Well, dear readers, show number three of the Kritzerland at the Gardenia series went off splendidly. We didn’t have all that many diners (about nineteen as compared to thirty or more for each of the last shows), but by show time it was a full room and people at the bar, too. So, that part was nice, save for the usual no-shows, which included someone I know very well and I can tell you that she is going to get an e-mail she will not enjoy. But the show was the smoothest we’ve had. My patter played fine, and the performers were just wonderful. The sequence worked from start to finish, the songs were great, and the audience seemed to have a good time. I’ve learned over the past two shows what not to do, and that’s been very helpful. Sound and lighting were better, but they really need to redo the sound system from scratch, and I’m going to make that suggestion – it’s ancient and two channels on the mixing board just stopped working during the show – fortunately the sound person was able to plug into two other channels between songs. And my mic wasn’t working at all, so I was Unplugged and I surprised even myself that I could still project well. We had some fun people in attendance, including Cabaret West’s Les Traub, the beautiful Andrea Marcovicci, film music historian and commentator Jon Burlingame (he wrote the notes for the Prime Time Musicals CD) and his ever-lovin’ Marilee Bradford, some singer fellow who’s played Jean Valjean a lot in Les Miz on Broadway and elsewhere, our very own Juliana A. Hansen, who’s back in LA after having been in the UK for over a year – she’ll be joining our merry Gardenia troupe soon, possibly for the Christmas show, my friend Debbie’s daughter, Olivia, and a surprise attendee, the gal who used to be the receptionist at Varese Sarabande – Andrea Syne (now Puckett) – she brought her eighteen-year-old daughter Nicole – the last time I saw Nicole was when I took her and her sister to see Cathy Rigby in Peter Pan – I think she was about four or five then. Shelly Markham was there, and several of my friends showed up, too. Also, Barbara Minkus, Vincent Jan and his wife (he occasionally posts on our boards as vintek) Doug Haverty, Adryan Russ, helper Amy, and The Singer aka Laura Wolfe. John Boswell is one of the most amazing piano players ever and thrillingly he asked if he could do January’s Sondheim show – I gave him the dates, and if he’s clear that will take a huge load off my mind. The gals in the audience swooned over Doug Carpenter’s voice, and loved Dan Callaway, too. Jane Noseworthy did beautifully, as did Alet (always) and Dana. This was the first time we haven’t used a music stand with lyrics and it was so great without that – we had a few fumfered lyrics but everyone recovered from it quickly and no one really knew. After the show, I had to eat something, so we went to Jerry’s Deli and I had chicken tenders, which were yummilicious.
Prior to the show, I’d had a nice day. I did errands and whatnot, but never got around to going to the mail place. I did a mile and a half jog, I did work on the computer, I finessed my patter, and I booked a couple of guests for our one and only upcoming LACCTAA event, about which more when I complete the booking of guests.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s really late and I have to be up pretty early.
Today, I must be up early, as the helper will be here (first time this week) to help – she’ll take home the new invoices to address, we have a few packages to ship, and some more reorganization to do. Then I’ll relax and watch a motion picture, because it’s back to the Gardenia for me to see a singer in the evening. I’ll also begin choosing the Christmas songs for our next show, and I’m waiting on word from one singer and if he says yes, we’ll be fully cast for December and everyone can get their material nice and early.
Tomorrow, I have no idea what’s happening, although something is definitely happening. All I know is that the evening is mine all mine and so is most of the weekend – this makes me very happy indeed.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, work with the helper, jog, relax, begin choosing songs, and see a singer. Today’s topic of discussion: Crooners – who are your all-time favorite crooners (when crooner actually meant something) and what are your favorite songs they crooned? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I hit the road to dreamland, baby.