Rudy Guiliani, Rob Ford, The Zoo and Three Theatres.

“Ford won several victories. Council voted to seek buyers for the Toronto Zoo and the city’s three government-owned theatres, to eliminate the Christmas Bureau that helps charities distribute gifts to needy children, to stop giving out four free garbage tags to homeowners, and, by a 44-1 vote, to end police paid-duty at construction sites.”

-Toronto Star

I am watching the documentary “In Memoriam New York City 9/11/01” on my PVR.

I have been waiting for some time when my husband George is not here to watch it.

He can’t do it.

I want to see it.

And I can’t tell you exactly why.

It is disturbing, heart breaking and shocking...with the most graphic photos and film footage I have ever seen on the day. At one point I had to pause it and go do something else for a while...I had forgotten...well, you never really forget a day like that.

Our mind takes things like that and softens them over time.

But I felt that I needed to watch it.

Let me take a moment to say I was not in NY when this happened and do not presume to have had a similar experience to anyone who was there.

I experienced that day as a member of the world.

Rudolf Guiliani, then the mayor of New York City, is a key figure in this documentary...and his entire team is included...all tell their story.

I am struck by Mr. Guiliani, as a narrator, interviewee, human and mayor.

He is a true leader...with heart, bravery and strength.

Okay, before everyone starts freaking out...I am NOT comparing the council meeting, any of the budget cuts or Toronto’s present situation to 9/11.

It was just timely to see such a wonderful, inspiring example of leadership.

As opposed to the person who is now mayor of Toronto.

Rob Ford seems to revel in getting his way and he does not care a WHIT that is at the expense of the welfare and happiness of others.

He seems to be the kid in the high-school hallway who can’t wait to trip the kid in glasses...and then not be punished.

He doesn’t know what it is like to be a homeless person in downtown Toronto (nor do I), he doesn’t know what it is to want to drive your bike to work...because you live downtown , he doesn’t care about the arty farty types...basically...and you can correct me if I am wrong...he doesn’t seem to give a flying fuck about anyone who doesn’t live life the way he does.

How gross is that?

That is the part that pisses me off the most.

If he even seem to care A LITTLE about the wants and needs of ALL Torontonians... (P.S. I always thought the MegaCity or the GTA was a crap idea...I am not politically inclined enough to guess that this would have been the specific outcome...but all of our needs are too different...Etobicoke and downtown Toronto are NOT the same.)...I would maybe not hate him so much.

Maybe.

I ALSO love that selling three theatres have been lumped in with getting four free garbage tags.

And the Zoo...the effing Zoo.

I don’t know what the exact ramifications of tonight’s vote are on the Zoo...what I do know is that they are looking for buyers....that can’t be good for the Zoo.

I am happy to be proved wrong.

On Canada Sings, I did not have the pleasure of working with the team from the Toronto Zoo, but I did have the pleasure of meeting them and seeing their dedication to their place of work. These are people who care deeply about the animals.

Watch these fabulous people here...

http://www.globaltv.com/canadasings/video/week+1/the+junk+notes+vs+the+zooperstars/video.html?v=2080549754&p=1&s=dd#canadasings/video/week+1

Lord, the theatres...they are going to sell the St. Lawrence Centre, home of Canadian Stage and the Harold Green Jewish Theatre...the Sony Centre, the theatre that was one of the first to house touring companies from all over the world of Opera, Musical Theatre, Ballet and other performing artists of all kinds...oh and the Sony Centre has just undergone a HUGE EXPENSIVE RENOVATION...and the Toronto Centre, that hosted the original company of Harold Prince’s Showboat, the fabulous run of Jersey Boys and the studio that has become a hub for independent theatre...I can only guess what might happen to all three of these fabulous theatres.

Remember the Diesel Theatre?

What a fabulous space...condos...it is now condos.

Who the eff is gonna buy these spaces?

Theatre lovers?

Probably not.

I am also quite sure that if football was being played in any of these spaces, they would have been very safe, wouldn’t they, Mr. Ford.

(Egghhh....it was even hard to put "Mr." in front of his name.)

I know you don’t give a shit about theatre....but....

I was chatting with a young friend of mine today who is teaching Shakespeare workshops in high-schools.

I remembered when I first saw a traveling theatre company who came to my high-school...I loved it.

I was a young girl with no direction and in a single parent household...and that show, and those actors changed my life.

I wasn’t good at sports, math...well, good god...I was not very good at a lot of things...but I was good at theatre and being creative...and I feel that it changed my life for the better.

On a basic level, it helped me be social, learn to express myself, be independent, speak up for myself and on a bigger level it helped me dream big dreams...make grand plans...and it was a great deal better anything else I was being offered at the time by my guidance councilor.

Theatre has also taught me strength, taught me to open my mind and think outside of the box, it has taught me kindness, and it has taught me about human nature.

I saw Dreamgirls, La Cage Aux Folles, Song and Dance, numerous ballets and Bonnie Raitt at the Sony Centre.

I had the pleasure of being in the original revival company of Harold Prince’s Showboat at the Toronto Centre and did a number of cabarets in the studio theatre.

When I was 27 I had the honour of being in The House of Martin Guerre in the Bluma Appel Theatre and I have worked in the Jane Mallet a number of times...in the St. Lawrence Centre.

Theatre matters.

Theatre matters, Ford.

Theatre matters, Harper.

Theatre matters you two effing BBQ buddies.

(Didn’t that video make you sick? “What video?” you ask....well...this effing video....)

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/harper-conservatives-try-quash-rob-ford-barbeque-video-172632797.html

And we won’t go softly...as that Shakespearean dude says...we will fight.

You effers.

Can you imagine if we had a leader in Toronto (or effing Ottawa) who inspired us...what great things we could accomplish?

The Canada we could grow?

And as a sidebar....because I am still in the mind set of this documentary...Do you believe that if we had a calamity of some kind in this city that Ford would be the kind of leader who would make us feel safe...and think of everyone?

All Torontonians?

It may seem like an overly dramatic question...but it really levels the playing field doesn’t it?

I am going to go and write all the city councilors now...as Eric Woolfe suggests...

Because I can’t support an arsehole who won’t give Christmas gifts to needy children....Jesus wept.

Last night in London at Leicester Square Theatre 2011

Thank you to Mike Bickerton for making this on hie fricken IPHONE...what a fabu night this was...the warm up and then the show...just magic...and to have something to remember it by...even better!

Rest in Peace, Bradley Garrick

When I was 16 years old, I had the amazing fortune to find myself in a summer company for young actors...I was paid $169.00 a week (I remember the first cheque) and I began to hang around with a group of actors/kids from the OTHER end of Hamilton (West End....fancy) and we performed at Hamilton Place together.

I loved this group of people.

For someone who hung around with the same people since kindergarten, it was pretty exciting to meet all these new, like minded people.

While "hanging" with this group of people I met Bradley Garrick.

He was 14, at the time.

He was gregarious, always fun and handsome....

He and I liked to drink Peach Schnapps.

A lot of Peach Schnapps.

I remember him with a fake, yak hair moustache...hair parted down the middle...as a dancing waiter in Hello Dolly...as one of the sailors in South Pacific....we were so young.

In the intervening years things have happened, life is life...and as a result, I have not seen him in a very long time...the last was at a panto at the Wintergarden, I think....

But when I heard he was sick, George and I were struck.

And now, so far from home, hearing of this passing tonight (in the wee hours, here in Greece) we are saddened.

Not being a part of his immediate life, it feels strange to be writing my feelings for the world to see...but who cares...I will miss him...I am sad that he is not in this world...and I feel great sadness for Phillip...I wish you peace.

Bradley...this earth was a more interesting place with you in it.

It is smaller without you.

We all, whose life you have touched in small and large ways, mourn your passing.

Love.

Last Day in London, Jesus, Canada Sings....and Chris says this is his fave picture of me.

Last Day in London....and Chris says this is his fave picture of me.

THIS IS YOUR FAVE PIC OF ME, Cooch?

THIS?!?!?!

Not maybe, this?

Look at me leaning on that fucking car like it is my fucking job.

That first picture screams "This chick played Madame Thenardier in Les Mis...and clearly is trying to recapture her youth...and looks like she ate something quite disagreeable."..."Oh...and she doesn't care."

Okay...alright.

I guess I should just be happy that someone has a favourite anything about me...and move on....

Um...but as a side bar....what about this one, Cooch?

First Preview of "Jesus Thinks I'm Funny" at Buddies in Bad Times Photo by: @[584940190:2048:Michele-Marie Beer] Sharron Styled by Fashion Crimes

Anyhow, I am sitting in my darkened bedroom at my pal Tober's place in Lambeth...Tober has been the best friend and host...I so appreciate his care...and he has cared for me...thank you...I am now LAYING here...on my bed and I don't want to open the windows...the blinds...the door...because then I will have to accept that the time has come...my last show in the UK of Jesus.

There was such a great deal of planning that went into this...the trip I took here, to London, earlier this year...staying with Rob, my producer...picking a theatre during the day...and at night spending 3 hours on skype with Christian Vincent (who I had never met in person) planning numbers, picking songs and getting ready for the first week of Canada Sings.

It seems so effing long ago.

And at 7:00pm tonight I will do my show at Leicester Square Theatre...with many friends in the audience...thankfully...what a blessing...and Team Jesus...who I hold so close to my heart...yes...look out...I am feeling all melancholy...it will be a fun night, I believe...I am very excited, above all other feelings.

Which is a tiny bit of a surprise to me.

Because I was so sick the whole time I was here...this is where I spent the entire month of August (when not performing)....

Sleeping, coughing, fevering, freezing, checking my voice, finding out about the great reviews,drinking tea, taking drugs, watching season 3 of True Blood, missing George, looking at my cover of the Scotsman over and over and over, resting, resting, resting and laughing laughing laughing on occasion....that was something else...but BECAUSE I was so sick I thought I would just be grateful that the end would be near...but I am sad...and excited...and thankful...and, yes, melancholy...and fulfilled.

I had the amazing experience of running and refining my show for over a month...what a gift...I changed it...shaped it and was in it...enjoying it...even when sick.

THAT was just the best.

It feels like a tight show.

Bliss.

Thanks to the universe.

And all the people who have supported me.

Again, I must write that all artists in Canada should get the chance to come to the Edinburgh Festival...or at least have the chance of seeking funding from our government and bringing their work over.

It changes the face of your work...and your perspective...and you meet amazing artists...and work with amazing new people.

And spreads the word about our country ...I have told a least 100 international artists about our Fringe festivals...I hope they all come and see our beautiful country.

Soap box away.

I am gonna strap on my feathers in a couple hours...and off we go LAST SHOW!

And next week, while I am on vacation in...Greece...it feels so fancy to write it...the last episode of Canada Sings will air...with the fabu group, RUN DRC from the Distillery district in Toronto...it is a wonderful episode and I hope all watch it...I will get it a couple days after...but will be there in spirit on the day of airing.

I can't believe that will be the end of Season One...we shall see if there is a Season Two...but what a great, life changing experience that was.

Really.

I loved that job almost MORE than any other...it was so wonderful to meet and work with all these people...from all walks of life..who just wanted to to perform...not for money...or fame...but for charity.

To get those musical numbers together...to arrange them myself...to pass them onto the fabulous Orin Issacs to orchestrate...and he would listen to my koo koo recordings and try to figure out what the eff I was doing...and he would transcribe it note for note...amazing...

To collaborate with Christian...what a gift..what a hard working, talented creator...what a dear friend.

And the crew on Canada Sings...love...what an amazing job they do...the hardest job of all...to do their upmost to make sure you will never guess that they exist. To be silent and invisible. They are amazing...Team Riley and Team Bickerton...though we...the fancy artistic teams...pretend it is about us and whether we win or not...we really know it is about them...and whether THEY win or not...cameras, audio, craft, talent and music coordination, editors, producers, directors, casting, wardrobe....working their asses off ...taking me into the green screen room at the end of the day..."So Sharron, it is day 4...how do you feel? Is it coming together?"

Um...not always.

I loved all my groups and got to know some of the people from the others...and we were all on the same side, really.

We just wanted to do good work...and to win...WIN WIN WIN...lord, I am competitive.

Thanks to Insight and all for having me...it was amazing.

Again, I hope you tune in next week and spread the word one more time!!!

Here are a couple of my fave shots at Canada Sings for you to check out now that you might have watched the shows and know these people a bit!!!

those outfits!

Gigi...make up and Adreano...hair

Rachel...audio

Bicks...Producer

Chris...DOP

Christian and Me! Thanks Christian.

Boilerhouse week with Team Riley

So, after tonight...I am off...off to the land where I am going to TRY not to turn on my computer except to check emails....can you fucking believe it?

I know that you don't but I am really gonna try. I feel the world needs a break from my whoring social media self....just for a while...I am not losing my mind or anything...I will be back.

Two nights ago, when Cooch and I got into the cab to go to the theatre for the debut, we rode along the Thames...and we looked up at Big Ben as we went by...and I felt fancy...and lucky...and thankful.

What a fucking year....so far....it is only September....lord...the possibilities....love to you all....

Wait!! What about this one, Cooch!

(Thanks to Cooch....my constant companion...here he is in his new hat....I like this pic of YOU best....)

But I am most excited...about seeing.....

I am never leaving home without him...again...the tall one...the other ones we can figure out, though I miss them so much as well...but the tall one....lord.

Dear Scarborough Hospital Team "PULSE"!

Dear Pulse, You were and are pure class. And your execution of that number last night would have made the Shirelles or the Four Tops give you props. Thank you so much for working so hard and for being so joyful and positive through the entire experience...and for showing us all what it is like to approach something so selflessly as a true ensemble. Thanks to my "yeah yeah' and "whoa whoa" girls (Elaine, Tabitha, Patty and Nancy) duet queen Elecia, , my strong as a bull Edguardo, the slick and smooth Mike who started it off in style, Steph the rap goddess and SWEET SWEET ANNIE YOU MOTOWN GODDESS...all of you...I will never forget one of you.

And I will NEVER get over the fact that Elaine is a freaking grandmother, she looked so hot in that outfit....you all did!! (Thanks to Lisa Williams who did ALL the wardrobe...KILLER)

Elaine's grandaughter asked to be my friend on Facebook...and I passed out.

Working with you was a absolute pleasure.

Though your show was shown last night, the country won't know that you were mine and Christian's first team.

I was excited and nervous to be starting a new show...and you guys could not have been more awesome...you really taught us what the show was all about.

I remember CV and I chatting the first day and him saying how he just wanted you guys to look your absolute best...classy and smooth....and you did, my people you did.

And you sounded like bleeping Motown stars.

So, basically, you kicked the crap out of that!

Thanks to Christian, for his awesomeness and vision...great job friend, as always.

And thanks to the awesome Kelly and Scott and the Keg Spirits for the great competition!

I love this show!

I love my job.

Great work done by all!

AND don't get me WRONG... I LOVE ALL MY TEAMS!!!

My Hammer Cops...23 of the coolest...more hardworking men you will ever meet ...you ARE ALSO my heart...who sang Britney Spears...how can I NOT love you?

My GOT Junker...one of the most physically challenging routines pulled off with style and talent and fun fun fun...you rocked my world.

WOLF PACK...AWWOOOW...our naughtiest routine...so much hair...so much sass...and you kicked the butt out of your outfits and the number...nasty!!! LOVE.

And the Energetics...very ambitious DISCO routine that you rose to the challenge of...with flair....booty shaking...joy and ...guess what? HEART!

I enjoyed the experience of working with everyone of you...lord...I am getting all awards show speech-ie.

Just letting you know how much I loved you all...and the work you did.

One more week.

Can't believe it!

WAY TO GO PULSE!!!

You ARE my heart...you all are....I got room for all..