Well, dear readers, we had our second Brain rehearsal yesterday and managed to get through all of act two, finishing an hour ahead of schedule as we had the night before, which enabled us to run a few things and work some music. So, the entire show is blocked and on its feet (in six hours!), so now everyone really has to just go over stuff on their own so they remember where they’re doing what. Act two was a bit more difficult than act one, because you have The Brain Tap and a bunch of other numbers with staging (the act one staging is simpler in terms of the big numbers). So, now my job is to get everyone on the same page in terms of style and especially pace. Since we have no sets whatsoever, it’s really important that every scene really moves, since it’s all taking place on a bare stage.
Happily, the scenic department really delivered on the car for Donna and Rod. They actually rummaged around and found the actual seat that was used originally. Once we had that, everything else was a piece of cake, so we were able to use that, which was really helpful. I think we have just about all the props we need, too, and the costumes, while thrown together, will add color and fun to the show. Even running things in the roughest way possible, there were lots of laughs.
Prior to that, I’d gotten maybe seven hours of sleep, then went and had a haircut. Once that was done, I came back home, the helper came by and got some invoices, then I decided I needed to eat something light to tide me over until after rehearsal, so I had a chopped salad with red wine vinegar, a little ham and a bit of avocado. Certainly no more than 300 calories. As with the day before, there was simply no time to jog – I did some Brain work, saw that we’d sold a whopping six tickets since last I looked, got the Kritzerland numbers which are okay but not great, then I got ready, picked up one package, and then moseyed on over to LACC and rehearsal.
After the rehearsal, Barry Pearl, John Massey, and I went to House of Pies. They both had salad and broasted chicken. I had a little salad and eggs benedict – excellent and perfectly done. Hopefully no damage done, diet-wise. Then I came home and tried to relax before writing these here notes.
Today, I’ll be up by eight-thirty, get ready, and then we have our ten to two rehearsal. The first hour will be drilling and music – the big numbers and the couple of complicated smaller numbers. Then we’ll begin a run-through. I’m hoping we don’t have to stop, at least stop much. I want everyone to get a sense of the flow of the show and also the show of the flow. As soon as we finish, then I have to come right home, as do Marc Ginsburg, Robert Yacko, and Sami, all of whom are in the Kritzerland show. One of our singers who hasn’t had their second rehearsal yet will be here at three and we’ll run her three songs before everyone arrives. Then we do our stumble-through, I’ll give whatever notes I have, and then I’m thinking I may just go get something light to eat and bring it home. I’ll definitely jog after the rehearsal, and if I have time perhaps I’ll see if there are any packages.
Tomorrow I can hopefully get eight hours or even more sleep. Then I’ll jog, relax, get ready, then it’s sound check and show. Monday I have to be at LACC by ten-thirty or thereabouts for a band rehearsal and sound load in. After that band rehearsal we’ll have a small break, then the cast will arrive and get miked and in costume, and then somewhere around two-thirty we’ll begin a full non-stop run-through. I’ll give notes after, we’ll have probably ninety minutes to relax, and then it’s show time.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have our third Brain rehearsal and then run-through, our Kritzerland stumble-through, I’ll jog, and then eat something very light. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite performances and recordings of Miss Judy Garland? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have gotten act two done and happy to be having fun working the Brain.