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October 6, 2011:

KRITZERLAND AT THE GARDENIA 14

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, last night we had Kritzerland at the Gardenia 14 – a very special show and unlike any we’ve done. Early on, I told Alet Taylor that I wanted to do A Broadway Love Story for one of our shows – a one-woman show, basically, based on the album I produced. I told her then that there was no one else I wanted to do that show but her. She was excited and petrified at the prospect. When we decided on the month the show would happen, I got her all the material really early. She began learning it, and about four weeks ago, we brought her and musical director John Boswell together. Even that very first, very rough go-through I knew Alet would hit this out of the park. We had several rehearsals during the month, I gave a few notes here and there, but mostly sat back and let her find the way to make the show hers completely, rather than just imitate the performance on the album. Her instincts are very strong, and all I did, once she began finding her way, was to encourage and edit. I’m very specific about my notes and Alet and I, after thirteen years of working together, have an easy shorthand, and she would always come into the next rehearsal with whatever minor things I’d mentioned addressed. At the stumble-through she was terrific and I only really had two minor things to say.

Last night she came on that stage and, to put it in the current lingo of the actor generation, she owned the show. She grabbed the audience and never let them go and they loved her. Prior to beginning the show, I did all my thank yous and teased the November show first – then I gave a short history about the creation of the album, a brief history of how Alet and I met, and then it was show time.

Each and every song was perfectly delivered. And, just as importantly, getting from song to song was perfect – that’s sometimes very hard, to act in the transitions, but she just did it beautifully. The audience laughed when they were supposed to, sat hushed when they were supposed to, were moved when they were supposed to be, and at the end she got a huge ovation. Part of the success of the album is that after eight months of slaving over the arrangements and how the songs would function thematically and as a whole dramatic vehicle, I knew we’d come up with an album that everyone everywhere could identify with – because everyone everywhere has been through the story being told in A Broadway Love Story – the details may be slightly different, but I’d venture to say that the emotions have all been felt by anyone who’s ever been in a relationship that has, for whatever reasons, not had a happy ending, even though the album ends positively – again, everyone at some point has known they had to learn some hard lessons about what doesn’t work for them, and then had to move on. The emotion in Alet’s voice, that incredible belt, and her supple head voice, just served the story so wonderfully. I don’t really know many people who are more talented than she is, and it has been my goal to spread the Alet word from the day I met her. She’s unique, one-of-a-kind and I love her and her talent and soul dearly. I also give a shout out to the brilliance that is John Boswell. And to Jenna Rosen, who did the You’re Just In Love duet and killed with it.

Of course, she’ll be joining us for the November Gardenia show, which is a scary show for me, but one I just feel like doing, and hopefully some people will actually show up for it – it’s a show in which we will celebrate the Blu and Ray 35th anniversary release of The First Nudie Musical – an evening we’re calling Kimmelsongs. We’ll be doing songs from most of my musicals, movies, and TV stuff. Guy Haines will be singing two songs, and Melody Hollis will be joining us again. I still have to cast one other gal and I’ve asked a guy to join us and hopefully his schedule will permit. As to the guest star, if Jason Graae is in town it will be him, if his schedule permits.

Prior to all that, I’d gotten up at six in the morning and announced the 100th Kritzerland CD – Elmer Bernstein’s masterpiece, Summer and Smoke. I then went back to bed for a couple of hours. I was very pleased with the orders and by the end of the evening it had almost reached Thelma & Louise numbers, meaning it is among the top titles in terms of orders placed at Kritzerland. In fact, if I’d done 1200 of this title it would be gone by today. It was raining most of the day, so doing the four-mile jog was out. It stopped at three, but it was too late by then – I would have been too rushed. We did the sound check, I had a Caesar salad at Pomodoro, then went back to the Gardenia for the show.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’m way overtired and must get a good night’s beauty sleep.

Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. I have a lot of errands and whatnot to do, writing to do, packages to pick up, and a four-mile jog to do, so that’s what I’ll be doing.

Tomorrow is more of the same and beginning to prep our next Kritzerland release by doing the edit road map and writing liner notes. I also have to prep the next shoot, which is coming up a week from today – thankfully, camera and sound are booked and confirmed. On Saturday, I’ll go to the Hollywood Show just to be supportive and to see Susan Buckner.

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 all dance the Hora or the Hora, because today is the birthday of recently returned dear reader JMK. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to recently returned dear reader JMK. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO RECENTLY RETURNED DEAR READER JMK!!!

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog (weather permitting), do errands and whatnot, write, prep, and eat something light but amusing. Today’s topic of discussion: What is your favorite BK-produced CD – not a reissue, but one of the original productions? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall dream happy thoughts of A Broadway Love Story and Alet Taylor’s triumph.

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