Stela's Clear Blue Morning

A Cabaret to Benefit the Scott Dixon Memorial Fund

January 15 – February 14

Join Stela Burdt as she headlines a virtual cabaret celebrating life, love and family with hits from musical theatre, country and pop. Commonweal favorite Alan Bailey, who left audiences humming with favorites like Souvenir and Sanders Family Christmas, collaborates with Stela and the resident ensemble to bring you a musical journey that reflects on what we’ve lost and looks forward to what’s ahead. Start 2021 off right with a smile on your face and a song in your heart!

All proceeds will benefit the Scott Dixon Memorial Fund. CLICK HERE for more information.

THE SONGS

1. “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” by Paul Simon
2. “Distant Dreamer” by Duffy & Bernard Butler
3. “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)” from Annie Get Your Gun by Irving Berlin
4. “Deportee” by Woody Guthrie
5. “No One Is Alone” from Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim
6. “Put a Woman In Charge” by Keb’ Mo’
7. “Walking On Sunshine” by Kimberley Rew
8. “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley
9. “Rainbow Connection” by Kenneth Ascher & Paul Williams
10. “The Story Goes On” from Baby by Richard E. Maltby Jr. & David L. Shire
11. “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” by Dolly Parton

CREATOR'S NOTES

My career began in the New York cabaret world. In my 20s, I wrote a musical revue called Henry the 8th at the Grand Ole Opry. (“Love Songs. Lyin’ Songs. Divorce Songs. Ladies and Gentlemen, The King.”) Since then, I’ve loved watching friends and musical heroes craft cabaret acts, and I’m proud to have shepherded several of those shows along. And I have to admit that, like everybody in the cabaret world, I can’t help hearing a song—whether I’m watching a new musical or tuning into a classic rock station—and thinking, “That would be a great song for…”

The unique challenge of creating a cabaret act—and the great reward of it—is collaborating with a singer to find songs that tell their story without needing a whole lot of talking. The message is in the music, the lyrics, the emotion of the performance. The singer’s story is told through just the right collection of material.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve found myself listening to songs and thinking, out of the blue, “That would be a great song for Stela.” I’d be walking my dog listening to Spotify on shuffle, and I’d get lost in a song, thinking, “That lyric must be how Stela is feeling right now.”

When I was given the opportunity to help support the Commonweal by creating a cabaret with the underlying theme of CONNECTION, I knew right away I wanted to work with Stela to assemble a set of songs telling her story—the story of who she is right now, facing the challenges of this very moment. Because, above all, Stela’s multi-faceted story is about connection.

The message of Stela’s Clear Blue Morning is one of hope. Hope that springs from all of Stela’s connections—to her personal family, to her inspiring Commonweal family, and to the devoted family that has been her audience for the last twenty years. We hope you’ll find these songs not only tell Stela’s story, but—through your connection with her—they tell YOUR STORY, too.

—Alan Bailey, Los Angeles