Well, dear readers, we had perhaps the best second rehearsal ever yesterday. First rehearsals are usually the roughest, but this group was very prepared. Second rehearsals are smoother and that’s where I do whatever little directing I do, but it’s still usually somewhat rough. But yesterday’s was pretty much a pleasure from start to finish (well, ultimately they’re all pleasures in one way or another). The cast was completely prepared, Shelly Markham was on his game and because of all that, I was able to focus a couple of the arrangements even further and give some tiny cast notes – but mostly I just sat in my BK chair like so much fish and luxuriated in some rather delightful music and lyrics performed by some delightful people. We had to cut loose the ailing cast member, and our very own Robert Yacko stepped right up to the plate and came in pretty up on his two songs (the third song is being sung by Shelly). There are some wonderful highlights in this show, especially the duet with Barry and Jenna. I added some fun patter at the top the other day: Jenna has to now be called Jenna Lea (pronounced LEE) Rosen because there’s some other Jenna Rosen in SAG – so I had Barry say, Hello, Jenna Lea Rosen and then Jenna says Hello, Barry Lee Pearl and it goes on from there and leads right into I’d Do Anything. Now when I wrote that I just thought it would be funny to have Jenna put a “Lee” in Barry’s name. I had no idea that Barry’s middle name IS Lee. How funny is that? We also had Kerry O’Malley and she’s just amazing on As Long As He Needs Me, which is closing the show. It was just the most delightfully delightful afternoon and a real pick-me-up for my trying to get better self. Here’s a very cute photograph of Barry Lee Pearl and Jenna Lea Rosen doing their duet.
Prior to that, I’d have another rough night of sleep. My throat is no longer scratchy, but now I feel like I have to clear it all the time, which I’m trying not to do. Please keep sending your strongest excellent vibes and xylophones for a complete recovery over the next two days – I really need to be better by Saturday. I do feel if I can just get ten to twelve hours of damn sleep that that will help do wonders. I was up at eight-fifteen but stayed in bed until the doorbell rang at ten-thirty. It was too late to jog and eat so I opted for the eat. I had some chicken tenders, then picked up no packages.
Then it was rehearsal. After that I did a three-mile jog, then went to Gelson’s to get more ColdEEZ and Airborne, some melon balls, and some low-fat, low-calorie hot dogs and buns for today’s meal. Speaking of today, has anyone noticed that it’s July 4? It is – Independence Day. I wrote a song called Independence Day for The Brain From Planet X. Here it is, in honor of, you know, Independence Day.
Well, okay, that’s an odd Independence Day song, unless you’re part of an alien race. In any case, the only thing I watched last night was a long interview with Ronald Neame on the This Happy Breed Blu and Ray – the interview done just a couple of years ago with the then ninety-seven year old director. We should all be so charming and lucid at that ripe old age. His memories of working with Lean and Noel Coward are priceless and very entertaining. After that, I ate some melon balls and played on the computer.
Today I will hopefully arise feeling better and then I will do nothing but relax, save for uploading all the songs for our next Kritzerland show so I can begin getting them to the singers and musical director. I’ll probably begin part two of the busy work, but mostly I’ll relax, do a jog, and just watch some motion pictures.
Tomorrow I get a hair cut from Teddy at eleven, otherwise I’m doing nothing but relaxing. Saturday is our stumble-through and Sunday is sound check and show. Monday I’ll have a meeting with the East Coast Singer, who’ll be in town doing stuff for the new house she bought. The rest of the week will be wrapping up the last of the busy work and prepping a new release.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hopefully wake up feeling better, I must jog, I must upload songs, I must relax, I must eat, and I must watch some motion pictures and maybe even go outside and watch some fireworks. Today’s topic of discussion: What was your most memorable July 4 and what were the best fireworks you’ve ever seen? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall hopefully sleep well and arise feeling my oats. Yes, I’m taking some oats to bed with me because occasionally I like to feel them in the morning. Go know.