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February 17, 2011:

HOMEWARD BOUND

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, these will have to be short and sweet notes because in a mere four hours I must be up and homeward bound. Please send most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure and on-time flight to Houston and then to LA, with excellent weather everywhere. So, let me just jump right in and say that the Linda and Gregory shows both went extremely well. We got to the theater at one – a beautiful space for the cabaret performers, next to a huge theater where touring shows and symphony and ballet programs happen (the Miami Ballet was on last night). We ran down the show – our musical director, Ron Abel, was seeing all this music for the first time, so things took a bit of adjusting. We got the stage set for what was going to work for Linda’s comfort. And then we ran down the show, stopping and starting. I gave some suggestions for movement and a few little performance notes and that was that. They brought in some food for us, and then it was show time. Both houses were completely sold out – an older audience, but very appreciative. Show one went really well considering it was our first time through the show ever – we’ve never had a run-through even. The patter got lots of laughs and the song selection and the structure of the show is very strong. Both Linda and Gregory were engaging and fun and in strong voice and the audience ate them up. We clocked in at an hour and twenty minutes, which was five minutes too long for my taste. Between shows, I gave only a handful of notes, mostly to do with the opening two numbers – I felt they just needed to have more fun with them. And that they could pick up the pace of all the patter.

Show two started off wonderfully – the opening two numbers were so much more fun with them letting loose a little. The audience was completely with them – the entrance was Gregory carrying Linda on and placing her on the stool, and the audience was right there and clapping from the get-go and also the go-get. The audience for the second show wasn’t quite as vocal but they enjoyed the show just as much and the entire second show was smoother and flowed better and, best of all, was five minutes shorter and it’s amazing how those five minutes really tightened everything up. So, for this incarnation it was pretty terrific. It will be really fun to get some more bookings and do the staged version with a few rehearsals under the belt. I think we’ve built a strong show and audiences just love Linda and Gregory. It was all grand fun.

One lovely thing was meeting the head of the Miami Ballet, the great Edward Vilella. And we were able to watch a little of a Jerome Robbins ballet from the wings between shows – that was really fun.

After the second show, Linda went back to the hotel, and Gregory, Ron, and I went to Chili’s (the only place open) and got pulled pork sandwiches, which were yummilicious. I’ll have more details in tomorrow’s notes.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must try to get at least my four hours of beauty sleep before I’m homeward bound.

Today, I shall be homeward bound, first to Houston and then on to LA. I have some stuff to catch up on but mostly I will try to relax and even get some sleep. Then I’ll have to get to bed by nine or ten because we have to ship twenty-five boxes of CDs tomorrow morning. But the weekend is mine all mine.

Next week we have rehearsals, I have to write a contextual commentary, I have to prep and announce a new release, so a very busy week ahead.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get up early and be homeward bound – don’t forget most excellent vibes and xylophones for a safe, secure, on-time flight with excellent weather everywhere. Today’s topic of discussion: You decide. I’m hitting the road to dreamland.

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