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....