Well, dear readers, we had our first Kritzerland rehearsal yesterday and I must say it was just about the smoothest first rehearsal we’ve ever had. All the singers were prepared and our MD was more than prepared and everything was easy/breezy. First up was Kerry O’Malley, our guest star. She’s singing Where Am I Going from Sweet Charity, and we came up with a nice routine for it and she’ll be great. Next came Kim Huber. First was a put-together of I’m in the Mood for Love and I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, then she did Make the Man Love Me and finally A Fine Romance, all wonderfully. After Kim we had Zachary Ford who did a put-together of I Feel a Song Coming On and On the Sunny Side of the Street, then Too Many Tomorrows from Sweet Charity and finally the adorable You Couldn’t Be Cuter. Next up was Cynthia Ferrer. This is her second time with us and I really adore her. She sang I’m Way Ahead/Seesaw, the hilarious He Had Refinement from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and then Robert Yacko arrived and they did their duet, the brilliant Thirty Weeks of Heaven, which I recorded for Lost in Boston IV and which was the opening number of Lost and Unsung. She left and Robert did his other two songs – The Way You Look Tonight and a put-together of I Won’t Dance and Never Gonna Dance, the latter being one of the weirdest songs ever written, yet one of my all-time favorites. Then came our three young performers. First was Jenna Lea Rosen, who’s doing If They Could See Me Now – we figured out the routine and she’s doing a fun tap break in it. Then it was Sami Staitman, who’s doing Nobody Does It Like Me from Seesaw, then Sami’s sister Sarah, who’s doing Exactly Like You. Guy Haines was with us, too, rehearsing his song, Pick Yourself Up, which of course opened his first solo album, Haines His Way. So, a really fun afternoon.
Prior to that, I slept till almost noon, a good ten hours or more, which I desperately needed. Then I wrote some more questions for the Richard Sherman event, made some telephonic calls, and then it was rehearsal.
After rehearsal, a few of us went to Casa Vega, where I had my usual two cheese enchiladas and a beef taco, all great, as always. We had quite a bit of fun. Then I came home and spent most of the evening doing a first pass at the e-mail I’ll be sending out either today or tomorrow, the one about the bad business of a few weeks ago. I sent the first pass to three people for their opinions – all three know what went on and so I trust their opinions and want to make sure I haven’t left out anything important, and that they think the e-mail is even-keeled, to the point, and very clear. Once I finalize and send, then I will share with you the rather sickening and unnecessary drama I had to endure. I have no doubt that at least some of it will astonish and amaze you, and not in a good way.
Today, I shall just write questions and finish a set of liner notes, futz and fix the commentary, plus hopefully pick up some packages and eat a light but amusing meal. I’ll also relax and watch a motion picture.
Tomorrow I have meetings and meals, Thursday is our second Kritzerland rehearsal, Friday is the Richard Sherman event, and Saturday is our stumble-through, then Sunday our sound check and show.
I promised more photographs and I always keep my promises. First of all, I got this to proof in the mail – how exciting. We’ll have three hundred of these for the Sherman event and I’m assuming we’ll sell a few there and sign. Although, we may not, as it would probably take up too much time. So, maybe I’ll just show it and tell people where they can order signed copies. Anyway, here’s the cover.
And here are a few more Abner photographs. First, here’s John Massey as Marryin’ Sam, and Sami in Jubilation T. Cornpone.
Here’s the ever-disgusting Earthquake McGoon.
Next we have Abner, General Bullmoose and Appassionata Von Climax in one of the Washington scenes.
Here’s Pappy Yokum, Abner, and the Yokum-berried versions of the husbands.
Here’s Evil Eye Fleagle, Bullmoose and Appassionata.
Here’s our Put ‘Em Back wives in the finale.
Here’s Marryin’ Sam and Daisy Mae doing Past My Prime.
Here’s Marryin’ Sam and Moonbeam McSwine. Note the pig puppet – everyone who saw the show fell in love with that little puppet, who sings and dances during the show.
Finally, here’s the last image you see in the finale.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write questions, write liner notes, hopefully pick up packages, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite off-Broadway musicals and that can include stuff that opened off-Broadway and them moved to Broadway. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy with how smooth our first rehearsal was.