Racers, Start Your Engines!

I sang the national anthem at the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe for the races that happened during the fair. My sister, Molly Helmuth, is 15 and races mini-stocks and go-karts. She's getting way more press than I ever have. I piggy-backed on her success this past saturday and handed out my demo cds for free. My uncle shoved them into people's faces. I stayed by the car while the autograph meet-and-greet session for the racers was going on. Coincidentally, I just received the largest payment for my music this month, which is nice--my parents can get some reward for spending thousands of dollars on a cd that I haven't really done anything with.

Anyways, I started the national anthem too low, but that meant that I could belt the ending notes with ease. Watch the video, I'm practicing right up until I had to sing and STILL didn't start on the right note. Oh, well. My boyfriend was the videographer, and my mother wishes he panned more to the left, and kept the camera running longer to get all of the reactions and congratulations. Apparently I did a pretty wonderful job, but you can form your own opinions. I was super nervous, as you can tell by the beginning of the video; it was a pretty sizable crowd!

Here's the video:

Have nothing planned for the 28th?

That's right! It'll be the very first time I'm going to watch my sister race mini-stocks and it can be YOURS, too! :D And I'm singing the national anthem! AND there's a super great fair/race pack that you should look in to. I haven't sung the national anthem since the first assembly of my senior year last year, so hopefully it goes as smoothly as it did then.

:)

It may not be singing...

But it's another thing I love to do! I've stated before that I absolutely adore photoshop. I take photos in order to photoshop them for hours on end. Here are my most recent pictures from the 4th of July at Gasworks, and recent trips to Camano Island and Wenatchee.

Roulette the Musical

Hello! My project this summer has been writing/performing a new musical called "Roulette", based off chat roulette.

Roulette is a new rock musical premiering July 8-25 at Balagan Theatre in Seattle, WA. The brainchild of Out of The Box Conservatory, a group of young actors, writers, musicians and performers, it is a story about a dude and his internet.

The process of writing Roulette began on the Seattle Center lawn. We started with characters -characters we all know in one way or another- and we threw them in a basement for a year after high school graduation. Through weekly writing sessions and online collaboration (thanks to Google Docs) the plot developed out of our real-live conversations with each other, personal past experiences, and shared imaginations. Though the plot shifted, the main idea never did. It was a story of a dude and his couch. You know, THAT dude that is always chillin'...in his basement...on his couch...crusin' social networking sites and losing touch with reality and relationships.

During this creation process, a few things were agreed upon:

* The dialog would acurately represent the tone of language used by our 15-20 year old actors. This meant there would be no initial censoring and we would not shy away from a well-placed dick joke or an approporiately used F-bomb.
* The music that most inspired us during this time was a collections of songs by Mark Carr.
* This show would be interactive!


Throughout the course of the show, audience members have the opportunity to participate in the theatrical experience by using their smart phones to communicate with our main character by way of their Facebook page. If you post something, the cast on stage will react to it right before your eyes!

Featuring music from local musician Mark Carr. (www.aboutmarkcarr.com)

Writers and performers include:

Amy Helmuth
Aaron Johnson
Dylan Zucati
Jeff Paine
Kayla Erickson
Taylor Niemeyer
Tyler Thompson

Directed by Hannah Williams and Austin Garrison

Additional Collaborators:
Jay Howard
Walker Caplan

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118779
Teen Tix $5
Online discount code is "robot"

It's only an hour long, but has almost anything you could possibly desire in a musical set in a basement.

New Project!

I'm starting a business!


Need to downsize your closet for college? Want to make room for newer, updated clothing? Don't know where to start in your mess of a room or closet? Let me help! I'm going to major in fashion merchandising at Seattle Pacific University and want to start a fashion consultation business and consignment shop for high school and college girls. I need your help as much as you may need mine.

The concept:
1) I will personally help you go through your room and closet to figure out what pieces to keep that work best for you (your body, your lifestyle, etc.)
2) With what is left in your closet, I will show you different outfits that are possible and also advise you to invest in certain basics if you don't have them already.
3) It will also be possible to request a shopping day with me (which is always fun. Tiring, yes, but rewarding at the end of the day). This will all be done for an hourly fee of about $10.
4) I will cart away the items for you that don't work; either to a thrift shop or, once I collect enough items, to my shop.
5) With or without a consultation, you can donate your gently-used clothing and accessories to my shop or
6) I willconsign them. "Consigning" means that after your items are sold, you will receive 30-40% of the selling price.7) Myshop will be open limited hours (still to be determined). The location will be on First Ave North by the Key Arena.

As for profits, a portiongoes back to you, the customer, a portion goes towards my church (I am participating in a challenge tofind ways to multiply $60. I will take the profits to church and the youth group will decidewhich three organizations to donate to) and the rest will go towards me and my college tuition in order to receive my fashion merchandising degree at SPU. If you're interested in a consultation, shopping spree, donating clothing or becoming a consignee, contact me! If I generate enough interest,you win, I win, some deserving charities win! :D Thanks!


Exciting, no?
:)

Oh, hi.

I know it's been a long time... so here's a Q&A to myself, about myself. :)

Q: Why the absence?
A: Mainly school because of senior year; finding a college, getting all the requirements done (senior project, community service hours, altering a dress for prom), and trying to have fun with the little time I had. Now that this year is winding down, I have more time to myself and to relax more than I could before.

Q: How's the whole band-thing?
A: I was stressed from school and the pressure of making a band within a certain amount of time. Coming up with all of the band members was a process I was not ready for, and so I took a (long) break from trying to form a band. My drummer, joey, was there for me since the beginning and he was the only person who kept me semi-sane until my birthday (in January) approached. I promised everyone that for my 18th birthday bash I would perform some songs with my band. Instead, I performed a few songs with a hired guitarist/pianist and drummer (Joey couldn't make it). Thankfully, it worked out for my party, but nothing has progressed since then.




Q: Have you decided on a college/major?
A: Yes, very recently, actually! I decided I want to go to Seattle Pacific University to major in fashion merchandising. Maybe I'll minor in theatre or voice, but I haven't completely decided.

Q: What's your senior project? Anything involving performing?
A: I've posted some pictures before... and if you consider modeling performing, then yes. Technically, my project is all about photoshoots. My best friend, Kerry, and I are setting up shoots, Kerry's taking pictures, I'm modeling and then photoshopping the pictures. I'm supposed to be learning more about photomanipulation since I've always enjoyed photoshop and can use it fairly well. We present next thursday.









Q: Any other projects right now?
A: Shows, no. I'm not in my high school's spring musical. I was, however, Martha in White Christmas, which went REALLY well and I had an incredible time. The audience seemed to enjoy my/the performance; compliments after a show are always a plus. I guess if you want to count the play that my advanced drama class is working on (A.R. Gurney works-"The Dining Room" and "Scenes from American Life") then I'm working on something. We did a cutting of it for the State Thespian Festival and got a "superior" rating-earning us a trophy, along with a superior and "Best of Show" for our White Christmas cutting! Exciting, though other schools get upset when Roosevelt dominates at the award ceremony. Oh, well.
I also directed a one-act for RHS' Dramafest with Kerry entitled "ths phne 2.0" by Lindsey Price. It was a great show and I'm proud of it; especially with all of the stress and time that went into it. We won multiple awards, too!: Best Physicalization, Best Ensemble Acting, Best Opening Moment, Best Set 3rd Place, and... Best Play 2nd Place (out of 12)! Super exciting. The opening moment was a choreographed dance sequence to "Technologic" and the lights made it resemble an ipod commercial. It was fairly epic. :D

Q: Are you going to update this more often?
A: Maybe. I'll try. :) Right now there isn't anything too exciting... but we'll see!

Finally a new post...

My dad, yesterday, made a comment about how I haven't updated since the summer. I constantly remind myself to do so, but never get around to it. My next band practice is this Wednesday. I have a drummer, and an electric guitarist now! We had a bassist and pianist, but lost them recently and so we're still looking. Chelsi, my producer and booking agent did a fantastic job finding everyone in a decidedly short span of time. Once we get tight, we can start booking gigs and maybe record our new songs/covers into a new demo. We need a band name first. After we come up with a band name, I'll most likely make a real website for our band (ex. make another myspace).

So, I've been busy getting a band together, and also with school. Being a senior in high school, it's that stressful time to find the right college. It's difficult for me because of my numerous interests; it's taking me forever to find a college close enough to home (even though I want to go out of state, I can't in case my band goes somewhere) with everything I want.

High school is going okay for me. Since I've put off gym classes until this year, I'm in weight training/conditioning first period with my sister's best friend as the only two girls. Friends and people who know me well enough laugh and think I'm joking. But, hey, I sort of have muscle now!

I sang the National Anthem for Roosevelt's first assembly of the year!

It went really well and I was proud of myself--I was honored to sing the National Anthem not only my senior year of high school, but also on September 11th. I'm pretty sure that the school didn't hear me say that we would take a moment of silence, though. It was awkward when I took a long pause and people kept talking. I'm pretty sure that a lot of people were freaking out over my green, sparkly, sequined high-heels. The thing that bothers me is that the two recordings I was counting on both failed, and I wasn't smart enough to use my camera. So, I don't have a recording of the song itself. It's frustrating and I'll never get to do that again.

The Spring musical for our high school was announced last night. Curtains! This year is rare because we're doing two musicals. Right now I am in rehearsals for White Christmas. I play Martha Watson, the Innkeeper. Tickets went on sale today on the Roosevelt Drama's website. Performances are December 3, 4 and 5.

Every year the drama department takes part in the International Thespian's "Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat." On Halloween, all of us drama kids go out and trick-or-treat for canned and boxed foods instead of candy (although we do get some candy). I went earlier on Halloween to pass out fliers to tell my neighbors that I'd be back later to pick up cans. By the end of the night, I had 9 (?) bags of cans and other non-perishable items.

That's it for now.

Enjoy your day!

:)

National Anthem - Everett Aquasox

The people in the video (not part of Aquasox):
1. Me (obviously).
2. My Dad (recording).
3. My mother.
4&5. My friend, Xuny, and her sister, Abby.
6. Kerry (in spirit).
7. I guess all my other friends and family (in spirit).

The events going on in the shots before my actual singing:
1. My Dad asking me what I was about to do. Then asking if I was nervous. What a silly question. We went to eat just before that, and I had about three bites of salad, four french fries, and about three more bites of chili. I ordered the bread bowl thinking I'd get a bowl of bread. Apparently, that's not what it is.
2. Kerry, my best friend who is in New York right now (jealous), and a couple other people constantly texted me until it was time to go on, to try and calm my nerves.
3. Kerry texted me this picture (it was sideways, which was why i kept turning my phone. so I'm going to let you experience that, also):

and sent the message "so I know this is a bad pic for multiple reasons but the person behind the woman's butt looks just like an older version of you."
4. Me, trying to bounce away my nerves. I was listening to "I'm Alive" from the show I am presently obsessed with-- Next to Normal. I am completely in love with Aaron Tveit; his voice is absolutely beautiful. He is in the world premiere of Catch Me if You Can at the 5th Ave theatre right now. I saw it, and it's a great show. He makes me smile.
5. Xuny made me laugh? I don't remember what it was about; most likely it was that she didn't remember how many hott boys went to baseball games, and that she said she'd been missing out for most of her life.
6. Yay, warming up! I wish I would have had that luxury. I hadn't sung for the past 2 hours until show time.
7. a) I had asked where I was supposed to look--was there a flag? My mom said it'd probably be on the screen (which it was, but there was a tiny flag by the screen. The two people I stand with later in the video tell me that I should look out towards the mountain and not at the screen because I might be singing to myself. Also, if I would like to sing to myself, they didn't want to know that.)
b) The man asking "where're your gloves at?" was not directed at me.
8. It was tropical day at the game. The flamingo's name was Pinky. Original, yes? The girl I was standing with (I don't remember names... Did she even give me her name?) asked if I wanted to wear her lei. I said no thanks, I'd be too distracted, or just feel strange. She said that it'd probably ruin my cute outfit, also. It did take me a long time to figure out what I wanted to wear; I have a pretty large closet (but I don't spend tooo much money to get my clothes; I hate brand names/fads), and I'm very picky about what I wear. I had fun talking to those two before I went on. We had a great conversation about how much my country would hate me if I sat down and wore a hat. There was a reason this came up, but I think it doesn't matter too much (the other girl wanted to sit--that was the beginning of the conversation).
9. The announcer dude (What was his name?) announces the starting line-up. I used the screams as a mini warm-up. I felt kind of awkward.
10. a) The National Anthem. My friend, Madeline, told me that she remembers in kindergarten I told the class that I was changing my last name from "Hel-mioo-th" to "Hel-muh-th". I thought of her when the announcer said my name. I was super nervous in the beginning, but I was proud by the end. :) Can you see my purple lowlights? Teehee.
b) I was on the big screen. My mommy told me I looked beautiful, which is a good thing, seeing as how my head would have been, like, 20feet by 30 feet large up on that screen.

The very first hit was a home run. By the other team, but that's besides the point. We hoped my singing motivated them. Aquasox had their own home run, so that was good. I know very little about baseball, I get really bored at the games...
Anyways, I had fun. We didn't stay the whole game (but I lasted 7 innings!), last time I looked at the scoreboard it was 4 to 4 which made me giggle. I'm obsessed with the number four.

<3
Have a nice day!

Come See Pippin! (Reprise)

Three successful shows completed. I encourage everyone to try and come see the show! If you do come, I encourage you, also, to bring a fan. It gets pretty hot in the space we perform in.
Here's a picture of (most of) our cast that I photoshopped. I post-processed and took most of the pictures in the show, and everyone's head shots in the hallway.



Our director sent this out to the cast about our show:

A friend of mine dragged her non theatre-goer boyfriend last night,
and this is what he said:
"I was afraid of a bad show when I saw how young the actors were...
You were right, you totally forget their ages and just get enthralled
by them" Apparently, he agreed to go to do something social but he
wasn't convinced until the show started that these were real actors.
Not only that, but he never ever sings, and you guys got him to
sing.
How freaking cool is that!

Also, this Sunday (tomorrow; I'm a procrastinator) and next Sunday I will sing three of my songs before the show even starts--sort of an opening-act-to-a-concert feel.


Performances July 9th throught July 25th, 7 pm shows Thursdays through Saturdays. 2 pm matinees 12th and 19th.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. You can purchase tickets at www.brownpapertickets.org

Balagan Theatre
1117 East Pike St
Seattle, WA 98122

www.balagantheatre.org

Pippin!

Here's my cast of Pippin doing one of our warm-ups before my camera decided (once again) to corrupt the rest of my files.



Come see Pippin!

Balagan Theatre presents Pippin,with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson.
Performances July 9th throught July 25th, 7 pm shows Thursdays through Saturdays.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. You can purchase tickets at www.brownpapertickets.org

Balagan Theatre
1117 East Pike St
Seattle, WA 98122
www.balagantheatre.org

A Change In Me

I sang this for a recent recital.

Memorial - Funeral song “You’re Near”

Amy Helmuth wrote lyrics to her first song entitled "You're Near" after attending and singing for two of five memorial - funeral services for loved ones, with more than enough inspiration, Helmuth wanted to have an original song to sing at future memorial services to take place of the ever-popular “Amazing Grace” and of which would have the soul purpose of comforting the whole crowd attending the service to remind them the person of remembrance is—and will always be—near in spirit.

Note:
Amy is available to sing live at memorial / funeral services
email: amy@amyhelmuth.com

Good luck to my sister Molly Helmuth

I would like to wish my sister Molly Helmuth a great Gold Cup weekend were Molly will be competing in Canada against the best drivers in the Rotax kart series.

The Rotax racing karts can reach a speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour and shifter karts can reach a top speed of over 100 mph.

Molly Helmuth is sponsored by:

Security Imaging Corp

Squires Machine

DealerNet

Jana Helmuth CPA

"Molly Helmuth racing is always looking for more sponsors."

CATS!, Aquasox, Senior Project

Click here for CATS! tickets.
Opening night is on thursday, and tickets are (if not already) selling out FAST!

Also, I sang for Aquasox Idol and received a 26/30 so I will sing during the national anthem during their next season!

For my senior project, Kerry and I are going to learn more about lighting, photoshop, makeup, and over-all creative design. We completed our first official "photoshoot" yesterday. Following this are a few pictures. We'll be looking for mentors soon to guide us along the process.

Amy Helmuth - Live at the Brick - Roosevelt H.S Cats

Sorry about the quality of the video. We had to work with my small digital camera, and apparently its video abilities are very limited.
Other than being a little frustrated that it seemed like people weren't paying attention to me, I got over that when I--after eating pizza at Village Pizza with my mother-- received compliments for my performance. I'll definitely try and do something like this again, and hopefully I can put a band together. When there's a live band playing, they're so loud that the audience has to listen because it's too noisy to have conversations... I think that's an advantage of some sort.

Tickets for my high school's spring musical, CATS, go on sale starting May 1st. 

It's not what you're expecting. CATS, I mean. You're probably thinking that we'll all be crawling around in spandex and meowing a lot, right? Wrong. We're wearing real clothes... but we do have cat touches to our costumes. It should be interesting, and I encourage you to come!

Also, I did try and find out what happened with the Make or Rake the Band contest, and I was never told who the winner was, or even how I did! It's probably one of the most annoying things in the entire world, but I thank each and every person who voted for me, and it really showed me how amazing you all are!

Northgate Journal Story

The Northgate Journal has written a story about my music.

Download Story PDF

Amy Helmuth - Everett Starts Search for Next "AquaSox" Idol

I have signed up for this audition.
Date: May 16, 2009
Time: 11AM
Location: Northgate Mall

2009 SEARCH FOR THE NEXT "AQUASOX IDOL"
The hunt for the next "AquaSox Idol" is back! The Everett AquaSox Baseball Club will conduct a tryout at Northgate Mall on Saturday, May 16, for hopefuls to sing the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America and O' Canada at Sox games during the 2009 season. Registration for the tryouts is underway, and is limited to the first 60 applicants. Once registered, each applicant will be assigned a scheduled time to audition before a panel of judges at the tryout. Read more...

A Song for Tough Economic Times:

Seattle Teen Encourages People to “Don’t Give Up” on Debut CD


FOR RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE



Seattle, March 20, 2009 -- Seventeen-year-old Amy Helmuth thinks big. So when the young singer first heard “Don’t Give Up,” she saw it not just as a catchy pop tune, but as a message to people struggling through our country’s current economic crisis.

“I hope the song puts a smile on people’s faces,” said Helmuth, who recorded the song by Dalona Foster and Chelsi Lee Marie for her debut, four-single CD, “Don’t Give Up.”

When Helmuth first heard the song in the recording studio, she couldn’t help but smile. “The beat made me bounce in my seat,” she said. Helmuth knows that no song can make up for losing a job or home, or both, but she hopes its message will give people a sense of hope—or at least help them forget their troubles for a while.

At just five feet tall, Helmuth hardly looks like someone who could take on such a big challenge. What this petite high school junior lacks in height, though, she makes up for in spunk. “I’m a little person, but I don’t let anybody push me around,” she said.

A student at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Helmuth has been active in musical theater since second grade. She has performed in numerous productions with Broadway Bound Children’s Theater. She wrote her first song, “You’re Near,” in 2007 after losing several loved ones within months of each other.

In addition to the title track “Don’t Give Up,” Helmuth’s CD includes “You’re Near,” “Rendezvous” and “Queen.” To sample her music, purchase the CD or buy MP3 downloads of any of the songs, visit Helmuth’s web site, www.amyhelmuth.com. The CD costs $6.50 (shipping included). Downloads are 99 cents per song. Copies of the CD are also available at Silver Platters—Northgate, 9560 1st Ave. N.E., in Seattle.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Amy Helmuth
Email: Amy@amyhelmuth.com
www.securityimaging.com

Yay!

Yesterday, there were 122 people who visited my page which is the most I've ever had! 122 people may not seem like that many, but it really is a huge, exciting accomplishment. I want to thank all of you for your support in this contest, and remind you to keep spreading the word to vote until Monday at 3 when the Ron and Don show airs and voting closes.

Next time, I WON'T use speakerphone.

Click here to hear the interview with the Ron and Don Show!


The Ron and Don show called me for a short interview. Take a listen.