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February 24, 2022:

FULLY CAST

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we began our second journey for L.A. Now and Then, the musical revue I created in 2016. The best news thirty minutes into our meet-and-greet and first music rehearsal was that we’re finally fully cast. We read the actor for the Yacko part and gave it to him. He’s a well-known West Coast musical theater person but hasn’t done anything for a few years now – Jeffrey Rockwell is his name and I think he’ll do a fine job in the show. I know his energy is good and I already know he takes direction well, having given him some when he was singing for me. For Doug and me, it’s a big weight off our shoulders. He was pushing for a Group Rep member to do it, but while I really love the actor he was pushing, I just felt he wasn’t the right fit for the show, as talented as he is. There were many reasons I thought that, none of which has to do with his talent. And we got our final gal and happily she’s black. So, I think we have a lovely cast now, with some very strong voices. Everyone introduced themselves to each other and I gave my standard spiel and taught them the word JEF, which I teach to all my casts – JEF meaning Joy Energy Fun. Have that, you cannot fail. They learned the group numbers first – there really aren’t that many – the opening number, the close of act one, the song that accompanies the gay history monologue, and the finale. After that, I assigned the three girls to do The Helms Man, and I also assigned several solos for the girls. I haven’t assigned any guy solos because we were missing someone, and I need to hear all of them to see what they can handle. The missing actor will be with us on Saturday. So, we made sure the keys will all work and all but one do – the one that didn’t we had to raise a minor third. It’s a little unnerving that everyone keeps masked – hard to hear the singing that way, but I suppose masks will come off once we’re in run-throughs. So, it was a fast three hours, and I was happy to be back in a theater rehearsing. I also forgot how tuneful some of the show is – I really haven’t listened to it in quite some time.

Yesterday was a pretty nice day. I got eight hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, and then drove to the car dealer and got my replaced light and they got the tire pressure where it needed to be. I actually think they forgot to order the navigation module, but it’s been ordered now and will hopefully be here next week. When I bring the car in for that, then their auto body folks will take care of the little scratches from my mishap with the rear bumper.

Then I came right home and ordered a Stanley’s chopped salad from Stanley’s with a 50% off coupon. That arrived and it was great – I haven’t had it in quite a while. I’m going to try and eat only salads for the next few days. Once that was eaten, I did some work on the computer, had some telephonic conversations, and then moseyed on over to the mail place to pick up more Pepcid ordered from Amazon. There was a fun green envelope there, too – Writer’s Guild residual for The Faculty – that will buy a week’s worth of dinners, so that was nice. I came back home and opened the package only to find Airborne and not Pepcid. I checked my order page and sure enough I ordered Airborne and not Pepcid. So, I placed an order for two large bottles of Pepcid, and they’ll be here on Friday. I have about ten left so that should be fine. In fact, I haven’t had any today at all and don’t feel as if I’ll need to. Then I went to the theater, and you know all that stuff already. I came right home after rehearsal and had a few potato chips and some peanuts for a little snack.

Today, I’ll be up by eleven or thereabouts, I have a telephonic meeting at some point around then, and another telephonic meeting around one-thirty. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll probably eat another salad from Stanley’s, perhaps a chicken Caesar or a Chinese chicken salad. I can order on the phone and pick up since it’s really barely five minutes here. Then we have our second rehearsal. There’s a chance our choreographer will show up, in which case that’s how the evening will go. If she doesn’t, we’ll stage the numbers I did – the opening and finale, the end of act one and the quartet number. I’ll have the video ready so we can set those easily. We’ll be using tracks for the rehearsals, and hopefully Richard Allen can be with us next week for at least one music-only rehearsal.

Tomorrow, I have off, so that will be nice, Saturday is a ten to three rehearsal for choreography. If we finish that early, I’ll start the other blocking. Sunday is off, as is Monday, and then it’s four more rehearsals and, shockingly, a new month. Go know.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven, have a telephonic meeting, have another telephonic meeting, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and then have a rehearsal. Today’s topic of discussion: When you listen to orchestral music, which are your favorite instruments to hear? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, so happy to be fully cast.

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