Raising Our Voices in Song AT THE SAME TIME!

My January 20th 2017 Wish: One of my favorite songs is Ann Hampton Callaway's At The Same Time! This song has become my mantra: Could everyone SHARE this now and promise not to post anything negative for the next hour! Also, do not respond to negative posts...As a matter of fact, hide them from your feed. I have 5,000 friends on Facebook. Let's ALL rise our voices in song!

Words and Music by Ann Hampton Callaway

Think of all the hearts
Beating in the world
At the same time
Think of all the faces
And the stories they could tell
At the same time
Think of all the eyes
Looking out into this world
Trying to make some sense of what we see
Think of all the ways we have of seeing
Think of all the ways there are of being
Think of all the children
Being born into this world
At the same time
Feel your love surround them
Through the years they'll need to grow
At the same time
Think of all the hands
That will be reaching for a dream
And think of all the dreams that could come true
If the hands we're reaching with
Could come together joining me and you

We must protect our fragile destiny
In this precious life, there's no time to borrow
The time has come to be a family

When it comes to thinking of tomorrow
Think of all the love
Pouring from our hearts
At the same time
Think of all the light
Our love can shine around this world
At the same time
Think what we've been given now
Just think what we could lose
All of life is in our trembling hands
It's time to overcome our fears
And join to build a world
That loves and understands
It helps to think of all the hearts
Beating in the world
And hope for all the hearts
Beating in the world
There's a healing music in our hearts
Beating in the world At the same time
At the same time

Ann Hampton Callaway Upcoming Appearances:
A Tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes with The Baltimore Symphony, Tony DeSare and Frankie Moreno -
Thu, Jan 26, 8 pm | Strathmore 

Fri, Jan 27, 8 pm | Meyerhoff 
Sat, Jan 28, 8 pm | Meyerhoff 
Sun, Jan 29, 3 pm | Meyerhoff 
Tonight through Sunday, Ann is singing The Streisand Songbook with The Grand Rapids Symphony. Tomorrow, she will endeavor to do her first Facebook Live post some time between 12 and 12:20 as she sings The Women's March

Let's celebrate our differences instead of pointing fingers at THEM

Song at The Grand Rapids Event at Fountain Street Church. 
Ho HERE for additional appearances.  

Order HERE

As I am writing this blog, I'm listening to Julie Reyburn's wonderful CD, LIVE FROM FEINSTEIN'S. The track playing is her SING medley and I am reminded that on what many are calling this very dark day, it is now more important than ever that we SING LOUD AND PROUD and that we KEEP AMERICA GREAT THROUGH OUR ART!
Julie is returning to cabaret once again!She'll be bringing back Fate is Kind (the show that won her the MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) and Bistro Female Debut Award back in 2001, to Don't Tell Mama on Saturday March 24th @ 7pm and Saturday April 22nd @ 7pm.She 'll be adding some more relevant material of the day to the show and the original music director for the show, Mark Janas will be joining me. I'm excited to be getting out there again and singing.....xoxox
We Shall Overcome! Mahalia Jackson

Judy Garland - Battle Hymn Of The Republic (The Judy Garland Show) 

Cher - Believe

The inauguration of President Donald Trump is at hand and for many of us in the world of theatre (and the arts in general) we are already feeling the storm of oppression that will most certainly engulf us. The announcement of Trump’s plan to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts has already given us a mighty blow. 

There is an uncertainty that sits in our hearts with the weight of a lump of steel as we wait to see how his policies and his parade of unqualified cronies continue to infiltrate our lives and affect how we live, love, and create. We, however, as theatre people shall remain undaunted, because we are the hopers, the dreamers, the visionaries, the voices that speak with confidence against oppression, the greatest optimists in the world. Theatre has

taught us, through its challenges and against-all-odds circumstances, an optimism and drive to succeed that should frighten the powers that be. Theatre people are not afraid to use their voice, and I think our time has come to show this country both our resolve and our inherent value. (SOURCE: Mark Robinson Writes Read MORE)

Mark Wallis as I Am Cerial Killer

 

 

On Wednesday night, I'm going to be appearing on stage at The Metropolitan Room. I hope you'll join us! 
“WORD”, the series that celebrates the spoken and sung word, returns Wednesday, January 25 in a glamorous new setting, the award winning Metropolitan Room. Internationally known performance artist I am Cereal Killer! will guide you through an evening of both amusing and challenging work.            
On the bill are performance poets eccentric Hope Weiner and inspiring Aleathia Brown from Unveiled Unlocked, a brand new 10-minute play reading from Bart Greenberg called “The Value of Things”, and a special performance from ME.
Musical guest for the night is New York born “troubadour piano man” Craig Greenberg, returning for

his second appearance at WORD.  I am Cereal Killer noted “The response to Craig’s performance in August was amazing so that I had to ask him back.”
All this, plus I am Cereal Killer’s own pieces commenting on our society in his own inimitable style, and a special prerecorded appearance by Drama Desk winner Jim Brochu.
The show starts at 7pm and tickets can be purchased via MetropolitanRoom.com. The Metropolitan Room is located at 34 West 22nd St., New York City. Tickets begin at $14 with a $25 food/bar minimum (including the Room’s exciting new menu).

Beth Falcone wrote a tune, “We Choose Love,” which she and Ritt Henn recorded back in November. According to the email I got from Ritt, it pained her to hear that many people couldn’t gather with their families over Thanksgiving, because they felt so disheartened. The hope is that we can heal the divide by singing together. This past Monday, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, they produced a video of the tune as a flash mob, directed by Lynne

Taylor-Corbett (she choreographed the movie Footloose), and many, many voices raised in song. Here’s hoping a bit of positivity resonance can go a long way. Give it a look and listen, sing along, & share, share, share!

Swing by WeChooseLove.net and you can hear our original studio recording of the song, as well as a karaoke version you can sing to, complete with the choral voices, for a bit of added oomph on the choruses. Sheet music for the song,

including various choral arrangements for different vocal configurations and age levels, is also accessible from the site. All the files are downloadable, and free of charge.

The video: “We Choose Love NYC Flash Mob”

Thanks for reading and clicking and watching and singing and sharing and supporting the arts in New York City and beyond, and most of all, for choosing love.
-Ritt Henn

Life is so much better when you stop caring about what everyone thinks, and start to actually live for yourself!!

Sit back! A new news cycle is about to begin!

Thank you, to ALL who are mentioned in this blog for showing me that it is up to ME to lead by example!

With grateful XOXOXs ,

 

with Rita McKenzie celebrating the 53rd Anniversary of Hello, Dolly!

Click on site to go to website

NO COPYRIGHT 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!  
  
February 12th, 2017

Russ Woolley and Wright Bros. Real Estate, Nyack, NY proudly present Richard Skipper Celebrates...His Birthday...And He'll Sing If He'll Want To! He will be joined by Sidney Myer, Josephine Sanges, Cathy Szabo, and a very special Well Known Mystery Guest...star of stage, screen, and television!
All under the musical Direction of Michael Lavine with Rex Benincasa on percussion and Saadi Zain on bass. This is a 1PM BrUNCH SHOW (90 minutes)  At The Laurie Beechman Theate 
Reservations a Must! Please Reserve Today
RIchard Skipper Celebrates is a tour-de-force cabaret show -- top names in musical entertainment, meet to talk and perform -- songs, stories and recollections of lifetimes and moments in show business.    $30 Cover and $20 Minimum per person ORDER HERE 
Additional Details to Come!
*Previous Mystery Guests have included Hillary Kole, Melba Moore, Stacy Sullivan, and Jana Robbins

Keeping America great through Art!     

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

Please leave a comment and share on Twitter and Facebook
Keeping Entertainment LIVE!

 

TILL TOMORROW...HERE'S TO AN ARTS FILLED DAY

Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com