Well, dear readers, we had us a pretty wonderful Kritzerland at Sterling’s 55 last evening. It was kind of one highlight after another, and just a wonderful company of players. We were completely sold out, too, which is always fun. I knew from the get-go it was a wonderful crowd – I can always tell in the first minute of my opening remarks how the patter will go, and I knew it would all be fine. In fact, I’d say there were a few of the biggest laughs I’ve ever gotten, including the little parodies I sang of the faux war I created between Lloyd Webber and Sondheim in One from Column A – that just landed incredibly well. And our opening number certainly got the most laughs of any opening number we’ve ever done – thanks to Mr. Sondheim’s brilliantly funny lyrics and Adrienne Visnic’s playing of them. Just one laugh after another. Adrienne brought the house down with Getting Married Today, and had people wet-eyed with Tell Me On a Sunday. Kimberly Hessler was terrific and got past one little hiccup with assurance, so that no one really knew that there even was a hiccup. She was especially terrific on the put-together of With So Little to be Sure Of and Who Could Be Blue. Stan Chandler and Kevin got a huge ovation with Agony, and Stan did really well with The Road You Didn’t Take, which is one of my all-time favorite Sondheim songs. Kevin did an incredible Music of the Night – they should just bring him to Broadway now. Valerie Perri scored huge with her three numbers and I was especially taken with her As If We Never Said Goodbye. Sue Raney is something else – so special, with that velvety voice doing wonders with Send in the Clowns. And Bruce Vilanch – absolutely hilarious and his patter in the middle of Losing My Mind was priceless. Lloyd Cooper did a great job on piano. We all just had the best time. Here’s a little photograph of our merry troupe – left to right we have Adrienne Visnic, Kimberly Hessler, Kevin Earley, li’l ol’ me, Stan Chandler (next to me), Valerie Perri, Sue Raney, Bruce Vilanch, Adryan Russ, Lloyd Cooper and Shelly Markham.
There were lots of fun folks with us, including Richard and Elizabeth Sherman, Tom Griep with wife Evelyn and daughter Oliviana, Sami and mom, Lloyd Cooper’s gorgeous wife Barbara, neighbors Tony Slide and Bob Gitt, our very own Amy and Mark, Doug Haverty and daughter Hartley, some of our LACC kids, and lots of others. The big fun surprise was having Alexandra Morgan with us, who I haven’t seen in close to forty years. For those who may not know, Alexandra played Mary La Rue in The First Nudie Musical, and delivered one of the film’s immortal lines – “I will not do this number until these damn dildos know their steps!” She looks amazing, I must say. After, some of us went over to Little Toni’s, where I had my usual pasta with butter and a dinner salad.
Prior to that, I’d gotten nine hours of sleep – I didn’t really get to bed until almost three and awoke at one. I really needed it and could use another few nights of nine-hours of sleep. Then I just relaxed until it was time for sound check. I was told that the afternoon performance of Inside Out went really well and that we had a really good crowd.
Today, I mostly have to finish casting our April show and choosing its songs. I have to prep a release and I have a bunch of meetings and meals and work to do on the ALS benefit, as well as writing on the show I’m creating. I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then I’ll relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, cast, choose, write, eat, prep, hopefully pick up packages and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite songs of Spring and Easter? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a wonderful Kritzerland at Sterling’s 55.