Well, dear readers, presuming everyone accepts their roles, we are cast or, as the kids today would say, we are casted. Note to kids today: There is no such word as casted. In any case we are cast, and while we all had to have a little give and take, I think we’ve come up with a well-matched and splendid cast. The callbacks were fun – everyone sang again, and then read scenes. Everyone did really well – there really wasn’t a dud in the bunch and we had excellent and varied choices. Of course choosing is the hard part, but we got through it pretty quickly. There was discussion for just about every role – everyone got to express their opinion, but I think everyone also knew that I would most likely have to make the final decision because I’m the one who has to direct the show and the performers and make everything work. But I was never hard-headed and while I might have chosen differently in a couple of instances, I wanted everyone on the team to feel good, and I also knew where I had to hang tough. And, as I said, there really was give and take from everyone. I made sure of the one thing I felt strongly about – that everyone in the cast, save for the two roles that are sisters, be a completely different type and that we have. And even though I was going to save an important note I had about the script, our general manager thought it was such a strong and important idea that he let the cat out of the bag at dinner the previous night. So, I discussed that with our producer and co-writer and they completely got it and understood why I was broaching the note and agreed. I’ll now write it up and send it to the other author and they can take the idea and do it as they see fit. It really was the last of the big notes and it will really help certain aspects of the show. I’m sure we’ll keep slogging away as we rehearse and see if anything else needs adjusting – the authors are wonderfully open to changes and we all have the utmost respect for each other and know that everything I say comes not from criticism but from a very positive place. The offers go out Monday morning, and once everyone is locked in, then I can say a bit more about the cast.
It really did take all day to do all that and we only had about twenty minutes to wolf down our lunch from Tom’s Burgers – just as good as the other day – it really is the Valley Astro Burger. I got the usual six hours of sleep and was at the audition room by nine-thirty.
I stopped and picked up one package, then came right home, fairly exhausted. I had a lot of e-mails to answer and answer them I did. I had a telephonic call, I did some work on the computer, then I had some cherry chip ice cream and then some cashews. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the first hour of a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled The Hustler. I’ve had this Blu-ray forever but never got around to watching it. It’s a beautiful transfer of a great movie. The very long sequence of the first big pool game competition between Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason is fantastic – acting, directing, photography – it’s just great. I’ll watch the rest at some point today.
After that, I listened to music, and since I had about two ounces of wide egg noodle pasta in the cupboard I made that, put a little butter on the noodles and ate them. It wasn’t really much to eat, but it was just enough to satisfy my small hunger pang.
Today I’m havin’ a ME day. I have chosen most of the songs, and just haven’t heard back from our newly cast gal – it’s been two days and I suspect my e-mails may be going into her spam folder, so I’ve asked Doug Haverty to get hold of her and find out what’s going on because she needs to learn her music. I’ll eat something light but amusing, I’ll watch something, I’m sure, and then just relax.
This week is all meetings and meals, meals and meetings, finalizing everything for the Kritzerland show, figuring out the show order, writing the commentary, attending an opening night, and lots o’ other stuff.
Oh, and Happy Easter for those who celebrate such things as Easter. Don’t forget to eat some marshmallow bunnies and have gaily-colored Easter eggs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a ME day, finish choosing songs, eat, and relax. 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 we are casted – oops, cast.