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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Thought I’d take a moment before the madness of the day begins to update you on what’s been going on in the world of Catherine Bush, playwright. This year has been a BUSY one – back in March I made the mistake of making a “to-do list” of things I wanted to accomplish before 2018 ended. I’m sure, organizationally speaking, it was a good idea – but just seeing all the tasks laid out was, and still is, a bit overwhelming. But I have plodded through and made some progress and plan on drinking a celebratory glass of champagne on New Year’s Eve.

First things first – my play WOODEN SNOWFLAKES opened last night at Barter Stage II and I couldn’t be prouder of this production. If you get the chance, I hope you’ll come see it. It’s the kind of Christmas story we all need to hear/see right now.

https://bartertheatre.com/shows/wooden-snowflakes/201712041543247695

Opening November 27th is a musical I wrote for young audiences with composer Dax Dupuy: SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN. A lot of fun and a good message for kids – just another reason to visit!

https://bartertheatre.com/shows/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town/201801120916584357

WINTER WHEAT, an original musical I wrote with composer Ben Mackel, has been sent to every theatre in the country in the hopes of getting a few productions in the 2019/2020 theatre season – the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment (woman’s right to vote). Have had a few nibbles, but no bites yet. Fingers crossed!

Composer Dax Dupuy and I are also five minutes away from finishing MAUD MULLER, a new musical based on the poem of the same name by John Greenleaf Whittier. It’s going to be read/sung in Barter’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights this January 2019. Admission is free (donations encouraged). Dax’s music is simply glorious – I’m praying my book will keep up. I guess we’ll find out. If you’re looking for a little light in the darkness of a cold January, come check out this festival!

https://bartertheatre.com/shows/afpp/whats-happening-in-2019

NOTE: This link credits me with writing lyrics. Nope. All the credit goes to the aforementioned glorious Dax Dupuy.

With the help of music director Zacchaeus Kimbrell, sound guy Matt Green, and a bunch of wonderful singing-acting humans, composer Gary Bartholomew and I are closing in on the demo of our musical A WOMAN CALLED MOSES. Harriet Tubman has been a hero of mine since 4th grade and this piece honoring her has been a long time in the making. Am hoping to submit to theatres next year. Again, well wishes are appreciated.

Also received my Barter Player commissions for next year and couldn’t be more thrilled. For the summer I’ll be tackling THE LITTLE MERMAID and TARZAN, and for the Player tour (with only six actors): PETER PAN. Lots of challenges, lots of fun.

Also – and I’m putting this here to hold myself to it – I want to finish up a new Christmas piece during 2019: THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR. A mix of songs, monologues, and scenes of how our Christmas traditions came to be along with a story of love and forgiveness – I’ve been noodling around with this for a few years now and it’s time to finish it up!

All right – it’s time to get ready for this day. I hope all you eat as hard as I’m going to – if only I can hold off on the pie until company comes over. Again, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!