Kristopher McDowell's Blog

Looking for quality entertainment - Fall shows in CA, AZ, TX, KS, WI, NY & IA

Every Friday in October at Midnight
The Comedy Store, Los Angeles, CA
MENTALIST BRENT WEBB: Beyond Impossible

Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7pm
The Overture Center, Madison, WI
Spider Saloff
THE MEMORY OF ALL THAT

Fri. & Sat., November 11-12, 2011
The Des Moines County Historical Society, Burlington, IA
Spider Saloff
I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU: COLE PORTER!

Friday, November 18, 2011 2pm to 4pm
University of Arizona, Tucson
Philip Fortenberry's Master Class for Undergraduate Theater & Music Students

Friday, November 18, 2011 at 7:30pm
McPherson Opera House, McPheson, KS
Marilyn Maye
MAYE SINGS RAY

Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 2pm
The Fox Theatre, Tuscon, AZ
Philip Fortenberry with special guest Kristin Hertzenberg ("Christine" in PHANTOM LAS VEGAS)
SHOWFOLK FROM THE DESERT

Monday, November 21, 2011 at 8pm
The SoHo Playhouse, New York, NY
Jack Fry
THEY CALL ME MISTER FRY

Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 8pm
The 1894 Grand Opera House, Galveston, TX
Marilyn Maye & Gregg Edelman - A double feature concert!
BROADWAY THEIR WAY

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 7pm
The Annenberg Theatre, Palm Springs, CA
Danny Gurwin
SAIL ME AWAY

Dec 1, 2011

Kerr Cultural Center Scottsdale, AZ

Ang Li

Solo Piano Concert

Dec 18, 2011

Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall New York, NY

Ang Li

Solo Piano Concert

Summer News

Greetings Presenters, June is busting out all over! We are very ready for summer in both our NY and CA offices, how about you? It seems we have not stopped moving since last September...  We know you understand more than anybody so we hope you grab a few days in the sun soon! KMP Artists is pleased to announce the updated roster for the 2012-2013 season.  After careful consideration and listening to presenters like you, we added some fresh faces, veteran entertainers & speakers, as well as, three new touring productions. Continue to check out the website between now and the end of the month as we add even a few more names for the 2012-2013 season.  After careful consideration and listening to presenters like you, we added some fresh faces, veteran entertainers & speakers, as well as, three new touring productions. Check out the new KMP Artists website , which is still under construction [please excuse our dust]. We also have something very special up our sleeves to offer presenters that will stimulate interest from new audiences - we will be ready to share by the time we see you this fall.  Hint - it is not something that's typically presented on the stage. Looking for a Holiday Show?  Now Booking for December 2011 & 2012: - Gregg Edelman: Back In Town for the Holidays - Sally Mayes: Christmas Stories - Spider Saloff: Cool Yule - Vaudeville Holidays with Hensley & Montiel E-mail us to discuss future opportunities to work together & join us on Facebook or Twitter for more updates. Best always, Kristopher McDowell, Andrew Delicata & the Part-Time staff at KMP NYC ------------------------------------------------ THE 2012/2013 ROSTER Productions THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY: Ira Without George (Company size: 8 to 11) STORMY WEATHER: The Lena Horne Project (Company size: 4 to 8) DEEP IN A DREAM: The Long Night of Chet Baker (Company size: 5 to 6) THEY CALL ME MR. FRY THE ROAR OF THE BUTTERFLY Broadway Sally Mayes Gregg Edelman David Burnham Danny Gurwin Karen Mason Independent Christopher Rice Philip Fortenberry Adam Shenk Hensley & Montiel Enrichment Rex Reed James Gavin Michael Childers John Edward Hasse, PhD Steve Ross Cabaret Carole Cook Spider Saloff Marilyn Maye Kristen Towers-Rowles Uptown Express	Next from KMP... SPIDER SALOFF THE ROAR OF THE BUTTERFLY June 16-19, 8:30pm The Buttefly Club (Melbourne, Australia) August 17-20, 8:00pm Celebration Theater (Los Angeles, CA) CONGRATULATIONS to Spider for a fantastic article in the Chicago Tribune about her upcoming trip to Australia! ------------------------------------ ADAM SHENK Friday, June 3 YogaFit® Mind Body Fitness Conference SIMPLY BARBRA Monday, June 13, 7:30pm Kirkland Performance Center HENSLEY & MONTIEL LATE NIGHT VAUDEVILLE (3rd Thursdays this summer) June 16 / July 21 / Aug 18, 10:00pm The M Bar (Hollywood, CA) SALLY MAYES DAVID BURNHAM Off-Broadway - THE BEST IS YET TO COME Now through July 13 59 E 59 Theatre (New York, NY) UPTOWN EXPRESS June 24 & 25 at 6:30pm Metropolitan Room (New York, NY) HENSLEY & MONTIEL AIN'T WE GOT FUN! Sunday, June 26, 2:00pm Arthur Newman Theatre (Palm Desert, CA) DANNY GURWIN Faculty for at Six Days of Broadway June 27 to July 10 Segerstrom Center (Costa Mesa, CA) DAVID BURNHAM Faculty at Camp Sing July 11-16 / July 25-30 / August 8-13 HENSLEY & MONTIEL AIN'T WE GOT FUN! Sunday, July 17, 2:00pm Arthur Newman Theatre (Palm Desert, CA) KRISTIN TOWERS-ROWLES in A LOVELY LINEAGE Sunday, July 24, 6:30pm Upstairs at Vitello's (North Hollywood, CA) KMP Showcases August 31 at 8:30pm-12:30am Western Conference (Seattle, WA)
KMP Artists, Inc.

The State of the Arts: March 2011

Arts Insights

Three Perspectives on the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts

In 2008, the National Endowment for the Arts conducted a Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau. The final report of this survey, which includes comparison data for similar studies conducted in 1982, 1992 and 2002, presents a wealth of information on arts and culture attendance rates over the past twenty-five years. Three new research studies, commissioned by the NEA, analyze the data gathered from the 2008 survey to address three specific topics: 1) the correlation between age and arts participation, 2) the effect of personally performing in or creating artworks on individual levels of arts attendance, and 3) the influence of arts education on participation in the arts. The published reports of these studies, now available on the NEA website (see below) present new insights into current audience demographics and trends, challenge current views about core factors that will influence the future of arts participation in the United States, and provide new ideas on how to frame strategies to increase participation in arts and culture “benchmark” events. In this edition of Arts Insights, we present an overview of these reports. AGE AND ARTS PARTICIPATION Common wisdom, much of it founded on findings from earlier NEA studies, has held that an individual’s age is an excellent indicator of attendance patterns. But in Age and Arts Participation: A Case against Demographic Destiny, Mark J. Stern finds that some earlier assumptions were misleading. After accounting for other factors, his analysis of the data from 1982 – 2008 suggests that a person’s age is actually a poor predictor of the number of arts events they will attend once other variables are considered. Indeed, Stern shows that the current age distribution of arts audiences closely reflects the proportions of each age group in the general population. As Bonnie Nichols of NEA’s Office of Research & Analysis points out,”These results suggest that the effect of age on arts participation, though not zero, is marginal. As the other SPPA research reports have found, educational attainment is a far better predictor of arts participation.” On the surface, the 2008 SPPA study, like earlier surveys, seems to point to long-term declines for attendance at most types of arts events by suggesting a declining representation of younger audience members. But just because the “average” adult audience member in 2008 was six years older than in 1982 (45 as opposed to 39) it doesn’t necessarily follow that younger audiences are slipping through the cracks. Stern shows that the distribution of audience members between 18 and 29 years old, as well as older audience members 60 years and older, closely corresponds to their age bracket’s share of the general population during the corresponding years. A variable known as the ‘index of representativeness’ shows how participation by a particular age group compares to their share of the general population. In 1982 this index was 11 for those 18 to 29 years old, meaning that the size of their representation in arts audiences exceeded their share of the general adult population by 11%. By 2008, the index for this age group had fallen to 0, which means their attendance level matched their share of the adult population, showing zero percent difference from their proportional share. Additionally, in 1982, the index of representativeness was -32 for adults 60 and above. By 2008 it had risen to -13. In other words, the number of audience members over age 60 now more closely matches their makeup of the general population but is still underrepresented. Other cultural disciplines show similar results, although the youngest segment of ballet audiences is still underrepresented. The notable exception is classical music, whose audience has significantly aged. Audience members under age 30 for classical concerts fell from an index of -11 in 1982 to and index of -26 by 2008, while the index for those 60 or older jumped from -18 to of 22. CULTURAL OMNIVORES In each of the SPPA studies since 1982, the NEA has focused upon a select group of what it terms “benchmark” arts activities on which to focus their attention when surveying patterns of attendance and participation. This core group of activities, repeated from study to study, includes jazz, classical music, opera, musical or non-musical plays, ballet performances, and visits to art museums or art galleries. The number of U.S. adults attending such “benchmark” arts events declined from 39% in 1982 to 34.6% in 2008. The current economic recession (which had been under way for six months during the 2008 data collection period) may have negatively impacted attendance figures for that year. Stern posits that another likely contributor is that there are now fewer “cultural omnivores”, who he defines as those who not only attend the arts frequently, but attend a wide variety of benchmark events. And while he finds that age and “cohort” (those who have been in a similar age group during a particular time span - for example baby boomers) are not particularly good predictors of arts participation, they do seem to have a strong influence on the likelihood that an individual is a “cultural omnivore.”   Stern shows that the members of the World War II generation were more likely to become cultural omnivores than are those of Generation X. Early Baby Boomers also showed stronger likelihood to become omnivores. So it follows that, as these generations aged, the percentage of cultural omnivores as a share of the population declined. Indeed, he finds that in 1982 15% of SPPA respondents could be classified as omnivores, but by 2008 they made up only 10% of the total. The annual number of events that omnivores attended also fell, dropping more by than one event per person between 2002 and 2008. Stern estimates that as much as 82% of the decline in the total number of benchmark activities attended during this period can be explained by fewer cultural omnivores attending fewer arts events. BEYOND BENCHMARKING – INCREASED PARTICIPATION REVEALED A second new report, Beyond Attendance: A Multi-Modal Understanding of Arts Participation, by Jennifer L. Novak-Leonard and Alan S. Brown explores participation in the arts beyond the parameters of benchmark activities. One interesting result of their analysis is the finding that adults who have taken art classes at any time in their lives are more than 20% more likely to attend benchmark arts activities than those who have not, even after controlling for other variables such as gender, age, and race. They find that a broader definition of arts engagement, one which includes activities beyond attending benchmark activities, yields a new perspective on participation in the arts. For example, even excluding literary reading, 2008 SPPA data show that 74% of American adults performed an arts activity when the definition of such an activity includes the creation of art or participation in the arts via broadcasts or recordings, including performances accessed via the internet. This rate is more than double that reported for attendance at “benchmark” arts events. ARTS EDUCATION IN CHILDHOOD – A KEY PREDICTOR Novak-Leonard and Brown find that compared with adults who have only a grade-school education, adults with at least some college are about 20% more likely to attend a benchmark arts event, regardless of their gender, age, race, income, or regardless of if they live in an urban/metro area. For adults with graduate degrees, the likelihood is more than 40% greater. Similar to the findings for arts attendance, the likelihood that a person creates or performs also rises with education. An adult with a graduate degree, for example, is 23% more likely to create art or perform than one whose highest level of training is elementary school. But when data on whether or not individuals have taken any type of arts classes or lessons is added to the model, levels of educational attainment no longer effectively predict an individual’s likelihood of creating or performing art. Indeed, knowing whether an individual has had arts education during childhood is one of the best predictors of an individual’s arts participation in adulthood, including both arts attendance and the making of art. The study finds that adults who have taken arts classes at any time in their lives, regardless of education level, are 32% more likely to create art of their own. It also finds that arts attendance rates among adults who themselves create art are, depending on discipline, two to five times higher than for those who do not create art.   These results suggest that successful audience building strategies may need to shift from age-centered strategies for engagement to programs that consist of art-making and personal performance combined with live attendance opportunities, as well as strategies to attract audiences who have those shared experiences and education. Novak-Leonard and Brown suggest several strategies for engaging and increasing audiences, including an emphasizing the involvement of local artists in the organization’s artistic output, providing opportunities for interpretation and interaction during performances and exhibits, offering artistic instruction on-site and online, and developing expanded context-building activities and opportunities for dialogue with artists and others. THE IMPACT OF ARTS INSTRUCTION The critical importance of arts education’s influence on arts participation rates is highlighted by the work of Nick Rabkin and E.C. Hedberg in a third report. Arts Education in America: What the Declines Mean for Arts Participation looks at data from 1982 through 2008 to discover that adults who took childhood classes in at least one art form were about 50% more likely to attend a “benchmark” arts event, compared with adults who took no childhood arts classes. Noting that budget constraints in recent years and a shift in emphasis toward “basic” subjects have led to a decline in public school arts instruction since the late 1970’s, the authors hypothesize that the current decline in the number of young adults participating in the arts may be “in large measure the result of cuts in school-based arts instruction.”   The report also finds that this decline has been sharper for Americans whose parents are less educated. For example, rates of participation in arts classes for children whose parents’ highest level of educational attainment is less than a high school diploma, declined from 54% to 13% from 1982-2008. SPPA data also reveals a large race/ethnicity gap in childhood arts learning. In 1992, nearly 44% of young African Americans had taken arts classes when they were children. By 2008, that percentage fell to 28%, a 16-point decline compared to a 7-point decline for whites, 60% of whom reported having had some arts training in school. In 2008, the benchmark arts attendance rate for white adults was roughly twice that of African Americans, but other research conducted by the NEA has shown that race and ethnicity are misleading predictors of arts participation. Once other variables, particularly educational attainment, are considered, the impact of race and ethnicity have almost no measureable effect on the likelihood of an individual’s participation in the arts. In just one example, the 2008 SPPA data indicates that African Americans are 58% more likely than whites to go to a jazz concert. But if you add level of education to the model, race becomes statistically insignificant.   CREATING A NEW COHORT OF CULTURAL OMNIVORES By showing that education, specifically arts education and the experience of creating art, is often the portal through which people learn to appreciate and participate in the arts, the data in these reports provides a new perspective on the case for arts education in our schools. Now, in addition to the arts and culture industry’s efforts to advocate and educate regarding the socioeconomic impact that the arts have on individuals and communities, conversations about the size and composition of future audiences and the health of arts and culture organizations must include information about the importance of providing early access to arts education and opportunities to create of art. The potential for increased impact on communities where programs created by such an approach are woven into the mission of local arts organizations could foreshadow a bright future for cultural participation in the U.S. CONCLUSION Each of these Survey of Public Participation in the Arts reports identifies important new ways to interpret current trends in individual participation in the arts. Organizations are now challenged to further invest in market research and technology to track such audience preferences and participation patterns in their communities in order to inform a new strategic approach, revealing insights beyond the familiar mantra that “we need to reach younger audiences.”   RESOURCES Arts Participation 2008, published by the National Endowment for the Arts Office of Research & Analysis. An overview of findings from the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. http://www.nea.gov/research/NEA-SPPA-brochure.pdf Much of the information in this article was drawn from: National Endowment for the Arts Research Note #101, Three NEA Monographs on Arts Participation: A Research Digest, by Bonnie Nichols, NEA Office of Research & Analysis. This very helpful summary available at http://www.nea.gov/research/Notes/101.pdf National Endowment for the Arts Research Report #52, Arts Education in America: What the Declines Mean for Arts Participation, by Nick Rabkin and E.C. Hedberg, NORC at the University of Chicago. http://www.arts.gov/research/2008-SPPA-ArtsLearning.pdf National Endowment for the Arts Research Report #53, Age and Arts Participation: A Case against Demographic Destiny, by Mark J. Stern, University of Pennsylvania. http://www.arts.gov/research/2008-SPPA-Age.pdf National Endowment for the Arts Research Report #54, Beyond Attendance: A Multi-Modal Understanding of Arts Participation, by Jennifer L. Novak-Leonard and Alan S. Brown, WolfBrown. http://www.arts.gov/research/2008-SPPA-BeyondAttendance.pdf

Christopher Rice at KMP Artists APAP Exhibit Space on Jan 8, 2011

New York Times best selling author and public speaker Christopher Rice will make an appearance at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference on Saturday January 8th at the Hilton New York from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. KMP Artists invites you to meet Rice at their booth #547. For media inquiries, appointment requests and speaking engagements for 2011/2012 please contact info@kmpartists.com or call (212) 353-7796.

About Christopher Rice

Christopher Rice comes from a family of authors and was first published at 22 years old. His parents are Anne Rice and the late poet Stan Rice; his aunt, Alice Borchardt, is also a noted writer. Now at just 32 four of his books are New York Times best-sellers and his latest novel The Moonlit Earth was published in April of this year by Simon and Schuster.

With KMP Artists as tour manager, Christopher does public speaking, community enrichment lectures, and interactive conversations with fans throughout the United States inspiring writers everywhere. Rice speaks about writing in the South in Louisiana and now in Southern California. A warm and engaging speaker Rice has David Sedaris like humor and talks about growing up the son of Anne Rice, contemporary American novels, and a variety of specialty topics. He also hosts various writing workshops.

Nonetheless, Rice is proud of his large following in the gay community, explaining "it was incredibly rewarding when I got a huge positive response from the character Stephen in A Density of Souls. More than a thousand young gay men contacted me and said that I captured what it was like for them going through those years. That means everything to me." Rice also writes a regular feature for the LGBT-related biweekly news magazine The Advocate called "Coastal Disturbances," in which he discusses various topics. You can learn more about him at www.christopherricebooks.com.

About KMP Artists

From solo pianists to multi-celebrity concerts, KMP is committed to bringing top quality American talent and art forms to performing art centers and universities around the country. Just a handful of their talented performers include celebrity critic Rex Reed, Master pianist Philip Fortenberry, the Smithsonian Institute's Curator of American Music Dr. John Edward Hasse, James Gavin's Stormy Weather with Mary Wilson and much more. Partners Kristopher McDowell and Andrew Delicata are also delighted to announce they now have offices in Los Angeles and New York City. More information on KMP and their artists please go to www.kmpartists.com.

KMP Events in the U.S. between New Years Eve and Feb 14, 2011

 

JUST ADDED! UPTOWN EXPRESS  Friday, Dec 31 7pm and 11pm (Bob Egan Entertainment) New Hope, PA

SPIDER SALOFF
Friday, Dec. 31, starting 10:30pm
Charley's Creek Inn (Warsaw, IN)
New Year's Eve Concert: Spider's Speakeasy

PHILIP FORTENBERRY
Saturday, Jan. 8, 7:00pm
Metropolitan Room (NYC)

SIMPLY BARBRA (Steven Brinberg)
Saturday, Jan. 8, 9:30pm
Metropolitan Room (NYC)
with guest Franc D'Ambrosio

STEVE ROSS
opens Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Feb. 6, 2011
Oak Room, Hotel Algonquiin (NYC)

SIMPLY BARBRA (Steven Brinberg)
Friday, Jan. 21, 7:00pm
Boca Pointe Country Club (Boca Raton, FL)

SPIDER SALOFF
Sunday, Jan. 23
Madden Theatre (Naperville, IL)
Gershwin Concert: The Memory of All That

JUST ADDED!  SALLY MAYES Saturday, Feb. 12 & Sunday, Feb. 13 at 9:30pm Dopo Tearo (NYC)

SPIDER SALOFF
Sunday, Feb. 13, 7:00pm
Palais Royal at The Morris Performing Arts Center
Valentine Concert: My Funny Valentine

MENZIE & MICHAEL
Sunday, Feb. 13, 7:00pm
North Central College (Naperville, IL)

MENZIE & MICHAEL
Monday, Feb. 14, 8:00pm
Overture Center For The Arts (Madison, WI)

For the full roster of KMP artists, public speakers and more visit www.kmpartists.com

Join Us on Facebook or Twitter for more frequent updates.

Marilyn Maye Plays Texas with Rex Reed's THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY This Weekend

Exciting Week Ahead! Events in CA, IL, NY & TX

Sunday, November 7th at 3:00 PM catch the legendary SPIDER SALOFF in her one-woman musical comedy at Wilmette Theatre in Illinois. 

Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00 PM - First sneak preview performance of the new Broadway bound musical LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE hosted by The Chocolate Lab in California.

Tuesday, November 9th at at 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM Direct from Rex Reed's IRA WITHOUT GEORGE Kurt Reichenbach plays two sets at The Iridium in New York.

Friday, November 12th at 8:00 PM - THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY: Ira Without George with Rex Reed, Linda Purl, Tom Wopat, Sally Mayes, Kurt Reichenbach and special guest star Marilyn Maye perform at The Eisemann Center in Texas.

Saturday, November 13th at 8:00 PM - THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY: Ira Without George with Rex Reed, Linda Purl, Tom Wopat, Sally Mayes, Kurt Reichenbach and special guest star Marilyn Maye perform at The 1894 Grand Opera House also in Texas.

Where does your Senator stand on arts and arts education?

Click here to read what the Dirty Dozen in the U.S. Senate plan to do with arts and arts education funding.

Fall News

Autumn Greetings,

KMP Artists is having a wonderful time seeing so many friends and colleagues at the conferences. We continue to serve arts presenters and music fans with a roster of solo artists, major concert events, theatrical productions and, now, public speakers.

KMP is pleased to announce the addition of UPTOWN EXPRESS, the dynamic all-male harmony vocal group. Click here to sample vocals from Uptown Express.

Some of you may have met Emily Bley this year in Indianapolis. Emily is now an Associate Manager with KMP Artists. Originally from the great state of Montana, Emily moved to New York City where she began to play a pivotal role at KMP Artists. She currently leads a permanent office in the city. In addition to industry experience as Producer and Production Manager for large concerts and trade shows, Emily also cherishes leading guided tours of the Upper Missouri River (by raft). Emily earned a BA in Fine Arts and Music Management from the University of Montana at Missoula. Emily will also travel to Chicago periodically and can be reached (in NYC or Chicago) directly at 773-327-1919 or by e-mail at emily@kmpartists.com.

KMP Artists is booking artists through 2013. Routing is already available for many concerts and artsits.

Call 702-629-5448 or e-mail us to discuss any opportunities.

Join Us on Facebook or Twitter for More Frequent Updates!

Sincerely,

Andrew & Kristopher
KMP Artist Management

For a complete roster, visit kmpartists.com or call
773.327.1919 (Chicago) // 702.629.5448 (LV) // 212.353.7796 (NYC)

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Other KMP News...
- John Edward Hasse was featured in Smithsonian Magazine, Sep '10
- Beckie Menzie was honored by the Chicago Cabaret Professionals at Park West on October 17.
- Karen Mason returns to Broadway originating the role of 'The Queen of Hearts' in WONDERLAND, The Musical. Coming April 2011.
- Rebecca Spencer continues performances in THE FULL MONTY at The Village Theater in Washington through November 2010.
- Sally Mayes workshops a new musical by Arlo Guthrie with performances in Arizona Dec 2010 & Jan 2011.
- Simply Barbra appears at The Westchester Sandbox Theatre in Mamamroneck, NY on Sat, Nov 13.
- Kurt Reichenbach, cast member of THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY, performs two sets at The Iridium in NYC Tue, Nov 9.

The KMP Roster:

THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY: Ira Without George
Company size: 9 to 12

STORMY WEATHER: The Lena Horne Project
Company size: 4 to 8

DEEP IN A DREAM: The Long Night of Chet Baker
Company size: 5 to 6

UPTOWN EXPRESS
Company size: 5 to 7

Concert Vocalists
Steve Ross; Gregg Edelman; Sally Mayes; Philip Fortenberry; Rebecca Spencer; Karen Mason; Marilyn Maye; Spider Saloff; Menzie & Michael; Paula West; Simply Barbra

Public Speakers
Rex Reed; Christopher Rice; John Edward Hasse PhD; James Gavin; Rick McKay

KMP Artists On Tour

STORMY WEATHER:
The Life & Music of Lena Horne
Now with Mary Wilson

James Gavin (Author) is narrator and guide for this
staged biography of the late Lena Horne. Stormy
Weather debuted Spring, 2010 in Boston, MA

"Gripping... Marvelous!" - Liz Smith

Recent Dates & Appearances!
Sun, Sep 26 - West Hollywood Book Fair
Tue, Sep 28 - Palm Springs Public Library
Wed, Sep 29 - The San Francisco Heritage Museum
Sat, Oct 2 - Kirkland Performance Center (WA)
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The Man That Got Away:
Ira Without George
Rex Reed & Company celebrate of the genius of Ira
Gershwin, taking audiences on a journey of
American song with some of the bigger names
touring today like Tom Wopat, Linda Purl, Marilyn
Maye, Kurt Reichenbach and Sally Mayes

"One of the season's most satisfying programs"
- The New York Times

Upcoming Dates in Texas!
Fri, Nov 12 - Eisemann Center (Richardson)
Sat, Nov 13 - 1894 Grand Opera House (Galveston)
--------------------------------------------------------------------

PHILIP FORTENBERRY
Master Solo Concert Pianist (nationally recognized
for his breadth of skills & depth of character) is as
gifted with story-telling as he is with the keys.
Among his countless credits include conducting for
over 12 Broadway Shows, accompanying Frederica
Von Stade at the White House twice, and solo
concerts in halls across the heart of America

"A genius solo pianist whose styles encompass a
wide range of musical genres." - LV Magazine

Recent & Upcoming Dates in MT & ID!
Wed, Oct 27 - Chouteau County Performing Arts
Thu, Oct 28 - Grand Union Hotel
Sat, Oct 30 - Boise State University
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SPIDER SALOFF
Award winning vocalist / songwriter tours her one-
woman musical comedy, Entertaining Guests

"Saloff will win you over completely!" - NY Post

Upcoming Dates!
Sun, Nov 7 - The Wilmette Theatre
Fri, Dec 10 - Eaglebrook, IL
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MENZIE & MICHAEL
With "two voices and one sound" this duo's whimsy
and nostalgia pack Midwestern halls. Popular shows
include THAT 60's SHOW,
THE SOUNDS OF THEIR MUSIC, & REEL LOVE

"Cabaret at it's best!" - The Chicago Tribune

Recent & Upcoming Dates!
Tue, Sep 28 - North Platte Concert Association
Sat, Dec 11 - Bart Howard Room (Iowa)

 

www.kmpartists.com

Early Fall 2010

I am in shock that we are nearing the end of September already!  What a great fall so far.  Conferences in CA and IN were a blast to meet new friends and colleagues and reconnect with valued clients and long time relationships face to face... 

So far this month, Philip Fortenberry (solo pianist) has showcased at The Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA and also at The Columbia Club in Indianapolis as part of a festival that featured KMP clients Karen Mason, Gregg Edelman, Sally Mayes, Spider Saloff, Simply Barbra and others.  Menzie & Michael play the elegant Auditorium Theater in Chicago September 28th and James Gavin's STORMY WEATHER will make its West Coast premiere in Seattle at Kirkland Performance Center on Saturday, October 2nd after public speaking engagements in West Hollywood, Palm Springs and San Francisco (see Gavin's full schedule below).

Next month we are thrilled to attend the Cal Poly Arts Jazz festival and Arts Northwest with Christopher Rice, Philip Fortenberry and Rebecca Spencer.

JAMES GAVIN EARLY FALL APPEARANCES & PERFORMANCES



Wed. Sept. 22, 5PM:
Talk on Lena Horne: Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey (with Daryl Sherman singing songs of Lena)

Sun. Sept. 26, 3-4PM:
West Hollywood Book Fair: Biographers' panel with Bill Marx (Son of Harpo Speaks) and Ray Charles Robinson, Jr. (You Don't Know Me: Reflections of My Father, Ray Charles); Luke Yankee, moderator; West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd.

Tues. Sept. 28, 6PM:
Talk on Lena Horne and Stormy Weather, Palm Springs Public Library,
300 S. Sunrise Way Palm Springs, CA

Wed. Sept. 29, 7PM:
Talk on Lena Horne for Women in Jazz exhibit, San Francisco Jazz Heritage Center, 1320 Fillmore St Palm Springs, CA

Sat. Oct. 2, 8PM:
Stormy Weather: The Life and Music of Lena Horne (with Paula West and Rebecca Parris), Kirkland Performing Arts Center, Kirkland, WA