Well, dear readers, I am finally back home after the sixth Kritzerland at the Gardenia show and then a light meal afterwards. All I can say is, what a show, what an evening, and what a crowd. For the first time in my long history with the Gardenia, people had to be turned away – there was simply no more room. You could just feel the good energy in the room – I knew it the minute I got up to introduce the show. There were lots of laughs, and all the patter landed really well. Then we were off and running and the cast did a fantastically fantastic job and the songs were just so fun and tuneful. Doing the set-ups was the freest I’ve been so far, and there were some really nice stories I could tell. Richard Sherman got up halfway through the show and told a wonderful story about Feed The Birds and how it was Walt Disney’s favorite song and how he made the boys play and sing it every Friday. Then he sang the song, and after he got a lovelier than lovely standing ovation. Then on we went and when I brought the cast up for their final bow and we did a two-chorus sing-a-long of It’s A Small World, we got the second standing ovation of the evening, something that is very rare at the Gardenia. David Burnham made hearts swoon and was breathtaking. Kim Huber has just become one of my favorite people and singers, and she was wonderful. Seventeen-year-old Ben Platt did a great job – very self-assured and a beautiful voice, but then he comes from very good stock – his father produced Wicked. Juliana was completely delightful on her numbers, as she always is. Twelve-year-old Melody Hollis brought the house down with her Shermanized Word Medley. She’s just totally adorable. And Alet Taylor continues to knock my socks off – she was one of the main reasons I began doing this series, because I wanted her to do all the shows so people could see month in and month out the depth of her talent, which is limitless. I’m sad she’ll be missing the March show, but she’ll be in tech for a show she’s doing and I don’t want her to split her focus, which should belong to that show. So, she’ll be back with us in April. The jernt was literally jam-packed. Lots of wonderful people in attendance, including Dick Sherman’s son and Dick’s beautiful wife, Elizabeth. There was a whole table of ten Disney folks, too. All in all, an evening that really could not have gone better. We teased our next show, Unsung Irving Berlin, and hopefully that will be just as crowded and just as good.
Prior to that, I’d had a relaxing day, doing just a few errands and whatnot, and then doing the sound check.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I have to be up just a few hours from now to ship a LOT of CDs out, then have a quick early lunch, and then have a four-hour rehearsal with Linda Purl and Gregory Harrison. I am having too much FUN.
Today, as noted, I’ll be up very early, will ship CDs, have an early lunch or late breakfast, have a rehearsal, and then relax as much as I can.
Tomorrow is another rehearsal, and so is Saturday, and I’m attending the book fair as well, and having dinner with some book dealer pals. Sunday I’m working with Melody Hollis.
Why don’t we all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, why don’t we break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, why don’t we dance the Hora or the Charleston, because today is the actual birthday of our very own beloved dear reader Edisaurus. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own beloved dear reader Edisaurus. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN BELOVED DEAR READER EDISAURUS!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, ship CDs, lunch, rehearse, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite sayings, bromides, and such? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, thankful that we had such a wonderfully wonderful show.