Well, dear readers, we are on our way to opening night of Welcome to My World. I can hardly believe it, actually. But, here is the proof from last night’s first dress rehearsal.
And here’s a few more.
So, you get an idea of the set, of how Sami looks, and that’s about it. Otherwise, just come see the damn show. Well, this is like media day here, isn’t it? Well, since it is, how about our opening number from last Sunday’s Kritzerland show.
Wasn’t that so Japanese? And how about this – Robert Yacko singing my very own brand new song, C.C. Brown’s, which, as you might imagine, is my paean to my favorite place ever.
Doesn’t that just make you want to get in a time machine? It makes ME want to get in a time machine. I love what our very own Robert Yacko did with the song. It’s a bit slower than I do it, but John Boswell played it so beautifully. And how about this – Jenna Lea Rosen doing Here’s That Rainy Day and Now When the Rain Falls.
Wasn’t that pretty? I’ll have more videos coming soon – just have to upload them to You Tube.
Yesterday was a perfectly fine day. I got a little under eight hours of sleep. Then I had a chopped salad with mostly red wine vinegar, along with a bagel. Then I did some work at the piano, then at the computer, and then it was time for me to mosey on over to the theater. We began with a costume parade, which involved all of three outfits. We had to lengthen the main show dress – just a tiny bit to short for our show, but really cute as you can see from the photos (it wasn’t quite finished in terms of lengthening, so it will look a bit better tonight). We ran the two quick changes multiple times and by the end of it they were working quite well. Then we ran notes from Sunday’s run-through, Alby worked on a couple of musical things with Sami, and then Sami went to the dressing room to get in costume and makeup. We had Michael Lamont shooting production photos (the photos above are his), and his ever-lovin’ Kay Cole was with him, seeing the show for the second time, but the first time seeing the set, costumes and lighting. She seemed to really enjoy it again. We also had our costume designer, set designer and lighting designer with us, so that was very helpful. The show ran smoothly, but Sami asked if we could take a quick two-minute break in the middle so she could powder her face and get her hair back looking good – for the photos. I agreed, but that’s the only time that will ever happen. The show got some nice laughs from the small gathering, and Sami really responds to that. She learned an important lesson last night, which is she has to be very careful not to blow her voice out at school – hard not to when you’re that age, but there’s no way to do that and then do this show. She knew it and will be very careful. Her voice held out fine, but we have five performances in a row now. Mostly she was terrific – a few line fumfers, nothing major, and she is just cute as a button and very self-assured and I think with tonight’s invited dress and our two previews she’ll be completely ready to welcome us to her world.
After the run, I gave notes, we adjusted three light cues, and then I went to Gelson’s and got a cucumber roll and one of those snack pack salami and cheese things, and some melon balls. Then I came home and ate it all up.
Today, I’ll relax, do some errands and whatnot, we’ll begin shipping out CDs – first the regular orders, and then tomorrow and the next day, the bigger orders that include mugs and T-shirts. Then I’ll mosey on over to the theater around five-thirty. We do our invited dress at seven – not too many folks coming, but even a few at least gives us an idea of how the pace is working and gives Sami someone to play to.
Tomorrow we have our first public preview – we have about thirty coming so far, but we’re hoping that goes up considerably. Friday’s preview is selling well, and then it’s opening night, which is two-thirds sold so far and I know will fill up. And the matinee is looking really good.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, eat, relax, hopefully pick up packages, and then have an invited dress. 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, as we continue on our merry way to opening night.