Friend and former client Val Emmich is all over the place this week - new album, new video on MTVU.com, appearance as the new hearttrhob on Ugly Betty tonight.  Back when Canary was still a baby bird, we booked Val’s tours through the nooks and crannies of the U.S.  It was clear back then that he was a star in the making.  We congratulate Val on his recent successes and are glad to say we knew him when.

Watch Val’s video for “Get on With It” from his new record Little Daggers here.

Ben Franklin has been emailing me a lot lately. Ok, it’s a Franklin impersonator who added me to his mailing list. We even got a Franklin doll in the mail. I love Ben as much as the next Philadelphian, but my inbox is just waaayyy too full for fake historical figures. So, I (politely) asked to be removed from Mr. Franklin’s mailing list. This was his reply:

REMOVE ME: Our correspondence is meant; in this time where all true Patriots are being stressed in The Economic Sector and Military Arena to the limits., to be Educational and Amusing. If you can not Raise The Flag to Sip the Spirit of our Country, it is a concern that you may Not be a True American. Hope you find time to both Smile and exercise your right to vote.
Humbly Submitted
your servant ,
Benjamin Franklin,
PRINTER

He’s consistent, I’ll give him that. Only in Philly.

StreetTalkin.com visited The Wilma Theater last week to get the inside scoop on their 30th Anniversary Season which opens with Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll on September 24th.  Jess Conda spoke with director Blanka Zizka and actors Barnaby Carpenter (Jan) and David Chandler (Max) and got a sneak peek at the show.  Rock ‘n’ Roll runs through October 26th.

Hilarious. Less funny, but more important.

I’ve got the hugest crush on Tina Fey.

As my friends and family can attest, I’ve become a full on political junky. I’m avidly reading news sites, progressive blogs, and keeping daily tabs on how polls predict the electoral math. I’m not afraid to admit it’s become an obsession. I’ve followed Obama’s campaign from the earliest days of the primaries, and I’ve been impressed at nearly every turn. This is the first presidential candidate in my lifetime that I’ve truly believed in. I’ve had misgivings about every other vote I’ve cast based on doubts about the candidate’s true motives or abilities. If elected Obama can change the policies and tone in our government in such a way that it can work for us again. I don’t know about you, but I want someone who’s able to consider all sensible options when deciding on the economic, foreign policy, health care, climate change, abortion, and internet issues that will face the next president.

John McCain can’t offer real change, or even straight talk and common sense. His last-ditch strategy is to use the old Bush-Rove tactic of fear and distraction, and to run out the clock without the public noticing he’s a terrible choice. Please watch this video that debunks McCain’s lies and distortions about Barack Obama. Then please forward it out to people you know, especially folks in the following battleground states.

• Ohio
• Michigan
• Virginia
• Florida
• New Hampshire
• Colorado
• Nevada
• Montana

Also, here’s a link to two new Obama videos:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gG53SH

I recently signed up to volunteer for the campaign by calling and canvassing. This video was inspirational in my decision:

many more here:

http://www.barackobama.com/tv/

one more thing: This site shows an impartial map of where each state is according to the most current polling data. We’ve lost some ground recently, but if we spread the word we can turn some of these yellow and pink states blue.
http://www.pollster.com/

thanks

The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe, which opened on August 29 and runs through September 13, is now in full swing. The press coverage is already piling up and the Festival is everywhere - in print, online and on the air! From TV to radio to major print outlets like the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly, to local neighborhood papers including the South Philly Review, Main Line Times, and the Chestnut Hill Local, to online coverage from bloggers at uwishunu.com, Phillyist.com, and Phawker.com, to name a few. Pick up a Festival guide or visit www.livearts-fringe.org to read more about this year’s Festival and turn to your local media of choice for artist interviews and show reviews daily!

With 22 Live Arts Festival performances and over 170 Philly Fringe artists, there is plenty to see. So far, Team Canary has caught Karen Getz’s Disco Descending, Nicole Canuso’s Wandering Alice, Jo Strømgren’s The European Lesson, Kate Watson-Wallace’s Car, and Sebastienne Mundheim’s Sea of Birds. Megan just returned from a TV shoot of Matsune + Subal’s store and tonight, we’ll see a dress run of Emmanuelle Delpech-Ramey’s Oedipus at FDR.

PRESS UPDATES:

The Philadelphia Inquirer
A torrent of creative weirdness
“The Live Arts Festival/Philly Fringe, launched modestly if ambitiously 11 years ago, is now one of the nation’s powerhouse arts events.” Read the full story at philly.com!

6-ABC Action News
The Action News team checks in with Karen Getz to talk about Disco Descending. Watch footage from rehearsals and hear more about the Festival online (nice cameo, Megan) here: abclocal.go.com.

Philadelphia Magazine
Fringe Player
Philadelphia Magazine interviews Festival Producing Director Nick Stuccio. Read the full story at phillymag.com.

Philadelphia City Paper
Crowded House
Live Arts Festival + Philly Fringe cover story
Check out CP’s Festival cover story here! Be sure to also visit www.citypaper.net/fringe/2008 for daily CP reviews and reader comments.

Watch 2008 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe PROMO VIDEO