Well, dear readers, we had a really fun and frolicsome stumble-through yesterday. These kids are all adorable and work so hard. It went pretty smoothly, just a few musical hiccups to work through. The structure of the show worked really well, and after we were through I had a lot of detail notes, so I worked with everyone, and also had to fix some accompaniment things. Our MDs for these shows always have to learn that young folks, especially with difficult songs, really need to hear what they’re used to hearing and if something is amorphous or not clear in terms of tempo or even notes, they get thrown. So, a lot of what I cleaned up was that kind of thing. I love working with young folks because they haven’t built any walls yet, and they really listen and understand what’s being said to them. I have to say, with the parents there, there were a LOT of people in the living room.
Prior to that, I had a day. I got a little under eight hours of sleep. I answered e-mails, I had telephonic calls, then I went and picked up the two packages that had arrived last night, did some banking, and then went and had an omelet and an English muffin. After that, I came home, where I did some work on the computer, then I watched a bit of the new Bells Are Ringing Blu and Ray. I’d gotten the Spanish import Blu-ray a few months ago and thought it was very good. But this new Blu-ray is 1000 times better – it’s gorgeous – sharp, great color, and great sound. Looking forward to watching the entire thing.
Then everyone arrived and we had our stumble-through. That ended around seven-thirty and I worked with folks till eight. Then I went to Gelson’s and got two shrimp skewer things (53 calories for the two) and one chicken tender (100 calories), so I did very well in terms of my calorie count.
Then I relaxed and downloaded three You Tube mp3s of Jean-Michel Damase videos. I just love his music and the three pieces, unavailable on CD, are just wonderful. Very accessible music with beautiful melodies that speak to me harmonically.
Today, I shall relax, I may even try a jog, I will not be eating prior to sound check, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then we have our sound check, and then show. I’m sure that afterwards some of us will go have some food at Little Toni’s.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with Kay Cole and I think I’m going to try and see the show at the Group Rep Theater, which is Witness for the Prosecution. About five or six weeks from now I’ll be casting for my production of Dial ‘M’ for Murder. I’m not sure what the weekend holds, but I suppose it will hold something and hopefully that something will be fun and then some. Next week I have to finish casting and choosing songs for the March Kritzerland, and I’ll be working with Richard Sherman and Larry Cohen on our project, too. And there are the usual meetings and meals.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, relax, perhaps jog, hopefully pick up some packages, have a sound check, do our show, and go out afterwards. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite piano concertos or pieces for piano? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy we had us such a fun stumble-through sans too many stumbles.