Welcome to the blog for Hand to Mouth, a new song-play and work-in-progress by Agape Performance Group featuring special guest composer Miguel Frasconi. Hand to Mouth weds the virtuosic, chamaeleon talents of renowned tenor John Duykers with Frasconi's esoteric and often enchanting music. Spontaneous music compositions are played on glass goblets and bowls, toy piano, kalimbas, cooking and eating utensils, farm implements, electronic keyboards and computer.

Hand to Mouth celebrates the journey of the seed from soil to plate and exposes the inner thoughts of a farmer as he ponders the meaning of his life's work.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Thanks for Making the Hand to Mouth Dinner Benefits a Success

Many thanks to all who attended the benefit dinner shows for Hand to Mouth at Bucci's and the French Garden Restaurant this past weekend.  It was great to see your friendly faces and thanks to you, Bucci's and Dan and Joan at the French Garden we raised funds to keep working toward our premier.   

John, Miguel and I really appreciate your support and feedback on our fledgling show and are energized by the challenge to pull the Hand to Mouth show together for the 6th Street Playhouse premier in Santa Rosa next May.  We also look forward to future gigs in the Bay Area like these dinner shows which we loved for their intimacy and close contact with you our audience.  This was experimental for us and the venue turned out to be tres inspiring. 

Our apologies to those who came to see us at Stark's Restaurant in Santa Rosa after the opening of "You Can't Take It With You" at 6th Street. There was a scheduling snafu and we just couldn't see intruding on the great jazz ensemble that was already entertaining when we arrived.  

We're planning future showings on our journey to the premier so stay-tuned.   And if you like, leave us a comment on our blog and let us and our on-line audience know what you thought of the Hand to Mouth preview and the dinner parties at Bucci's and the French Garden Restaurant.

We'll post a video clip or two soon.  

THANKS for coming.   
cheers all -- Missy Weaver

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Hand to Mouth Rehearsal - Little Brook



To view the video double click on it or click on the arrow in the bar.
September 14, 2009

In this video clip Miguel Frasconi & John Duykers rehearse Little Brook, a song based on the poem Brook-Song by James Whitcomb Riley.  The rehearsal was documented by ethnographer Cynthia DuVal at the French Garden Farm in the hills outside of Sebastopol, California.  Rehearsed on the first rainy day of the season this love song sung from a seed to a brook felt all the more magical after months of dry weather.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Hand to Mouth Dinner & Preview Performance October 3rd at Bucci's Cafe in Emeryville, CA

Join us for dinner and a sneak peak performance of Hand to Mouth
Saturday October 3rd at 7:30 PM

Performend by John Duykers & Miguel Frasconi
Directed by Missy Weaver

Bucci's Cafe
6121 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608

$60/person tax and tip included/no host bar
cash or check to agape performance group

For information and reservations: 510-547-4725
Bucci's Cafe

Your night out will support the world premier of Hand to Mouth at the 6th Street Studio Theater in Santa Rosa, May 2010

Hand to Mouth Dinner Performances October 4th at The French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol, CA

Join us for dinner and preview performances of "Hand to Mouth" at the French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol, CA on October 4th, 2009.

There will be two seatings:
5:00 & 7:30 PM

$60/person
for a delightful prex-fixe dinner & performance
tax and tip included/no host bar

The French Garden Restaurant
8050 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472

For more information and reservations call: 707-824-2030

Presented by Agape Performance Group, The French Garden Restaurant & Farm and The Arts Council of Sonoma County

Your night out will support the world premier of Hand to Mouth at the 6th Street Studio Theater in Santa Rosa, May 2010

Hand to Mouth - Street Performances September 12th and 13th

Excerpts from “Hand to Mouth” will be performed at the Santa Rosa Farm Market (at the French Garden Farm Booth) from 10 to noon on Saturday September 12th and September 13th at the French Garden Farm Market and Brunch from 11 to 2pm. These street shows are free to the public.

The Santa Rosa Farm Market is located at 1351 Maple, Veteran's Bldg, Santa Rosa, CA 95406, (707) 522-8629 For more information:
http://www.santarosafarmersmarket.blogspot.com

The French Garden Restaurant and Farm Market is located at 8050 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 for more information:
http://www.frenchgardenrestaurant.com

All shows are presented by Agape Performance Group, The Arts Council of Sonoma County and the French Garden Restaurant & Farm