Well, dear readers, it’s show time – tonight’s the night. After six months of planning, and rehearsals for the group numbers for the last six weeks, we’re finally going up for our one and only performance. I have no idea what the show will be like, really, and can only hope it all runs smoothly from start to finish. Doing a benefit is a daunting task – you usually only get a couple of rehearsals with your talent, and you usually never get a complete tech or run-through of the show. And when it’s at a school, then you are dealing with even more difficulties. And when half your talent is flying in the day before the show, and none of them have ever sung their numbers with our musical director, it’s even more difficult. And when you only have four hours to run-through sixteen musical numbers, it’s even more difficult. All of that became abundantly clear at last night’s band/singer rehearsal. First of all, we had the soundman there, so getting everyone in their mics took up a lot of time. Then, things did not go smoothly with the band on a few numbers. Some of my out-of-towners were really feeling jetlag, so I had to rearrange the order and get them out of there. We were a half-hour behind in the first five minutes. But, we got through the big numbers very well, so that’s good. I’m not thrilled with the sound so far – far too loud for my tastes, but we’ll work on it tomorrow. I spent seven consecutive hours doing nothing but talking, and my voice was shot by the end of the evening. Hopefully a good night’s rest will restore it enough to where I can sing. I’m not sick or anything, but that much loud talking is just something I can’t do anymore, not before I have to sing. And there will be more of the same this morning, although I’ll try to take it easy.
It was great seeing Cindy Williams, Diana Canova, Maggie Roswell, Alex Henteloff, Annette Cardona and the rest, but we never got a chance to really run things the way I like to – hopefully at today’s sound check we’ll get good runs at things. I’m just hoping that the two disparate halves of the show come together as something unified (by that I mean you’ve got two directors doing completely different things). We’ve really only got three hours to do all the music stuff, and then, yes, it’s show time. I’m going to try to get out of there by three-thirty, so I can go home, relax, shave, shower, and prepare to be back by five or five-thirty. We’ve got to run some entrances and exits and everyone’s intros at the podiums, as we’ve never done any of that. Certain folks aren’t critical, but Diana’s first number requires her to be on a platform that wheels in, and she has to do that or she’ll fall over. Well, as Dodo Day once sang, Que Sera Sera, Whatever Will Be, Will Be.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must go to bed directly after posting the notes, as she of the Evil Eye, with her usual brilliant timing, will be here bright and early.
I’m really beginning to wish I hadn’t said yes to the San Francisco trip tomorrow – I am really going to be exhausted, and the minute I arrive I go directly into a rehearsal. I’m sure it will all be fine, but I really need a day or two at some point, but that point won’t be until next weekend, and by that time I’ll be a brand spanking new age. Is anyone throwing me a surprise party? Don’t tell me.
So, pray for Rosemary’s Baby – send all your excellent vibes and xylophones LACC way this evening, because we’ll need all the excellent vibes and xylophones we can get!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, attend a sound check and then be ready for show time. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your all-time favorite Broadway Divas, both past and present. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? I won’t be home until late, so tomorrow’s notes really won’t go up at midnight.