Veteran entertainer Linda Kaufman spoke about her one-woman show “Count It All Joy” and being a part of the digital age.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” This quote applies to Linda Kaufman.
Kaufman on her one-woman Cabaret show
On her one-woman Cabaret show “Count It All Joy,” she remarked, “It is the latest of my creative projects and came about after years of being asked to write a theater piece that would combine my life story (I am 87 years old) with my original songs written for my musicals.”
“I have presented it five times already, once at a private event in New York City, and am working on scheduling a performance in Los Angeles,” she said.
Kaufman remarked, My audience has been both moved, inspired and entertained by this 75-minute show that features me with my talented music director and arranger, Dr. Aaron Prado, in a face-paced show about my eight decades on Planet Earth.”.
“At the last performance held at the Hill Country Theater in Marble Falls, Texas, (near Austin), the two responses I had were a woman who told me ‘My husband died 22 years ago and I have done nothing with my life since then but after listening to you, I am going to change that,’ and the president of the Austin Symphony Orchestra saying that I need to have my own television show as I was so entertaining,” she elaborated.
Inspiration for her music and her show
Regarding her inspiration for her music and her show, she stated, “My inspiration comes when I am driving alone in my car with my mind open to new tunes, lyrics and/or ideas.”
“Of course, ideas also pop into my head as I interact with people I come across in my life,” she added.
Future plans
On her future plans, she shared, “As for future plans, after 35 years of writing music and lyrics for 14-produced musicals, five of which I wrote by myself, I am presently working on a screenplay with an LA screenwriting coach.”
“It will be the story of a woman who loses her husband in a car wreck and is sure he is coming back. As it turns out, as she is searching for him, she actually finds herself. It will have my signature comedy moments as well as my original songs included,” she elaborated.
The digital age
On being a performer in the digital age, she said, “As for the digital age, I fully embrace it! I am addicted to watching movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and love the ability to keep up with world news, as depressing as it can sometimes be.”
“My advice to young, aspiring performers is the same advice I give to my audience in my one woman show: Live a life with no regrets! Go full throttle after your dreams, crazy as they may seem to everyone else. That’s where you will find your joy,” she acknowledged.
Key to longevity in the entertainment business
Regarding the key to longevity in the entertainment industry, she remarked, “The key to longevity in performing is just keep doing it! Many people asked my husband who lived until he was 99, ‘How did you live such a long life?’ He always answered, ‘Just keep breathing!'”
“Right now, I am using a cane to get around as I have some of the aches and pains that often come with aging, but I never let that slow me down. Performing is a gift to my audience, and I love giving gifts,” she exclaimed.
Defining moments
Kaufman went on to share some of her defining moments. “When my mother passed away, I went through her papers and found a notice from the US Copyright Office about a song my father had written in 1949,” she said.
“My father died at age 52, never having had a hit song. What has defined my life and career is a desire to complete my dad’s unlived life. I picture him standing in the back of the performance space whenever I perform,” she acknowledged.
Success
On her definition of the word success, Kaufman said, “Success is doing what you feel you are called to do the best that you possibly can. If just one person enjoyed my show, I am glad I showed up.”
To learn more about Linda Kaufman, visit her official website.
