Friends,

 

It's been quite a while since we last chatted, but I hope that your 2008 was full of happy memories and that 2009 is shaping up to be a great year for you.

I have been very busy - and am about to be CRAZY busy for the next few months, so I wanted to take a little time out to catch you up on everything that's been going on in Russ-land...

Since I last wrote you (in August!  where does the time go??), I've had 3 major projects:  First, the debut of my new show, Standard Time, was a great success, with rave reviews all the way around.  We debuted the show both here in San Francisco at the fabulous new Rrazz Room, as well as in New York at The Metropolitan Room.  While in New York, we recorded both of our shows there, and will be releasing them as a live concert CD later this year - stay tuned for details in future newsletters.

Second, as you can see from the pictures on the left, I was once again honored to make a return visit to Mt. St. Helen's School, and the Little Sisters of Hoboken in Nuncrackers.  This was my third outing as Father Virgil (though my first in Nuncrackers) and I had a ball.  Rumor has it that the Little Sisters will be bringing their Christmas cheer to Michigan sometime in 2010, so stay tuned for that.

I was also lucky to be able to bring my holiday show to the Rrazz Room here in San Francisco, just a few days before Christmas.  Along with my guests (and good buddies) Terese Genecco, Barry Lloyd and Alexandra Kaprielien, we had a super swingin' evening of "Jingle Jazz" that put a nice bow on the holiday season for us and sold-out audience.  We had so much fun that the Rrazz Room has already booked us for this coming December, and wants to make Christmas In San Francisco an annual Rrazz Room tradition.

Whew!  Now on to 2009...

I just returned from New York, where I was honored to be a part of a benefit performance, raising money for the Scholarship Fund for the "Art of Cabaret" master class series at the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp.  Many of you know that I attended this workshop several years ago, and what a transformative effect it had on me, both as a performer and a person.  I was thrilled to share the stage with some very talented alumni of the program, along with the prestigious faculty:  Barry Kleinbort, David Gaines, Karen Mason, Christopher Denny, Andrea Marcovicci, Shelly Markham, and Teri Ralston - whom I had not seen since working with her in Phantom in San Diego, way back in 1992!

There are lots of cool & exciting things coming up for me in the next few months - see below for all the details.  I hope to see you at one or more of the events, and if you are there, please be sure stop and say hello.

Once again, thank you for supporting live entertainment, and thanks for all your love and support of me - it's truly appreciated!

XOXO-