Success!

In spite of only having a month to write/memorize a script and learn 10 new songs, band members changing last minute, and a first full band run through the day of the Rita Rose show, the very first Rita Rose show was a success!

I'm super thankful for my brother Matthew's and my sister Rebecca's encouragement and support. Rebecca had to bear through me script brainstorming, reading my script to her over and over, and had to listen to me cracking myself up constantly. She also was there for me to design my poster, help with the female costumes, pick up food for the band, and whatever else was needed. When it got down to serious crunch time and we didn't know how things were going to come together, Rebecca reminded me that "Failure is not an option. Primm's don't fail."

I about burst into tears after the show in the dressing room as she walked in and told me how proud she was of me. That meant the world.

I also could not have had a show without the incredible talent of Michael Goodman, Sharon Knickerbocker, Zach Lentino, and Zack Darce. Michael gave me encouragement from Day 1 when I thought up the concept of the show and dropped it by him to see if it sounded ridiculous. He thought it was great and graciously offered to play. Sharon accompanied my audition to get the gig at Davenport's and had been excited every step of the way. Zach Lentino stepped in with his fantastic energy and beautiful upright bass in the midst of a busy school schedule.  Zack Darce learned the set list last minute to play in place of the drummer who 3 days before the show date discovered she couldn't do the show. 

Micheal Kott was also a giant help in filming the show!

"Go team!" just before we went on stage.

Rather exciting news: A VIP gave me very nice compliments regarding the show (and this genre is his specialty) and also gave me super helpful advice for future performances. He is keeping contact to help me out with furthering the Rita Rose show!

Taken by my lovely roommate, Denise, who also encouraged me every step of the way!

You can now like Rita Rose on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/RitaRoseShow  and follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/RitaRoseShow to stay informed of upcoming events!

In the meantime, I have started rehearsals for Towle Theater's "A Fabulous Fifties Christmas" and am so thrilled to be a part! The theater is in Hammond, Indiana, and the show runs from November 30 until December 22. Visit www.TowleTheater.org for more information!

Rockin' & Boppin' with Rita Rose

For a week I've been ecstatic that "Rita Rose", a project that has recently been in the works, is coming to life for the first time on September 16 at 8:00 pm at Davenport's Cabaret!

Rita Rose is pretty much summed up as my alter ego from the fifties. She was inspired from the character I played in White Christmas the Musical as the character was not only a blast to play, but also was very well received by the audience. 

I've recently renewed my love for Rockabilly music and have been wanting to share that love since the women of Rockabilly aren't quite as popular with our generation. Once the idea of mixing Rita Rose with a night of rock-n-rollin' & boppin' tunes popped into my head (after a receiving inspirational advice with friends from Jarrett Payton stating that "Life doesn't just hand you things. You have to go out there and get it"), the idea never left and the brainstorming began. 

Joining me on the piano will be the lovely Sharon Knickerbocker, on the guitar will be Michael Goodman (he doesn't fully know yet that he'll be Michaela for the evening, haha), and the rest of the band is TBA ;). 

More Information on "Rockin' & Boppin' with Rita Rose" will be able to be found at davenportspianobar.com! 

Recording Adventures!

One morning just over a month ago, I got a text from my friend Michael Goodman asking to record background vocals later that day for a song on his upcoming album “Unbreakable Heart”. I’m pretty sure I wrote, deleted, and rewrote my response at least 3 times as I was trying to tone down my excitement about getting to experience the recording studio world for the first time.  

I’ve mentioned Michael before, but here’s a little history: I met Michael soon after Rebecca and I had first moved to Chicago together on Thanksgiving of 2010. He and I met through his ad on craigslist looking for a female vocalist to join him in a costumed caroling gig for a Christmas party in Old Town (which we both enjoyed doing), and have kept up ever since. He not only performs his own music, but also is currently understudying in the Chicago cast of Million Dollar Quartet, as well as improvises with his improv group around Chicago.

Back to the story: In preparation for recording, I had to find the perfect outfit, of course, and my roommate Denise  talked me out of wanting to wear cowboy boots (hey, it’s a “honky tonk” album) due to it being hot and humid that day (typical CHI summer).  (It didn’t help that I’ve been recently obsessed with the show Nashville--so obsessed that I've been telling telling people that I want to move to Nashville and sing—and, of course, practically everyone in that show is in cowboy boots) Then, I was finally out the door and parked. After nearly skipping down the sidewalks, I greeted Michael, walked into the studio, and met the other female who I was to record with: the lovely Whitney Jones who is currently playing the role of Dyanne in the Chicago cast of Million Dollar Quartet. We had previously met a couple of times before at MDQ events, but it was a surprise to get to record with her! I definitely still had a tough time holding in my excitement. “Rachelyn, act like you get to do this every day” kept running through my mind to help out the situation. We recorded callbacks for a song just twice and were finished. After I had returned from a two week Europe trip, Michael asked me to record more background vocals for another track, and I was ecstatic for the opportunity once again!

Ben, the owner of Minbal studio was fantastic, and I could not stop studying all of his cool equipment in the studio. All of the recordings for the album were done on a type of mic that Elvis had used in his records. The feel of the studio was very old school, which I obviously loved. All of the tracks have been recorded and mixed and the album should be out in July.

Here's a peek at his album! https://soundcloud.com/michaelgoodmanonline/sets/unbreakable-heart

Michael and Ben in the studio!

Menken!

Two and a half weeks ago, it was love at first sight. A week later, I signed the contract to love him forever and brought him home. Meet Menken!

Buckled in and very scared after just getting him from the shelter

Meeting little diva&divo

Meeting more friends!

And somehow, all of his cuteness makes up for the fact that he has completely taken over my pillow.

Since I couldn't join my family for Easter, I took road trip to Ashley, IN to the "Ashley House" where my mom's side of the family and I have many 4th of July and other reunion memories as it has been in the family for just over a century. The smiley face water tower is an main Ashley landmark, and on road trips growing up, we would always see who could spot it first on our way up I-69.

Road trip hair and the smiley face!

I used to admire the Hydrangeas my grandmother planted while walking around the yard with my bug cage searching for a new critter and picture myself as an adult living at the Ashley house, since I loved it there so much. Then later on in life my sister and I started joking that we'd live there together forever like two of our great-great-aunts did.

Here's where Menken comes in. I was reading a book just after arriving for my relaxation escape from Chicago, when a mouse climbed down the drapes, ran over to a chair, climbed up the side, and settled onto the armrest, and stared at me. Then, another one shot up the couch from the kitchen and stared at me until I noticed it and shrieked. That's when I called my mom who suggested getting a mouser kitty from the nearest animal shelter. That idea was way too appealing to me, as I've been wanting a cat for years. I arrived at the animal shelter just before closing time, and my heart broke over all of the homeless adorable dogs and kitties. I couldn't make up my mind in the two rooms filled with cats, until a fluffy orange face that had just woken up peeked out his cage at me as I was leaving the room. I turned around, opened the cage, picked him up, and immediately knew this snuggly sweet cat was the perfect one. While talking to the worker, I learned that he had been at the shelter for 8 months, and had no idea why he was overlooked all the time. That was it. I had to adopt him. I couldn't take him home until the next weekend, so since the mice weren't cooperating in singing songs and sewing surprise ballgowns, I set up traps to get rid of them. The next weekend when I came back for Menken there was no sign of the mice! After he settled into the Ashley house a bit, my Aunt came over to meet him and bring him toys before we left for Chicago. :)

His original name was Pumpkin, but in the new family tradition of naming our animals after artists/composers, I now call him Menken after Alan Menken (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Newsies, Pocahontas, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Enchanted, Tangled...You get the picture) who has been a big part of musical lives. 

He's still kind of wary of new people had hasn't fully bonded to my roommate, Denise, but oh, he will. How could two gingers not become best friends? ;)

le mois de français

It's only fitting that the month of Valentine's day has been and will be filled with the language of love. Not too long after my return to Chicago, I happily began rehearsals for my very first play "A Night in Provence" as the role of Yvette, the French wife in one of the "three European couples triple booked for a romantic getaway." Being the smallest cast I've ever been a part of before, it has been quite the fun experience getting to work with our director more closely and getting to know the cast as a whole better. I've been so excited to play opposite of Caleb Scales (Maurice, Yvette's husband) who was in Legally Blonde with me!

This character has revived my big love (ok..obsession) of all thing French that I've somewhat stifled in the recent years. Chateau Byron is beginning to be filled with French music, Truffaut films, Cirque du Soleil, and French cuisine. Antique French books are going back on my nightstand next to my Eiffel tower souvenir my parents bought me when we were in Paris when I was 6. I'm thankful that my mom has been able to coach me over the phone on forgotten french pronunciations!

Our poster designed by the lovely Rebecca Primm:

An exciting announcement: After at least 7 years of wishing and scheming, mine and Rebecca's dream of a vintage business is in its beginning stages. I've been privileged to get to be a part-time nanny for my little diva and divo again, and now I have a bit of extra free time to work on the business. Updates on our future website and blog will come soon!

Happy New Year!

And as 2013 begins, here's a few of Regina Brett's "45 Lessons Life taught me":

"Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful."

"Forgive everyone everything."

"Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about."