Well, dear readers, our second Kritzerland was quite fun, even though the schedule got thoroughly shuffled at the last minute, and Bruce Vilanch had to be in a writer’s room so he’ll come early on Saturday for the stumble-through. Hayley Shukiar was under the weather, but trouper that she is she came and did her stuff – this little girl has such great comedy instincts. The show seems like it’s really going to be fun, and we added Hadley Miller to the mix – she’s doing I Want to Be a Rockette – she came in letter perfect and sounding great, so that enabled me to give her some staging, which she picked up right away. She gets better and better with each passing year. I made a few adjustments here and there but everyone is very strong. Robert Yacko and Will Collyer are now pretty strong on Silverware, a really difficult number to pull off as the two singers have to be perfectly locked or the audience will not understand a word of the song. Anyway, it was loads of smiling. And speaking of smiling, did you realize that today is the final day of March? How did that happen? And that, of course, means tomorrow is April – and it is my fervent hope and prayer that April will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
After that, a whole slew of us went to Casa Vega. Brennley Brown and her mom and dad and baby brother joined us. I don’t know if anyone here is watching The Voice, but Brennley has been a major part of this season and is still in contention and it’s very exciting for this fifteen-year-old. You’ve seen her in many Kritzerland clips and so we’re all very proud of her. I had tacquitos, since I’d had an omelet and a bagel earlier. They were not as light as I’d have wished, but there were only three of them – frankly, they weren’t very good, and I wish they’d been better because then I wouldn’t have drowned them in guacamole. They made me uncomfortably full, too, which I didn’t really need.
Prior to that, I had a mostly nice day doing mostly nice things. I got under eight hours of sleep, but stayed in bed for a while. Once up, I did the usual morning things – printed out some orders, answering e-mails, having telephonic conversations and the like. Then I went and had my omelet and bagel, after which I picked up one tiny package and came home. Once home, I had more work to do on the computer, and I signed the rest of the books and added the extras. And just so no one inadvertently throws anything out, here’s what they are: An official Thrill Ride magnet. An official Thrill Ride pen. And for the first fifteen orders, a page of my original printed manuscript with my hand corrections (it’s actually two pages – front side and back side). The books will all ship this morning and I can’t wait for you all to get them. And I must say, it’s a very handsome book – my favorite cover of all my books.
Then we had our rehearsal and then I dined. I heard that Two for the Road is pressed so I’m waiting for the invoice so I can pay and get them shipped here via Fed Ex ground, so five days from when they’re shipped. Then I listened to some music on my new Audioengine HD3s – I’m loving these speakers so much.
Today I have to be up super early as I have a nine o’clock haircut. After that, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages and important mail, I’ll do some banking, and then relax until it’s time to pick up Barry’s ever-lovin’ Cindy and we’ll mosey on over to Calabasas to dine, and then we’ll see Sami’s show.
Tomorrow we have our stumble-through at noon o’clock, and I’ll give whatever notes I have. Then I’m sure some of us will grab a bite to eat, and then I must relax, go through my patter one more time, print out everything for the show and get everything ready. Sunday, I’ll relax until it’s time for sound check and then we have our show. Next week is very busy, with going over the changes the authors of the musical have done at my behest, and getting ready for our three or four day casting sessions. I’m praying Richard Sherman gets to come home by the end of next week. He’ll still have to take it easy for a few weeks, but I’ll be able to visit and talk about the show we’re doing, as well as our next Sherman Brothers CD, which I’m now starting to assemble.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a haircut, hopefully pick up packages and important mail, do some banking, sup, and see a show. 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, lots o’ stuff, breaking in the new speakers. Blu-ray, haven’t decided what’s next – perhaps the new Blu-ray of Cinema Paradiso. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be shipping Thrill Ride at long last.