Well, dear readers, here we are, slightly bloodied but still standing and fighting. We ain’t down yet, baby. We’re in the midst of planning our new ad campaign (with a striking new photo as our art – it sort of tells you one certain thing about the first act, but the photo is very dramatic and we all think it will draw people in), and we’ll do what we can to keep filling the houses, hoping that word-of-mouth remains strong. Speaking of word-of-mouth, yesterday was quite a weird day. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, yesterday was quite a weird day. It was a mixture of the negative and the positive, but we chose to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive, which always works wonders. The negative, of course, you know. The positive was that it appears I have a little gig doing some promos for The Disney Channel, starting next week. In fact, I’ll be viewing tapes all weekend and then I shall have to come up with a script for two spots by Tuesday. Then, when the scripts are approved, I have three weeks to put them together. If I can deliver decently, I think this could turn into the kind of steady on-and-off gig I’d love – good money, but not locked into any kind of nine to five schedule. I did scads of errands, made scads of telephonic calls, answered scads of e-mails, and then toddled over to the El Portal to watch the show. We had a little over half-a-house (which in our theater looks quite full) and while they weren’t a terribly vocal audience, they did seem to enjoy themselves and were very attentive and appreciative. In the audience was writer Lissa Levin, her ever-lovin’ hubby Dan, and ninety-one year old character actor Bill Irwin, who was a kick and a half. After the show, we all headed over to the Eclectic Café down the street, where our stage manager’s ever-lovin’ wife joined us (Miss Adryan Russ), along with our very own Miss Tammy Minoff. We had some appetizers, and the conversation was sparkling. It was nice for Tammy because every one of them who saw the show loved her performance. Bill Irwin actually gave her a very sweet comment about her hands and how she knows just how to not overdo gestures and to leave them still, which he feels many actors overdo. In any case, a lovely time was had by all, and as we walked out we ran into one of our favorite people, Mr. Kevin Bailey, who told us he’s just been cast in the new Bob Dylan/Twyla Tharp show. After that, I came home, where I didn’t even have time to sit on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I managed to finish watching a motion picture on DVD entitled They Live By Night, directed by Mr. Nicholas Ray, and starring Cathy O’Donnell and Farley Granger. I really love the film, and really love Miss O’Donnell and Mr. Granger as the doomed lovers. Also excellent are Howard da Silva and Jay C. Flippen as the bad guys. It’s a beautifully directed and photographed film, and every time I see it I remember immediately just how great it is. This is a region 2 release from France, and one wishes the transfer was better, but it will tide us over until Warners gets around to it in one of their upcoming noir box sets.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because we ain’t down yet, baby, we’re alive and kickin’ after takin’ a lickin’, which always makes me want to eat some chicken, and chicken keeps me tickin’.
Have I mentioned that we’re alive and kickin’? Have I mentioned that we ain’t down yet, baby? We’re keeping our positive energy on high, like a gazelle with a hot foot.
Today I have no plans to do anything but watch these Disney Channel videos and make a plan for the two spots I’ll have to write quickly. Oh, I suppose I’ll also watch a DVD or three, and I suppose I’ll finish my short story, which I wasn’t in the mood to finish yesterday and I suppose I shall pick up an overdue package or three, and I suppose I shall do a little this’a and a little that’a, with an emphasis on the latter.
Next Saturday, I think we’ll bring our Unseemly Trivia Contest back – I’m going to come up with a real stumper. I also must buckle down Winsocki and come up with my weekly plan for the new musical theater workshop I’ll be starting on February 6th, which is just around the corner.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, watch videos and write and eat and drive about in my motor car whilst going hither and thither and even yon. Today’s topic of discussion: Since I did several Lost In Boston albums and several Unsung Musicals albums, what are your favorite cut songs from shows, and what are your favorite songs from flop musicals? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? After all, we ain’t down yet, baby, and we’re alive and kickin’. Damn them, damn them all to hell.