Well, dear readers, people sometimes ask me, and not always in a nice way, I work with kids so much, why I put them into the Kritzerland shows, why this, why that? Well, I’ll tell you why and it’s really simple. I really began working with kids back about five years ago with the then twelve-year-old Melody Hollis. Her mom asked if I’d create a cabaret act for her – not necessarily to actually do, but to learn from. I didn’t think I’d want to do that, but the more I thought about it the more I realized no one that age had ever done such a thing, and I’m all about that. So, I made it dependent on Melody and I getting along and that she’d be open to everything. We did, we made a wonderful act, and I found working with this wildly talented girl and amazing experience. She could take any direction I gave her, any staging, any nuance, and she could make it wholly her own and was wonderful at giving me everything I wanted in a way that was uniquely hers. We performed it, people loved it, blah, blah, blah. At that point I was also putting her in every single Kritzerland show. This girl was fearless – you could throw anything at her and she would tackle it and DO it. As we went along, I kept throwing harder and harder material – nothing fazed her and she would regularly stop the show.
Other parents began to approach me, but I was very loyal to young Melody. And then stuff happened, none of it really her fault, and I had to put a stop to working with her. At that point, I began using Jenna Lea Rosen, who was also extremely talented. But I also agreed to try out Sami and her sister Sarah, since their mom had really been after me. Neither of them were ready, so I began their journey with several duets. Sami got better and stronger with each show. Taking direction wasn’t easy for her, but she tried, and eventually she finally understood what I was about and what I was trying to get her to do. With Sarah, who was very talented, it became clear to me fairly quickly that she was not that comfortable on stage and that has certainly proven to be the case, as she doesn’t seem that interested in performing anymore. Other parents approached and if I thought their kids were ready, I’d find a way to use them, and then created the all-kids show once a year.
And, of course, guess what happened? Suddenly everyone was using kids, suddenly doing all-kid shows was happening here, in New York (thanks to one specific person who has literally copied everything I do, whether stuff from the past or now), suddenly every little kid, whether ready or not, was doing a club act and let me tell you they were not good club acts nor were most of the kids ready, nor were the directors putting them together the right choices. It’s not easy – you have to really understand kid performers. And I do. Why? Because I’m a kid, I’ve always been a kid, and I only wish there had been someone like me around to believe in me when I was young – my parents certainly didn’t.
Watching these kids step up to the plate and grow has been astonishing and it makes me feel like I’ve done something right. Sami especially, in terms of growth, has come so far and has gotten so good and learned how to be professional and work hard to achieve what she’s achieved. But all of the kids, from Jenna to Brennley Brown to Jaidyn Young to Hadley Miller to the more recent batch have all come a long way. Why am I going on about this? Because yesterday we rehearsed the act one finale of the ALS benefit, which is sung by Juliana Hansen. Halfway through the number, eleven adorable kids, all under twelve I think, come on and sing the second half of the number. It’s so moving to me to see these little faces and hear that talent and all I want is for them to know I believe in all of them and want all of them to be the best they can be. After we’d run it several times, I put on my director hat and told them what the emotion of the song was, what words had to sparkle and gleam, where it had to build, where it had to be warm – and they took all that and delivered all that – instantly. They listened, they understood, they interpreted.
I work with kids because not only is it incredibly gratifying but because I feel it is my solemn duty to do so, to give them a place to perform, to help them be better, to make them believe in themselves and their talent. That’s why I work with kids.
Yesterday was on okay day. I got eight hours of sleep, I had an omelet and an English muffin, did a two-and-a-half mile jog, then got ready for our rehearsal. I did more entrances and exits diagrams, too. Then Robert Yacko came and rehearsed his song, then Sami ran Annie, then it was the kids and Juliana. They left, and I wrote some fun patter for Hayley Mills and Richard Sherman. After all that, I made some of them frozen mini-tacos and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I began watching the mini-series 11.22.63 from the Stephen King book. I really wanted to read the book – everyone told me it was a real return to form for Mr. King, but I have to be strong about reading no fiction when I’m writing fiction. In fact, the last book I read that was fiction was by Mr. King and that was back in 1999, I think. I’d heard both good and bad about the mini-series. I’m on the third episode of it now and I’m kind of really enjoying it. I’ll have more to say when I’m through with it.
Today, I have to finish my diagrams, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat a little something (not my salad, not an omelet), jog, then I have a dinner thing.
Tomorrow I can relax a bit. We may have a production meeting, very quick, but that’s all I have scheduled. Sunday I’m waiting to hear about whether we have a rehearsal with Hayley and Richard Sherman. Then Monday I jog early, then begin my very long day and evening at nine in the morning.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, diagram, hopefully pick up packages, eat something light, jog, and have a dinner thing. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, a whole slew of Vladimir Cosma CDs. Blu-ray, the Stephen King thing. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have explained why I like working with kids.