Well, dear readers, we had our final preview last night and I was very pleased with most of it. We had a pretty good-sized house, so that was helpful. But most importantly, Sami finally found the last ten minutes of the show – something we’ve been struggling with and that I’ve given repeated notes about. She worked on it really hard on her own between the first and last night’s preview, and the final monologue finally worked as it should – she took her time, made her points, and most importantly found the heart – and it made the last song work better than it ever had before. We’re still struggling a bit in the first monologue, grabbing the audience with it and letting them know it’s okay to laugh. It’s a tricky one – it’s been great occasionally, but both previews it was like we just weren’t giving them permission to laugh, which we must. So, Sami and I discussed it, talked about how to slightly adjust what she’s doing, and how she needs to direct the audience, basically. By the third monologue we had them. The audience participation bit worked the best it ever has – absolutely hilarious. It’s going to vary from show to show because it will always be slightly dependent on the audience member, but our mark last night, who I know, was brilliant and Sami was right there with him every step of the way. And the monologue about math and common core math has been working perfectly – those things happen back-to-back and neither worked especially well at the workshop but they’ve really been landing now. I also think the show just LOOKS good – the set, the lighting, the costumes. And the two quick changes got delightful reaction, but the quick change out of it back to her original dress has really gotten gasps because it happens so fast and no one can believe it. I didn’t know many people, but there were a few nice folks I knew, including a couple of people who like what I do and show up at all my shows. I think Sami felt pleased, especially about the last half of the show. The tap dance number worked really well, too. Richard and Elizabeth told me they loved the show, and Richard, who is sharp as a tack, mentioned that he saw a lot of changes since he attended the private living room reading, and felt they all really helped. He loved the direction, which was nice to hear. We got so many lovely comments after the show, and whether people love it or not, they are VERY impressed by Sami. So, on we go to opening night.
Prior to that, I’d had a nice day. I got about eight hours of sleep, went and had a turkey sandwich, picked up some packages, did some banking, bought some pants and shirts from The Gap, and came home and relaxed until it was time to go the theater.
After the show, Sami was feeling good so we all went to the Coral Café. She had fries and the table shared the nachos deluxe, which were not as good as they usually are, but that didn’t stop me from eating quite a few of them. But I didn’t do what I usually do, which is order a sandwich or wrap WITH the nachos – so that was good. Then I came home.
Today, I’ll arise, relax, then mosey on over to LACC, where Cindy Williams and author Herbie Pilato are doing a Q&A with Cindy and she’ll be selling and signing her book. I was asked to introduce them and after an initial hesitation I said I would. So, I’ll go there at one-thirty, say hi to everyone, do the short announcement, and then I’ll come right back home. I’ll relax until it’s time to mosey on over to the theater around six-thirty. I’m told we’ll have a pretty full house, and after there’s a little reception outside the theater. Once that’s done, I’ll probably go get a bite to eat with Barry Pearl.
Tomorrow, we have a matinee at two, but I have to get there before noon, because Broadway World TV is doing interviews with all of us, then Corey Fogelmanis is doing a meet and greet with people who bought that option on Indiegogo. Then we’ll do our show, and then we’re going to the Smoke House to celebrate our first weekend done. Monday is a complete day of rest for me, then on Tuesday night we convene in the studio to record the cast album. We’ve split that over two nights so Sami doesn’t have to sing all that material in one long session. So, we come back on Wednesday night. Then the plan is for my engineer to mix everything very quickly and I’ll be sent the mixes via computer so I can hear them, make comments, and we can finalize everything by Friday. Then it goes directly to mastering and it will be to the pressing plant by Monday, and we should have CDs by the end of that week because the print is there and waiting.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, introduce Cindy at LACC, I must relax, I must hopefully pick up packages, and then I must attend the opening night of Welcome to My World. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you in your work environment – whether theater, office, or wherever. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy we had a pretty damn good final preview.