Tuesday, August 14, 2007

RABBI SCHOOL WASHOUT (to the tune of Beauty School Dropout from GREASE)



RABBI SCHOOL WASHOUT
(to the tune of Beauty School Dropout from Grease)
Lyrics by Cathy McKim (inspired by Tracey's Burning Bush Shows)


Your story’s sad to tell,
Yeshiva ne'er do well,
Most mixed up shayna maidel in the school!
Your future's so unclear now,
What's left of your career now?
You’ll never get a job down at the shul!

Dancers: (La lalala lalala lalala...)

Rabbi school washout,
No graduation day for you.
Rabbi school washout,
Terrified seniors, what’cha gonna do?
Well at least you could have taken time to sit and have a chat, now.
But instead it’s: 'Death, just deal with it'. You think that will impress, now?

Baby get moving (Baby get movin’),
Just keep your feeble hope alive.
Know you can do it! (Know you can do it!)
You've got the dream, now show the drive!

If you go for it, go do the strip, you won’t feel like a fool.
Go shake your booty, don’t just sit there on that stool.

Rabbi school washout (Rabbi school washout),
Hanging ‘round the peeler bar.
Rabbi school washout (Rabbi school washout),
It's about time you were the star.

Well they couldn't teach you anything,
You think you've got such chutzpah
But no congregant would go to you unless they were meshuga!

Baby don't sweat it (Don't sweat it),
Preaching at temple’s not for you.
Better forget it (Forget it),
You’ve got a chance here, take it – nu?

Now your Torah’s learned, Kabbalah’s earned, babe you’re on a roll.
Come on, just be a mensch, and go stradle that pole!

Baby don't blow it,
Don't put my good advice to shame.
Baby you know it,
Even Dear Abby'd say the same!

Now I've called the shot, get off the pot, I really gotta go!
Just get up and dance now – don’t you be a schmo!

Rabbi school washout, (Rabbi school washout)
Get up and dance now.
Rabbi school washout, (Rabbi school washout)
Get up and dance now.
Rabbi school washout, (Rabbi school washout)
Get up and dance now.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Camping and Mystical Hats . . .


Dear Burners!!

The photo on top I took on the August long weekend on a canoe trip to Killarney Lake. The sun had just come up and since my friends didn't get up till about 11am I had about four hours to myself each morning to be alone with what you see....and my ipod when I felt like doing some dancing for the huge turtle that came to visit us.

This is my very special cowboy hat I bought this weekend for The Burning Man Festival!...I figure the key to any new and scary experience is having a kick ass hat so you can a least feel confident about your headwear.

When you have a minute google 'Burning Man' and hit the 'image' search button and be astounded!

Today I had a second meeting with a wonderful person about a project that I can't tell you about right now but let's just say I am dancing around my apartment in my hat, a tank top and that's it.

I also met with a woman this afternoon to help her brainstorm about her first one-woman show, which is going to be great and very original. I love doing this by the way, so if you wanna take me out for a iced-soy-latte, I will brainstorm your show idea with you. She even brought a tape recorder to Starbucks, what a great idea.
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~NEWS~

WEEKEND SOLO-SHOW WORKSHOP IN TORONTO

NEW DATES:
OCTOBER 12,13,14. Friday evening & Sat/Sun all day.

register now: tracey@theburningbush.ca (12 spots)
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Psssst......What are you waiting for? Someone to tap you on the shoulder and say; 'I'll help you create your solo-show!' . . . consider yourself tapped!!

Keep Burnin' Kids!

Love,
Tracey & BB



Sunday, July 29, 2007

The Closing Night | Best of the Fringe @ Diesel Playhouse

What a super run at The Diesel Playhouse!

Here we are at the closing night after party..ok it wasn't really a party, it was us four eating pub food...all good. And the sepia photo is me back stage before tonight's show. When it's a one-woman show there really isn't anyone else around to take pics for ya!


What a night! A few hours before show time one of my key people, had an emergency and let me know she would not be able to make it in to call tonight's show.
We kicked into problem solving mode and my incredible new friend and ASM from the Fringe, Miss. Susie, saved the day. She called the show, with less than an hour to figure it all out...what an star!
Note: In this second installment of The Burning Bush series, I show a two minute slide show to re-cap the first show for those who hadn't seen it. When we got to the theatre an hour before the show today our wonderful technician, Alex, asked me; 'Where is the computer that has the slide show on it?'
DOH!!!
That computer belongs to my dear friend who could come tonight. Hmmmmm....
OK, I'll just do it without the slides...and so the show went on! Y'all know what Jackie Mason looks like anyway, right?!
And it was a great night. My amazing agent Elana was in the audience, she is incredibly supportive, such a gift.

Next adventures....camping, Burning Man Festival and the next Weekend Workshop of Soul-O-Theatre for solo show creation, SEPTEMBER 28,29,30 in Toronto.
For more Info: 416-778-8984


Thank you so much to everyone who came to the hold-0ver at Diesel and THANK YOU to everyone at Diesel!!

Keep it burning,
Tracey

Friday, July 27, 2007

Two in the Bush! Opens at The Diesel Playhouse


Dear Friends,

'Two in the Bush!' opened last night at The Diesel Playhouse to an almost full house. What a blast! Last year in the Best of the Fringe I performed The Burning Bush in the main space, which holds over 400 people. It was awesome to do a solo show in a theatre that size. This year they have all the shows in the cabaret space and it's also great. Super lights, sound, and a nice intimate feel with 110 people.

This photo is from my performance of The Burning Bush! in Halifax a few months back at their very first Chutzpah Festival. Did you know that more than four Jews live in Halifax!? and they all came out for my show. Man, that was fun!
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THE NEWS . . .

Solo-Show Weekend Intensive coming in SEPTEMBER!

WHEN: September 28,29,30 (Friday evening and Saturday, Sunday)
WHERE: Toronto
WHAT: A weekend workshop teaching you how to create your own one-person show.
WHY: Because gettting help making one of your dreams come true is a good thing!
You will leave this weekend with tons of writing, theme ideas and tips on how to put it all together.
HOW DO I SIGN UP: There are only about 10 spots, so I suggest you email me: cre8_tv@yahoo.com OR phone (416) 778-8984 ....and reserve your spot!
FEE: $265 (includes the $15 workbook)

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WAIT A MINUTE.......I HAVE MORE NEWS.....

I am going to The Burning Man Festival next month! www.burningman.com

What Is Burning Man?
Every year, tens of thousands of participants gather to create Black Rock City in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, dedicated to self-expression, self-reliance, and art as the center of community. They leave one week later, having left no trace.

I know!!! People say... 'but Jewish Girls don't camp!!' This one does! In an RV!! There are 5 of us going and we will fly to Reno, pick up the RV and drive to the site, three hours away.....since it is a cash-less community, everyone is encouraged to bring something to give away...I have an idea...more on that in the next blog entry.

SO......three shows left at Diesel, JULY 27,28,29....if you haven't seen Two in the Bush, come on down and if you have, come on down, I've made some changes...namely 'Christy' is back in her full glory at the top of the show.

Sending peace and blessing...keep on burning!

Very Best,
Tracey





Saturday, July 14, 2007

2nd Last day of the Toronto Fringe 2007!

Dear Gentle Readers,

It is the second last day of the Toronto Fringe! To your left is 'The Bushmobile' our customized rig that we tour around North America in. It opens up into a flat-bed truck so we can 'Preach & Peel' where ever we go.

The other day there was a voice mail from a woman who had seen 'Two in the Bush!' and wanted to know if I would bring the show to a seniors home! How fantastic! You bet I will. It got me thinking about doing stand-up comedy on the 'Seniors Centre Circuit'. Material written especially for them, about living communally in a home, the food, who's sleeping with whom, who gets the most visitors, etc! But I do think it would be funnier coming from an actual senior who has lived that life and would speak from the insiders perspective...maybe I can coach them on writing their own material. And we can start a Elders Yuk-Yuks.

Last nights show was a blast. Many friends were in the audience including playwright John Lazarus. He was my one-person show instructor at Studio 58 where I went to theatre school in Vancouver. A wonderful writer/performer and great teacher.

Keep your eyes peeled for a Soul-O-Theatre Weekend Intensive on creating your own one-person show...coming in September!

Keep it Burning,
TES

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Day 8 of the TORONTO FRINGE


Dear Gentle Readers,

Welcome to the first installment of the Burning Bush Blog!

This is a behind the scenes peak at what we're up to with the shows and for YOU to talk to me and post your thoughts and prayers on this virtual Western Wall.

This is a photo of Mr. Jackie Mason and I taken in NYC in June. (Did you know, not only that he used to be a Rabbi but he holds the world's record for the most one-man show on Broadway!?)

It's late Wednesday night and I had my 6th performance this evening of Two in the Bush!
We were sold-out again! What a thrill.
Some dear friends/students of mine from ACT 2 Studio at Ryerson were in the audience and my Rabbi from when I was a teenager was there to. It was wonderful to get her blessing about the show.

Here is a link for an article that's coming out tomorrow about myself and Two in the Bush in The Jewish Tribune.

www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/content/view/72/35/


BIG NEWS:
Two in the Bush! was just selected as BEST OF THE FRINGE 2007
and will be Held-Over at The Diesel Playhouse July26,27,28,29 @ 7pm.
www.dieselplayhouse.com

I wish you all a great Fringe and if you see me around the Annex, come on over and say Shalom!

Keep Burning,
Tracey