Posted by td @ 05/18/2003 09:10 AM PST

If you ever wanted to see Bruce Kimmel dressed in a wig and bra go to www.brucekimmel.com and go to www.brucekimmel.com/bkbiobothpages.htm scroll down to the Ratings Game click on it an voila!

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 05/18/2003 09:11 AM PST

Not sure if anyone mentioned this before but Academy Award Winning British actress Dame Wendy Hiller passed away and Emmy Award winning actor Robert Stack also died this past week.

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 05/18/2003 09:14 AM PST

Sunday notes are sparkling and the unseemly comments have started apace.

I forgot to mention that the John Williams score for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN has now become one of my favorites. It is very Mancini-ish and reminds one of the 1960's caper scores - all of which Williams acknowledges in the 'extra' included on the second disk.

I am sorry, but I cannot watch 1776. As I have stated before, I cannot take Mr William Daniels in any form whatsoever, I thought I could - but since he is prominently featured from the FIRST FRAME of the musical, I had to turn it off, because he turns me OFF to the nth degree. Not just in this movie but in everything he does. Sorry, 1776, sorry Hunt and Stone - sorry, Jack L. Warner....the DVD will sit on my shelf.

The birds are singing and I have some work to do on newspaper releases for the theatre.

TD, I have a small collection of sheet music and a few scores. But photos are my major collectible.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 05/18/2003 09:55 AM PST

Lovely posts about Les Miz. Surely we have all seen it....any other memories?

Yes it is most of what a lot of people say...good and bad.

Goodbye, Les Miz (oh and Urban Cowboy, too).

Posted by Jrand52 @ 05/18/2003 09:59 AM PST

Good morning - again!

Wow, BK! - That meal you described sounds wonderful! Of course, if I had had a pounded steak with country gravy and potatoes, I would have gone all the way with REAL ice cream for dessert. Carbo-Lite, Scharbo-Lite! Pish-tosh!

-And actually, besides my chocolate donut and cinnamon roll this morning, I did have a biscuit with country gravy. YUM!!! My carbs for the day - and tomorrow!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/18/2003 10:03 AM PST

And as for today's impromptu topic... Yes, I am a pack rat! And I'm proud to be one!

CDs - Not a HUGE collection as I'm sure some of you have out there, but it's nicely sized. -And I am at the "random pile" stage.

Playbills and other programs - even back to grade school.

Sheet Music - Classical: solo piano, vocal, chamber music, opera scores, orchestral scores; fake books (I used to do a lot of parties); music theatre: vocal selections, vocal scores, individual sheets; and TONS of xeroxes (basically every recital and show I've accompanied and played for - in about 30 black binders, plus four boxes of "papers". One of these days I'll finish cataloguing all of it, but... *I used to be an assistant buyer for two print-music stores... That was dangerous!

Oh, and stuffed animals - I always seem to come across stores that had their Boyd's Bears on sale - and monkeys too! I have four large plastic crates of stuffed animals, some collectibles in the bunch too - and I'm thinking of doing an E-bay clearance. I've never sold anything on E-bay - Any pointers from any of you DRs?

I also seem to have a bad habit of accumulating bags of King Arthur All-Purpose Flour, and Domino Brown Sugar - Oh, I thought I was running out.. guess not. Well, there's always baking to do..

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/18/2003 10:28 AM PST

I actually enjoy the Carbo-lite frozen yogurt. I've only had the vanilla and chocolate, though.

I've been listening to the Brent Barrett AJL CD for the first time, and I must say, I like the arrangements quite a lot, and I like the sound the CD has - the distinct BK sound - a sound that I do not believe anyone could ever reproduce. I'm sure I'm not the only one here that is looking forward to more of that sound in the future. Always thinking good thoughts!

Posted by Matthew @ 05/18/2003 12:32 PM PST

JRand...
Yes. The Previn book is titled NO MINOR CHORDS: MY LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD. I've yet to read the Donen book. Let me know what you think. I skimmed Esther Williams' book when it first came out. In it, she describes how Donen and Gene Kelly tried to get her to quit "Take Me Out To the Ball Game." Not so nice!

Oh, if only real life were more like the movies!

Posted by Donna @ 05/18/2003 12:38 PM PST

Ok, been E&T for a couple
days, so must do some quick
catching up...
FRIDAY: DVDs - 1776, CSI
Season 1; CDs - Lost in
Boston IV, Follies...in Jazz
SATURDAY: vacation? I'd say
NYC... and I'm now less than 6
weeks from my first trip there!

As for today, I'm not much of a
pack rat at all. Sure, I have
various programs and some
sheet music and such, but not
so much that I would call
myself a pack rat at all.

Posted by Jed @ 05/18/2003 12:39 PM PST

Okay I haven't gotten to make any Trading Spaces comments lately, cause usually when I am online on Sunday mornings the new notes are not up yet.

Anyhow last night Frank redid a bachelor's living room in baby blues and dark beige and black. It was quite a departure for Frank and looked quite nice. The man LOVED IT.

Gen did a woman's living room/dining room. The walls were cream, bordered by a weird green. I thought it was okay. But the green color on my tv didn't look too hot. Although the woman loved it.

Did you guys here that there is going to be a new Trading Spaces on every Sunday (starting in july i think). It will be a family version, where teenage kids help. Laurie and Doug will be going with it (appearing on both versions). And there will be a new host.

I'm glad the chat is tomorrow, cause tonight i want to see who the Bachelor finally chooses. I'll try to make it tomorrow. I couldn't come last sunday, because it was mother's day and my aunt's birthday and I was out at her party!

Jennifer

Posted by Jennifer @ 05/18/2003 01:19 PM PST

I came close to buying a comdominium a few years ago, but when the idea got through my head that I was going to have to pack up all my books, my LPS, my CDs, my videotapes, my laserdiscs, my DVDs, I just couldn't face the prospect, so I guess I'll just be buried up to my eyeballs in media for the rest of my life. But what a way to die!

You're missing some wonderful stuff on '1776,' J. Howard da Silva in the role he didn't get to record on the OBC recording, wonderful Blythe Danner with a decidedly more feminine take on "He Plays the Violin" than Betty Buckley gave it in the Broadway version. And so many from the Broadway version recreating their roles so well. Yes, it's hard to watch the movie if you don't like Williams Daniels, but there are songs and scenes were he isn't featured. I'd watch it just for that if nothing else.

Posted by Matt H. @ 05/18/2003 01:29 PM PST

Regarding LES MIZ closing, it was one of those shows I enjoyed but it was never a favorite. I think the problem was that I saw the "Forbidden Broadway" version first and every serious scene reminded me of the parody and so I was inwardly laughing in the wrong places. This is not the only show that has happened with. However of all the big English Pop Operas (not my favorite form) LES MIZ was probably the best.

Musicals Tonight! Season Finale was the Gershwin’s LADY, BE GOOD… with the entire book and score and no added songs (like they sometimes do). The songs are great Gershwin including the title song and “Fascinating Rhythm” plus lots of other songs that are not as well known. The book is a perfect example of 20’s Musical Comedy – a very convoluted plot and more bad puns than really funny jokes. The songs aren’t totally integrated into the plot: “Jeff, what are you doing here?” ; “I’ve been asked to sing at this party”. Of course Jeff was initially played by Ukulele Ike whose contract stated he had to have numbers at certain times so that was how they were worked in the show. (Ukulele Ike became more famous years after the original LADY, BE GOOD as the voice of Jiminie Cricvket)

The original production of LADY, BE GOOD starred the brother and sister team of Fred and Adele Astaire and their roles were played at Musicals Tonight! by Jerffry Denman (one of Matthew Broderick’s understudies from the PRODUCERS) and Nancy Lemenager (who will be playing the Ginger Rodgers role in the Broadway adaptation of “Swing Time” next season). The two were a perfect dance team, perhaps because they did their own choreography. The show was a lot of fun.

There were 2 HHW connections with the show. The Musical Director was James Stenborg who was MD for "Lost in Boston" I & II. And in the ensemble was Andrew Rasmussen who was in Moby Dick - The Musical with DR Jason. And by the way Jason, congratulations on your being cast in those shows. You mentioned the money was bad, but I assume it was more than you were offered for those four leads you turned down. I think you made the right decission... especially since you will be back in NYC for part of the time so you can audition for other shows for next season.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 05/18/2003 01:51 PM PST

Dear Esteemed, saintly, and now properly carb-balanced BK....

HOORAY for you, my little bundt cake! I told you several days ago that you deserved, nay, had earned the right to treat yourself to pounded steak and all of it's accompaniments.

Probably my most sizable collection of tangibles would be my music library. It is pretty extensive, and when it comes to much of what is referred to as "the great American songbook" I have almost exclusively the original, first published sheet music for a song or a piece. In the later versions, you start to get "dumbing down" such as change the key, leave out the verse, make the harmonies simpler (and weaker) , etc.

DR Jrand -- Your story about 1776 made me remember an incident years ago. We have a very dear elderly lady friend who liked movies, and really liked Katherine Hepburn. I told her that she should really see "On Golden Pond" as Kerry and I had seen it several times and loved it. She said "well, I'd love to, but I won't go see it because I just can't stand that Jane Fonda woman!" Our friend wouldn't budge on her dislike of Ms. Fonda's political leanings, and so we finally made her a very carefully hand-edited version of On Golden Pond, with not one frame of Ms. Fonda's face appearing anywhere. You know what? It's still not a bad movie! :) Maybe some dear reader could do that for you with 1776!

By the way Jrand, I'm still trying to get over what a knockout you were as a blond 41 years ago!!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 05/18/2003 02:07 PM PST

JRand52 and Others...
I thought William Daniels was good in "Her Alibi." In fact, so was the rest of the supporting cast. Did any of you see it?

MusicGuy - LOL at your Fonda story.

Posted by Donna @ 05/18/2003 02:15 PM PST

I guess I don't shift house often enough or clean up often enough. I found a souvenier booklet/magazine from 1953 yesterday - the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. I had better not dig too deep or I shall find one for QE I. I know I have some slate pencils from my own childhood somewhere - yes, when I started school we had slates and slate pencils (my students probably thought I was old enough to chisel rocks).
Thanks Dr Kerry for the morning smile.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 05/18/2003 02:55 PM PST

the brand new Broadway Radio Show is now available for your enjoyment

Now that Mother's Day ahs passed, Michael Betts joins me as we listen to some memorable Stage Mothers

Posted by Donald Feltham @ 05/18/2003 03:09 PM PST

Just in case you haven't seen it yet, Melissa Errico and her CD got a nice review in the New York Times. And it's quite an interesting review too - the author's speculation about her career are... well, interesting.

-Just click on my name for the article.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/18/2003 04:37 PM PST

Thanks, Donna. Just bid on the Previn book. I read Esther's book, and she certainly likes to pick on dead people - but it was somewhat entertaining.

Thanks to all the DR's who encouraged me to watch 1776 anyway, give me time. I still think the whole idea of the founding fathers singing is unwieldy and there is NO suspense, we know they signed the damned thing, but give me time.

But anyway, I will have to miss the chat tomorrow night because of rehearsal, but I know it will be charming.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 05/18/2003 04:47 PM PST

Interesting article, Jose. I've taken the liberty of correcting the link - - if you click 'td,' you'll find the New York Times article on Melissa; if you click on Jose, you'll open your mail program. . .

Posted by td @ 05/18/2003 05:02 PM PST

Jose,

When one clicks on your
name, one goes to your email!

You should cut down on the
donuts!!! ;- )

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 05:06 PM PST

Thank you, td - I thought I might have done that by mistake...

Btw, the first Trading Spaces that was on last night - with the black-gray-camouflage living room (!?!?) and the boy's bedroom with actual cars(!) - WOW! YUCK!!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/18/2003 05:06 PM PST

Thanks, troubleshooter td!

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 05:07 PM PST

TD et François - Does it go to my e-mail program? Or your e-mail program?

-Ah, the joys of syntax and grammar?

-Where is everyone?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/18/2003 05:10 PM PST

Oh great!!! i'm just starting a
new year -- yes, i'm just 2
hours and 8 mn old!!! -- and to
read the NYT article, i have to
REGISTER with the NYT !!!
Good grief, Charlie Brown!

Jose,

Yes, it's OUR email, but don't
try to "get even" with us....;- )
This new year starts like the
old one! Grrrr...
May i have some cake, please!

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 05:16 PM PST

Well, Jose, when I clicked YOUR name it opened MY mail program, as if i were sending an email to the New York Times!
It would be quite a trick if when YOU click on YOUR name that it would open MY mail program. . .
I'm still here (Ah! a Stephen Sondheim reference!) but, will be leaving shortly to see DOWN WITH LOVE.

Posted by td @ 05/18/2003 05:17 PM PST

Hey, BTW, my syntax was
wrong, BUT td's was OK....

He was talking to EVERYONE,
hence his "you'll open your
mail program is correcto!!!!

You cheeky Jose!

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 05:20 PM PST

Syntax?

By God, they're taxing EVERYTHING these days!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 05/18/2003 05:39 PM PST

Dear readers.......... DR Kerry and I are going to take in a showing of "A Mighty Wind" this evening, and that will be preceeded by hunting down some yummy foodstuffs......nothing as good as BK's pounded steak, but we will just have to make do here in the barren desert.

We'll look forward to checking back on posts later this evening. Just wanted the Grand Wazir of Kimmelland to know that we weren't being E&T .

"We'll see the shows at Delmonico's, and we'll close this town with a whirl...."

Posted by MusicGuy @ 05/18/2003 06:30 PM PST

Sorry if I ended up aggravating you, François. -innerveux - ???? Is that even a mot? -At least registering for the NYTimes is free...

Well, now I'll remember to put any links in the "Homepage" field, and not the "E-Mail (optional) field.

And, yes, François, you may have all the cake you care to eat - and more! Multiple flavors even! -I'm actually in the mood for a Bee Sting Cake! YUM!!!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/18/2003 07:20 PM PST

Today has been a quite whirlwind
day: I spent some time at the Hessler
Street Fair, which is a Cleveland
area institution which has food and
music and politics and lots of old
hippies: I had a marvelous time! I
has a beef kabob and I shared a
crepe. They were heavenly! I also
saw many people for school...but
they were largely people that I liked,
so it was okay.
Afterwards I went door to door to get
signatures for a petition to get a
comestic partner registry on the
ballot in my city this fall. We were
pretty succcessful: My partner and I
got 19 signatures in 2 hours, which
is pretty good given the number who
weren't home, or pretended not to be
home.
MusicGuy's quote from "Put on Your
Sunday Clothes" reminded me of the
time that I did "Hello Dolly" and
performed that song. When you get
through every verse of that song,
you hear far more different articles of
clothing than you ever thought
possible. It's amazing. It isn't one of
Jerry Herman's better lyrics,
because it is so damn vapid. Of
course, our production was done on
a shoestring in a 100 seat theater,
so maybe the song is better and ore
effective when it is a bigger
spectacle.
Of course, MusicGuy and Kerry will
certainly come home before they
kiss a girl. They will probably kiss
each other, though!

Jason: Etches is a fantastically fun
part. You get to be all British and
snobby. Also, he gets part of what is
probably my favorite song in the
show: the peerlessly eerie "Dressed
In Your Pajamas in the Grand
Salon." Maybe I'll try to come see
you, Jason.

Posted by Hapgood @ 05/18/2003 07:25 PM PST

I know you know: I was joking
and pretending to be "énervé"
-- "nerveux" is agitated or...
nervous, of course --....thank
you for letting me indulge in a
cake orgy!.....

I've never heard of a Bee Sting
Cake -- honey in i? Pooh
would LOVE that! --....

Mais où est tout le monde ce
soir?

Hey, MusicGuy, Delmonico's is
a long time gone, and Betty
says:
"Come up to my place!"......

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 07:30 PM PST

Hapgood,
which side of the crêpe did you
share?

"Old hippies" is redundant,
like... rude Frenchman.... ;- )

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 07:33 PM PST

Well, Dear Readers, I'm home from what has been one of the longest (yet most enjoyable) days I've had in recent memory. I rose quite early to give a listen to LES MIZ so I could get most of my mourning out before my day of fun. I proceeded to meet some friends at Grand Central and we sojourned to Yankee Stadium, hoping to catch the Yankee/Rangers game. It was sold out. We didn't want to completely miss out on the experience, so we each paid $4 for an honest to God ballpark hot dog and then, since we were in the Bronx already, and it was a truly gorgeous day, I suggested we hop on the bus and go to the Bronx Zoo, which we did. It was a truly wonderful experience. I had no idea that the Bronx could be so lovely! Trees and hills and things...I felt like I was on a vacation from the City! After the zoo, we went to a friend's apartment in Queens and supped on mediocre take-out Italian food that really seemed to hit the spot after walking all day long. Now

I'm home and I'm realizing that LES MIZ is probably going to be officially over and done in about 5 minutes. I didn't think I'd be so sad about it, but I am. Oh, well...c'est la vie, n'est-ce pas?

Hapgood: I'm quite excited at the prospect of what I might be able to do with the part of Etches. I do hope you'll be able to come see it!

Oh! And congrats to HAIRSPRAY for winning so many Drama Desk Awards!

Posted by Jason @ 05/18/2003 08:01 PM PST

Click on my name for the link to Broadway.com's list of Drama Desk Winners.

Posted by Jason @ 05/18/2003 08:05 PM PST

Francois: We both worked along the
crepe in the same directtion, so I
didn't really have a specific half. It
was a dessert crepe with two types
of whipped cream. These vendors
are at the street fair every year, and
one of the big reasons that I came
this year.
Jason: Oh, the zoo! One of my
favorite things to do. I haven't been
to one in years, but I think I'll need to
go this summer. Maybe I'll take a
little kid, or go with a big group of
friends my own age. We shall see.
I make no promises about coming to
see Titanic, but I do love the score,
and it wold be a thrill to see you act,
in all of your studly glory.

Posted by Hapgood @ 05/18/2003 08:24 PM PST

I love her
But every day I'm learning
All my life I've only been pretending
Without me her world will go on turning
A world that's full of happiness
That I have never known!

Posted by Black @ 05/18/2003 08:37 PM PST

Had you been there tonight
You might know how it feels
To be struck to the bone
In a moment of breathless delight!
Had you been there tonight
You might also have known
How the world may be changed
In just one burst of light!
And what was right
Seems wrong
And what was wrong
Seems right...

Posted by Red @ 05/18/2003 08:44 PM PST

In my life
I'm no longer alone
Now the love in my life
Is so near
Find me now, find me here!

Posted by Cosette @ 05/18/2003 08:53 PM PST

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we'll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

Posted by sa @ 05/18/2003 09:01 PM PST

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men...
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again...
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drum,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes...

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!

Posted by Enjrolas @ 05/18/2003 09:08 PM PST

Will you believe that I have
NEVER ever seen Les
Misérables?!?!?

That Rockwell journalist of The
new york times IS in love with
Melissa no doubt!

"Bourgeois music; Bourgeois
Diva"?!?!.... Now, now! LOL

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 09:27 PM PST

Our ver own Vinnie is listed in the final credits of DOWN WITH LOVE! Which is the most charming, the most over-the-top, the simply too-too comedy I have seen in quite a while!

I thought I was gonna plotz when it went into split screen, ala Rock and DoDo's bath in PILOW TALK!

Opening credits are better than CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - all day-glo to a fab duet of "Down with Love." Judy Garland also makes an eerie (well, it was eerie to me) appearance singing the same song; oh, and stick with the credits, for Rennee and Ewan get a charming duet, and Marc Shaiman appears as their pianist.

Highly recommended by yours truly.

Posted by td @ 05/18/2003 09:30 PM PST

td,

The opening credits to CATCH
ME IF YOU CAN were
designed by French artists
so.... they can't come second
to DOWN WITH LOVE's!!!
Wink, wink!!

Posted by François @ 05/18/2003 10:08 PM PST

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we'll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

Posted by . @ 05/19/2003 06:07 AM PST