Kaleigh Baker – Analog Artist Digital World

Andy Matchett the show’s author and director invited me to a dress rehearsal for Janice Joplin, Little Girl BIue starring Kaleigh Baker. The rehearsal was in Castle Door Recording Studio on Kentucky Avenue in Winter Park. This was the perfect setting for this show. From the moment I entered the recording studio, I felt like I had stepped back into the 60s.

As I approached the sound studio on foot, I saw costume designer Sara Grey struggling to push a tall rack of 60’s outfits towards the entrance. The wheels caught on every bump in the pavement causing her to have to pause every few feet to lift the rack up. Because of her I knew I was in the right place. I helped her get the costumes through the door. It turns out that Kaleigh and a band member had to perform at the Fringe opening ceremonies that night, so that gave Sara an hour to hand out costumes and make any adjustments. When Andy arrived, he offered me a Yuengling before the rehearsal started and I felt the
thrill of being in a recording studio with so much raw talent. I had
sketched Kaleigh Baker before at smokey dives like Tanquerey’s downtown and I knew that she is the one person who could sing like Janice.

The show presents an in-depth and passionate
look at the life, music and untimely death of one of Music’s greatest
icons: Janis Joplin. Baker swells in volume as she moves from a solo
rendition of “What Good Can Drinkin Do?” to an explosive 8 piece band
backing her on hits like “Peace of My Heart” and “Get It While You Can“. Laura Joplin (Amanda Warren) sat and spoke about her sister Janice. She painted a picture of Janice as a child that never fit in who was bullied and harassed by fellow students. There was a hint of envy in her words and I loved that Janice had overcome her past and her music helped her soar.

The scene that I saw rehearsed several times involved Jimmy Hendrix (Pascal Sacleux) taking the place of one of the guitarists on stage (Jeff Nolan). In shock the guitarist walks off stage. The following instrumental performance blew the roof off. Hendrix exuded confidence and he made love to Janice with his guitar with wild abandon. By the end of the performance he lay the guitar on the ground and caressed its strings like an out of control lover. After one performance in which Janice sang her heart out, a band member shouted out “I don’t know what that was, but it was out of control!” “Damn right!” I thought. “That was absolute wild magic!” I thought the scene had ended and I laughed and shouted in delight. The scene hadn’t ended I had forgotten this was a rehearsal. For a moment I was in the studio with the real Janice Joplin and I wanted her to burn bright. I loved how she could let go.

Magic happened in the studio that night. Janice Joplin will blow your mind at this year’s Fringe Festival.

Venue: Gold (in the Orlando Museum of Art)

Length: 60 minutes

Rating: 18 and up

Remaining shows:

May 19 8:15pm to 9:15pm

May 22 10:00pm to 11:00pm

May 23 10:00pm to 11:00pm

May 24 4:20pm to 5:20pm

Tickets: $11 (+service. Charge)

Between shows at the Fringe Festival, I would stop on the green lawn in Lockhaven Park for a bite and a drink. The outdoor tent this year was alive with incredible acts all the time. Jessica Pauli was asked to take charge of the programing and she brought in a constant stream of talented musicians. I could have spent the entire week out there sketching the performances from some of Orlando’s best musicians. Kaleigh Baker came all the way from Portland Oregon to perform.

Sacco and Vanzetti was performing the last of their set when I sat down to do this sketch. Several of the musicians children took an interest in what I was doing and they watched every line and wash go down before they started a game of tag. I believe I sketched this group once before at an outdoor festival on Sand Lake Road. The music was lively and fun, but I was sketching so fast, I was in panic mode the whole time. I also needed to finish before getting to the next show.

The green lawn of fabulousness was a constant party thanks to all the amazing talent that performed on the outdoor stage. I’m betting that beer and alcohol sales must have went through the roof this year at Fringe. I stuck to caffeine for my fix.