Well, dear readers, we had us a really fun first rehearsal for next Sunday’s Kritzerland brunch show. First to arrive was ninety-three-years young Bill Hayes. What a wonder he is. He’s doing a three-song medley that’s just wonderful. And while he was here, I came up with a great idea for the sing-a-long, he loved it, and so we’re doing that. After Bill came new-to-us Kelley Dorney. She’s delightful and a wonderful singer. First, she did my song, Who Do I Have to Blank to Get Out of This Show, then the Jimmy Webb song, Didn’t We, and finally a cut song from Sugar called The People in My Life.
Then Damon Kirsche arrived and we did his two solos – two put-togethers of Harry Warren songs. First was I Met a Million Dollar Baby at the Five-and-Ten Cent Store paired with Cheerful Little Earful. Then it was Boulevard of Broken Dreams and 42nd Street. Robert Yacko arrived and they ran their duet of Agony from Into the Woods. Then they ran the reprise of it, which we do separately. Damon left and Robert ran his one solo, the gorgeous Neil Sedaka song, The Hungry Years. Kim Huber arrived and she and Robert ran their duet of Too Many Mornings from Follies. Robert left and we ran Kim’s two solos – Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) and a put-together of two Harry Warren songs, The More I See You and At Last.
Finally, it was Jenna Lea Rosen. She began with a put-together of two more Harry Warren songs, Lullaby of Broadway and We’re in the Money. Then she sang my song, You Said, the first time this song has been done in public in over thirty years – it’s from my first original musical, Start at the Top. And then she did a put-together of Knowing When to Leave and Promises, Promises.
Prior to that, I’d gotten eight-and-a-half hours of sleep, not arising until noon-thirty. I answered e-mails and did some work on the computer and then it was time for rehearsal.
After rehearsal, I went directly to Jerry’s Deli for a dinner meeting that ended up lasting two-and-a-half hours. Back in 2011, I directed an act for Laura Wolfe, and she wants to do a new one, using some stuff from the old one, but with lots of new material. So, that’s what we yakked about, and we’ll start working on it shortly for an October debut. I had a patty melt and a side Caesar salad, and we shared a small thing of fries, although I only had a few, and finally we shared some carrot cake. It was fun.
Then I came directly home, caught up on e-mails, and suddenly it was time to write these here notes.
Today, I’ll try to sleep in again, I have several things to do today, including reading through the Kritzerland commentary and doing any futzing and finessing I need to. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat no more than 1200 calories, and then at some point, I’ll relax.
The rest of the week is meetings and meal, our second Kritzerland rehearsal, our stumble-through, and then sound check and show. Directly after that, we have our second rehearsal for the Group Rep show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in again, do things, futz and finesse, hopefully pick up packages, eat, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Since Fosse/Verdon is ending tonight, who would you most like to see a really good biopic about? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a fun and busy Memorial Day Monday.