A Girl Like Me ... evolves

This story is to be filed under "Waltzing in a Minefield." One little misstep can explode. One little word gone awry!

Over a decade ago, Michael and I broke up over creative territory. He did a beautifully produced recording of A Girl Like Me with Satya Chavez.

When I heard it, though, there was one small problem. When she gets to the part where she says, 

"with big shoes"... she says, "—size nine—but in style."

I'm not sure how this happened...it sounded fine but this one word change broke the story structure!  Because the entire premise of the story is ASHLEY HAS COMICALLY BIG FEET. And size nine is quite normal. (Had she said, "Men's size nine," that would be big. Or "size twelve." Or even "size ten" ... that would be big enough for a teen to feel awkward.) 

Michael was not in a position to re-record the song, so our conversation about it was difficult and heated. Unkind words were said. And then some more, later.

A few years ago, I sang the song myself for a song showcase with Musical Café. I sang the original version, with lyrics just by me. It helped me get myself sorted out, just as Ashley sorts herself out in the song.

Then last year, I heard from Michael again! He was asking for permission to perform the song again, for his own New York showcase. Of course I said yes!

A bit after that, we were able to talk things through and make peace again. I'm so glad. I have so much respect for this man and his music, and I know he respects me as an artist. I don't know if we'll ever finish the musical, but it helps to be on good "footing" again. Even in clown shoes.

The Day the Music Died

You may be wondering whatever happened with this project. I just found this draft post that I never published. It was written in February, 2014, and titled, "A Dramatic Ending." Well here's the answer!

___________________________

Muses are generous, but they are capricious. And sometimes the drama of life itself overwhelms art.

I have some bad news: Michael and I have had a parting of the ways.

This may not be so surprising. After all, we've had many partings of the ways, often just when it seems like we're "almost there." Our musical has been "forthcoming" since 2002.

In all our ups and downs, I thought there were more ups than downs, but sadly it seems the downs won out in the end. During the writing flurry last May, Michael and I inspired ourselves to do a lecture together about the rewards and challenges of creative collaboration. Or maybe write a book entitled Waltzing in a Mine Field...

But since then it's been all about waiting. Michael had some wonderful success. And then, all of a sudden, we couldn't seem to communicate anymore.

After a few weeks of tempestuous and troubling emails, and just over two years from the date we last patched up our collaborelationship, I got this kind but firm letter:

Hi Kristen, 

Today is the day when we officially creatively part; it's time for both of us to move on. 

Please keep any of my residuals from the SOULS ebook to further your show(s). 

Please use any of the music I wrote to further the show as you see fit. 

Thanks for all you taught me. 

I wish you success and the best in all your creativity. 

And keep writing; never never never never NEVER give up. It will all fall into place when the time is write. 

See you at the Tonys. 

•m• 

Michael O'Dell 

I am deeply saddened, that our dramatic ending was not a dramatic finish. Still missing my dog, too, some days I feel like letting this dream fade away. But I will, as my father-in-law would say, endeavor to persevere.

I wanted to let those of you who supported us in our fundraising campaign last spring know about what's been happening. There is still a little money in the bank, and with it I hope to find a way to patchwork the wonderful music Michael has so generously produced into a working score this spring.

Wish me luck.

___________________________

Nine years have passed, and Michael and I haven't spoken since. I've taken classes in collaboration since then [SF Conservator] and learned about the boundaries collaborators have to respect. I think my error was trying to shape his music so much—he felt controlled. His error? He rewrote  lyrics without consulting me. 

It's kind of a funny story, the reason things exploded. thought we'd been getting along great! In our 3-week compose-a-thon, he completed all but the finale. Then Michael went back to polish, determined to finish this huge project, starting with the "Can't-Go-To-Prom Blues" that throaty Julianna Marx had originated in New York. We'd developed it into a soaring first act climax called, "A Girl Like Me"— and a song in this position in a show requires belting. Michael recorded it in with a top-notch belter, Satya, and it sounded super Disney-esque. But my heart sunk when she sung the line, "these feet, size nine, but in style." He'd rewritten a number of lines, and for some reason changed the size of Ashley's feet! 

"I love it but...it ruins the story," I said. "Everything revolves around Ashley having to wear shoes in a large man's size. Nine is just a little bit average. If you only have room for one syllable, can you just record her saying "twelve," instead?" Over the next few weeks and months, the more I tried to sort things through, the more unkind his responses became as he focused all his energy into solo projects and put this project behind him. He was vicious after seeing me improv Ashley's character at the Clown reading. Months later, he told me he'd been in a bad space and was doing better now. He called me his creative hero, and I didn't know how to respond. Because he never actually apologized. He never asked if I was okay. And I really wasn't. There was sadly no healing or recovery, just scabbing over and moving on. I never posted on this blog again because I didn't want to call him out. And I didn't want to air what I felt was a tremendous personal failure, after we'd overcome so many obstacles together. 

Sometimes life just goes a bit haywire. I know.

Over the next few years I tried working with different composers to complete things, but could never find the same meeting of minds and playful spirits. I ended up pouring my love for this story into a novel, did a ton of awesome readings, and got through the first draft of the sequel. I started a fun Facebook group for shoe stories and continued relationships with many artists I'd met along the way. Then I had to get back to work on tbe psychology and assertiveness books that inspire so much of my storytelling—and life whisked me away into new adventures!

I never spent the money we raised during our compose-a-thon. Michael fell off the map again, blocked me from Twitter, quit Facebook to regroup. I Google him every so often. Several years after we'd exchanged our last words, I saw he was raising funds for a new studio, and made a generous donation. Then there was Covid and we cringed through the Trump years and fluffy fun projects like this kind of seemed less important. I'm happy to see Michael continues to develop and express his impressive talent, now writing his own works. I'm grateful for the work we did together. I brought the lessons I learned to my next dramatic & musical works: Invocation, Be Mused and The Dirndl Diaspora. 

If the changes of technology still allow you to get this, I thank the readers of this blog for your incredible enthusiasm, support, and encouragement back when! I'm proud of what we accomplished; the fun is evident when you scroll through the old posts. And I really would like to believe what Michael said: "It will all fall into place when the time is 'write.'" 

Meanwhile, there's much more in store for the princesses. Please keep up with me on www.kristencaven.com! 

—Kristen

Interview: On Creative Adaptation

In Beth Barany's weekly live #askaWritingCoach chat on BLAB, she interviewed me about adaptation of creative works into different media.

It was great to have a chance to sit down and think through how many media The Souls of Her Feet has morphed through in its long development. (As the first in a trilogy!)

Working with it, I feel I should have gained a master's degree in adaptations: the story was been worked through the structures of a graphic novel, an opera, a musical,a screenplay, a blook (blogged book), and an interactive ebook on its way to being published as a novel.

In this interview I talk about the challenges of working cross-platform and the joys of creative exploration, collaboration, and conversation.

I gave away a copy of one of Perfectly Revolting and Beth gave away digital copies of her books to listeners who asked questions.  Thank you, Beth! Great time!

Listen to the Interview

Source: Archives: Past Live Chats · Writer's Fun Zone

Clowning Around With Cinderella

Last May, Kristen was invited to do a reading at the Literary Foolery Cabaret by Cal Shakes actor/clown Tristan Cunningham.

Needless to say, hilarity ensued.

2013 Spring Scrapbook!

The book launched in April, with a foot-pampering party on April 27.

Click for video of (donor) Carolyn holding the spa spellbound.

Click to hear Kristen read an excerpt from The Souls of Her Feet novella.

A bouquet to celebrate our successful fundraising campaign

Michael arrived on May 19th for a 3-week writing gig. First thing: rubbing elbows with literati.

Then another reading of The Souls of Her Feet.

 And the writing began! "Teen Pregnancy" on paper.

 Much coffee was consumed. Meetings nearly daily. This is where the new finale, "Step Up" was born!

But mostly, music was written! The wonderful spread of "Truth or Dare Waltz." 

After 3 weeks, we hardly recognize ourselves.  

But we're getting closer to having a show!

Cobbler: The Glass Slipper... Yes? YES!

 

Volume Nine • May 9, 2013 "This was such a fun read! I just loved it. It's a perfectly unique and modern twist on the Cinderella story..." One Week to Go.... There are only seven more days before our campaign ends... can you help us reach our goal? Twenty-six people stand behind Michael and I in achieving our dream of completing our musical. Are you among them? Would you like to be? (YES!) A favorite perk seems to be the paperback version of The Souls of Her Feet—which is getting effusively great reviews so far! "...One of my favorite escapes as a child was piling into my mother's closet where we stored the sleeping bags and reading my seemingly never-ending book of fairy tales, and Kristen Caven took me right back there. She has the skilled hand that it takes to retell a fairy tale without coming off clichéd or overly sentimental..."  Of course, you can also just buy the book for your e-reader; that helps us too!   "...Strong voice, great characters, and upbeat pacing drive this story through to the very end. I identified so much with the cleaning-as-therapy that Ashley begins..." And if you've read it, please write a review! Reviews make or break books by indie authors like me. ..."I dearly, dearly love Harry! But my absolute favorite part is the "glass slipper". Here, let me read you some! This is the "glass slipper" part J.M. Randolph liked so much in her Goodreads review. I read it at the launch ("lawnch") party.  Want to donate now? (YES!) THANK YOU!!! 7 days to $2500 My first review! Virtual Reading NEW Music! The Last Queen of Hawaii Listen to this beautiful soundtrack Michael whipped up. The song is "A Girl Like Me," the emotional low-point of the play, in which Ashley is wracked with self-doubt. But it ends hopefully note right before intermission, so we want to come back and see what happens! Listen to A Girl Like Me Now wouldn't you like to hear someone sing the lyrics? (YES!) As soon as the campaign ends, Michael will get on a train and come out to California, where we will put our heads together and get more songs written! Upcoming Reading!  May 19, 2013, 2pm Main Oakland Library A week from this Sunday I'll be reading (a different part) at the California Writers Club. If you've been wanting to check ME out, check the CLUB out, or see bestselling author JULIA FLYNN SILER speak about The Lost Kingdom, her book about the last queen of Hawaii, please join us! “…a sweeping tale of tragedy, greed, betrayal, and imperialism. The depth of her research shines through the narrative, and the lush prose and quick pace make for engaging reading.” —Library Journal More than ever,  Thanks for reading!!!! Kristen subscribe to the occasional Cobbler here

brought to you by the busy busy elves at www.kristencaven.com.

 

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Put your feet together for: The Souls of Her Feet! (Spring Cobbler #3)

What if Cinderella didn't have dainty little feet? What if Cinderella's fairy godmother was... kind of a drag? What if Cinderella actually found her voice?

The Souls of Her Feet launched today!

Friends of the musical (FOTMs), I'm so very excited to invite you to read The Souls of Her Feet on your kindle, kobo reader, or iPad! Heck, you can even read it on your computer, no matter what brand!

(Secret hint - ONE of the links above has the price wrong... and if you've got that reader, you can download the book for FREE this week until it is fixed!)

Did you notice there are THREE covers? That's because there are THREE versions. (I can't do anything simply, can I?)

The Souls of Her Feet (a musical cinderella)

If you enjoyed reading the blook online, you will be delighted to find Ashley's story entwined with the musical-making subplot in a complementary and enticing design. 

You'll love pushing the buttons to play the songs (all music by Michael O'Dell), watch the videos (including some great new ones), and finding the pop-up surprises.

The Souls of Her Feet (a novel cinderella)

My super-cool editor convinced me to publish a version with just Ashley's story, which she (yay) thought was very strong and wonderful. Lucky thing, because I could only publish the bells-and-whistles version for the iPad. The 'novel' version, very shortly, be available everywhere!

Anyone who donates $20 or more to the musical gets a physical copy of the book—not available anywhere else! Can you pitch in and help us reach our goal of $2,500 in the next 30 days? We're working hard at this! Michael even went out and shoveled snow for donations, god bless him. We need more love!

Here are some of the other perks for the campaign:
- get a free ebook!
- we'll donate 5 pairs of shoes donated in your name
- a shoe on a shirt
- a jingle written JUST FOR YOU
- a magic tchotchky
and
- the undying love of the creators (you know it's true!)

I priced the ebook low ($2.99 and $5.99) to make it easy for everyone to buy it. I would love to hear your thoughts — please read and write a review! The more ratings the book gets, the better our chances for world domination and all that. I'll be doing lots of book giveaways this month, so let me know if you want to get one for free and I'll try to send word your way.

Thanks for your encouragement toward this very big step! 

Kristen

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Spring Cobbler - FOTM news

Hooray for our three Prince Charmings, Magic Talisman and Glass Slipper! Are there any Fairy GodWhatevers out there? With your help, we've raised enough with our crowdfunding campaign (donations are now tax-deductible, yay) to fly Michael out here for some serious songwriting. We're still trying to raise $2000 more to record new songs. 

You can still be part of the fantasy! The more supporters we get, the more eligible we'll be for grants when production time comes. Whatever your budget (seriously, NO donation is too small), there is a giving level with fun rewards. One of them is...

The ebook!

It's coming out on April 21st. Yes, you can finally read the story of Ashley, Harry, and Jeff without interruption, on your e-reader. Wherever you are, I hope you can join me for the launch party on April 27! 

The Blook is over and I've got an editor who's an expert on superheros, radicals, girlhood, supervillains, woman in pop culture, and heroes. Plus, I've had so much fun creating the new cover art...this one is a teaser...

Please x3 support the arts!

In spite of all of our wishing and dreaming, the musical has refused to write itself. So the first thing I want to tell you about is our campaign to raise some dough to help us take the next step. This new video tells the whole new wrap-around magic realism story behind the musical - and the forthcoming books and CDs. We are currently trying to raise $2500 to fund a wild writing session in late May and the completion of the score.

Please please please support us in this—you can donate as little as a PENNY (well, a penny plus a story), and get lots of cool thank-you rewards. Won't you be our Prince Charming... or our Fairy GodWhatever? (You could also just go, eeeeeeee!) 



It would be so great if you could share this with your friends (especially poor ones who love fairy tales and rich ones who like to support the arts)!

Curiouser and Curiouser

The Souls of Her Feet BLOOK adds a new twist to our musical project by fictionalizing the creators and making the characters real people. The blook begins with a pretend 2010 magazine clipping of Michael and Kristen as musical theater "who's who's..." seeking real-life stories of people with fairy tale lives.

Help us create this magically-realistic world by writing your story on the comments of one of the posts at www.fairytalereality.com. It can be a real story or a creative one. Just a few sentences or paragraphs will do.

Fairy Tale Reality is intended to be an estuary between fact and fiction (an estuary being the place where fresh water and sea water swirl together at land's end). No one will know the difference, and  that art can take on a life of its own.

Kristen's story about living a Beauty and the Beast life, incidentally, is TRUE!

Big Bitch with Action Figures

On Feb 15, 2012, at 7:06 AM, Paul Goldenberg wrote:

There’s a real kind of ‘gentile william finn’ thing going on there. (that’s a compliment!)
Quite impressed actually. Very funny! J
 
______________________________
Paul Goldenberg, Chief Operation Officer
Red Wolf Online
89 Tycos Drive, Suite 201
Toronto, Ontario M6B 1W3
Email: -----
Web: www.redwolfonline.com

From: Kristen Caven [-----] On Behalf Of Kristen Caven
Sent: February-15-12 3:22 PM
To: Paul Goldenberg
Subject: Re: score

Thanks for telling me it was a compliment... I have no idea what that remark meant! Now you'll have to 'splain it to me so I get smarter. 

On Feb 15, 2012, at 12:34 PM, Paul Goldenberg wrote:

Do you know William Finn? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Finn   March of the Falsettos? 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee? He’s both brilliant and perhaps slightly disturbed. You’re not disturbed but your Barbie doll show was for sure. J  Your voice, subject matter, and Barbie video just somehow brought to mind William Finn without the Jewish element.

Is that a good explanation?

______________________________
Paul Goldenberg, Chief Operation Officer
Red Wolf Online
89 Tycos Drive, Suite 201
Toronto, Ontario M6B 1W3
Email: -----
Web: www.redwolfonline.com

On Feb 15, 2012, at 1:44 PM, Kristen Caven wrote:

Oh, THAT William Finn! (Not the Irish Parliament member.) Why thank you, that is a compliment. So is "brilliant and slightly disturbed." I looked over Wikipedia and thought, "well, I'm also straight and female..." but then I realize my character Harry isn't...!  (I'm actually wondering if he might be Jewish.... though his name is Carrington, pretty WASP-y.) I'll share the compliment with MO the music guy... he added a nice EDGE to the piece with the gritted-teeth sound of the strings, don't you think?

As always, thanks for the enlightening. :)

K

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Coming Soon: The Blook!

Get to know Ashley, our protaganist, intimately before the musical comes out, in the novel version of her story by librettist Kristen Caven.

Kristen, who writes across many genres, has been working on the novelization since 2007, and is doing a final polish as "literary performance art" by publishing a chapter a week online.

Fans of the musical are especially welcome to read along and give feedback on the developing story.

Kristen will start publishing as soon as she gets 100 subscribers to the blog/book, or "blook." Click here for a sneak preview and to sign up!

Our Musical LIVES!

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The SMBPR Scoop
Greetings Friends of the musical (FOTMs),	January 2012
Did you wonder where we went? Did you wonder what happened to our show? Wonder no more.... it's ALIVE! A Long Break After we did the rewrite of The Souls of Her Feet in April, 2009, Michael and I drifted apart for a long, long time. He went on tour with a big show. I wrote two books about my former cartooning career. After a long and awkward estrangement, we reunited last December, and have been loving our collaboration! The first song we're re-writing is "A Girl Like Me," formerly the "Can't-Go-To-Prom Blues," which was the first song Michael ever wrote, to get the job, in 2005. It's a beautiful evolution, and now shows Ashley's inner struggle in a much more moving way, as she decides to take a chance and go to the prom. (You'll get to hear it soon if you are signed up on our blog.) >>>> The Big Shoe Project Kristen is trying to talk to local high school theaters about doing scenes and songs in collaboration with other schools. A year or so down the road, there could be a really fun community project taking shape. Meanwhile, Michael, who now plays a red piano on the Boulder Mall, is scoping out voice talent in Colorado to make recordings. The Book Every musical has a book, but ours has more than one. Kristen, who works in publishing, is working on a novelization of the story that will be available some time this year, Godesss willing. Calling All SMBPR Alums Have you worked on the musical, either as an actor or a volunteer? Do you have a Facebook page? Please post a link to it on our Facebook Page - and let us "like" your page. As your career gains momentum, so does this project - and it helps us all to stay connected. I recently touched base with Sherry Vine (a.k.a. Keith Levy, who played Harry in New York), who is now Lady Gaga's worst nightmare. Meanwhile, did anyone catch Jen Ponton (narrator in New York) on 30 Rock? ("Fraaazerrrr!") Or Brian Yates Sharber (original Demo recordings) as the Gay Man in Milk? It's fun to see what everyone's doing with their careers. 'Like' our page and check back for links! Thanks for being in our cult! Here's to an amazing 2012 Kristen Caven & Michael O'Dell	Singin' on the Blog We'll be doing fewer newsletters from now on (what's 'fewer' than one ever three years, you ask? Good point...) and putting our announcements on the SMBPR blog. If you get an email from Blogspot, it's because I've signed you up to the email feed. Please opt in if you want to stay in touch! Artistic Support I got the most amazing thing in the mail last fall. Friend of the Musical (FOTM) Rhonda Bryce sent this gorgeous assemblage, covered with over a dozen examples of Just the Right Shoe, who started making their collectibles the year after I wrote the first draft of the song. (Hmmm.... merchandise tie-in??) SOMEDAY... there will be a viral video of our shoe song... and everyone will be just this obsessed! A Little 'Bitch' Reply to this email if you'd like a sneak peek of a silly little video (of me playing with singing dolls) from a musical theater workshop.  "purify the aaaiiiiirrrr!" (coming soon to YouTube!)
You never know where a new pair of shoes will take you....

© Kristen Caven 2012 •

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Big Breakthrough!

Huge news for fans of the show! Mom and Dad have made up and are going to finish writing The Souls of Her Feet!

Collaboration is hard. Being an artist is hard. Thinking about doing something in a BIG way when you feel like a NOBODY is really, really hard. But we've both been doing a lot of growing up in the seven (yes, SEVEN) years we've been collaborating, and have worked out a lot of our personal and professional kinks.

Long story short: Michael and I haven't seen each other since our "Couch Reading" in March of oh-nine. We did a rewrite of the script afterwards, and then he returned to the East Coast and we both got busy with other stuff. Last week we had a huh-youge and cathartic email fight, and cleared the air for a Skype session today, in which apologies gave way to the joy of re-claiming a long-term (and fundamentally functional) relationship.

Michael got down on one knee and held up a bottle of Adderall (in lieu of a bouquet of flowers), and asked me to take him back as a writing partner. I grinned and stammered and blushed and agreed.

Friend Of The Musical (FOTM) Ana N. was the first to know, since she beeped in at that moment. She said, "Oh, goody. Does that mean you get to have make-up writing?"

Stay tuned, let's find out.

Sneak Peek Video from the New Musical!

(Just kidding!)

But it's got a great feel, no?
A Big, Pink Rose is, of course, about Beauty.  And there is a mouthy queen in The Souls of Her Feet... so it's not that far off!

Just the Right Shoe

It's always a delight when people bring me offerings. I have a basket-full of shoe-themed notepads, napkins, and cookie cutters. I love that when people see shoe tchotchkies they think of Harry's lecture to Ashley.

But nothing prepared me for the sight that beheld me when I finally stripped through the nineteen protective layers of packing tape that surrounded a custom-cut box from my amazingly creative girlfriend (and mutual muse) Rhonda Bryce.

Fourteen exquisite, tiny designer shoes, mounted on a mirror, suspended by a big, pink rose that looks just-picked. Rhonda had been dropping hints for months about a present she was making for me... the suspense finally ended when I got the most elaborately packaged surprise in the mail.

Thank you, Rhonda! Your gift sustains the spirit of this story as it waits, like a princess by the window, for some interesting change to come.

 

Rhonda, please enjoy the music! (There's a little link to the lyrics too.)

My How Things Change.

It's been a long dry spell for the musical.  Life seems to have had other plans for Michael and I. Michael is now touring the U.S. with a company as music director, after having written many more songs for many more artists. I went and wrote a book, and now I'm working on the sequel.

As soon as I'm done, I promise, the girls will be back in action.

I now hope to bring Shoes, a Mirror, and a Big Pink Rose to life slowly as a community project entitled, perhaps, The Patchwork Princess Project. The first phase will be a competition/collaboration between local high school drama departments, with each one of them performing a song from The Souls of Her Feet. This will be an interesting way to workshop the musical, create a buzz, expose the novel to youth, and have fun!

This spring, I will be building an advisory board and finding a local theater to sponsor the project, as well as completing the novel. The project will take place in 2012.

The second and third phases of the project will involve college drama departments to workshop Mirror Imag(in)e, and local theaters to workshop The Number the Beast, respectively, in following years.

The best (and worst) compliment..

Walking by my son as he was doing homework on my laptop computer, I recognized lyrics I'd written coming out of the tinny little speakers: "From the minute I get up until I go to bed at night/I have to do what they say or it turns into a fight." I stopped in my tracks. He was listening to a recording of the New York staged reading!

Surprised, I asked, "Is that the only thing I have on iTunes?"

"The only good thing," he mumbled, going on with his work. I was shocked! I was pleased! What a compliment from a 12-year-old boy!

Today, while we were cleaning house, he shut off the vacuum cleaner for a moment and told me, "I've got the B-song in my head: 'They make me clean the closet floors and vacuum every stair...'" I couldn't have been more proud... but I felt a little sinking feeling in my stomach. I mean, in the song, Ashley's singing about her really mean stepsisters. And I'm a nice mom. I'm working side by side with him. But he just seemed happy to have a song in his head, effectively whistling while he worked. He riffed on "The Big Bitch" as I turned the rugs, turning the B-word into itch and twitch as he sang. (Censoring my lyrics. Adorably.)

But later this evening, when we got into an argument about homework, he really threw it in my face. On the edge of anger, he said through clenched teeth, "I want to sing your own song at you! Your expectations are too low; your standards are too high! Or... something like that."

Ouch! The first little sting of hormonal venom! (In my defense, if you can call it that, I was actually bribing him to learn all the state capitols.)

On the one hand, I feel hugely inflated and grandly validated that my lyrics managed to get stuck in the head of a pre-teen! (Positive market research!)

Oh the other hand... oh why did it have to be my own kid?!

SMBPR Scoop #3

The SMBPR Scoop
Greetings FOTMs,	July 2009
My midsummer pause gives me a moment to catch up on musical news... Queen for a Day  My brother, aunt, and uncle literally bowed down to me on March 1st, after they finally got to see the musical madness that's been playing in my heads all these years. The "Couch Reading" was held in the fabulous living room of Leah and Gyorgy Vass. A huge thank you to everyone (details here) who put effort into this festive afternoon. Michael and I learned so much from our talented cast and audience. Are you a fan on facebook? Did you see it? Post a review! The morning after, we dove right into the painful process of rewriting that readings tend to provoke, like headaches after weddings. We wrote every scene on post-its and taped them on a giant piece of paper, rearranging them as confusions cleared up. Unfortunately, our newest song, Queen for a Day had to go (details here), but the new rewrite (details here) eventually came together a few months later. Now there's even a fresh rewrite of part two (Mirror Imag(in)e) waiting in the wings for music. We're Official Shoes, a Mirror, and a Big, Pink Rose now has an official fiscal sponsor. What this means is that any donations to this project may now be made payable to Fractured Atlas to be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you know anyone looking for an arts project to nurture, send them our way. If you'd like to make a donation to this summer's Compose-A-Thon, it will help us complete the music and scoring needed to prepare this story for the stage. Just click on the big shoe below. And so we plug away... hoping to finish by the time the economy recovers... Be well... Kristen Caven & Michael O'Dell	"Shoe Biz" SMBPR is now a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Arts donations are now tax-deductible. Since giving back is such an important part of life, THE SOULS OF HER FEET will henceforth help shoe the shoeless. Read more. Compare Notes Listen to how our "chase scene song" is evolving. Last year, "Dare to Waltz" sounded like this. Now, "The Truth or Dare Waltz" is becoming a Vienna Waltz... listen. It's barely scored yet, but ... What do you think? Tell us! Everywhere but on stage... SMBPR site SOULS site SMBPR blog SMBPR store Facebook page Are you a fan yet?
You never know where a new pair of shoes will take you....

© Kristen Caven 2009 •

A Compose-A-Thon!

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