Well, dear readers, all three STAGE benefit shows are at the mastering engineers and will hopefully go off to the pressing plant on Wednesday. I should be able to listen to the first two today. We made some very small fixes to the third, as well as shuffling a lot of the order, which really helped immeasurably. Director David Galligan was very generous and open-minded about suggestions regarding the shuffling. The biggest change we made to the Andrew Lloyd Webber order was swapping out the beginnings of each act – act one now opens with Jesus Christ, Superstar selections that used to open act two. And act two opens with Joseph selections that used to open act one. We all felt that the listening experience, especially in terms of sound and leading with one’s best foot, was better with that switch. And we moved what originally ended the show to an earlier slot in act two – while it may have been very effective dramatically in the theatre, it didn’t work as a listening experience to have it at the end. Thank goodness we’re done and we can only hope that everything is finished in time to have them available for sale at the April 28th concert. I’ve told everyone, from mastering to printing to pressing that there is absolutely no wiggle room in this release. Meantime, we’ll announce them either Wednesday or Thursday – for those that want all three (two 2 CD sets and one 1 CD), there will be a special discounted price for the set.
Prior to that, I was up too early again, did work on the computer, mostly having to do with the STAGE releases, then I went and had a salad and a bagel for my meal o’ the day. Whilst there, I got David Galligan’s notes, and then I came back home, had a brief visit with someone, and then went and picked up a couple of packages. Then I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish, to watch the second Wallander movie. Before I could even hit “play” I was asleep. I think I was out for about forty-five minutes. Then I watched the second Wallander movie, which was every bit as good and even a bit better than the first. The plotting was very good (the first movie was the only one in the first eight episodes that was actually based on one of the Wallander novels – the rest are original plots suggested by the author of the books, Henning Mankell. Everything about the Swedish series is top-notch – great actors, good direction, good scripts, and atmospheric camerawork. Miles ahead of anything I’ve seen here that’s similar. I am interested to see one of the BBC versions with Kenneth Branagh. Have any dear readers seen these, and, if so, what did you think? The Branagh versions are all taken from the books.
After that, I went to do the fixes, and after that I stopped at Gelson’s and got a couple of roasted chicken breasts to nosh on – those are very filling and not high in calories. I really have to get back into the jogging mode soon, though.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really need a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall do errands and whatnot, write liner notes, do a Costco run, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and then in the evening I’m seeing a reading of a new musical right here in the City of Studio, only about five minutes from here.
Tomorrow, lots to do, Thursday I’m doing a long drive to see a new musical called Hello, My Baby – I’m supping before with its author. Friday is a Melody rehearsal, Saturday is a Melody rehearsal and then opening night of Forbidden Broadway at Musical Theatre West, and Sunday is something or other – hope I remember in time.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, write, do a Costco run, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and see a reading of a new musical. Today’s topic of discussion: Which of your favorite TV series do you think would work if they brought it back? Why do you think it would work and who of today’s actors would you cast? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that the three STAGE recordings have been put to bed, just like I shall be momentarily – sleeping peacefully, dreaming sweet dreams, and arising refreshed as all get out, and I think we all know how refreshed all get out is.