#55: Great Women's Night

I took a chance on a stage this past week that had my stomach in my throat.


Last Tuesday, instead of writing this newsletter, I was behind a grand piano at a night club called The Triad, which has been around since forever. My job was to musically assist in a show created by The Three Tomatoes Publishing, a company devoted to new women authors over 40. Most of them were accomplished in other fields and have incredibly vivid, sometimes harrowing stories to tell.


When they approached me a month ago, they said it was an evening at the Triad reading excerpts from books which sounded like the worst idea anyone ever had. What are ya gonna call it? Night Club Library?


Luckily, Cheryl Benton, who has now published over 80 books in the few short years since she started this venture is -- how do I put this? -- a very sharp cookie. She recruited Valerie Smaldone, a DJ, radio personality, and actor, to be one of the readers and help produce the night.


I knew Valerie from back in the Last Session days, maybe? Don't remember but it was great to see her again.


Cheryl also recruited Carol Ostrow, president of the Actor's Temple, who seemingly can do anything. Jane Goldman and others were also involved. I'm just telling this from my point of view.


I was to sing two songs that I co-wrote with the authors. With Carol, I put music to her poem "Ce Soir" and with Jane Goldman, I turned an essay, "Integrity," from her book into a comedy number.


Charlie Viehl was right next to me on the violin. They also asked that we play some music during 5 pre-recorded readings. Which I took very seriously. I actually scored them out as if they were mini 90-second movies.


But then came the moment.


The readings started. On stage was me, Charlie, Kristie Keleshian (an actor), Valerie and Carol. It began with a video, a reading, a welcome from Cheryl, and then more readings. It was right then and there that I realized I had to do something. Maybe it happened after one of the pre-recorded things where we played along.


But suddenly, out of nowhere, as if my hands couldn't be restrained I began playing underscoring for the live readings. It was scary because no one told me to do this. We had a house full of people and this was being recorded for an archive/promotional use. So I was literally changing the texture of the night.


The result?


I'll tell you what they told me. It worked brilliantly. I tried to stay really subtle and out of the way of the actors but adding that little bit of music made it theatrical. And the actors were fantastic, too, so we kind of fed off each other.


Afterward, everyone was swarming the small stage area, the audience went nuts for it.


I guess my point is that sometimes it's better to step out on faith, as we used to say, and trust your instincts. My goal was to be of service to this group and to these women. And when you're in that mindset, of being as part of what makes a greater whole, it becomes a life lesson.





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New Show on December 9th at Urban Stages! Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/urban-steve