Well, dear readers, we had an absolutely splendidly splendid Kritzerland at the Gardenia anniversary show last night. For me, it was one of the most fun evenings we’ve had there – of course, that’s easy when you’re doing incredible songs by Frank Loesser. We were packed – every table filled and about fifteen people at the bar. I began as I always do, welcoming everyone and telling a little bit about how I discovered the music of Frank Loesser, talking about Liz Callaway’s Loesser CD and telling everyone it was our one-year anniversary show. Just before we’d begun my cousin Dee Dee reminded me that it was also my wedding anniversary or would have been if I were still married. So, I added that to my introductory remarks and it was good for a few fun laughs. The shocking thing is had I stayed married last night would have been my forty-third anniversary. In any case, it was an evening of highlights and the entire cast was great – Melody Hollis, Kim Huber, Kelsey Scott, Alet Taylor, and Laura Wolfe (aka The Singer), plus guest star Ruth Williamson and an appearance by Lucy Taylor, Alet’s daughter. This was the first show where we let Melody be a regular cast member, and she was just fantastic and killed with her manic Hamlet – since we started working together I have watched her allow me to take her into more adult and less kid performer territory and it is so magical to watch her go there. Her final number, More I Cannot Wish You was so genuine and sweet and real – just a simple, heartfelt, performance that any adult would kill to give. Ruth stopped the show with Ooh, My Feet, but, as I said, there were many highlights throughout from all concerned. The patter went over very nicely, too. I was a little worried about telling a longish story about The Most Happy Fella and meeting Robert Weede – a story I’ve written several times online but never told out loud, but it turned out to be, for me, just the right thing to do. Because it’s a very emotional story, I kind of got choked up by the end of it, and I noticed one gal sitting at a nearby table who was wiping tears away.
In the audience was ASCAP’s Michael Kerker, Cabaret Scenes’ Les Traub, the LA Festival of New Musical’s Marcia Seligson, and other terrific folks. But our audiences are all terrific – I brought two boxes of CDs and all attendees tonight got a free CD. Kerker was bowled over by Melody and our other performers. After the show, a few of us went to Jerry’s Deli to unwind.
Prior to the show, I’d had an okay day. I got a great night’s sleep, my editor picked up our hard drive, I did the four-mile jog, I picked up one of the errant and truant packages but no debit card arrived – it’s now been over a week since it was sent – thank you USPS – the most inept service on earth. I put gas in the motor car and then the motor car got a needed bath. I answered e-mails, had telephonic calls and then it was time to go to sound check. After that, we went to Pomodoro, where I had a teeny-tiny Caesar salad. At the Gardenia I only had prosciutto and melon, and then I had a sandwich at Jerry’s.
Now it’s on to the October show. Thinking ahead, if I can pull it together, November’s show will be a celebration of the Nudie Musical blu-ray release and an evening of mine own songs. I’ve never done anything like that, but I think it might just be fun.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s almost two in the morning and I must get some sort of beauty sleep.
Today, I must do the four-mile jog before it gets too hot (yesterday was 108 degrees), I must do errands and whatnot, I must hopefully pick up a few packages and, most importantly, a new debit card, and then I shall be on my way to see the rough cuts of the two New York, New York episodes of the web series. Can’t wait to see that. Then I’ll eat something, and then I have to watch a couple of motion pictures.
Tomorrow, I have a work session for the October Gardenia show with Alet and John Boswell, I have tons of other stuff, and then a conference call with Miss Cindy Williams. The weekend has suddenly filled up, too, with various and sundried things.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, hopefully pick up packages and debit card, see rough cuts, eat, and watch motion pictures. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite Frank Loesser songs? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland after a wonderfully wonderful anniversary.