Projects
Cream of the Corp Musical Comedy
Art for Healing: Sept. 11th Memorial Mourning to Morning
Holocaust Remembrance: Mannheim Remembered
Mellow Mics and Altruistic Artist Alliance
Military Band Artistic Coaching
Edutainment: Rock, Roll ‘n’ Rithmetic
“Cream of the Corp” wraps up 3rd successful run in New York
Book & Lyrics by Kimberly Weeks
Music by Laura Kessler
Directed by Kimberly Weeks
Originally produced for The Second City’s Skybox Theater, Cream of the Corp. is an inventive sketch comedy musical that exploits the inherent hilarity of the workplace through both song and dance. Hailed as one of Chicago’s must-see musical comedies, Cream of the Corp. will have you laughing like it’s your job.
The People’s Improv Theater
154 W. 29th Street
New York, NY 10001
MOURNING TO MORNING
2001/2006 by Maureen Barnes
Directed by Laura Kessler
A Theatrical Response to September 11th
in Words, Music and Images
Repetitive Strain Injuries in Pianists, Females and Computer Users (NYU, 2002)
by Laura Kessler
Musicians and computer users are especially high-risk communities for Repetitive Strain Injuries, of which 70% of sufferers are female. Unfortunately, it is only recently that music pedagogy methods have begun to stress the importance of fitness and injury prevention for performing artists.
This book originally began as a Graduate Masters Thesis at NYU from my own experience, and has endured due to its relevance to students and professional musicians alike.
I hope to revise a 2nd edition with the help of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and other medical professionals later this year.
Please also see my Musical Rehabilitation Course Offerings.
For more beneficial RSI and Carpal Tunnel links for musicians please visit:
RSI Checklist for Instrumentalists
I am conducting a new study in preparation for a future publication about the physical hazards artists face on the job and want to hear from you. Sadly, it is a grim reality that musicians and artists can face an uphill battle in preventing career disabling injuries from the artistic environments in which they work. Injuries among performing artists has become less of a career-threatening taboo subject in recent years, however most artists still do not learn the facts of prevention until after they have been injured.
If you have experienced any of the following, I would like to hear your background story and any strategies that worked for you in the hopes of benefiting others. Injuries can include, but are not limited to:
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Carpal Tunnel
- Tendonitis
- Other Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Vocal Nodules & Vocal Health Issues
- Respiratory Problems
- and others…
Injured artists from all artistic disciplines are encouraged to participate. Your name will not be published without your consent and you will have the option to submit your story anonymously. Please contact us if you would like to share your story and knowledge.