Tuesday February 2, 2010 – The Oscar-nominated film Up In The Air starring George Clooney includes an appearance from a rather unique individual, that at first glance, may not be all that familiar with KC Cafe Radio fans.

However, if we were to tell you that this talented individual appears as "Ruby Falls" in the KC Cafe Radio Performing Artist band Alacartoona, the connection becomes a little more clear.

Actually, Erin McGrane considers herself as much a singer as she does an actor.  And her work with Alacartoona features a unique combination of both.  She calls her appearances with the group (which includes McGrane, Christian Hankel, Kyle Dahlquist and Gregg Jackson) "theatrical music," which takes the form of a cabaret-style performance.

For the movie, McGrane plays the role of a former love interest of Clooney's character, Ryan Bingham.  In the scene, which lasts a total of about 40 seconds, McGrane's character enters Bingham's Omaha apartment, apparently to drop off some mail, but takes advantage of the opportunity to inform Bingham that she is now seeing someone else, which elicits very little reaction from Bingham.  It may be a brief appearance, however the scene is a significant character building moment in the film.

A 1990 graduate of the University of Missouri Kansas City Theater program, McGrane has also appeared in several independent film projects, and most recently in a You Tube series called "Unreal Housewives of KC."

McGrane says she is looking forward to continuing her work in both film, and theatrically through Alacartoona.  She doesn't rule out the possibility of travel in her future however, and says she would be open to working with artists all over the world.

Music By Alacartoona on KC Cafe Radio: