Well, dear readers, it seems we’re havin’ a heat wave, a tropical heat wave – the temperature’s risin’ and it is, in fact, outrageously hot in the City of Studio and environs. Today, for example, was 109 in the shade. One more degree and we could have been a musical. You could have fried an egg on the sidewalk and it would have been burnt. It was like a sauna bath set at the highest temperature. It was too darn hot. I know some like it hot, but this hot is ridiculous. Right now it’s eleven-fifteen in the evening and it’s at least ninety degrees outside. Talk about in the heat of the night. Anyway, I’m inside with the air conditioning on, but I fear I need to change the filter, which I’ll do, probably on Wednesday. I must say yesterday was a fun day, and so I will: Yesterday was a fun day. There, I’ve said it and I’m glad. I had to get up at six to do the new Kritzerland announcement – I’d managed to be fast asleep at eleven, and then I went back to bed at six-thirty and slept three more hours, so I actually felt good when I woke up. Then the helper and a whole lotta CDs arrived and we got everything packaged up and then took it all to the postal office, after which I stopped at the bank briefly. Then we took a lot o’ boxes to the UPS Store for the dealer orders, and then we got the motor car washed. The helper then left and I was going to jog until I realized that a Jew would be found lying on the sidewalk like so much fish. So, I didn’t. I did have a long and involved telephonic conversation with Pitney-Bowes and we came to some new understandings, much in the way I recently did with the telephonic company, so that was good. At three, Richard Berent arrived and we went over a few adjustments to the arrangements for the Kritzerland at the Gardenia show. At three-thirty our ensemble girls arrived and they worked for forty minutes. Then, over the next three hours, our cast arrived. I must say we had a wonderful rehearsal: We had a wonderful rehearsal. There, I’ve said it and I’m glad. This show is going to be really fun – what a group! Damon Kirsche continues to be able to go from character comedy songs to beautiful leading man ballads with incredible ease. Alet is a miracle. Jackie Seiden, who is the complete newcomer this time around, is absolutely fantastic. Susanne Blakeslee is wonderful – funny as all get out, and she gets to do two songs that aren’t funny at all, and she does them wonderfully. Andy Taylor has a great voice and impeccable comedy timing – and Richard Berent is the ideal accompanist for this particular show. Our four ensemble gals, Shannon Cudd, Lily Kershaw, Tyler Olshansky and Ashley Palmer are adorable and excellent. And the material plays great. All in all – grand fun.
I then had to mosey on over to the Studio Café to have a meeting/meal and also a meal/meeting with the singer. One thing I adore about this singer – she’s a good eater. She’s a ton of fun to work with and we spend a lot of time just talking about things she’s done and getting a feel for what the show is going to end up being. Her energy and enthusiasm are tops, too, and, in case you’ve already forgotten – she’s a good eater. I sometimes go off on tangents, which is my nature, and I end up talking about all sorts of other stuff, but we eventually get back on topic, and I must try to curb my enthusiasm occasionally. The next step is trying to whittle down the song choices to around twenty, then sing through those and discuss how they fit and how they’ll work structurally, and that twenty will get whittled down to fifteen. More importantly, we had my beloved wings and boy were they good. I also had a barbecue chicken sandwich and we shared some brownie thing for dessert. I hadn’t really eaten anything prior to that, so I think I’ll be fine, despite not jogging.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s hot as hell in Philadelphia – oops (spoo, spelled backawards), wrong location, wrong show, same heat.
Today, I think I’ll be seeing Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark to hear their new draft of the show we’re working on together. I’m looking forward to it – I hope Sam calls, because I don’t think we set a time for it. Other than that, I do have a few errands and whatnot to do, and hopefully I’ll be picking up a package or three and hopefully I’ll be printing out more orders.
I have a few meetings and meals the rest of the week, including dinner with my pal Lauren Rubin – haven’t seen her in a couple of months, so that will be fun.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora and the Pony because today is the birthday of dear reader JohnG. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader JohnG. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER JOHNG!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do an early jog if possible, do errands and whatnot, hopefully print more orders, and then most likely see Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the greatest performance you’ve ever seen in a musical, male and female, and what is the greatest performance you’ve ever seen in a play, male and female? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we hope for a little respite from the 109 in the shade weather.