(REDIRECTING BLOG)
READ JULY ENEWS HERE.
Michael P. Smith
January & February
Blog and E-newsletter
A Note from Michael “On Songwriting in the winter”.
I spent many many days this week working on a song which when “finished”, alas, was not really usable. I mean, not a moment was usable. Or ever will be, I suspect. But I get caught up in the heat of writing and keep reassuring myself that if I put in enough ingredients (“Ingrediments”, according to Louis Armstrong) it’ll work out. Well, Always An Education. When I do songwriting seminars, sometimes it occurs to me that the only difference between me and them is that I’ve been doing it longer. Well, that counts for something, doesn’t it? I’ve made all the Big Mistakes more often than you have, you whippersnappers.
I’m doing “Selfish Giant” with Blair Thomas, Master Puppeteer, fifty-three times this month and next. Forty-five minutes of music that took me about two weeks, all told, to write. I think it all works. But I suspicion that this efficiency on my part is actually due to the beauty and power of that great story, which was written by Oscar Wilde, who, famously, when he went through US customs, had “nothing to declare but my genius”.
PUPPETRY & MUSIC
The Selfish Giant
based on Oscar Wilde’s story
Fri Jan 23 – Sun Feb 22
Ruth Page Center for the Arts
1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL
Box Office: 872.222.9555
Opening Fri Jan 23 at 6:30 PM.
Daytime shows weekdays & weekends
Michael’s winning songs. Blair Thomas puppetry. All Ages! The Selfish Giant returns to Chicago for a 6 wk run, and a feature in the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Based on Oscar Wilde’s classic story about a grumpy giant who forbids children from playing in his garden. http://chicagochildrenstheatre.org/shows/the-selfish-giant/
THEATER & MUSIC
“Epitaphs, Apparitions, and the Wintry Guest”
Conceived and Directed by Jamie O’Reilly
With original music by Michael Smith
Saturday, Feb 7 at 3 PM
RhinoFest at Prop Thr
3502 N Elston Ave. Chicago, IL
All-ages show.
$15 or pay what you can
Theatrical Reading with Music.
Jamie O’Reilly, Michael Smith & Co perform “Epitaphs, Apparitions, and the Wintry Guest” as part of RhinoFest 26!
An ensemble from Chicago’s acting community, embody voices from the beyond in ghost stories, poems and songs, as rendered by the Brits: the Bard, a Bronte, and Masters of American literature. mORE here: http://curioustheatrebranch.com/rhinofest/2015/shows/epitaphs_and_apparitions.php
Michael’s Valentine’s Concert
Edgar’s Place Coffee House
Saturday, February 14 at 8:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Community Church
70 Sycamore Drive
Park Forest, IL 60466
PH 708.481.5339
www.uuccpf.org
MARCH
Thursday, March 5 at 8 PM
Jamie O’Reilly & Michael Smith
Songs of a Catholic Childhood
“Lenten Tales”
Chief O’Neill’s Pub
3471 North Elston Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618
PH 773. 583.3066 dinner reservations
chiefoneillspub.com
Tickets $18 in advance. $20 at the door
Call 773-203-7661 for information
Blog: https://www.jamieoreilly.com/michael-jamie-at-chiefs-mar-5-songs-of-a-catholic-childhood/
NEW JERSEY
Friday, Mar 20 at 8:15 PM
De Cafe
Perkins Center for the Arts
395 Kings Highway, Moorestown, NJ 08057
PH 856. 235-6488
http://perkinscenter.wpengine.com/events/
www.themoorestowndecafe.com
Sat Mar 21 at 7 PM Rosie’s Cafe
Brick Township, New Jersey
E: rosies-cafe@comcast.net
On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosies-Cafe-Concerts
APRIL with Anne Hills
April 18 at 9 PM
1040 N Harlem
River Forest, Il
PH 708.366.9000
https://wsthz.org/events/anne-hills-michael-smith-concert/
TEACHING SONGWRITING IN THE SALON
Roots Salonone-on-one songwriting sessions
Michael’s teaching artist skills in SONGWRITING are available to established musicians as one-on-one sessions at Roots Salon. By application, through Jamie O’Reilly and Roots Salon in Chicago’s Lincoln Square. Purchase sessions online via Paypal. Gift Certificates available. Email inquiries to roots@jamieoreilly.com. Call 773.203.7661. See Roots Salon Online store.
Michael travels to the East coast in March.
And brings back “Songs of a Catholic Childhood” Mar 5
Stay Tuned.
For bookings contact Jamie O’Reilly 773-203-7661
E: mps_booking@jamieoreilly.com
More: michaelpetersmith.com
