Well, dear readers, the second day of our little musical theatre workshop was as much fun as the first, and we even had about four more people with us. As I said, it’s a great group of kids with great energy and a wonderful curiosity. We began with some Q&A and then I had one of the students read the lyric to I Remember Sky from Evening Primrose. I use this song a lot to talk about interpretation and color and imagery. It’s one of my favorite lyrics ever and it’s such a feast for a singer if they understand what it’s about and how to be simple with it. They loved the lyric and we discussed what the song meant to them. I didn’t tell them what it was from or what the character in Evening Primrose was really singing about and why the words and images are so specific – and their answers about their personal interpretation were great – really thoughtful, really interesting, and sometimes quite powerful. I then explained the plot of the show and they understood why that character would use the words she uses to describe the sky and snow and leaves and trees. I then played the version I recorded with Liz Callaway and they were mesmerized by it. Then I played some other stuff – they especially were delighted by Christiane Noll’s version of Times Like These from Lucky Stiff. In fact, I saw one person get quite teary-eyed from it, which is the great thing about that song – it’s funny and it’s touching at the same time, and it’s completely universal. Then we talked more about Li’l Abner and I played them the opening number from the Original Cast Album – and I realized how much I’m not in love with the original orchestrations – the film charts by Nelson Riddle are much more pleasing to me. The three hours flew by, just as they had the day before.
Prior to that, I was up at nine, futzed and finessed and wrote about a page, after which I printed out the latest batch of forty-eight pages. In the middle of printing the printer ran out of black ink and I had no replacement cartridge here (I thought I did), so I ran to Staples and got one, ran back, installed it, and finished printing. I then had a quick meal consisting of a cup of chicken corn chowder and a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich, both good. Then I went to Muse Margaret’s house. She was supposed to be home in the day and babysitting during the evening, but she got an emergency call and had to do two shifts. I left the pages with her ever-lovin’ Richard, but unfortunately she wasn’t going to get home until ten-thirty so I knew she wouldn’t be reading them until some time today. It makes me very antsy to wait an entire day to hear her reaction, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I came home, wrote another page, then left for LACC, first picking up one little package from the mail place.
After LACC, I came right home, answered e-mails, and then wrote another two pages, did some other work, then wrote another couple of pages – I think I did about seven in all and began a new chapter and got two pages into that. I took a hot shower and got a few good ideas, which I typed up and banked for when I’ll need them. I’ve been doing that regularly and it really helps. I also found out we only have sixteen seats left for our Kritzerland show, which reminded me I still have half that commentary to write. Perhaps I’ll do some more of that after I post these here notes.
Today, I shall be up by nine or so, I shall try to write at least three pages before eating something, then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, hopefully I’ll hear from Muse Margaret and hopefully she’ll like what she’s read, then we have our third day of the workshop, and our first day of getting the kids on their feet to sing. I’m looking forward to this part of it. Sami Staitman’s coming in, too, because I wanted everyone to meet her and see how focused and assured she is. Then I have to come right home to have a one hour work session with a singer, after which I will write some more pages and definitely finish the commentary.
Tomorrow, it’s the final day of the workshop and we’ll hear more singing. After that, right home to write. The weekend is all writing and I really kind of hope to up the page count on the two weekend days to about eight to ten pages. Then the following week is completely insane and I’ll have to do all my writing in the morning hours, which is fine. We have a Kritzerland rehearsal on Monday and Wednesday, I have work sessions for the recording, I have to attend a band rehearsal on Thursday and a sitzprobe on Friday, and after the Thursday band rehearsal we have our Kritzerland stumble-through. Then we have two extremely long recording days on Saturday and Sunday, but we’ll hopefully get through them fine. And then, no rest, because Monday is sound check and show. Whew!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, eat, hopefully pick up packages, have day three of the workshop, have a work session and write. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite orchestrations for musicals? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall remember sky.