Donna Lynne Champlin's $1,000 Album

Talk about turning the impossible into the imaginable (and a great PR stint). For most theatrical stars, recording a first solo album is a major milestone. But, for Donna Lynne Champlin (Sweeny Todd, Hollywood Arms, By Jeeves, and James Joyce's The Dead), her big moment was cast beneath the storm cloud of a $1000 budget (a mandate due to financial constraints).

For anyone who knows anything about the world of recording, involving studio time, fancy equipment, skilled engineers, quality musicians etc., recording even a demo sampling of only a handful of songs can cost upwards of $10,000.

Not to be deterred, Ms. Champlin is setting out to record her debut solo CD at any cost, and create a little buzz in the process. After blogging about the seemingly impossible experience, especially for a performer with such cache, buzz has been growing about the quest through online media channels such as Facebook and blogspot.  As a result, interest has grown and donations have been offered. Sticking true to her word, Donna Lynne has accepted donations ONLY for PR purposes, continuing to produce the CD itself for just $1,000.

In fact, interest has grown so much that Carol Burnett has agreed to write Donna Lynne's CD liner note essay.

In Donna Lynne Champlin's own words, the blog/CD, "provide[s] exposure to some fabulous composers and lyricists who...are brilliant and yet in some cases, woefully unappreciated or just unknown for whatever reason." As well, the endeavor "serves as a 'how to' in layman's terms for other people who might be interested in making their own Solo CD on a limited budget (from mechanical licenses to packaging and PR)."

To stay current on all of the developments along Donna Lynne's quest, visit www.donnalynnechamplin.com or follow the blog, http://donnalynnechamplinsfirstsolocd.blogspot.com/