BITS OF CATCH-UP

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I know I need to get more regular in my blogging, my peeps.  But I’m just running around so much.  So I’m just going to wander a bit, but you know what, it’s my blog.  ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa.
So let’s deal with the fact that I  have been in a helicopter twice since I wrote to you all.  WHAT???!!!  Yes, it’s true.  The first time was Sept. 23. I took some pics to show you. We arrived at the pick-up site which was on the grounds of the Hildebrand Winery and the actual copter (that’s what we professional helicopterers call the helicopter – oh, yeah, I’m very connected) is not very big as you can see.

 

As soon as we arrived, we met our pilot, Ben . . .  who looked 14, which did not build my confidence.  But he was 21 and a very “nice young man”.  Gentle Ben I shall call him henceforth.

Seriously, look at that face.  He still smelled like baby wipes …..and the CBC also sent one of their AM-ER-ZING online team to video and audio and photograph the experience.  Here is Kyle.

And he and the rest of that genius online team put together a vlog of the whole experience of getting me from Niagara-on-the-Lake at 5 to our live-to-the-east-coast taping of the show at 7.… [Continue reading]

HERE’S THE BIG NEWS, FOLKS

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Okay everyone, it was announced today so I can actually tell you about it.  Here is the background for those of you who don’t know.  I’m sure many of you have heard of these TV shows that cast a lead in a major production of a musical. They did it for Nancy in Oliver in the West End, they did it for the Danny and Sandy in the Broadway revival of Grease, they did it for Maria in the Mirvish produced big splashy Sound of Music in Toronto a few years ago.

Well the Canucks will know but perhaps my friends/readers in the U.S. and beyond might not know, but the Mirvish organization is doing it again, this time with their big new production of The Wizard of Oz, which includes new music by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.   They will be casting the role of Dorothy and Toto  on CBC television on Sunday and Monday nights starting on Sept. 16 and culminating in the final night on Nov. 5.
And the big news is: . . . . . . I am one of the judges.  It will be myself, Arlene Phillips (OBE, one of the UK’s most recognizable TV judges) and Louise Pitre (original star of Broadway’s Mamma Mia and one of Canada’s Musical Theatre divas)
I’ve been sitting on this news for a while so it’s nice to get it out and say I’m really, really excited to meet the girls and the pooches and get the ball rolling.… [Continue reading]

ETERNITY

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Oh my children, it has been way too long.  I can’t really say nothing is happening but I can’t say something is happening either.  I can give you a couple of things that are pretty much confirmed for now.
1. I am doing a solo concert on FRIDAY, NOV. 30.  Mark it in your calendars.  It will be at Metropolitan Community Church, 115 Simpson Ave., Toronto.  I’m just working out what it will consist of now.  I’m very excited.  It will be my first big solo gig since being back from Broadway.
2. I am doing a solo Christmas cabaret on SUNDAY, DEC. 16 at Tallulah’s Cabaret at Buddies In Bad Times.  I LOOOVE CHRISTMAS!!  It’s been years since I’ve done a Christmas show.  There will be some familiar songs done in unfamiliar ways.  A special visitor or two.  Some cheer, some camp, some laughs, some surprises. Come on, IT’S CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I hope everyone can come.  I will give more details of where and when as everything gets ironed out.  And if you’re wondering if it’s a lot of the same material in both . . . please, would I do that to you my children?  There may be a couple of tunes in common, but for the most part, they will be two very VERY different evenings.… [Continue reading]

NOT THE NEW NEWS YET – JUST GIDDY

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I’m so excited to have a blog back, I can’t tell you.  I feel like it’s been ages.  I looked this morning to see that my last post was November of last year.  What the “f”? Way too long.

Let’s do a little catch up.  So I finished Priscilla on Jan. 22 and the next day, went on a cruise for 5 days.  AWESOME AND NEEDED!!!

Didn’t get off the ship the first day so a lot of the ship was deserted while people went ashore.  Score!

 

Cozumel

Next three pics are the final morning at sea.  They serve a small intimate brunch . . . for 3000!

 

The last two shots are of the special dining room called the Olympia.  It’s named for the sister ship of the Titanic.  Yeah, it’s the one that didn’t sink.  The dining room is named such because it actually has some of the wood of the original Olympia (or is it the Olympic ??  Oh well, I’m not the Encyclopedia Britannia – look it up if you’re so interested; Jeez!!)

 

After I got back, I came back to Toronto on Jan. 30. Weird to be back but good.  It was the first time I’d been in TO since had left almost 1 year ago. … [Continue reading]