Well, dear readers, I could not have been happier with the 28th Kritzerland show. We were just about a full house with a wonderful and very friendly and effusive crowd. The evening began with the sneak preview of episode three of Outside the Box, season two. We got some pretty huge laughs and the whole thing played really well, never seemed long, and I really don’t have to change anything other than swapping out one more shot – I felt there was a problem the first few times I saw it in the set-up scene, but couldn’t put my finger on why it was bothering me until I saw it with an audience. Then I knew immediately. And funnily, it had to do with the “Big happy pants” line. When I say it, the editor was on a shot of Damon Kirsche, who is sitting at the table with Kevin Symons, who’s the actor I’m asking to do the new musical. So, being on the wrong actor, an actor who can’t actually hear Stephen Findle saying the line, kind of killed the laugh there, so we’ll either replace it with a two shot or a single on Kevin – very simple. Otherwise, there are just two tiny sound adjustments and we’re done. The first of the three musical numbers got howls of laughter, the kind I absolutely love.
Then we began the show proper. I love when the audience is completely on my wavelength, and they really were for all the patter, which was great. The cast was magnificent – everyone of them hit every song out of the ballpark and we weren’t even in a ballpark. The reaction to my song, which nobody knew was my song until after it was done, was especially heartening to me – laughs all the way through. Dan Callaway, Emma Degerstedt, Damon Kirsche, Lisa Livesay, and Jane Noseworthy – what a classy and superb bunch. Jenna Rosen stopped the show with Turkey Lurkey Time, and then I brought her back out to teach me how to do the famous Michael Bennett “Jingle bells” step. Of course I couldn’t do it, and that was a really fun moment, when I did the hand part and she did the legs part. And Bill Hayes was so charming and warm and the audience just ate him up. But the entire show was made up of nothing but highlights, all perfectly accompanied by Lloyd Cooper. We had some fun people in attendance: my pal David Wechter, the Staitman family, Jenna’s wonderful family, Barry Pearl and his ever-lovin’ Cindy, comic Johnny Dark, my engineer John and his girlfriend, Doug Haverty, Shelly Markham, our co-producer, Adryan Russ, our very own Amy and Mark (vintek was supposed to be there but was a no-show – we had a few no-shows, actually), Outside the Box production assistant, Amy, film score collectors Henry Stanny and Jeanne Jones, and I’m sure I’m forgetting others – just a wonderful crowd.
After the show, I chatted with all sorts of wonderful folks, and then a few of us went over to Little Toni’s for our usual after show meal. I had some pasta with butter and cheese and a couple of slices of pizza. Prior to all that, I’d gotten up after about nine hours of blessed sleep, and then just relaxed. I did do a two-mile jog, and did absolutely no work whatsoever. Then we did a video check and our sound check and then it was the show.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get some semblance of beauty sleep.
Today, I have to really catch up on things. This includes writing two sets of liner notes that must be done today (the other three are not that time sensitive), I have to now figure out the songs for our next show, which is Bock and Harnick – I’ve already chosen about eight for sure, so not that many to go. Then I have to gather up all that music. I also have to get all the tracks for our Thursday shoot into the laptop. I still have to find one actor for Thursday. It’s an easy thing to do so if I don’t find anyone till Wednesday, it’s all okay. I keep thinking there’s something happening tonight, but I haven’t a clew as to what it might be. Hopefully, if there IS something happening someone will let me know.
Tomorrow, I’ll go in the editing room and do our handful of fixes, and then I’ll attend a rehearsal for the one and only number that’s being choreographed for Thursday’s shoot. Wednesday we do one set-up scene (very different than anything we’ve done before – it should really be fun), Wednesday night I think Jason Graae is taking me out for an early birthday dinner, Thursday is our big shoot, with seven musical numbers to do, two of which are VERY short and easy. Then Friday, we do the second set-up scene, and that will complete the Outside the Box season two episodes and I can start figuring out season three. Friday night I have some concert to go to, and Saturday is, of course, a birthday day for the likes of me.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, maybe jog again, write, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, choose songs and gather music, get tracks onto the laptop, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the most ridiculous fad or clothing trend you’ve ever done? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall bask in the glory of Kritzerland 28 and how wonderful and blessed I am to work with such great singers and musical directors.