Well, dear readers, Kritzerland at Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal 39 was a resounding success – both matinee and evening shows. I’m happy to say my voice held up really well, thanks to a friend providing me with a Prednisone pill, which really does work like a miracle. Beginning with the afternoon, we had a really great audience – a little over sixty people and really responsive. Of the two shows, the matinee was the one that went off with nary a flub, which is a rare occurrence for us. The cast – Brent Barrett, Kim Huber, Damon Kirsche, Jane Noseworthy and Jenna Lea Rosen, along with Sami Staitman (Susan Egan wasn’t with us for the matinee) – did a great job. Many ovations throughout the show, and the patter went over like gangbusters, with some pretty huge laughs. All week I’ve been alluding to another performer that I couldn’t really tell you about – that’s because it was a surprise we didn’t want spoiled in any way. We began setting it up two shows ago – a cute nine-year-old attended the last two shows with her dad and we made sure that everyone saw her there. Then, as I was telling my amusing story about me and The Parent Trap (those who’ve read Kritzer Time know whereof I’m speaking), at the end of it I did my standard bit: “Guy Haines was going to be here tonight to sing Let’s Get Together, but he mistakenly went to Rockwell Table and Stage (another LA club) and is singing Let’s Get Together – in a Sondheim show.” While that was getting its laugh, I went on to say, “So, I hope you don’t mind if I sing it for you tonight.” As I said that, this adorable nine-year-old came up to the stage from the audience. I noticed her there, and then this duologue happened.
BK: Hi.
Hadley: Hi.
BK: Can I help you?
Hadley: Mr. Kimmel, I just wanted you to know I’ve seen a bunch of your Kritzerland shows and I love them.
BK: Wait a minute – if you’re giving compliments let me get you a microphone. (gets her a mic) – now, say that again.
Hadley: Mr. Kimmel, I just wanted you to know I’ve seen a bunch of your Kritzerland shows and I love them. And I’d love to sing in one of them.
BK: Oh, that’s very sweet. Well, we’re kind of in the middle of a show right now, but why don’t you have your dad or mom find me after the show and we’ll set up an audition. How’s that?
Hadley: That’s great. But, you know, Let’s Get Together is one of my favorite songs – I know it by heart and I could sing it.
BK: Well, we’re really kind of a rehearsed show – we don’t really do off the cuff things like that.
Hadley: I know, you have to read from the paper.
BK: You really know the song by heart? All the words?
Hadley: Yes, I do.
BK: You’re sure?
Hadley: Oh, yes.
BK: And you want to sing it with me?
Hadley: Well, I wanted to sing it with Guy Haines but he never shows up.
BK: Well, I don’t know. We’ve never done anything like this. It makes me a little nervous. So, we’d do it together as a duet?
Hadley: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
BK: And you’re absolutely sure you know all the words?
Hadley: Hit it, Tom!
At which point she launched into the first verse of Let’s Get Together, never letting me actually join in. Now, Hadley Miller is a rather amazing nine-year-old and she just belted out the song like nobody’s business. After she finished the first verse, I looked at her and said: “Duet!” Then as I began the second verse I put my hand over her mouth. This all got huge laughs. Then for the bridge and third verse we sang together and did choreography and that got huge laughs. The applause at the end was amazing, and then I finally introduced her to the audience, who just ate her up. It was really hard not to include her in any of the advertising, but the secrecy paid off in spades and she’ll be back with us for the Christmas show. I’m told there may just be a video I can post. The other kids, Jenna and Sami, were equally amazing, with Sami landing the Shermanized Word Medley wonderfully and Jenna landing all three of her numbers brilliantly. The last of them, Suddenly It Happens, got unbelievable cheers. Brent was mesmerizing and great, Kim is always great, Jane Noseworthy’s voice was so beautiful you’d never have known how badly she’s been ailing, and Damon Kirsche was terrific.
The second show, while not flub-free, was equally as good, with big laughs, great ovations for the songs, and just a wonderfully receptive audience, packed to the rafters. The Hadley bit went even better in the evening show. And Richard Sherman doing The Chimpanzoo (for which he’d written a brand new verse just before coming to the club) was priceless. All in all, I could not have been happier. We had wonderful people in attendance for both shows – at the evening show we had Patricia Ward Kelly, who was married to someone named Gene Kelly, and we had a whole slew of Disney people there. Sandy Bainum and Lanny Meyers were with us, too, and our very own VinTek, and Tom Hatten, who’s become a bit of a regular, was also there. At the matinee, it was lovely to have our very own Mr. Nick Redman and his ever-lovin’ Julie Kirgo with us. And at both shows we had our wonderful dear reader KevinH, who’d flown in especially for the shows. Here are some photographs. First up is me and Richard Sherman.
Next we have our full cast (without Hadley) – that’s left to right – Jane Noseworthy, Kim Huber, Sami Staitman, Damon Kirsche, Jenna Lea Rosen, me, Richard Sherman, Susan Egan, Tom Griep, Brent Barrett and Adryan Russ.
And here’s a photo with little Hadley (on the left – the girl on the right is named Jaden and she just got back to LA from having been in the revival of Annie – she and Hadley did The Sound of Music together).
Finally, here’s Brent, Damon and Mr. Sherman, me and MD Tom Griep. I may have some video to share at some point soon.
After the show a few of us went to Little Toni’s so I could finally eat a meal. Prior to all that, I’d happily gotten nine hours of sleep, which I desperately needed, and I did do a three-mile jog and fifty sit-ups.
Today, I must be up at six to announce our new title, which is two great scores on one great CD – a classic Jerry Lewis double bill of Visit to a Small Planet, music by the great Leigh Harline, and The Delicate Delinquent, with a terrific score by my pal Buddy Bregman. Here are the covers.
After that, I’ll try to get some more sleep, and then at noon Sandy and Lanny come to rehearse and then we’ll probably grab a bite to eat. Hopefully I’ll pick up some packages. Then at five I’ll mosey on over to the theater for an assembly/run-through of the two-act version of our show. I’ll see the tap number that Kay Cole did on Saturday, which I can’t wait to see.
The rest of the week is all variations on that theme – tomorrow we shoot some video of Sandy, and then we rehearse on the rest of the mornings and I have show rehearsals each night.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, announce a new title, rehearse, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, rehearse and come home. Today’s topic of discussion: Nightmare casting for the haineshisway.com revival of Carousel. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, thrilled with Kritzerland 39.