Well, dear readers, I do hope to get some rest this fine weekend. I have very few plans, except for seeing some theaters today. Otherwise, I shall laze about like a gazelle having its tonsils out. I shall lay on my couch like so much fish and I shall watch DVDs and putter around the house. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I shall putter around the house, and soon I shall be fritterin’ away my noontime, suppertime, chore time, too. What am I, Harold Hill all of a sudden? I ended up being very productive yesterday. I didn’t fritter away noontime, chore time, or suppertime. I had a two-hour meeting about our LACC show, during which I got two really great ideas for numbers. After that, I picked up some packages, I packed up some CDs, and I ate some foodstuffs. After that, I went to my designers home environment and brought him the rest of the stuff he’ll need for the Stages booklet. After that I picked up my newly-framed Li’l Abner costume sketches and my newly-framed Modesty Blaise panel. They are all now happily hanging on walls. In fact, I hung all the framed stuff that’s just been sitting in my dining room for months. I then completely organized and cleaned up the boxes that have been piling up in the dining room, and now it looks its usual lovely and inviting self. I also managed to write three count them three really good pages for my short story. The other thing I’ve been doing every day is being a detective and trying to track down all the original cast members of the LACC production of Stages (I’ll also track down the Together Again people, but I know where most of them are, and there are only eight to track down). So far I’ve found and spoken to Alan Abelew, M’Lisa MacLaren, and Linden Waddell. Oh, and I found and spoke to me. I also managed to track down Michael Byers, and it was great fun to chat with him after all these years. In fact, I hadn’t seen or spoken to him since the show closed (he didn’t move with the show when we went to the Matrix). There are still quite a few to find, so I’m asking some of you sleuthing hainsies/kimlets for help, because you are so good at this sort of thing. We need to find Randi Kallan (last I spoke to her she was working the DAs office in LA – maybe someone can see if she’s still there). We need to find Phil Clark (he was living in New York for a while, but I don’t have a clew if he’s still there – maybe someone can do some Phil Clark sleuthing). We need to find Colleen McLean and Suzanne St. Marie, both of whom were LACC students. I ran into Colleen in the mid-90s, but haven’t seen her since. I’d like to find our choreographer, Tom Callas. And, I know Sammy Williams lives in LA, so I’ve got to find him. I’m thinking David Galligan might know where he is. Here is something interesting: I was looking at the LACC program for the show, and in the chorus was a student named Kathy Fitzgerald. Now, I think this is the same Kathy Fitzgerald who I’ve had on several albums, and who has been in The Producers since it opened. And every time I see her, she’s always really friendly to me, and I think I just haven’t realized that it’s the same person. Weird. In any case, if any of our hainsies/kimlets sleuths come up with any info, please post it immediately. We’re going to have a big launch party/reunion for the CD in early September, and I really want as many of the cast there as possible. And, there might just be a majorly wonderful sparkling prize for those who manage to successfully find any of the above folks.
Last night I began watching the BBC version of John Wyndham’s Day of the Triffids. I’m only two episodes in (out of six) and it’s quite enjoyable. It’s much better than the film version with Howard Keel, although I must say that the opening of both versions is nearly identical in terms of plotting. I’ll have more to say when I finish.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must not be fritterin’ away any more time in this section.
If it’s Saturday, it must be time for our Unseemly Trivia Contest. Today we shall not have a convoluted quiz like the ones we’ve been having. This quiz shall be straightforward, which is better than being crookedbackward. So, here is the question:
This touring company of a huge hit musical boasted a wonderful cast, most of whom were unknowns. However, many, many people in the cast of this touring company would go on to major, major careers in both film and television. For example, one of its female performers would go on to co-star in a long-running and beloved television series. For example, another of its female performers would go on to win a Tony Award for her performance in a big hit musical. For example, one of its male performers would go on to be a huge motion picture star. For example, another of its male performers would go on to be a hugely successful Broadway director. For example, another of its male performers would go on to become an Emmy Award-winning director, as well as a film director. For example, two of its male performers (one already mentioned) would go on to appear in the film version of the show, although not in the roles they played in this tour.
Name the hit musical.
Name the female performer who would co-star in a long-running beloved television series, and name her role in the musical.
Name the female performer who would go on to win a Tony Award for a big hit musical, name the musical for which she won the Tony, and name her role in the tour of the hit musical we’re discussing.
Name the male performer who would go on to be a huge motion picture star.
Name the male performer who would go on to be a hugely successful Broadway director.
Name the male performer who would go on to become an Emmy Award-winning TV director and film director.
Name the two male performers who would appear in the film version of the musical being discussed, and name the roles they would play in the film, as well as the roles they played in the tour.
Remember: DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE. Send them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com (and don’t be concerned if you get a bounced e-mail notice – I get the e-mails). You have until midnight Monday to submit your answers. Good luck to one and all and also all and one.
I get so exhausted from writing these trivia questions. But, I mustn’t be exhausted, I must be energetic and full of vim and vigor and also vigor and vim, I must prance about like a gazelle doing Swan Lake. I must not be fritterin’ away my noontime, suppertime, chore time, too. Never mind getting’ dandelions pulled or the screendoor patched or the beefsteak pounded. What the HELL am I talking about?
Now wait just a darned minute. Quick, let’s put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s dance the Hora and the Lambada (The Forbidden Dance) for we’ve got us a birthday to celebrate, and that birthday belongs to none other than our very own dear reader td. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader td. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER TD!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, relax and smell the roses or the coffee or the pounded beefsteak, I must go look at some theaters, I must eat something yummilicious (I must say I have a craving for The Smoke House), and I must write. Today’s topic of discussion: Who is the person you’d most like to find from your past, and why would you like to find them? Also, what are your favorite Meredith Willson songs? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and let’s not be fritterin’ away, either.