Susan Hodgdon!

Never give up! When things get tough, the tough get going!!!! 

Happy Friday!

I hope you are having a creative day wherever you are. I've been thinking a lot this week about dreams, drive, determination, and talent.
I've been thinking a lot this week about talent with the passing of Whitney Houston. During the eighties, I think she had one of the most exquisite voices around. Then, she made a WRONG TURN, and lost everything. A life of excess took everything.
48 years old.
That should have never happened.
There are so many people out there who work so hard at what they do. They are disciplined, they work at their craft, and for whatever reason: luck, timing, circumstance...they don't always get the attention they deserve.
Today, I'm writing about a woman that HAS to sing. She lives three hours out of Manhattan. She travels to New York whenever she can for the opportunity to sing a song or two at an open mic, to rehearse, or to see other entertainers. She is the epitome of what dedication is all about. Next Saturday night, she is joining forces with Barry Levitt and Peter Napolitano to put a cap on this LOVE month.

“On The Bumpy Road To Love", “Don't Tell Mama", Saturday February 25, 3 pm, Musical Director the Incredibly Talented Barry Levitt , and the renowned Director Peter Napolitano. 5 dollar cover, 2 drink minimum. 343 W. 46th St. (between 8th and 9th). RSVP: (212) 757-0788, OR CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:
http://www.donttellmamanyc.com/eventdetails.php?day=25&month=02&year=2012&eid=3314
Would be really excited to see you there!!!!! -Susan
Go Join her Through The Ups and Downs on this Glorious Adventure called,"Love"!! I, for one, am going to be there to support her and sing her praises. So, today, I'm celebrating Susan Hodgdon!

What was the first live show you remember seeing? 

My sister performing in Children’s Theater, it was a production through our town and she was playing a munchkin in, “ The Wizard of Oz”, she was 7, I was maybe 5 and I loved the costume she had on and the wonderful black ballet slippers and I thought that I would do anything to have a costume like that and to be on stage. 

Were you exposed to the arts growing up? 

Yes, it was a special passion my mother and I shared. Some of the most special I had was seeing productions with my mother.

First professional job?

Just starting off, did children’s theater as a child and studied ballet dancing and acting as a child and then went on to college. Found my way into NYC about 5 years ago discovered cabaret did maybe a show and a bit, but discontinued due to finances and I now find myself back in the city on weekends pursuing my passion so haven’t achieved professional status as of yet. But hope to at some point.

 Your thoughts on Arts in Education?

As a child I felt the joy of the arts saved me, the arts gave me a place to go when I needed to escape.

Have you ever felt like you were born in the wrong era? What other period of time do you relate to and why?

I felt okay about my era, but at times wished I had been born in a simpler era, like back in the time of the, The Waltons, such wonderful family values, I  always wish I had a family like that!!!!   

Your thoughts on Carol Channing (All my blogs focus on Carol Channing’s Foundation For The Arts)

I believe I saw her in, “Hello Dolly”, as a young child, come to think of it I think it was the first professional show I ever saw. I loved it, I thought she Was wonderful.

I’m campaigning for Carol Channing to receive the 2012 Kennedy Center Honor in 2012. If you agree that she should receive this honor, can you say why you think this should happen

I think she is an incredible icon and really one of the first real stars I saw or was aware of as a child.  She is special to me, cause  after seeing , “Hello Dolly”, at like the age of 5, my first live professional show, I fell in love with the theater.  

 Most recent appearance

Performed my cabaret act, “ On The Bumpy Road To Love”, Oct. 23, 2011 at DTM, NYC, Md: Barry Levitt, Director: Peter Napolitano , single performance.

Next appearance: 

Performing show(above) for the 2^nd time, Sat. Feb. 25^th @ 3pm DTM.

 What is your biggest success in Show Business

I am relatively new to this business, I am still waiting for that moment. For now I guess it would be just being given the opportunity to begin my career performing in cabaret in NYC and I am open to wherever else performing might take me.

What was your lowest low and how did you surpass that?

Really so new to this business hard to answer, I guess it might be starting cabaret about 3-4 years ago, really just beginning( did maybe a show and a bit) and having to stop due to finances. It’s hard producing one’s self in cabaret, it is an expensive endeavor.

What one change would you like to see in today’s industry?

Wish the industry was kinder to cabaret performers, every aspect of the cabaret business is left to the performer, really consuming at times.

How do you deal with receiving invitations from friends/colleagues to events that are either too many or too costly to attend? 

I live 6 hours away, (roundtrip) and work fulltime so as I can pursue this passion, so distance makes it difficult for me. I try to attend as many shows as  my weekend schedule allows and I try and honor those performers that I believe in, or like as people and always when at all possible try and reciprocate and see the shows of those that are kind enough to attend my performances. 

Are you happy at the point you are right now in your career?

I am at the beginning of my career and have started late, so I feel I have so much to accomplish, but I am happy to be back in NYC and am pursing what I love to do!!! I feel I am making up for lost time and I will do everything in my power to do what I can from this point forward.

 Do you feel you have achieved what you set out to do?

No, only just beginning.

What do you do to remain positive when life's hiccups get you down?

I believe, “ That at first if you don’t succeed , try, try again”!!!!

How on earth do you reach theatregoers now that newspapers are obsolete and there are so many channels on TV you can’t pick the right ones to advertise on and with the web being so hit and miss.

At this point where I am in my career, I use the internet and I try in advertise in online cabaret publications, and just for the first time advertised my show in the, “Hartford Advocate”, hoping to reach people where I live.  

 A genie pops out of the lamp, he grants you three wishes. What are those wishes?

Happiness, good health and the opportunity to sing!!!!

If you could travel anywhere in the world and spend some time there, where would you choose, and what would you do?

I would go to Europe, would luv to spend time in France, England , Italy you name it and I would luv to perform in a Paris Cabaret.

What would you ask God if you could right now?

Barry Levitt, Peter Napolitano and Susan Photo: Ron Giles

Just give me the opportunity to do what I love to do, I have always done in life what I was supposed to so, how wonderful it would be to finally do what I love to do!!!

What is the last stage show you saw.  Local or professional.  

Maureen Taylor’s show on Lauren Becall

If you could change places with anyone in the world for 24 hours, who would that be and why?

No one specific, just someone who is singing on tour to a large audience every night, I would love to experience that feeling just once!!!

When do you know it’s time for a Susan Hodgdon show?

It’s always time for a show, just had to wait sooo long, sometimes finances and life get in the way!!

 Do you have a survival job? What is it? How do you feel about that?

Oh yes, I work for the State of CT., I am a vocational counselor and have been doing that for years, I have been on my own since a very young age and needed to find a secure job. I really had no one to rely on since a very young age, so food and shelter and security were very important to me, I have accomplished that, now I would really like to pursue my passion of singing!!!

What is your favorite compliment?

with Singer Joey Infante and his partner, Michael McDonald

“you can really sing girl”

 Thank you, Scott Siegel, for the gifts you give to the world! 

NO COPY WRITE INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.  FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!

Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!





                              Tomorrow's blog will be... 
CELEBRATING Betty Grable, Dorothy Lamour, and Carole Cooke in Hello, Dolly!

 Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!

Here's to an INCREDIBLE day for ALL...with NO challenges!



Now, GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TOMORROW!


Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING  and HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS


TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS DAY
Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com

Barry Levitt Musical Director, Peter Napolitano Director