Well, dear readers, I’m happy to say that the twenty-fourth Kritzerland at Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal was a great show, truly one of our best. It’s hard to miss with one great Bacharach song after another, and especially hard to miss when you have such a superb cast doing them – and just to give a call out to each and every one of them again, that’s Danny Gurwin, Kim Huber, Dennis Kyle, Lisa Livesay, Jane Noseworthy and Daisy Eagan, each stellar. This show’s newcomers, Danny and Lisa, were both incredible and both can come back whenever they choose – Lisa will, in fact, be back in September for our two-year anniversary show. We had a jam-packed crowd, our second biggest since we’ve been at The Federal, with lots of great folks in attendance, including Michael Kerker of ASCAP, Ilene Graff and her ever-lovin’ Ben Lanzarone (their daughter Nikka was in the Psycho episode of Outside the Box) and Illona Simon-Muller – she and Ilene were both pit singers in the original Promises, Promises, the Wechters, my pal Kay Cole and her ever-lovin’ Michael Lamont, our usuals, Adryan Russ (the co-producer of our shows) and Doug Haverty, the Staitman family sans daughter Sarah, who was out of town – it’s the first time I’ve met the dad and he’s just a great guy and it was great to see Sami again, back from summer camp. She’ll be doing episode one of season two of Outside the Box. Who else? Cousin Alan and Dee Dee and Dee Dee’s wonderful mom, Paula, Juliana Hansen, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some folks. Also in attendance, my old pal Becky Logan – for those who’ve read There’s Mel, she’s in the book in the section about 1974. Also, my pal M’Lisa MacLaren and her ever-lovin’ Kevin, Joanna Erdos and Anna Raner (Anna was in my musical version of The Comedy of Errors way back when) and many, many other terrific folks. The audience reaction to everything was great – songs, patter, all of it. And now, on to our two-year anniversary show.
After the show, a few of us went downstairs so I could have some dinner. That was fun. And then I came home to an e-mail from my close personal friend, Mr. Stephen Sondheim, who finally got around to listening to the new mix of Follies. The gist of it was, he thought it was a miracle and was knocked out by it. Needless to say, that made me very happy indeed.
Prior to all that, I’d awakened at seven-fifteen, stayed in bed, and fell back asleep at about eight-thirty and then slept until eleven-thirty. Then I got up, answered e-mail and then did a two-mile jog. I then did some writing, got ready, and then it was off to sound check.
Basically it was an incredible day and evening and I’m kind of on Clouds Nine, Ten, and Eleven. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get a good night’s beauty sleep and I must announce our three new Kritzerland items as soon as I post these here notes.
Today, I shall hopefully print out orders, I shall jog, I shall finish two sets of liner notes, I shall continue choosing songs for the Kritzerland anniversary show, I must continue on my Daily Grill Diet, and I must relax at some point.
Tomorrow I have a work session with Juliana Hansen, then I have lots of stuff to do, and the rest of the week is filled with meetings, meals, and lots of work.
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 and the Irish jig, for today is the birthday of occasional dear reader, td. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com cheer to occasional dear reader, td!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, print orders, do a jog, finish liner notes, choose songs, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite fried foods? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, basking in the wonderful glow of last evening.