Well, dear readers, has anyone noticed that it’s May? Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it is May. How did that happen? This year is flying by, like a gazelle with a bunion. In any case, it is my fervent hope and prayer that May will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful. As to yesterday, I was up and at ‘em after yet another rough night of sleep. We had a two-hour music-only rehearsal for the LA show, which wasn’t quite enough, although we were able to work most of the songs. After, I came back to the Valley, did some banking and picked up a package. Then I answered e-mails and did some work on the computer until it was time for our stumble-through.
I have to say, this stumble-through was really quite good and really fun, and I had less notes than I’ve ever had – just a couple of lyric mistakes to correct and one verse to simplify in terms of interpretation. Everyone shines in this show. And we had Maude Maggart with us and this woman is so unique and so special and she just endeared herself to everyone with her delectable number. Sami was really good, too – I usually have to work with her a bit to get what’s needed, but not yesterday – she was already there and just about perfect. Kerry O’Malley is just wonderful and does a beautiful job with our Black Dahlia song. John Allsop, whose first time it is with us, captivated everyone. Amy Gillette, also a first-timer, did really well, as did Brittney Bertier, and Damon Kirsche can do little wrong. And John Boswell at the piano is always the icing on any cake. Best of all, the songs and the structure of the show work like a dream. I even do a little What If thing in my opening commentary – short and sweet and I hope people find it amusing.
After the rehearsal, Sami, her mom, Doug Haverty and I went to Jerry’s Deli. I had a Chinese chicken salad, which I always enjoy, but it wasn’t so good, frankly – much less than usual, and just mediocre. Everyone else seemed happy with their selections.
Then I came home and it was already eight o’clock and too late to watch anything, so I just printed out the commentary and got everything ready for tonight’s show, then played on the computer.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. I may try to do a jog. Otherwise I just relax until it’s sound check and then show. Some of us will go out for a bite afterwards, but I shan’t have even a hint of red sauce under any circumstances. I will, of course, have a full report for you.
Tomorrow we begin our week of run-throughs. I have a new order for act two that we’ll try – really hoping it’s the last change I have to make. We’ll run without stops, then do two hours of detail work and cleanups. Tuesday we have to rehearse elsewhere because they’re moving in the set that day, although we can come back when they’re done with their work. At six, we have a band rehearsal, which I must be at, so our stage manager will have the actors for an hour and will run sketches. Wednesday we do a run-through and then we have our sitzprobe. Thursday’s our last run-through before tech. I’m hoping tech will be what I like – i.e. not stopping much, but since there are a lot of projections and light cues, we’ll see how that all pans out.
We work all day Saturday, are off Sunday, and then we have dress/tech Monday and Tuesday, I’d like to have a few people in for the final dress on Wednesday, then we have an official preview, and then we open. Whew!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, maybe do a jog, relax, do a sound check, do a show, and eat. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a music rehearsal and a fun stumble-through – in addition, just a reminder that it is my fervent hope and prayer that May will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.