Wrapping up 2 0 1 0

As I wrap up 2010, I have so many wonderful things to be grateful for { oh look, i learned how to spell grateful} and so many things to look forward to in 2011. For those of you in a time crunch, I bolded the highlights for ease with skim-reading.

2010 was a huge year for me. For one, i released my debut album : "Hey mom, Look what i can do" . Thank you hugely to Justin Huey, Emily Moore, Tim Cossor, Amanda Smith, Rugby Cafe, Ica Diongzon & the lovely folks at Built By Icon. ... It took a village folks.

I was cast in my first professional musical in years, at the H street Playhouse. "All That Glitters" that fought through the snowpocalypse and dominated a 3 week run. I then did my Senior Capstone shows "20-Life" and "Pms- Fulana" which sold out and ran beautifully. Then, I graduated College { I know right ?} without ever reading a book... { i KNOW right} seems like they give anyone a diploma these days, no but really. College was fun and all.

I decided to be "adventurous" I jumped off a cliff into a river in New Orleans. I traveled to europe for pretty much the first time. Italy. Greece. Croatia. the works, and then I moved to HOLLYWOOD... {cue music , probably Miley cyrus or something}.

I was introduced to the wonderfully talented gent you have all now heard of, the charming dork whom I love, Mr.Scott Cassidy. We created a duo project/band called Me & Mr.Cassidy and have just about finished writing an entire album worth of delightfully romantic songs following the story of two imaginary love birds Annabelle and Theodore. Since October 30th, we have had 7 gigs together and 2 seperate) we will be starting off the new year with a boom, Ica of Ica Images ( who shot all of my solo projects) will be flying out to LA to photograph Scott & I the 2nd week of January! And More wonderfullness to come ....so come to a show if you can! ( and bring a date it's totally cute)

January 2nd - Bloombars, Washington DC 8:00

January 6th - Genghis Cohen, West Hollywood 8:30

January 16th- Jitters, San Diego ( W/Bushwalla) 8:00

February 8th- St.Nicks Pub, Los Angeles 9:30

making P E A C E

So my good buddies the makepeace brothers are so close to me now it's lovely. When i moved to Marina del Rey - they became neighbors rather than friends across the country!

Same with the LOVELY Miss.Jessie Payo. Both of these peoples are amazing singers and are in the little round of mraz-feedingthesoul-making the world a better place type people. They had an event last week at Aviatior Nation on Abbot Kinney in Santa Monica. ( It is a swanky little place where people pay $100's for recycled sweatshirts in vibrant colors. I'm saving up.....)

Aside from it being a fantastical retail location it has a gorgeous and romantic little spot out back with a stage and yes my favoritte- christmas lights. It was lovely dancing with friends, and of course the MakePeace brothers mom Emily was in town, which is always a joy! makes me excited for the day when my parents make it out here to see me play a show!

Anywho, MPB is pretty well known for group sing alongs and collaborations live - and they asked my lucky little self to get onstage alongside them, jon marron, the livingstons, and Jessie Payo for a little rendition of their song " Thank you" with a gospel flair. I will be sure to post the video once mr.chelko posts it!

lovely nights in LA.

Musical T H E A T R E ?

When I was little, I started to sing. When I was 3 my grandfather screamed to the other room " She's singing Jesus loves me!" ok? " No! You don't get it shes singing on key!" so what was next? Choirs, voice recitals, voice lessons, the usual for a little song bird.

When I got into middle school, people told me to dance. Pop music was taking over, and all the good singers could dance... I was going to be a Britney spears people...

When I got to high school people said "You can study this in College, if you learn how to act too" It's musical theatre... So I went to the Duke Ellington School of the arts to learn the last piece... acting. ( It's more than memorizing lines appearantly)

So I went to NYU for a summer semester, and then came to American University for a 4 year degree program in Musical Theatre.weird right? me.... broadway? I've never had the Broadway dream, but I've loved dancing, singing, and acting...all seperatly.Anyways, VERY FEW people see that side of my voice... but recently silly loveable adorable mike litch posted all of our recitals onto YouTube so here ya go kids:

That's me and Joani in the dressing room before a dress run of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party
1930's flappers


Me backstage, with my dance partner Don mike, before my first College show, the World Premiere of " They Shoot Horses Don't they?" based on the Jane Fonda film. Again... 1920's /30's dancers. We toured this show to Russia.



Here's a fun one. I am the little boy on the right, in sword fight training.
I played Laertes in Shakespeare's Hamlet, thus took fencing on the set every night.



Or here, yes, I am a man. a 1930's man. [ defensivly] and I was a very pretty man.


Or finally.... in Hello, Dolly. Dancing with an umbrella with the amazing Kode Brown, in Charlotte, N.C.

That's me & some of my Duke girls with our director Ken Johnson at the Kennedy Center Awards.
Our performance of " The Laramie Project" was nominated for 8 awards including Best Play, Best Actor, best Actress etc.... the list goes on. The medal on my neck is for my personal nomination.

Just a whole 'nother side of Hope leigh...

The Mystery of: the C A P O monster

HAVE YOU SEEN MY CAPO?

If you play guitar, I can almost guarantee that this has been you... desperate to capo your guitar, and no capo to be found. while recording Justin said that in his studio, you either find 12 at a time, or none. Ica and me once lost ours on a mission trip and tried to use a rubber band and pen. I lost mine and Pedro the amazing gave me one. The girl I nanny lost hers for 3 weeks and we sang Taylor Swift 4 octaves too low...it was tradgedy. the fact that they cost $20.00 to replace is just blasphemy.

Fear not! I've solved the mystery!

WE CAUGHT HIM RED ( well blue) HANDED! THE CAPO MONSTER!!!!!!

please people, take this seriously. You never know when he could strike again. this is no joke..... please, watch over your precious capos. i will never take mine for granted again.

Don't say i didnt warn you people.


for the record: there is NO PHOTOSHOP involved in this picture. this is actually taken on justin's desk this week... very real.