Is It Possible to Have Too Much Fun?

July 18, 2013

Summer is in full swing, and there's so much goodness to update you on.

First, an upcoming chance to see a wonderful performance I am happy to be part of:

Shakespeare in the Park
Public Works' The Tempest
Friday through Sunday, September 6-8, 2013 (time TBA)
Free

I'll be singing with a select group from The Middle Church Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir in the community theatrical event, The Tempest.

In 1916, a community theatrical event entitled Caliban by the Yellow Sands with Shakespeare’s The Tempest as the inspiration, took place at the stadium at City College in New York. The intent was to unite New Yorkers of all classes and all beliefs, and the production featured some of the best-known professional actors of the day alongside 1,500 community members who participated in a series of pageant and dance interludes, and was a great success.

Inspired by this extraordinary community event, The Public Theater will produce a 21st century version of this event in September for free at the Delacorte Theater with our community partners as well as guest performers and professional actors.

Tickets are free, so come out and enjoy a special night of theatre under the stars!

Several weekends ago, I had the great pleasure of spending a morning with Mac McAnally, the legendary country singer-songwriter, musician, and producer. We talked music and I played him a few of my songs. Lincoln was smitten as soon as he walked in the door; as you can see from this photo, he didn't want to let Mac out of his sight!

I've also played a few non-traditional gigs recently. At the end of June, I sang with the Middle Collegiate Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir as we rode on the Churches’ float in the PRIDE Parade in NYC!

This past weekend, I had a blast singing in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, first at my high school reunion where we had arranged for me to sing a few songs with The Mother Dudes and then exit, stage left, back to my table for 10 and my white wine…but guitarist Phil (Shumacher) asked me to stay up there and help ‘em out with more music, and I'm really glad he did! Is it possible to have too much fun? We were singing and playing until the club started packing up the black and gold napkins and streamers and kicked us out GOODBYE!

On Sunday morning, I sang at the very beautiful and acoustically pristine First Plymouth Church, something my big brother arranged for me to do. Thanks Lowell! All in all a great visit back to the Midwest!

“We are the Knights of Southeast” - Susan Stover, Kevin Moore and me!

On the listening side of things, Mike and I spent some time in the beautiful Rocky Mountains for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

We heard some outstanding music, including The Punch Brothers, Masters of Bluegrass, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Sam Bush, Lake Street Dive, and Sarah Jarosz.

Deborah and Sarah outside the Workshop Stage at Elks Park in Telluride

Up here I feel like a Colorado songbird. It’s a slice of heaven on earth!

Next up, I head to my home away from home -- Puget Sound Guitar Workshop!

More music and mischief making with my pals from camp.

I'll have more photos to share with you when I return.

Hope the summer is treating you deliciously,

Much love,

xxx

Deborah