Both pianists were fantastic, working quite well with my interpretations of the music. We performed at Paradise Village on Thursday March 29, St. Paul's Manor on Friday March 30, and St. Paul's Villa on Saturday March 31. Paradise Village is in National City, CA, a southern neighborhood of San Diego, and both St. Paul's Manor and St. Paul's Villa are in downtown San Diego. All three are beautiful and we were welcomed warmly by all.
Marina Hernadez, the Activities Director at St. Paul's Manor was very enthusiastic about the performance and the reception we received. "The performance was amazing! It was refreshing to book entertainment with true talent. The audience felt like they were at a real Broadway show. They were in awe of how beautifully you sang and how expressive you were as you performed. I think all facilities should have Music For Mankind booked at least twice a year." Thank you, Marina! I really enjoyed working with you throughout this project, and look forward to our return.
And Alison Dunn, the Activities Coordinator at St. Paul's Villa was also super-pleased with our performances. She wrote to me, "Everyone loved your show! I could see it on the (St. Paul's Manor) residents faces during your performance. Here at St. Paul's Villa, the word is out that you were fantastic! Please let me know when you’re back in town and we will definitely bring you back for another performance." And thank you, Alison! I enjoyed your enthusiasm for our efforts and our show.
Bill Reando is the Activities Director at Paradise Village, and while I was able to only spend a couple of minutes with him afterward, he was obviously quite pleased with the response to our show. Talking with the residents afterwards, they simply could not have been happier and they thanked me profusely.
I should take a moment here to talk about the reponses, because it never ceases to move me quite deeply.
I grew up in musical theatre, and the songs I perform are all ones from shows I've either performed in, worked in some technical aspect (lights, sets, sound, music) or have seen or simply have heard and love the music. At this point, for me, these songs are like old and dear friends, and to revisit them in this way is very sweet and I truly feel honored to have the ability to do these performances.
Currently I'm performing at retirement homes, and the residents all grew up with this music as adults. Many of them lived in New York and have seen all or almost all of the shows. And all of the residents have seen the plays or movies. These songs remind them of their youth, and all the sweet memories they cherish.
As I perform, I watch them carefully for their reactions; I see the far-off looks, the happiness in their eyes, and the tears. I've seen people weep through my entire show, song after song after song taking them back to a time they love so dearly. I've seen people holding hands and weeping together, talking quietly about their experiences. I've seen people smiling and singing along, some of them, song after song after song. Some people never sing, and they only watch me. Yet most all of them, at the end of the show, sing along on "Edleweiss" from "The Sound of Music". I like to sing that as a happy song, of our cherished memories we hold together in that moment.
Then after the show, I always spend time with them, thanking them for coming to the show and sharing such sweet memories. They hold my hand, oftentimes both my hands, and thank me profusely, many of them with tears in their eyes, and tell me how wonderful it was to revisit their memories, how they feel young again. Sometimes they hug me, and I feel as though I've met an old friend again.
Personally, for me, there are so many emotions about this. The sharing of such deep feelings together and the songs themselves, which hold deep meanings for me, too. Sometimes it's all I can do to keep the tears back, too. The show must go on.
The kindness of the retirment homes to have me perform, and invite me back again and again. I simply can't thank them enough because it not only helps them with their program, and is such powerful therapy for the residents, but after paying my pianist, I then am able to contribute the rest to the organizations who are doing so much for so many who have so little.
And let me take a moment to thank them for their incredible work. The United Nations World Food Program, Feeding America, and The Prem Rawat Foundation, as well as local food cupboards, the Manchester Community Food Cupboard in Manchester, Vermont and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington, Vermont. Thank you, all, for your caring, your determination and your constant efforts.
To be able to perform, and then contribute what I can from these performances to these organizations means so much to me, and again, I feel honored to be able to help in this small way.
As you can see, there is so much going on in this little effort, and so much more can be done. I am constantly looking for new ways and new venues to perform. It still amazes me how many possibilties there are for continuing this effort.
After an incredible ten days in California, I returned home to Vermont, and have already performed in Montpelier. That's another story for another day. Many more performances are already booked for this year, and I continue to call and book more dates.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and support of this cause to help alleviate chronic global hunger. With a global population nearing seven billion, yet still the ability to produce food for ten billion, this is a problem with a solution. I feel an incredible pride in our efforts together.
Best and warmest wishes to all.
