Well, dear readers, for two decades I have wanted to direct a production of Li’l Abner. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, for two decades I have wanted to direct a production of Li’l Abner. I got serious about it around in the early 2000s. I suggested it to a musical theatre company with the idea that I direct it. They didn’t do it. I suggested it every year to my friend who’s a member. They didn’t do it. And then, miracle of miracles they did do it. Without me. And by all accounts it was not one of their great successes. Of course, everyone blames the show itself when something doesn’t work, but Li’l Abner has no real problems as long as the people doing it get the jokes and the story. Then I tried to get another musical theatre company to do it. At that time, their musical director was someone I knew very well, and he went in there and pitched it on my behalf. And a year later, miracle of miracles, they did it. Without me. Some people liked it, some didn’t – I, of course, didn’t see it for obvious reasons. Every time I pitched the show I would tell the powers that be that I had a really fun and unique way to do it – but alas, they won’t ever go outside their own incestuous little group of people. Earlier this year, I pitched it to a local theater, a full Equity house, and the person there really liked the idea and wanted to make it happen. He loved my concept. But the theater was struggling, but suddenly received money to keep going. But not with Li’l Abner – too big. But maybe in 2014. Alas, the gentleman who was behind me and the show left the theater. That theater has had the same person in charge for way too many years to count and I knew that without this fellow in there pushing there was no way it would ever happen. Then back in July I’d gotten a call from LACC because we’ve been discussing my coming back there to direct a musical. I immediately pitched Li’l Abner, but they kind of felt that my musical Stages, which I’d written for the fiftieth anniversary of the department, would be better for them. I gave it a lot of thought and agreed to do it, IF Li’l Abner wasn’t going to fly – but I made it clear that my preference was for the latter, as I felt Stages was tied to the decade in which it was written and I felt that updating it would be a chore and to leave it as is would be quaint. And then I went to work on Pure Imagination.
Yesterday, I awoke to an e-mail from the head of the department saying we were a go in terms of my coming in to direct a show, and that they’d green-lit Li’l Abner. To say I was over the moon would be an understatement. I was, in fact, indescribably happy. They are fine with me bringing in two or three pros – it’s a large cast and there will be plenty for everyone to do and it will use a lot of their talent pool. I immediately told Kay Cole, who knew it was a possibility – we do love working together and there’s some kind of alchemy when we do, and she’s thrilled to be doing the choreography. I then talked to Lloyd Cooper about musical directing it – he has to check his schedule, but I’m really hoping it can work out because doing Pure Imagination with him has just been such a treat. I have some ideas as to who I would bring in, but it’s too early to talk about that yet. Meanwhile, the first thing we have to attend to is having a reduced orchestration done specifically for this production. I’ve asked our very own elmore to do it, but the timing may not be good for him, so I’m talking to a couple of other people, too. In January, I will teach a musical theatre workshop over a week or two, as I did when I was doing The Brain from Planet X. That will enable me to see who I’ve got and what they can do. I’ll bring Kay in for one session so she can see what she’ll be dealing with. In any case, it’s all very exciting and a couple of the actors I broached about it are kind of deliriously happy to ponder the idea of doing it. That’s because we will all have a blast – Li’l Abner is simply a feel-good, wonderfully tuneful and amazingly funny show. The cries of “dated” are for very specific reasons and without going into how I’m dealing with that aspect, I don’t believe anyone will find anything about what we’re doing dated. We go into rehearsals in mid-April and open for a week in mid-May. So, it’s not all that much of a commitment for anyone. Color me excited, color me thrilled, color me Barbra and I cannot wait to begin.
Other than that, the day was perfectly fine. I got enough sleep, I answered e-mails, I ate a chopped salad with salami and avocado tossed with Thousand Island dressing, I picked up a couple of packages, including the Gasoline Alley original panels I’ve been waiting for and then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I began watching something called Lone Survivor, this year’s Zero Dark Thirty or The Hurt Locker – you know the kind of now war film that’s all the rage at Oscar time. It’s not my favorite kind of film and thus far it’s a drudge to sit through, but I’ll tough it out to the end, I suppose.
After that, I moseyed on over to the theater for our performance. We ran a couple of things when I got there, and then it was show time – pretty good crowd – a bit quieter than we’ve had but very positive in terms of response and enjoyment. Jane Noseworthy’s cover, Christanna Rowader, did great, especially considering she had no run-through with the full company, just the rough put-in on Tuesday. But you would never have known she’d never done the show before – she was assured, sang well, got her laughs and has a very good energy – very different than Jane, which, if you have to have a cover, is a good, not bad thing. All in all, a very enjoyable performance. I came right home, did work on the computer and had a snack of some salami and cheese, plus a bit of low-cal ice cream.
Today, I must concentrate on getting the Kritzerland singers their music and mp3s – I’m almost finished choosing their songs. I’ll eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and then relax and watch motion pictures, as our evening performance is canceled.
Tomorrow, the theater has their Gala Opening for their donors, which I’ll be attending, then I’m taking Sami’s mom and Sami out for a birthday celebration for mom. Sunday I guess I’ll attend the matinee or, if I’m not feeling the need, not. Next week is benefit stuff, hopefully getting approval for our final project of the year, and getting the Kritzerland show ready for rehearsal.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get music and mp3s to people, eat, hopefully pick up packages and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, our January project. DVD, Lone Survivor and other DGA screeners, along with too many Blu-rays piled up. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that at long last Li’l Abner will be a reality, me-wise.