Posted by bk @ 05/30/2003 08:56 AM PST

It's true.. I am E&T with the interview.. I would do it this very moment.. but I am off to a second interview and need all the Hainsies and Kimlet's thoughts and prayers of good luck. I'll be posting the interview AS SOON as I get back... and will let everyone know.

Posted by Craig @ 05/30/2003 08:57 AM PST

Hooray, I went home for lunch, met the mailman and he had my copy of Kritzerland!!!

I'm listening to OCR Sweet Charity, OCR Promises, Promises, OCR City of Angels (Stein, I would love to play).

I will be seeing the very interview subject tonight, Mr. Seth Rudetsky, courtesy of my old Union, Actor's Equity. I'm looking forward to it.

Long post of who I am follows:

My name is Ben McLaughlin and I live in New York City. I’ve been here for 23 years, living in the same apartment for 20 of those years. I was born in Detroit, MI but grew up in a small suburb of Minneapolis, MN (Coon Rapids) with 4 sisters and 2 brothers (I'm number 3 in the mix). I was an actor for many years in MN and NY but 12 years ago I decided to remove myself from the ranks of actors seeking work. I miss parts of the “business”, especially when I see good theatre but I don’t regret my choice (sort of an Edith Piaf reference). I played all sorts of roles although there are some roles I would still like to play (John Adams in 1776 for instance). Since I’ve left performing I try to see as much theatre as I can. I prefer theatre to the current crop of movies today.

I work in the field of philanthropy at The Foundation Center. We track and publish research and other information about philanthropy and the foundation world. I love my job (how lucky) so I don’t have much to complain about since I left the biz.

My partner, Anthony, and I have been together for 8 years (in August) and I couldn’t be happier.

I found HHW by accident because I was looking for Internet radio shows that played theatre and show and soundtrack music. I found the old site (many of you know what I’m talking about) and listened to the archives of Donald Feltham’s old Broadway radio shows. I finished listening to those shows and searched again. This time I found HHW in the spring of 2002 and I’ve been a DR ever since.

I love to read, to travel (we just came back from a wonderful trip to Key West), play with my computer, and listen to CDs, focusing on OCRs, soundtracks, vocals, and jazz. I don’t have all of BKs CDs but I have a lot of them.

In my quest for theatre music on the Internet, I happened across two programs on the BBC, Stage and Screen, in London and Showtime from Cardiff, Wales (Francois hears them in France also). I sent e-mail to Beverly Humphreys, the presenter of Showtime, complementing her on her show and I have now become an irregular reviewer for them. I’ve been on three times so far and as long as there is theatre in New York and Showtime is on in Wales, I hope to be there with her and Kathryn, the producer. It’s very exciting and great fun. Radio has always been a love of mine. I worked for the radio station at the University of Minnesota (KUOM) oh, so many years ago, doing any number of different shows but radio in the U.S. now, with a few exceptions, is not much to talk about.

This is turning into a much longer piece than I planned so I’ll stop now and let someone else take over.

Posted by Ben @ 05/30/2003 09:31 AM PST

P.S., the link on my name takes you to The Foundation Center Web site in case you're interested in seeing what we do and who we are.

Posted by Ben @ 05/30/2003 09:32 AM PST

Well, I guess I am one of the first to introduce myself. My name is Michael Barnum, I am 39 years old, and work for the State of Oregon, and in my spare time I am a freelance writer. As a writer I specialize in interviewing actors and actresses from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s and have had articles published in Filmfax, Films of the Golden Age, Classic Images, and, very shortly, will have a couple of articles in Scarlet Street magazine.I am a big fan of old movies, particularly of the B-rate variety. Jrand52 (who I have had the pleasure of knowing for a few years now) and I, share a love of 50s actress Allison Hayes, who I consider one of the best of the B actresses of that era.

I am a native Oregonian, having grown up in Medford, but now live in Salem, the capitol of this beautiful state. My favorite vacations spots are the Oregon Coast, Los Angeles, and Japan (only been there once, but it was a blast).

Well, I don't know what else to say about myself, but I look forward to reading everyone elses bios!

Posted by MBarnum @ 05/30/2003 09:35 AM PST

Hi all y'all,

I'm rushing off to work, so I'll make this brief. I live in Phoenix with MusicGuy, and DR's Laura and Sandra also are in our fair (and hot) city.

I'm older than I ever thought I'd be. (or is intended to be?)(a Roxy Hart reference sadly cut from the film, as I recall).

I'll tell you more about my checkered past later. Have fun everybody. And if this is roll call, where are Karen and Cubby and Lonnie?

Continued good vibes to WFO and Little Joe.

Wishing Craig luck too.

Posted by Kerry @ 05/30/2003 09:37 AM PST

I don't know about Karen and Lonnie, but Cubby is playing drums in the orchestra pit of Gypsy with Bernadette Peters.

As for me, I am a retired English/drama teacher with a strong interest in musical theatre. Born in 1946 - you figure it out, math is not my forte.

Posted by OM TIme @ 05/30/2003 09:49 AM PST

Topic #1 -

CD Player - I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change OCR - I'll be starting this show in about two weeks, so... And it was produced by our very own esteemed, BK!

DVD Player - I don't have one up here when I work in DC, so... But the one I have in Richmond still has a nice stack sitting next to it.

VCR - No VCR player up here either...

-At least I have the cable modem up here - wireless too!

Topic #2 - Roll Call

-I'll keep this one short and listy for now - The sun has come out, and I believe I am going to go out for a nice run in a little bit.

The facts:

Full name: Jose Carlos Simbulan

DOB: August 26, 1968 - And DR Jrand shares that wonderful natal day with me - although not the same year. ;-)

Both my parents are from the Philippines, and I was born in Boston, MA. My Mom is a registered dietitian, and my Dad was in the Coast Guard, so I traversed the country a few times while growing up - Boston; New London; Washington, DC, Port Angeles, WA; Seattle, WA; Ledyard, CT; Arlington, VA. -One big triangle more or less. *My Dad used to cook for the Secretary of Transportation - Ms. Dole, Mr. Pineda (?), and he currently is the "mess cook" for Health & Human Services.

-Oh, I've been meaning to visit the Pacific Northwest again now that I'm older.. Maybe I can arrange something with the other DRs who are out there...

My family finally "settled" in Arlington, VA just outside of DC when I was 11 years old, and I consider this more or less my "home town". I then went off to college in Richmond, VA, to attend Virginia Commonwealth University, and I hold a B.M. in Piano Performance from there. After some years of touring, and living back at home, more or less, I moved back to Richmond five years ago - may be six by now - hmmm...

I've been working professionally as a musician since my junior year in high school. Throughout college, I played shows, and also accompanied many, many singers and instrumentalists for recitals and jury work.

My past year of work has been particularly wonderful:

The Sondheim Celebration at the Kennedy Center - I was the rehearsal pianist for Sweeney Todd, and A Little Night Music. What a gig! Great people, and a very special time. Then I went onto two months with the Elton John and Tim Rice Aida also at the Kennedy Center. Then Carmen Jones (again at the Kennedy Center) with Vanessa Williams, and conducted by Placido Domingo, and South Pacific at Arena Stage. I've also done a few weeks with the Second National Tour of Mamma Mia! and the Third National of Beauty & The Beast.

Currently, I am in the pit for 1776 at "Historic Ford's Theatre". I'm just here for the last three weeks of the run, but it's nice to be back at Ford's, and back up in DC for a bit. Before this, I was fortunate enough to be home for a while in Richmond, AND working on a production of Hair for my alma mater.

And, yes, unfortunately, I do live in Richmond, but I work mainly up in DC. -To be a full-time musician in Richmond still means that you'd have to work a day job to earn most of your income, so... But it works out nicely. When all four boys moved out of the house, my parents bought a bigger house, so if I don't get housing - or want to save my per diem - I stay with them when I work in DC. And it makes it very easy for me to spend time with my nieces and nephew when they come to visit - truly THE cutest kids in the world!

Other facts about me: I've lost about 40 pounds so far since last August - just way too many parties and receptions during the Sondheim Celebration. I'm not sure how much more I want to lose, but I'll just see where things go. And, yes, I'm doing it under the ever watchful gaze of Chet and Eileen - of course, I know how to hide really well every now and then. ;-)

I'm also a pretty good cook, and have found myself - MANY times - at 4:00AM waiting for some cakes to cool, or cutting up biscotti for their second baking. Main dish wise, braising is my new favorite method, and I found a killer recipe for Chinese-style braised beef short ribs. WOW!

I fold origami during shows sometimes, and will give away the folds to kids in the audience - if I can reach up out of the pit to get to them. I used to knit, but not so much any more.

If you happen to be going to a city that I've been to, I can give you a few good restaurant suggestions too. ;-)

I think that's good enough for now... -The sun is beckoning me from my window...

-Oh, and some loose ends...

DR Jason: - There's a great candy store here in Richmond that has Galaxy Bars - I could bring you some. Or, there is that great English shop in the Village - can't remember the name right now, but I know I've seen them there. -And the Chip Shop in Park Slope makes FRIED ones!! -Along with Fried Mars Bars, Twinkies, Snickers, etc... -And the fish & chips aren't bad either!

RE: My Losing Season - It's on my list of "To Reads" too - I heard the interview Pat Conroy did on NPR's Fresh Air, and it was amazing - I was crying when he was recounting all the stuff he endured from his father while growing up - see Prince of Tides - and was especially touched by his fond re-telling of his father's final days. And then the basketball talk - WOW! What a wonderful writer, and I hope to get to it soon.

New York, New York! - Well, as it turns out, I will definitely be heading to NYC this "weekend" - I may head up Sunday night after the matinee - will probably not be there in time to make the H/K get-together - but I'll be playing some auditions for a short time Monday afternoon - othwerwise, I'm free. -Can I come watch the recording, BK? Hmm... And if the timing works out, can I sing too? -And maybe there can be another impromptu H/K get-together Monday night... hmmm...

Well, I'm heading out into the sunlight! -Looking forward to reading all the posts when I get back!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/30/2003 09:52 AM PST

Oh, I guess that wasn't so short after all... ah, that's me fo ya'!

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/30/2003 09:53 AM PST

There are two English-themed food shops in the Village that I know of. One is Myers of Keswick on Hudson just off Horatio. They have great English foodstuffs and candy from across the pond. It's a bit expensive but it's coming right from England. The other place is the storefront associated with Tea and Sympathy, the very small English tea room on Greenwich Avenue between 12th and 13th Street. I always get my Christmas Pudding and hard sauce from them. They have all sorts of fun things, again rather expensive but it's OK to indulge once in a while.

Posted by Ben @ 05/30/2003 10:15 AM PST

Hello everyone--

I want to start off by thanking MBarnum, TCB, Jose, George and Jrand52 for the warm welcomes last night...

I am the newest DR, I am glad to say. BK and company (Sondheim reference?--I'm getting the hang of this!) thank you all so much for being so warm and friendly to a little newbie like myself. I talked a little about myself yesterday but I suppose I should be a little more detailed.

My name is Maya Cantu, I'm 20 and I live in Woodbridge, VA which is located about 45 minutes south of DC. I attend a community college right now where I'm going after a liberal arts associates, but I plan to transfer in a year or so and to double major in musical theatre and English. I'm looking at several in-state universities right now but as yet have no idea where I'll end up!

I've been performing since I was 10 years old, let's just say Off-off-off-off-off-off-off Broadway--school and regional shows. My favorite roles so far have been Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Aggravain in Once Upon a Mattress...for some reason, I've been a character actress from a young age. Just once I would like to be the ingenue! I've been obsessed with musicals for over 8 years now--when I was 12, I discovered the OCR of Gypsy and I've been hooked ever since!

What else can I say about myself? I love to write also. I write poetry and short stories and songs and scenes, and I imagine that some of them are pretty bad, but I have fun doing it and that's what counts. I would love to be a professional actor/singer, but I could also see myself being a writer or drama critic if that doesn't work out. Or maybe I could do all of the above!

I'm a voracious reader (I prefer classics, biographies and fantasy novels) and film lover (everything from Ed Wood to Fellini!) And I guess that's me in a nutshell (if an inordinately large one)!

Again, so glad to be feeling the love here!

RE: Jose--Small world, isn't it--look, a Styne and Sondheim reference. I will actually be at the evening performance of 1776 this Thursday with my friend Kate. I'd love to meet you after the show! You're so lucky to have been such a close part of the Sondheim Celebration! I wasn't able to see nearly as many shows as I wanted, due to, ahem, budget constraints. As it were, I got to see the dashing Raul Esparza and the lovely Melissa Errico in Sunday in the Park, and I had tickets to Passion but I had to sell them because my boss wouldn't let me get out of work that day (I'm a part-time cashier at the local Sam's Club). The latter is one of my deepest regrets, cue corny violin music.

Posted by Maya @ 05/30/2003 10:36 AM PST

Welcome Maya, TCB, and any other new Dear Readers I don't yet know about! :)

In the VCR: Hmmmm...I think an Astaire/Rogers musical. On the way in to work this morning, we listened to some Fred Astaire songs and both agreed that might be nice to relax to after work this evening. But we never settled on a particular one. :)

In the DVD: We'll probably (finally!) get around to watching Batman: The Movie (Adam West, not Michael Keaton)

In the CD: Something I cobbled together myself...lots of '30s stuff, including the aforementioned Astaire songs.

Introduction: Lulu (just Lulu). Born in Indiana, but now in South Florida. I enjoy musical theater but am not *nearly* as versed in it as the other folks on this here site.

I found HHW one lazy Sunday when my husband and I watched "Naked Space" (aka: The Creature Wasn't Nice aka: Spaceship) and I realized for the first time (I hadn't seen the movie since I was around 14) that the nice clean-cut young man who played "John" also directed the film in addition to writing and singing the showstopper "I Want to Eat Your Face." Well, said I, I must needs know more about said fellow, and so I sallied forth and Googled "Bruce Kimmel."

When I saw "Haines His Way," come up as a possibility, I thought, "Oh, what a coincidence...the underwear company must have an employee with the same name as the Bruce I want to know about," but when I kept seeing pages come up under that heading, I finally clicked on one of the pages and found Our Esteemed Host and his extremely engaging rants and much information about Guy Haines (whom I've loved ever since he was a pro on the tennis circuit) and I was hooked. This was about a year and a half ago, and I still enjoy this board and the many wonderful people who make up its community. :)

Posted by Lulu @ 05/30/2003 10:50 AM PST

Let me be the first to ask: Where in tarnation IS everyone? I thought we'd be full up with posts already, all the roll call posts. Those who are errant and truant - step right up and do your thing. Those who've posted have done their things (no mean feat) now it is time for you to do your things.

My darling daughter is on her way back to Iowa. It was, as always, a treat to see her.

Posted by bk @ 05/30/2003 11:09 AM PST

Thanks, Lulu, nice to meet you!

Well, I'm heading off to work--won't be able to check back until later tonight.

Forgot to post DVD/CD!

The last DVD I watched was "Adaptation" which is an awesome, brilliant, innovative movie about the creative process. Last CD's were the Maury Yeston songbook and Merman in Vegas. Later, everyone!

Posted by Maya @ 05/30/2003 11:22 AM PST

Annette Funicello
From Upstate New York
Uncle Walt discovered me in Burbank
I was the last original Mouseketeer hired
I eat lots of Peanut Butter
I co-starred as myself with Eva LaRue in my life story

Posted by Annette @ 05/30/2003 11:26 AM PST

My name is Laura and live in Scottsdale, AZ, with my DH and DKs (that's Dear Husband and Dear Kids in internet lingo).

Since our last roll call, I have been hired by my church to keep things in order as we search for a new minister and wait for our new church building to begin construction. Maybe some day they can afford to pay me.

I love live theater, dislike most television and movies. The kids each have televisions in their rooms, but the one in the family room is broken, so I kinda live in controlled oblivion most of the time.

A running gag around our house is my thrifty husband. So in order to afford the theater tickets and the weekend trips I so love, I have to enjoy "simple things" the rest of the time -- from which Dear Readers Kerry and MusicGuy are trying hard to rescue me!

I'm simple, easy to please, flexible, and I've been told I'm a good traveler (I think that means I don't request many bathroom stops).
I think that pretty well sums me up!

Posted by Laura @ 05/30/2003 11:28 AM PST

Hey, DRs... Well, especially the ones in NYC...

The place I usually stay (for free) when I come up is currently booked up with some large extravagant wedding party, so... And most of my friends' couches are currently being rented out by their sublet-ers. So, if any of you happen to know of a relatively cheap place I could stay... Or I'd be more than happy to trade board (cooking) for room - a nice couch should do fine. I'm still checking out a few places, so something may work itself out... -I'm heading up there the following week too - VACATION! - so that will be my splurge week... hotel-wise.

And the Roll Call continues...

-Something tells me there's going to be a lot of post-work, evening posts later on. Oh, and François can join in on the fun, n'est-ce pas?

-And DR Maya - Just come down to the pit, you can't miss it or me.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/30/2003 11:52 AM PST

Jose - New London CT or NH?

DVD - KING OF HEARTS. This is one of my all-time favorite films and I missed it when it was recently shown at Film Forum. I wasn't even aware that it was out on DVD until I saw it in a catalogue. Two things I didn't like about the DVD: The only extra is a trailer. Also, the film is mostly in French, but there are also several scenes in English and when you choose the English subtitles you get the English subtitles even for the scenes spoken in English.

VHS - A blank tape for the first episode of the new Eric Stoltz/Bill Macy miniseries on Showtime Sunday when I'll be at Joe Allen's.

CD - A compilation of very early Liza on Capitol courtesy of one of our DRs. This contains "Maybe This Time" recorded several years before the movie version of CABARET and an early version of Brel's song that became "Carousel" with totally different lyrics.

Cassette - Seveal Episodes of the 1950-51 radio series THE BIG SHOW. Where else can you get the combination of Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson and Margaret O'Brien? Meredith Willson is the music director and also wrote the song "When I Met You" that starts

There were birds on the hill
But I never heard them singing
No I never heard them at all
When I Met You

This continues note for note and word for word (except the title) like the song introduced by Miss Cook six or seven years later.

Introduction
I am William E. Lurie (Bill), 60 years old, live in NYC (okay Queens) and work as controller for a candy company (yes, I'm bringing samples Sunday). My partner Ray and I have been together a little over 7 years. He reads and posts at HHW on a semi-regular basis but is often T&E.

I have been a big fan of Bruce's since I first saw TFNM in its initial theatrical engagement. I have most of the CDs he produced, not only because he produced them but because they are good and we have mostly the same taste in music.

Ray and I are the only two Hainsies (other than Susan Gordon and Bruce, of course) to attend both previous New York get-togethers and are eagerly awaiting #3 Sunday.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 05/30/2003 12:09 PM PST

I was raised in South Carolina during the 1950s.

In my first years of school, my mother put me into speech classes 'cause she didn't want me to sound ignorant like she thought the folks around where we lived sounded.

I was, during my formative years, exposed to lots of movies and some theater (enough to know I wanted to be part of it).

After being graduated from high school in the mid-60s, I entered a small college in North Carolina called Mars Hill College.

In college I blossomed. My major was theater and they had a very decent department and a small group of declared theater majors which meant all of us were actively involved in everything theater.

Two days after graduation, I joined the Navy to avoid being drafted by the Army. Halfway through my 4-year Navy enlistment, I learned the Navy had a journalism program that had been "closed" for a number of years but which had just opened again. I applied for the opportunity to cross-train and was approved. At Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana (northwest of Indianapolis in Lawrence), I learned for the first time that the military (it was a tri-service school) had folks who were educated, interesting and with whom one could form friendships that didn't center around drinking and whoring.

While at the school, I was invited to audition for and was accepted into the broadcasting school. My first assignment out of school was Vicenza, Italy, where I worked in a radio station on a U.S. Army installation (there were two Navy and an Air Force person there, too...this station served all the U.S. forces in Italy). They had a thriving theater group which gave me opportunities to perform in "Mame," "Bye Bye Birdie" and "10 Little Indians." We also did "Come Blow Your Horn" which the Commanding General of Southern European Task Force decided he wanted to send on a tour of Army and Air Force bases in Italy, Greece and Turkey. We did this show on the road for two weeks in some of the most unusual and fun out-of-the-way places I could imagine. That included Athens, Greece, and Istanbul, Turkey.

That was in the early 70s and my whirlwind of fun and travel also saw me reassigned to Athens for a short tour, followed by a two-year tour in Naples, Italy, where I worked in Public Affairs and where I wrote for and edited the weekly base newspaper. I Naples, I was again treated to a large community theater group. I did "Arsenic and Old Lace," directed "1776", and then appeared in another production of "10 Little Indians" all the while producing everything that was done because I was president of the theater group. We had a four-play season between September and May. And we did a free show in the summer, which we also travelled with to nearby military sites.

In 1977, I was reassigned to Washington DC and my active participation in theater stopped then. No huge reason that I know of.

A decade later, I returned to Naples for a two-year NATO assignment with a follow-on three-year assignment as station manager for a military TV/radio station. It was HEAVEN. And, I got into theater again on a limited basis, directing a dinner theater production. We tried to do a community theater presentation of "Guys and Dolls" but once the play was cast, less than half the actors would show for rehearsals. I never knew why that was, only that we were dealing with folks who did not understand or value the commitment they so carelessly tossed aside.

I retired from the military in 1993 and am now living in Oakland CA, with my 19-year old calico cat Vickie, where I work for the County of Alameda GSA in real estate as an administrative assistant.

I financially support a vast number of individuals who sell movie and theatrical memorabilia on eBay, in addition to the labels which actively produce and sell film soundtracks of the "past" to other ardent film music collectors like me.

I have recently begun taking in live, professional theater and have had the joy of seeing "Baz Luhrmann's 'La Boheme'" pre-Broadway, Barbara Cook's "Mostly Sondheim," "An Evening With Dame Edna" and, for fun, I'm off to see "Wicked" tomorrow afternoon.

I, too, regret the length of this, but I think we're all too complicated to just say, "Hi! I'm Ron and I live in Oakland CA. I've loved theater all my life and that's why I'm here."

Adequate, perhaps, but impersonal.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 05/30/2003 12:26 PM PST

Ron: Who've you played in 10 Little Indians? I was Miss Emily Caroline Brent. You know...the religious kook. Such a fun part! And the really zany thing was, we did it as theater-in-the-round (well, semi-round), there was no curtain and no backstage, so the dead bodies had to be carted off after each scene! A very nice young man did the fireman's lift with me, and stayed in character even when one of my shoes fell off (an audience member wound up bringing it to me!). He is now an on-air anchorman in Texas... with a new, streamlined last name. :)

Posted by Lulu @ 05/30/2003 12:46 PM PST

Jane here. I live in the country just outside of Ashland, Oregon. Currently we are living in our 9th home, but only our 7th state since we moved to Michigan twice and back to California (northern) prior to coming here. My passions are walking, or easy hiking, and reading. Living between two beautiful mountain ranges, hiking is almost a daily event now. My very small, extremely smart Bernese Mountain Dog, Echo, and I volunteer at a nursing home. I also have two cats, Bosco and Bogie (named for Humphrey Bogart). I have two sons, 26 and 23 years old. The oldest lives in Portland with a girlfriend we adore. The youngest is leaving June 8th for Romania where he will teach English as a Peace Corps. volunteer. I am very happy to say, Sunday is my 34th wedding anniversary. I met my husband in 10th grade, the same day, or the day before I met Bruce. Bruce and I almost share birthdays, He is one year, minus a day older than I am. My father ate lunch several times a week at his Dad's restaurant, so I knew a bit about Bruce before I met him (I had fun with that before I let on how I knew so much).

I found this site when my friend Penny, whom I also met the day I met my husband, called asking for Bruce's phone number. Though I had his home number, I decided to see if I could find a current work number (knowing his number had changed). The day I found this site was the day Bruce just happen to post he was looking for Susan Gordon. I have known Susan since 4th grade and of course made my first post.

Posted by Jane @ 05/30/2003 12:58 PM PST

I am just one of the newbies, but here goes. Parts of bio were already included in my earlier offerings to the group.

My name is Tom Birkeland and for the last few years I have been living in Tacoma, Washington. I was born in Seattle on August 23, 1950 (sorry JRand52 and Jose, I missed it by 3)and at the age of four was taken, against my will, to live in Tacoma (about thirty miles south). Although I have moved away numerous times during my life, I keep gravitating back to Tacoma. Three mentions of the word Tacoma (now 4) in one paragraph, I should get paid by the Chamber of Commerce.

I am working a temporary job with the State of Washington’s Child Protective Services, until I can find a job I really want in the world of theater. On June 15, I will mark my 20th anniversary at this temp job. The major focus of my life is my acting, which I have been doing for forty-seven years. I keep telling myself that I will either retire from theater or slow down on the number of shows I do a year, but so far it is all talk. Including the shows I direct, main stage productions, and musical murder mysteries; I usually average eight or nine productions a year. I do most of my theater in the South Puget Sound area (Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia).

I am very happily unmarried (as opposed to the opposite), but I am the proud father of two beautiful cats, Angel, 10, and Nicholas, 4 (who both look like Daddy). I love theater, movies (mostly on DVD any more), television, and reading (mostly Mysterys and Biographys). I love to travel, especially to visit New York or to take a cruise. Hi-Ho the glamorous life!

In February of ’02 I took a one-month cruise on Princess' newest ship, "Star Princess". We sailed from Singapore to Los Angeles, by way of China, Thailand, Japan, and Hawaii (ok, not a foreign port). It was a wonderful relaxing trip, so relaxing that I didn't realize that prior to leaving, I had fractured my back moving into a different apartment. Once back from vacation things started going downhill fast. I had to drop out of a production of "South Pacific" After months of pain, two surgeries, and four and a half month off work without pay, my back has now recovered. However, I wasn't able to go back on stage until March of this year (when I played Mathew Harrison Brady in "Inherit the Wind"), followed by "Muder at the Vicarage" (don't ask), and, opening a week from today, I will be Horace in "Hello Dolly."

As for my today’s other topic”

Car CD player – (don’t laugh) Barry Manilow’s “Ultimate Manilow”

Home CD player – OCR “Sweeney Todd”, Soundtrack “Chicago”

DVD player – a delightful little film called “Big Eden” starring Ayre Gross and Louise Fletcher

VCR - Ahhh, something similar to TFNM, except it wasn’t the first and it’s not a musical.

Okay, that’s enough of that.

Posted by TCB @ 05/30/2003 01:30 PM PST

Ladies and Gents of the HHW famil... I present the Seth Rudetsky interview!

Posted by Craig @ 05/30/2003 01:39 PM PST

FYI - Ken Mandelbaum's column today features reviews of two Kimmel reissues and the Sherman Bros. album.

Posted by OM Time @ 05/30/2003 02:06 PM PST

I'm 56 years old, and am a patent attorney at a large telecommunications company in New Jersey. I share my love of theatre with my wife of what will be 32 years. We have two children: a girl who is finishing her residency in pediatrics in June, and a son who is finishing his first year of medical school. Both my wife and I grew up in Queens, in NYC, but met through Barbra Streisand, but that's another story.

My theatre-going experiences started in 1956 when my parents took me to see "Pipe Dream" and "Pajama Game." My wife, Fran, and I go to the theatre as frequently as we can, catching most of the musicals. In NJ, we are subscribers to the Paper Mill Playhouse. I've accumulated alot of Broadway trivia in my head, but admit to taking second place to Peter Filichia, a friend, who knows more than anyone.

This week, since Wednesday, WOR-AM (710 on the dial) has been having a Tony contest every morning at 7:10 AM. They ask a question and the first to answer correctly wins a pair of tickets to a Tony-nominated show and dinner for two at a restaurant in the theatre-district. I wasn't prepared to call the last two days, but this AM I had my cell phone and two other phones all set to dial once the question was posed. Low-and-behold, one of my calls was answered. They asked for my answer and said it was a good "guess" and to hang on. Then Ed Walsh, the host, asked a few people for their answers. The question was who has won the most Tony awards. The first to answer said, David Merrick, a second, Neil Simon, a third said Mel Brooks, and then I gave my answer, of course, Hal Prince. The tickets today were for "Take Me Out", which we haven't seen. All things being equal, I would have preferred to have won tickets to see "Hairspray" again, or "Movin' Out", which we haven't had the chance to catch yet, but I can't complain.

I had the pleasure of being at the last get-together with Bruce but we have a long-standing dinner appointment with two other couples this Sunday in New Jersey, and won't be able to attend. I look forward to future ones, however.

Posted by steveg @ 05/30/2003 02:08 PM PST

You don't say, OM TIme!!!!!

Bernadette Peters PLAYS
drums with Cubby in the
orchestra pit of Gyspsy????

My oh my, that girl is
versatile!.....;- )

Posted by François @ 05/30/2003 02:16 PM PST

SHE is, I'm not...

Hummm... GYPSY and not
what i just typed...

Posted by François @ 05/30/2003 02:17 PM PST

I was born in Melbourne Australia in 1945 and have lived within 30 miles of that city all my life. Like many Australians suffering the tyranny of distance I have traveled every few years of my adult life. I have visited North America three times, Europe three times and the UK six times. I have also been to New Zealand twice.

I live with my partner of 27 years Colin, in the Dandenong ranges (really hills!) on a two and a half acre property in a decidedly semi-rural environment where we take much delight in feeding native birds. And yes we do see kangaroos, echidnas, wallabies and wombats in the area. Dogs Fosca & Magnus are the other members of the family. (They have no interest in chasing wild life).

I have been enchanted by musical theatre since my parents took me to see pantomimes in the fifties (such splendid fare as Jack and Jill, Dick Whittington) and then to my first musical – Kismet. I frequent the non-professional performances of many Broadway and West End musicals that we would not otherwise get to see. We are somewhat starved of musical theatre unless it is the blockbuster ALW type shows or these days, the Mama Mia variety. Trips to Broadway and the West End are enjoyed greatly by Colin and myself.

I retired from teaching commercial subjects at the end of 2000. I taught mostly 16 to 19 year olds on their last stage of secondary education – pre university here.

Music: Original cast recordings etc make up a substantial part of my music collection but I also have an interest in the pop music field – anything that was a “hit” here between 1955 and 1970 would be likely to be in my collection of CDs or records. I was very much a top 40 kid.

I have rarely missed a day of reading and posting at HHW but I do not read or contribute to any other internet site and have never been part of a chat room. I feel that I have made some firm friends through this site and my emails tend to be mostly with other Dear Readers. The “exchange” of music has been a bonus to this friendship. One day (maybe 2003) I hope to meet up with DRs in France, UK and USA.

Today's Cds (well yetserdays):
"Lucky Stiff"
The best of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Eurovision 2003 - Riga Latvia

Nothing in the DVD or Video. Have not watched nothing this week. Hope to watch "Last Orders", or maybe "Kiss Me Kate" this evening.

Posted by Tom Guest (from OZ) @ 05/30/2003 02:27 PM PST

I'm Jed Slaughter, age 23.
Born and raised in Ellensburg,
Washington. I graduated
Central Washington University
in March with a degree in
Choral Music Education, and
I'm looking around the state for
a choir directing job for fall,
preferably high school, but I
am willing to do middle
school. I am currently living in
Leavenworth, Washington,
and living life as a substitute
teacher (8th grade social
studies was today's job).

I've always enjoyed theatre,
being taken to various and
sundried shows (many many
university productions) by my
mother or my grandparents
when I was a wee sprig of a
twig of a lad. The onstage bug
bit me during my freshman
year in HS. A few
upperclassmen friends of
mine convinced me to audition
for the school play, The Mouse
That Roared. I ended up
playing Professor Kokintz, and
have been a spotlight hound
ever since. Favorite roles
came my junior and senior
years in HS, when we did
Fiddler on the Roof and then
My Fair Lady. My e-mail name
tells what roles I had.

Currently in the DVD: nothing
since finishing off the CSI
Season 1 set earlier this week
VCR: Sophie's Choice
CDs: Company (OBC)
Mandy Patinkin - Experiment
Violet (OCR)

Question for DR TCB: What
was your major while at CWU
(or CWSC, as it was then)?

Posted by Jed @ 05/30/2003 03:14 PM PST

So this is what "roll call" means. OK, I'll just jump in.

I am 53 years old, and have lived in Charlotte, NC since 1979. I've been in this particular house since 1982 and see nothing on the horizon that would cause me to consider leaving it.

In 2001, I retired from teaching middle school English after 30 years, all of them at the same school. During those years, I also wrote free lance film and television criticism for a number of periodicals, but I stopped that in 1999. With my teaching career winding down, there was just too much to do to be able to go out to the movies any more.

Also, since age 7, I have been appearing on stage in any productions that could find a spot for me. Most of them have been community or amateur theater, but occasionally I had done stage work for money. If someone wants to pay me, I'll gladly take it, but I really love performing just for the joy of it. Last fall, I played Max in a local production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and while it was in performance, a director-friend asked me to join her production of MY THREE ANGELS which was opening in three weeks, hurriedly replacing an actor who had dropped out. I have never worked so hard learning lines (in a French accent) to be ready for that opening night. The result was doing two shows back-to-back like that just burned me out on performing for awhile.

So, I'm just enjoying retirement and doing theater when the spirit (and the role) moves me and look forward to my twice daily visit to HHW. Besides the internet, I also love reading (mysteries and biographies are also my favorites).

CD - OCR APPLAUSE

VCR - WILL & GRACE compilation tape

DVD - BLUE SKIES with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire

laserdisc - KISMET (the musical version)

Posted by Matt H. @ 05/30/2003 03:15 PM PST

Hi, I'm Susan, to those who don't yet know me.

I grew up in Los Angeles, went to the same high school as Bruce, but met him for the first time here at HHW in November of 2001.

As a child, I had a monkey for a pet. My big movie crush as a teenager was Richard Chamberlain. My favorite food is ice cream and my sweet tooth craves white chocolate.

When I graduated college, I went to live in Japan. I speak the language and love sushi.

Oh, and I acted a bit as a child.

;-)

Dozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu!

Posted by Susan @ 05/30/2003 03:52 PM PST

It's here, it's here!!!

Ok... Roll Call -

My name is Matthew and I live in San Mateo, CA (about 25 miles south of San Francisco) I live in a condo with my cousin Melinda and her cat (who's an ass) named Huey. I am Coordinator of Music for a Catholic Church in Redwood City, CA and I teach music at two Catholic schools. In my free time, I musical direct musicals for several theatre company's and schools in the area. I play piano and some guitar and have a VERY extensive Cast Recording collection. You need anything? Just ask, it's my joy to share. I found HHW quite by accident, but I'm glad I did. It's put me back into the BK loop and back in touch with a LONG TIME pal of mine, Mr Mark Bakalor. (I saw him play Billy in "Anything Goes" when he was in High School) It's been great learning about the rest of the DR's!

Posted by Matthew @ 05/30/2003 03:54 PM PST

Lulu: In the first production in Vicenza, Italy, I was the first to die -- Anthony Marston (Pip! Pip! Cheerio! Tennis, anyone!!)

In the Naples production I was Philip Lombard (only two years separated the productions, but I finally lost my "baby face" and looked more mature). Emphasis on "looked."

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 05/30/2003 04:09 PM PST

ROLL CALL! (This is going to be so long...) Hi! I'm Jason and I'm 26 years old. I was born and raised (for the most part) in Louisville, Kentucky, but now I live in New York City.

When I was five years old, my family packed up and moved to a small village in Great Britain called Bookham, which is near Fetcham and Leatherhead and is just south of London. My dad was the international quality control manager for Kentucky Fried Chicken, and he was relocated for a two-year period, so we went with him. I began first grade there and developed my love of learning there, as well as a love of theatre. For my seventh birthday, my mom and dad took me to the West End to see my first stage musical: BUGSY MALONE (starring a 14-year old Catherine Zeta-Jones). After that, we saw two more musicals (that I can remember): Topol in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and Richard Harris in CAMELOT. I slept through those two, but I was enthralled by BUGSY MALONE. It was wonderful and I've been hooked ever since.

My younger brother was born over there and then we moved back to the U.S. after a nice tour of Europe. We had the pleasure of going to France, Belgium, Germany (EAST Germany then--wow, that makes me feel old), Switzerland (I remember constantly looking for Heidi. I never found her), Austria, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Unfortunately, we never made it to Spain or Italy, and I have wanted to go there ever since.

Fast forward a few years: In high school, I had a been a whiz at foreign languages. I started studying Spanish my freshman year, and by my junior year I was practically fluent, reading college textbooks and novels and such. My teacher, quite possibly the most wonderful woman I've ever known in my life, didn't know how else to handle me, so she insisted I go with her and a few of the other kids on a school trip to Mexico for ten days, which I did, and I can honestly say that it was the best time I've ever had. I was fifteen and roaming the streets of Mexico City with my very favorite teacher in the world without my parents and I actually knew what the people were saying to me--what a rush! My senior year, I had moved to a different school (because of my dad's job), and their Spanish teacher said that my comprehension and speaking skills were better than hers and that I should look into taking French. Well, I did, and continued to do so through undergrad school, but I never did pick it up like I did Spanish. My parents fully expected me to become an interpreter for the United Nations, but I had other plans for myself. I wanted to be a Broadway star! At my new school, I quickly became the star of our show choir, and I became intent on majoring in vocal music. My parents refused to pay full tuition if I pursued music, so I went out and got myself a scholarship and in 1999 I graduated with my Bachelor of Music degree from Murray State University. I was the first person to truly cross over from the music to the theatre department (I was involved, in some capacity, in over 30 productions in those four years) and the first to do an entire set of musical theatre songs in his senior recital. I followed that up with a Master of Music degree with an emphasis on musical theatre performance from Oklahoma City University (Home of Tony-Winner Kristin Chenoweth). That summer I played Jud Fry in OKLAHOMA! and Benjamin Pontipee in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS at Discoveryland, USA! in Tulsa, OK. DISCLAIMER: NEVER WORK FOR THOSE PEOPLE!

After grad school I moved home for a bit and did CARMEN at Kentucky Opera (singing in the chorus) and on January 12, 2002, I hopped on a plane with two suitcases and a backpack and I moved to New York, New York, to pursue my fame and fortune. The moment I stepped off the plane was the first moment I ever stepped foot in this city. I was scared witless, but also felt an excitement that I've never felt before. I've never once regretted moving here.

I found HHW.com one day while I was temping. I don't remember how--I think it was a link on All That Chat--but I'm so glad that I did. Since finding this here site, I've met some wonderful people, both virtually and in real life, and my horizons have been expanded by leaps and bounds in more ways than I could possibly explain.

Anywho, that's me in a nutshell. There's a lot more to tell, but I don't want to bore you guys any more than I already have!

Posted by Jason @ 05/30/2003 04:27 PM PST

First off: A GIANT thumbs-down on ASSASSINATION TANGO, a collossal self-indulgent bore which I suffered through last night (Roger Ebert: you really goofed). I am so disappointed in Duvall. It had been playing in LV for 6 days in one theatre, and I was the only person in there last night. Needless to say, it is gone today.

Roll Call: Real name Dale Janet Greenwald (Katie Greene in S.A.G. membership, since 1984), age 50-Something...VERY nice Jewish girl, born in Manhattan, raised in Lakewood, NJ, graduate of The Mount Sinai Hospital School Of Nursing, NYC, specializing in ER nursing in the Big Apple. I moved to Las Vegas, NV, in 1972, with my first husband and changed my specialty to Operating Room, which I am still doing. I have a lovely, very TALL 22 1/2 year-old daughter, Jillian Kate, who is currently a make-up artist in LA. She will read this, and probably scold me--Hi, Jillian!!
I had studied method acting, dance, and singing (musical comedy, not classical) for many years and appeared in over 50 plays and musicals in LV; I have also worked in film, commercials, TV, and voice-over, both here and a few times in LA.
I had a brief (maybe 5-minute) 2nd marriage to an Actor, who includes, in his resume, that he played a pillow for 3 days at a convention...go figure. Everyone has to make one Big Mistake in their lifetime, huh...
I am a very passionate, lively Scorpio and adore film, theatre (which I hardly ever get to see or even do anymore), reading, NY Times crossword puzzles, Scrabble, Al Pacino...I live alone in a big house with a sheepdog, a cat, and 2 cockatiels, and I am very content, and frankly, just happy to be alive.
Welcome to all the new DRs, and I enjoy reading this witty board daily; there seems to be a lovely mixture of intelligence, humor, sensitivity, comradery, and mutual respect. I enjoy reading the show biz news from all of you.
DVD: Godfather 1
CD: Chicago movie soundtrack and Best Of Bob Seger

Posted by KT @ 05/30/2003 04:41 PM PST

According to the magazine which I am proud to be writing for, this is who I am:

Tony Dale - Writer
Tony Dale, in addition to writing for Scarlet Street, is a resident online DVD reviewer for two major websites. Offline, Tony continues to work as a cabaret singer ("Dreamers," "Songs in the Dark," and an upcoming "Favorites") actor (returning recently in Don Nigro's LOVE'S LABOURS WONNE after a seven year absence from stage work), and playwright, whose THE END OF THE WORLD ON NEW YEAR'S EVE proved to be prescient in that its nominally autobiographical hero writes reviews for a national magazine. Tony resides on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, PA, spending time taking long walks with his Siberian Husky.

http://www.scarletstreet.com/ just click on staff. . .

Next up, how did I find HHW? Well, if memory serves, and now that I'm over forty it doesn't always serve, our very dear host invited me to stop in and see things here.
I have yet to meet our esteemed Mr. Kimmel, but, his FNM has always been a favorite film of mine, and I eagerly purchased his finely produced Varese Sarabande albums. I believe that "Unsung Sondheim" was the first time that I really noticed a producer's name (other than those usual suspects Shephard, Leiberson, Asher, et al) that made me want to buy anything else that he saw fit to produce. My two favorite BK/VS albums are "Unsung Musicals" and "Unsung Irving Berlin." I think that the closest I have come to meeting Bruce is a long-ago phone call, when a very kind lady named Esther Monk connected me to Bruce for a quick conversation. (BK, if your memory doesn't serve, it was right after you had come back into town from seeing PASSION in previews. Your repsonse to PASSION, was, shall I say, passionately passionless)? Zip ahead a few years, and I notice that in the various newsgroups that I was reading on a regular basis, Mr. Kimmel was a constant presence, so we began a little email correspondence, nothing major, just little notes usually about the quality of dvds, which of course is not to be confused with the quality of mercy nor the koala tea of Marsey. I got a job writing online reviews of dvds for www.dvdlaunch.com, and would always let BK know when a new review of mine was posted. Somewhere in there (Oh, an inverted AN AMERICAN TAIL reference) BK went to the label whose name we do not speak, I joined the staff of Scarlet Street, and then there was www.haineshisway.com: the jiggiest site on the internet. (*SIDE NOTE to all those wonderful new Hainsies/Kimmelets: if you want to know how I really feel about THE FIRST NUDIE MUSICAL, go here: http://www.dvdlaunch.com/firstnudiemusicalse.html).

So, a brief bit about me. Born in Wheeling, raised in a charming sub-suburban area twenty-two miles outside of Pittsburgh, PA. First musical seen would be a Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Production of OKLAHOMA! featuring Judy (HELLO, DOLLY! film) Knaiz as Ado Annie. First show seen on Broadway, THE SHADOW BOX with its original cast. Last show seen on Broadway: RAGTIME. Last Broadway shos seen on tour: THE PRODUCERS. Last show seen, period: PERA PALAS, a brilliantly scripted work by Sinan Unel centering on the demise of Turkey as a powerful nation.

I have written several short plays, three feature length plays (all of which have been giving positively received readings and/or mini productions), while the above-mentioned END OF THE WORLD... is something which I am quite proud of. As of late, I have been doing numerous one man cabaret shows in and around the state. I recently did a little cabaret titled LIVE AND LEARN, which, I feel captured the events of one man's life quite well. I even introduced a brand new song by John Greyson and Glenn Schellenberg, from my adaptation of their Canadian film musical ZERO PATIENCE.

Currently, I am working on nothing in particular, just singing regularly on Sunday nights with my magnificent accompanist, who has been playing for me for close to a decade. DR Holmes will be pleased to note that something Matt and I have been working diligently on, is the complete Lerner & Loewe score for THE LITTLE PRINCE.

In the dvd player:
well, haven't changed anything since last night, so, it would be BLAZING SADDLES, PORKY'S, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN?/WHOEVER SLEW AUNTIE ROO?, Hammer's THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?(which says that it is enhanced for widescreen tvs, but isn't).

In the cd player:
four Robbie Williams albums, including his latest, ESCAPEOLOGY

In the vcr:
a videotape of LOVE'S LABOURS WONNE.

Posted by td @ 05/30/2003 04:54 PM PST

DR Jed - Well, considering your age, I guess I don't need to ask if you ever heard my radio program in Ellensburg. As far as I know, even FM signals don't bounce around for that many years. In fact, when I attended Cental, the college had the only FM radio station in the area.

As for my major, it was Theatre and Drama, with a double minor in Radio / Television and English Lit. The only Drama professor you might know that taught me way back then, was Dr. Betty Evans, who I believe just passed away a year or so ago. She trained me to speak with a proper English dialect, that over the years has gotten me many parts. One of my oldest and dearest friends from junior high school through today graduated from Central in 72 with a degree in Choral Music Education, and he did his student teaching with my mother who taught music in Tacoma. He went on to graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Art in L.A.

Sadly, back in those days I was in too big of a hurry to grow up, and I left Central during my Junior year. It was really too bad, because I loved the campus in Ellensburg. I did eventually return to school in 1980 at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Rutherford, NJ, in of all majors, Accounting.

Life is strange!

Posted by TCB @ 05/30/2003 04:56 PM PST

Hello Dear Readers......

Well, I post here as MusicGuy, but I guess if you look on my birth certificate it would say Lyn. I was born (and brought WW II to an end...you figure it.) and grew up in southern Calif., mainly around Orange County, I have been a paid, working musician since I was 14, and I made my concert debut at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles in 1964. So next year, I celebrate my 40th Anniv. of continuous performance. I have made over 50 recordings (albums and CDs), starred in 2 television specials in Australia in 1970, and have gotten to travel most of the world with Kerry seeing wonderful places and eating marvelous food.

I moved to Phoenix, Arizona in March of 1973, met dear reader Kerry several months later, and we have been sharing dinners, laughter, and life now for 30 years. As some of you know, we have a female black lab who is Jewish and who had her Bat Mitzvah this year.

11 years ago, Kerry and I founded a non-profit charitable corporation to provide direct financial help to people who make their living in the creative arts, and who are facing life-threatening or terminal illnesses. Most people in the arts are self-employed, and many have no insurance of any kind. If you want to see a little about this, you can visit www.hopefulheart.com .

I won't ramble any more for now. Except to say that I have really enjoyed chatting with and getting to know some of the most interesting people...here at HHW. A very big HUZZAH to esteemed BK.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 05/30/2003 04:57 PM PST

MusicGuy: On behalf of the uninsured performers out there, I thank you and DR Kerry for doing something to help take care of us! You guys are great...

Posted by Jason @ 05/30/2003 05:00 PM PST

I'm Sandra and I live with my mom, Dear Reader Laura. We have wacky adventures. Like when we walked laps around Wal*Mart as slowly as we could to see how few we could walk while we were waiting for the one-hour photos. And we frequently get lost on the freeway and end up in L.A.

I like Forever Plaid, lawn flamingos (I have one named Cal), The Scarlet Pimpernel (we have some blue pimpernels growing outside), Cherry Coke, fencing, kittens, mice, M*A*S*H, Evelyn Nesbit (WHEEEE!), my futon, and my saddle shoes. I did not fit in with the other kids at school.

My favorite foodstuffs are chips with frosting, floop, God knows what, slog, and the sandwich at The Pony Espresso in Wickenberg, Arizona, conveniently located on the way to Las Vegas.

I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. That's why I took Career Exploration, and it didn't help.

Yep, that's me.

Posted by Sandra @ 05/30/2003 05:12 PM PST

Well, we are finally and fully cast, CD-wise, with the addition of the delicious Rebecca Luker.

Posted by bk @ 05/30/2003 05:15 PM PST

Hey, MusicGuy, I had a Jewish mouse once named Tzeitel.

Posted by Sandra @ 05/30/2003 05:18 PM PST

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Mr. Mark Bakalor's Burger King commercial was on last night in Arizona at midnight on Fox just before M*A*S*H.

Posted by Sandra @ 05/30/2003 05:51 PM PST

Maya, I was in BLITHE SPIRIT too! I played the Doctor (whose name escapes me) in our production at Phoenix High School 1980.

Susan, I didn't know you could speak Japanese!

Posted by MBarnum @ 05/30/2003 06:22 PM PST

Just watching "There's No Business Like Show Business." What a fun movie, but...what is Dan Dailey's deal? Why does he slide his jaw from side to side when he's singing? And why does he look like a horse??

Posted by Jason @ 05/30/2003 06:49 PM PST

Well, for the regular topic of the day:

In my CD player: earlier, The Muppet Movie soundtrack and right now, Das Barbecü (produced by our very own BK!)

In my VCR: a tape to record "Revolution O. S." on the Sundance Channel. It's "a documentary about how computer-software makers attempt to create programs independent of giants like Microsoft." Sounds interesting. I'll watch it tonight.

In my DVD player: Nothing . . . I'm waiting for my region 2 DVD of "Graham Norton Live" to arrive! I got it through eBay.

Today's 2nd topic of the day:

My name is George and I live in Olympia, Washington. We moved here when I was 10 years old and have been here ever since (I just turned 37 on May 5th - Cinco de Mayo). I discovered musicals and The Manhattan Transfer when I was in high school and have loved, loved, LOVED (that's two "loved" with one very emphatic "LOVED") ever since. I went to Centralia College and Western Washington University as a major in music education with the intention of becoming a high school choir teacher. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up (actually I still don't). In my last year, I dropped the "education" portion of my education and graduated with a BA as a music major. Needless to say my mother was not happy. However, I am gainfully employed, working in the Acquisitions department at the administrative headquarters of a 27-branch library system. I don't make the decisions on what to buy; I just get what the selectors decide to buy.

I have been collecting musical theater recordings (I know that there are many who have more recordings than I do, but I do what I can) since high school but I didn't start performing in community theater productions until I was in college.

I discovered "Unsung Sondheim" produced by BK and the many recordings that he did for Varèse Sarabande. After Bruce started FA, I continued to go (gladly) deeper and deeper into debt because I was hooked. I loved musicals then and still do now. I discovered this site by accident sometime last year and have been reading (and mostly) posting ever since. This has become my favorite Internet site of all.

Posted by George @ 05/30/2003 06:53 PM PST

TCB - Yes, I did indeed know
Betty Evans, and you're right,
she passed away about two or
three years ago. I asked your
major anticipating that your
answer could well be Theatre
so as to lead in to my next
question...
Did you happen to take
classes from Dr. Milo Smith?

Posted by Jed @ 05/30/2003 07:14 PM PST

Ok, KT, she's lovely, tall, and
22-1/2. But is she single?? ;-)

Posted by Jed @ 05/30/2003 07:16 PM PST

Hi all!

Phil here. Mid 40's married with child (and what a kid he is!). Have been involved in musical theater since I was cast as Oliver in "Oliver!" 38 years ago. Over 100 shows since then, including the Rodgers & Hart revue that closed last weekend (up next - hopefully - The Music Man).

Have had the pleasure of meeting BK in LA during his FA days, just met Jason last night and look forwards to meeting Susan and Jose on Monday. The H/K chorus will make their mark on BK's new CD!

Other interests include photography, ham radio, and cycling (the 21 speed kind).

Found this website by accident after "black October" two years ago. Don't post as much as I would like, but enjoy the joie de vivre our little crew exudes.

PS to Jason - call me tomorrow (Sat) for session info & studio location.

BK - hope you had a safe flight.

in the DVD: The Music Man

in the CD: new Janis Siegel, Tierney Sutton, and Pat Metheny

.....and to all a good night.

Posted by Phil @ 05/30/2003 07:19 PM PST

My last comment made on
behalf of all members of my
18-39 year old heterosexual
male demographic.
Over-represented most
everywhere, but a group of
which I believe I may be the
only member here! (Sorry if
I'm forgetting somebody)

Posted by Jed @ 05/30/2003 07:19 PM PST

I do love a good "Getting To
Know You" day at HHW. First, I
was delighted to come home
today to find Krizterland waiting
for me on my doorstep...what a
great way to begin a weekend!

Topic of the day -
DVD - Queer as Folk, third disc
of the first season
CD - Secret Garden
VHS - The Little Mermaid

Quick run down of me -
22 year old college student,
almost ready to graduate,
double majoring in music and
philosophy. Goal is to find a
masters program and get my
certification in music therapy.
Like DR Jed born and raised
in Ellensburg Washington,
parents both teach at CWU.
Currently living in Tacoma WA,
going to University of Puget
Sound.
Found the site through Jed,
who knew of my love of
broadway, music, and general
quirkiness. Been here since
day one and loved every
minute of it..

Posted by Ann @ 05/30/2003 07:25 PM PST

But, Ann, didn't you leave out one VERY IMPORTANT part of your life???? Do tell, who's your fiance?

Posted by td @ 05/30/2003 07:27 PM PST

Tatoooooooooooed!
Ta-tooooooooooed!
A sailor's not a sailor
'til he's been tatoo(insert trill)-ooed.

Merman with mutton chops. I think I shall have nightmares forever.

Posted by Jason @ 05/30/2003 07:30 PM PST

Jed - I knew Milo, but I never had any classes from him.

Posted by TCB @ 05/30/2003 08:09 PM PST

Jason: re: Dan Dailey. There have been rumors and there have been rumors.

Most of them dealt with Dailey thinking himself more talented than any of his co-stars in all the films he'd ever appeared in.

Some of them dealt with Dailey being more woman than most of the ladies with whom he worked.

You have to see him in "Ziegfeld Girl" in a minor role was a prize fighter. He is incredibly "beautiful" as a young man. And he has one of the best lines, ever, which he delivers to Lana Turner when both of them are down on their luck and happen to bump into one another: "You seen me when I done it." (Meaning she -- in the company of a rich man when she was a vivacious young Ziegfeld starlet -- had seen him win a title in the ring and they met at a party afterward).

Then catch Dailey in "It's Always Fair Weather" -- I don't know what it is about him in that movie that makes me feel he believes he's slumming.

All the foregoing is a mixture of "hearsay" and personal opinion.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 05/30/2003 08:18 PM PST

Jason: Oh, spit! About the jaw movements. I think it was an affectation. I've encountered what I call "jaw wagglers" before -- some in plays I've been doing, when I was able to alert them to it and tell them to stop it. They did. I think some folks believe it's necessary to sustain the note or to maintain the vibrato. It doesn't, of course, unless someone "believes" it's so.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 05/30/2003 08:21 PM PST

There are so many varied, interesting and intelligent people here...I'm so glad the idea to do a roll call was taken up!

MBarnum--the doctor in Blithe Spirit was Dr. Bradman. After hearing Becky Spencer sing "Home, Sweet Heaven" on the current Broadway radio show, I'm so tempted to buy the cast recording for "High Spirits!"

Jason and Ron--I never noticed any weird Dan Dailey jaw movements but I did think Johnny Ray did a weird thing with his mouth. Kind of like he was singing in slow motion.

Posted by Maya @ 05/30/2003 08:31 PM PST

May we keep the bio topic open for a few days (or at least reminders and invitations) as I know some H/Ks are unable to post for a few days. It must also be time for additions to the rogues' gallery. How about it Mark?

Hope I remember to print out today's posts so that I can have a quick reference and of course remember who is indeed heterosexual. I think my dad was one!
For once I shall include my own email link. (If you are a needy African person with millions to invest if I do the same, or if you need the money to bury a relative please ignore this address - Dr Laura has so much more experience in these matters)

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 05/30/2003 08:55 PM PST

TCB - I asked about Milo
because he happens to be my
very own grandfather!

Posted by Jed @ 05/30/2003 09:03 PM PST

What a lovely surprise! When I
checked my mail this
afternoon there was nothing
there, but it must have come
later in the day than usual, for I
checked again a short while
ago and discovered my very
own copy of Kritzerland! I've
already read Chapter 1, and
hope to read the rest in the
near future!

Posted by Jed @ 05/30/2003 09:05 PM PST

LOL, Tom!

As we say in French, "on ne
doit pas mélanger les
torchons et les serviettes"....
we must not mix napkins and
rags!!!!

What about the DR who....
swing both ways????? ;- )

Posted by François @ 05/30/2003 09:14 PM PST

I am an infrequent poster, regular lurker and constant reader. I posted several times under the name JB, but with the recent arrival of BK's own dear daughter, I thought I should amend my name.

My name is Jeff, originally from Indiana and now living in New Jersey with my partner of 14 years, Tim and our dear cat, Murphy. I am the business manager for an off-Broadway theatre company in NYC and teach an occassional accounting class for graduate students in theatre management.

I acted all through high school and college but knew my future was behind the scenes. My partner is an actor and he just finished Man of La Mancha at the Pittsburgh Public. We have a large collection of show and vocal music including a fair number of BK produced favorites.

Thank you all for making this site the one I look forward to reading every day.

DR Craig-Hope you're doing well in the big city. Any good news to share?

Posted by jb-nyc @ 05/30/2003 09:30 PM PST

Roll call? Roll call? Okay, what the hell is this, THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB?

Posted by Richard Valley @ 05/30/2003 09:36 PM PST

Here goes about me:

I live in Portland, Oregon and work in the real world in the travel industry. In my other world I am an actor. I have been in approximately 60-70 productions locally.
I love musical theatre and I would love to have the voice of Jason Graae or Malcolm Gets.I probably sound like a cross between Carol Channing and Harvey Fierstein. And yet I have succeeded in being cast in several musicals. About six months ago I was in a very wonderful production of "The Fantasticks".
My favorite place in the whole wide world is New York City. I have had a love affair with that city since I was very young. I have been there many times and probably should have moved there a number of years ago. I probably wouldn't have had the wonderful opportunities in theatre that I have had, so it's just as well that I make my occasional visit and see the shows. I plan to go in October.
There are quite a few of us in the Pacific Northwest. We should try to persuade Bruce to come north some time and we could all meet. How about it Bruce?

Posted by Dennis Clancy @ 05/30/2003 09:40 PM PST

Jed - Well, I am impressed. I had a great deal of respect for your granfather, but like I said, never got to take any classes from him. Interestingly enough, the old friend of mine, that I mentioned earlier, and I were talking about Milo a few months ago when we were recalling our "glory days" at Central. Did your grandfather ever mention Dr. (not to be confused with DR)Richard Lineaweaver (not spelled correctly)? He was my idol and my mentor. He was a genius. I often wished that I could have told him what an impact he had on my ability as an actor.

Posted by TCB @ 05/30/2003 09:50 PM PST

Dennis - Since there are so many of us around the Pacific Northwest, maybe you (as a travel industry person) should put together a New York pakage for all of us as a group. We could invade the city en masse, see some shows (at Delmonico's) sorry, eat at some great old favorites. Maybe we could get Bruce to fly in and we could all meet up for some fun? Anyone interested???

By the way, was there a box I was supposed to check regarding sexual preference. If so, I will mark "frequently."

Posted by TCB @ 05/30/2003 09:59 PM PST

Sorry, I keep popping up tonight, but I am supposed to be going over my lines and my songs, but I am tired. Anyway........

Question: Are we supposed to be surprised that Richard Chamberlain is gay? Was that ever a secret?

Posted by TCB @ 05/30/2003 10:09 PM PST

Well, it started out slowly, but we sure did catch up on our posts, didn't we? I'm so glad that people filled us in on their vital stats, if you will. I even learned things about people that I've been chatting with for over a year now!

There are some nice pictures of our very own Leslie Kritzer in rehearsals for PaperMill Playhouse's GREASE! on Broadway.com. Also in the cast is a girl that I did STREET SCENE with--Ms. Jordan Ballard. She is playing Marty opposite Ms. Kritzer's Rizzo. Just go to www.broadway.com and click on the link for the GREASE! pictures.

Posted by Jason @ 05/30/2003 10:34 PM PST

I have to do it...

I'm post number you-know-what!

Posted by Jason @ 05/30/2003 10:35 PM PST

DR Jed: Yes, the gorgeous Ms. Jillian Kate Greenwald is single, footloose, fancyfree, but be warned: fiercely independent--look out, World! (Now I'm in for "it"; she's really going to get on my case now, when she reads this...)

Today's posts were wonderful...I so enjoyed reading about everyone..what a fascinating, scintillating bunch!

Posted by KT @ 05/30/2003 10:51 PM PST

I got my copy of Kritzerland today, also!!

Posted by George @ 05/30/2003 10:58 PM PST

TCB - Yes yes, I most certainly
do know of Richard
Leineweaver (or some
spelling close to that). In fact, I
even knew his wife Connie
and one of his daughters,
Jessica, when they all lived in
the 'Burg! Connie and my
mother were co-workers, as a
matter of fact.

And the world gets smaller...

Posted by Jed @ 05/30/2003 11:24 PM PST

First off, the new DVD to the collection is Adaptation. It looks to be surprisingly low on bonus material, but some films don’t need them as much as others. For some reason, the ever-lovin’ der Brucer wasn’t interested in seeing the film in theaters last year, so I waited until it came out on DVD. I’ve a hunch he’ll be hooked early on.

As to the Roll Call question, I am Stephen “Woody” White. Woody is a college nick, the origins rather obscure (which means no one is talking). I re-adopted the nick years ago, when joining the Sondheim.com site, since calling myself “Stephen” had an unwanted presumptuous edge I thought best avoided. Similarly, I referred to my partner as “der Brucer” because at the time there was another Bruce hanging around the site, and I’m not referring to our own BK, who was using another moniker at the time. Somehow, there are numbers fewer “Woodys” and “ders” popping up, always have been, so the alternate names have come in handy.

I’m a SoCal boy, born and raised in Burbank, college in Fresno (same time as Robert Westenberg, with whom I was friends but not pals). Der Brucer is from Philly, a graduate of the Naval Academy, fifteen years my senior. We’ve been together for about eighteen years. He says seventeen, and that it just feels like eighteen. He’s better at math than I, and probably right.

I’m a natural-born clerk, der Brucer a-natural born engineer. Add the love we both have for musical theater and dogs, it was quite natural we became life-mates. We both opted for early retirement, myself from the insurance industry, he from computer design on the hardware end. And, at the ripe ages of fifty and do-the-math, we are moving from Long Beach to Rehoboth Beach, DE. Assuming, of course, that the damned house ever gets built to the point that we can move in!

Other interests? How about cooking (mostly my contribution) and politics (Log Cabin Republicans, mostly his contribution). And of course there are the grandbrats, his contribution but one that I’m just as interested in. Make that two, not one, as the lads are very different people. They are the main reason we’re moving to Delaware, after all, with no regrets.

Pardon me, the future is beckoning! That, and the dogs want to be let out. There's always something going on around here.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 05/30/2003 11:29 PM PST

I'm such a fool. In my roll call I stated that I had visited EAST Germany with my family, when in reality we visited WEST Germany, of course. Silly, silly me...

Posted by Jason @ 05/30/2003 11:32 PM PST

See, BK! I told you we'd have lots of late posts!

This is so much fun! I actually took the time to leisurely - and carefully - read through everyone's posts. What a great bunch of people we are. So many interests, geographical locations, and each with our special "qualities" (quirks).

Hmmm... Maybe one day we could do a "Who is the Real DR Day", where we could post as ourselves or as another DR - basically make up a story and/or opinion of something. -just remembering not to put the e-mail link. Could be fun. Could be a little dangerous too. ;-)

Or, I would love another "I Wanna Be Like BK" day, where we post in BK's inimitable voice and style of writing. That was fun!

DR Ben: Myers of Keswick is the English shoppe I was thinking of. Thanks.

DR Jason: You're a linguist?!? Good for you. -Too many obvious jokes there.

BK: Is there a chance you could bring "my" copy of Kritzerland to NYC?

Well, it's very late here - verging on early... And I have a matinee in 11 hours, so...

Goodnight.

Bonne nuit, François.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 05/31/2003 12:41 AM PST

As usual, I'm a little late.... Here goes the Roll Call. My name is Angela and I'm Addicted to Musicals. I'm in my extremely young 40's and live in the Central Valley of California. How's that for vague?

My Addiction was soothed by a visit to New York in April to see Hairspray & Nine. Ah, nothing like a quick fix!

Posted by Angela @ 05/31/2003 12:45 AM PST

François: You French always say WHAT?

I always thought it was Honi Soi Qui Mal Y Pense, or, in English,

"When life sucks, eat a piece of cheese and uncork a nice wine!"

(I eat, therefore I am).

R

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 05/31/2003 12:58 AM PST