done.

14:45 –     Note down 2 things remembered to do, 1 of which was earlier forgotten item.

14:53 –     Good thing have 15:00 hair appointment as rain which wasn’t supposed to arrive has.

15:00 –     Breathe deep.  Breathe deep.  Enjoy scalp massage while hair dresser shares latest exploits concerning feuding customers.

15:55 –     Back home. Give thanks that next hour is free.

16:02 –     Answer phone call from music director of tonight’s show.  Free hour gone with introduction of new song for show.  Breathe deep.  Moment of panic.  Breathe deep.

16:08 –     SMS husband change in dinner plans.  Indian take out.  His treat.  Don’t forget papadams.

16:10 –     Decide wet laundry will dry again now that the sun has returned.

16:11 –     Sing.  Ignore ringing phones and mewling cat. 

17: 25 –    Husband arrives home with Indian, microphone receivers and flowers.  Replaces iPhone for most beloved.

17:26 –     iPhone back on top: no papadams.

17:45 –     Dress and do make-up for performance.  Husband relays that the music director called and said would be doing original song.  Think of 5 words which shouldn’t be written down. 

18:05 –     Laundry still wet. Move rack into the kitchen.  Remember all 5 above words.

18:15 –     Leave with husband for performance venue.  Remember 2 things from earlier.  Breathe deep.  iPhone at home.  Give thanks husband driving. 

18:35 –     Arrive at venue.  All other thoughts from day gone.  Breathe deep.

18:45 –     Dressing room is clean, light and quiet.  Give thanks for small mercies.  Give thanks again when basket of fresh fruit from music director arrives.  Warm up, discuss text with tenor, use bathroom.

19:30 –     Sing. This is what it is all about.

20:45 –     Intermission.  Remember 2 items from earlier to-do list.  Push them out of mind.  Breathe deep. Feeling tired. 

21:00 –     Sing. Forget about being tired.

22:30 –     Change in dressing room.  Wonder if there is time to Facebook when home.

23:00 –     Arrive home.  Warm bath now calling.  Husband fields phone call from daughter about how to remove molasses from shag carpet. 

23:15 –     Soak.  Breathe deep.  Give deep thanks for warm water.

23:50 –     Remember 4 things from earlier list.  Call for husband.  Call again.  Breathe deep. 

00:05 –     Dry off and slip into nightgown.  Wonder if there is time for Facebook.  Decide on bed.

00:15 –     Lights out.  Breathe deep.  Give gratitude for another day.

Among the famous mixing with the upper end of the hoi polloi, Brad Pitt joined us in Basel last night to take a spin around town, I guess and look at the art…amazing art…art-not-to-be-missed art.  http://www.artbasel.com/  

In addition to seeing what’s new, now and wow in the current international scene, the whole ambience and cultural mix is overwhelming and powerful to say the least. 

Very clean, Swiss, business-like security guards greet you and dot themselves at every conceivable point of movement or exchange.  Not surprising considering the value of the art work inside.

Every language fills the air- and you can see everyone from gallery owners wheeling and dealing their clients work, to investors, to magazine vendors and kiosk merchants.  People straight off the street, just curious rub shoulders with very well-heeled and turned out fashionistas from galleries and salons in New York and Paris making themselves felt and their presence known.  Sexy sheiks drape themselves causually over middle eastern pop stars and all amidst this amazing, beautiful, momentous power of human expression. 

There is good art, silly art, new art, questionable art, amazing art- each piece is capable of moving a space inside you and allowing you to view your life and the world with fresh eyes.  The coloured Kewpie dolls did give one pause, as well as the truck tire fountain- but the wall of floating letters, gave such a powerful impression of language and communication, it made up for those pointy doll heads.  

Why am I writing about Art Basel?  Well, in addition to the fact that it’s the biggest art event internationally and it’s happening in my home town this week, I also have the opportunity to participate in a contemporary original piece of live performance art.  I play an aurafelian, this is a person who hears emotions inside their head. Whenever they have a strong emotion, an aurafelian hears a range of sounds in her head that no one else hears.

Two writers represented the Annet Gelink Gallery in Amsterdam http://www.annetgelink.nl have created an original work The Third Story, already performed in New York and Amsterdam, and featured at Art Basel this week.  Bedwyr Williams and Ryan Gander collide human interest stories they originally found on the internet. The actors are “invited” to come and tell their of their unusual stories to the public in a type of organized, free-spirited expression.  We all met today in the gallery and had a great time working and bringing everything to life.  It’s exciting and thrilling- no matter how large or small to work on original pieces with the creators at hand. 

Okay- I’m off to hear those sounds in my head- walking through Art Basel is enough to make my head ring!

Everyone needs to go to Florence. 

In fact, everyone needs to go to Italy.

On a recent trip to check out the art, music and food, I travelled to Florence with my aunt.

It was a great trip- magical and historical.  For the most part we had “gentle adventures”, except for the scary ticket controller on one of the local busses. We held our ground and even the other passengers supported us. Finally the bus driver kicked Mr. Scary off the bus.  Try that in Germany!

  If you’re thinking of travelling to Florence any time soon, check out the apartments through Homelidays: http://www.homelidays.com/  Great affordable deals in the heart of town that will give you a more local feel.

We stayed here and I totally recommend it. http://www.casabaldovini.it/ Valentina has an apartment that is big enough for two couples or a family of four.  Renovated and pretty, it is a fifteen minute walk into town to get to the world’s best gelato and art. 

The terrifying paintings of “The Last Judgment” at the top of the Duomo cupola look eerily like villains from a super hero comic book up close. 

 Michelangelo’s David really is as amazing as people say it is and at Santa Croce you can visit the tombs and memorials of people who strongly impacted all of Western society- unbelievably all in one place- Florence Nightingale, Machiavelli, Galileo, Leonardo Di Vinci, Michelangelo…

Here is the bruschetta we ate while looking over the river Arno- serves 4

450g/1lb ripe tomatoes, chopped

12 thin slices ciabatta or other crusty bread

2 cloves garlic, peeled

15ml/1Tbsp dried oregano

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped to garnish or mix in with the tomatoes

Heat the grill/broiler and toast the bread lightly on both sides. Rub the bread with the garlic cloves, arrange the tomatoes on the toast, sprinkle with olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper and grill until the tomato is just soft, about 3 minutes.  Remove from the grill, sprinkle with chopped basil and serve immediately with a good Chianti.

Buon Appetito!

It’s dreary here in Switzerland.  Living here sounds glamorous, but we get rain one day, snow the next, grey skies and everyone in general walks around looking pretty grumpy. 

So on Saturday night, we are all going dancing.  Well, I’m going singing, but everyone else is dancing.  The Swiss National Lindy-hoppers are having their big competition at the National Hotel in Bern and I’m joining the Uptown Big Band. 

 If you’re in the country, drive on over to Switzerland’s capitol city, Bern! (it’s about an hour from everywhere here!)

After that it’s Viva Italia- I’ll be visiting Milano, Florence, Sorrento and Rome. 

My good friend, Gretchen Strauch, ever imortalized for teaching us how to play Nertz one winter, works at Rick Steves.  She’s passed on tips of what to see and do. 

I’m really looking forward to a creative break and take some time to go through Derek Sivers new video clips of the MIDEM music conference at Cannes.  Pretty amazing interviews. 

Then it’s off to rehearsals in France for some different projects there- one of which is going to be a killer evening of cabaret music with one of my coolest fans and friends, Mark Carroll in April- so stay posted for more details. 

Currently listening to- The Vermont Jazz Ensemble

Take care!

Happy Holidays from all of us here at KateMichaels.com and New Arts Paradigm Gmbh!  We hope you’re able to start your 2009 in a joyful way and look forward to seeing you at some shows next year!

Halloween is finished, Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner. In our town, the trees have fallen and there’s even been some light snow. Even in far off Switzerland, everyone seems aware of the US elections coming up. My musical partner, David Morell and I are getting ready for a super big band concert with The Uptown Big Band at the Kuturhaus in Schofheim, Germany. The Marilyn Monroe Story will swing into the holiday season.

The tinsel of our cabaret show, Gossip, Glitter & Glam, also seems to be making it’s mark for the holiday season, both for Parachute Productions in Zug and Lang Kino in Zürich. We hope to see you here. Blessings and many cuddles to you going into the Northern hemisphere’s winter season.

Are you a show impersonator?

Not often, but every now and then, people ask me to come “be” Marilyn Monroe. So I guess, sometimes, I’m an impersonator, too… or show-double as they call it Europe.

Mostly it’s because of my tribute show – Swinging the Marilyn Monroe Songbook. Sometimes one of my agents or manager will get a call asking if I can don the white dress and prrr out onstage dripping in diamonds and famous one-liners. It’s fun to see how people react. And at the same time is a very displaced feeling – much different than acting in a play.

When I was doing the research for my first request as Marilyn – I was pretty surprised to find out what big business it was being a show-double/impersonator. Do you know how often people are hired to dress up and play other famous people- living and dead?

I’m collecting numbers – if you do this, or know someone who does, write and tell me about it. How did you get started? Do you like it? What’s the funniest time you had doing it? Send me an email from the contact section and I’ll send you a free download of Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.