Roby Talbot | Montreal

This week was a long one. . . with 66 hours of rehearsal scheduled, it was a lucky break that I had a night off to get some photo work done!
But now with just 2 weeks to go until we leave Montreal, the heat is on.
I hope you like your Banana's flambeed!

In that free time, I was able to wrap up the editing I gave you a sneak peak of a few weeks back. Here is my handsome and debonaire French friend Roby in all his sexy goodness. . .
He has those trademark bedroom eyes!
Oh, how I adore him!!

Self Portrait

My dear friend Mim has a fabulous sister, Sussy.

(These are not their actual names, but their vv famous blog names.)

Sussy is a fabulous photographer who inspires me daily with her blog. And she recently challenged her readers to do a self portrait. I decided to play along and will now share with you a few of my favorites.

I took these while testing makeup for my fabulous new show (Banana Shpeel. . . Have you heard enough about it yet? )

While this is not my actual makeup for the show, I thought it was still amazing!

Clowns in a NYC Sports Bar | BANANA SHPEEL

As part of the new web-commercials for our show, our two clown/goons from the show went to New York to start settling in. You can see the series of commercials by checking out
Cirque's new New York City page here!
(how amazing is the design of that page, eh?)
I laugh hysterically at these guys every day. . . it's time you should too!!

Hope

Thanks to my dear Erin of C'est Jolie for sharing this!

I cried great big cannon-ball tears when I realized I wouldn't be in town to see this show!
If you are in LA on October 13th, you owe it to yourself to go see this show!
My dear friend Lesli is a genius, and you will leave with a whole new life after seeing her give it!
I mean seriously! Would you please just look at this promo!
Lesli and I did the fabulous BEEHIVE the musical together in LA a few years back, and she went on to star in the West End production of ZORRO the musical, for which she won an Olivier Award! (For those of you not in the know. . . that a British TONY award!)
So, I insist that you go.
You're welcome.
To view the video follow this link:
http://www.leslimargherita.com/leslimargherita.com/The_Royal_Promo.html

Hollywood, here we come!!

So, I am leaving in less than 24 hours and headed to the fabulous city I have been absent from for so long! I grew up in SoCal, and have spent many hours driving the crazy streets and freeways of LA, and thus, I'm so looking forward to this quick trip "home."

I just have to rub in the glamorous lifestyle that Cirque provides me!
1: I will be picked up from my Montreal apartment and taken to the airport where. . .
2: We will board our private Jet from our private airport terminal.
3: We will arrive in Los Angeles and be taking to our UH-MAZING hotel. . . please see photos below! (This is the Sofitel in Los Angeles. . . I'm drewling and so excited!)
4: All meals will be taken care of.
5: We will be taken to CBS studios where we will have makeup artists do our makeup, and all our wants provided!
6: We are going to be on national television performing in front of approximately 20 million viewers!
I hope you are one of them!

So, I will savor the moments, and perhaps make you a little video of the experience!
Til then, be jealous!
xoxo
kat

BEP + OPRAH + DANCERS = HAPPY ME!

I just found out about this brilliant stunt for Oprah, and as I watched it, it totally made me smile and even giggle out loud! What more can you ask for than to take one of my favorite groups, singing one of my current favorite songs, with 20,000 people spontaneously dancing to it, and Oprah looking on in delight?
I must say, that out of all the things I miss by not living in the US right now, up top is not getting to watch Oprah on a daily basis! But, since I am going to be in Chicago in just one month, I think I will have to make up for it a little!

Watch, delight, and revel in this magical stunt!

Banana Shpeel Video #6

The press is just coming so fast an furious, I can hardly keep up!!
Check out this week's sneak peak video, talking about the inspiration for the name of our show, and a look at the photo shoot!
To watch the video click here!

Broadway.com | On the Scene

Broadway.com is one of my favorite websites, mainly because of their always awesome coverage of new shows!
And, since I'm in a new show, I'm happy to report, that they've done it again!
With a fabulous video and an awesome spread of shots from yesterday's press conference in New York, here are my faves!
To view the video click here.




Mr. Shiner showing off his rusty old hat tricks :) JK, he's a genius!

Wayne and Daniel clowning around!

Sing it!! Michael Longoria as Emmett and Annaleigh Ashford as Katie sing out their hope of love!

The Banana Sisters take ya through the bridge! (I'm the one on the right!)

The company poses for a photo! (I'n on the right with the giant purple feather in my hat!)


Check out the rest of the photos here!
Thank you Broadway.com!!

Banana Shpeel!

HERE IT IS!!
The word is out, and the word is:

BANANA SHPEEL!



Today, we had our press conference in NY at our 2010 home, The Beacon Theatre, where we announced the title and performed a 10 minute clip of the show. It was thrilling, it was chaotic, it was incredible, and it was FUN!

It is crazy how every day this project keeps blowing my mind. . .
And to think when I first got the offer I thought about maybe not taking it!
Silly me!

And here are a couple of the articles I've been culling from the web!
TheatreMania
ChicagoTribune
New York Times
And if you are in NY, keep your eyes open for us on New York 1!

I only spent about 20 hours in NY, but I got so overwhelmed with the idea of the life I will be living there in 2010!
Some of things I will be looking forward to include:
- Living in a SWEET luxury apartment in The Hotel Beacon!
- A 2 minute walking commute to work!
- The Upper West Side! Yes, I love it!
- Working in the historic and gorgeous Beacon Theatre!
- Being a working, well paid performing in New York City, in a show that I LOVE!
- Being a 3 minute walk from The Hummus Place
- Having a 7 minute walk to church!
. . . and so much more!

Stay tuned for a little video I made documenting the trip!
Did I mention we flew on private planes, got pampered beyond belief and did our job brilliantly?
Well, we did.
Now you know.
xo
kat

Sneak Peak: Roby Talbot

Roby is my French Lover.
Well, my French Canadian friend who I love dearly, at least!
Since I am here in Montreal for a bit, we have been catching up, and we decided to have a little photoshoot.
Here is a sneak peak from the totally radical handsomeness that is Roby!
This is what I call eye candy!

ps- these photos are straight outta the camera, and have yet to had any work done on them!

America's Got Talent!

So, we got the official word today that in 2 weeks, we'll be flying on our private jet to LA where we will be performing on America's Got Talent.
We'll be filming an episode that will be airing on Sept 16th, so set those DVR's! We're not sure yet what section of the show we are going to do, but you better believe we're gonna bring it!
And since I'll be in LA, I'll be looking forward to catching up with so many of you. . . though I won't have a lot of free time! Stay tuned for details!
woo-hoo!!

Vaudeville Video # 5

Luke and Melissa talk about their incredible taposity (that's a Jared Grimes original vocabulary word. . . along with verositiousness, ferocity, and "get in the mustard.")
Check out this week's latest sneak peak of Vaudeville here:
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/vaudeville/creation-journal.aspx

On a separate note, I'll be in New York in 4 days!!! I'm going for our big press event, where we'll present a small number from the show and officially announce the title of the show! I don't even know what the title is, yet! Should be fun!
If you're in NY, I hope to see you!

The Wicked Truth: Omaha

A while back, I blogged about a book event I was doing in Omaha, NB
for the incredibly insightful book, The Wicked Truth.

Since Omaha is not too far from Kansas City, I decided to spend a little time with my extraordinary Granny and Grandpa Deal!
They are the coolest people, and my biggest fans!

We ate lots of delicious food ( a special family talent ) and had lots of time just talking and catching up.
Granny Nikki grabbed a few shots of me performing.
Here are a few from the trip!


Chatting with the wonderful Suzanne Ross about her incredible book!




Performing "The Wizard and I"





And a little "Defying Gravity."




PS- Suzanne also wrote an incredibly witty and fun book about love called "The Wicked Truth About Love."
Be sure to check it out here!

And a few out-to-eat shots with Granny Nikki and Grampa Bob in Kansas City.

Have you noticed her fabulous jewelry? She is never without the perfect accessories!
I can only hope to be half as stylish when I grow up!