Well, dear readers, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it’s the most wonderful time of the year – a time of holiday cheer and good will towards men or, conversely, good men towards will. And let’s not leave out women. Good will towards women and good women towards will. Why does will get all the men and women, that’s what I want to know. In any case, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for today begins a little month I like to call December. I find it hard to believe that one year ago at this time we were going into rehearsal with Deceit. And now, this year at this time we are opening my new musical, The Brain From Planet X. This year has flown by like a gazelle in a training bra. So much has happened, but we’ll save the history lesson for another day. Speaking of another day, yesterday was another day, namely yesterday. It started with me, BK, waking up. I then had to immediately do an important errand, then I immediately came home, I immediately jogged, and then immediately went to a casting session, where we saw a whopping two count them two people. After that, I had some chow, and then toddled off to LACC for a production meeting and then rehearsal. The production meeting was swift, and then we spent a couple of hours running scenes and songs. Our musical director has started playing from elmore’s piano/conductor charts, so I’ve been hearing some of elmore’s handiwork, and I like what I’m hearing – a couple of things made me laugh out loud. We then took a dinner break, while I sat and watched the lighting designer focus lights (I enjoy watching that). We then had a run-through and I must say it was very energetic and a good deal of fun. The fellow who is playing The Brain is really coming into his own now, and it’s grand watching him start to blossom. Alet was especially amusing, but everyone has started to understand what stepping up to the plate means. I will say, that no matter what the run-through, the show is clocking in at two hours (with intermission) really consistently, which makes me very happy. I managed to get everyone out before nine, and will do the same this evening, as we have quite a week ahead of us starting tomorrow.
I wish I could say that I watched a motion picture on DVD last night, but I only began one – the new transfer and special edition of Superman: The Movie. The image quality is superb, but the sound, a remix done in 2001, is not so hot. The DVD was supposed to include the original theatrical mix, but Warners totally screwed up and left it off. They’ll be offering replacement discs at some point. I’ve also been watching some Person To Person shows before bedtime, and I must say I’ve been finding the celebrity ones a bit boring.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s the most wonderful time of the year and we must get crackin’.
I’ll be going in a little early today, to sit with the lighting designer, approve “looks” and sit while he begins writing the show cues into the computer. My stage manager will run whatever I decide needs rehearsing, and then we’ll do a run-through (sans Lauren) in the evening. I’m pretty much done futzing with blocking and stuff – I’m happy with the way the show looks and flows, and now there’ll just be a little finessing here and there and mostly honing the performances. And then, in one short week from today a new musical will be born – on the same day as I was born. The new musical will be a little younger than I, but I will be younger than springtime so ho, ho, ho, who’s got the last laugh now?
Tomorrow, of course, we begin tech and I’m hoping against hope that it doesn’t cause the company to go backwards – I will be maniacal about keeping forward momentum. Prior to tech, I’ll be at the first band rehearsal, which I’m most anxious to hear. Sunday is a TBA for everyone, just in case we need it. The cast would really like the day off, but it’s going to depend on how crazy the first day of tech is. If I think that I can just take a few cast members and go cue to cue, then I’ll do that. Sunday is also the day when I have to address a humungous number of envelopes. I will have help, though, so maybe it won’t be too horrible.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, do errands, answer e-mails, work with the lighting designer, and then do a run-through. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, nothing. DVD, Superman: The Movie. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year and we must welcome December with open arms as well as open knees.