Click here for audio only!
Here’s my interview with Karen Hall, cellist and solo theater artist.
She’s the performer and creator of the show
a solo cello recital meets clown show.
My take:
She basically says all the quiet parts about being a classical musician out loud…
…while chowing down on a Subway sandwich.
I was so emotional after seeing this at the 2023 San Diego Fringe Festival
that I couldn’t even pay attention to the show I attended afterwards.
If you see one show at the 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival,
Make this the one!
Interview highlights:
(timestamps are approximate)
2:54 What inspired Karen to create this show
3:52 How her training as a clown contrasted with her training as a classical cellist
5:58 Why she picked the first Bach Cello Suite as the repertoire for this performance
8:41 What IS clowning? A very thorough historical explanation!
13:15 What is a jester? And is Karen a clown or a jester in her show?
15:53 How a gig at the American Music Awards led Karen to question her classical training
16:50 Why the classical music industry doesn’t lead for production OR creativity
19:20 How teaching kindergarten helped Karen deal with a bad review
22:50 How Karen devised her show to reach musicians and non-musicians alike
26:00 The difference between performing this show for music students vs. the general public
31:33 The series of unfortunate events that prompted the show’s first tour
40:00 Why Karen doesn’t bow at the end of her show
41:54 What’s next for Delusions and Grandeur
46:00 Karen’s statistic for how many musicians will experience injuries throughout their careers
51:15 How clowning and improv helped Karen through her injuries
56:00 Why Karen won’t do her show at comedy clubs
57:00 Why Karen feels more comfortable onstage than offstage at festivals
1:00:4 Karen’s advice for instrumentalists who’d like to do a one-person theatrical show