Things that make me ....

So, someone sent me something this morning...I do enjoy receiving the interesting info and emails that get sent to me as people are picking up on my penchant (yeah, I said it...penchant...someone says it in 'The Princess and the Handmaiden' ...the show I am in tech for right now and I like to recycle good words...ever increasing my word potential past swears and cusses...though I love those...this is the longest brackets ever) on my PENCHANT for the exciting, infuriating and funny...
Someone sent me a link to a website that extolls the virtues of two people in the entertainment business who have moved from Toronto to New York in the last 10 years.
They have enjoyed, and worked for, amazing success in NY.
That was not the reason the link was sent to me.
It was sent because they have commented on their blog about the debacle, craziness and sadness that surrounds the Garth Drabinsky trial...
Which I have also commented on...he employed me for 4 years on and off...and helped to create some of the biggest breaks I had in my early twenties. I don't think that stealing is right but...he was a titan here...and he loved theatre.
This blog wrote pretty much the same thing....again, not the reason the link was sent.
The thing that my email-er...is that a word?...took umbrage at....umbrage to....using a new word is hard....anyhow...the thing that pissed my emailer off....see the cusses work just as well....was the following comment about Garth and theatre in Toronto...
"Quite simply, Toronto theatre was not as good before...and certainly has not been as good since..."
Hmm.
It sat it their craw enough that they finally sent it to me...and now it has been crawling around inside my head. (See what I did there?)
And it made me think.
I am all thinking...
"Yes, theatre in Toronto has been beat around something fierce in the last few years...."
"Big theatre in Toronto has gone the way of popular juke box musicals...but who am I to judge what people like?"
Then I got mad.
Then my ever favourite listing started.
1. Toronto NEVER had a big contemporary musical theatre scene until Garth it is true but he has left a legacy here... he spurred young people to come out of schools and from across the country and to create exciting companies like Acting Up Stage (the musical theatre company run by Mitchell Marcus that not only produces theatre and cabaret, but teaches young people about contemporary musical theatre), the new Ghostlight Productions that had the idea to produce TWO contemporary musicals in rep and use one to sell the other! People are self producing their stuff ALL OVER the place...instead of waiting to be cast or produced....Garth helped create a city of self promoters and producers.
In TORONTO!
2. Scriptlab...spearheaded by the ever patriotic Jim Betts has been giving young writers and composers (and older) a place to meet, work and feature their pieces for a long while. Also giving young performers a place to do the same....and all learn. Jim Betts also produced a music book and an accompanying CD of Canadian Musical Theatre songs called Field of Stars...people now more than EVER come into auditions with Canadian content...it is funny...people used to ask for a Canadian monologue but could never really ask for a Canadian song...now they can.
In TORONTO!
3. Some of the best new young composers are working there shit out here with help and support from companies like Canstage, Acting Up, Scriptlab, Sheridan College, The Stratford and Shaw Festivals....Reza Jacobs, Jonathon Monro and Zachary Florence to name a few...
4. Independant Toronto producers like Derrick Chua and Micheal Rubinoff continue to find new and interesting projects to do...they both support our community and proudly travel our Canadian message abroad as they both branch out into the world at large. (I don't quite know what our message is....but you get the gyst.) There are many more new and upcoming Toronto producers out there doing there thing and starting their journey's !
5.The Toronto Fringe Festival ...Drowsy Chaperone.... The most exciting Toronto export since....well, you can't count Showboat...not Canadian...Ragtime...not Canadian....and DC won TONY's BABY! And started at the freakin' Toronto Fringe Festival! My Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding ....musical also started at Toronto Fringe Festival and transfered to the Mirvish season...we NEVER had independantly produced Canadian musicals making such a splash EVER!!!
IN TORONTO ...and then the world.
And my friends.... that is just a few things that I can come up with!!!
Maybe you can help me think of more....
Me wonders...do these NY/Toronto transports even KNOW what is going on in our scene...well, maybe they should come and see!!
There is some great, inspiring, inspired, innovative, creative, audacious, hilarious, moving Canadian stuff being done up here...In TORONTO!!!
Please add to my list!
Support our Canadian Musical Scene!

George's Food Quest. Reactions by Sharron.

Heard in the Matthews-Masswohl kitchen this morning.....
Masswohl "Are you really tasting that....or are you just making tasting sounds behind me?"
Matthews "(lip smacking sounds cease)"

Saturday, Laptop and Aretha!

Hey All of you people.....How are you this fine Saturday morning?
I am better than I could be...let me tell YOU what!!
It is a miracle that this effing computer....the one I love more than my first knock off walkman...is even WORKING!
What a day I had...I was rehearsing the musical theatre...and ya know when you just have a day when you CANNOT find a character, a singing voice or talent....well, all those things just eluded me and I was fucking mad and George was trying to calm my high maintenance ass down on the way home....I had some errands to run and stuff to do and lines to learn....world to save....ya know...just the basics...and George said " You go an take a half hour by yourself and I will do all these things for you..."
Well, who could ask for anything more...but I still felt like maybe I should go with him to help with the things and all but he insisted I stay home.
So, I was in my quiet home...now termite free and floor refinished...I made a cup of tea and went and sat down and my trusted and loved computer ( how can you tell I am rehearsing a fairytale....wow...it is early for me...I almost spelled that ferry) put the tea down and powered up...went straight to facebook to lurk...and then picked up my tea..which had some condensation on the bottom of the cup...it stuck to the table and then as my hand slipped free...it turned and splashed ALL OVER MY PURPLE LAPTOP THAT I LOVE MORE THAN IS APPROPRIATE!
Never a over reactor I started screaming and crying and turning it upside down and looking for a cloth and wiping at it....then, still crying, I ran to find the hair dryer...it was all dry...on the outside...and it WOULD NOT turn on.
George was so happy when he got home.
Now, not only could I not find a character, a voice or talent AND my entire business was filled with decaffinated green tea.
What would happen?
We went to Patty Zee's house for dinner....lucky her, right? And she googled the problem and told me to resist temptation and NOT turn it on for a whole day.
I did it...I waited...I didn't want to turn it on at all....because the longer I waited the longer there was still hope for a happy ending ( again, fairytale...now I almost spelled THAT word tail).
But after rehearsing yesterday...a day where I ALMOST found a purpose, a voice and my lines...I went home...and stood in front of it....and looked at George...who was clearly looking pinched...and I put my pointing finger...you may call it index...but I use that finger more for pointing than indexing, hence the title...I put my pointing finger on the magic button...and it made the special MAC sound....the fancy WAH....and I almost fainted...there seems to be only one small glitch, I may have fried the battery, because the screen goes of when it is unplugged...but I can get that fixed.
Someone likes me...not enough to not have it happen in the first place...but they like me a bit, at least...I will take it...maybe they are opposed to my potty mouth.
Fuck it.

After I made my computer work I went to see Aretha Franklin with a group of WONDERFUL and slightly naughty ladies..yup I said it ...these are ladies who frequented Sharron's Party and have become friends....which is lucky because one of them got squirted in the face with Shoshana's breast milk at the Party...nuff said...one of these wonderful ladies had bought me a ticktet to go with them...how fantastic and just....well, just plain nice.
Aretha was amazing...I didn't know she could still sing like that... had a couple of fave moments....
1. Just before she came onstage....a stage that was filled with a tuxedo'd 20 piece band with back up singers...a tall young man brought her leopard print slouch purse onstage and put it under the piano...the grand piano...then I remembered that she always gets paid in cash before a show...once her whole entourage was at a theatre waiting on the buses...the theatre owner told her he had a cheque and she got back on the bus and went home...the same guy came out after her encore and picked up said purse.
2. She sang "As if We'd Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard...it was Amazing!!!
3. She sang the CRAP OUTTA "THINK"....
4. She was wearing a watch with her million dollar dress....
5. She had a host of people onstage who saw to her EVERY move...
6. Those ladies and I danced through the whole show....much to the chagrin of those around us.
SHE IS THE EFFING QUEEN OF SOUL!
I cried...I could not believe I was there...I thank you Lady....I won't put her name down here...but I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

The Christoppher Skinner Vigil

Firstly, I would like to thank the arrangers of the vigil tonight for Chris Skinner. It was beautiful and peaceful...and well maintained...I know that sounds all weird...but the police presence was just enough that we all felt safe and taken care of.
I met a couple dear friends early so that we could walk together...when we sat down to dinner I started to feel sick to my stomach....I got anxious and a bit scared...and I could not specifically figure out the why.
Ever since yesterday I couldn't get the image of Chris's broken glasses laying on the street out of my head...it played right at the end of a news reel. Of all the footage...even of him walking along the street oblivious to what was to occur...the broken glasses bothered me the most.
The lack of a person to go with them.
I have seen him in those glasses.
I didn't know what to expect as we walked to Church and Wellesley.
But when we got there...I just felt quiet....there were many people there.
Someone handed out candles...we ran into more people we knew...a fellow I knew drove from Stratford to be a part of it, lots of dear young people...and older people...with babies and dogs..basically people from every walk of life... there
to celebrate a life.
A man named Matt got on a mega phone and said a lovely speech and then he asked us to raise our candles...and look up to the sky...not down for a moment of silence... and then....my phone rang...of all the times during my shows I have yelled at people...I just fumbled...and cursed myself...and then...I realized it wasn't mine.
Thank you.
Then we began to walk...from Church and Wellesley to Adelaide and Victoria....the place where he was killed. I say it true...I don't want to soften it. His life was taken there.
The walk was something to behold.
It was at least 1200 people...walking down the southbound lanes of Church...the streets were lined with people just standing and watching...it was so still and quiet..every once in a while there would be a burst of laughter...and it felt right...and the young man I walked with asked me how I knew Skinner...and then we talked about the very small portion of his life that I was lucky enough to share...and it was shared during very festive situations...so it was heightened and funny and fabulous...and we also laughed...and I felt like part of him was there.
When the line made the turn at Queen Street we could begin to see the magnitude of the gathering...it was stunning. It made me cry.
And when we got to the corner...of Victoria and Adelaide...we all stopped and held our candles high...and had silence...and young woman stood on a newspaper box and hung this sign over the corner...

And everyone just stayed...just waited...and then we all filed to the corner and left our candle...and there was a big banner with pens and pencils to leave a message.
As I looked around there was a man standing by himself wrapped in a beautiful rainbow quilt...he took a deep breath and with the greatest reverence took it off and folded it neatly and put it into a bag...slung it over his shoulder and walked to the subway.
I wondered how many times he had done that.
Too many, my guess.
We will not tolerate hate or violence.
With peace, respect and love we walked tonight.

Days, Dogs and the search...and the vigil...

I know that you all think I am lordy for these dogs. Well, I am. No doubt.
I am laying in bed after having one of the longest days of my life and George had to go let in the workmen to our home early this morning (yes, we are still in a rental due to the effing termite invasion, but we are close to going back....thank god...godess or universe.) so I slept in. I got home at one million o'clock last night and G was asleep (too tired to type out full name of husband...he knows I know his name) and, again, the day had been so long that I needed a glass of wine. Side bar....in an effort to get back to fitness, I have given up everything I love except wine...I am unwilling to give up to booze now that I have found it again...now...don't be thinking I have a problem or anything...I don't. I don't encourage drinking...but I say 'do what you wanna'.
I laid myself into a 'one glass of wine' sleep, I vaguely remember G kissing me this morning and telling me he had to go...me saying 'lurv u and blergy do'....well, that is what it sounded like in my head anyway...after the exchange I went promptly back to sleep.
When I woke again and peered over the side of the bed...there they were. No questions, no answers...just puppy love...they were waiting...ever so patiently...thanks pups.
As I said it was a long day yesterday...and I am thankful for it. It scrubbed my brain out a bit...my brain needed a change of direction...if only for one day. I woke up yesterday morning at 7:00am to put on my hairpiece. Yup....that early for styling and image...because I went to host the Contact Conference up in Richmond Hill...which is far, just for your info...less far when you are sharing a car with the laughter inducing Wayne Gwillim.
But as I got my hairpiece done...I checked my email...and , thankfully and sadly, found numerous emails from friends and strangers regarding Christopher Skinner. The outpouring of grief and disbelief not only continues...as well it will and should...and it is fanning out over the entire world.
I received messages from as far as London, England.
His funeral and memorial were the day before in Uxbridge...I had wanted to attend but could not.
There was a new article in the Toronto Star yesterday morning with a video attached about the memorial... hundreds of people were there.
The video...though it has an add attached at the beginning, shame...plays the SUV in question, filled with killers speeding through a light... on a loop....I watched it 10 times...I didn't recognize anything but I just couldn't believe that this car contained humans who would (or had) committed such a horrible act.
They are searching....and I believe wholeheartedly that they will find these people.
And with that thought I went to Richmond Hill.
I started working and hosting at 11:00am-ish and walked out of the building at 11:00pm...with a break in the middle where I drove to the Sheraton and talked to presenters...
Oh, let me tell you...Contact is the yearly Conference where the presenters from theatres all over Ontario get together and see acts to book in their theatres for the next year....it is three days long and they see a TON of stuff....I hosted and presented some of 'Sharron's Big Broadway Show'....it went well, I had a good time... no one is meant to wear heels for 12 hours....there were 6 acts including mine during the day...they all had 25 minutes each to show their stuff....and in the evening there was a wopping 8....plus me....9.
There was some amazing talent...A fabulous afro cuban jewish band named Odessa/Havana...a 19 blues phenom named Keith Hallett...I was happy to be an entertainer.
THIS IS WHERE THE REST OF SUNDAY HAPPENED AFTER I WROTE THIS PORTION OF THE BLOG>>>I rehearsed with my new band, I walked the dogs, I watched Grey's Anatomy on PVR....I pondered publishing the blog.
I felt weird writing a blog about normal stuff....so I saved it to draft...now here I lay on Sunday morning...still feeling strange and dark about how life moves on and the world keeps spinning.
Last night I watched two days worth of news on the computer...and was again shocked and laid low.
Christopher Skinners' parents...so brave...so young...they looked like they are mine and George's age...you picture parents being so much older. They spoke so well in interviews...I thought they were very brave and honest.
Then I saw the new footage of Skinner walking down the street...
You want to reach in and grab him...
I wanted to turn it off....I wanted....everything to be different...for a cab to pick him up...for him still to be living at his old place so he wouldn't be in that area...for him to have stopped somewhere and made a phone call...
It is absolutely horrible to watch someones fate to unfold on a security camera...to watch him walk out of frame and then in a few seconds watch the traffic slow.
Seconds.
To hear how fast and cold the attack was...30 seconds.
And then the camera panned to a shot of his broken glasses on the ground and tmy heart stopped.
What the fuck has happened here?
How can this be true?
How can all this horrible info and truth be mixed into a "normal" day?
We can't forget...we live...but we cannot forget....
I feel that the search is on in a serious way.
I believe the killers...the murders...they keep calling it a "Hit and Run" which I find offensive....it was a murder....I believe the killers will be found and found soon.
Then they will face the world.
The vigil is tonight at 8:00pm at the corner of Church and Wellesley....
There will be a city full of people who will peacefully and with great respect say no to senseless violence.

The days after...What do we do now?

I am still just in a quiet shock.
My Sister said after our dad died, the hardest day was not the day he died but the days after. When everything was supposed to be “back to normal”.
“People don’t want to dwell in that place for too long, it might be catchy.”
That is pretty much exactly what she said...and it was, and is, quite true.
The world doesn’t like to be sad or reminded of horrible things for too long.
Understandable, but...
I keep feeling like I should feel a bit better today but I don’t.
I have received a staggering response to the article, and subsequent note, that I put up on my page on facebook.
There are emails, phone calls and messages.
The reason I feel like I should feel better is...I feel like it is not mine to feel bad about...yes, I said feel four times..but I could not think of better words to put there. Skinner wasn’t someone that was in my life everyday or every week...his friendship was casual...but when he was present there was absolutely no missing him. But still it felt wrong for people to say they felt badly for me.
But when I read through the emails there were reoccurring themes... “I don’t know you Sharron..”, “I didn’t know Christopher...”, “I knew Chris a little...” and they all felt compelled to write....something...to express their anger, their fears and sadness over a senseless murder. And everyone expressed to me, one way or the other, that they didn’t feel like they had the right to say anything.
But when something this black happens I think it is our right and our duty to examine how it affects our lives and our world...to see how we are all connected because, as my friend Kat just said to me... “He was just taken. Stolen”
And it is not to be put away so that the world can feel comfortable.
Below you will find some of the things that were sent to me...I can’t believe how many people we knew in common, how many lives he has touched, and the footprint he has left.
I have left them all anonymous except for the last one...it just...well...
I thank everyone for their words and I want to express my great sorrow to all of you at the loss of Christopher Skinner.

“I went to high school with Chris. We were not close but I am so disturbed by this that I have been brought to tears several times throughout the day and cannot release it from my mind..”


“Chris: I commit to you that I will not let this get swept under the carpet and that the police statement of “No, there’s not at all any indication that there were homophobic elements to the attack,” says Det Stacey Gallant." will not stand. What a world we live in.”

“Only hate could do this. The why of hate can never be allowed to mitigate the fact that the act itself is nothing but hate.”

“Skinner and i worked together when i first moved to toronto. he was one of the very first people i met when i came here from halifax. he was awesome and kind and funny and authentic.”

“ The scream in my soul is bigger than my voice.”

“I loved going to your shows with Chris. He always cracked me up, and I'm sure everyone else in the room as well, with his big boisterous voice that would answer every rhetorical and sing along with every song. He was taken from us and even though I'm sure the person who did this will be caught, it will never bring him back. My heart is breaking.”

“Skinner was the kind of person who you didn't have to know well to see just how incredible he was. He could light up a room with a hint of a smile. If anyone knows anything at all, please come forward.”

“Only bullies commit horrible acts of this nature. To dehumanize another human being to the point that they mean absolutely nothing to you takes years of practice. The(se) murderer(s) have/has committed other past atrocities and Christopher was the culmination of their misguided beliefs. Stop them before it happens again.”

“I saw your post about this young man on Thom's wall and I, like you, have been so angry since the moment I heard about what happened to him. I didn't know Christopher but feel as though I did.”

“I find it strange that I could be so upset and mourn for someone I knew from a distance . . . and maybe because of the circumstances behind his passing . . . but the shock and anger is very real and resonant. It's hard to imagine that such a thing could happen in a city such as this or even a country considered so accepting...and yet here we are. I think the outpouring of grief for Chris from his loved ones and those distantly associated not only speaks for his character but for the general public at large.”

“Every time that I leave the house to walk the dog I judge every SUV and feel like I can hear people crying instead of the usual chatter that I am familiar with.
I saw your post, and although each article is terrifying to read I am thankful for the response you have turned up. He deserves every single person to think of him, because every single person he met was touched so much.”

“I do remember him from your final Sharron's Party show -- sitting on the stairs at Buddies, shouting "ONE MORE SONG!" -- and I can't imagine the depth of loss his family and friends are experiencing.”

“I can't believe the news... I just read your note and I am sitting here in absolute shock right now, Sharron... I took a course with Chris back in high school, a musical theatre course, and that week gave me two things: my lifelong love of musical theatre, and the courage to be myself thanks to meeting Chris, who was comfortable with his sexuality even in grade 11. He never knew it, but I came back from that week and came out to my best friend, and my life and who I am today started from that point. I have always remembered him for being the first gay guy who was comfortable with himself and just a nice, cool, normal guy, and who made me believe that I was genuinely OK. Fuck, I can't believe it... I had always hoped to run into him again some time to tell him that story. This is fucking devastating news.” Signed, Jonathan Tan

Christopher Skinner...One more song.

I am mad and sad and confused and in a state of disbelief. Mostly I am fucking angry. I was away from Toronto for a week without a TV so when I received a email message about "horrible news" this morning my heart began to beat faster.
I could not even guess at the utter blackness of that news.
Christopher Skinner, a young man who had become a friend of mine through my shows and through a mutual friend had been murdered.
Murdered.
I can't believe it as I spell it.
I am so fucking mad I could do something violent.
I left my house soon after I heard "the news" to go to an audition and every face I walked by looked guilty to me....guilty for not being sad and guilty for not understanding what had happened in the world...and just maybe guilty of the crime...guilty because the world keeps turning.
I found an article online at Xtra and posted it on my Facebook page and the outpouring of emotion was staggering...people cried and screamed and railed and wondered. It was reposted...it was spoken about by others...people talked about choices...others talked about not choosing...others still just poured out their hearts and minds.
People who didn't know him...now knew him...and for the worst possible reason.

I met Skinner for the first time, and he will always be Skinner to me because that is how we were introduced, at my show at the Gladstone. He sat right next to the stage and talked to me...onstage...all night...he was so thrilled to be there...and myself...always adoring a challenge and the love of a great audience member...was thrilled to have him. He is known by my constant supporters as the guy who always yelled out "One More Song!!!"...even after I had done three encores. How can you not love that? At my very last party in June at Buddies in Bad Times he yelled out his standard "One more song!"...and after two songs I had to call it...and then as I walked off the stage he was standing in front of me, smiling and he whispered right into my face..."I will always ask for one more song."

We were just in the process of becoming spin buddies and coffee talkers. They were just little normal things. But I still feel robbed. I can only imagine how his closest friends, his fiance and his family feel.
I received an email from a friend who works in the club district who informed me that the police were looking at their surveillance tapes and said... "I've dealt with the police on other things that have gone down in this neighbourhood and I've never seen them take anything as seriously as this."
It is a comfort.

Cold comfort.
Someone said that the police didn't know if it was a hate crime.
Is it a hate crime?....well, let me see...he was alone...he was beaten almost to death...and then run over by a car.
Yes, it was a hate crime.
It doesn't matter how he was created...or what his sexual orientation was...that is beyond the point.
He was now "horrible news"
There are people who are probably sitting in the comfort of a warm home, quite possibly with a loving family and living with the truth that they killed a stranger...another human being...someone who was alone and vulnerable to violence.
I hope that their black, black souls are rotting with that truth right now.

Britney, Boo and Myself on a Scottish Adventure

This time last year I was in Scotland. The is a kirkyard....or is it kirk...people, it is a cemetary in Edinburgh that we came back to later that night and paid to have ourselves made nauseous due to stories about torture and then have the shit scared out of us while we crouched in a fucking mausoleum...in the pitch dark...one girl from Wales was so terrified she cried and held my hand the whole time.
Ah...good times.
I LOVED that trip so much.
I saw so many beautiful places.
I went on one big adventure.
And in honour of that adventure I am reposting a story that I recently rewrote for a grant application.

Britney, Boo and Myself on a Scottish Adventure
by Sharron Matthews (and as usual, these stories are also lived through by Sharron Matthews

So, there I was in this quaint little fishing town in western Scotland...near the Isle of Bute...I don’t care how juvenile it sounds...that words sounds like...looks like...Butt...and reminds me of a movie that I saw at my friend Thom’s house called ‘Lust in the Dust’ starring Tab Hunter, Divine and Lanie Kazan...in which you see that word...Bute...tattooed on Lanie Kazan’s stunt ass...she had a stunt ass... if you don’t know what I mean...or believe it, watch the movie. I digressed...already... So, there I was in Tarbert, Scotland, at a pink hotel...when two ‘bear’ type males walked into the dining room during dinner and winked at me...I knew it was a gay friendly hotel....the fact that it was painted PINK should have been my clue.....I love that I can travel thousands of miles and still find a fan base. The hotel is near Tarbert Castle, home of...ready for it?...Robert the Bruce...I know of him because of...Braveheart...with that Mel Gibson...now Mel may be a bigoted, short, racist, anti-Semitic bastard...but he made a good movie. Remember Robert the Bruce was portrayed by that dishy Angus Macfayden....I don’t know why his career never took off...he did the Braveheart movie and then then next thing I saw him in was the ‘Ya Ya Sisterhood’ movie with that Sandra Bullock...who I love...judge me as you will. I wonder if Angus thinks that Gerrard Butler got his career,,,,maybe there was only room for one scottish dude....Gerrard is scottish, right?....or is he Irish? HEY! Did you know that the Scottish descended from the Irish in about 300AD??? REALLY!!! Do NOT bring it up in conversation over there.... WHAT THE EFF WAS I TALKING ABOUT???!!! (Underscore with random scottish music) Oh ya...Tarbert Castle...very cool...a bit of a ruin and I COULD not wait to get up there to it! Because I am a bit of a castle whore. Now my husband George had been sick since we arrived...he got the pleurisy from the hacking dude who sat beside me on the plane...we sat down and the dude started to cough and I turned to George with a pursed mouth. But I didn’t get sick...just poor Georgie... I was so sad for him...I want to help make him feel better...But I also want to climb around the hills...like in the Sound of Music...but Scottish. I go off to the chemist...the chemist...to get cold medicine for Georgie. And while I walked through the town with my paper sack of stuff I stared at the castle up on the hill....the city is surrounded by hills....mountains...the Scottish call them burns.....I wanted to see that damned castle....I asked George if he minded if I went....as he lay in bed looking like death....handsome...but still death warmed..... “Hack, cough...no honey...you go...hack, cough” “No I couldn’t...” ( I run out the door) I had never been across the ocean...or by myself across the ocean. I wanted to go on a solo adventure. Now if you have not been there...everything is a freaking climb in Scotland...to anything...wanna scone?...climb that hill. I make it up the effing hill to the ruins of the castle and I am taking one hundred pictures...I heard a rumble behind me...I turned very quickly...and a stag runs by me...not 80 guys...but a stag...with antlers...it stopped and looked at me...and I tried very slowly to raise my camera but it mistook my camera for a gun or some such thing and took off. So, I looked at the informational flyer that someone I couldn’t understand gave me and I planned a short 45 minute walk...now let me mention right here...I didn’t see another living soul on the whole hike... and it was straight...UP. I found myself wishing that I had Lanie Kazans stunt ass. But I was brave....I was a warrior. I had to keep pretending to look at crap from my pocket so that I could stop and take a breath the first 15 minutes...then 30 minutes...and I am still going up...I should have turned around by now...it became apparent at this point that I had followed the wrong path...not the 45 minute walk...but the 2 hour hike...and let me say here...that I had not yet seen another human...
( actual picture from said adventure...taken just in case they found my corpse)
As I continue further and further into the mountains the inner scary movie voice starts having a dialogue... "SSSHHHAAARRROOONNNN...maybe you are going the wrong way...and you haven’t seen anyone since you began...’ Well...so what...it is October...not too many people on vacation. ‘SHHHAARRROONNN...what if someone is following you on this path..’ Shut it!!! ‘SSSSHHHHAAARRROOONNNN...what if you fall and break one of your weak ankles?...’ Why did you have to bring that up??? Not only are you the scary voice but you are bad for my self confidence. ‘SSSHHHHAAARRROOOONNNN...be afraid...’ I am brave. I am a warrior. And then my inner scary voice, whom I shall call Boo...got all mixed up with my own, calm...mostly logical voice and with the voice of Britney Spears...and to remind you, she comes to me telepathically when I need guidance. ( Underscore with Britney or Britney-esque type music) Britney: Girl you are a grown up woman who has gone on MANY hikes and been away from home. Me and Boo: You are right Britney! I have my puffer...I have money and my passport in case, again, my body need to be identified...SHUT UP... Britney: Y’all you are strong... Me and Boo: and I have no water or food...THERE ARE 100 STREAMS TO DRINK FROM ASSHOLE... No cell phone...not that you would get a signal...PLEASE...HEY I HAVE MY IPOD... Britney: That is good thinking girl. An Ipod is a great physical instrument to defend yourself with.... Me and Boo: What am I gonna do with an Ipod, Brit? Britney: Make them listen to Avril Lavigne. Y’all I hate that bitch. That Britney is so witty. I pulled out my ipod...charged, thank god. And I put in an ear phone....just one...the right one in case I am going to be attacked.......and push play......Girlicious’ hit ‘Like Me’ starts blaring.... Suck it scary voice....and my scary voice is lulled by the slutty girls singing. Somewhere during this time period I step in a bog.....a real bog....the path has been wet and my shoes are waterproof to a point....the point it is a bog and Iose my shoe...I have to go in pull it out...while holding one foot in the air. By the time I reach an hour and fifteen minutes....I start to worry....I don’t know where I am....I feel that the path should have really turned....the sky is stormy and I pull the map and in the bottom corner it comments on how the weather turns fast in the burns......so take the appropriate supplies....and read the map, ass. I take the time to look closer at the map...I see where I might be if I am on the 2 hour walk.....and where I would be if I am on the five hour walk ending in the town of Clacken. FIVE HOUR WALK!!! Britney: Oh Sharron girl...even I can read better than that! ME: Shut it! Not now Britney! I try to picture the phone call to George....“ Baby, Can you come pick me up in Clacken....” Isn’t that a great name... I turn a forest corner...and there is a very old foundation for a house or fort of some kind....there is nothing about it on the map....but it is very cool....I use the word cool because there are no exact words for how...cool it really is...I discovered something on my brave warrior adventure...just me...and it was worth it to be a bit afraid....so I track off the path and walk through the bracken into the foundation...and the sun comes out....no shit. But still I feel fucking awesome! And I sit down and have the piece of mind to really scan the map and figure out where I am....I am about 45 minutes from the end...I can do that...I am fucking on fire...I am brave...I am a warrior. I start to walk up the path as ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ begins to play in my right ear.... Wait a minute...what if I have walked into a time corridor like Brigadoon...and have travelled into the past? Sharron, get it together. What if George thinks I am dead?? Which is more likely... Oh here is a thing....what if I think good thoughts???!!! As I come to a rise I peer over I see Tarbert ...and I yell so loud, I scare myself and trip over a rock and almost break my right weak ankle. When I get near the castle the first human I see is this effing huge black and white dog....he sees me and starts to bound for me..... and someone screams...... “SHEAS!”...which I have since found out means sit...or stop....in gaelic...and I think a monster scottish dude is coming over the hill.....an it turns out being the tiniest wizened man I have ever seen....on a cellphone....and he hooks up his dog and turns a suspicious eye my way as he passes....but eff him....even he can’t spoil my high!!!! I made it..... Alone....

Sharron's Canwest Cabaret Pics...plus Shakespeare and song swans.

Hey People!!
What a beautiful Saturday here in the land of swans and Shakespeare....for your information...those effin' swans are mean! They will hiss at your 120 pound dog if it comes too close...bitches...and the Shakespeare...I find a bit confusing....but I digress..
What a fabulous time I have had on my little 10 day holiday...working holiday...but holiday all the same!
The weather, while crisp, has been fabulous...I didn't bring my winter coat and it was just above zero last night....DID I MENTION THAT IT IS THE MIDDLE OF EFFING OCTOBER?
Mother Nature is just a bitch.
But I have been going out for drinks and dinner....staying up late....
And going to see shows!
I saw Forum!
What a riot!
And I use that word in the most positive and fabulous of ways!!!
At one point I looked at the stage featuring Dan Chameroy, Sean Cullen and Deanne DeGruitter and thought...
"Well, that is just Bad News Bears!"
I laughed my shit off.
What a great, fun show!
And fabu Randy Hughson was effing awesome...looking like he was having the time of his life!!!!
Yeah!
We love musicals.
I also went to see Steve Ross in Cyrano...I haven't seen him work in forever !
Yes people....I went to a play!
What the eff?
He and Wayne Best, and Mike Shara....doing such fine work!!
That was enough for shows as I had work to do people!
Sending out packages, making posters, writing things, sending emails, checking Facebook...
Getting ready for the

CANWEST CABARET FESTIVAL!!!
Oh...so excited!
I am loving my set list...and cannot wait to work with the band next week!
One of my blog readers and show goers wrote me and asked me about some of the people I would go see at the Canwest...
Well, it really is an incredible line up...there are 150 performers...60 concerts...some of the artists I know, some I have heard of...and some are new to me.
I know that Albert and his team put alot of work and time into picking the artists so I am sure they will ALL be great!
But for sweet Kathy, here are a couple of my pics for the 4 day CABARET celebration!!

Sharron's Canwest Pics 2009!

Sharron Matthews and The Panik Attack
I would not be me if I didn't remind you that I am finally getting A BAND!!! The band is led by that upstart, coming fresh from his first season of composing and working at the Shaw Festival...Reza Jacobs.
I am featuring a new songologue!!
WOO WOO!
It is the LAST cabaret that I have booked so don't miss it!
October 30th @ 8:45pm


The Joni Mitchell Songbook
I always think the songbooks are such a bargain. I love Joni and you will see a bunch of fabu artists...some who you may not know...I think the line up is pretty stellar...including Heather Bambrick, David Sereda, and Denzal Sinclaire
October 29th @ 9:45pm and October 31st @ 5:00pm


Molly Johnson
Molly Johnson for $20.
I need say no more.
October 29th @ 8:30pm


The Leonard Cohen Songbook
Love the man and his music....great interpreters ...including Brent Carver, I mean really. He sang "Take This Waltz" at Sharron's Party and literally stopped the show.
October 30th @ 7:15pm and October 31st @ 8:00pm

The Rogers and Hart Songbook
LOVE Rogers and Hart!
They wrote "My Funny Valentine" for eff's sake!!!
And it is musically directed and features a Canadian institution ...John Alcorn!!!
It features many other artists including the acclaimed Denzal Sinclaire and is hosted by National Post reviewer Robert Cushman...who delighted and surprised when he guested on ...ya I know...Sharron's Party!
October 30th @ 10:00pm & October 31st @ 2:15pm


Brent Carver
The first cabaret of his that I saw at Premier Dance Theatre back in the 90's changed my life forever.
He is one of my idols and we are so lucky he is doing a concert.
Run.
Don't walk people!
October 31st @ 3:45pm

Patricia Zentilli and Patti Loach:
Shopping Cart of Love
I love these two artists!
I have followed them from the Toronto Jazz Festival to the Toronto Centre and I always am excited to see what they will come up with next!
I saw this show and was so moved by their humour, Patricia's voice and heart and Patti's emotion on the piano!
They are gonna only move forward...so catch them before they cost one million dollars.
October 31st @ 3:45pm

[Disclaimer!!! I know the Brent and the two Patti's are at the SAME TIME! But I love them both and you will have to "Sophie's Choice" it!!!]



Breithaupt Brothers Songbook

Now, I haven't seen these dudes personally but I WILL not miss the first 15 minutes ( I start a show the same night at 10:15pm) of their show this year! Their songbook killed last year and since then their show "Seeing Stars" has become the hit of the New York Musical Theatre Festival...and they are CANADIAN!! Hurrah! This show features some of my fave artists...Brent Carver, Heather Bambrick, Jackie Richardson and John Alcorn! October 31st @ 10:00pm

The Scary Cabaret
Yes, I know...I am in this night...but I love the theme people...and I will be doing one of my fave scary songs...and the artists are diverse...
Diana Braithwaite, Sharron Matthews, Luis Mario Ochoa, Kenneth Welsh, Tomson Highway and Chris Whiteley. Musical Direction: David Buchbinder. A: LOVE Kenneth Welsh B: Tomson fricken Highway...what a storyteller... It is gonna be scary, interesting and FUN!!!
October 31st @ 8:30pm and 10:15pm


John Alcorn
Along with everything else he is doing in this series, he is doing his own concert!!!
He really has the voice of velvet and brandy
The face of a matinee idol
And the piano playing of a virtuoso!
How do you like that?
November 1st @ 4:15pm

So, that is what I am thinking ...and may I say it again...these are just a few of my pics... the WHOLE SERIES in just awesome...and diverse...don't be afraid to try something new...I think you should just park your ass down there for 4 days !! Each cabaret is a mere $20.0o and you can buy three at a time and save 20%!
Go to this link to see the full schedule!

http://www.canwestcabaret.ca/schedule.aspx

Whew...Kathy....I am exhausted.

Happy Day...Thanks!

Thanksgiving is like New Years to me.
I always find myself....at some point in the day...remembering what the day was like when I was growing up...the house we lived in...my family...how cold it was outside, the kind of cold that if you went for a walk without your coat your skin got tight and dry. We had a ton of trees around the house, so the leaves were gorgeous.
Today, I find myself a bit melancholy.
Sigh.
There was something so fabulous about being a kid on "two day" Thanksgiving.
That Sunday and Monday...I never knew which was the real day...and I did not give a crap because we got another day off of school.
But it was still the beginning of the school year...so anything was still possible...I could still become cool...I could still get the part I wanted in the school play (note: I DID not get Dorothy in the all-white version of The Wiz...I played the Wicked Witch with a purple afro wig...that is ALL kinds of wrong). AND it was the beginning of the Holidays...the countdown to Christmas had begun.
I loved waking up in the morning and smelling the Turkey that would cook all day...and yet somehow would only end up half cooked due to the fact that my Stepfather had installed the oven incorrectly.
The house was warm.
Warm with family.
Even though mine was weird as all get out...I think everyone's was a little weird...I felt like we were the family in a black and white picture for that one day.
With the green Tupperwear bowl that contained the 'salad'...which was a head of iceberg lettuce ripped in half...and the plate of cranberries...which was still in the shape of the can.
The TV playing CFL football...I think there were two teams with the same name...and we only had 9 teams for christsake...the Roughriders...how gay is that name in retrospect?
My grama doing macrame in the corner in her yellow velveteen chair.
My sister Gwen coming over...I loved it when she came over from her 'married' house...bringing me a cool outfit that she had made me on her sewing machine.
It wasn't too exciting a day.
Just exciting enough.
I would get mashed potatoes.
I love mashed potatoes.
To this day I have to control the impulse to fill my entire plate with them.
The potato?
My nemesis.
And my dear sweet lover.
I feel melancholy because a couple of years ago I came to the obvious yet startling realization that I could never go back to that time.
When everything was possible and I was still someone else's responsibility.
Sigh.
I am thankful for all that is and that will be.
And remembering all that was.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Nobel, Obama and Joanne Woorley

So, I already feel strange writing this...but I went to sleep in a new house ...the fourth in as many weeks ...and I could not sleep.
I think it was the gods of “ideas unfulfilled” keeping me awake. And the dry interior of this house...but the first sounds more fancy.
I am going to write about some things that are...can you believe this?....political.
You know things in the world have gotta be outta whack when I pull up my stool to the political table.
Okay.
I woke this morning to hear that Barack Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize.
I was very happy for him. I am sure he didn’t know it or really care...but I was.
Then as the media crushed around me...TV’s in the subway, live ribbons in the school where I teach, the cover of the internet edition of the paper...I was a bit shocked at the MAJOR backlash.
Everyone, but me it seemed, was mad...or indignant...or filled with disbelief.
When I saw a clip of the Nobel announcement and heard the gasp in the background when his name was announced...for some reason...I got mad.
Why was it such a problem?
All of the people who like to talk politics...a club to which, again, I happily possess NO MEMBERSHIP...armchair Jon Stewarts, if you will...meant in the most positive of ways...Jon Stewart is the only way I can stomach such talk...all those people were giving their soundbites...saying he hasn’t done anything yet.
He hasn’t done anything yet?
What?!
Maybe I am naive...and uninformed...and sometimes majorly unread...but I was on the earth during his entire campaign and during the very closely watched beginning of his presidency.
I didn’t have to be an avid CBC or CNN watcher to hear the news.
But here are the things that immediately come to my mind.
(I have had to look some of these things up to recall the situation and context...but remember people I am not Bob freaking Woodward people... Woodward... Woodard...Woorley...I am not Joanne Woorley...didn’t she write for the New York Times?...or she was on Laugh In!...whatever!)
Here we go...
Have you EVER felt our world more united or globally aware during the election of a major world leader?
People wanted him to win...or didn’t...as a world community.
He brought people to their computers, TV’s and radios to listen and research and blog and fight and clear things up...as a world...though we didn’t, we all felt like we had a vote and our say. People were proud to say they got the chance to vote for him.
He is a son of the world...everyone wants to claim him...has a President of the United States ever boasted such a varied heritage? Born in Hawaii with dual citizenship due to his Kenyan father he has brought hope and brotherhood to parts of the world that haven’t often been mentioned in a sentence with the United States of America....that I can tell...remember...I am just a layman...and not fancy.
He, in a jaw dropping decision, granted his first TV interview as President of the United States to an Arab news station and has continually reached out in a way no sitting American president ever has to the Middle East...THAT I CAN SEE...that I can find in documentation. I remember feeling giddy, for some reason, when I saw that he had done that interview.
(According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations.....)
Have you ever seen a nation so pissed off at a government that more than half of them, thousands who had NEVER voted before, decided to buck about 300 years of slow moving change and force a dream to come to fruition?
People all over the world were given pause by the simple fact that he was in the running...let alone the fact that he became President...spurring people who live in a minority ANYWHERE in the world to dream bigger dreams, to feel like maybe they can change the world.
Did you see him when he made his first speech looking so cool and confident...including everyone within it? Letting everyone feel a part of his vision for the country and the world...people who have NEVER been included in a talk with the government. Ever.
This man and his election, his campaign, and his presence made a world who had, and still has, fallen into the abyss of the greatest financial crisis EVER believe that it could be fixed...I am not an economist...but I know that I felt that way...and maybe my opinion is not studied...but he made the people who weren’t fancy feel that it might be alright. He brought us peace and hope by the simplest definition.
And as for the “War on Terror”...what a mess...what a clean up...what a thing to walk into the middle of. I don’t know anything about the military or war...so I cannot say what he is doing here or how it will all turn out...but he seems to be going to the nations...he is reaching out to them...instead of finding “230 degrees of Kevin Bacon” between Bin Laden and Hussein.
And just as a side bar...America was in such bad shape...and I know that the Nobel is a world prize...but it bears being said...that they were in such bad shape...that this nation voted for a man who’s name contained Hussein and sounded a bit like Bin Laden ...enough to get you taken off the ticket for dog catcher in the past!
Maybe it is the idea of him, and what the idea of him has caused and nurtured, that has won the peace prize more than his actions as a single man.
But he has brought the world to the tipping point and changed all of our minds...THE WORLD...some for the positive and some for the negative.
But all I know...is 5 people from totally different political parties (Labour, Progress, Liberal and Conservative) decided he is changing and bringing peace to the world...It is their prize...I assume they are smart enough to figure out who they want to give it to and for what reasons...they have been doing it for over 100 years, people.
Back to your regularly scheduled blogs about So You Think You Can Dance and crap that happens to me during my day.

Out East with Sharron

Hey All!
I am back...all in one piece from my "Smash and Grab Tour 2009" into the heart of the Maritimes!
My accompanist for the tour, my navigator for the drive....my person who made me laugh more than a couple of times...and who shocked me with some revelations from the internet...Wayne Gwillim ladies and gents

Nuff said.

and then there was myself

Oh lord.

I wanted to put us both in the picture...but the headshaking people who were walking by us didn't look trust worthy...
Both Georgetown and Pictou were amazing. The audiences dug the show...and we were treated so well...the food, the rooms....I left both theatres with a gift...in Georgetown it was a beautiful sea glass necklace from a local artist and in Pictou it was a print of a woman who was born in Pictou in the early 1900's who went to Broadway and became one of their biggest stars.
How lovely and I thank you!!
Here are some of the moments that made it a one of a kind "Sharron" experience.....
1. Wayne was surprised about being the navigator as well as the pianist...but rose to the occasion without telling me to eff off...after driving away from the PEI airport for 15 minutes informed me that we were going in the absolutely WRONG direction.
2. We walked into the Georgetown Inn...GORGEOUS...and they showed us the first room...beautiful...I took that one...and then when we saw the second one and it was even more gorgeous...we both went silent and Wayne looked at me and said "Do you want this one?" and I know I should have said "No"....but I said "YES!!!"...he also took that very well.
3. The morning after the fabu show in Georgetown at the Kings Playhouse...which was attended by the beautiful Julain Molnar, the lovely Glenda Landry and one of my Sheridan students parents plus a bunch of her students...nice...the morning after that show, we sat down for breakfast at the Inn...which was served family style around a big table...which was already filled with people...Wayne and I sat beside an older couple...she looked pinched and he looked long sufffering....she looked up from her paper as I put my ass in the seat and and said "Oh here are the entertainers" and not in the kind of adoring voice that I enjoy but judg-ie....and I wished I could get back up right then. She was all "it must be hard to be a performer and have to take whatever you can get" and "your voice is very big...you must lose it all the time" and she finally conceded " you were funny"....and then she could not get enough of Wayne THANK GOD and wanted to talk to him about his classical piano training. She clearly was the kind of person who equated what I did to Hooking...and not rug hooking...
The rest of the people at the table looked so happy she was talking to us...and her husband asked me a couple of kind questions...and every time he finished a question he got a facial tick...it must be hard to be married to that lady...before I knew it Wayne and I are justifying our careers and listing out resumes....but when the chef brought Wayne and I our special Eggs Benny with LOBSTER....she asked why it wasn't on the menu...the chef said he made it special for us...and I turned and smiled at her...and barely kept myself from saying ..."I am just a lowly entertainer...I take whatever I can get...and today it is the lobster that was meant for your dinner, LADY!"
4. Beautiful drive to Wood Islands...the ferry dock...navigator was from heaven and told me some fine stories to keep me amused...when we got to the dock I went in search of tea...we went into the cafeteria and stepped back into the 70's, I swear to god...and I went to ask the attendant a question...she turned her head from the black and white old timey TV and gave Wayne and I a look that would have peeled paint...we didn't even stop... we continued to walk on by....she clearly didn't want to be disturbed...we both knew it...and when she got up she had the biggest preggers belly I have ever seen...she forced a smile in her face that was so chilling ... by then I was so afraid I just asked where the bathroom was.
5. When we drove into Pictou, I told Wayne that we were staying at a place that seemed to be....seemed to be...a motor hotel from the picture I had seen on the interweb...and as we drove into the city...after missing it the first time on the 'rotary' and having to drive all the way to Truro it seemed before we found a turn around...there was a big, horrible yellow sign stating
M O T E L.... and I started chanting...'let that not be it, let that not be it'...guess what? That was it.
But it turned out to be just great.
6. I asked the guy on voice box at the Tim Hortons on the highway for honey in my tea....the box went silent as if he had turned on mute and said some thing horrible about me.
7. Wayne was obsessed with us not wasting any of the food that we had bought or been given. He sat in the Halifax airport and MADE himself eat the rest of Chicken we had bought in Pictou...it was a sight to behold.

Let the chicken go wayne

8.Just to cap the whole tour off.....a beautiful experience peppered with little things that make you go...hmm....in the security line at the airport, a blond woman...all cougared out with a crochet vest on...what?...was about 10 people behind us and telling everyone that she was late for her flight and would they let her in...she was all giggly and trying to play on her fading beauty...yes, I had NO mercy...by the time I was in the front I heard her...I had not looked at her on PURPOSE...I heard her ask me to let her in...I so wanted to say NO! But I said "Yes" in a voice that made it clear that the real answer was "EFF OFF!"...she went through... and as she went by me...the smell of liquor was so huge it almost knocked me out....and I turned to Wayne and said "Holy Booze Batman" in a loud voice....and Wayne said in the same tone..." I hope they have a booze detector there"....the line up laughed and then the rest of the security experience was watching her take off everything that wasn't tied down...all fall over-ie ....and drunk....it was quite a sight to behold.
And that was our trip out east...minus descriptions of the fabu shows....the Maritimes were the best....the people, the shows, the towns, the theatres...THANK YOU!!!!
And weird people and experiences...I thank you as well!!!!!

Cabaret. Everywhere.

Wow.
I like to make some serious singer poses when I sing...I am all looking like a jazz singer.
Wait. Not 'THE' jazz singer...that would just be uncomfortable and also wrong.
This picture was taken by the LOVELY Tracy Nolan...the partner of Jim Clayton who accompanied me on my Birthday at Statlers...which this pic is from. It was ALSO Jim Clayton's Birthday that night...I shit you not my friends...what are the odds, huh?
WELL!
What a fucking time it has been.
George and I were chatting about our lives a couple of years ago and deciding what we wanted to do and where we wanted to do it.
That sounded horrible.
You know what I mean.
We decided we wanted to be somewhere that we could be immersed in our art. I know...I sound all fancy...but when I talked to friends in NY and London and they talk about the plays and the workshops and the cabarets and the TV and Film and how they can cross over...I was jealous...I also wanted to be somewhere like that. And be able to afford living somewhere like that.
Well, in the last few months I have seen that we live "somewhere like that".
I am not trying to sound ...well, fancy or...superior...just ...happy and proud of Toronto.
WE can be that place...we are that place.
It is very exciting.
I just finished my 3 month series at Statlers...I played every week for three months in a cabaret.
When I started cabaret-ing in earnest about 6 years ago...there was NO WAY that could have happened anywhere ...not with a cover charge and a drink minumum. And the NOW Magazine recognized it and made it a Critics Pic for the whole time...that made me very happy and hopeful.
My great thanks to Jon Kaplan for being such a great supporter!
Jenni Burke PACKS...yes...literally packs Statlers EVERY MONDAY night for over a year now...EVERY WEEK.
I went to Eighty Eight's in NY about 15 years ago and saw a room much like Statlers doing that very same thing...and dreamed of a day when it would happen here...well it did... and it does...did I mention EVERY MONDAY?!
You can go there and see the up and coming...the older and came...and the people who just like to sing for fun...but you never know what experience you might have!!!But you will ALWAYS get the fabu Jenni Burke...she MAKES that night.
www.statlersonchurch.com
Marcus Nance is doing a fabulous cabaret once a month...his guests have included Measha Brueggergosman and Louise Pitre. He has an entirely different, new and exciting fan base...and he is performing classical, musical theatre and comtemporary rep....and he is easy on the eyes and is one of the BEST singers around. He also PACKS THEM IN! (and he also needs a website)
AND I have seen amazing cabaret shows at fabulous and new venues.
Up at the Toronto Centre Merle Garbe has a series called Studio 5040
www.studio5040cabarets.com
I have performed there myself and have seen the fabulous duo of Patricia Zentilli and Patti Loach...an amazing cabaret team...doing their thing there, with my handsome husband opening the show....the Patty's also have a hit cabaret CD that garnered tons of raves in major magazines.
http://www.patriciazentilli.com/
This will be the second year of the CANWEST Cabaret Festival at the Young Centre! With fabulous and exciting acts....including the Patty's....and....um...well....myself. Not that I think I am fabulous...but ....I am gonna be there....WAIT!!! I am fabulous!!! Aren't we ALL!?!?!?!
www.youngcentre.ca
CABARET is everywhere, people.
And....are you tired yet?
And there is this amazing Sondheim in September Series.
It is one of the most ambitious projects I have ever seen.
3 nights of Sondheim starring the luminaries of Canadian cabaret, jazz and musical theatre. All Mondays...two are over and one is left.
I went to the first one and was bowled over...Blythe Wilson, Janna Polzin, my George, Megan Nuttall, Judith Landers...singing the best music ever written...suck it people...that stuff is the BEST!!! And the huge ensemble choir.
I had the honour of performing with my husband at the concert last night. I played Mrs. Lovett...how fun was that..hair rocked! Dress rocked! And I did my best not to eff up.
But the best part, besides getting the chance to sing with George, was watching all the other diverse performers get up ...there was true magic made last night...Paula Wollfson singing " I'm Still Here" brought down the house...Julie Michels' Send In The Clowns accompanied by George ....oh eff...what is his last name....I have googled...I have looked in the program....he isn't listed...oh that isn't good...but please someone send it to me...was pure art...and my George belting out the Sweeney as only he can...Andrew Stelmack, Jay Turvey...I cannot even name them all...and the choir again...singing the "Ballad of Sweeney Todd"....
There is one more show next Monday and you would be drunk to miss it...they line up is HUGE...Thom Allison, Patricia Zentilli, Charlotte Moore, Elicia Mackenzie....you gotta go to
www.sondheiminseptember.com
I want to congratulate Warren Kimmel and Peter Huck on the herculean effort they have made...and ALL proceeds go to the Actors Fund...
There is so much going on!
This is the longest thing ever!
And now I take my friend Wayne Gwillim and my Sharron's Big Broadway Show...which I did in Sunday night at Buddies in Bad Times...that was a night to remember for always...I take the show to two venues out east. I am very excited...and a bit nervous...but mostly excited!
Statlers rock and roll.
Buddies Broadway.
Monday Sondheim.
I am immersed!
Toronto is rocking...and that is just the cabaret stuff people...so much else to be seen and done!

ADDENDUM: And I probably am NOT using that correctly...But I received this email from a very supportive cabaret and theatre goer who came to the Sondheim Series last night....
"Your blog today was great because I hadn't heard of some of the cabaret nights you mentioned. Is there some central source for Toronto cabaret listings on the internet? Or would that be...you? Walking back to our cars, I was raving to my friends about how lucky we are to live in a city with this much talent on our doorsteps -- and where you can go hear a show like last night's... for only $25?... and all benefiting a great cause? I was feeling all warm & fuzzy about Toronto."
I suggested Amanda's Blog
http://twisitheatreblog.com
...also Robert Missen's Group... Read More
Canadians For Canadian Cabaret
Can you guys think of anyone else?
And the Bassist's name is....George Koller....thanks Loach!

How much does this picture rock?

Doesn't it look just like the movie "Carrie" before the blood gets poured all over her...except Keith Cole is playing the guy that ended up being the "Greatest American Hero"...what the eff was his name?? Katz something...oh tell me do my blog readers!
Well, one of you guys sent me an email today saying " Hey Curly, what the eff gives....write something!"
Me all, "How familiar of you but alright!"
The above picture was from the wonderful night I had while performing at Cheap Queers during the summer...oh god...I had an effing good time...and it was as fun and cool at it looked...and the young gentleman at the piano is the talent Doug Price. He is a great accompanist and fabulous chartman.
I was sooo excited to be asked to be a part of this series at Buddies.
I love Buddies.
I don't know if I mention that enough.
They seem to get what I do... and if they don't they still smile and support me...Patrica even listens to my pop songs even though I know the genre makes her more than slightly sick.
Now, that is support.
I am not just saying those nice things because they have a new AD.
REally.
I have a busy week...it kinda makes my stomach hurt from excitement and nervousness.
I know you ALL know from my emails and Facebooks that I have two cabarets this week...one is the last night of my Back to Basics series at Statlers.
It has been a great 3 month run.
I will be rocking it out with the FABULOUS Donovan on Wednesday at 8:30pm...who knows... but I think Rick Springfield and Rihanna will make and appearance...this material is all being put to bed for a while so come on out and request your fave tune...it is encouraged!
And then on Sunday at Buddies I am having a special preview of "Sharron's Big Broadway Show".
It is the story of the very important and fancy journey from Hamilton to Broadway and all the places in between...now, before you start freaking...yes, I know I have never been in a Broadway show...but like most of you...I have been ON Broadway. So suck it judgers.
The musical tales include my adventures with Tina Fey (fabulous lady, came to my trailer the first day of "Mean Girls" to welcome me to the set...I did my best not to pee myself), John Travolta (I danced beside him on Dundas at Roncesvalles at 4:00am...I did my best not to fall over and crack my head open), Elaine Stritch (I stayed overnight in her rehearsal suite at the Carlysle...I really did) and Stephen Sondheim (I truly made and ass of myself when I met him)....oh what tales I have...and what a tail!
The show on Sunday @ 8:00pm at Buddies is priced to sell at a mere $10.00 people...I just wanna do it for an audience before I go to the maritimes with it...and that Hot Mess Wayne Gwillim will be accompanying me!
So, come on out and join in the end of my cabaret season this year!
Because after that it is off to lyktp to do a musical people!
What the eff am I doing up this late promoting myself?
George is asleep and the dogs are snoring.
And one other thing.
That Donny Osmond on Dancing with the Stars...he looks koo koo for COCO Puffs!

Kids....what the eff is wrong with these kids today...

So, I have something that I watch on the TV that chills me to the very bones....the bones, people.
I don't watch it every week....I don't look forward to watching it...but when I happen upon it...I can't stop myself ...it is like a fucking car accident....it really is.
It is....Supernanny.
That show is scarier that any horror film I have ever seen....
And if I am ever having a day when I see a cute kid on the subway...or the street...or wherever they like to hang out and have a fleeting yearn for a child of my own....I go home and promptly watch SUPERNANNY.
Ya wanna know why my dear friends? It helps me to recall that I DO NOT have the disposition to bring up humans....now, furry things...yes, I can do that...but not beings that can turn to you after you feed and clothe and love them for 16 years and tell you that THEY FUCKING HATE YOU and your GUTS....and give me the fucking car keys and 40 bucks!!!
I mean, don't get me wrong...I enjoy kids...I like hanging out with them and stuff...but the whole patience thing...not in me really.
And that Jo Frost....she has all of these ways to train them and put them in the naughty chair...or naughty corner...or naughty room....I wonder if they are gonna grow up and enamoured with naughtiness and end up in the porn industry...they will have Jo Frost to thank for that.
Way to go British Lady.
Anyhow...the kids on that show scare the fucking shit outta me...they are all screaming and hitting and pushing and killing....I know they are....they don't show it on screen but those are some violent kids.....
And I love it when the Supernanny leaves for the first time and the parents look all terrified and the kids look a mix of relieved and pissed off and plotting....can one look plotting...I don't care.
They do.
Some of those kids are evil.
I am surprised those parents can sleep at night.
I would always have one eye open.
So, thank you Jo Frost...for helping to solve the population dilemma...one condom at a time.

The end of the summer....suck that Mother Nature...and that creepy guy who....

Yesterday, after SPIN CLASS...which rocked by the way....just when I thought I could not make it any further 'Move' from Dreamgirls started to play...the teacher is awesome and fabulous....has a huge package in his very tight bike shorts....and finds himself strangely drawn to me...and not with lust I am thinking....hmm.
So, yesterday after spin class I was getting on my bike to ride home from Queen and Broadview...great area, but sometimes questionable...I think it is the presence of Jilly's...I heard a voice yelling "HEY!!!!"...."EH!!!"...I look around and then ....up...and a gentlemen...and I use the term loosely...not that all guys who have mullets aren't gentlemen but it does give me pause...and I can smell the liquor on his breath from the street...when I look at him he says,
"Hey, what time is it?"...me think "Doesn't he have some kinda of a time indicator in his home?"...I tell him and then he says..."Uh, I have locked myself in my place."....me think "What the efff?".....he say "Could you come up here and go to door number....." I am already shaking my head and furrowing my brow....and not one to just ride my bike away ... I ask... "Whatever would make you think a stranger would come up there into your building and in your apartment...and how the eff did you lock yourself IN...no wait... don't tell me....I really don't care." And I ride away.
Was that harsh?
So.
Tonight is my last summer night at Statlers...and my last night with my dear Mark Harjes....we have had a blast...when we started working together in 1994 I was just new and shiny...and he used to make me laugh...and he could always and still does play so well...and he loved a medley...and a musical theatre tune...and just loved to play.
I used to take him to auditions with me and when MD's of the big shows heard him play they would ask me for his contact info...but he just wasn't interested...he just wanted to play.
Me love him.
I will miss him....for tonight I went through all of my old stuff...really old stuff and picked out some of my faves that we have done together...and some I have not even done since then....I hope to remember all of the words....
And after tonight I have agreed to do three more nights at Staters....The next three Wednesdays.....the 9th...the 16th ( which is my Birthday....the actual day bitches) and the 23rd....then I am gonna stop for a while.
I think I need a breath.
I have so enjoyed this summer series ... it has been like play time once a week.
But I think I need to have some nothing...to figure out what is next....I have an idea of what I want it to be...but I think I need to stop freaking out about being current and in the 'public eye' and just ....be...that sounds so therapy...but it is true.
So, I really don't know when I will next do something.
I am not saying that to draw you in...like EXTENDED THREE MORE WEEKS....although it is true and I have used that pretense before...but I just want the people who are interested to know....I have taken a number of your song ideas...for which I am eternally grateful...thanks for putting thought into your choices ...I will work these songs up over the next few weeks....
I am all " SUMMER OVER" melacholy.
Sigh.
But will stick that melancholy up Mother Natures ASS tonight by the time the show rolls around...at 8:30pm....so come on down... and we can play...I have picked out two song books that are my faves... and we are all ...together going to randomly pick a song and see what can be worked up!!!
Don't sit at home thinking SYTYCD Canada sucks...come out and play with me....