Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle doing a triple lutz. I’ve got Bacharach on the brain, so if you see me walkin’ down the street, walk on by, because today raindrops were fallin’ on my head, and earlier I’d had trouble sleeping because I was just like the guy who’s feet are two big for the bed, but still, the days are filled with many magic moments and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow when it will be turkey lurkey time. See what I mean? Speaking of what I mean, yesterday started out fun, remained fun until five-forty in the afternoon, and then became really, really annoying. I got up early, went to the exercise room and did 5.2 miles on the treadmill, going a little faster than yesterday. In fact, I did eight-minute miles, which is pretty good, I think, at least for a sixty-year-old Jew. I then showered and shaved and was on my way to our noon rehearsal. We saw four more people – Kevin Earley, BethAnn Bonner (a total doll from One Life To Live), Lauren Kennedy, and Christopher Jackson and Mandy Gonzales from In The Heights. We then went and looked at the theater. It was a real shocker – I’d only heard about it, and it certainly was not described in a way that reflected reality. First off, there’s a show in there, and most of its scenic elements cannot be moved. We’re covering them, but space is so limited we’re petrified about Turkey Lurkey Time, which has eighteen dancers. If the band wasn’t onstage we’d probably be okay, but it is, so Adam is rethinking certain things, placement-wise, and I’ve told our sound designer that the cast monitors cannot actually be ON the stage as he’d planned. He can put them off to the side or on stands or a riser in front of the stage. Also, there is a rug on the floor which is both sticky and slippery, so the theater is putting in a masonite floor over the rug. We actually went and looked at another space in the complex – 150 less seats but empty and perfect for our show. We were going to make the switch, but because tickets have already been printed and we’ve sold about two-thirds of the house so far, it’s not possible. The other thing I absolutely hate about our theater is that people can only enter from one side of the stage – there’s no cross-around or access from the other side. Terrible. We’ll make do, but I’ve really got my work cut out for me come Monday. The good news is that even though we can’t change their light plot, they have tons of moving lights, and we’ll be able to do some really nice things, plus they have two projection screens on either side of the stage, and those will work really well for us.
After that, Adam, Kevin, and I went to the Edison Hotel coffee shop to eat. I had a really nice chicken salad sandwich with bacon. Then I had to hurry home to send my show order to the producer so he could get it to the person who’s printing the program. I woke up the computer and tried to open Safari, which wouldn’t open, despite me being connected and having plenty of wireless signal. I restarted the computer – same thing. The tech came up and had no clew as to why it wouldn’t connect. They had me call the wireless company (the hotel is in the midst of changing companies) – they couldn’t help. I called Apple but got someone in India who was trying to get me to change all kinds of settings and throw folders in the trash and I wouldn’t do any of it and demanded someone in the US – by the time I got said US someone, I’d already figured out it wasn’t the computer, it’s the wireless network. After three hours of this nonsense (I’d already called the producer and read him the list over the phone), I finally plugged in the Ethernet cable. I’d been loathe to do that earlier because after I’d done it at home when I was having wireless trouble, it sort of screwed things up and I had to have Apple talk me through how to fix them. However, after I plugged in I checked my settings and everything was okay. So, even though they told me to check and see if the wireless is working in the morning, I’ll probably just stay on the wire. I then went out and got a ham sandwich from a Pax deli – it was terrible, but I ate it because I was hungry and I needed to eat something. I had a few pieces of chocolate licorice to get the foul taste from my mouth.
I then had to deal with way too many e-mails and I needed to have a couple of long telephonic conversations, and then I realized it was almost midnight. I couldn’t believe it.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button – anyone who had a heart would click away and I forgot to mention that whoever you are, I love you. See what I mean? Bacharach on the brain.
Today, I get to sleep a little later, then I’ll do the treadmill for as long as I can stand it, then I have a production meeting with our mighty production team. Then it’s off for a between-shows supper with Miss Jessica Rush, and I might try to score a single and see something after dinner. Too late to get a house seat, but I might be able to snag a good single for something. We shall see.
Tomorrow is, of course, Thanksgiving, and I’ll be going to FJL’s home environment to sup with a lot of wonderful folks. I have no idea what time the do is, but I shall be there with bells on and also pants.
Friday, we have a one-hour rehearsal with Julie Reiber and Katie Adams to add a little staging to their duet. After that, I’ll come back to the hotel, do stuff that needs doing, and then I’m dining with Miss Reiber.
Saturday is mine all mine – not sure what I’m doing, but I may see a friend in an off-Broadway show called Judy and Me. We shall wee.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the treadmill, have a production meeting, sup, and perhaps see a show if the mood strikes me. Then again, I might see a show if the mood doesn’t strike me, because frankly the mood has been striking me a little too much recently and I’ve got a black and blue mark the size of Pacoima. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I’m wishin’ and hopin’ for a lovelier than lovely day. See what I mean? I’ve got Bacharach on the brain.