back on my BS

salutations web and pod denizens! i greet you from the returning edges of my end of year social media fast. as you might recall, in the last episode of season 4 of Fax of Life, i promised to Do Less.

And in some ways, for the last 2 and a half months i have. i took a break from creating content, from posting, from advertising, from playing gigs, from being a public person. this has become an annual practice for me, and every year i am reminded of how necessary a real reset is. i loved every minute of it, and frankly wish i could never return to social media and its pressures and comparisons.

but i like to keep my word, and i promised that Fax of Life, and my public self, would be back in march. so here i am. but i still have one foot in the gap. though i’ve been busy dreaming of new projects, nothing is ready to leave my dreams yet. so that part of my artist self will get the luxury of continuing to hibernate.and yet, i am a bit too busy to restart the Fax of Life.

as you might remember from previous years, i have hinted at working on a new musical, but havent had much to show for it. at first our team was based out of the university of chicago, but now we are fortunate to be in production at court theatre, also on chicago’s south side.

the new show is called OUT HERE, and it was conceived by myself, leslie buxbaum, and david levin. the legendary chay yew is directing. i’ve written music, lyrics, and orchestrations. musicals are a huge beast, time consuming and mind consuming, and generally hell on earth, but your favorite kind of hell. or at least the kind of hell that is more or less worth it.

so, i am really in it right now. we just completed a week long orchestra workshop. first rehearsal is only days away. and once that starts we will be in crazy sprint to stage and open the show. previews begin april 11 and opening night is april 18. it runs until mid-may with a firm closing date awaiting the as-yet-unknown of reviews and ticket sales.

if you find yourself in chicago this spring, please do consider seeing what i have been up to for the last 4 years. and please drop me a line if you do. the thing i hate most about musicals is that not enough people get to see them. while my own music and self are available all the time via the internet, theater really is local and personal, and thus a special kind of magic.

i’m not making any promises of when season 5 (!) will officially launch, but it will be later this spring. if you’ve let your subscription lapse, or want to level up to a new tier, i’d appreciate it. your contributions support way more than just the production of this newsletter and pod. and i am always grateful.

until then, stay cool, y’all. and positive. we need you.

x erin

ps - today’s audio is excerpts from the OUT HERE orchestra workshop. music direction by christie chiles twillie. percussion by maddi vogel. guitar by percy nesbary. violin by regina leslie. cello by rachel schuldt. music and orchestrations by moi.

now - June 2026 - Fredericksburg VA
Fredericksburg Area Museum
Out And About: The Walk-in Closet
VISIT

April 10-May 10, 2026 - Chicago IL
World Premiere of OUT HERE @ Court Theatre
TICKETS & INFO