You're invited

Frederica von Stade, Jake Heggie and Charlene Baldridge
The world premiere of Winter Roses, Santa Barbara, 2004

You are cordially invited to attend the filming of The Backstory: Jake and Flicka and Laura and Me, a brief chat with poet/playwright/critic Charlene Baldridge, author of the extraordinary play, The Warriors’ Duet. The intimate event is open to the public. Free will donations to benefit Colon Cancer Alliance in Washington, D. C.

By special request of legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and composer Jake Heggie (Dead Man Walking, Moby-Dick) Charlene delivered the original talk in August 2013 while aboard the cruise ship Yorktown, traversing the locks in Canada’s Welland Canal. Sadly, von Stade and her husband had to leave the ship early due to a family emergency, so the diva missed Charlene’s talk, and the composer requested a video.

Charlene will be filmed by director James Vasquez as she talks about the magic she’s experienced since meeting Heggie in San Francisco in 2000; the thrill, at age 70, of having him set her poetry in a song cycle premiered by von Stade; and the formation of lasting friendships between the composer, his husband, and their son with Charlene’s late daughter, Laura Jeanne Morefield.

There’s much more to reveal. If you value music and language and love, you will want to hear Charlene tell the story of what’s yet to come.

The event takes place at 7 pm Monday, November 18, at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights.