It’s about 5am on a Sunday, and I’m awake and feel the need to write. Sounds like a song. Who knows, I may just write one after this post. There has been a lot going on in the last few weeks. The biggest thing now is that I’m getting ready for my first showcases for my new show. It’s called Every Woman: A Tribute To The DIVAS.
I’m excited, scared, nervous, happy all at the same time. I’ve never taken on anything quite so big. This is going to be a REAL show with costumes and lights and dancers. I’ve always dreamed of this. Writing my own shows. In fact this one has been in my head for a number of years. It’s had a few different working titles in my journals, but the idea has always been the same: put together a show that contained the music of some of my favorite divas, mix it in with some of my originals, get some sparkly and magical costumes. Add some live musicians and awesome dancers and go to work! So, I’d write in my journals and dream. I never knew how I would make it happen, but I knew that I would make it happen on some level.
I’ve started working with a great director, Kyona Levine and my dream choreographer, Danny T. Both are stretching me beyond my limits and are helping to make this idea a work of art. I’ve got costumes being especially made for this show by costumer Sara Lassalle. She is amazing.
Here is where I give a little back story. I’ve been singing and dancing in other people’s shows for years. A little over 15 now. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to travel around the world doing just that. I’ve worked with some incredible people and made some lasting friendships.
A few years ago, I was approached by someone who asked if I could do Tina Turner. It was a question way out of left field because we were actually talking about where she was from and the fun she’d had growing up there. My answer changed my life, “Sure, I do!”
Truth be told, I had never actually “done” Tina Turner, but I was sure about to figure out how. The closest I’d come was doing Proud Mary with a band every now and again. And a few times in a show or two. Other than that, it never crossed my mind. She explained to me that they needed a Tina for their show. As it turned out, they were celebrity impersonators. I’d seen a couple over the years, but never thought of it as anything to actually DO. Who knew? I sure didn’t.
A couple months went by before I heard from her again. She asked me to come in to sing for the owner of the agency she worked for. I went in for my audition wearing what I could muster as a Tina costume. It was a tight fitting, royal blue, mini club dress; black pumps, and my long show wig. I suppose I looked like Tina when she first began. You know, before the spiky, 80’s hair we’ve all come to know. In a small conference room filled mostly by a long conference table, I stood at the front with a mic stand they’d given me (sans mic) and did my thang!
It apparently worked because here I stand 3 years later about to get on a plane tomorrow to do that very thing…get paid to be someone else. But I digress. My newest show was sparked to life by meeting another agent at an impersonator convention last year. In fact, I wasn’t even performing. I was singing one song with a gentleman who I’d met while I was doing Tina for a corporate event and he was doing Garth Brooks. I was simply being me that day helping him out. The agent took me aside during a break and asked if I had an act. I said, “I do Tina Turner and Diana Ross.” “No,” he replied, “I want you to be yourself.”
Now, don’t eat me wrong, I have loved learning and playing all the characters I’ve impersonated over these 3 years, but I was dying to be me again. It felt like it had been so long since someone wanted to book a show of just me being…me. I wanted to cry.
So now, here we are working on the very show that allows me to be me. Little did this agent know I’d had a concept in my head for YEARS. I simply needed the right catalyst to get it out.
So stay tuned for updates on this adventure. My showcases begin in November. The dates are on the performance page of my website. I’ll be starting a fund raising campaign very soon as well. I want to be sure that everyone that has generously offered their skills and is working with me on this project gets paid. Keep an eye on my fan page for that.
This is for real now!
Official Website: www.ellaglasgow.com
Fan Page: www.facebook.com/SingEllaGlasgow
Ella Glasgow 