On a sunny day in Russia, Susannah and her mom, Barbara, lean against a three-foot-high granite wall beside the Volga River — a carved ball of granite balances on the corner behind them. Barbara wears a loose, bright red vee-necked sleeveless blouse, and a hearing device hangs from a cord around her neck. Her gray hair is swept away from her face and is held with bright pink flowers. She is beaming at the camera and rocks, as she used to call them, “black lips” — dark lipstick. Barbara has on dark sunglasses. Susannah wears a blue textured sweater with a camera slung across her chest. She has her arm around her mom and smiles brightly at the camera.
Susannah and her mother, Barbara

Wake up to loss

October 8th was my darling momma’s birthday, and when I awoke, I felt the loss deeply. She had an artist’s soul; she passed that on to me. I feel grateful for my life. I’ve had the support I needed to be an artist. Despite tremendous talent, my momma couldn’t find her footing in the music she loved so completely. I imagine it takes a village to do all things. Still, in my experience, the life of an artist takes an extraordinary confluence of generosities to enable it to come to fruition. If you love an artist, give them an extra snuggle for me and my momma.

Wake up to gratitude

Playing Amendine, Philomene (and a few others) at Portland Playhouse is a delight.

The Oregon Arts Watch called us “A Blissful Musical Tour de Force,” I agree that it’s indeed a tour de force. I am onstage with the magnificent Lo Steele on marimba, whose voice heals all, Emmanuel Davis on sax, Jimmy Garcia on trumpet, Ben Tissel on piano and accordion, Noah LaPook on mandolin, Charles Leggett on bass, Matt Staley on guitar and piano, Eliza Jane Schneider on violin, Sammy Rat Rios on cello, and Aari Gould on flute. Elleon Dobias is on violin and is our co-music director with Kennedy Verrett. Each artist learned two or three complete shows; the music is fully memorized. They accompany themselves and the rest of the company with fantastic grace and expertise. I am grateful and in awe of their talents. Oh, and Matt Staley taught me the ukulele so I could join the circus! Don’t miss experiencing this intimate beauty.

Wake up to access through audio description

My darling friend Nana Tuckit, also known as Nik Murrow, asked if I’d talk to her about audio description, in addition to enjoying cocktails together and sharing juicy stories, and I was delighted. Check out our interview. It’s audio-described. Also, on October 25th, my Audio Description Training Retreats colleagues Colleen Connor, Adrienne Livingston, and I will chat with interviewer extraordinaire Amy Amantea on her Describer Café.