Katie Ketchum: News

Onset, Massachusetts has been a source of never ending entertainment rehearsing for the show tomorrow night and hanging with my friends. I play Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy--singing Ease on Down the Road, Mama Mia--Dancing Queen plus many other comedy parts in "Spectacular Night" in New Bedford, Mass. and Sat.night in Onset at 7pm. I'm still memorizing all these songs, filling in. IT's been warm. But the beaches are beautiful. One night Marilyn, Kirk and I sang under a bridge, sounds we made up. Met an 86 year old portrait painter and artist. She danced in Martha Grahams troupe. I hope I remember Diamonds, it's a harder song than it seems. The piano concerts on the weekend were incredible. Kirk Whipple, Marilyn Morales and Rorianne Shrade did great solo piano recitals. I started the weekend out with Clara Schumann. Busy weekend performing in a funny and inventive show. Coming home to Sebastopol next week. My Cuban, friend Marilyn makes me laugh and her friend, Ibaldo from Miami is coming back up to M.C. Together I am laughing at their stories all the time!! Great BBQ's with friends. Lots of bugs. Great live music. Cranberry Coast Concerts. Kirk and Marilyn are going to France to perform next week.

Clara Schumann is a hit in Mass. I am really enjoying playing the piano pieces as they get better and better. I've worked through my fears about falling apart during difficult concert pieces. My voice in this climate is wonderful. I sang Clara's German song last night, the best ever. I am staying a week longer to fill in for a cast member in another show next week. I'll be singing Diamonds are A Girl's best Friend among other things. It's had some dark, rainy days here but as I said, the climate, although humid is great for my voice. Tonight I go to Wareham to hear Kirk Whipple do his solo recital tonight. Marilyn is playing in New Bedford and Rorianne is playing where I played last night. I will get to hear lot's of Schumann, Chopin and even Mozart. Also I need to start memorizing songs for the theatre production I am in. The people at the camp here in Onset are precious and have become big fans and friends. Last night they came for the second time to Clara. My candleabra candles fell off in the middle of the show. It unverved me, and through my tempo off, but the audience said I handled it well. I'm still on Calif. time so was a bit tired, but the show went well. I am looking forward to being an audience and hearing all these Cranberry Coast concerts my friends are putting on. 10 concerts in three days this weekend. I miss Mike, students and friends, yet it is nice to have audiences developing on the east coast and friends. take care.

I really enjoyed my third performance of Clara Schumann. It happened in New Bedford. The piano was great.
Today I performed the "LONELY GOATHERD" in a theatre production in Mansfield. I am having too much fun. I've met lots of wonderful people from all over the country. Miami, Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia, Calif. Marilyn and Ubaldo the M.C. have kept us laughing. thunder storm tonight...bar-b-q.
also the first performance was in Wareham not Atleboro. Kirk and Marilyn---great hosts....great festival....more to come this week.

Clara Schumann received a standing ovation last night in Attleboro, Mass. The audience was very quiet and then at the end stood up. My jet lag is gone, thank goodness and the ladies in the Onset community are very, very kind to me---feeding me, talking with me. Cranberry Coast concerts has two shows tonight. One in Mansfield called spectacular Night and I'm doing clara in New Bedford. Today everyone around the camp was talking about Clara. I love this part of the shows.

Fantastic first day in Onset, Mass. Kirk and Marilyn have been fantastic hosts. Great sea food and company in this little Cape Cod Village! Participated in facilitating a young artist workshop. Met some very kind and enlightened Seniors in this camp on the Cod. Practiced piano and experienced very little jet lag. Love to all my friends and family.
Katie

Getting really excited about this tour! Realizing that when Cranberry Coast Concert Series named this years theme "Year of the Piano" because of Robert Schumann and Chopin's 200th aniversary, everyone felt Clara Schumann, Robert's wife should be there! Clara promoted his work during her life time and continues through this play 200 years later! What if we all became advocates for our own work or someone else's like she did? The power of love.

Hi everyone, I'm leaving tomorrow to Mass. I have a "meet the artist" at a library on wednesday and then friday and sat. I'm performing the Clara show. check cranberrycoastconcerts.com for those details.
I have no idea exactly where I'm staying, but the concert organisers are handling it. I've never been to Mass. I'll keep you posted. I'm almost packed. Had to get a bigger suitcase.