Rob Ford, THE HORRIBLE CONGESTION in TO, PODCASTS, Beautiful ARTICLES and DATES DATES DATES!!

So, we have podcasts (more than one...I am EVERYWHERE, people...okay two places), shows, articles...and, I am sorry...but there is a *ROB FORD ALERT!!*
But before I get to the first things ...and I will get to them right away...stealing a thread from my FB page...and if you steal from yourself it is okay...
I got SOMETHING TO SAY!!
AND it may be boring to some...but I will try and be brief...and sort of funny...but if not, please...DON'T SUE ME.
It is exhausting... : )

Todays FB Post: (besides a post containing awesome article for an upcoming show...of course) 

I HATE to even give this idiot air time AT ALL...AND about 5 months ago...okay, maybe 3...I decided to give that bumhead NO MORE of my social media energy...BUT someone has got to make Rob Forb answerable to the fact that the Toronto construction and congestion is at an all time high and low...driving across Toronto now can literally take hours with construction or road closures on every main throroughfare and artery IN or OUT of the city. What is usually a 1:45 minute drive from Stratford to Toronto is now 2:30 OR more with the end hour and fifteen dedicated to getting downtown. Getting from the east end to the west end can take JUST AS LONG!! NONE of this could be good for tourism!!! And since he closed down bike lanes, and does not support bike riding in the city, riding a bike can be a hard alternative. HE brags about all the cranes in the air but pays no attention to what is happening on the ground...which I guess is a metaphor for the very public and unbelievable treatment of his own life. GET out! YOU, Ford, and whoever is in charge of maintaining a proper infrastructure need a one way ticket out of this city and need to acknowledge this HORRIBLE PROBLEM. Friday rant done. Drops mic.

THEN I turned over.

ME: What day is it?

Georgie: Saturday.

ME: %$#&*.

(this is a fake FB Thread because I am feeling graphically artistic...or something...and I dig this selfie...I don't do many...so give a gal a break.) 

 Sharron Matthews 

  

  AND THEN I realized it was Saturday. #actor

 

 

 

ONLY actors don't know it is the weekend...and are still in bed at noon...THOUGH WORKING!! 

What's a weekend?

Who said that, you guys! You know who it is!!!

Gosh, I am a bit manic today...it must be the hair dye...for my roots...I got them did yesterday...and then I almost wrecked my hair guru, Bill's, house...with a water spectacle...lordt...I was just trying to help...THAT is another story...SORRY, BILL! 

The yoga patience is really working for you!

Anyhow.

RIDE IT, MATTHEWS!! 

After that post a lot of people chimed in with their opinons...which is awesome! I love a good opinion...and hate  a crap one, to be quite honest.

AND yes, I know it is not totally Ford's fault...AND YES, I know the province is equally to blame.

But here's the brass tacks of it.

I tried to get from the east end to the west TWICE yesterday...and these were some of the main barriers...

1. THAT friggen mess at Leslie and Eastern...lord lift me.

2. The closing of Queen....QUEEN EFFING STREET...at Broadview!! BROADVIEW!!

3. THAT holy terror of a Tutan...Tut...(googling)...tutankhamun's tomb at Union station on Front!

4. ANY contruction outside of ANY of the 120...120...the most in the world...120 condos being built in this town...

5. The Gardiner was down to one lane EACH WAY!! 

6. The Lakeshore was closed for the Indy.

7. You name a place and there is unexpected cones and contruction.

8. AND is Adelaide still closed at Yonge?

Sidebar: I came into town for a meeting at Buddies a couple of weeks ago and it to 40 minutes...40 effing minutes to get from Front to College on Yonge. I mean, Jesus Wept.

WHO. IS. IN. CHARGE. OF. COORDINATING. THIS?

THEY. SHOULD. BE. FIRED. LIKE. CRAZY!!!

AND Ford it the Mayor (in name only) of this fair city. HE is the one people will look to or curse as the sit on Lakeshore to 10 hours.

AND THEN!?!?

I SEE that one of Ford's nephews...who worked for Doug Ford at their family company...is running for office.

Jesus Wept again.

Here is how Michael Ford's credentials as described  in a Toronto Star article...

According to his Facebook page, Michael Ford went to high school in Etobicoke before attending business school at Humber College. His LinkedIn profile says he is expected to graduate in 2016.

Ford, according to Facebook, is a camp counsellor at Camp Kandalore in Haliburton and has been an account executive at Deco Labels and Tags, the family business run by Doug Ford and before him by Doug Ford Sr., also a politician who served as an MPP at Queen’s Park.

Here is the article.
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/07/18/mayor_rob_fords_nephew_michael_ford_to_run_in_doug_fords_etobicoke_ward.html


Well, that should about do it!
Please Ford Family. STOP the madness.
You are not the Kennedy clan. You are not even the...well,the lamest political family I can come up with is the Fords.
STOP!!

GEARSHIFT!
So, yes, I have been advertising the HELL out of my summer tour!! BUT building an audience, even when you are 45 and fabulous is a CHALLENGE and a full time job!! 
So, please, dear supporters and readers, take the time to read on and if you see something that you or someone you know might like, pass it on.
It is greatly appreciated by this independant touring artist! 
AND I want all of those wonderful presenters to keep taking chances on solo variety artists!
So, that being said, I am rehearsing me butt off for my up coming shows!!
I have gotten some lovely press for them.
Looks!!

THANKS to the Record!

The Elora Festival show is Saturday the 26th at 3:00pm...yes, an afternoon show...and with great care...and even more excitement as I pulled down my repatoire off the book shelves...I chose some wonderful songs that I barely EVER get to do anymore...Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Bells are Ringing, Les Miserables, Wild Party, Gypsy, West Side Story...and mixed them in with Broadway style arrangements of the Supremes, Shirley Bassey, Madonna, Queen and so much more!

And yesterday my pal/accompanist Steve Thomas and I rehearsed for hours!!

OH, the fun we are gonna have!! I hope you come on out!!

TICKETS HERE!! 

ELORA FESTIVAL - Sharron's Big Broadway Show

http://www.elorafestival.ca/events/sharrons-big-broadway-show/

Elora is and hour and twenty six minutes from TO...here is a MAP!

The town itself is stellar...you could make a very wonderful, fancy summer day of it!!

But BEFORE THAT I am super excited about my SUPERSTAR show in Stouffiville at 19 on the Park on Thursday, July 24th!!

I am singing outside, people (unless it rains...then I will be inside...obv.)...but look at how fancy?

 

SO FANCY!!!

AND I am putting a new Beatles AND a new Bruno Mars into the SUPERSTAR show as well as all the requested tunes: Creep, Sweet Child, Hotel California, the Disco Medley and so many more.

19 on the Park Salon Series SHARRON MATTHEWS

http://nineteenonthepark.com/sharronmatthewspatio/

What a night it will be!! AND IT IS SO CLOSE TO TO!!

I have had a bunch of people ( and how lovely they are) asking me when my next TO show is! Well, not till October, people!!

So this is it!!!

OH!!! BUT they did a lovely podcast of the highlights latest show (my newest idea for a full cabaret) that I got to try out w/ Brendan Wall.

It is called "Prince and Me" and I did it at the Soulpepper Salon Series. What a wonderful night!

Checks it out, there was a lovely question and answer...and all!!

SOUPPEPPER SALON SERIES: Prince and Me 

https://soundcloud.com/soulpeppertheatre/sharron-matthews-cabaret-series-16

OH, AND there is an extensive, (I found it a very interesting interview with a very interesting person) podcast that I did with a lady named, Coral Andrews in a bar on the main street in Kitchener, Ontario. I drank scotch, she drank wine...I was getting over a bad cold...so I sound like...um...Whitney after the crack, a bit. (Forgive me, Whitney lovers)

That is right here...it is Saturday and it is raining...at least it is in TO...so do your macrame and give it a listen!

Coral Andrews PODCAST:
http://www.coralandrews.ca/
(it may require some scrolling...but it is there!)

And, lastly, but not leastly...

HEY OTTAWA!! KINGSTON!! QUINTE!! PERTH!! Gananoque!! 1000 ISLANDS!!

AND ENVIRONS!!

GUESS where I am gonna be on August 6th and 7th!?!?

Doing my toured, acclaimed, international HIT SUPERSTAR show at Brockville's Arts Centre!

I CANNOT WAIT!!

Again there will be a new Beatles AND a new Bruno Mars into the SUPERSTAR show as well as all the requested tunes: Creep, Sweet Child, Hotel California, the Disco Medley and so many more.

I would love to see you there...or if you know anyone in the area who might dig the show...PASS IT ON!! It will be fun for all ages! 

All of these shows are CLEAN!! NO SWEAR!!!

TICKETS HERE!

Brockville Arts Centre SHARRON MATTHEW SUPERSTAR

http://brockvilleartscentre.com/august.html

Brockville is HERE!! ( I am giving the distance from our nation's capital as a guide!)

 

THAT is not too far!! 

Are you in Smith Falls? Where they just turned the Hershey Factory into a medicinal marijuana grow op? ( I love listening to the CBC.) COME ON OUT!!

Oh. My. Gawd.

I am exhausted!

To anyone who read this far!?!? 

GOD BLESS YOU!!

And have a great day! 

I hope to see you, hug you and sing to you at one of my shows!!

S xoxox

 

RIP Elaine Stritch and Thank You.

When someone famous dies there is always an outpouring of how we knew them and/or what our experiences were with them...it is the way of us humans...and, I gotta tell you, I tried to resist all day. 

Because, you see, (and I know I am not the only one...but) I have many feelings about Elaine Strich.

My gratitude to her is so deep and yet my fear of her was so strong (it was if you were smart) that I did not want to share it...but now as I look over all the articles that came out today...I cannot stop myself...you all can take this however you want to take it...but Elaine Strich changed my life.

And I want to write it out...more for myself then anything.

I have always thought that when she went to her greater reward (whatever that may be and I hope it is good) that a whole era would go with her. An era we will now only know about from stories told by others...instead of hearing them told in BY her...in her brutally fierce voice...with her brutally fierce personality...and she did love to tell a story...as well as generally boss people around.

I still feel so strongly about her and about what I learned from her that when Gavin Crawford and I were putting together our pride show, VICIOUS BITCHES, we thought (because of his perfect set of gams and his spot on impersonations...not necessarily in that order) that because I had a wonderful story to tell about her...he should actually play her. And play her he did. The piece, simply called, "Elaine" closed our show. And I was so happy for it.

I am not a big character in her amazing life...barely even a day player in the grand scheme of things...but between working a year with her in Showboat and then a magical trip to stay with her and my pal, Marge in NY, it felt like a blessed lot...a lot I am entirely grateful for.

Elaine was kind to me...she was mean to me...she shared some of her life stories with me...she forgot who I was...she remembered...and she eventually forgot again...after I told her one day that I was doing a cabaret she played her album for me on a cassette player in her Showboat dressing room...the song was "IF"... 

( I can only find it on ITUNES...but it is grand)

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/elaine-stritch/id1502732

and she smiled and looked me right in the eyes the whole time it played..."You should do that song.", she said...she got me drunk one day AT THE THEATRE...she took the whole cast of Showboat, 8 people at a time (there were 64 of us), for dinner at Joe Allen's on the Danforth in TO and regaled us with stories of Coward and Coleman... she was partially naked almost all the time I spent with her (not at Joe Allen's) AND one memorable and amazing night while I was staying with her and my friend Marge at the Carlyle Hotel (yes, I have talked about it before...because I still cannot believe that visit happened) after standing with her stage manager (who was in a tux) and watching her amazing cabaret in the Cafe Carlyle I watched her take off all of her clothes down to her skivvies in the back of the VERY TINY room with THE WHOLE audience still there...and then she walked through the lobby and up to her room in said skivvies...NO ROBE...and I marched behind her like an acolyte, holding all of her jewelry that she had taken off as she shed her clothes and thrown my way....then I sat beside her bed in her room, on an automan,  and Elaine asked me a number of questions about her show and, specifically, if I liked the way she did "50 Percent"...a song, she told me, that the Bergman's (who wrote it) had insisted she do in her show...a song that my friend, Marge (who was almost always brutally honest right back at her) had told her she didn't think fit the show.

!

I remember feeling a little sick to my stomach as she stared at me through her huge Coco Chanel glasses...waiting...and I said I thought it was wonderful...as Marge rolled her eyes...and Elaine smiled... harumphed... and yelled out...practically in my face, "SEE!!!".

The day I met her, back in 1995,  I was in awe.

On the first day of Showboat she started out at the cast meet and greet in a black hat, black coat, black glasses, white shirt underneath...and I am sure she was wearing pants...but who knows...and 20 minutes later she was changed into a cheetah leotard, with a white shirt tied around the waist and white keds.

Old School.

She left her dressing room door open all day, every day...and she was nearly naked almost all the time.

When my dear George and I walked into the theatre and past her door one day, on the dinner break, she leaned out and asked, "WHO is he?" 

Me: HE is my boyfriend.

She: Well...

And then she wandered out into the hallway in tights, a bustle, boots and a bra...and flirted mercilessly with him.

Old School.

God, she could cut people...god, she could cause a ruckus...god, she could really throw a mean, grade-A tantrum...and god, she was one of the most consistent actors I have ever had the good fortune to watch onstage night after night.

One night, during the first act of the show, I was feeling sick to my stomach...and she found out...and she sent her dresser to find me...I quickly found myself in her dressing room with the door closed and she reached into the very back of a cupboard and pulled out a bottle, while her dresser, Kim, cut up a lime...and then she put a glass of whatever was in the bottle in front of my mouth and told me to drink...I felt that I had no choice at this point...because, again, it was always good to have a healthy fear of her...I drank the putrid stuff and then Kim handed me a lime.

Elaine: You will feel better in no time.

I leave...10 minutes later I feel that I might be drunk.

I go back to the dressing room.

Me: Is there alcohol in that?

Elaine: It doesn't count...it is medicinal.

Huh. 

I remember watching her as she finagled a solo out of Harold Prince.

I remember the way her voice sounded when she yelled out, "HAL!" whenever she was unhappy.

I remember the way Harold Prince smiled at her and never let her moods bug him...like he knew she would bring it...and that this time of moodiness was worth it.

I remember watching the two of them working together  in rehearsal... and as I look back on it now, I would like to cry with the luck that I got to see that with my own two eyes.

Truly.

When I went down to New York City to do an audition (you may have heard this before...I have told it a number of times...you can skip ahead if you wish...but WHY!?) I called my pal, Marge, who became a friend and confident to Elaine on Showboat and helped Elaine run her life when she needed her...and asked if I could pull up some floor with her, as she was staying at the Carlyle with Elaine for a while and assisting her during her show. Marge said that there was more than enough room for me...for which I was greatly appreciative.

Well, after I saw Elaine's show, carried her jewelry upstairs, and then I was invited to stay and talk in her room...her room...lord...and I sat beside her bed, she asked me what I was doing in NY, I told her I was doing a call back for a show and she asked who was on the production team...I told her who they were.

Elaine: I don't know any of those fucking people...BUT tell them you are staying with me...

ME: Um...I don't know if I will have a chance to.

Elaine: WELL, make the chance...they will be impressed...tell them that you are staying with me...and that I like you...it will make a difference... WHERE ARE MY GRILLED VEGETABLES?!?

Her room was not too big...smaller than I would have imagined.. but it was a gorgeous corner suite.

Her TV had all of her awards on top of it...at least that is what I remember...I could be wrong there...

She was wearing a Hanes v-neck tshirt and little white tennis socks with the balls on them...and her famous legs were uncovered.

She sat propped  up on her grand bed, still reveling in her "50 Percent" victory, when she turned to me and said...

Elaine: Marge says you are doing cabaret.

Me: Oh...ya...I am...but it is hard in Toronto...there aren't any venues...and no one really does it...there are no audiences...and I am not sure if there is future in it for me...in Canada...and I love Canada...

Elaine: Just fucking do it. Find a venue. Find an audience and just fucking do it. If you want it...really want it...just fucking do it.

Huh.

And then she said...

Elaine: You know what...you should not have to sleep with Marge...I have my rehearsal suite just down the hallway...you can stay in it. DON'T touch ANYTHING. But you can stay in the bed and get some rest before your audition.

DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!

Marge took me down to the suite...I think she could barely believe it.

She also told me it would be in my best interest to NOT touch anything.

I walked in and it was bigger than Elaine's room...and the windows were cracked open a bit so the filmy white curtains were blowing in the wind a bit...and there was a big white grand piano against one wall and pictures of Barbra Cook, Eartha Kitt and Bobby Short on the walls...holy fuck they had ALL rehearsed in here...and cards, letters and flowers from Elaine May, Mike Nichols, Diane Sawyer, Sondheim,...and so many more...and I ran my hands NOT ON but near the top of her professionally bound scores for the cabaret.

I felt like I had finally found the right church. 

At that moment, I stood stock still...this was my TRUE New York moment...this room...this feeling in it...never, never to be reproduced...it was so very special and dear to me...I still cannot believe it happened.

And I wandered into the bedroom...this was where she got ready...and all of her make up was there...covered with a silk scarf so that it would not get dusty...and there was a little stitched pillow at the very back of her make up table...it said, "COURAGE."

And then it all kind of fell into place...before her show that night she stood at the back of the room and touched as many people as possible...on the back and the shoulder...winding up...while she was introduced...I was pretty much right behind her...and I could see how nervous she was...but it was hard to believe...and then she turned out a fucking awesome show. A truly awesome show...in this tiny, intimate room, in which she forgot the words a couple of times...and found them again...and who fucking cared, anyhow.

Elaine was still nervous and needed to find her courage after all these years...and that made me want to cry...and it made me thrilled...because she always did it anyway.... always... and was amazing... and consistent... and singular... and human... and scared...and brilliant...

When I left the next day I put a little card on her grand piano...I saw her in the hallway but she was busily on her way to check and see if I stole anything...I knew it...so she could not stop for more than a second.

I think she wished me a good audition.

I am sure I thanked her heartily.

But that was the last time I saw her in person.

And she sent me on a path that would change my life...and fulfill my dreams...

I wonder if she knew?

When she left me in that rehearsal room there was no way I could do anything else but follow my dreams...anything else would have felt like blasphemy.

I can still close my eyes and tell you EXACTLY what that room looked, smelled and felt like.

So, Elaine...I thank you, from the bottom of my heart and soul for that night.

It was a gift.

I wish you the very best on your grand journey.

I am better and so lucky to have known you...and I am still a little scared of you...as anyone should be.

RIP Elaine Stritch.

 

NOT Burn down backyard, Binge watching SCANDAL till the cows come home and what the bleep is coming up!!!

So, god bless you all for still reading.

IT IS SUMMER, PEOPLE!! 

WE well and truly made it...and can be pretty sure that it will not snow...pretty sure. Life is strange, though.

I am writing this after going to a wonderful Canada Day party yesterday where George did NOT almost burn down our pal's backyard. Way to go, GEORGE!!

Let us make this a trend!!

I was having a rough, PMS-ie afternoon before the party...so George made me a full 2 litre jug of Rum and Coke. 

Yup, that rough...but we almost drank it...THAT cannot be good for you....but before I knew it all were sitting on the porch singing Beatles along to two guitars and four hands...and lots of awesome pals...great day.

THEN, I got all stuck on binge watching 'SCANDAL' (damn you, John Austin) on the Netflix...even George watched, and he is not a Shonda Rhimes fan...I know, right?

SO GOOD!!!

THAT CRAP IS SO GOOD!! QUEEN SHONDA, I thank you for THAT and for Meredith Grey. Way to effing go!

So, here I am...after a good nights sleep...believe it or not...and I wanna tell you something...

I know I have been and am promoting A LOT of awesome gigs this summer...hallelujah for awesome gigs!! (see links to other gigs below)...BUT this Saturday, as a part of the Saturday Night Salon Series at Soulpepper in Toronto (how many S's !?!?) I am doing something experimental! I am beginning a WHOLE NEW show...with a new collaborator...in front of a very small audience! 

MAGICAL!!

I will be reading some of it...creating some of it on the spot...and re-imagining a couple of older pieces...and tying new stories to them as well...all in the search for something new and exciting...and maybe even a bit scary. 

I am gonna jam. 

Yes, I said "jam"...and tell you about how someone so tiny influenced my life in a large way. I am lucky enough to work and work out my cabarets at the best places in the world...Buddies and Soulpepper...and I thank Soulpepper for always giving me a place to be creative...because THAT is what that place is all about. 

So, there are 50 seats...and 8 new pieces with text to try...with Brendan Wall...at 8:30pm on this Saturday, July the 5th. Wanna come!?! I would love to see you....why not!?!? 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN!?!?! 

GET YOUR tickets at the other end of this BLUE LINK!!

 

SHARRON MATTHEWS: Prince and Me

Soulpepper Salon Series

Saturday July 5th at 8:30pm 

w/ Brendan Wall 

http://tickets.youngcentre.ca/single/SelectSeating.aspx?p=7611

GOSH SAKES!!! I hope to see you there!! Seating is very limited!! So get your tickets!!

Here are my other upcoming gigs this fine summer!!

SHARRON MATTHEWS GOLD at the Summer Patio Series at Lebovic Centre for the Arts in Stouffville!

Sharron has done her Broadway show here before and they have brought her BACK to do her hit, world toured and acclaimed SUPERSTAR show to their wonderful, outdoor, summer series!! This series is already 80% sold out! 

Sharron Matthews GOLD

Lebovic Centre for the Arts Summer Patio Series

July 24th at 8:00pm 

Sharron's HIT comedy concert has toured THE WORLD to astounding critical acclaim and now it is coming to Brockville! Featuring so many hit songs, including Sharron's killer arrangements of Bohemian Rhapsody, Hotel California, Creep and Last Dance!! 

"BEST OF THE FEST" 

- The Scotsman

"#1 Cabaret in New York City" 

- NitelifeExchange and WPAT Radio 

GET TICKETS HERE! 
http://nineteenonthepark.com/sharronmatthewspatio/

 

****************************************************************************

  Sharron's Big Broadway Show at the Elora Festival!!
The Elora Festival has invited this humble Hamilton gal up to tell her Broadway Tale! This show had a hit two week run at Hamilton's (yes, my hometown!) Theatre Aquarius! I never get to do it enough and have a blast when I do!! ALL the info is below! (and now...the twist is...not here either...scroll down...it's like Game of Thrones...right?)

SHARRON's Big Broadway Show

Elora Festival

June 26th @ 3pm

Some of your favourite Broadway hits alongside the hysterical and heartbreaking stories of Sharron's journey to the Great White Way!

“Matthews is a stunning performer “
  - Hamilton Spectator

"Sharron Matthews is perfection."

- The Toronto Star

To buy tickets click the link:

http://www.elorafestival.ca/concert-information/2014-schedule/

HERE IS A FEATURE ON ZOOMER ONLINE ABOUT THE ELORA FESTIVAL...FEATURING...WELL...ME...(A GAL HAS GOTTA PROMOTE!)

ZOOMER 
http://www.everythingzoomer.com/musical-milestones/#.U5CKIMdrWXW 

 ****************************************************

3. SHARRON Matthews GOLD is coming to Brockville Arts Centre!!
After touring this HIT show around the world (New York City, London, Scotland, Africa and across Canada)  the Brockville Arts Centre has asked me up there to do my thing!! And I am so excited! 
Audiences ranged from 12 to 86 years of age...and when they came back the next week...they brought people with them! 
Don't MISS IT!! ALL the info is below....

Sharron Matthews GOLD

Brockville Centre for the Arts

Wednesday August 6 at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday August 7 at 2:00p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Sharron's HIT comedy concert has toured THE WORLD to astounding critical acclaim and now it is coming to Brockville! Featuring so many hit songs, including Sharron's killer arrangements of Bohemian Rhapsody, Hotel California, Creep and Last Dance!! 

"BEST OF THE FEST" 

- The Scotsman

"#1 Cabaret in New York City" 

- NitelifeExchange and WPAT Radio

To buy tickets click the link:

http://www.brockvilleartscentre.com/august.html