Well, dear readers, we had a very interesting rehearsal last night, running all the music in what was my first pass show order (I’ve done four or five alternates since then). The good news is the songs all feel good to me as do the singers who are doing them. As I listened, I knew immediately that more things were going to move around, and I think once we actually start run-throughs I’ll be switching things around a bit all during that part of the process. It’s a real balancing act in terms of pace, tone and when to do certain kinds of numbers. When one is making a revue where there never was a revue, it’s literally all trial and error – some staging works right off the bat, some doesn’t. Some doesn’t look well on the cast we have and so adjustments are made – everything, in an ideal atmosphere, is collaborative. The fact is, we’re a week into the process and obviously I am still finding out exactly what this show is and how it will play best. I think it was great for the cast to hear each other’s solos and duets and trios. I think the staging of all the solos and duets is probably fine, just as I think the group numbers are going to be simplified. The group numbers really only comprise less than a third of the show. Also, as I listened to everything I began to feel that perhaps doing this particular evening in one act will be the best way to go and that’s the way I’ll proceed for now. But the hard part, the choosing of the songs and finding the right balance between up and ballads and fun and serious, seems to be fine. So, onward we go.
Prior to the rehearsal, I’d gotten a little over eight hours of sleep, but not all at once, at which point I greeted the day by saying, “Hello, day.” The day, of course, didn’t answer me – it’s always that way with the day – you say nice things to the day, you greet the day and the day remains moot, moot I tell you. Then I did the usual morning stuff, then went and had a cup of chicken soup and a ham and Swiss and no fries or onion rings. After that, I picked up one package, then came home. I wrote the blurb for next Monday’s release and got it and the audio samples to the web guy. I still have to prep the eBlast and then that will all be ready to go.
I then did more work on the computer, had a few telephonic conversations, and then it was time to be on my way to the theater. I left a little later than I’ve been leaving, around four-fifteen, and I decided to take Beverly Glen to see if it was okay at that time, and other than one little jam-up it was pretty good, so I think that will become my default route from now on. I got to the theater around five-fifteen and I walked over to Lemonade and had a quite good and small chocolate peanut butter bar. I sat there for an hour and made different show orders, decided on a few transitional things and then I walked back to the theater and rehearsal began.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after at least eight hours of sleep, but hopefully even more. Then I’ll have to eat something, hopefully pick up some packages, jog if there’s time, which I doubt, and then we have our second Kritzerland rehearsal. After that’s through, then I go directly to the theater for our evening show rehearsal – until I get there the cast will learn the finale and drill the group numbers. Once I get there, I’ll have a chat with the cast and then restage a few things.
Tomorrow is Halloween and a day off, sorta kinda. I still have to write liner notes, and I’ll keep working on the ideal show order, but basically I can relax and give out a LOT of candy to our trick-or-treaters. Friday, it’s back to work – we have a brief session with Brent Barrett and then we have our show rehearsal, at which point I will start assembling the show in whichever order feels best to me. Saturday is our stumble-through – Kay Cole will be at the theater doing the tap number. Saturday night I’m taking Jenna Lea Rosen for a birthday dinner at The Smoke House. Sunday, Lloyd Cooper will work part of the day with our cast at the theater, just drilling music, and we have our sound check, matinee and then our evening show. I will, of course, have a full report. Then we begin rough run-throughs of the show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, have the second Kritzerland rehearsal and then have the show rehearsal. 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, after which I shall greet the day by saying, “Hello, day.”