Wow, what a couple of weeks

For you Nathan Granner fans out there, I'm telling you 2009 will be a big year!

'08 was a pretty special year too, don't get me wrong.

I made the decision to be more singer-man this past year, which

worked to an extent. But in that, I had to do one more serious admin thing, which was to become a publisher.

Starting KCMETROPOLIS.org in the light of the failing newspaper companies and their layoffs affecting us here in Kansas City with the letting go of our special critic.journalist, Paul Horsely. This particular layoff left us all in a lurch with the classical music world and dance world being immediately affected. Something had to be done.

It's still a long road to walk down for this struggling 501c3 organization. We are still in funding startup mode and are running out of time, but the response from the community has been strong.

As a performer, general director, artistic director, entrepreneur, it hurts the bottom line not to have news listed, reviews composed and previews drawn up. Nobody knows about the show and noone comes. The actors don't get noticed and essentially in two years, the show never happened, except for some playbills and old, ratty posters flapping in the wind.

Potential funders have been slammed by the recession and likewise so have we. But this is when we have to fight on. Somehow continuing to publish a major publication with a great reach into new technology (web 2.50) appeals to me, as we will be able to communicate more economically, directly and readily with the community.

Some touring with Beau and the AT's comprised the early part of this year, giving me the impetous to get back in the studio and on the stage.

Singin' is fun.

SO much of the stuff I will be doing in the 09 season will be about getting all of the hopes and dreams of last year actualised and done.

Getting things done is the key for this year.

In some respects, we got decimated by the closure of Columbian Bank. ColumbianBank not only held our line of credit, but were also our biggest sponsor and advocate, so when they closed, WHAM! It was a huge hit.

At the moment I'm not sure WHO has our line of credit, but in the next few days we will be in the drivers seat of our destiny again, dragging all of our insanely talented friends BACK in the studio and getting that pasky Hymn CD done.

I know, I keep saying this, but we will have the funding to get it done and do a small amount of marketing. nine thousand CD's friends is all we have to sell. SO when it comes out, make sure you buy a dozen, so we can start the momentum rolling, thereby allowing us to make more music.

There are still the other projects too, which are incumbent on getting the record done and out the door. It's pretty simple. Hymn CD, YES!

Also, as you may know, I've been working with some friends of mine in Hollywood to develop a new Broadway show, Lost Lady With a Violin.

We had our first showcase last, last week and wow. Laurie Whitaker the writer with her arranger Jeff Lass has come up with a piece, I feel to be on the way to being a success.

Personally, I think it's already a success. Just getting from square zero to getting a showcase with some top flight people under our belt, artistically is huge. The really great thing though is that we are feeling a really good momentum and are moving forward.

Ther are lots of steps to go. Lots of people to come in and throw in their destiny with us and probably lots of people to walk away too. If you have never been in a process like this, the writing and the ultimate production of a large format work, it is exhausting and exhillerating and, and, and.

February we should be doing another showcase in the LA area.

FOlks, I'm telling you, everyone in the cast stole the show. It just kept going until the piece had to come to an end. And there are some top flight folks keenly interested in associating with the project. Let's just say, this piece could keep us coming to CA quite often.

There are scads of sheets and scraps of paper with ideas flying around the office just waiting for the right moment. I am super Stoked!

SO stay tuned...

Jeff Lass and I recorded a couple of Christmas tunes which can be found here on facebook. I'm not sure if one has to be a member of facebook to get there, so let me know if you have any problems.

best
Nathan