performance

“Chicken Scratch”
Chicken Scratch is a band of friends who started playing music together during the pandemic. Our style is eclectic, and our music is fun. Currently, we are Ruchika Madan, clarinet; Annie Silverman, accordion; Delia Marshall, Mark Cohen and Marisa Kelath, violin; Dave Sakowski, trombone; and Liza Kitchell, piano and arrangements.

“Les Nickelettes”
I was a member of the San Francisco based women’s theater troupe, Les Nickelettes, from 1975 - 1985. The Nicks performed original satirical musical comedies and were part of San Francisco’s underground music, theater and comics scene during the 70’s and 80’s. I wrote the music and lyrics for “The Didi Glitz Story” (1980), “Spaced Out” (1976) and “Oh! Goddess”(1985), as well as accompanying the troupe on piano. Check out Denise Larson’s recently published memoir, “Anarchy in High Heels.” I make my appearance on p. 123.

“Companions Required” June 2021
A performance piece about the importance of friendship in the creative process, featuring the poetry of G.P.Skratz and the music of Mose Allison. Written by Liza Kitchell. Paul Kafka-Gibbons, dance. Liza Kitchell, piano, vocals and spoken word.
THANG, The Armory, June 18, 2021
Watch Video Part 1
Watch Video Part 2
Festival of Us, Dance Complex, Sunday, July 25, 2021, Watch Video

“Material by the Meter” January 28, 2020
An exploration of possibilities posed by fabric, a 9/8 meter and political discourse.
Choreography: Lynn Frederiksen in collaboration with dancers.
Original music: Liza Kitchell, piano, and Mark Chenevert, clarinet.
Dancers: Jim Banta, Lynn Frederiksen, Paul Kafka-Gibbons, Ellen Pigott.
Watch Video (tech rehearsal at Clark University):

“Aftermath”
“Aftermath” was created in 2018/19 as Part 3 of At the Pace of Dawn - A Climate Trilogy.
Choreography by Lynn Frederiksen. Original music by Liza Kitchell.

Performance at Dance for World Community, Cambridge MA. June 8, 2019.
Dancers: Lynn Frederiksen and Paul Kafka-Gibbons
Music: Mark Chenevert, tenor saxophone, and Liza Kitchell, piano.
Watch Video

Performance at Kelley Donovan’s Third Life Series, Somerville MA. February 22, 2019.
Dancers: Lynn Frederiksen and Paul Kafka-Gibbons
Music: Mark Chenevert, tenor saxophone, and Liza Kitchell, piano.
Watch Video or Listen to the Audio
Music recorded by Colin Lester Fleming at Q Division 5/29/19.

“Songs of Place”: solo voice and piano.
Stories about place and other states of mind told through song.

“I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today” (Randy Newman) • “Refugee” (Moira Smiley) • “Fool on the Hill” (Lennon/McCartney) • “Dindi” (Jobim) • “Follow” (Richie Havens)

Performance at Good THANG, The Armory for the Arts, Somerville MA. April 26, 2019

“Into the Flood Saltation”
“Into the Flood Saltation” was created in 2017 as Part 2 of At the Pace of Dawn - A Climate Trilogy. Choreography by Lynn Frederiksen. Original music by Liza Kitchell.

Performance at THANGsgiving, The Armory for the Arts, Somerville MA. November 30, 2017. Dancers: Lynn Frederiksen and Paul Kafka-Gibbons. Music: Mark Chenevert, clarinet, and Liza Kitchell, piano.
Video

Performance at Cambridge River Fest, Cambridge, MA. June 2, 2018. Dancers: Lynn Frederiksen and Paul Kafka-Gibbons. Music: Mark Chenevert, clarinet, and Liza Kitchell, piano. Videographer: Melissa Shook.
Video (first half of video)

"Postcards from Skratz": songs for voice & piano.
“Postcards From Skratz” is Trump-Era poetry written by Bay Area poet, G. P. Skratz, and sent to friends on postcards. Liza reads some poems and turns others into songs. (Note: the songs were spontaneous compositions. Liza has recently rewritten all eight songs and is recording them in 2020/21.)

Performance at GoodTHANG, The Armory for the Arts, Somerville MA. March 30, 2018.
Video

“The Accompanist Becomes the Singer”: a one woman show.
The story of Liza’s journey from a theater/vocal accompanist to how she let go of her “piano car” and learned how to sing. Liza Kitchell, voice; Susan Robbins, piano.

Performance at Third Life Studio, Somerville MA. April 30, 2018.

“Drought”
“Drought” was created in 2016 as Part 1 of At the Pace of Dawn - A Climate Trilogy. Choreography by Lynn Frederiksen. Original music by Liza Kitchell.

Performance at THANGsgiving, The Armory for the Arts, Somerville MA. November 28, 2016. Dancers: Lynn Frederiksen and Paul Kafka-Gibbons. Music: Liza Kitchell, piano.
Video
Video
Audio
Music recorded by Sean Cahalin at Q Division on 2/22/18.

Sundae Missile: the Mass of the Church of the Center that will not hold (by G.P. Skratz) is a sound translation of the Latin Mass, and consists of two parts:
“The Mass of Scattered Almonds” - a spoken version, and
“The Mass of the Fearful” - a spoken version with music.

Sundae Missile: the Mass of the Church of the Center that will not hold was published in book form in 2016 by Poetry Hotel Press.

My score for the Mass was composed using my beloved commodore 64 computer with MIDI software and Yamaha sound modules. It was all very new at the time; 35 years later, it’s a time capsule.

Performers: G. P. Skratz (priest), Loney Day (altar boy), Rosebottom the Clown (the shadow), Pamela Z (musician) and Liza Kitchell (composer).