Well, dear readers, the benefit is looming. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, the benefit is looming and it’s going to be a very busy today and tomorrow. I haven’t spoken all that much about it, but we do have a wonderful group of performers and it should be an eclectic evening of song, laughter, magic, and even contortionists. The opening number has Susanne Blakeslee, Marsha Kramer and Lisa Livesay. Then we have Reagan Pasternak, Melora Hardin, Daisy Eagan, magician Crow Garrett, James Barbour and James Mulligan, John Sloman, Ilene Graff, Gary Morgan and the Flying Morgans, Rex Smith, our Fully Dressed kids, and Jean Louisa Kelly. That’s act one. Act two begins with Kerry O’Malley and we have Devin Kelly and Dennis Kyle, Jenna Lea Rosen, Micky Dolenz, comedian Jason Collings, Obba Babbatunde, Richard Sherman, Joan Ryan, magician Jonathan Pendragon, Bruce Vilanch and Barry Pearl, Kay Cole, Juliana Hansen and Terri White – that’s act two. We also have presentations by Charlene Tilton and Kate Linder and Amy Paffrath. So, lots of talent and a huge show to wrangle. But I’ve finished the script, have written the intros for our off-stage announcer, Gordon Goodman, and I’ve prepared diagrams for the cast of their entrances and exits.
Yesterday was a busy little day. I was up at eight-thirty and futzed and finessed the previous day’s writing. She of the Evil Eye came, I finished futzing and finessing and then had a spot of breakfast at Jerry’s Deli – I had matzoh brei and a bagel. At the booth next to me: Tom Wopat and friend. Then I did some banking, then came home. We then rehearsed with Susanne Blakeslee, Marsha Kramer and Lisa Livesay, then came Jean Louisa Kelly. After that it was Bruce Vilanch and Barry Pearl. Then I had a two-hour break and I used that time to write about five pages. Then our Fully Dressed girls arrived, as did Kay Cole, and we ran the number several times and cleaned up a few things and that was that. Then I wrote another page, then it was time to go to the theater.
Last night, I attended our little revue. It was sold out, and quite a good show. Not the most vocal audience, but an appreciative one. Cousins Alan and Dee Dee were there, and old high school chums Saul Saladow and Ellen Bank were, too. Afterwards, Alan and Dee Dee and Saul and Ellen and Sami and her mom and my very own self went to the California Chicken Café, where I had the all-white half chicken and a little Caesar salad. The chicken, which I normally love, wasn’t very good and my tummy is not happy right now, but hopefully that will pass quickly. Then I came directly home and thankfully there was not a lick of traffic. Once home, I wrote another page and finished a chapter – all told almost eight pages, which I was very happy about. If I can do a like amount tomorrow, then I’ll be ahead by almost ten pages and if I only do one or two on Monday that will be fine. And as of today, I am a third of the way through the book.
Then I made the diagram of the stage and printed copies, did the script with all the announcer stuff, then diagramed entrances and exits.
Today, I shall be up by nine, I shall write a page or two, then I’ll go to the Pasadena Playhouse for our band rehearsal – I’ll hand out the diagrams after they make copies for the talent wranglers and lighting people, so they know where each and every person is coming on from. After the rehearsal, I’ll have a little food with Terri White and her ever-lovin’ Donna. Then I’ll come home and write more pages and then try to relax a bit. I’ll get to bed by eleven.
Tomorrow I’m up at six to announce the new Kritzerland CD, then I’ll write, then I’ll head over to the theater to begin the very long day and evening, during which everything will get attended to. Then it’s show time and I will, of course, have a full report. Tuesday is a day of rest that will only include writing. Wednesday I give Muse Margaret the latest batch of pages. Thursday we have some auditions for potential cast replacements for the revue and I’ll probably stay and see the show that night. The rest of the week and weekend will be writing, finalizing songs for the Kritzerland show, and getting singers their music.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, attend a band rehearsal, eat, and write. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which the benefit will be looming even more.