Today, Plymouth....tomorrow (well, next week), River Edge!!!

[ellenkushner]

Last week's "Klezmer Nutcracker" performance in Columbus, Ohio, was a real treat - doubly so when stardustgirl turned up in her orange TransAm (impressing the guys in my band no end). I'd been up since what one friend used to call "christ 'o'clock in the morning" to fly to Ohio to make the afternoon gig, and there were many logistics to work out, including the usual grueling soundcheck with a new engineer, which, with 6 band members including a tuba and drum set, takes twice as long as the actual performance . . . but we got out onstage, and it was all worth it - I realized Bob Franke's right: they pay you for the schlepping and setup, and then, as a reward, they let you perform!

Today, by contrast, will be, as the Brits say, a doddle - a short drive down the coast to Plymouth, Mass. (where I actually worked one summer as a Pilgrim in college) - and Delia has even offered to drive. Sweet.

Next week, we take it to the outlying reaches of NYC, which is to say, suburban NJ, and then we're done til next year.

If you know anyone near either area, pass the word - especially if they've got kids ages 7 - 12. You don't have to be Jewish - how many "Messiahs" and regular "Nutcrackers" have I attended over the years...?

http://www.sff.net/people/KushnerSherman/kushner/upcoming.html
has all the details.

Six candles tonight - we're breaking our personal best record this year for getting them lit every night so far! The heat, as they say, is on - will we go all the way to 8 without missing one?

Stay tuned.

Comments

[stardustgirl.livejournal.com]

I had an amazingly fine time! And I (and the pumpkin) hope to do it again next time you're all out this way.

I'll second the bit about not having to be Jewish. I'm not of any organized religion and I had a great time because it's just a good story and good music. You don't have to know or understand anything... just sit back and enjoy.

Good luck with the candles! :-)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[tayefeth.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Will kids under 7 explode if they try to sit through it? I can't make it (I have a birthday party to attend), but a (Jewish) friend might be interested. She has four kids (ages 2, 5, 7, 9)...

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

It depends entirely on the kids - while it does seem to work best for older littlies, I've seen 2-year-olds sit enthralled, and 7-yr-olds melt down, so who can say? My own theory is that it depends on how used they are to being told stories and read to, whether they can sit for 45 minutes watching and listening to something that is not basically interactive (though we do throw in some jokes and even a little dancing - but it's not one of those, "And now, Children...do youuuu know what a DREydl is?" kind of performances). - Or then again, it might just be whether or not they got their nap on time that day.

Anyhow, it's curious: very young kids love listening to the album over and over, but older kids seem to appreciate the live show more. I like recommending it to older ones, because so often parents see "Kids/Holiday" and assume it is too "young" for 8-11 yr olds, and to me, that's our ideal audience for "KlezNut" live.

- Though yesterday, the biggest grins and most fixed attention I saw was on the faces of the 30 - 50 yr olds...

[tayefeth.livejournal.com]

Thanks.