Well, dear readers, as most of you know, my long-term memory is fairly impeccable for details from my past. When writing each of the Kritzer books I would dutifully trudge down to the downtown library, have them whip out the microfiche and I would double check each and every instance of when and where I saw whatever movie or show I was talking about. And I was never wrong. When writing my first memoir, I found that all the details of my career were crystal clear and it was only towards the end of that book when I really had to double check some timelines that weren’t making sense to me, since much of the 80s was such a down time for me that I probably just wanted to block out certain things. And we all know that between the Kritzer books and the first memoir I have written about my entire life with the exception of the three years of LACC up until I got married (which is where the memoir begins). I’ve been thinking about doing a novella about those three years because they were interesting and fun – maybe I’ll get around to that one of these fine days. But in writing that first book I had this really vague and unfocused memory that I’d somehow been to Paul Newman’s house, met Mr. Newman and Joanne Woodward and their kids. But it would never come into focus and so I obviously didn’t write about it. My memory was telling me it happened during the LACC days, but I wasn’t sure if it was during my time or in the very early 70s when I was back doing shows there.
Yesterday, someone posted about Miss Woodward on Facebook, saying she was at death’s door due to Alzheimer’s. I did a little Googling and, as always, things weren’t quite as they appeared. The Alzheimer’s/at death’s door story had started in the National Enquirer over two years ago. It was never corroborated by any reputable news organization. Then the story resurfaced on Facebook last December – again, Miss Woodward was at death’s door because of Alzheimer’s, and again it was the usual unnamed sources and the story emanated from yet another no-name site no one’s ever heard of. Then yesterday a new story surfaced. Does Miss Woodward have Alzheimer’s? Who knows? At this point the story still hasn’t been picked up by one reputable news service (reputable and news service could be, of course, an oxymoron). So, I know the gal who posted it so I just made a post that I wouldn’t necessarily take it at face value, which she agreed with. But that made this vague and unfocused memory come back again. So, I made a post about it. And shortly thereafter, an old LACC fellow student posted that I was absolutely correct – that in the early 70s someone in the department baby sat for the Newman children or watched them or some such thing. He’d been to their house, too. So, finally, after all these years, I know that memory, vague as it was, is accurate. Because even though it was vague, I could almost see the house, remember shaking Mr. Newman’s hand and chatting with him, and also that Miss Woodward was very warm and nice and that the Newman kids were, too.
Yesterday was a wacky day. I did get nine hours of sleep, so that was good. Once up, most of the morning was gone, so I just answered e-mails and did my stuff, then I went and had a turkey sandwich to tide me over until the later supper. After that, I just came right home and spent some time listening to Andre Previn material and thinking about who to cast in this show. Then I got inundated with telephonic calls, then had a really lovely visit with our very own Mr. Nick Redman, and then I just tried to relax until the late supper.
Jenna Lea Rosen and her mom arrived around eight-fifteen and we decided to go to Boneyard Bistro, the nice barbecue jernt. We all ate a lot of food – but I’d only had the sandwich earlier, so I think I was all right. I had the combo platter with pulled pork and tri-tip – just meat, no bread, and I had baked beans as my side. It was all quite yummilicious. Jenna needed some song suggestions for some auditions she’s doing – she specifically needed an up-tempo song from a Broadway show pre-1960. So, I gave her about eight choices that I thought she’d do well.
After that, I came home, had some more telephonic calls, and then realized it was already after midnight.
Today, I really have to buckle down, Winsocki, and finish casting and choosing songs. The MD I want is gone until we begin rehearsals, so I’d have to meet with him this weekend to do any arranging work, so today’s the day to get it all done so I can get the charts. I have two ideas for guest stars, neither of whom will probably want to do it, but I want to have them asked anyway. I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up packages, and then at some point I’ll relax.
The rest of the week is the usual stuff and if the MD can do the show, then the work session will happen on the weekend, probably Saturday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, choose and cast, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had my vague and unfocused memory confirmed after all these years.