Hello!
This is your old friend, Starr Ahrens. I hope you're doing SO AWESOME!

As the subject line implies; it's true, I'm singing in a totally fancy choir. It's called Vox Femina and it's "LA's premier women's choir". I just started in August. It's really challenging and amazing. The music is beautiful and the choir is going to share it with the public - THIS WEEKEND!

I hope that you or someone you know who loves beautiful choral music will join us THIS WEEKEND for "Rhythms of Life", Vox Femina's first concert of the year (and my first concert with them ever)!

Here's the info:
Sat Nov. 3rd - 8pm
Sun Nov. 4th - 4pm
Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School
200 S. Grand Ave (downtown LA - across the street from Disney Concert Hall

To purchase tickets, just go here:
http://voxfeminala.org/store/products.htm

We will be performing with the On Ensemble, a Taiko Music group. It should be awesome.

If you're interested in enjoying snippets of songs Vox Femina sang in the past, just go to VoxFeminaLA.org

I would love to see you there, because then afterward we can say "isn't it wonderful to share the gift of music."

Sincerely,
-Starr Ahrens

I will now present a list of people who might be interested in attending this event with you:
-Someone you met on the internet
-Your spouse, partner or 'roommate'
-Extended family
-Immediate family
-Your "little" brother or sister (as in Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization or something similar like foster care)
-Your boss
-Someone from any of the following countries: USA, France, India, Venezuela, Poland, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, The Saponi Nation, Argentina and those of Tamil blood.
-An elderly friend
-A friend of the family who you are not sure how to relate to.
-Someone who attended Liberal Arts College
-Your Orthodox Jewish, Evangelical Christian and Buddhist friends (and all other religious sensibilities).
-All friends and family who do not like swearing or sex in their entertainment.
-A classy dame.
-You.

Wow, I am totally not into myspace right now. I'm really not into it. It's overwhelming, it's impersonal. I have 400 friends many of which are not even people but actually places or groups. I have several people who are my friend like 3 times because I'm "friends" with all their groups and alter egos.

It seemed like a good idea. You know, to have a myspace page for your group or for your hometown, or for your movie or for your pet or for your child or for you and your spouse or for another project you just started. But right now, I'm just not into it.

I'm not into getting 8 bulletins about the same event because I'm friends with 5 people who are all in the same group and their group is my "friend" and their alter egos are my friend. Plus some of the people I'm friends with in the same group have 2 or 3 myspace pages just for themselves, like their professional page and their friend page. That happened to me. I had one page and then I decided to open this page, and now I feel really overwhelmed because I never said no. Now I say no all the time because I have 10 strangers asking me to be their "friend" everyday and I'm already overwhelmed managing people I know.

Then people change their names and put picutres of their dogs or a drawing up so I don't know who they are anymore. I'm sure a million (or more likely 200 million) people have already had this complaint. I guess I just want to feel like more of a person. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I really like to have personal emails. I like to actually have someone communicate with me. I like it when people have met me before. Honestly, I'd rather get a mass email from someone who I've met before than 9 bulletins. I'd rather get an evite sent to my email account than an "event invitation" on myspace. I would prefer people tell me about their shows via email and leave bulletins as a place to post "internet jokes". Or "fun fact" emails or "ways to not get raped" emails.  

I guess don't want to be a number. Maybe this is the wrong forum for this.

Maybe I belong in the late 90's.

Maybe I'll change my mind once I'm doing more stuff.

Maybe I'll move to the mountains and live off the land and then when I come back down LA will have burned to a nub and everyone will have forgotten their passwords and will be eating grass sandwiches and creating a socialist utopia and will be getting to know each other again face to face.

Ding dong.  

Hello!

I'll be performing in TWO shows at the Minnesota Fringe Festival this year (a notable statistical phenomenon). The "fringe blogger" Matthew Everett has blogged about our show tri-fecta in the following link, which I hope you'll check out:

http://www.fringefestival.org/blg_showPost.cfm?blogID=4&id=2357

So remember, I'll be performing Let's Go! See A Show! AND Starr, Scott and Bill this year at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. It will be SO EASY to catch both shows PLUS Bill's solo show - we're all at the same place:

the Cedar Cultural Center - 416 Cedar Ave S. Mnpls, MN 55454

Simply go to these links to get the days/times of our shows!

1.  Let's Go! See A Show! Starr Ahrens' Unaccompanied, Solo Exploration of Her Original, One Act Musical

2.  Starr, Scott and Bill

3.  Crackhead Whoremonger Nerd Comedian 

IT'S EXCITING AND FUN!!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!! THE TIME HAS COME TO SEE THESE SHOWS!!!

Love,

Starr

I will be performing my solo show (Let's Go! See A Show! Starr Ahrens' Unaccompanied, Solo Exploration of Her Original, One Act Musical) in the Minnesota Fringe Festival at the Cedar Cultural Center On the following dates: August 2, 4, 5, 11, 12. I'll also be performing in the Iowa Fringe Festival July 19-22.

I wanted to tell you a little about the show. You can enjoy a promo of the show up above this blog in the thing that says "Let's Go! See A Show! (promo)"

To enjoy a great description and review of my show when I performed it at the Fresno Fringe Festival you can click here: description/review.

To enjoy some audience member's reviews of the show click here: audience.

If you live in Minnesota and are curious about The Minnesota Fringe Festival, enjoy the website www.fringefestival.org.

If you live in Iowa and are curious about The Iowa Fringe Festival, enjoy the website www.iowafringe.com.

I was just reading this article that talks about how women still make 70 cents on the dollar. Part of the reason, other than institutionalized misogyny, is that women are not raised to negotiate for themselves, or "toot their own horn". I will now toot my own horn regarding my solo show in a fake interview with myself:

StarrQ: So, Starr, what are some reasons people would want to see your show?

StarrA: Great question, Starr. First and foremost, my show is funny. 

StarrQ: Really?

StarrA: Yes. People laugh at every performance that I've ever done of the show. Even really mean or backwards people laugh at the show.

StarrQ: Backwards?

StarrA: I just threw that in.

StarrQ: Back to the reasons your show is great.

StarrA: Ah yes, of course. The show is appropriate for anyone. It's clean, satirical, endearing, inclusive and original.

StarrQ: I see. Very ENTICING. You say "inclusive" what do you mean?

StarrA: I mean people typically don't feel left out or singled out or offended afterward. Although if they tried, they could feel offended. I do a lot of accents. It takes place primarily in France and England. A girl goes on a trip overseas after high school and she hangs out exclusively with non-Americans in hostels.

StarrQ: Do you get across the feelings of that age and experience?

StarrA; Yeah, people who have been kids or have parents or who have traveled or who have ever seen or been in a musical seem to relate to the show.

StarrQ: Why are you performing it at fringe festivals?

StarrA: Well, as I mentioned earlier in the interview, the show is original. I create a theatre specific experience for the audience. You could never have the same kind of experience from a video. It is really fun and entertaining, unless you're mean or backwards and even then you'll still have fun and be entertained, you'll just lie about it later.

StarrQ: Interesting this whole "backwards" thing. I don't even know what that's supposed to imply.

StarrA: Yeah, maybe it's weird. I'm just trying it out.

StarrQ: Well careful, someone might think it applies to them.

StarrA: It doesn't. BUT MY SOLO SHOW DOES!!

StarrA & StarrQ: WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE SHOWS IN MINNEAPOLIS and/or DES MOINES THIS SUMMER!!! YYYYEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!

Please enjoy the following clips of me on tv performing sketch comedy with The Gay Mafia at the Outlaugh Festival 2006. I wish I could imbed these images but I haven't figured out how to do that. So if you know how, email me the html so I can imbed these priceless moments.

Love, 
Starr 

1. Titty Bear

2. Menses Minstrels

Once again, I am swept away by the kind people of Fresno.

"Starr, Scott and Ed" had a GREAT time in Fresno, the All American City & Raisin Capital of the World.

Although I did not actually consume any raisins while there (something I distinctly regret) we definitely had a great time at the Rogue festival www.roguefestival.com  . The people of Fresno are the ones to thank for that. We were really blessed to have such a great turn-out of primarily very enthusiastic audiences, as well as incredibly supportive and open minded staff and volunteers.

Donald Munro, who I have a special affection for because of the review he gave me last year, also reviewed "Starr, Scott and Ed". That review can be seen here: http://www.fresnobeehive.com/archives/2007/03/rogue_review_st.html,

Audience members reviewed our show as well. Those reviews can be seen here: http://roguefestival.com/rogue07/2007/02/starr-scott-and-ed.html, and here: http://fresnoundercurrent.net/node/57#comment-40, (although you have to go all the way down to the middle of the page to find it. Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to only get at the page w/ "Starr, Scott and Ed".)

Yes indeed, Fresno was a treat. The one element I was NOT impressed with was that The Chicken Pie Shop closed down at 3pm. Enjoy images of the Chicken Pie Shop here: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Photo.aspx?RefID=4037&PhotoID=8096, (because myspace's link button is not working) and here: http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Photo.aspx?RefID=4037&PhotoID=8097,

So instead we enjoyed Chinese food from the Golden Restaurant. I will now close with some images of Starr, Scott and Ed enjoying Chinese food in Fresno:

Scott eats while "EYEBROW ED" looks on.

Full bellies in front of the Chinese place.

Which comes first, the USA or the RIBS? It's an age old riddle.

It was ok there. But not as ok as Smokey Joe's in Madison, WI. That's right, I went right to the cattle source for my ribs cravings.

Bottom line: Wisconsin does it better. Ribs USA was a solid contender, but even small chains in WI cook up my heart attack plate best.

THANK YOU WISCONSIN FOR ALWAYS COMING THROUGH FOR ME WHEN IT COMES TO TASTY MEATS.

I would also like to thank Wisconsin for its public schools, Russ Feingold, Harry Houdini, Frank Lloydd Wright, Georgia O'Keefe, the best state capitol building and grounds(so far in my experience), delicious private well water, clean air, well maintained parks and recreational areas, small farms, moderate government and the magazine Wisconsin Women - celebrating the contributions of women across Wisconsin. And of course the publicly owned Green Bay Packers. I would also like to thank Wisconsin for its professionalism and excellent manners.

WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT YEARS, WISCONSIN! KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

(that's a pun for state capitol buffs.)

All day today at work it has smelled like cancer.

Cancer smells like hot plastic. 

Cancer is a legitimate concern. I work in a building which uses a great deal of technology, chemicals and radiation and only the late great Jesus H. has any idea what kinds of carcinoma float through the recycled air of this edifice.

I feel my "cancerns" would be relieved if only I could crack a window. Alas, the windows in this and most buildings nearby are SOLDERED CLOSED. So, see ya later, frontal lobe. I guess I'll just kiss middle age good-bye, and forget about having children come out of my uterus, which I'm sure by now only contains mutated eggs, only yielding highly deformed fetuses the likes of which have only been seen by the poor Siberian victims of soviet nuclear accidents and experimentation.

Sure, I am probably courting some kind of ji-had lymphoma, but at least I have health benefits, right people? Thank the lord for my health benefits, because then I'll be able to afford the radiation and chemotherapy which are inevitably mine. GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME.