What a day! I am in the midst of a four day intensive rehearsal schedule for the Annual Rush University Medical Center’s Fashion Show. It is a benefit fashion show featuring live performers (me included) orchestra and of course couture clothing. This event is the longest running charity fashion in the country celebrating over 80 years. Proceeds from the 2008 show assist the Woman’s Board in raising $10 million for the Woman’s Board Heart and Vascular Center.
Everyone is so appreciative of your talents and your time and they pay you also!! I have been a participant for some eight years. We are all part of a team which includes a huge collection of well known Chicago celebs, socialites, union stage hands, models, dancers, musicians, singers, make up artists, hair stylists, and designers. It is a full scale production and it’s very exciting.
We are all there to have fun and raise money for a wonderful cause and we get to perform some great tunes. I have made many great friends from doing this event and I get the opportunity to sing in Orchestra Hall – home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I have no complaints.
It is a beautiful concert hall. I can not describe the thrill a singer experiences upon hearing one’s voice resound thru the place. It is magical.
So today ended day one (nine hours) of rehearsals. The show is on Thursday night. After all of thse years we have established some fun traditions… like the group dinner afterwards with the producer and dear friend Skip Grisham and whoever else joins in… usually a party of twenty or more. We work so hard together on the days leading up to the big night and we have become quite the little family. The event usually has a celeb performer as a special guest like Mary Wilson, Broadway diva Elaine Stritch, Marilyn McCoo, Kitty Carlisle – you know old school divas from stage – And I love it.
I better hit the sack as I have an 8:30AM call (report time for rehearsal) tomorrow! Showbiz – no business like it, no business at all!
