Well, dear readers, our final weekend of cabaret shows is here and what a triple-play it is. Plus, not only do we have new dear reader Jeanne visiting Los Angeles, California, USA, but today we also have dear readers Laura, Sandra, Kerry, and his ever-lovin’ MusicGuy coming in for a visit and to see Kevin Spirtas and Jason Graae’s shows. I suspect there will be at least two nice after-show meals involved, at least I hope there will be. Speaking of after-show meals, yesterday was a kooky day. Did you know that kooky spelled backwards is ykook? Just asking. I had to get up early and jog, and then I had an early rehearsal with Miss Linda Purl. It was a fairly rough rehearsal with some forgotten blocking and patter and lyrics, but by the second act we were pretty much back to normal. I gave notes and I think we were all in agreement about them. After rehearsal, I toddled over to LACC for a meeting with the set designer for The Brain From Planet X. I really like him a lot, and we just talked about style and look, and I just gave him a few thoughts – I don’t ever like to be specific because I’m very interested in his ideas before imposing mine. Just brainstorming we came up with a really neat idea for the show’s opening moments, which I’m very excited about. After that meeting, we met with the tech folks for the cabaret series and went over the cues for Kevin’s show. The big difference with his and Linda’s shows is that I prepared a lighting script that contains all the patter and all the lyrics, along with my call-outs for fades and blackouts along with suggestions for color and mood. Because the cues are actually written in the script, it’s going to be a lot easier than our previous shows, where the tech guys were basically winging it based on a set list. After that, I had to rush home to ship a package that should have gone out on Monday. Then I came back and returned a bunch of important calls, answered a bunch of important e-mails, and then, finally, I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the check disc of the Kevin Spirtas DVD. The menu is really nice, there are chapter stops aplenty, and it all looks swell. There are two teeny little glitches, but they’re so minor that I’m not going to worry about them. One is a tiny one-frame video glitch that took me five times of watching to see. The other is a one-frame audio glitch that happens during applause – again, I really had to listen to hear it. The DVD authoring guy is going to check our digi-beta to see if the problem is on the master – if it isn’t, if the master is correct, then it’s a simple redo for him. But, if it’s on the master, rather than taking two additional weeks to deal with it, we’ll live with it, as it’s so minor. I then listened to the commentary track we did, and I must say it’s pretty amusing and also has interesting bits of information. All in all, I’m very pleased with it, and the discs should be pressed in the next week or so.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must gird my loins for the triple play weekend of cabaret.
Today, I have a business meeting at one, but before then I really must get some writing done. At five we have the sound check for Kevin, and then at seven-thirty is his show. It’s completely sold out, and we’ve added about thirty seats to accommodate everyone. The same goes for Jason Graae’s show, and Linda’s is almost full up, as well. Jason has asked me to perform in his opening number, and I’ve agreed to do it – Susanne Blakeslee also takes part and it should be a hoot. I’m looking forward to our hainsies/kimlets West Coast gathering – they are way too few and far between – or is it too far and few between?
I am trying to think of something interesting to say in this paragraph, but nothing is coming to mind. I could mention that I ate three little slices of pizza last night (I know one of our lurkers so looks forward to my food reports) – that’s basically all I had all day, except for some red licorice. I could mention that way too many dear people have had health problems and that I wish them speedy recoveries because they don’t deserve such health problems. I could say that the world is my oyster and I could also say that the oyster is my world, although I have no clew as to what the HELL that means.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, write, meet, do a sound check, then introduce Mr. Spirtas’ show, as well as choose a really fun place to go afterwards for our hainsies/kimlets gathering part one. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite most joyous moments you’ve ever seen in a musical? For me, it will always be My Heart Is So Full Of You from The Most Happy Fella, which I saw with Mr. Robert Weede and Mr. Art Lund, here in the LA area. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt such joy before or since as I did that day listening to Tony and Rosabella sing that glorious duet. More pure joy and bliss: The first time I saw the title number of Hello, Dolly! in the first national tour with Miss Channing. The opening of A Chorus Line. And for pure unadulterated joy, Turkey Lurkey Time from Promises, Promises. I have it on DVD from the Tony Awards broadcast and I watch it over and over again and I’m always like a little kid. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we begin our triple play final weekend of cabaret shows.