Well, dear readers, we had a wonderful Kritzerland at the Gardenia show last night – our ninth (hard to believe). I was told that we were very light reservation-wise, yet by the time the show began, the room was pretty full, so I was very happy with the turnout. The show went pretty smoothly, with a couple of fumfers from the musical director and a couple of forgotten lyrics (that’s happened on almost every show), but nothing horrendous and the cast handled it well, especially young Melissa Mitchell doing A Brand New World from Rags. We take it once through, then repeat back for the second verse, then a key change into the third verse. Unfortunately, at every rehearsal the MD didn’t observe the repeat and jumped right into the key change and verse three – I actually snapped at him yesterday about it and said to write it more blatantly if he had to and he assured me he had it down, but he did the same thing in the show and the poor girl was singing the second verse a half-step down from him playing the third verse, until he finally figured out he’d once again missed the repeat and he went back and they finally got together – she was a real trouper and just barreled through, but it couldn’t have been easy for her. Alet killed with You Can Be A New Yorker, Too – just huge laughs and a huge ovation. Jason killed too, with Applause. But everyone did fine and the audience ate up young Melody Hollis and her cohorts Paige Befeler and Jenna Rosen doing the Annie stuff, complete with choreography. The patter got some really nice laughs, too. Other highlights were Melissa Mitchell doing the opening number, Bye Bye Birdie/How Lovely To Be A Woman, Kevin Symons doing a put-together of Once Upon A Time and There’s Always One You Can’t Forget, Dan Callaway doing I Lost The Rhythm, and Shannon Warne doing Rags. Alet’s You’ve Got Possibilities (sung to hubby Andy Taylor) was really fun, too. So, despite a few bumps along the way, a really fun show.
In the audience were Brad Ellis (he’s on Glee now every week), Les Traub (from Cabaret West), and other nice folks, including our co-producer Adryan Russ. Afterwards, a couple of us went and grabbed a bite to eat, since all I’d had all day was a little soup and melon and prosciutto.
Prior to that, I’d gotten up early, done errands and whatnot, picked up one little package, did a three and a half mile jog (really hard), had a sound check, and done some work on the computer. It was also a day of deaths – Jackie Cooper, Marian Mercer, and we found out a former dear reader passed away last year, William E. Lurie.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s very late and I’m very tired and I very much need my beauty sleep.
Today, I hope to sleep in until ten, then I have errands and whatnot to do, a jog to do, hopefully I’ll pick up some packages, I have to book transportation to the airport, I have to write the blurb for our new release and get that prepped, I have to eat something light but amusing, and then I will hopefully get some relaxation in, which I really need. Also have to begin casting the next show, although I already know we have Alet and Andy Taylor.
Tomorrow, I have many things to attend to, and then a work session with John Boswell, and then a dinner. Saturday I will try to take it easy and I will pack and I will take care of all my trip details and work out the schedule with the person who’ll be watching my house while I’m gone.
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 dance the Hora or the Brain Tap, because today is the birthday of our very own dear reader George. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader George. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER GEORGE!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in, do a jog, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up packages, book transportation, write a blurb, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite fried foods and your favorite gravies? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland with Kritzerland at the Gardenia number nine under our belt.