Well, dear readers, I had an absolute blast at the Drama Book Shop signing. We ended up with about twenty or so people – several folks who said they were definitely coming definitely didn’t, but what else is new? I arrived at four-thirty and rehearsed with Lanny Meyers – Guy Haines was a no-show so I was recruited to fill in for him. Then the attendees came downstairs and we began. I won’t remember everyone who was there, but we had our very own Lanny, Larry Moore, dear reader ChasSmith, long-ago dear reader Rodzinski, sometimes dear reader Julie (looking really great, I have to say and just did), occasional dear reader Noel, with his absolutely beautiful and adorable little girl, Adelaide, who everyone instantly fell in love with, film composer Dana Kaproff, Peter Filichia, our very own Mr. Kevin Spirtas, dear reader FJL, Milla Ilieva, dear reader and newlywed Ben, producer Ed Gaynes, the East Coast Singer’s publicist, Mona, and several others, including two really nice ladies who I didn’t know at all.
I began by reading four short sections from the book, the final excerpt the story about asking Harvey Schmidt to write a bridge to Evening Star. Then I sang that song. After that, we did a Q&A, with really interesting questions – that’s actually my favorite part of these things and that part actually went on for over an hour and they finally had to come get us to do the actual signing part upstairs. It was wonderful to see everyone and I just had way too much fun.
After that, several of us went over to Joe Allen – we actually arrived thirty minutes before their crowded dinner time was over, but they got us right in. It was elmore, ChasSmith, Julie, FJL, Ben, and me. It was great to finally meet ChasSmith who is as delightful in person as he is on our discussion board. It’s always fun to see Ben and elmore, FJL, and Julie. I had a small Caesar salad and rigatoni with meat sauce, a new dish for Joe Allen. For dessert I had my usual pear and blueberry cobbler. We didn’t really see anyone we knew, save for cabaret director Barry Kleinbort. We were there quite a long time, and the conversation was wild and wacky and we laughed and laughed and just when we thought we could laugh no more, we laughed again. And ChasSmith learned the meaning of E&T.
Ben left first, and soon thereafter the East Coast Singer and Lanny Meyers arrived, fresh from rehearsal, which I’m told went well. All in all, a fantabulous time was had by the likes of me.
Prior to that, I’d woken up at about 9:45 but fell back asleep until eleven. Then I did my morning ablutions, after which I walked down to 18th Street to visit Academy Records. I bought three cheap CDs I didn’t have, all soundtracks. I was saddened to see that Skyline Books, which was located right across the street from Academy Records, was gone. Then I came back to the hotel, answered e-mails, and then shaved and showered and got ready for the signing. The weather, if you must know, was stunning. It was funny, but walking the two miles to Academy and back I realized doing that kind of walk in LA is just something that wouldn’t be interesting at all, but in NY it’s just so much fun and so easy.
I spoke to the helper and all is well in LA and at the home environment. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get as much beauty sleep as possible as rehearsal is much earlier than I thought it would be.
Today, I shall be up by eight-thirty and to the rehearsal studio by ten. We’ll then work three or four hours – I think four will be the ticket, frankly. Then I’m hoping we can grab a bite to eat somewhere nearby, then I’ll come back to the hotel and do some work. We’re now fully cast for the Kritzerland show, so I’ll assign songs and maybe send the sheet music (which I have on this laptop) to the singers. Then I’ll be seeing The Best Man, which I’m really looking forward to, and then I’ll probably end up at Joe Allen for a snack.
Tomorrow, we rehearse at eleven, then I’m being taken to a Father’s Day dinner by the East Coast Singer, then we’ll do a sound check, then at nine-thirty it’s show time. I know several dear readers will be in attendance, so that will be fun. Then the following morning I’ll be whisked to the airport and then shall be on my way back to LA.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, rehearse, eat, do some work, see a show, and then have a Joe Allen visit. Today’s topic of discussion: Because dear reader ChasSmith was interested and because we like to do this one every six months or so – how did you first find haineshisway.com? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after this wonderful, wonderful day.