2022 to JANUARY 2023 THE FUTURE

I thinking about a "oh, that was nice 2022" wrap up, and certain things popped up. But then, looking through the last year, there was a lot of honestly good stuff... A lot of hard, and some things didn't work (and, you know, there's this pandemic), but from where we started.. it's sort of incredible. 

  - I produced a bunch of shows! Well... define a bunch. But so lucky! There's A Crack in Everything, Bring Your Kids, Nudge at the BLB, Something Musical.... 

 - I did a bunch of shows! Not only the above, but the insane joy of Poppa Pia, Give the Drummer Some, the three minutes I wrote and performed at Rev. Matt's Monster Science Award show still makes me proud, took my first swing at solo musical improv, stuff at HUGE... so lucky. 

 - I wrote less music than last year, but played out much much more, including kids' music at Midtown Global Market, spooky stuff with Will Roberts, and a solo spot in Mary Jo Pehl's garage.

 - I taught a bunch. So many thanks to COMPAS, HUGE, Children's Theatre... 

 - I wrote a goddamn musical with the amazing folks at PRI, and then we performed it. 

 - I got to take a week-long musical improv workshop with a bunch of dreams. 

 - I made a bunch of posters. And google websites. 

 -  And a one-offs and workshop-teaching and very very lucky. 

My kids got bigger and I'm still in awe. 

2023, we can only and just hope. And work. And re-define. 

Taking things in bits, what's happening in January 2023? (i.e. the future)

 - NUDGE returns! We'll be up Fridays at 8 p.m. at HUGE, January and February. So excited to play. Sweet Teeth opens!

 - Jim Robinson and I are HR Seminar at Improv a Go Go, HUGE, Sundays January 15th, 22nd, and 29th. 8 p.m., Pay what you like!

 - OMG! comes to Daleko Arts in New Prague! I'll be up Saturday Jan. 21st. 

 - The HUGE Anniversary Show! Saturday Jan. 29th, 8 p.m. at you-know-where.

 - I'll be teaching for HUGE (AV 301 and Throwback Night's Armando!) and for Children's Theatre Company, back to the Bakken, and a little bit of COMPAS..

...And then figuring out the rest! I don't usually do yearly goals or plans, but it sounds orienting for this year. Getting one's bearings, etc. So much has been thrown up into the air, and adjusted accordingly. 

Sending so much love, health, and goodness to you and yours.

DECEMBER OPE! HERE WE GO!

It's December 2nd, my loves. DECEMBER 2nd. The march of time is still a thing of WTF wonder. 

November!! 

 - The amazing clients at PRI performed Dracula's Midnight Diner and it was SO GOOD!!!! We are so incredibly proud. You should probably watch this reel. 

THEY DID SO GREAT! So many thanks to COMPAS for the opportunity, for Malia and Karla for the incredible artistry, and to everyone at PRI, with special love to Miranda and Rashon... WHEWWWW.. it was incredible. 

 - My memoir class down at Walker Highview Hills also had their sharing and DID SO GOOD! This was all within a week of each other. My heart can't take it. 

 - Was lucky enough to do a performance of Shalee Coleman's Re(Cover): The Campaign with the amazing Meghan Wolff. 

 - Also got to play with Matt Prindle and a group of stupidly funny improvisers in the insane form Drop Ship, which will live forever in my soul.  

 - Improvathon destroyed and built up our tiny community again: ADORABLE ADORABLE'd my heart (thank you so, Butch), and then my laptop and I did my first bit of solo music improv. 

(That's a whale god singing.)

 - And then, finally, got to play some ukulele songs at Mary Jo Pehl's Garage for the Performing Arts. And that was just about as lovely a night as one could ask for. 

 - I also finished Andor and had a panic attack during the prison break episode. What an amazing show, that cast that cast that cast... I LOVE IT. 

DECEMBER, YOU WEIRD MINX, WHAT'S HAPPENING? 

 - I taught a corporate workshop on listening for the Marsh McLennan Agency yesterday (at Lawless Distillery), and they were fantastic! So grateful for the opportunity!

 - Something Musical presents Nora Laura & Jen (with Kelly on keys!) Musical improv at Improv a Go Go, Sunday Dec. 4th, 11th, and 18th, 8 p.m. show. It's a manic manic dream. 

 - Give the Drummer Some returns! As part of Our Town's Snow Wizard series at Strike Theater! Saturday Dec. 10th, 7 p.m. show! Physical improv with a live percussion heartbeat. 

 - I'm playing Gigi's Cafe (on 36th & Bryant Ave S in Minneapolis) on Friday Dec. 16th 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. with Thor! I feel so lucky to live just blocks from Gigi's, and so grateful to Laura for curating a Neighborhood Showcase! Come for at least a hour of ukulele music and Thor, making beautiful nordic waltzes. YES. 

More will come in January, but please look at this poster I designed. I bought myself Photoshop again: it is the most active form of procrastination I can muster. Also, Nudge returns in January to HUGE! See what I did there?

Love!

Improv A Thon! Raising $$ for HUGE Theater

Hi! Please join us in Give to the Max day, here in Minnesota. I'll be performing twice during HUGE's Improv A Thon... 

Once with the incomparable Butch Roy in our duo, Adorable. 

And once by my little lonesome, as Something Musical.  

Please give if you can! HUGE is trying to purchase a building. It's incredible. 

And if you're in the Twin Cities, join us Wednesday Nov. 16th, starting at 8 p.m., through midnight on Thursday Nov. 17th, at the theater itself, for all the free improv you could hope for. <3

No-mo-vember 2022

Hellooooo... Hoping spooky season paced itself, and you walked through it (and it through you!), and emerged on the other side. Hi November. Oh you. 

October was chock a block. Coco bananas. And great in many ways. 

 - I just finished a six week residency with Partnership Resources Inc. through COMPAS! We created and performed a musical in six weeks. HOLY GUH! We had our performance today and what sweetness. I wrote, directed, music-directed, composed, made the programs, and created the supertitles for the show. The amazing Malia Arakia Burkhart did the set, while the incredible Karla Nweje did the choreography. We performed at Center for the Performing Arts TODAY, and what a delight. It was so much work, but there was so much love. I'm so grateful for it all. (extra shouts to and for Miranda and Rashon for making every day a joy and actually possible. We are the luckiest, loves.)

 - Give the Drummer Some finished it's run at HUGE Theater! THAT WAS FAR TOO SHORT. We were amoebic id-machines. All improv all reaction, all pattern, all goofy. I hope we continue, as it feels like too precious and TOO GOOD of a thing to let go. 

 - BRING YOUR KIDS: The Unscripted Show! So many thanks to Matt Sass (of Four Humors Theater) for doing all the bits with me... for the children. We laughed and laughed, as your children are very funny. 

- There's A Crack in Everything (on September 30th, but still gets some love here) featured the amazing Danna Sheridan, MJ Matheson, Daniel Bonespur, and Sofia (with some improvised art making while Daniel played.) IT WAS SO GD LOVELY

 - And then, finally, The Rev. Matt Kesson's Monster Science Vs. There's a Crack in Everything! Matt talked monsters, I wrote and sang some spooky songs - - such a lovely time! Again, Matt, again! Also, the amazing Will Roberts joined me, and if you want to feel amazing, ask Will Roberts to play his bass. The night wrapped up with the band 10 items or Fewer. They're really really good. Like. Really good. 

Whewwww. It was busy. It was a lot. It was great. 

November you ask? 

- I'm lucky enough to be in re(cover): The Campaign as part of the 7th Right Here Showcase. Thursday Nov. 10th, 8 p.m. at the TEK Box at the Cowles Center. Shalee Mae Cole Mauleón wrote something very cool, and I'm so excited to see it on it's feet. 

 - IMPROV A THON rolls again!! HUGE Theater's annual Give to the Max Day extravaganza!! I'll be performing Thursday Nov. 17th, 2 p.m. with ADORABLE (with Butch Rou!) and Thursday Nov. 17th, 3 p.m. as Something Musical by myself!! All at HUGE Theater. Show up ANYTIME, give online, you're great. 

 - I'll be playing original music on my uke at Mary Jo Pehl's Garage for the Performing Arts, Saturday Nov. 26th, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. RSVP for address and further information: maryjopehl@gmail.com

 - My memoire class at Walker Highview Hills finishes up this coming Tuesday! Lovely!!

And here we are. WHEWWWWWWWWW.... 

An unsung hero for this week is my eldest kiddo, who got whatever illness is zipping around the elementary school here. It's not COVID, it's just rough. He was incredibly patient and came to a rehearsal/performance/strike while feeling lousy. 

And to everyone... I hope you're doing well. I'd love to see you. Let's please eat things together. Love!

October times...

Oh, it is! 

It is one day from October (month of month), and virgo szn (I now carry a binder full of notes, lesson plans, and calendarings) has moved into libra szn (#dreamy) and let's do it!

SHOWS

TONIGHT (which is technically September, I know), There's A Crack in Everything happens again! Featuring Daniel Bonespur, MJ Matheson, Danna Sheridan, and a mysterious guest. 7 p.m. Bryant Lake Bowl. Tickets here! 

A MASHUP! Thursday Oct. 6th, it's Rev. Matt's Monster Science VS. There's a Crack in Everything! Holy gob! Spooky songs and spooky tales, featuring the erudite Rev. Matt Kessen, the band 10 Items or Fewer, and myself, accompanied by the incredible Will Roberts on bass!! Tickets here!

Give the Drummer Some continues! Boy, we hope you like. Boy, we're having fun. Saturdays at HUGE Theater. 

The Unnamed Jill Bernard Project continues too, and I have missed every performance since the summer. GAHHHGH. It's the loveliest of shows, and I hope I can come play!

BRING YOUR KIDS: the Unscripted Show! A comedy show for kids and their grown ups! Bring Your Kids returns to make madness for your bored children. We have 75 minutes to make you laugh, and no script to do it! Tickets here!

TEACHINGS

 - Teaching theater class at Circus Juventas has begun!

 - Teaching at HUGE has begun, with an amazing Amplifying Voices 101!

 - Memoir class continues at Highview Hills through COMPAS!

 - Helping devise and direct a show with Partnership Resources Inc, who supports adults with mental and physical disabilities, all put together through COMPAS.  My manager is calling this a 'mega-residency': 6 weeks, four days per week, for two hours. We're one week in and there has been so much laughter. Is the world ready for a musical mystery set in a haunted diner?? LET US FIND OUT!

ETC

 - The Mayday's Genre Rollercoaster weekly online musical improv class has begun again! And I am so incredibly grateful. 

 - It's my birthday month! More on that later perhaps. 

Sending so much love!

Hove, Actually

I've been thinking of this song since leaving Hove. Dedicated to every member of the Open Your Mouth and Sing cohort, students and teachers. What a dream! 

MADNESS! MADNESSSS! SEPTEMBER 2022

Oh hey. 

We are mostly un-jetlagged. I got food poisoning. I am still recovering. FOOD POISONING IS DUMB. It's been over a week, and things are still not quite right. 

But what about September? 

Performances

 - Friday September 30th! There's a Crack in Everything returns! Featuring music by Daniel Bonespur, storytelling by Spencer Retelle (the Other Jeannie Retelle), and myself. It should be so lovely. Bryant Lake Bowl, 7 p.m. show. 

 - Wednesdays at HUGE Theater: The Unnamed Jill Bernard Project. We take a look at kids' jokes, talk about them, and improvise off of what we discover. The group and form are full of joy. Part of HUGE Wednesdays, 8 p.m. show!

 - Saturdays at HUGE Theater: Give the Drummer Some. Josh Kaplan is a honest to goodness genius, and has gathered a dream. Josh provides the soundtrack and we provide the (mostly silent) movement. 7 p.m. show!

Teaching

Oh my goodness, this has changed a lot in the last week.. HERE we go!

 - Circus Juventas theater classes start up. 

 - HUGE Theater! I'll be teaching Amplifying Voices Improv 101 - - so excited!

 - Coming back for Children's Theatre Company's Radio Drama class... 

 - As school returns, so does touring at the Bakken Museum. 

 - COMPAS! Facilitating Memoir classes for residents at Walker Highview Hills. 

 - COMPAS! Teaching some improv workshops at Anoka Middle School. 

 - COMPAS! Helping devise and direct a show with Partnership Resources Inc, who supports adults with mental and physical disabilities. My manager is calling this a 'mega-residency': 6 weeks, four days per week, for two hours. So incredibly curious. 

What was once a quieter looking month, has become a month of stuff. School starts up.. hoping to get more Penny and the Bandits out there... preparing for some October things. (and honestly, still processing August in so many ways.) 

All the things! Hoping things are good. <3

Before September hits

THE SOLO ADVENTURE! 

 - I arrived in Brighton on a Sunday, and was immediately whisked by dear friends through Brighton Pride and walked through the Lanes, along the beach, and then fed blackberries and stuffed peppers for dinner. Already, I am in love. 

  - The Open Your Mouth intensive taught by Heather Urquhart and Joe Samuel was as incredible an experience as one could ever hope for. Dreamy new friends, so much laughter, so much seafood, full moon fish, much adventure, and 5 a.m. seagulls that just don't stop. It was grown up summer camp, and I had such fun. Singing together is a special thing, and singing improvised songs even more so. So incredibly lucky, and so incredibly sad to leave. (and, as the amazing Jules Munn reminds us, "Unclench your assssholllle".)

- I stopped in London to see friends I hadn't seen in years or a friend I've only seen in a tiny square on a screen. It was beautiful. The British Museum is incredible, and they should probably give all that stuff back. Very lucky to have seen so much! (also, London is awesome by rental bike, if I could only figure out a right turn. I truly have no idea how those work.)

 - EDINBURGH. Charity shops and gyoza, beautiful vintage and following crowds around theater spots. AMAZING. They stick performance everywhere! In shipping containers and under bridges, stuffed into every castle-like building one could find. (Except for the actual castle) If you have a Pimm's cup in the afternoon, you'll miss literally two shows. 

 - Chris Gethard's beautiful new solo show, front row, close enough to give me COVID. 

 - Baby Wants Candy was a goddamn dream.

 - Good Grief... a weirdly linear exploration of death and grief, as told by a bunch of hyper talented Xennial clowns. Lovely! Fine! and I really don't like Cowgate, for whatever reason. 

 - Unfortunate... the musical origin story of Ursula the sea witch. It was hilarious, hilariously done, and unexpectedly filthy! Dicks! (The pre-show music was WAP.) 

 - BriTANik is not British. They are American, and I love them. Fervently. So. Goddamn. Funny. 

 - The Tiger Lillies. I went, because if you have a chance to see them, you should. AND, the content (duh, Jen) was not for me. All expertly executed, perfectly on brand, possibly an approach I could try and emulate... Just needed a story with less rape and murder. 

 - Atsuko Okatsuka! So funny. Also, got to hang out with her and her husband Ryan for a bit, and that was so very nice.  

 - Show Stoppers! Improvised musical theater done in the style of three musicals. THERE WERE A BILLION PEOPLE AT THIS SHOW. It's a very very clever format, almost short-form-y (there's a 'director' to make sure everything moves along)... And funny. AND, oh man, do I prefer the manic freefall of Baby Wants Candy? I THINK I MIGHT.  

That was a lot of shows for less than three days. Lucky. 

I also walked up to Arthur's Seat, walked through the Old Town, cried over street musicians, adored my hotel room, stood amazed at the vintage offerings, and ate buttered chicken.  

Would I go back to either Brighton or Edinburgh in a heartbeat? Immediately and absolutely. 

London, I would go to give my laundry to the nice man and King's Laundrette and eat vegan Indian for 7 pounds around the corner from there. I would visit the British Museum again, and stay away from the center city. I would hop on the tube, and not worry about wherever I end up. Next time. 

So incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Certainly more to say later. We head back to Minneapolis on Thursday. WHAT ADVENTURE THEN???

August 2022... As it's almost fall.

This picture is not filtered and I'm very proud of it. 

It's really not. 

I think our seasons currently go like this:

 - Winter: November - April

 - Spring - Mayish

 - Summer - June - September

 - Fall - Octoberish. 

That's it. There it is. Tornadoes have shifted to spring. Winter is 6 months long. Summer is what you get, and fingers crossed for nice. 

July got chopped up into little pieces by COVID, but was also fine. There were lovely lake days, some park days, some early birthday parties, a wedding filled with so much joy and love, and more candy than anyone should consume. So much candy.

I finished up a half day camp at Children's Theater Company, where the coolest group of teens devised an awesome (and funny) horror short. Truly, the kids are alright, if not more so. 

We also saw the Circus Juventas show on Friday, and my body responded to the spectacle by immediately crying. Don't mind me. It's incredible. (It's an expensive ticket, AND as far as "getting your money's worth", GOOD GOB. That 3 hour show just don't stop. Fire! Flying! Unicycles! Spinning a small person around on roller skates! Jumping and rolling! Boom! Smash! GAH! IT'S A LOT AND IT'S AMAZING.) 

The youngest and I also saw the Goodyear Blimp. I'm still talking about it. 

Performance-wise, Nudge had lovely sets at HUGE Theater, was part of the loveliest group called Some Friends, and I also got to guest with Jennifer's Lawn, which was just as 'bout as dreamy as can be. <3

August-wise, what is happening? Travel. We are very lucky. I hope it works. Grandma and Grandpa and extended family live outside of the states: we've been so lucky to visit, and this year, I'm lucky to do some solo traveling #gasp. 

I'm planning on attending the Maydays' Open Your Mouth and Sing in-person musical improv intensive in Bristol, UK. #AHHHHHHHHH I am excited, and I hope all transportation bits do what they're sort of supposed to do.  Some visiting in London, and then a quick look at Edinburgh for the biggest of Fringes. 

I've never been to the UK. What's going to happen? I HAVE NO CLUE. I'm hoping to be charmed, and not to catch another variant. That'd be cool.

And truly, between packing and getting through jet lag, that's August.

If in the Twin Cities, YOU should attend the Minnesota Fringe Festival, as it's truly filled with talent and energy and joy. (Self-hype: I think I still hold the record for most Fringe performances in one festival year: 36. I was in 36 shows in 2007 during a ten day festival. Somehow true.) 

Wish us all luck and can't wait to see you in September, if not before. <3

July 2022: Summer in the City

Oh hey July. 

Oh hey summer. 

We are summer-ing the summer. And I got the plague. 

Two nights ago, I was in rough shape. Last night was much better, and I'm at 65-75%. 

I'm mostly just sad. And weird about it, as this was always the thing that could 'mess everything up' and now has 'messed some things up', but very very lucky for us, will be okay and fine. It's weird. 

(I'm also so mad. This horrible thing that has killed so many people. A horrible president who politicized masking and killed so many people. And now, as it steps into our house, and reminds us all that it's still real, and thankfully, gratefully, we'll be okay... this stupid beast that comes and hangs out with us for a couple of days and then sludges away.)

I'M MISSING MY SHOW TONIGHT. I'm so incredibly sad. Luckily, the show is in incredible hands and will be f-ing delightful. https://www.bryantlakebowl.com/theater/theres-a-crack-in-everything-a-performance-of-music-and-storytelling-from-here

In spritelier news, the Amplifying Voice 101 had an AWESOME sharing, Camby MN spoiled me beyond belief, as did dressing up like a Golden Girl for Pride, the Twin Cities Improv Festival was a thing of joy and possibly of disease (Nudge and Adorable performed, and I got to play keys for Here: The Improvised Musical #dream), took Tara and Rance's Pretty Flower workshop, and I taught almost-exactly half a week at Children's Theatre until Plague. 

Oh July, what is up? 

The kid-version of the imaginary band Penny and the Bandits marches on! I'm at Midtown Global Market from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Friday July 8th for Family Fridays! Come join us! Mug Cup Can Straw headlines with the grooviest kids' music one could hope for. 

(Look at what happens when Remi plays! Adorableness!)

I think I am doing musical improv in Minneapolis! Saturday July 9th, 9:30 p.m. show with the amazing Hannah Wydeven at HUGE Theater. I'll also be playing piano for this show #bwahahahah

Beloved Nudge is up at HUGE Theater, Saturday July 16th & 23rd, 8 p.m. show for Summer Potluck!! 

On July 23rd, I'll also be guesting with Jennifer's Lawn, a troupe that is near and dear to my heart. It should be so lovely!

I'll be teaching one last camp (if I don't get the plague again) at Children's Theatre, doing a little work at the Bakken, and working to get everything set for August AND THEN IT'S SOMEHOW SEPTEMBER OH I DON'T KNOW. 

I'll share about August, as, barring more plague or more things we can't control, we're scheduled for adventures. It may not all work, but that's okay. Expect much news!

Time is weird. Having a Supreme Court dedicated to killing its citizens is actually, you know, quite weird. Having an actually f-ing coup almost happen is weird. I'm grateful to all who did the research, who testified, who... oh heavens. All of it. 

So.. How are we going to restore abortion rights before more lives are lost or futures squashed? Or, you know, bodily autonomy taken away bit by weird legislative bit? What is screaming into the void? What is movement? 

I am sending so much love to you. 

We did a thing! Canby MN SW Minnesota Arts Council Residency

I was the luckiest duck and was sent to Canby, MN through COMPAS for a Theater and Storytelling residency. 

Joyce of the SW Minnesota Arts Council was my keeper, and just the best person you could ever hope to have in your corner. We did improv in the park with elementary and middle school kids, curated conversation with the residents of Sylvan Place (an assisted living facility in Canby), theater-based play with the preschoolers at the Connection, all wrapping up with a performance by the improv students in the Central Park, kicking off the annual Hat Daze celebration. 

I was told to check out the Rock Room in Gary, SD, was absolutely included in the community of Madison, MN by Kris at the Madison Mercantile, I ate taco Tuesday from Jim's Market, had Dairy Queen at least three times, and truly enjoyed Barb's Potato Salad from Jim's (after Barb at Sylvan let me know that it was her recipe.) 

It was a beautiful week, and I'm so incredibly grateful for it all. Really really cool community-based stuff is happening in SW Minnesota, and I was honored to experience just a bit of it. 

 

We did a thing! Poppa Pia at Strike Theater

So so so very lucky. 

If wondering if we were having fun... we were having such insane fun. 

Such insane fun. Zero chill. All love. 

Will the ABBA jukebox musical return? OH MAN WE HOPE SO. So many thanks to Our Town Improv for putting this new family together. 

We did a thing! 2022 Grand Marshall & Pride Awards

When your friend Carolyn reaches out, wondering if you can dress up like a Golden Girl, hang out with old dear ones, and then yell at lovely lovely strangers at an open bar, you say yes as quickly as possible. <3  

June 2022... Let's find out!

It might be spring/summer here. Flowering tree season landed beautifully in MN, and then disappeared just as quickly. Tornado warnings and thunderstorms and festival season. Here we go!

Our first Midtown Global Market Family Friday happened! Remy Chacon of Mug Cup Can Straw is FANTASTIC. Wanna see some good kids' music? Wanna eat an arepa? Have we got the show for you? I played my kids' music, and I liked what I played, and it was also fine. BUT COME SEE REMY. I'll be there too. June 24th, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., FREE, at the Midtown Global Market. 

Poppa Pia opens (and closes) next weekend! June 9th - 11th, Strike Theater! I'll be at the Friday 8:30 p.m.. Saturday 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows. Honestly, this show is driving on desperate joy and INSANITY. A hoot, I tell you. 

I won't be there for the Thursday show, as I'll be dressed as Dorothy from the Golden Girls at the 2022 Grand Marshal & Pride Awards. Wut. Yep. Speaking of, I need a gd wig. 

AND THE TWIN CITIES IMPROV FESTIVAL!! YAYYYY! Nudge will be up Thursday June 23rd, Adorable will be up Sunday June 26th. 

Teaching-wise, I'm lucky enough to be finishing up an Amplifying Voices 101 at HUGE Theater. I'll also be heading to Canby, MN for a week-long residency through COMPAS: it should be lovely! (Although I'm missing Hat Daze.)

A bit of summer camp teaching that I hope will go well, and a bit of summer wrangling. COVID + strike late school ending = a mishmash of a schedule. Somehow, July makes more sense, but that could also be a lie. I'm working on getting stuff our of the house, while doing the summer-house things that we're supposed to do. 

Wishing us all luck, patience, and grace. Love!

Where I acknowledge that it is, indeed, May

Look! Look what the internet made! 

Happy May Day! I JUST REALIZED WE CAN DO MAY DAY BASKETS TODAY! Forget you, internet! (Minnesota doesn't really do May Day baskets. Iowa does. The mission here is clear, even if my nine year old wants to call it Ding Dong Ditch.) 

May Day in Minneapolis used to mean a lot of things. The May Day parade, an incredible thing, has transformed. I don't know what's exactly happening, but I know that the Southside Battletrain will ride, which is sort of one-part anarchist bike shop, one-part Mad Max, one-part Pryo, and one-part Community care. 

Weather-wise, it's still wet, if not cold. April should never mean spring here: we are a cold, crappy, pandemic-y Seattle, and the sun doesn't believe in us for a long time. 

Folks are experimenting with removing masks, and naturally COVID rates are going up. Theaters are still thankfully requiring proof of vaccination. I've been to restaurants. Is it the best? Probably not, and also, we are all so hungry for joyful connecting things. 

The world is ending in horrible ways every day. We are so grateful to be together. 

The nights I produced at the Bryant-Lake Bowl were a delight, and THAT is because of the incredible and generous energy of the artists in this town. This is not a humble-brag: putting up a show is a whole bunch of futzy business (Do I like making a show poster? I do! Sending press releases? Sure! Does any of it work?  BWAHAHAHANOONEKNOWS) AND it wouldn't fly, in the least, if amazing artists and performers and friends didn't give of themselves. 

Nudge: I would Nudge forever. I love what we do, and just wanna do it more. And there is no one better than James Rone. 

There's A Crack in Everything: A whole bunch of people who don't know me very well said yes to giving, and them recommended their friends. I am so incredibly grateful. It was a beautiful night. 

Bring Your Kids!: We sold out! All the kids said jokes! Jugglers juggled, singers sang, and people were really really funny. Also, I would watch Samantha Baker Harris as a swol supervillain being interviewed any any day. Also, Rita Boersma improvising a children's book. Levi deftly and gracefully handling dozens of kiddos. Benjamin and Sarah loving what they do. OH MAN. THIS WAS SO VERY MUCH FUN. 

And now, we're onto May! We might start wearing shorts or something. How strange. 

Teaching, COMPAS, etc:

 - I finish up with my seniors at Walker Place this week, and I don't know how I'm going to process that. They're the best, and I'm so incredibly grateful. 

 - I head to Chohasset, MN to run a workshop for the Minnesota Library Association. 

 - Get to do some work with Opportunity Neighborhood! 

 - Circus Juventas' summer session starts soon. 

 - HUGE 101 starting also! 

 - For me taking class, the Musical Improv Genre Rollercoaster from the Nursery Theatre starts up again, and I'm so grateful. #joy

Performances:

 - I'll be singing kid songs as Penny and the Bandits at Midtown Global Market, a Friday per month, starting in May. This was all initiated by Remy Chacon of MugCupCanStraw - - please check out his stuff, as it's truly the catchiest. We're up May 27th, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., June 24th, and then every second Friday after that!  

And that's it for May, which is honestly nothing to shake a stick at; it's just not the weekly vibe of April.  

Hoping to get some music recorded and released into and onto the wilds of the internet, do some writing, and tend to things that need the tending. 

June should have some ridiculousness: more on that later! Much love!  

Sometime's in April, it's SHOWS. Ehh??? Nudge, There's a Crack in Everything, Bring Your Kids!

Hi loves... 

March was a journey. The Minneapolis Teacher strike cut through most of it; I am so incredibly grateful and indebted to the kindness of fellow parents, the strength and the flexibility of the teachers, the clarity of the students... A LOT HAPPENED. It was exhausting for everyone (as much as my kiddo enjoyed the break.)

Work was stressful, as how do you manage anything? Minneapolis parents and teachers, we got very tired. And mad. (The District pulled, and continues to pull, some very gross and enraging tactics. Were these tactics actually tactics? Were they incompetence? IT WAS ENRAGING. And here we are.) All of Minneapolis needs a goddamn nap and funded public schools, please. 

And work was there, and I'm so grateful for it! Much goodness!

COMPAS ARTS: 

I got to go back to Stillwater and work with Family Means again, which is just the loveliest.

 I'm in love with my group at Walker Methodist. So much goodness!

IMPROV: 

My 201 had their showcase and IT WAS THE BEST. <3 <3 <3

The Unnamed Jill Bernard Project was a dream, and I hope we can dissect kids' jokes again soon. 

HEAR HER STORIES AT MILL CITY: 

It was the loveliest night!!! The storytellers all shown like diamonds, they brought their beautiful families and friends, there was a full audience, I will sing about this show from the rooftops. HOW LUCKY ARE WE??

My oldest kid also turned nine years old, which is pretty cool. We've spent a lot of time together the last three weeks, and he's pretty great. <3 

There is much happening in April! 

CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT - I was the music director of CAP for over 12 years, and this year, I get to act (!?). We'll be performing on Sunday April 24, 4 p.m. show: the scripts are ridiculous, the kiddos are awesome, the show is free. Please come see!

NUDGE MAKES A MOVIE - We are Nudge. We love grounded, slower paced, improvised monoscenes. We are going to do one for you, and record it like a movie. James Rone is going to open. It's going to be great. 6 p.m. Doors/7 p.m., Fridays April 15th & 22nd, Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, Tickets here!

THERE'S A CRACK IN EVERYTHING - Musicians Silversmith, Daniel Bonespur, and myself share a stage with poets Diver Van Avery and Miré Regulus. It should be stripped down and lovely! 6 p.m. Doors/7 p.m., Saturday April 16th, Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, Tickets here!

BRING YOUR KIDS! - A Comedy Variety show for Kids and Their Grown-ups. This should be ridiculous. We've got clowns! We've got juggling! We've got music! We've got jokes! 6 p.m. Doors/7 p.m., Saturday April 30th, Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, Tickets here!

THAT SEEMS LIKE PLENTY. 

It should be fun though. Producing shows is a lot of hustle hustle hustle, and I'm looking forward to the actual act of MAKING A SHOW if front of people and all. Although I am unreasonably proud of my dumb posters. I like my dumb posters a lot. 

Sending so much love!