Well, dear readers, we’ve lost another brilliant, warm, and wonderful human being – Tony Walton. Eighty-seven, which is certainly a nice, long life. He was suffering for the past few years – he did a guest “hello” in our Kritzerland anniversary online show and he could barely get through it. But he was a life force and held on and held on – until he didn’t. I can’t make this short. I met him in 1989 when I did the first CD release of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum on my label Bay Cities. He called and there was this lilting voice on the phone and his distinctive “Hello” that I’d come to cherish hearing. He told me he did the sets and costumes for the show – I told him I knew that and all his other incredible credits. He asked how he could buy a copy and I told him I’d send him a few, which I did, along with a love letter about his work, especially the Ken Russell movie of The Boy Friend. He called after he got the note and we talked and talked. I felt like I’d known him all my life.
Then in short order, we did the first CD releases of Golden Boy, Chicago, and Woman of the Year – and what are the odds of this – all with sets by Tony Walton. He’d call with every release – four in a row with his work. I met him on a trip to NY, planning an album and seeing Grand Hotel – with one of the most beautiful sets I’d ever seen – by Tony Walton. I called him immediately and he was always like a little kid when getting praise. He invited me over to his apartment to finally say hello in person – and there I met his beautiful wife Gen and we had a lovely little breakfast.
When I began record producing as a living at Varese Sarabande, we talked all the time, I saw him on most trips and even when he was in LA. He introduced me to Lauren Bacall and had her call me about doing an album. He asked if I’d do a recording with Twiggy, and I of course said yes immediately and that was pure joy from start to finish and Tony was at all the sessions. He was effusive in his praise always. He wrote me many beautiful letters in his wonderful handwriting, and I got him to do the album covers for Unsung Sondheim and Unsung Irving Berlin. And in 2005, when I was finally ready to make a new label, Kritzerland, it was his production of Noel Coward’s After the Ball that was our first album. He raised the dough to do it from people like Bacall, Paul Newman, and many others of that ilk – they all loved him, because how could you not?
He loved calling people their last names but with a “let” at the end – so I was always Kimlet. I’d send him big care packages of all the things I recorded – and a phone call always followed after he listened or read what was in the packages. He loved my books, and that meant more to me than almost anything. I adored him – he had a mostly wonderful life until the cancer – and his work for the theater and film is some of the best and most joyous that I’ve ever seen. RIP, dear Tony. We’ll all miss you so much.
We had us a good rehearsal, although the first hour of it was supposed to be me blocking the two big monologues and two solo songs – but I arrived at seven and there was a rehearsal in our space so we couldn’t get in there until eight. I was really irritated and probably should have called Doug but I was told they were on the calendar – but our show is supposed to have preference and they should have been elsewhere. So, I did call Doug after we finished and he said that that cannot happen again and hopefully someone will tell that cast and director. We have so much to do, and I can’t be losing time like that. But we ran all the group numbers we’ve done, then I blocked two more numbers that have groups and staging, so that’s two more down.
Yesterday was a bit of a bummer due to the Tony Walton news. I did get eight and a half hours of sleep, and once up I answered e-mails and did some work on the computer. Then I ordered a Philly cheesesteak sandwich from Jersy Mike’s – regular size, which is medium, and also a mini turkey, which is just a few bites. I ate both and both were good. After that, I had some telephonic conversations, transferred a few mor LPs, shot my half of an interview thing for LA Now and Then on my iPhone, and then it was time to mosey on over to the theater.
Today, I was planning to sleep in, but that plan has gone awry as I’m doing some Nudie Musical interview with Cindy Williams on the telephonic device and that’s at eleven-fifteen. Fortunately, it’s the phone, not video. Once that’s done, I’ll do some writing, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat something light but fun, and then at some point I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, we have rehearsal from ten to three – we’ll be running group stuff review (although we’ll be missing four or five people, which is infuriating but that’s the nature of the beast, I’m afraid. But I’ll also work all the solos, do the sketches that haven’t been done, and then try to stage the two new numbers that need staging. If I get all that done, the show will be blocked, at least the basics, and then all I’ll have to do is the wrestling scene, which will take some time due to having to be slow and methodical. Sunday is off, although I do have to write and I do have to prepare two new releases – as mentioned, several are ready to go. Then next week is all rehearsals and I’ve got to get this show into shape for run-throughs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do an interview for Nudie Musical, write, hopefully pick up packages, eat, and then watch, listen, and relax. 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, nothing. Blu-ray player, nothing, but am listening to the LPs I’ve been transferring, which is fun. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, sad that the delightful and wonderful Tony Walton has left us. But he’s probably already up in heaven redesigning the sets and costumes.