Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/17/2003 09:22 AM PST

First post - huzzah!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/17/2003 09:22 AM PST

I like to sing, but it's better with a band!

Posted by Barbara Cook @ 04/17/2003 09:23 AM PST

Late last night Michael Shayne posted some of the interview with Richard Sherman that appears elsewhere. There are several inaccuracies (mostly where the interviewer has mis-heard things) and I'm going to set the record straight right now:

I conceived the album.

I did all the musical arrangements (I receive no credit for them - they refused, and I got tired of the game).

I cast all the singers.

I recorded and produced all the instrumental sessions, and all the vocal sessions for the entire album. Two or three tracks that Grant Geissman arranged (it will be interesting to see if they even credit him) hadn't been finished and so those are the ones that the "new" producer probably added the sax to.

When Mr. Sherman says that the tapes hadn't been chosen, he means "vocal takes". That is correct. Brent did have to come back and rerecord his vocal which was "lost" (it wasn't lost, they just didn't know where it was - they could have asked, of course, and I would have told them for Brent's sake).

The implication, at least as I read it, is that the album had to be completely redone. Sorry, boys, but much as you'd like to put out that spin it just isn't so. Someone else comped the vocals (IF they comped the vocals) and someone else mixed it (which is why I didn't want the producer credit). The only session Mr. Sherman was present at was the orchestra session, which I produced. I can't imagine that anything was done to those tracks because we had a large orchestra and they were completely orchestrated by David Siegel.

There, I feel better now.

Posted by bk @ 04/17/2003 09:35 AM PST

I took piano from two different teachers for a combined period of six years. I was in choirs from seventh grade all the way through five years of college.

Also, when in college (when I was still planning on being a high school choir teacher), we had to take pedagogy classes: classes where we had to learn to play an instrument and learn how to teach someone else how to play that instrument. (Each of these classes lasted only one quarter.) I took clarinet and cello (my two favorites) as well as viola, French horn, percussion and tuba. That was a hoot and a half!

Happy birthday to Nick Redman! Today is also my niece's birthday. She's 19! We're all going out to the Olive Garden . . . both sides of the family (my sister and her ex-husband have been divorced for almost 15 years, but both sets of grandparents are still very good friends with each other!) Actually, my sister lives across the street from her ex-sister-in-law and her husband, and next door to her ex-parents-in-law! AND if that's not strange enough, both sides of my niece's family (except for her father and his new family) all have burial plots next to each other . . . me included! (It was my Christmas gift from my sister two years ago!) How's that for keeping it in the family!

Posted by George @ 04/17/2003 09:41 AM PST

Would love to play the piano and the violin and the French horn/English horn.

Sing a little.
Dance a little.
Play a little clarinet.

Posted by Randy Bachelor @ 04/17/2003 09:48 AM PST

I play piano. Took lessons in High School... that's a another story nevermind... anyway, I play a little organ and some guitar(enough to play chords and sing). I'd love to take real organ lessons someday, it's sort of a dream, and to have enough time in my life to practice piano so Chopin and I can become friends again.

Posted by Matthew @ 04/17/2003 09:49 AM PST

When I was in 7th and 8th grade I played the saxophone and was in the school band. When I didn't make the high school band I stopped playing. I had enough other activities in high school to keep me busy.

I can pick out a tune of a keyboard but to say I play would be an exageration.

BK - "American Idol" is a perfect example of how bad television is today. It's an updated version of Major Bowe's Original Amateur Hour (later Ted Mack's). The hosts are chosen for their obnoxiousness. There is now a children's version and the photos used to promote it remind of of poor Jon-Benet Ramsey. One critic said the saddest thing he ever saw on television was a six-year-old hip hop singer on this show grabbing his crouch. And yet the general public loves thse things!

I read that there is a remake of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS being filmed starring Jackie Chan. The sound you hear is Jules Verne, Mike Todd and David Niven all turning in their graves.

And supposedly BYE BYE BIRDIE is being made and updated as a hip hop/rap musical. Since there is no more draft, I can just imagine the crisis that Conrad Birdie will have to face. And will "Hymn To A Sunday Evening" be changed to "Hymn to Late Night" with the lyrics singing the praises of David Letterman?

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 04/17/2003 10:02 AM PST

I actually play the piano - but I don't work at it. Usually just enough to help someone learn a song they are trying to sing...or to teach myself a song.

Thanks for the interview info, Mr BK. Interesting insights.

Happy Birthday, Mr Redman. In your honor I will play the CLEOPATRA, STATE FAIR, and THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS cd's today!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/17/2003 10:10 AM PST

re: ALL THAT JAZZ..... I've always felt that Fosse's brilliant "On Broadway" (4-5 minutes?) opening sequence completely renders the self-indulgent A CHORUS LINE (in its entirety) unnecessary. Can't wait for the DVD. (And wouldn't a Fosse/Verdon commentary have been great? Damn them for dying!)

Posted by Drumm @ 04/17/2003 10:11 AM PST

I haven't watched much of American Idol this season (though I was hooked last season), so I can't comment on the current batch of contestants. But it is far from the worst thing on television. To give an example of how bad television is today, one would have to look to shows like "Fear Factor", "Joe Millionaire" or "Elimidate".

At least on "American Idol", there is a chance that one will hear a strong voice singing a pleasant song. And lest we get our musical theatre noses in the air, let's remember that the odds-on favourite for best musical this year has Harvey Fierstein "singing" in a lead role.

Posted by Dave @ 04/17/2003 10:21 AM PST

Just read that Robert Atkins, creator of the Atkins Diet has passed away...

Posted by Craig @ 04/17/2003 10:27 AM PST

Happy Birthday, Nick! :)

I took something like four years' worth of piano lessons, but since the lessons in question were taken between the ages of 5 and 9, I never progressed much beyond the "The Little Wig-Wam" level (at least, I think that was the title of the tune at the end of one of those books -- red covers with white writing, wish I could remember the names of 'em). However, the one important lesson I learned and still retain to this day is that Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (or, if you're a Brit, "favour").

Plus, I haven't even resided in the same house with a piano for nearly 15 years now. So even "The Little Wig-Wam" (or "Good King Wenceslas" or "Nut-Brown Maiden") would be rusty at this point.

I would love to learn to play the harp. Yes, the harp. Always been fascinated with it. Not that this has anything to do with anything, but I also keep toying with the idea of taking fencing lessons. Call me nutty.

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 10:30 AM PST

"American Idol" -- only Simon has a clue, it seems, regarding the pont of the show: To pick one very good singer who can be groomed for stardom.

The contestants aren't competitive -- they sob hysterically when someone is eliminated instead of rejoicing that they were allowed to continue.

The same thing is wrong there that was wrong with "Big Brother" -- everyone falls in love with one another and doesn't really want anyone to have to leave the house (without tears and great emotional outbursts).

Paula Abdul is too smarmy. Randy Jackson is too easily lulled into praising mediocrity.

Only Simon says what needs to be said and he gets booed and picked on for it.

It's a contest. Right now, only Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard are talented enough to sustain a professional career...and both have physical drawbacks (something that has been alluded to regarding Clay, time and again, but not - YET -- for Ruben).

And yet...it's "fascinating."

The emcee is a walking disaster.

Posted by Random Violins @ 04/17/2003 10:30 AM PST

When I was a wee sprig of a twig of a lad I had allusions to playing either the clarinet or the trumpet. I took lessons on both for a while but to no avail. Actually, I decided to give up both of them because I had also discovered the magic of theatre and was too busy acting to pay attention to music lessons. Oh, how I wish now that I had kept up with at least one of them. The same with my dabbling in dance, I never studied enough to be any good. I was one of those "actor that moves well" but dancing, nope.

If I could play an instrument, I would choose the Piano because I love the instrument and it would have come in handy in my performing years.

Happy Birthday Mr. Redman.

Posted by Ben @ 04/17/2003 10:31 AM PST

Dr. Atkins was in his seventies and had sustained brain damage, so it's probably better this way, unfortunately. :(

Who I really feel sorry for is all those other doctors and nutritionists who were counting on Dr. Atkins dropping dead of a heart attack so they could shriek, "You SEE?!!?!?!?"

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 10:32 AM PST

Well, we had another productive Career Exploration session. It was, unfortunately, the last session. So no more exciting Career Exploration stories :-(

Any way, so we gave our presentations today about what we are all planning to do in the future. The middle-aged hippie who's been out of work for twenty years, of course, is going to get a Celtic band together as soon as he can get a Celtic drum and learn to play it. (The reason he doesn't have one yet is because he hired a guy to make him one, but since it's made out of sheepskin, he has to wait for the sheep to die. You can't kill the sheep, you see, because that would give the drum a negative energy.) Then he and the band will move to Ireland where he will get his "mistress of some kind."

The guy who missed the first few classes because he got arrested said his only goal in life is to not meet up with his ex-girlfriend again.

Then the 349-pound psycho-therapist saw the clip from someone's backpack on the floor and got all paranoid because he thought it was a roach. (Remember the first class when he said he hated roaches?) That reminded him of when he was in some class and someone put a giant plastic cockroach on the teacher's chair. She sat on it and then jumped up and screamed. The 349-pound psycho-therapist acted that out for us. That was really something to see.

The artist guy in the beret wasn't wearing his usual black turtleneck and beret today. Instead he was wearing a polo shirt and a baseball hat. I never realized how much he looks like Tiger Woods.

Posted by Sandra @ 04/17/2003 10:33 AM PST

Beware, Lulu.

I took my harp to a party, and nobody asked me to play.

Posted by Gracie Fields @ 04/17/2003 10:34 AM PST

Don't feel bad, Gracie. Nobody will even bring me to a party.

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 10:39 AM PST

Dear Reader Sandra has just managed to fulfill her Career Exploration obligation at the same time as she keeps to the topic of the day (instrument=Celtic drum). That must've been darn hard to do, and I think she deserves kudos.

Unfortunately, I only have one kudo on me; but I'll be happy to give that one to her and if somebody else has one, then together we can give Dear Reader Sandra the kudos she so richly deserves.

*kudo*

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 10:43 AM PST

LOL!

Jrand: I just saw your post of this morning.

Arrowsmith = Aerosmith

:)

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 10:45 AM PST

A big thank you to one and all (not forgetting all and one) for my birthday greetings yesterday!

As was mentioned by Tom and Francois, I was indeed in Lyon, France where I celebrated the big five-oh by completely pigging out. The weather here in Europe has been amazing - 80 degrees today (which is probably on the cool side for Laura and Sandra, but here in April, it's hot!).

From my travels I brought back a new recording of Les Damoiselles de Rochefort, which is being staged in Paris later this year. It features some new songs by Michel Legrand and Alain Boublil, so I'll post more when I've listened to it.

And now a happy birthday to Nick Redman!

Posted by Allan @ 04/17/2003 10:51 AM PST

... and, on topic, I used to play the guitar a lot, but I haven't strummed for many a year now. It's sitting a corner, though, waiting for me to retire so I can pick it up again.

Posted by Allan @ 04/17/2003 10:53 AM PST

Lulu,

I know a really nice lady who not only plays the harp (beautifully), she even gives lessons. ;-)

Posted by Dave @ 04/17/2003 11:00 AM PST

The new recording of "Damoiselles" that Allan mentions just showed up on Footlights.Com. I'll pick up a copy next week when I get to that neighborhood, but you can order it. One warning: Footlights sends everything out certified mail and so they will not leave it with a doorman if your building has one. You have to schlep to the post office. It is the only company I have ordered from that has that policy which is why I wait until I can get to the store in person.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 04/17/2003 11:05 AM PST

Oh...thanks Lulu.

I was thinking of the book by Sinclair Lewis - Aerosmith.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/17/2003 11:08 AM PST

Thank you for the kudo, Lulu. I will treasure it forever.

Posted by Sandra @ 04/17/2003 11:15 AM PST

Jrand: No problem. I actually had to look at it for awhile, just feeling that something was off, before I realized what it was. I've never even read any Sinclair Lewis; you beat me there.

And I love the idea of naming the band Harold Smith because his three-year-old misheard the name. It reminds me of a Tony Millionaire "Maakies" comic where someone rants about a character in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: "George R. Binks??? What the hell kinda name is that for a space freak?!?"

Dave: Think your friend would care to schlep down here to give me lessons?

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 11:16 AM PST

Sandra: My pleasure. I was hoping someone else would chip in with one so you could have the full set, but it seems nobody has a kudo to spare.

Damned economy.

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 11:18 AM PST

Sorry, I only have Canadian kudos, and I couldn't get to the bank to convert them.

Sandra, please accept this metric kudo, for whatever it's worth.

And Lulu, I like to keep my harpist friend close to home, so she can help me raise our son. Plus, she's kinda pretty. ;-)

Posted by Dave @ 04/17/2003 11:25 AM PST

On the subject of record store clerks and garbled names: how about the clerk who yelled to another clerk across the store, "Hey! Do we have any Big Spider Back albums?" when the customer was looking for recordings by Bix Beiderbecke.

Posted by Jay @ 04/17/2003 11:28 AM PST

Well I am one of those who is hooked on American Idol. The one I have been cheering on since the top 32 is Clay. Love him.

Btw, re: the discussion yesterday about gefilte fish. Are people talking canned or fresh?

They are not the same thing at all. Real fresh gefilte fish is delicious. I'm not sure how many cities sell it. But there are many regular grocery stores in Montreal that sell it. Yummy!

Posted by Jennifer @ 04/17/2003 11:29 AM PST

Hey, DR Sandra, I just got back from the Kudos Bank and am full of them. Please take these extra 4. With the 2 given you by Dave and Lulu, you should now have a grand total of 6. If you need more, just let me know. Can you use kudos in the school cafeteria to purchase frozen things and other delicious foodstuffs?

Posted by Ben @ 04/17/2003 11:34 AM PST

Jennifer: I don't know if I've ever had fresh gf. The seders I have attended, while great fun and enjoyable meals, all featured the gf from a jar. I'll have to find fresh gf (shouldn't be hard in NYC) and give it a try

Posted by Ben @ 04/17/2003 11:36 AM PST

Dave: That's all well and good for the three of you up there in the wilds of Canada, makin' like the Sunshine Family. What about me? What about my needs?

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 11:46 AM PST

Yippee! I knew if we just shook the Kudo tree hard enough, they'd eventually come raining down upon Dear Reader Sandra like so much biblical fish. Life is good.

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 11:48 AM PST

On today's topic:

When I was but a wee lad, my parents gave me the option of going to Hebrew school AND taking piano lessons, or just going to Hebrew school. (Taking piano lessons and NOT going to Hebrew school was definitely not an option.) So, in the infinite wisdom that comes with eight years of age, I chose the path of least resistance.

Now, I'm someone who subscribes heavily to the notion that as hard as one may try, one can never change the past, but one can definitely excercise some degree of control over one's future. Ergo, I seldom regret any of my life's choices. I will tell you, though, dear readers, that passing on those piano lessons is one decision that I, indeed, heavily regret.

One of my fantasies is being able to sit down at a piano and effortlessly tinkle away the Classic American Songbook. Alas, it is just that: a fantasy. Soooooooo, the only musical instruments I play (and I do play them rather well) are the turntable and CD player.

Posted by Jay @ 04/17/2003 11:48 AM PST

And before the typo patrol attacks, yes, I do know how to spell "exercise."

Posted by Jay @ 04/17/2003 11:52 AM PST

When a bunch of you were saying how bad gefilte fish was, I figured most of you were probably talking about some weird canned version.

Try the fresh kind!

Posted by Jennifer @ 04/17/2003 11:58 AM PST

Jay, I for one would never, NEVER tease someone over a typo or misspelling.

However, I would *absolutely* draw attention to the phrase "tinkle away the Classic American Songbook."

THAT, I would do in a heartbeat. :)

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 11:58 AM PST

Boy, do I live in a different world. I just saw a Yahoo entertainment headline which said "Worley Entertains Crowd at the Pentagon and I thought, "Oh, my, Joanne Worley is entertain the troops". I read the article and found out it's a Country-Western singer named Darryl Worley. Oh, well. Live and Learn

Posted by Ben @ 04/17/2003 12:13 PM PST

Make that "entertaining the troops"

Posted by Ben @ 04/17/2003 12:15 PM PST

The phrase "tinkle away the Classic American Songbook" reminds me of the quote attributed to Richard Rodgers, that he could "pee a melody".

Come to think of it, he pretty much did "tinkle away the Classic American Songbook".

Posted by Dave @ 04/17/2003 12:43 PM PST

I am ever sooooo happy that my poor choice of words could brighten the day of so many.

Posted by Jay @ 04/17/2003 12:48 PM PST

Don't play. Always wanted to learn the piano.

So glad that Bruce set the record straight about the interview. It was posted because I thought Bruce would like to have seen it and make comments on it. I was actually surprised that it stayed in the posted interview.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 04/17/2003 12:49 PM PST

Jay (!): Please don't be mad. I just thought it was kinda funny, and couldn't resist. :)

Posted by Lulu @ 04/17/2003 12:59 PM PST

Oh, my Dear Reader Lulu:

My skin is thicker than that!

That's one of the things I love about this site. (It's the most popular one on the Internet. Did you know that?) I really enjoy the playfulness with which Dear Readers pick up on the humor (intentional or otherwise) in other Dear Readers' posts and run with it. Besides which, without my comment, Dear Reader Dave would never have posted the priceless Richard Rodgers quotation, which was new to me.

Posted by Jay @ 04/17/2003 01:14 PM PST

Happy Birthday, Nick!

I started piano lessons at age 9 and took for five years. I can still play but rarely do. I spend much too much time on the computer and watching movies and TV to sit down and play piano. But, it comes in handy when I'm in a show and need to play my part for practicing at home.

I started learning clarinet in the seventh grade. In the eighth grade, I was promoted to the first chair in the senior high school band which I retained for the rest of my secondary school career. I can still play the clarinet. Came in handy when I auditioned for A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE.

I wish I had learned how to play a stringed instrument: either violin, guitar, or banjo. I'm envious of those who can play them.

I have to admit I have gotten hooked on AMERICAN IDOL this year. I am respectful of real talent, and there are three singers there who have it. It's also refreshing to see people their age actually singing REAL songs and not what passes as music for much of the country today. I do think Clay is the most gifted singer, and I don't say that because he's from NC (which is where I'm posting this note from). I honestly think he has the pipes to be in the same league with Sam Harris as a singer/performer.

Posted by Matt H. @ 04/17/2003 02:00 PM PST

Maybe there is room in the orchestra for another player with Jay's ability to play those wonderful two instruments. I am trying to master the tape deck as well.
Prof Hill's method of learning to play instruments seems sensible to me.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 04/17/2003 02:42 PM PST

The Bad News: Dr. Atkins has died.

The Good News: He's getting thinner than ever!

Posted by Geraldo Rivera @ 04/17/2003 02:49 PM PST

like barbara cook, i like to sing...but i like to do it in 16 or so languages.

miss your face, kimmel!

Posted by Christianne Tisdale @ 04/17/2003 02:54 PM PST

Lulu: >

Or how 'bout the terrific character played by the Late, Great Peter Cushing in the first STAR WARS, Grandma Tarkin.

...... Nice to find another Tony Millionaire fan hereabouts!

Posted by Drumm @ 04/17/2003 02:56 PM PST

I believe Footlights will only send
certified if the order is more than a
certain amount. Many times I have
ordered from them (at LEAST 10
years now) and the package has
been waiting at my doorstep when I
got home. I've never had a problem
with them. They are a great
resource. They rival Dress Circle in
London, which sometimes the prices
are cheaper than Footlights even
with the currancy exchange rate.
Cherrio!

Posted by Matthew @ 04/17/2003 02:58 PM PST

Welcome, Christianne Tisdale - for those of you who don't know, Miss Christianne Tisdale sang on the last of the Unsung Musicals albums, and has appeared on B'way and environs (I saw her do Triumph of Love - the Susan Egan part) and she was great.

Posted by bk @ 04/17/2003 04:01 PM PST

Perhaps I should do some unsung Cds. With my voice "unsunging" sounds perfect. I would then have an unsung and unlisten Cd to add to the world's supply.

With my Cd player in the hospital for such machines I shall to wait weeks before I get to play "Nothing To Do With Love"
Welcome Christianne.Did you get to meet the elusive Mr Haines? (He may have been washing dishes at the time).

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 04/17/2003 04:16 PM PST

Message to Tom's cd player:

"Please, get well soon ;
sound... vibes to you! "

Oh, I'm very good at
playing....dumb, even though,
as I confided to Jason some
time ago on this heresite, i'd
like to play....the triangle, but
i'm too square for that.....

Well, in all modesty, I quite can
carry a song and do a neat tap
number, in English, French or
Spanish...... Yes, even the tap
number.....

Please, check with my
Impresario! ;- )

Posted by François @ 04/17/2003 04:27 PM PST

Francois: Is that Impresario 98 you're using or is it Impresario 2002? And did they make it for the Mac, as well?

Posted by Dan C. Kretz @ 04/17/2003 06:02 PM PST

And the tap teacher of a very famous star was also the teacher of François. (I am sure I read that on an important and accurate web site once - or was it an email from AF?)

I shall pass on the good vibes to my Cd player.
Tomorrow is I think "What are you listening to" day. I hope I have resurrected (maybe I should that for Sunday) some interesting vinyl.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 04/17/2003 06:04 PM PST

No, Tom, it was never made
official here ! I'm sending you
my lawyers !! ;- )

Dan,
It has to be Impresario 2002 !
I am IN, man, I'm with it !!

Posted by François @ 04/17/2003 06:31 PM PST

Richard Rodgers could pee a melody? I would pay to see that. Do you suppose that's how he got most of the score to NO STRINGS? And if he peed the melodies, I don't even want to think about where the lyrics came from.

My Heart Stood Still.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/17/2003 07:33 PM PST

Jrand52,

I thought I had read:
My Heart Stool Stild

which is utterly unseemly, isn't
it ?

Posted by François @ 04/17/2003 08:19 PM PST

Happy Birthday to all I missed. Just got back to Phoenix. As BK remarked the other day, he, my partner Lyn, Dear Reader Laura and I had a marvelous dinner. It was perfection-- the compnay, the food, the scintillating conversations, the secrets told.

The NEXT evening was seeing Elaine Stritch. It was as brilliant as I thought it was in New York. This time, howevr, I also got to meet Ms. Stritch, and she was as gracious as can be. I also got to speak to Shereee North and to George Chakiris that evening. What a night! I have a feeling that Lyn and Dear Reader Laura were almost as enthralled as I was. This morning we had the world's most delicious pancakes, but BK could not join us swimmingin melted butter and maple syrup.

As far as instruments go, I played the harp in high school. I'd always loved the instrument, and the school had just goooten a new harp and were trying to recruit students. The requirEments were two or three years of advanced piano. I could not read a not of music but bluffed my way into the program (and even got a scholarship for the lessons from the harpist for the symphony). I wish I had the chutzpah to do things like again. I told the teacher at the first lesson, and told her how much I loved the harp, so she agreed to teach me to read music AND to play the harp. I can still strum the harp a little, but I have forgotten totally how to read music.

Posted by Kerry @ 04/17/2003 09:08 PM PST

Happy day, Nick!

I play a bit of piano, need to
play more. I do just swell with
a chord chart, and can
certainly plunk out a melody or
a line or two of harmony, but a
full written out piano score
simply flummoxes my fingers.
Enough to get by, but I do hope
to improve this skill, as it does
come in handy as a choir
teacher. Unlike George, I
managed to get my music
degree without all those
methods classes in
secondary instruments, so
there's no clarinet and viola
ablities here. Wouldn't mind
learning to play double bass,
though.

Oh no! Whatever shall we do
without our twice-weekly Tales
of Career Exploration?!?!? I'm
sure I speak for numerous
Hainsies/Kimlets when I say
that it has truly become a
highlight for me. I know it
would be truly unseemly of me
to wish more of such wretched
academic experiences as this
upon our dear Dear Reader
Sandra...but there's a really
selfish part of me that hopes
there's at least some aspect of
her next class that can amuse
us all.

Posted by Jed @ 04/17/2003 09:11 PM PST

Hey! If George Chakiris is still out and about and speaking to people, why didn't he appear on the new "West Side Story" DVD documentary? I really felt cheated. Natalie Wood has a good excuse -- what's HIS?

At least we got a glimpse of him on the Oscars this year. That's something.

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 04/17/2003 09:34 PM PST

Instruments: Well, I've been playing piano since age 9 - wow, 26 years already! I haven't taken "active" lessons since finishing college, but I still practice my classical music every now and then to keep my fingers "honest".

I also played alto sax for a couple of years - grade school thru high school - but I never had the drive to become really good at it, so I stopped playing my junior year in high school. No regrets about that. I also started picking away at guitar when I was nine too. I know about five chords, and can at least figure chords out from the fret board positions.

I, too, took some music pedagogy classes, mainly woodwinds: flute, clarinet and oboe. I loved the flute class: we spent the first day spitting grains of rice out of our mouths! -Apparently, if you're mouth was shaped right, the grain of rice would blow out in an arc. A fun way to build you embouchure.

Oh, and I sing too - and in almost four languages.

Well, my Beauty & the Beast shows went very well. I had a fun time observing last night, and I played a pretty good matinee today. There were a few "uh-oh" places, but nothing that anyone took any real notice of. A couple of people in the pit said it was the best that any sub had ever read the book. -Nice pat on my back. I go back Sunday to finish out their run in Norfolk.

After the noon matinee, I headed back to Richmond for Hair. Good show - considering we were off for four days, and we had a great audience. -Now if the sound people would just believe me when I tell them that the monitors and mics aren't up... "But the board says we're getting a signal"... grrrr....

Sandra: I, too, will miss the Career Exploration reports. Hmmm.... Maybe for a topic one day, we could all describe a day in our Career Exploration class. I'm sure we've all run across certain characters in our daily lives.

And, Welcome, Christianne! And we've actually worked together... well, at least in the same place. I've music directed at New Harmony in Indiana - just outside of Evansville (Godspell and Always... Patsy Cline, and Ms. Tisdale has also worked there. Will you be back this summer? I won't :-( *Oh, and what a wonderful performance in Pajama Game at Center Stage!

And, last but not least, Happy Birthday, Nick!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 04/17/2003 10:03 PM PST

Re: G. Chakiris -- maybe he wasn't asked!

Re: Nick Redman's birthday!

Felicitations, Heureux Anniversaire!, Auguri!, Many Happy Returns of the Day, and Happy, HAPPY Birthday Dear Nick!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 04/17/2003 10:03 PM PST

Dear Reader Kerry left out a couple of other celebrity sightings. (Since I don't watch much tv or movies, I really don't know from celebrities.)

We had a sparkling time in Hollywood. We motored through Beverly Hills. Now, most people would take photos of the movie stars' homes -- I took photos of the flowers in the yards of the movie stars'homes. We also saw the La Brea tar pit and the Farmers Market, dined in the finest restaurants, and we took a peek at the new Cinegrill. Oh, yes -- and we saw Elaine Stritch. I have the most wonderful photo of Kerry and the back of her head (she turned, just as the flash went off).
I am also very sad that Career Exploration has come to an end. I think she should take the class again -- for our amusement.

Posted by Laura @ 04/17/2003 10:36 PM PST

I play a musical "instrument". It's called a radio.

Remember, there is no groaning at HHW.

Seriously, I would like to play keyboards. Not just piano, but all keyboard instruments, so that when Yes goes on tour in 2020 and Rick Wakeman is too old and feeble to play, I can step in!

Posted by Ray @ 04/17/2003 11:10 PM PST

Thank you, Hainsies and Kimlets, for all your sweet birthday wishes--I have just got home from a long day at the California Adventure theme park adjacent to Disneyland, and logged on for my daily dose of "blog." After my daughter Rebecca and I recovered from the twin traumas of the seder and American Idol's latest elimination, we set off for a 10 hour tour of Disney's idea of what California is supposed to be. It was our second time there and I have to admit it has a number of things going for it. Most notable are the simulator ride "Soarin' Over California" (which has a terrific original score by Jerry Goldsmith - quite simply one of the best things he's written in years) - and "Golden Dreams" a touching film on California's history. Corny yes, but damn effective nevetheless. Days like these always remind me of the classic line in Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch" spoken by old man of the village Chano Ureta. "We all dream of being a child again, even the worst of us. Perhaps the worst most of all."

Posted by Nick R @ 04/17/2003 11:17 PM PST

So, Nick, who's doing the "Soaring Over California" CD release? And could they possibly pair it with James Horner's score for "Captain EO"?

Just more pointless daydreaming. Don't mind me.

Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 04/18/2003 02:05 AM PST

What wonderful posts!

Dear reader Kerry - did Sheree North have on her fringe outfit from HOW TO BE VERY VERY POPULAR, it would have been perfect to see Elaine Stritch while wearing....

And Laura you saw the La Brea Tar Pits AND Elaine Stritch! The juxtaposition is somehow enchantingly apropo.

Ray - your YES ambition is logical and will most surely come to pass.

Jose - you know of course that New Harmony was going to be the Utopia of the new world, but it didn't quite turn out that way!

Another welcome to Christianne. What part did you play in THE PAJAMA GAME???

Posted by Jrand52 @ 04/18/2003 06:12 AM PST

Sigerson--

The score for "Soarin' Over California" is available on the California Adventure Park CD which also includes Bruce Broughton's music for "Seasons Of The Vine," the Winery attraction. The Goldsmith piece clocks in at a whopping 4.43 - but it's worth the price of the disc!

Posted by Nick R @ 04/18/2003 07:11 AM PST

Yippee! Just at this moment I have quite a lot of caffeine coursing through my veins...

...and I like it.

Posted by Lulu @ 04/18/2003 07:36 AM PST

I just saw Shall We Dance for the first time last night, and quite enjoyed it. It's not up to the standards of Gay Divorcee, Top Hat, or Swingtime, but still miles better than Carefree (my least favorite Astaire-Rogers collaboration so far).

One thing that really knocked me out was the Gershwin score. Is it really possible that one film could contain so many songs that went on to become standards? Even Peter (The Hubby, who really doesn't listen to music of this era) recognized virtually every song, from the title tune to Slap that Bass to They All Laughed to They Can't Take That Away From Me to Let's Call the Whole Thing Off.

What is doubly incredible is that, according to Robert Osborne, George Gershwin was generally considered to be washed-up at the time that he and Ira collaborated on this score. Apparently his Broadway work had met with a less than enthusiastic response. He made $55,000 for his work on Shall We Dance. $55 K! How obscene is that? Yes, I realize that was a small fortune back in the '30s, but how much scratch do you suppose has been generated over the past 50+ years by just, say, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off?

Ready for another amazing fact? Shall We Dance only had one solitary song nominated for an Academy Award: They Can't Take That Away From Me. And it lost the Oscar to Sweet Leilani from "Waikiki Wedding." OK, listen, I like Sweet Leilani as much as the next person (especially when Bing wraps his pipes around it), but REALLY.

Other highlights besides the absolutely amazing score: Fred and Ginger dancing on rollerskates. And they didn't cheat! Suspicious me kept watching for them to cut (so F & G could don skates with the wheels locked), and it didn't happen. In fact, the entire dancing-on-skates sequence consisted of two takes (as did virtually all of their dances). What's even more amazing is that if you weren't looking for cuts, you didn't notice that there hardly were any. In other words, there was never a static feeling, despite the fact that nothing was step-printed, heavily edited, etc.

Finally...OMG, fans of Streamline Moderne (aka: art deco) really need to see this film. :)

Posted by Lulu @ 04/18/2003 07:52 AM PST

Oh, just one last thing...just how popular was "Ochi Tchornya" (sp?), anyway? This is the third film I've seen from the period where "Ochi Tchornya" was practically pivotal to the plot.

(The other two: The Shop Around the Corner (where it actually WAS pivotal) and My Man Godfrey.)

Posted by Lulu @ 04/18/2003 07:56 AM PST