Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, rather exhausted from an exhausting day – another record-breaking heat fest that really needs to stop. I think you really could fry an egg on the sidewalk, that’s how hot it is. And I’m told that in Palm Springs it’s 116 degrees. I gotta tell you. I never stopped going and doing yesterday – up at nine-thirty, to the bank, then to put gas in the motor car. The gas place was, of course, jammed with entitled Studio City nitwits topping off their tanks – and yes, I know they were because I heard three transactions all of which went something like this: “I’ll have ten dollars” – these were all people driving expensive trendy SUVs so it’s not because that’s all they could afford. These people. I lucked out because as I pulled in there were already people waiting for pumps but there was one person pulling out just as I pulled in at a pump where no one was waiting so I got that one. I filler ‘er up and then came home. I wasn’t here long, however, because I had to go to LACC for a meeting with a student actress. She’d auditioned when I had the Levi auditions in late May and I thought she was very good. She’s kind of the only candidate for the leading lady of the show, but it’s a big, important role with three songs and so I wanted to see what her level of commitment was, how her positivity was, and ask if she felt she could handle the singing demands. And her attitude was really swell – positive, committed, and really wanting to do it and determined that this is what she wants. So, I took the leap of faith and gave her the role. I’ll work with anyone who’s got that kind of positive outlook and we’ll just work hard and I’m sure she’ll be wonderful.
Then I came right back to the hot San Fernando Valley and grabbed a quick meal of chicken tenders and a side Caesar salad. Then I had to go back to the bank to make a deposit, then I came home. Then we began our long rehearsals for the film music thing on Monday. This is another all Ennio Morricone program. But instead of our usual piano, flute, and vocalists, this time we have flute, cello, violin, trumpet, and vocalists. They don’t really play at the same time, save for the finale, but it’s a lot of people. I have no idea how we’re even going to get them to fit on the stage. The selections in this one are much more obscure than the Morricone evening we did two years ago, therefore researching the commentary was daunting and frustrating, not necessarily in that order.
First we had the cellist, who’s very good and who’s actually played in an orchestra conducted by Morricone’s son, Andrea. Then we had the violinist, Robert Yacko, and Maegan McConnell. As I listened to the selections (with Tom Griep doing a fine job on piano), I began to think of the show order, and soon I had the first ten songs in an order I liked. Then I figured out the remaining six songs, but felt strongly, as did Tom, that we had one too many, especially as I had the one that seemed like one too many in the only position where it made sense, and it kind of robbed the finale of its uniqueness. So, we cut that one and now we’ve got fifteen numbers. I think it will be a fun evening as long as we start on time and move it along. I purposely kept the patter short.
They all left around seven – a five-hour rehearsal. I then had the arduous task of putting the commentary in the show order, and that required some futzing and finessing, but I got it all done and read through it and it seems fine. Then I read through the Kritzerland commentary and made a few futzes and finesses to it and it seems fine now, too. So, that was basically my evening. I had one serving of the frozen mini-tacos thing for my evening snack, so I think my calorie count was pretty good for the day. Then I took a shower and listened again to what will most likely be the next Kritzerland release. I really can’t get over how wonderfully Chris Malone cleaned up the symphony – if you listen to the original and his version, it’s like night and day or even day and night.
Today, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages (I didn’t even get to the mail place yesterday), then I’ll relax until it’s time for the stumble-through, which is at four o’clock. We’ll be done with that and whatever notes I have by five-thirty, then I’ll go have something light but amusing for my meal o’ the day. I have really been wanting to jog this entire week but there’s no way to do it in this heat – and since it’s still in the high 90s even in the evening, it’s just not happening. Then I’ll relax and maybe even watch something.
Tomorrow I relax until it’s time to mosey on over to The Federal for sound check, and then we do our show, after which I’m sure some of us will go out for a bite. I believe we’re over eighty now, so I’m hoping after a final push today that maybe we’ll get up to ninety, which is as full as I like it. Monday, we begin setting up and rehearsing for the film music thing at three. The people come at five and eat, then they’re having some kind of Skype thing with ninety-two year-old composer Gerald Fried. Then at seven we do the concert, and after that I will go get something to eat. The rest of the week is figuring out the next Kritzerland show and casting it, and Levi stuff, and then on Friday I go to LACC to do another workshop to get everyone jazzed about Levi and to hear them sing again so I can figure out who’ll be playing what role. I think I only have to bring in one other person, an Asian, as I’m using the three they have but need four.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s break out the cheese slices and ham chunks, let’s dance the Hora or the cha-cha-cha for today is the birthday of dear reader Ron Pulliam. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader Ron Pulliam. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER RON PULLIAM!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hopefully pick up some packages, relax, do a stumble-through, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Ennio Morricone scores? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have figured out the Morricone show order so that I don’t have that to worry about anymore. So, we’ve got our Morricone macaroni in the oven and baking.