Well, dear readers, the first Kritzerland rehearsal was fun and I think the show is really going to be excellent. It was a very long day for musical director Lloyd Cooper and I. We began at one with Jenna Rosen, who’s doing my arrangement of Beautiful City/Day by Day that opened The Stephen Schwartz Album. It’s perfect for her and she already has it down and we’re just finessing the performance. After that, Lloyd and I went and had lunch and then we came back and next up was Karen Morrow. I adore this woman so much and she’s going to blow the roof off the place with No Time at All. It’s an unbelievable treat to have her in the show. Then came Kim Huber, who ran her three songs: My arrangement of With You/Gifts of Love, It’s an Art, and Meadowlark. She sounds great and is already comfy with all three songs (she did Meadowlark for me at my Menken/Schwartz benefit a few years ago). Then it was another break, at which point I went and picked up some packages, and then we finally went straight through. Then came Lisa Livesay, who’s become one of my favorite people and singers. She ran her three songs: West End Avenue, I’m Not That Girl, and Popular (she played Glinda in one of the national tours of Wicked) – I also showed her her upcoming episode of Outside the Box, which she really enjoyed. The Staitman gals were next and were very prepared. I made a bunch of little adjustments to their patter and it’s going to be really fun – they’re doing All For the Best. After that, it was Dennis Kyle – he ran his Corner of the Sky, Style, and then Dan Callaway came and they ran their duet – For Good (I thought it would be fun for two men to do the song). Then Dan ran his one solo, Fathers and Sons. Then Lexi Lawson arrived and she and Dan ran their duet, In Whatever Time We Have. Dan left, and Lexi ran her two solos, The Wizard and I and Lion Tamer. So, the only one who wasn’t with us for the first rehearsal was Adrian Zmed, but he’s doing a song he performed in Children of Eden, so there’s no worry there.
Prior to rehearsal, I’d had most of the morning taken up with the printer problems. I talked to a Hewlett Packard tech support fellow in the Philippines. We trouble shot, but after about forty minutes it was clear to both of us that something was very wrong and his supposition was that the print heads were done. Since my extended warranty was up five months ago, it was cheaper to just get a new one. The new version of what I have is really neat (I looked at it yesterday at Staples). Buying direct was about seventy bucks cheaper, an extended three-year warranty cost only nineteen bucks and no tax and free overnight shipping sealed the deal. The two people I dealt with were very nice indeed. The first fellow said he will call me this afternoon to talk me through the set-up, although he said it’s much simpler than it used to be.
After the long rehearsal, I went to Gelson’s and got a little chicken noodle soup and a couple of turkey meatballs from their deli counter – not many calories in either. For lunch I had a patty melt (the best one yet), but no fries or onion rings. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the ninety-minute Downton Abbey final thing for season three. It was very good and I shan’t say anything more about it. I will be very interested to discuss it once everyone has seen it. I have to say, the quality of the US Blu and Ray is much better than its UK counterpart, which I find very odd.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall proof (I did manage to proof one chapter yesterday), have a lunch with our very own Jason Graae, then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then I’ll proof at least four chapters, which should put me halfway through the book. After that, I’ll definitely watch a motion picture.
Tomorrow, I’ll hopefully get a haircut from Teddy. Then it’s more proofing. Friday is our second Kritzerland rehearsal, Saturday not sure what’s happening, Sunday is our stumble-through and if we’re done in time I may try to go to opening night at the Pasadena Playhouse, to which I’ve been invited. Monday is sound check and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, proof, have a lunch with Jason Graae, hopefully pick up some packages, proof, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that we had a lovely first rehearsal .