Can you believe summer is nearly over? Anyhow, I wanted to catch you up on some upcoming performance events, videos I’m working on, a 50 Words film update, and even a look at a fun retro photoshoot! I’m also sharing a little bit of the goings-on of my brilliant parents and Jonathan. [I sat down to write this thinking there was only a few things to go over and 2 hours later it was clear that I need to slow down some day…but until then] read on:
THEATRE ODYSSEY READINGS, Sept 10-13
This week, I’ll be taking part in readings Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with Theatre Odyssey. Essentially, Theatre Odyssey held a one-act playwriting competition for playwrights from across the United States. They selected twelve semi-finalists plays and I’ll be helping bring them to life as I read a number of them this week. Playreadings are a much more casual night at the theatre than a full production but it should be an entertaining evening! Tickets are free but you must reserve them in advance. The festival will be held at Manatee Performing Arts Center on Monday and the Starlite Room Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday(though I won’t be reading on Thursday because I will be doing the next bullet point…). Click here for free tickets.
CULTURE COAST WITH KATHRYN PARKS – New Arts-Inspired Talk Show with the Arts and Cultural Alliance
Click image to watch our first episode!
I am pleased to share with you that I have launched a new talk show with the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County! Twice a month (the second and fourth Thursday) I am interviewing an artist in the community as we broadcast it directly to Facebook Live! Here is the first episode with Jim Shirley and Laura Nielsen, musical theatre actress and 2018 Miss DeSoto Heritage. Tune in this Thursday night at 7:30 where I’ll be interviewing filmmaker KT Curran. We are filming at Mars Vision Productions and my friend, Elise Rodriguez is helping direct. I’d love for you to watch it live and leave a comment as you do but for those of you who can’t, the episodes will live on forever on Facebook (and YouTube)! We need sponsors to help make this homegrown show that supports local arts and culture possible. Email me for rates if you are interested and your company will get some on amazing on-air promo by yours truly! Be sure to LIKE the Arts and Cultural Alliance Page and tune in!
SINGLE-TAKE CHALLENGE – Film Festival, October 4th, 7:30pm
This is a crazy cool film festival hosted by a friend of mine, Mark Troy, who created the group Manasota Films to support local independent filmmakers. I am honored to have been asked to hand out trophies to the winning films! The third-annual Single-Take Challenge celebrates the short, “one-take” film. All films are created specifically for the event, and all are one continuous take – no cuts and no edits. This local festival received entries from filmmakers in 9 countries around the world including Brazil, Singapore, England, and Vancouver, as well as local filmmakers including John Lagerholm who was an executive producer for 50 WORDS! It’ll be a fun night at the Manatee Performing Arts Center celebrating cinema! Tickets are only $5. Buy them here.
Click to view more retro glam photos!
RETRO PHOTOSHOOT
Photographer Michael Rischer and I collaborated on a fun fashion photoshoot featuring yours truly. My favorite thing to do! You can see all our photos – inspired by the fashions of the 1950’s on my website.
50 WORDS
Huge thank you to everyone who helped me bring 50 Words to life! It was a dream to have it premiere at the Sarasota Film Festival. Since then I’m pleased to announce our little film has been making some waves. It was accepted into the Saints and Sinners Film Festival in Orlando. It was also accepted into the Rendezvous Film Festival on Amelia Island. Jonathan and I will be going there later this month! Then, 50 Words was a semi-finalist in the Women Behind Television and Film Festival in Cincinnati, OH! It is still being submitted to other festivals and I’ll keep you posted on any updates. In the meantime, you can like our Facebook Page for updates as they happen. After our film runs through the festival circuit, we’ll make it available for public viewing 🙂
SAUNDERS IN 60
I am so honored to continue to host a monthly video for Michael Saunders & Company about the latest in real estate and lifestyle in our region. I write and produce these as well and you can watch it on our Facebook pageor watch the playlist on our youtube channel.
MUSICAL IMPROV
My performances with Florida Studio Theatre Improv have been awesome and a lot of fun! As part of the Musical Improv and On-Deck casts, this ongoing gig has really been keeping me on my toes! If you want to see us perform, be sure you are following my facebook page where I promote upcoming events. And, I’m very excited to announce we’ll have a run of our fully improvised musical “When X Meets Y” coming up in the winter months!
MY AMAZING PARENTS & PATRA
My parents are very hard at work on the latest rendition of their musical/opera, Patra, about the meeting of Octavian and Cleopatra. Seriously, my mother has been glued to the computer working on the script and lyrics for months and months and months. She’s hoping to do a workshop in the fall/winter so stay tuned for more news there. You can listen to a sampling of songs at this link featuring myself as Cleopatra, Baron Garriott, and singer with the Sarasota Opera, Joseph Ryan, as Octavian.The above picture is from our recording session at First United Methodist. (My mom is in need of some backers so email me for more info!)
RUBINOFF AND HIS VIOLIN
My dear pianist father was arranger for a famous musician and conductor, Rubinoff and His Violin. Rubinoff had a Stradivarius violin and was huge in the era of radio and beyond and performed in concert halls and for presidents and all around the United States. A few months back, there was a tribute concert to Rubinoff in Circleville, OH, where my father was the guest speaker and pianist. You can watch on YouTube his performance of Fiddler on the Roof with violinist, Steven Greenman, or my dad’s pre-show lecture on his experiences with Rubinoff. I was so very proud to go up with my mom and support him!
Click to watch YouTube video
