Thenardier's Inn...One Day More!

We made it through another extension of 'Thenardier's Inn - A Les Miserables Cabaret' and it was such a fun run!  We had plenty of time for rehearsals to prepare for the show with a mostly new cast and it certainly paid off.  The show was sold out every week and we barely had any space left for our closing show this past Saturday!  Thankfully, Three Clubs (the venue of our show in Hollywood) was happy to have us and we loved filling the space and sharing our hard work and 'Thenardier's Inn' with new audience goers as well as repeat guests!

Double the Trouble, Master & Madame of the House!

It was such a blast to play Madame Thenardier for this run!  She's a wild and fun character and with Nathan as the Master of the House, I couldn't imagine playing the role opposite anyone else.  The relationship we have built through rehearsals, the show and more translates on-stage and I feel like I'm working with a best friend.  It's a really great feeling and since we have to be a team, that playfully picks on one another, steals things during the show, and feeds off the audience to tell the story, I'm proud to get to work beside him!  We did our first show together 'Babes In Toyland' nearly two years ago!

The rest of the cast that stepped into new roles really impressed me, as I've been a part of the show for over a year now and we've had some fabulous cast members.  Everyone brought a fresh perspective to their roles and also brought the humor.  It's the same show but with little tweaks here and there that brought new life into something that was fabulously magical to begin with!  Michael took over as Director and lead us into a creative environment where we could play.  He as able to keep all the parts that have worked over this past year and also give the audience some new discoveries.  Thanks to our Improv, the show changes and evolves every time and we find out what works and get to keep the audience on their toes. 

I have all the emotions and colors of the rainbow :)

After one of our best shows ever on Saturday night we were all excited to announce that we'll be going into our seventh extension in November!  I will be playing Madame Thenardier for one more day, on November 7th which is also the One Year Anniversary of the show.    I can't believe we've been doing this for a year!  We have some old cast members that will be joining us for this show, as well as filling the audience with family and friends.  My parents and brother will be in LA for the week so I'm so glad that they'll be able to see me perform as Madame Thenardier (especially my Dad and Brother) since they haven't seen me in a Theater show since I was in College!

These tickets will sell out by the end of this week because it's such a monumental show for all of us.  You can purchase tickets at www.cacstudios.com using the Promo Code: NOTLESMIS for 50% off tickets or if we're sold-out there you can go to www.goldstar.com for discounted tickets as well.  Since it is our Anniversary Show and we're inviting all the CAC Studio/Theater Company Members it's going to be an incredible show and tickets will go fast, so if you want to see me one last time as Madame Thenardier, check out the above listed websites and get your ticket for November 7th!  I can't wait to share this with you <3

Our Current 'Thenardier's Inn' Cast...I love being your Madame!

"Can't we just do this forever?" ~ My words at Intermission during our first show on November 7th 2014...and we are!

October Karaoke

I'm writing my October Karaoke Blog early since this Wednesday we'll be celebrating Halloween!  I was actually really surprised at how chill October has been; aside from Adam's Birthday celebration it was fairly quiet throughout this month.  Perhaps everyone is back in school and actually doing homework or maybe, just maybe, they've been gearing up for Halloween!

Fleetwood Mac "Dreams"

Joan Jett "I Love Rock & Roll"

Fleetwood Mac "Gold Dust Woman"

Joan Jett "I Hate Myself For Loving You"

Fleetwood Mac "Landslide"

Fleetwood Mac "The Chain"

Natalie Merchant "Wonder"

Duffy "Mercy"

Danity Kane "Damaged"

Mandy Moore "Candy"

Shania Twain "Any Man Of Mine"

John Waite "Missing You"

Quarterflash "Harden My Heart"

Bryan Adams "Summer Of '69"

Dishwalla "Counting Blue Cars"

Tracy Chapman "Give Me One Reason"

David Cook "Light On"

Mandy Moore "I Wanna Be With You"

Gwyneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis "Cruisin'"

I only had two repeats from last month of Karaoke to this month.  My first week was Audition prep for Stevie Nicks and Joan Jett so I sang all my favorite songs by each artist.  My new song that night was "Landslide" which I'll definitely sing again.  I had some back-up for "The Chain" and wish Crosby could have been at my Audition with me because we rocked that song!  I tried to keep with my one word titled theme in week two singing some of my favorites, but closed out with Country since Rachel also sang Shania Twain.  My new song was "Damaged" by Danity Kane and one I would need a couple extra singers to join me on since it's a Girl Band song.  We did have a busier night since people came to celebrate Adam's Birthday so that was nice because last week was just dead.  I got to sing some of my guilty pleasures since there was no one there.  My new song was David Cook's "Light On" which really works well for my voice; it's one of my favorite songs and since I had just seen David play at The Troubadour a couple weeks ago, I felt it fitting.  Philipe and I closed down the night with "Cruisin'" and was happy to join him on a song since his group were the only people in the bar from midnight until we shut down before 1 am. 

I'm looking forward to a fun and crazy night of music on Wednesday for Halloween Karaoke! There is a 90's theme but feel free to dress as any musical artist, band, or musician you like.  I just want to see people in costumes and having fun!  Karaoke starts at 9 pm at Gabe's...be there or be square :) 

David Cook at The Troubadour

I can tell you exactly where I was when I first heard David Cook sing.  I was in Newport Beach doing a photo shoot and my friend JB lived down there so we had just gone out to grab Dinner and catch up before I headed back to LA.  We walked into his place and his roommate had American Idol on and I heard this incredible voice coming from the TV and I had them rewind and play it again.  David Cook was singing 'Hello' and I was hooked!  I watched the rest of the season just for him because I knew he should win.  His original takes on all these songs was so innovative and I knew he had a long career ahead of him.  Of course, he did win, has had multiple albums released and I saw that he was playing a show at The Troubadour this past Sunday so I immediately bought tickets to see him play.

David Cook at The Troubadour in West Hollywood

Rachel had heard of David Cook but didn't really know his music so I was hoping she would enjoy it as much as I knew that I would!  We had a fabulous Happy Hour at Toscanova beforehand and then made our way to The Troubadour.  We found FREE parking across the street and as we walked up to the venue I turned to Rachel and said, 'we're going to meet David Cook tonight, I just know it.'

I had never been to The Troubadour before but Rachel had seen a show so she knew it was a smaller and more intimate venue.  I realized when we walked in how close we would actually be to him while he was singing and was like a giddy little girl opening my first Christmas present years ago.  We saw the opener, Andrew Ripp, performing a couple songs including one dedicated to his wife, who was all the way in Minnesota and then it was time for David's set.  We made our way closer to the stage, just about 10 feet from the microphone that was set up and waited for David to take the stage.

Personalized autographed copies of 'Digital Vein'

At about 9 pm, David walked to the stage to the screams of lots of women and also a few men.  Not only is he talented but as he talked in-between songs to pump the crowd up, he shared cute stories, engaged the audience, and made all of us laugh.  He just released his new album 'Digital Vein' and I had listened to a bunch of his music before the show so I could re-familiarize myself with it.  He opened with 'Heartbeat' which is the opening song on the album and one of my favorites.  By the time he got to 'Broken Windows' and 'Wait For Me' I knew I needed to get the album.  Next up was one of my favorites, 'Declaration,' and another off his new album,' Laying Me Low' which I absolutely loved.  I asked Rachel what she thought and could see she was enjoying it just as much as I was...success!  She recognized 'Come Back To Me' right away and I was so glad that he played his cover of Chris Isaak's, 'Wicked Game,' because it was beautiful.  'Kiss & Tell' was another upbeat and fun song and at some point during the beginning of the set, he threw one of his picks at us and Rachel scooped it up and gave it to me!  YAY!  He had to play his new single 'Criminals' which I really liked as well as 'Light On,' which was his first major hit after American Idol.  David started acapella and then just as the song kicked in, he played his guitar, and then the entire band joined in.  Not only is he a talented singer but also a skilled guitarist.  He played for almost 90 minutes and it went by so quickly I wanted to hear more!

Rachel and I with David after the show...dream come true!!

After the show I asked one of the security guys if we could wait for David since I had the pick and was hoping he would sign that or a CD that I had brought with me and he said if we waited out back that would be fine.  We walked behind the venue and were shortly joined by two other people and waited there for about an hour before we saw David come out of nowhere and he politely asked us if we could wait just a little bit longer but that he would be out soon.  I saw why when he was helping his entire crew break down the stage and pack all of their equipment up.  During that hour we actually talked to the opener, Andrew Ripp for a little bit, got a picture with him, and saw that he was heading out to a party with Andy Grammar (although we didn't figure out it was him until later).  Luckily, we only had to wait another half hour and David came right up to us and we got our chance.  Another security guy came out and had given Rachel the new album and I had bought one since I was hoping David would sign it, and sure enough he did, even asking how to spell my name.  We chatted for a little bit, as he was left-handed (like me) and I complimented him on his acapella version of 'Light On' as he replied that he had laryngitis but was appreciative of the comment.  There was no laryngitis to be seen or heard from him as he sounded like perfection!  We then got hugs and pictures and as we walked back through the alley towards my car I collapsed on the ground in utter disbelief that all these events just really happened!  I was elated to get to meet my favorite American Idol!

Needless to say, I've been listening to the new album non-stop and have found some more new songs that I love!  I would definitely see him again and think he's a great performer that anyone who loves rock and roll should absolutely check out :)

September Karaoke

September was definitely a more quiet month, even though I had a lot of friends come in to visit before I left for Wisconsin or come and hang out as soon as I got back.  It meant that everyone got to sing a lot and there were some celebrations and fun!

Amy Grant "Baby Baby"

The Ronettes "Be My Baby"

Whitney Houston "I'm Your Baby Tonight"

Mariah Carey "Always Be My Baby"

The Supremes "Baby Love"

Fleetwood Mac "Dreams"

Natalie Imbruglia "Torn"

Pink "Try"

Jennifer Paige "Crush"

Kelly Clarkson "Low"

3 Doors Down "Kryptonite"

Alicia Keyes "Fallin'"

N'SYNC "Gone"

Alanis Morissette "Ironic

The Police "Every Breath You Take"

Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time"

Whitney Houston "Run To You"

Ace of Base "All That She Wants"

Everclear "Santa Monica"

Carrie Underwood "Cowboy Casanova"

The Supremes "Baby Love"

Gwyneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis "Cruisin'"

Seether & Amy Lee "Broken"

Pat Benatar "Promises In The Dark"

Billy Idol "Rebel Yell" 

The first two weeks at Karaoke I set a little theme and everyone got really into it during the first week.  That first week, you picked a word, and it had to be in the title of all of your songs.  Adam ended up using the word 'my' but challenged himself by singing 'My Heart Will Go On' and surprising us all.  Giana used 'woman' so she sang "American Woman" by Lenny Kravitz, another super fun song and something new for her!  My word was 'baby' and my new song was Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" which I sang at an acoustic live show a couple years back in a super-set of songs.  It was much easier doing it acoustically!  The second weeks theme for myself after singing a couple songs ended up with me choosing songs that only had one word in the title.  I sang Whitney Houston twice this month including my new song that third week which was "Run To You."  I was actually really happy with how well I did although when I took voice lessons years ago that was the first song I worked on so I had a little history with it ;)  My new song the second week was "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, and I love that all of their songs are right in my range.  That third week and fourth week were really busy so I didn't sing much in the third week and once it cleared out in the last shift I worked in September I ended up singing a couple duets.  Marcus and I did "Cruisin,'" which is one of my favorite duets, and one that Mikey Weiss and I will sing on-stage at some point in front of a crowd of people (I just know it!)  And I also sang "Broken" with Crosby, another great song, and one I forget about!  My new song that week was "Santa Monica" by Everclear; they had a few hits in the 90's but it wasn't my favorite song to sing, although I'd try doing some of their other music and see how it goes.

There were a lot of songs added to my history and also some new friends coming into Gabe's for the first time!  I wasn't able to work that last Wednesday in September because I was at my Preview Night for 'Thenardier's Inn - A Les Miserables Cabaret' but now I'm even more excited to be back this Wednesday for Adam's Birthday Celebration!  Let the good times roll :D