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July 1, 2014:

LET’S CALL A JULY A JULY

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, let’s just get down to brass tacks or plastic pushpins, let’s just call a spade a spade or a diamond a diamond, let’s just lay the cards on the table or, at the very least, the table on the cards, let’s just tell it like it is, let’s put it out there, let’s throw it against the wall and see if it sticks, let’s just shout it to the four winds or the high heavens – it is July.  And it is my fervent hope and prayer that July will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.

I’m getting quite a late start on these here notes because just before I began writing them, I found a way in to the liner notes I should have begun earlier – so I started on those and ended up doing four long paragraphs.  So, I suppose I’d better just get to it so I can get these here notes posted, posthaste.

Yesterday was the final day of June and it seemed like a fine little day in most ways.  I didn’t get much sleep, maybe five or six hours, got up, answered e-mails, had telephonic calls, thought about a few things, then went and had a scoop of egg salad and a scoop of chicken salad on lettuce, and a bagel.  I accidentally left my coat in the booth, but called and it’s being held for me until I pick it up today at lunch.  I then came directly home, had an irritating e-mail, wrote some e-mails, and watched a little of a motion picture whose score we’re doing.  Then it was time for our first Kritzerland rehearsal.

First up was Kim Huber, who ran her three numbers – A Summer in Ohio (from The Last Five Years), Never Enough (from Inside Out), and Through the Mountain (from Floyd Collins).  She’s already great on all three.  Then it was Maddy Claire Parks, and she ran her three numbers – Look For a Sky of Blue (from Little Mary Sunshine), Times Like This (from Lucky Stiff) and Much More (from The Fantasticks).  We all just adore Maddy.

Then it was Robert Yacko’s turn – he ran his three songs – first it was a put-together of Try to Remember and Soon It’s Gonna Rain, then a put-together of She Dies and Time and Time Again (from Time and Again, our own Skip Kennon’s musical), and finally Jerry Herman’s song Your Good Morning from his musical revue, Parade.  Then our young folks arrived and ran their numbers.  Sami was up first and did The Boy from… – that song just works so well with a young person and she’s delightful on it.  Then she did a song called Nothing Short of Wonderful, the newest song in our show, from an off-Broadway musical called Dogfight.  She loves the song and you can really tell that from the way she’s singing it.  Sami just continues to blossom and grow, and I only really have to guide and give tiny notes now, which she “gets” very quickly.

Then Jenna Lea Rosen was up – first she sang and danced Raining in My Heart (from Dames at Sea) and then did a simple and wonderful Frank Mills from Hair.  Rita McKenzie arrived and belted out I Hate Musicals from Ruthless – no one does it like Rita, just amazing.  Then our final performer was young Brennley Brown, who’s opening the show with a song she just performed in Musical Theatre Guild’s staged reading of Ruthless – Born to Entertain – and Brennley was born to entertain.  Missing in action was our other guest star, Jason Graae – since both songs he’s doing are staples from his act, he’s not coming until the stumble-through – his two songs are The Moment Has Passed (from Promenade) and What More Can I Say (from Falsettos).  And everyone was brilliantly accompanied by the brilliant John Boswell.  All in all, a completely smooth first rehearsal.

After that, a few of us went over to Casa Vega.  I had a chicken tostada, something I’ve never had there before – it was very good and not too heavy.  Then I came home and watched some more of the film I was watching, after which I had a long telephonic conversation with our very own Mr. Nick Redman.  Oh, and earlier, we’d shipped out a LOT of CDs.

Today, I will definitely finish the liner notes and may even start on a second set.  We’re trying to get the packaging in by Thursday so they can begin the approval process.  We are three or four releases behind this year and it’s just played havoc with everything – trying to catch up is not easy.  I’ll also eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and then relax.

The rest of the week is meetings and meals, our second Kritzerland rehearsal, a fourth of July partay, our stumble-through, then sound check and show.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, finish liner notes, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and relax.  Today’s topic of discussion: What never before released motion picture score is still a Holy Grail for you, even if it’s the most outré thing in the world?  Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall do many things – and please send lots of excellent vibes and xylophones for a wonderful July – we really need it to be wonderful over here in the City of Studio and, of course, it is my fervent hope and prayer that July will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.

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