Well, dear readers, Kritzerland at the Gardenia 12 – The Schmidt and Jones Album went wonderfully well, I thought. Actually, it was up there with our best – just great songs, wonderful singers and the stories, because they were so personal for this show, went over very well and were fun to tell. Normally, the house lights go down and I get up and welcome everyone – but for this show we began with John Boswell playing the overture to The Fantasticks, which went over like gangbusters. Then I introduced the evening and we were off and running. Everyone did really well – a couple of lyric flubs that were handled very well and were barely noticeable. We ended up with quite a nice crowd – over forty, which is pretty full for the Gardenia. There were several show-stopping moments (in a good way), and I got to tell the story of how much Harvey loved “What is it, fish?” when I told him about Benjamin Kritzer, and how he used to call every few days and bellow it on the phone in his southern accent. I told the story, and then at several points throughout the show, I just did the line in Harvey’s voice and we finally did a What is it, fish-along with everyone saying it like Harvey. It was great. Will, Lauren, Michael, Michaelia, and Camille – all delivered the goods. And thirteen-year-old Melody Hollis was as good as she’s ever been, singing Postcards and getting quite the hand. Rex Smith did a wonderful job, too. And I was surprisingly calm when it came time for the long story about Evening Star. I then informed the audience that Guy Haines had texted me and was stuck at a tennis game and that I’d be singing the song. I thought it went very well and I got through it without any errors, so that made me happy. I haven’t sung in public since The Last Starfighter reading, I think, or maybe it was Druxy’s show. After the show, there were lots of compliments passed around, and then a few of us went over to Jerry’s Deli to unwind. All in all, a wonderful evening with some of my all-time favorite songs.
Prior to that, I’d finally managed to get just under ten hours of sleep, which really felt great. Then I got up, answered e-mails, had a telephonic message from the old helper who has now finally had her problems resolved, and I’m very happy for her. I may finally talk a little about it without giving any real details, because it’s an interesting story and really puts a light on how screwed up our justice system is occasionally. The Handy Man arrived and went to work on the back gate, which needed new hardware. Whilst he was doing that, I did the four-mile jog. Then I got home, the Handy Man finished his stuff, and then I did some errands and whatnot, picked up one little package and no mail, and found a small amount of time to relax. I also began filling out the endless Screen Actors Guild forms for our web series – no one gets paid, but it’s under the New Media contract – it should all be fine by the time we shoot on August 15. Then I got ready, after which I moseyed on over to the Gardenia for our sound check.
That went fine, and then a couple of us went over to Pomodoro, where I had a large Caesar Salad and no bread. Then it was back to the Gardenia, where I had some prosciutto and melon and no bread. Then it was show time and you know the rest.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I am exhausted and it is very late and I must get these here notes posted and get my beauty sleep.
Today, I shall arise, then I shall attend to a few things, after which we have a Melody rehearsal at Vitello’s for two hours. After that, I’ll hopefully pick up a package or two, and then come home, begin new liner notes, and finish filling out the SAG forms and get those e-mailed. We’re still not fully cast – don’t know why this is so hard, but I’m about to offer it to a gal I like and who I’m sure will do it. And the people who haven’t bothered to even respond? Well, I’m kind of done.
Tomorrow, I have a lot of stuff to catch up on, Saturday is busy and I’m seeing a show on Saturday night, Sunday is a Melody dress rehearsal with a small audience, and the following week will be a little insane.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, attend to a few things, have a rehearsal, pick up packages, and then write and hopefully relax. Today’s topic of discussion: If someone said you could go anywhere in the world next week, where would it be, and why would you want to go there? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland as we begin preparing our one year anniversary Kritzerland at the Gardenia show.