Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because I’ve had a headache for most of the day and evening, my voice is feeling trashed (why I don’t really know) and I’m still tired, despite having gotten nine hours of sleep. Am I whining? Or, as the English like to say, whinging? I do not like whining or whinging so it shall cease immediately. I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but both the whining and the whinging has ceased. It’s gone away. It’s disappeared into the good night. And now, I think it’s time for a story – I’m thinking I should tell the story of The Randy Vicar and the Mini-Cooper. Maybe not.
Yesterday was quite a busy little day, mostly because I got up so late. It had been raining and there was no time to do the four-mile jog anyway, and I had to go off to a meeting with Mike Stoller, of Leiber and. Earlier this year, Mike had a new musical on Broadway entitled The People In The Picture. A recording was made, but for reasons that I don’t need to go into, the authors and the label to whom the project was being given came to a parting of the ways. Enter Kritzerland. Mike called me a couple of weeks ago, then sent me the recording. I liked it and told him if he wanted it on Kritzerland that we’d do it, and unlike most of these other labels who now expect every cost to be picked up by others, I agreed to pay for the pressing and the design and printing – that was very much appreciated by Mike and company. We had a fun meeting, ironed out a few details and the deal is done. We’re going to put it on the fast track and try and have it out in time for Christmas. I’m really happy about it, and I hope other producers will now see us as a viable alternative – first off, I can save them considerable money in the recording and mixing phase because I now know the outrageous amounts of dough that are charged for all kinds of services that are completely unnecessary. In fact, I told Mike that had I done the recording, they probably could have saved fifty to one hundred grand. So, I’m hoping the word gets out and that people will start coming to us rather than just use the two companies that seem to do this regularly. They’re fine companies, but so are we and with us they will save and the split will be more than equitable. So, Kritzerland will have its first new Broadway cast recording (we’ve had several new cast albums, but not Broadway).
I then came back home, but it was still too chilly to do the four-mile jog and I had only a short window to get something to eat, which I did. I had a sandwich and onion rings. Part of my throat being a little trashed, I think, is because Jerry’s Deli has been about forty degrees all week. I can’t imagine what they’re thinking by keeping it like a meat locker but they should stop or I’ll simply stop going there. I picked up one package and some bills, then wrote more contextual commentary for the Gardenia show. I’m almost through and will finish today.
After that, our rehearsal began with Shannon Warne. She was sweet enough to agree to do four songs rather than three, which was very helpful. She’s singing The Lights and the Smiles from Nudie Musical, Simply from the stage version of Nudie, and What Do I Do Now? from The Comedy Of Errors (recorded by Michelle Nicastro on Shakespeare on Broadway). The Kevin Symons arrived and he and Shannon rehearsed Here On Earth from The Brain From Planet X. They’re wonderful together. After that, Guy Haines rehearsed his three songs – Opening Numbers (which will open the show), Chinese Food In Bed, and I Want To Eat Your Face, from The Creature Wasn’t Nice. After him, it was Melody Hollis. She’s singing Annie, which was featured in What If, her opening number from her show, Melodyland, and Sing-A-Long, a specialty number I used to do in my act. The latter is closing the show.
Then we had seven young men audition for the LACC show. We’d already gotten word that Will Collyer, who’d done the Schmidt and Jones Gardenia evening, was going to do it, so we only had to cast two and cast we did. Then Alet came and ran her three numbers, all of which she’s done before. The first, When You’re Waiting For Love she did in What If. The second, I Need An Earthman was her big number in The Brain From Planet X. And her third, The Burning Bush, she did in the staged reading of Nudie Musical. Still to come will be three of the original Dancing Dildos doing Dancing Dildos, and Jason Graae doing All About Men from The Brain. They’ll be at our next rehearsal on Friday. I think it will be a fun show and I’m hoping to see some of our LA lurkers and dear readers there for the fun and frivolity and the merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.
After that, I finally took two Excedrin, but the headache persisted. I watched all the extras on The Conversation Blu and Ray, all of which were interesting. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I want to go lay my weary head on my pillow and get some beauty sleep and hopefully awaken sans headache and feeling stronger.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after another good night’s sleep. I’ll have a visit with our very own Mr. Nick Redman, and then I have a lunch meeting. Then I’ll do the four-mile jog, hopefully pick up some packages, finish the contextual commentary and go back to work assembling the script for the LACC show. Also, a word of warning to those who may want the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang CD – it will be sold out as of this evening so don’t tarry or dally.
Tomorrow I’m supposed to once again go to the engineer’s house to record some stuff – he’s already cancelled twice in two days, so we’ll see if it actually happens. Friday is our next rehearsal, and I’m attending an opening night on Saturday for Barry Pearl who’s appearing in Hairspray. We’re supposed to sup before the show.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Lambada (The Forbidden Dance) because today is the birthday of really errant and truant dear reader Jed. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to the really errant and truant dear reader Jed. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO THE REALLY ERRANT AND TRUANT DEAR READER JED!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a visit, have a meeting, do the four-mile jog, hopefully pick up packages, write, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall have ceased any and all whining and/or whinging.