haines his way

09/12/2002:
"WHAT, MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS?"

Well, dear readers, I have yet another of my promised announcements today. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too? I have parsed them out because I didn’t want you dear readers to become overwhelmed by so many of them at one time. I wanted you to be merely whelmed. Of course, the caveat that I must always add to these announcements is, their coming to fruition is something we hope will happen, but I’ve been in this business long enough to know that even with signed papers things can change. However, that said, all appears to be full speed ahead on everything I’ve announced thus far. So, just keep your fingers crossed.
Today’s announcement is especially exciting for me, because I’ve been thinking about it for some time. So, are you ready, dear readers? I have made a deal to bring The First Nudie Musical to the stage. I’m half-way through the adaptation, and have been writing lots of new songs for it. All the negotiations for these various and sundried announcements have been going on for some time, but it is grand fun to finally be able to share them with you dear readers. There is a production/tryout tentatively booked for next May, but since it isn’t quite firm yet, I don’t want to say more until it’s absolutely certain which theater it will be (there are three that have said they’d like to do it). One of the reasons for my upcoming New York trip is to meet with potential directors for the show. For the last few months my days have been absolutely amazing – living in three different worlds – doing a few hours on the book, then a few hours on Nudie, then on the film – such fun and it really keeps my brain on its toes. It also keeps my toes on its brain, but that’s another story. I thought, at first, it would be hard to go from one to the other, but it has proved the opposite – it’s sheer joy, and I never get tired of it. When writing the first book sometimes weeks would go by where I just wouldn’t feel like writing, but that has not happened here. I have had to devise a system for when I start working on the TV show next week – I’ve come up with something that I think will work just fine, so that I don’t have to stop the forward momentum.
I will be giving frequent updates on all the projects – plus I have one more announcement for tomorrow. Something that would not happen right away, but the possibility of which is very exciting indeed. Stay tuned.
My goodness, I’m exhausted from all these announcements. Let’s all click on the Unseemly Button, because don’t I have some excellent questions to answer?

Well, we had more questions than I thought we’d have, which makes me very happy. So, let’s get right to them, shall we?
Philip Crosby asks how is Gordon Hunt related to Peter Hunt. Gordon is Peter’s brother and also father to Helen. Quite a talented family, if you ask me.
William E. Lurie has several questions: In the Hairspray Playbill bio for Mary Bond Davis it states that Ms. Davis was in the Ann-Margret tour of Best Little Whorehouse and yet she doesn’t appear on the CD. I believe Ms. Davis came into the tour four or five months after we’d done the CD. Do I have details on my forthcoming NY trip or with they be revealed later? Well, I do know that I’m coming in on October 5th and leaving the morning of the 9th. We’re just starting to make a schedule, as I have to meet with the theater where we’re doing the benefit, and also have to audition some folks. And meet potential directors for the stage version of Nudie. But we’re going to plan a night for us all to meet either at Joe Allen or somewhere else, not certain yet, but I will keep you posted as we get closer to the date. When is my birthday and when is Guy Haines’ birthday? My birthday is December 8th – Guy’s birthday is sometime in October, but I always forget which day. What is my opinion of shows that were appearing on Broadway at the time of 9/11, who used that event as the reason for closing (in other words, they were on the verge of closing anyway). Well, I have no idea what was in the producer’s minds, but I wouldn’t look kindly on anyone who would use a tragedy as an excuse for closing a show that would have closed anyway.
Jay asks which, of all the suggestions for new concept albums, I’ll be producing first? Well, I just don’t know, I simply don’t know, no, I do not know, I really wouldn’t know at this time, no, at this time I would not know.
JB says that one of his favorite albums that I produced is the Judy Kuhn/Jule Styne album. How did the album do sales-wise and have I considered doing another solo album with Miss Judy Kuhn. It was one of the better sellers of the vocal albums, in the top ten percent. I’ve talked to Judy a couple of times about doing something else, but for whatever reasons, it just hasn’t happened yet. But, you never know what the future will hold.
Pam has a question for Donald Feltham: When are you going to be in Chicago again and what is the status of the baseball musical? I had no idea that Donald Feltham had been in Chicago! Did he play Velma or Roxie? I believe Mr. Feltham has something happening with his brand spanking new musical, so perhaps he’ll tell us about it.
Arnold M. Brockman states that Mrs. Oscar Hammerstein stated that Jerome Kern wrote “dum dum dum-dum” but Oscar wrote “Old Man River” (actually Arnold told the story about Richard Rodgers and If I Loved You, but other dear readers have said it was, in fact, Kern). What do I think of this concept – the melody may linger but do the lyrics make the song? Well, of course great lyrics which sit on a melody perfectly do make the song identifiable in our minds. When we hear “dum dum dum-dum” we do think of Old Man River immediately. But there are other songs where a song will play and you can hum along with the music without thinking of the lyric at all. Of course, I can’t think of any examples right now, but I’ll open the floor to those who can. Is there a song that I strongly feel would be better served with new lyrics? Well, I don’t know – I suppose there are some Frank Wildhorn songs that would be better off with different and better lyrics – same with Andrew Lloyd Webber. His melody for All I Ask of You is really pretty, but I simply can’t listen to the awful lyrics. What is the most amazing musical find I’ve ever encountered? A song I’d never heard before the encounter. Well, there is only one answer: Almost everything I found in Mr. Irving Berlin’s trunk. But recording and discovering Take It In Your Stride, If You Haven’t Got an Ear For Music and A Lovely Day for a Walk were as exciting as anything that’s every happened to me. If I could advise Mr. Stephen Sondheim on his next project what would it be? Well, one doesn’t advise Mr. Stephen Sondheim on anything, project-wise. But I’d love to seem him do something where he could just sit down and write a wonderfully melodic and brilliant score along the lines of Company or Follies or Night Music. Would Kind Hearts and Coronets make a good musical? I don’t think so really. Too genteel and British, despite the black comedy of it all. Finally, have I heard Jessica Molaskey’s Pentimento CD, which Arnold M. Brockman thinks is the CD of the year. Yes, I’m happy to say that I was amongst the first to hear it, as it was offered to me. I didn’t feel, at the time, that it was right for the company I created and ran, nor given the circumstances of what was going on at that time, could I have picked the album up. I did enjoy it though.
Jed asks what is my favorite Schoolhouse Rock song? I am sad to admit that I have never seen an episode of Schoolhouse Rock nor have I ever heard a Schoolhouse Rock song. Perhaps I’ll pick up the recently released DVD and see what I’ve been missing.
Tom from Oz asks how I would rate The Lavender Hill Mob – better or the equal of The Ladykillers? What are my three favorite English comedies? I like The Lavender Hill Mob, but I find The Ladykillers to be a classic. I don’t know that I can pick three – but I’m very fond of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, A Hard Day’s Night, The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit, several of the Carry On movies (especially the delightfully dippy Carry on Cleo) and quite a few others.
Laura asks how old is Benjamin Kritzer in the sequel that I am working on? Without giving anything away yet, this book picks up where the other one left off – with Benjamin at ten, and it follows him to his thirteenth birthday.
Michael Shayne says that I previously mentioned that I disliked Mr. Thomas Shepard for tinkering with original cast album reissues. What do I think about putting the song tracks in show order or do I think they should be kept the way the original producer had them originally tracked. I have no problem with putting cast album tracks in show order, I think that’s perfectly fine. My problem with Mr. Shepard is that he will sometimes change Mr. Lieberson’s mix, or in the case of Gypsy edit in a different vocal or a different take of a song. That is what I find reprehensible. I’m sorry, but if I came in and did the reissue of Company and changed Mr. Shepard’s work, he would not be happy about it and in fact would scream and yell and cause a big stink. So, why he thinks he has the right to do that to Mr. Lieberson’s work is beyond me. Can I give an inside account of the recording session of Beyond Therapy. Certainly. We rehearsed for one day prior to going into the studio. On the recording day, we did the play in order. First, we’d rehearse the scene (and record the rehearsal), then we’d do one or two full takes of each scene. Then Gordon Hunt and I would compare notes, and we’d do insert fixes for certain lines we weren’t happy with (and if Mr. Durang wanted to do something over we’d do it, too). We started at ten and finished at seven. Then Gordon asked me to put the thing together using what I felt were the best takes. So, what I did was sit and listen to everything and as I did so I created an editing script, with very detailed directions about which takes were to be used for which lines. I then gave that to Vinnie, who put the whole thing together. I then gave that to Gordon, who listened, made some notes, and asked me if there were better readings on a handful of lines, and if I could tighten a few pauses – really only about two pages worth of notes. I then went in, made the changes I felt we could, and then spent a day putting in the background sounds for the entire show. Then, after we’d done that, I chose what music would go where and we laid that in. By the way (BTW, in Internet lingo), since they appeared to forget to put on a credit for the music, the song that’s used is Someone To Watch Over Me, and the pianist is Terry Trotter. At that point, I still wasn’t happy with the sound of the gunshots – so we fooled around and laid a few different ones in – including some that weren’t meant to go where they were – and then I sent that to Chris Durang for his notes. That was my last involvement in the project – so whether the gunshots got replaced or not is unknown to me. Other than that, however, everything is mixed and edited as I produced it and wanted it. Now that Cindy Williams isn’t married to Bill Hudson anymore, have I thought about dating her? Did I meet her at Birmingham or LACC? Well, I adore Cindy, but our little moment in time has long since passed and neither one of us would probably be interested in dating. I met her at LACC in 1965. What do I see as the next step in the evolution of the recording process? Oh, I don’t know – I suppose it’ll all be on computer. We already have Pro Tools for recording and mixing and editing, but there are tradeoffs in terms of sound vs. ease. Finally, what made me come up with the concept of adding taps to various songs on my albums? Well, I love the sound of taps, and when it’s appropriate in the arrangement or design of a number, I just think it’s exciting and fun to hear – it’s hard to explain, but I always think I’m making little movies for the ear, and the sound of taps paints a picture aurally.
Kerry asks if all these lunches, meetings and dinners, have anything to do with my upcoming announcements. Why, yes, most of them do.

Hapgood asks if among my stable of artists are there any that I feel I discovered who would have had far less success had I not initially recorded them. Well, not really – most of the singers I’ve done already had fine careers going. However, I do think being there for Liz Callaway was very helpful to her. Hers was really the first album by a non-Broadway star that had been done in ages (or at least I think that’s the case). And I think Michelle Nicastro’s Toonful series got her a tremendous following. Did I mark the anniversary of 9/11 in any way? Well, I can tell you I did not mark it by listening or watching any radio or television. But I did think about it, of course, and did my own private reflection. What currently working comedians am I fond of? I must say, while I admire some, I don’t really love any of them. I do love Mal Z. Lawrence, who was in Catskill’s on Broadway, and I still love Mr. Shelley Berman. What is the most recent piece of theater I’ve seen and what did I think of it? Well, I haven’t seen anything new in the theater itself, but I did finally see Contact on television, which I reviewed right after it was on. I will see a few things in New York, so ask this question after October 8th. What is my opinion of marching bands and have I ever been in one? No, I have never been in one, but I like to watch them on TV and in movies. Which type of saxophone is my favorite? Well, I love sax, any kind of sax, but I suppose I’m partial to the silky sweet sound of a soprano sax. Which unlikely stars of musicals (those who had a background in another medium) should have done more? Which should never have been let near a stage? Lauren Bacall should have done more – she’s too too much fun to watch. Katherine Hepburn, if Coco was any evidence of, I could’ve lived without ever seeing in another musical.
Craig asks if I’ve listened to Hairspray, the CD, yet? No, but I unwrapped it, so I’m close. This weekend for sure. How am I and how as my day? I am fine and my day was fine, too. Craig didn’t ask how green was my valley, but I’ll answer anyway – very very very (that is three verys) green. What besides work will I be doing whilst in New York? I will hopefully meet some of our East Coast Hainsies/Kimlets, and I will hopefully see a show or two, especially the aforementioned Hairspray.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must do, do, do, I must attend a meeting for the television program I start work on Monday, I must lunch, I must dinner, I must see Mr. Dave Frishberg, I must write, write, write (that is three writes which, of course, don’t make a wrong. Today’s topic of discussion: I have decided that today’s topic of discussion is now going to be our regular Thursday topic of discussion (that is, unless I forget that it is our regular Thursday topic of discussion) – what is currently, right at this very moment in time, in your CD player (home and car and work), and your VCR or DVD player? I’ll start: CD player: the recently released soundtracks to The Gypsy Moths (by Elmer Bernstein) and Mr. Hugo Friedhofer’s score for a film I’ve never seen, Above and Beyond. Also, the never-released cast album for The Capeman, which I’ll talk further about in an upcoming notes. DVD player – The Ladykillers and the rest of the Alec Guiness Collection, plus assorted episodes from The Outer Limits newly-released DVD. Your turn.

Replies: 48 Unseemly Comments

In the house CD player: I just put one in that I borrowed from Dear Reader Kerry but haven't turned on yet. Will turn on as soon as I log off. It's called "Lucky in the Rain."
In the car: "Beauty and the Beast" which the girls insist on since we saw the show on Sunday. Sandra likes Terrence Mann.
VCR: I believe it's a tape borrowed from Dear Reader Kerry of a Donny Osmond Show with special guest stars Bruce Kimmel and Cindy Williams. I've seen part of it, but the VCR isn't hooked up at the moment. (Short but uninteresting story.)
Posted by Laura @ 09/12/2002 09:47 AM PST

CD Player in my room - Carpenters "Ticket To Ride" with the best song ever recorded called "Someday"
CD Player in living room: Dionne Warwick, OBC of "A Chorus Line", The Beach Boys, Marti Webb's "Tell Me on a Sunday"
CD Player in the car - Some mix I made of songs that I'm teaching my kids at school
CD Player for excercise - Bernard J Taylor's
Whuthering Heights" not the best for walking!
DVD Player - Vanilla Sky
Posted by Matthew @ 09/12/2002 09:48 AM PST

Ijust took the OBC of Pajama Game out of the CD player. Before that I listened to Promises, Promises and before that I listened to Putting it Together (the Sondheim Manhattan Theatre Club piece). Last night at home we listened to the Philip Officer CD, Hoagy on My Mind, a compilation of Hoagy Carmichael tunes, then Anthony and I watched King Kong on Turner Classic Movies. Living in Manhattan precludes the need for a car and I don't have a portable CD player so that's the extent of CDs. Tuesday, after coming back from the dentist (I now have a temporary crown in the back of my mouth, no rhinestones, just a simple and plain crown) and having Pastina for dinner, we watched Harold and Maude. We still have four silent movies ranging from 1917 to 1926 to watch (all taped from Turner's Sunday Night Silents).
Posted by Ben @ 09/12/2002 09:55 AM PST

I'm quite excited by this latest announcement. Since I get the Nudie DVD, people in my amdram group have been asking me if we could get the rights to perform the show. I realise it will probably need a professional run first - but hopefully in x years time our dream can become a reality.
I have to admit that part of me is a bit disappointed with some of these announcements. I'm really happy for you Bruce, that you're finding working in film, TV, and theatre. But I miss your CDs! No one captures that broadway sound like you do.
Now to the questions at hand, or maybe at eye-level, my CD players are currently populated with: The Secret Garden OLC, Donny Osmonds recent showtune album, Unsuspecting Hearts, and the worst of Abba (personal compilation). The DVD player currently has the US Queer As Folk Season 1, and the video players have EastEnders!
Posted by Stephen @ 09/12/2002 10:05 AM PST

Well, I guess I need to answer the questions direct at me by Pam. I have only been to the city of Chicago once and that was many years ago -- I loved the city, but I don't have any immediate plans to visit there. I will however, like Bruce, be in New York, but I will be there from October 17th through October 28th. If anyone would like to hook up for coffee or a meal, please feel free to email me. As for my musical, I have written the libretto for a new musical and may have some news about it when I return from NYC -- and it isn't about baseball.
Posted by Donald Feltham @ 09/12/2002 10:10 AM PST

CD changer has the four new DRG Columbia reissues (HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD, OH CAPTAIN, FIRST IMPRESSIONS, and BRAVO GIOVANNI. Nothing in VHS, but finally got a chance to watch FUNNY LADY on DVD.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/12/2002 10:11 AM PST

Oops... I forgot to do an unbold. Sorry.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/12/2002 10:12 AM PST

CD Player: Hairspray - It makes for great car music - the upbeat-ness of the whole show really makes the drive fly by - and I spent a lot of time in my car this weekend. And the OCR of Evita since I just started working on a new production. Other recents listenings include the new James Taylor, the revival Into the Woods (which is starting to grow on me), the recent reissue of Dinah Washington's "What A Difference a Day Makes" and Bill Charlap's two jazz piano trio CDs.
DVD/VCR Player - I'm one of those people who buys tapes and DVDs, but take months - sometimes years - to finally watch them, so... I do have a nice collection of Disney movies to help keep my niece and nephew entertained.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 09/12/2002 10:13 AM PST

Hmm.... Just looking at my post, and it's all bolded... but I'm sure I unbolded - it even appeared that way in the preview - I wonder if it carried over from the preview post - ???
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 09/12/2002 10:15 AM PST

In the player in the car is the cast album of Howard Crabtree's "Whoop-de-Doo" with "Beyond Therapy" (bought through Amazon) ready to go next.
CD player in the family room (although all rooms in my house are family rooms) is the CD of the revival of "She Loves Me" (I bought my own copy after listening to the copy dear reader Laura lent to me). Also in that player is "A Bag of Popcorn and Dreams" ( a grand revue).
Family room VCR: the tape of "Contact" from earlier this week (which I have not watched yet.
Bedroom VCR: One of many unmarked tapes of episodes of various television shows (with me now wondering why I taped most of them).
Bruce, can I go to New York with you? If not, will you buy everybody a piece of cake for me?
Posted by Kerry @ 09/12/2002 10:15 AM PST

It wasn't me. I don't know nuthin' 'bout boldin.
(Well, I do really--thanks to Ben, but it still isn't my fault that everybody is in bold. Pretty soon, we'll use up all the bolding, be all bolded-out and have to start growing our own from scratch.)
Posted by Kerry @ 09/12/2002 10:19 AM PST

On the CD: Been listening to Janis Siegel's new CD, as well as Josh Groban and Tony Bennett Sings the Blues.
On DVD: Have just subscribed to Netflix and am catching up on movies I hadn't yet seen. Just finished Harry Potter (it was not as wonderful as I had hoped for) and next up is Lord of the Rings.
Posted by Philip Crosby @ 09/12/2002 10:25 AM PST

Hopefully that will unbold us all.
Posted by Philip Crosby @ 09/12/2002 10:25 AM PST

So much confusion from one little question! I guess that's what happens when one uses initials instead of names.
My questions were for DAVE FRISHBERG, not Donald Feltham. Sorry.
Posted by Pam @ 09/12/2002 10:41 AM PST

I'm hoping this is not offensive to anyone. I thought it might be fair to comment, since Bruce has already given an answer.
Relevant to his comments today of "What is my opinion of shows that were appearing on Broadway at the time of 9/11, who used that event as the reason for closing (in other words, they were on the verge of closing anyway)."
I'd like to comment that some of those shows were on the verge of closing before 9/11. After 9/11, tourism stopped dead in its tracks and business dropped sharply. If they had any doubts before 9/11, it was pretty clear the jig was up after that date. I don't recall reading that anyone "blamed" 9/11 for their closing...only that the loss of business afterward made it impossible to continue as their business had been rather iffy before that time.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/12/2002 10:41 AM PST

Hey!
How come all the posts are now bold-faced?
Hmmmm...let's see......I wonder if there is a way to undo it.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/12/2002 10:42 AM PST

Oh! To BOLDly go where no man...do the italics still work?
What happens if I "try" to bold an item?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/12/2002 10:44 AM PST

Nothing at all happened, that's what!
Yoiks!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/12/2002 10:45 AM PST

For our main stereo system, we have one of those 100 cd changers with a variety of discs. We are planning a trip to the midwest and I am taking 10-15 Bruce-produced discs to play during the drive (LIB 1-3, Unsung 1-3 & Sondheim, Cowgirls, Prime Time Musicals, john & jen, etc.).
DVD: State Fair
LD: Baby Boom
These are what we watched instead of the news coverage last night.
Posted by jb @ 09/12/2002 10:47 AM PST

I am emboldened.
Posted by jb @ 09/12/2002 10:49 AM PST

did this work
hmmm
Posted by the unbolder @ 09/12/2002 10:52 AM PST

I am turning in my credentials
right now
here I go...
sniff sniff
sniff
...thanks for not stopping me
Posted by the unbolder @ 09/12/2002 10:54 AM PST

Does this fix the bold problem I apparently started?
It's not bold in the preview so let's see.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/12/2002 11:02 AM PST

No --- that didn't work.
Anyway, regarding a topic earlier this week, Encores has just announced their 2002-03 season. In addition to their gala concert 11/24-25 --- which this year will feature highlights of prior shows instead of songs from shows they are considering for the future --- they are doing HOUSE OF FLOWERS Feb. 13-16, THE NEW MOON March 27-30 and NO STRINGS May 8-11. This is the schedule that had been rumored and it is now official. It's a good choice, because in every case the scores are much stronger than the books and Encores is noted for cutting the books to shreds anyway. Also, for the third time in the last four seasons it features two shows that have not been done in NYC in a long time and one that New York City Opera did in the early 90s.
Regarding shows that used 9/11 as an excuse to close, the producers themselves may never have specifically said that, but the media said it over and over again in their post 9/11 pesimissim about the future of Broadway.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/12/2002 11:13 AM PST

As I was the first poster this morning, I posted before the bolding craze began. So I decided to join the crowd and be bold.
Posted by Laura @ 09/12/2002 11:17 AM PST

Lemme see, most recently through the CD player:
Linda Purl - Alone Together
A Chorus Line (OBC)
Elaine Stritch - At Liberty
DVD: empty for awhile
VCR: Mighty Aphrodite; Memento
Posted by Jed @ 09/12/2002 11:23 AM PST

Mr. Lurie (and anyone else who cares to peek):
Of all of the would-be artistic directors of Encores! from last week, a number of folks picked HOUSE OF FLOWERS and NO STRINGS. (Perhaps they had inside skinny.) I don't recall anyone picking THE NEW MOON, though.
Interestingly, the Pasadena Playhouse (just down the street from my office) will be mounting a fully staged production of HOUSE OF FLOWERS in June and July of 2003. They are billing the Capote/Arlen piece as being adapted by Charles Busch and Kenneth Elliott. I am familiar with Mr. Busch's work, but not that of Mr. Elliott.
Inasmuch I have only been exposed to one or two songs from the score, the entire evening will be a revelation for me, adapted or not!
Posted by Jay @ 09/12/2002 11:39 AM PST

CAR CD: THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE soundtrack; I love Lesley Ann Warren, what can I say?
Home CD: the fabulous Judy Kaye in FOLLIES (thanks, Jeff) which also features Maxene Andrews, Edie Adams, Constance Towers, Brian D'Arcy James and Karen Morrow; HAIRSPRAY; Parker Scott's THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS; about 10 Bobby Darin cds including the Rhino (?) boxed set and the Varese one; and both business and pleasure wise: Original Soundtrack for ZERO PATIENCE.
DVD Player: TWIN PEAKS the first season.
Laser Disc: HALLOWEEN, Criterion Collection.
VCR: a nice Belgian production of MAN OF LA MANCHA with lyrics by Jacques Brel.
and, BK, yippee! for the FNM news!
Posted by td @ 09/12/2002 12:12 PM PST

CD's in car: The Beatles "Rubber Soul" (will be singing "In My Life" at a memorial service in 3 weeks) and Rockapella's "Smile"
CD at office: Suzannah McCorkle "The Beginning 1975" (this after listening to her Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter CD's this week)
Up next: Rosemary Clooney "Ring Around Rosie"
CD's at home: James Taylor "October Road", Kenny Rankin "Song for You"
On next week's shopping list: new CD's from Natalie Cole, Al Jarreau, Audra McDonald and Jane Monheit (and Heather Headley in two weeks!)
Posted by Phil @ 09/12/2002 12:18 PM PST

Stop the bolding madness. I feel like everyone is shouting. I shall drop the ever errant and truant Mr. Mark Bakalor a note right this very minute.
Posted by bk @ 09/12/2002 12:50 PM PST

You know, now that we are all bold, no one stands out any more.
By the way, Kerry, if you'd like your own copy of "the CD" you borrowed a few weeks ago, I'd be glad to make one for you. Oh, and I finally heard the entire CD for the first time -- they played it throughout the brunch after the service.
Posted by Laura @ 09/12/2002 12:53 PM PST

So now all us Hainsies/Kimlets are wondering just how does your lunch a month or so ago with Cybill Shephard fit into all these upcoming projects. Appearing in the movie, perhaps? Or can we hope that, as unlikely as I think it would be, she may be gracing the stage with an undoubtedly superb performance as Mary LaRue? Oh, the possibilities boggle the mind!
Posted by Jed @ 09/12/2002 12:54 PM PST

Music
In the Car: Hairspray
On my computer: Hairspray
In my head: Hairspray
I'm sensing a trend here...
Posted by Craig @ 09/12/2002 12:56 PM PST

Dear crazy people,
This bolding conundrum happens when dear readers feel the need to use HTML and are careless in its use and don't end the tags they begin (or they don't do it correctly).
Dear readers cannot undo this because dear users cannot modify their comments after they're submitted.
We could solve this problem here and now (and now and here) by not allowing dear readers to use HTML in their comments.
Sincerely,
Mr. Mark Bakalor
Agoura Hills, CA
Posted by Mr. Mark Bakalor @ 09/12/2002 01:05 PM PST

In My Car: The Stephen Schwartz Album with the Bruce Kimmel Rep Players
DVD: Gremlins 2
CD Player in the house: Double Polly Bergan release: All Alone & Four Seasons of Love
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 09/12/2002 01:13 PM PST

Mr. Mark Bakalor:
Are we all still crazy?
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 09/12/2002 01:14 PM PST

Oh, Mr. Mark Bakalor!!! I feel downright bitchslapped!
Are we feeling a bit cranky?
Posted by Pam @ 09/12/2002 01:26 PM PST

You're all still as crazy as ever!
Pam, I am never cranky. You are, however, crazy.
Mr. Mark "auditioning for the role of John Smithee in TFNM" Bakalor
Posted by Mr. Mark Bakalor @ 09/12/2002 01:49 PM PST

DVD player: nothing. Last played was "Best In Show"
VCR "Whatever Happened to Harold Smith".Cute UK movie 1998 with Tom Courtnay.
VCR (2nd) penultimate episode of this season's "Six Feet Under"
CD player" "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (OLC)
CD player. Roy Orbison's Monument hits. (Best Of)
CD player - David Campbell (Other half is addicted to listening whilst he exercises).
Car CD - Don't have a CD player. (Still listen to AM radio!!!)
Have asked for news of Paul Simon over the past year in this column and the "Real A". AT LAST. Looking forward to GOOD news.
Next to Cd player" More Anthony Warlow. could be good news for you Ron.
Record Player: Australian cast album of "Pippin" with Johnny Farnham.(Awaiting transfer to CD - the record not Farnham)
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 09/12/2002 02:59 PM PST

Now I know why I have never bothered with trying to be BOLD. It causes so much trouble. I'll just have to emphasise with UPPER CASE (or is that considered Shouting?)
Big news, My partner Colin is exercising (walking) and is NOT listening to David Campbell. The best of "The Mamas & Papas" is a nice change
Posted by Tom Guest @ 09/12/2002 03:12 PM PST

No longer bold but forever beautiful!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/12/2002 03:23 PM PST

On CD Player: "The Story on Page One," "The Pajama Game," "The Main Event," "Henry, Sweet Henry."
Currently listening to: Nothing.
"I don't want to talk small talk, now that I'm alone with you"...is going through my head, though. Does that count?
Tom: : ) Mr. Warlow is always welcome.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/12/2002 03:54 PM PST

At the moment (at work), I'm listening to the German (stage) cast recording of Disney's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. td's mention (above) of the Judy Kaye/Maxine Andrews/Karen Morrow/etc.... FOLLIES, reminded me that I SAW this production in Seattle! I was four rows from the front and could almost touch Judy! I also (ahem) have a CD recording of this production!
With rehearsals for BABES WITH BIG HAIR: An AIDS Benefit Revue, I have no time to watch anything. Although, one of the last DVDs that I did watch was the special edition, complete SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK. Loved it!
Posted by George @ 09/12/2002 04:28 PM PST

George! We must compare notes on our FOLLIES someday? Are they from the same date, et cetera, et cetera and so forth. Karen Morrow's "I'm Still Here" is phenomenal! And that final note of hers! Woo-hoo! After listening to this FOLLIES over and over again, I still think it was The Roundabout's loss in NOT using Miss Kaye as Sally.
Posted by td @ 09/12/2002 04:41 PM PST

I *never* leave DVDs or CDs in the player -- are you quite mad?
Last DVD viewed: Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson / Lindsay Doran commentary track) (rented)
Last videotape viewed: Swingtime, taped off AMC late Wednesday night, viewed Thursday morning. (BTW, those of you lucky enough to get Turner Classic Movies -- I am simply *green* with envy!!)
Last CD listened to:
Linda Ronstadt & the Nelson Riddle Orchestra: What's New (library copy).
Not asked of me, but what the hey...Favorite Schoolhouse Rock Song: Unpack Your Adjectives.
"He was a hairy bear
He was a scary bear
We beat a hasty retreat from his lair
...and described him with adjectives"
There now, we're all caught up, aren't we? :)
-Lulu
Posted by Lulu @ 09/12/2002 08:02 PM PST

WHERE is Suki, our beloved Suki? Where is Dolores AKA Lolita? Where have the family members scattered?
And Mr. Mark Bakalor, yes we ARE crazy, but you're JUST crazy enough to be part of us.
Posted by Kerry @ 09/12/2002 09:49 PM PST

Welcome back Lulu! As to the errant and truant Sushi and Dolores, well they are seemingly too busy for the likes of us. However, when they feel like coming home we will welcome them with open arms and a lovely bitch-slap.
Posted by bk @ 09/12/2002 10:43 PM PST

Yes, welcome back, Lulu!
I've recently discovered that "I Won't Send Roses" is astonishingly bittersweet -- achingly poignant -- away from the show. Anthony Warlow gives it a stunning reading!
And I'm growing fond of another singer I never knew about -- Jason Howard! Great pipes!
The marine layer -- better known as "fog" -- had made a dramatic impact on the Bay Area the past 24 hours. Yesterday was very warm and sunny, as were previous days. Last night, things cooled down and today felt like an early winter day (that's mid-60s here).
My office is on the 10th floor of a 12-story building and I can see out across the bay toward the minor hills that block the bay from the Pacific. The fog maintained a steady presence over the entire area until about 3 p.m. When it finally burned off, you could see the incoming fog bank billowing over the hills, just biding its time. It's moved well across the bay already and is headed inland. Much fog will greet the morning.
I have elected to take another vacation day tomorrow...will sleep in and relish snuggling under my comforter as the morning cool envelops my environment.
I've been "hearing" songs from "The Pajama Game" in my head all day. I don't know whether to simply listen to the CD of the musical play or watch the DVD. In either case, the amazing voice of John Raitt will be a highlight for me.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/12/2002 10:59 PM PST

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