Tag Archives: The Pass

My Building in the News Today…New York Times

Here is part (my part) of the story from the #newyorktimes today. It is an important story. I have been sharing images and videos about this for the past month or so…over the years I have shared images from my windows. I have always felt so lucky to have my view. These days the deconstruction of 14 Gay is all too apparent, and unsavory, both visually and sonically. The sound of a saw cutting into brick, is not my favorite sound, in fact, quite horrible & relentless. I have seen and heard both sides and I know these buildings have been in disarray for years. I have done what I could to keep up my own building – luckily it is in the best shape of all of them. #CelesteMartin did her own renovation years ago, uncovering the brick and replacing the sheetrock inside. Her plans were to fix the others, but sadly, she never got around to it. And it too will be modernized and renovated soon. I will keep you posted.

I am glad to be a part of this story. It is my home and it is where, for the most part, I have written my songs, all these years. Where I began my career.

PIVOTAL is releasing next year, and it is a reflection of my times in my studio, prior to, during COVID, and afterward. I believe it is my best work yet. More to follow…

Read the article

SWIMMING

Another new song “SWIMMING” and it will open up Act 2 of THE PASS Musical, 11/18/21! Rehearsed it this past Monday with Tracy Stark, it’s working…

“Close your eyes

Let’s breathe

And get over here and love me

Get over here and love me

Come on over here and let me love you

You’ve drowned, I’ve drowned

Now we’re both swimming…”

Kiss me in the rain

Working on my newest song, which is about coming out of the storm and moving into a place of trust and comfort. Two very important elements to a happy & creative life and even perhaps a content life. Trust & inner comfort.

Reflecting on the question from the Lesflicks Q & A 5/4/21 who could I see playing me in the movie The Pass. A few surprising suggestions people have shared with me since:

  1. Scarlet Johnasson
  2. Miley Cirus
  3. Anya Taylor-Joy ( 2x’s)
  4. Emma Stone

I was coy about the question…hell yes, let’s do a movie!

ps rocking the boat…

A West Village Original, ha! Living Large in Small Spaces

Michael D. Minichiello and I spoke over the phone and he summed up my life, career and THE PASS in 7 paragraphs! Now that’s some fine tuning! Really enjoyed speaking with him.

And I think the most charming part of New York is The West Village, hands down. Everything is smaller so maybe smaller is charming. But the people themselves live large lives in small spaces.” read Michael’s fun interview

Writing Remembering

At any given moment, we may write what we think and feel. We put it down, we proclaim, we spit it out, we share with whatever our intentions were/are at the time we write. Saying something is one thing, however writing it down is another. Perhaps we write things down in order to not forget, or in order to remember. Words.

Here is my recently published story about THE PASS, a musical. http://theaterlife.com/the-pass/

YOUR VOICE by Denise Marsa

I wrote a song after my London premiere of THE PASS. YOUR VOICE. I had the first line of the chorus and the title, and posted that line on Facebook. It was there almost a year. “Your voice is the loudest.”

After London I was feeling so much, hard to explain. I had finally spoken and shared who I was. It was a very very long journey for me. The song is very special to me. When the song was complete, I thought maybe another voice could record it. Something I hadn’t felt before, especially right after writing a new song.

And I thought, who do I know that could sing it?

In THE PASS at the end of the show, we feature a song from a new artist Tobe Baer. He had contacted me to manage him, to help him with his career. And he sent me a few songs. Light the Way was the 1st song of his I listened to, it hit me and I licensed it. It’s now a part of the show. People hear it as they leave the theater.

And then suddenly I thought– Tobe could sing YOUR VOICE. And he does. We have been working on the recording with his brother JR in Germany for months. It’s in a good place for now. And we have played it for a few BMG labels, since they administer my song catalog it seemed liked a good idea. There seems to be some interest brewing.

I played Leo, the founder of Live Out Loud the song, as I was on the development committee last year. I thought the recording might be a nice addition to the award ceremony, as people were coming in to sit and watch the program. He asked us to perform it live. It was a very cool moment. Here is a photo of Tobe and I, last week at the LIVE OUT LOUD 18th Annual Gala in NYC. I did some back-ups, Tobe played guitar and sang lead. He brought it home.

Me & Tobe Baer at Live Out Loud Gala, NYC

The Stillness of Reading, Writing & Sitting at Desks & Pianos

I’ve always had an obsession with wanting to read more. Reading for me is all about keeping my interest and keeping me still enough, not to do, or move or get. That’s why I love desks and pianos. They keep me still. Having just read (at my desk) and really enjoyed it: NY Times “Jonathan Franzen is Fine With All of It.” by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, it was enlightening to read an article, about an author that kept me reading. Threads of interest. Facts about leaving NYC for Cali, seabirds, and TV production. Like the end of projects when projects do not go to fruition, and how the bigger it gets… maybe the more challenging it gets to keep the author’s original intention? And how a successful author, takes it all in. Change. It’s always about change, in any given moment, hour or day. Maybe that’s why I love familiar and items that have stood the test of time. Like my car, FLO. Familiar vs change. 

I often times think when a writer is really successful, they don’t have to juggle disappointments with royalties and licensing fees. How uplifting to better understand success as I marinate in my own recent success and experiences in London launching my one woman show THE PASS. There were so many in’s and out’s, so much to handle before, during and after. And wow have I learned. 

I suggest reading the article, mentioned above, it’s really good. And good content these days, well written, well, let’s just say the market is bursting with so much (_________) (you fill in the word), Go on write it in! You have a voice. 

Which brings me to my new song YOUR VOICE. Stand back, it’s a really good one. More to follow…

today’s google image 

And when I looked for an image to go with the article, look what showed up. Happy birthday Nelly Sachs. Pretty cool. 

Traveling Days: New York to London to New York to Aventura to Atlanta and then home!

young girlSince September 20th I have been working, creating, socializing, helping family and exploring these three cities. It has been a packed 25 days and will write much more when I get home. London was a dream come true and the response to THE PASS has been so very positive, it is very rewarding. Here are links to reviews and to what people are saying.

My PR work is also soaring…we had a great book launch party in Atlanta, Georgia for Dr. Kela Henry,  NIA & THE NUMBERS GAME, a project we have been working on for years and one very close to my heart. Helping teenage girls finding their way in these wild times! Click Here.

And my trip to Florida, in the middle of it all, was all about my 91 year old dad. He fell while I was in London…my heart is full.

A note I left my dad by his bed, as he lies in rehab struggling with more than his fractured tibia: “Dad I love you, you taught me to take chances.”

Daughter to Father…

more to follow…

Wow London Premiere The Pass

cropped-the_pass_instagram.jpgWords can barely describe how I feel having performed the first ever performance of The Pass on September 27, 218. There were friends in the audience I had not seen for years and I had my niece Stephanie Colorado Trachtenberg and my BMG publisher Kris Munoz by my side, and they were a huge support!  And having the incredible Tracy Stark as my comrade in arms…well it just doesn’t get any better! I was extremely emotional when I read the first from Chris Omaweng London Theatre 1 .

I also did a TV show (London Live TV)  and that was so cool! There was one young lady at a computer and cameras moving in and out on tracks, without people sitting behind them, as it was when I last did a TV interview or performance. Technology!

Yesterday I did some sight seeing (Buckingham Palace) and shopping (Covent Garden) – we had great fun!

Second performance tonight! Breathing…