“Ambition is the last refuge of failure.“ – Oscar Wilde
One of the most amazing lessons of this adventure of producing my own show, is how to not only accept but enjoy every moment that comes my way. The Bahagavad Gita gently reminds us: read more »
Review of “BURST” in Phoenix NewTimes music & culture blog: “Up on the Sun” by Arty Girl Lilia Menconi
Phoenix/Tempe opening tomorrow night at 7:30pm! There is good news in the air, considering I actually found a lighting tech (…yesterday) — which is helpful, if you’re trying to put on a show where the audience can actually see you.
Doing the show for one weekend only, then back home to California on the 28th. I’ll be happy to be back in my native Bay Area, but I have to admit: I was just getting used to the weather. It’s finally cooling off. Only 94 degrees out!
For more info on “BURST” playing in the Phoenix area: click here, and for tickets: click here
I’ve been hacked.
My performance site (www.shannondejong.com) and NKS (this site) were hacked into and I’m still recovering the integrity of the former. In the meantime, all BURST inquiries are referred to: MADCAP Theaters and for tickets click here.
Thanks for the patience.
Dear Gigi,
Thank you for sending me an email at 6:53am to remind me that I should probably be posting on my blog right about now. Between walking for hours in the Phoenix heat to hang posters, selling my soul to get some publicity, and struggling to make some money with freelancing gigs so that I can once again lose it all on a production of BURST, I had neglected my most important responsibility: entertaining you with my words. So here is a post just for you:
Making efforts to coordinate a PHX production of “BURST” before heading back home to my beloved California. In the meantime, you can enjoy a snippet of the show with some new footage from my opening show in Santa Fe, NM.
For all you long-term readers who were around from the beginning and remember the Craiglist “20 Dates in 20 Days in 20 Words” Project, you can rejoice because I finally was able to use the material, and incorporated it into my show:
“20/20/20″ scene from Act I:
For more video and photos from “BURST,” click here.
I couldn’t have asked for a better opening of my solo performance “BURST” — double standing ovations both night, full house on Saturday, and some amazing feedback & thank yous. I truly am humbled and honored to have had such a great reception. A huge thanks to everyone who came out and helped make the opening of BURST a success!
Plans are in the works to take the show to Arizona and California, perhaps beyond? …
In the meantime, I’m leaving the magic of New Mexico to see what kind of adventures I can watch (ar)rise in Phoenix. Stay tuned.
On Radio Cafe Santa Fe (KSFR) with host Mary-Charlotte, broadcasting live from the Santa Fe Baking Co. What a treat!
Click here to listen.
Dress rehearsal filled me with a renewed sense of energy. Except for some minor(ish) glitches the dress went smoothly, and it was magic seeing it all come together: the direction, script, blocking, set, lights, and music — this idea that started as a mere burning in my belly over 3 years ago has finally ‘burst’ out into the world with a life of its own.
Here’s to a ‘broken leg’!
I’m so nervous, I’m going to vomit.
On KUNM ABQ, with Ramona King, “Spoken Word Hour.” To listen, click on:
http://kunm.org/listen/archive/
Enter the date (8/23/09) and time (8:30pm – 9pm). Archive will be up for 2 weeks.
I just ran my show all the way through for the first time today in rehearsal. It is finally coming together (phew!) I work on it for about 5-7 hours a day now (memorizing, practicing blocking, rewriting parts that don’t work), in addition to the production aspects (fliers, venue, set, programs, business ads), with 3 hours of rehearsal.
Arrived in Santa Fe, NM. I start rehearsals on my one-woman-show “BURST” today with my director Tanya Taylor Rubenstein. Things are moving so fast! Press releases have started going out, and my ‘big excitement’ is a slot in the Santa Fe Arts & Culture calendar.
I don’t know that I’ve ever been more nervous. It’s funny how the very thing you have been putting your heart into is the very thing that can fill your heart with dread. I’ve often written on NKS about ‘facing our fears’ — but I never knew facing one fear would mean standing up in front of 20-100 (?) strangers performing my personal life for 80 mins.
For more information on the show or the reincarnation of shannon as a performer, you can see my new website.
“Merde, merde, merde!”