Posted by Jed @ 06/06/2003 09:37 AM PST

Ron - Your runaway heat has
made its way up here to the
Northwest. Expected to be
about 95 today.

Posted by Jed @ 06/06/2003 09:39 AM PST

Jed, where are you in the Northwest? Here in Salem at 9:48 am it is already very hot. I imagine it will be in the 90s again today. Going to the coast tomorrow for the day with friends to cool off.

In my DVD player:
BRING ME THE VAMPIRE. A very hard to sit through Mexican horror film

In my VCR:
CABIN IN THE SKY and last nights episode of THE AMAZING RACE - go Chip and Reiken!! Also THE PENGUIN POOL MURDER.

In CD player: at this very moment is SERGIO MENDES AND BRASIL '66.

Posted by MBarnum @ 06/06/2003 09:52 AM PST

CD - The new RCA deluxe reissues (only because they were on sale). The bonus tracks are great and there are informative books although there is also a big typo... the character is Dolly Levi, not Molly Levi.

DVD - I don't think I'll have time to watch anything this weekend and I have several purchased but unwatched.

VHS - A blank tape for the Tony Awards® Sunday to send to Tom of Oz.

Cassette - More of the Big Shows. The most recent I listened to had a lovely conversation with Tallulah Bankhead, Judy Holiday and Gypsy Rose Lee.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/06/2003 10:13 AM PST

In my CD player: the new recording of "Man of La Mancha" with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

In my region-code-free DVD player: a region 2 PAL DVD of "Graham Norton Live" that I got off of eBay from England. I love my region-code-free DVD player!! Thanks Bruce for the information on where I could get it! (I should be receiving "French and Saunders Live" fairly shortly...also from England and eBay.)

In my VCR: "The Water Engine" by David Mamet with William H. Macy, Patti LuPone and Charles Durning (who were all in David Mamet's "State and Main" together) that I got off of eBay.

Posted by George @ 06/06/2003 10:20 AM PST

"Flames...on the sides of my face; hot, burning..."

I love "Clue!"

Sorry I was E&T yesterday, but things are getting very hectic for me, preparing myself to go to PA. I received my contract yesterday (finally), and I won't lie...I was quite angry and disappointed. I was made to believe that there was a full kitchen in both housing units--in New Hope and Mountainhome--but according to the contract, there is only a fridge and a microwave in the New Hope housing unit, which is the one in which we will be spending the majority of our time. There is a clause stating that we are not permitted to use any other appliances (except for those pertaining to personal hygiene and maintenance).

Now, that I could get over, but then I read that we would be paid a "per diem" of $100 for the 9 days that we are in rehearsal. Now, in an Equity theatre, per diem means "per day," but in Bucks County, PA, per diem apparently means "nine days." That's right, dear readers...I will not be paid a full salary for the nine days that I am in rehearsals...I will receive a meager $100 to live on. That averages out to about $11/day for food, which will obviously have to be take-out, since there is no kitchen. But to add insult to injury, that $100 per diem will not be given to us until AFTER the nine day rehearsal period! Its a good thing I have some money saved up.

This is nearly enough to make me pass on the job, but I really feel like I need to be onstage this summer, and out of the city for a little while. I must be crazy, but I'm going to sign the contract and hop on the bus (which I have to pay for) on Sunday.

Oh, the "joys" of summerstock.

I'd imagine that right about now, BK is cutting my "Who, me?!" from the vocal track on the CD and replacing me with Ms. Emily Skinner's voice or something. :-)

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 10:32 AM PST

Jason, that really bites. How reputable is this stock company? Is there any way (before you sign the contract) that you can find out what other people's experiences with them have been? I don't mean to be a nattering nabob of negativity, but reading your post gave me kind of a creepy feeling about them. We don't want you stuck out in the boonies of PA with a bunch of nutballs, unless they're nutballs of your chosing. ;)

Seriously, isn't there some kind of resource for you to check up on the trustworthiness of this company? I think that would be worthwhile.

Posted by Lulu @ 06/06/2003 10:37 AM PST

Ummmm...that's "choosing."

Posted by Lulu @ 06/06/2003 10:37 AM PST

I know one person who has worked there before, and she is going back in the fall to do four shows. I trust her judgement.

I dunno...I've heard good things and I've heard bad things. They used to be very high-end in the world of summerstock, but its sounding shady to me, too...

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 10:40 AM PST

Sounds like BK has been listening to MY FAVORITE YEAR lately. Especially "If the World Were Like the Movies".

Sorry to hear about your contract, Jason. Better start collecting you ketchup packets, so you can make bachelor soup. ;-)

BTW, I noticed that MTI has sound clips from MOBY DICK on their website. Are these from "your" CD?

Posted by Dave @ 06/06/2003 10:50 AM PST

Jason, bring cup-a-soup and Ramen noodle packets, too. Usually restaurants/diners won't charge you anything for a cup of hot water. (This trick only works if you're there with paying customers, though!) ;)

Posted by Lulu @ 06/06/2003 10:52 AM PST

Jed & George: Brr-r-r-r-r-r!

: )

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/06/2003 10:56 AM PST

Dave: Yes, that's us. :-)

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 11:04 AM PST

Jason---
Will you have to suffer those indignities for each show or will you be in rehearsal for the second while you are playing the first?

I'm surprised that at the auditions they didn't give you a "fact sheet" stating all these things. I haven't worked stock in years but when I did I had all the info in advance. And I've never heard of a theatre where you had to pay your own transportation.

At any rate good luck. I hope someone there has a laptop you can use so you can keep us updated.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/06/2003 11:13 AM PST

I'm going to be in the theater audience for the Tony Awards this Sunday!

Well, kinda sorta.

This Sunday evening, when it comes time to award the Tony for best new musical, CBS will cut live to the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood where Jason Alexander and Martin Short, who are currently appearing in THE PRODUCERS on that historic stage, will make the presentation. And I will be in the audience.

"Live" my eye. I will be firmly ensconced in front of my televison on Sunday, watching the awards (on a blasted three hour tape delay) at home. The award presentation was TAPED last night, following a performance of THE PRODUCERS at which I was present. (I guess it's true that it was "live" when it was taped.) After the curtain call, Messrs. Alexander and Short did a little bit of typical (i.e., banal) award show banter and then announced the winner. Now aren't you just dying to know which show won? Well, so am I. They did this four times, once for each of the nominees. They also taped an announcement of a tie. (Why they didn't just tape the announcement that HAIRSPRAY had won and be done with it I am not sure.)

Still, it was kind of fun to be present, and also to be made privy to some of the mysterious ways of "live" television.

Posted by Jay @ 06/06/2003 11:23 AM PST

Jay---
How were Martin and Jason? I think they are both good choices for the roles, and based on past experience with these two actors at least LA audiences will be relatively sure of seeing both advertised stars, unlike NY where by the end of Nathan and Matthew's run they were averaging one show out of eight when both appeared.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/06/2003 11:32 AM PST

DR Jason - The whole thing sounds very unprofessional (Ha! A play on words). $100.00 for nine days? It sounds like we need to send you some "care packages" full of soup packets, energy bars, and chocolata chip cookies. Myabe we could all pretend that you were just going away to camp.

But seriously, is there anything we can do for you?

Posted by TCB @ 06/06/2003 11:40 AM PST

The soundtrack from "Chicago" has moved from my home CD player to my car. "The Others" is sitting on top of my DVD player, but I am not sure it will ever make it into my DVD player. It will probably get bumped next week by "North By Northwest".

Still searching for a CD of Pearl Bailey's "Hello, Dolly!". If anyone sees it come up on ebay again, please let me know. Thanks.

Posted by TCB @ 06/06/2003 11:45 AM PST

Jason, the definition of "per diem" is per day -- "per" meaning "each"; "diem" meaning "day." This according to my Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, which I lugged out just for you. "Per Diem" meaning nine days is absurd.

But if that's so, I'm sure be you'll be getting one or two care packages from some of us.

Posted by Laura @ 06/06/2003 11:55 AM PST

Dear Reader William E. Lurie:

Jason Alexander and Martin Short were both quite good in THE PRODUCERS. I must confess, it did take me a bit of a while to warm up to Mr. Alexander. (That his opening song, "The King of Broadway," is not exactly the greatest number in all the Broadway canon did not help.) Mr. Short was superb from the get-go, and the two gentlemen have great chemistry together. I suspect they are having a good deal of fun on stage, and they must be trying new schtick with each evening's performance. I say this because at one point (it's when they are awaiting Roger DeBris' entrance in Mr. DeBris' apartment), Jason Alexander almost broke into full laughter over some antic that Martin Short did as he tried to settle into the loveseat. I did not see the New York production with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, so the only point of comparison I have is with the OBC recording. Even in broad comedy like THE PRODUCERS, sometimes too much is too much, and I hear Mr. Lane cross that boundary more than once on the CD. Mr. Alexander's performance was appropriate to the context of this silly--though very enjoyable--show.

Posted by Jay @ 06/06/2003 12:08 PM PST

Hey Everyone..

The Unseemly Interview with Kevin Chamberlin is up and he pulls no punches. Go check it out post haste!

Posted by Craig @ 06/06/2003 12:15 PM PST

Well ... After reading a biography of Gene Kelly and before that Cyd Charisse's book she wrote with her husband, Tony Martin, I was curious to see BRIGADOON. The entire movie was filmed on a soundstage--much to Mr. Kelly's disappointment who wanted to do it on location in Scotland. How wonderful that would've been, huh? I wonder if any of the original painted backdrops are still around? I understand Cyd was Gene's first choice for the lead in "An American in Paris" but she got pregnant and had to bow out. What a different film that would've been, eh? Cyd instead of Leslie.

At any rate...In my VCR is BRIGADOON (1954) - I'd only seen excerpts of this film, so it was nice to finally see it whole. IMO, it's slow and the acting is a little mannered but there are definitely some bright spots--principally when the music starts. "Bonnie Jean" is terrific and Van Johnson can certainly keep up with Gene Kelly. Is Van still alive? Did he ever write an autobiography?

Cyd and Gene together. You'd think it would be a perfect match but, for this film, I don't think it works that well. In the adagio number, "The Heather on the Hill," with all those lifts, Cyd just looks too big for Gene. It might have to do with her "wide" costume and some of the camera angles too. However, I loved the ENTIRE number. I say "entire" because if you've only been exposed to the clip they show in one of the "That's Entertainment" films, you're missing out. The dance is lovingly performed and beautifully choreographed. It has that "build" I've talked about before on these here pages.

Also, Gene's solo, "Almost Like Being in Love," is deightful, delicious, and delovely. Oh and I've got to mention Hugh Laing, the wonderful dancer who played the dark "Harry" part. During the chase scene, when he climbed (slithered!) up a tree trunk, he looked just like the animated Tarzan--full of stealth and grace.

My, I do go on. Who do I think I am anyway, E&R?

P.S. WILLIAM E. LURIE - What are the Big Shows?
P.P.S. Click on my name to go to the Cabaret West website and all the shows this month (choose Now Appearing from the menu). Note also LIFE'S A STITCH BENEFIT in the upper right corner. Your chance to see a lot of performers for one admission price.

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 06/06/2003 12:15 PM PST

Donna:

The backdrops for Brigadoon do still exist at least when That's Entertainment 3 was filmed. When Cyd charisse did her segment they had her do it in front of it. (Don't know if the whole thing still exist at that time and don't know if it still does.)

In my DVD

The Hot Rock, Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim, Forget-Me-Not-Lane with Bruce Kimmel

Posted by Michael Shayne @ 06/06/2003 12:30 PM PST

Glad you've got a rare Lalo Schifrin on, BK: his older son and I have been best friends since we were 9.

My CD player has a CD stuck in it. I can play the CD, just can't put any others on. And what CD is it?

Lost In Boston III

Could be worse...

Posted by Noel @ 06/06/2003 12:55 PM PST

Michael - Thanks. Wouldn't it be wonderful if MGM recreated the entire set on a soundstage and kept it as a permanent exhibit on the lot? I don't know where they are in their reorganzation but, if they ever had public tours, that could be one of them, along with Esther's swimming pool (natch).

Posted by Donna @ 06/06/2003 12:57 PM PST

I don't believe the entire backdrops exist for BRIGADOON. In the "making of" documentary that accompanied the laserdisc box set, Charisse mentions that they literally stumbled upon this panel stored away, and that's why they used it for a backdrop.

Filming BRIGADOON on location would have increased the budget astronomically, and as it is the movie grossed less than $3 million, one of MGM's biggest disappointments of 1954.

Yes, Van Johnson is still alive. You will occasionally glimpse him in short sound bite interviews on Hollywood's golden age, but he doesn't look to be in the greatest of health. He appeared here in Charlotte four or five years ago in TWELVE ANGRY MEN, and he had a great deal of trouble remembering his lines.

VCR - RINGSIDE MAISIE
laserdisc - THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE
DVD - THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE (widescreen roadshow edition)
CD - ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - revival cast with Sarah Jessica Parker.

Speaking of MATTRESS, did any of you NYCers see this revival production of MATTRESS? It got fairly lousy reviews and ran less than 200 performances, but what was wrong with it? Was Sarah Jessica just not enough of a clown? Was it poorly directed? The CD sounds fine.

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/06/2003 01:17 PM PST

Donna---
"The Big Show" was NBC's last big push in 1950-51 to keep network radio alive when television began to become popular. It was live every Sunday night for 90 minutes and starred Tallulah Bankhead with a pre-Music Man Meredith Wilson as musical director. Each show featured eight to ten of the biggest names in entertainment in song (Garland, Dietrich) Comedy (Durante, Fred Allen) and even drama (Deborah Kerr, Louis Calhern). Tallulah talked with them all and they all entertained. I imagine the budget was staggering. It lasted 30 weeks. Television won.

TCB---
Click on my name and e-mail me your snail mail address if you want a copy of the Bailey DOLLY. I got it about ten years ago and it was a cut-out even then.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/06/2003 01:21 PM PST

Matt H.---
I saw the MATTRESS revisal. While Sarah Jessica was not ideal the other problem was that they re-wrote most of the dialogue and it was not nearly as funny as the original. Had they used the original script it would still have had problems, but not nearly as many as the rest of the cast was very good.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/06/2003 01:24 PM PST

Thanks, WEL. I did not know they had not done the original book. That explains a lot.

I likewise have the Bailey/DOLLY and can help, TCB.

I enjoyed the Kevin Chamerlin interview SO much, and how ironic that I just watched his wonderful performance as a mama's boy falsely arrested and convicted of murder in an episode of LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT just yesterday. I got my hands on an Emmy screener, and it happened to be an episode where he guest-starred.

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/06/2003 01:48 PM PST

On lacation comping vocals. Having
a good time, and all the singers
sound swellegant.

Posted by bk @ 06/06/2003 02:40 PM PST

Very busy few days so nothing in VCR or DVD player.. A few OZ cast recordings in Cd. - Anything Goes/42nd Street/Big River

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/06/2003 03:10 PM PST

Gotta run, but, add me to the list of those who have the Pearl Bailey DOLLY, and can be of assistance.

dvds:
DANCES WITH WOLVES SE: looking great after all these years; I'm not a Costner fan (is there any such thing?) but, his devotion, dedication and willingness to open his purse strings shows through in every single frame.
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE: run, don't walk to the nearest dvd outlet and pick this one up!!! looking and sounding better than SWEET CHARITY did, but without Special Features, merely a trailer.
BATMAN FOREVER and BATMAN AND ROBIN: picked them up at Walmart for less than $7.00 each (that was with my cousin's employee discount).
THE LAST WALTZ: The Band in concert as seen through the lens of Martin Scosese. Now if MGM would only treat NEW YORK, NEW YORK to this sort of dvd treatment. (click onto my name to see what I thought about this disc when it first appeared).

Posted by td @ 06/06/2003 03:14 PM PST

I'm pleased to report things have warmed up in Oakland and the fog is almost burned off (but we can see more rolling in across the bay). It must be almost 65 degrees outside!

Mr. Lurie: I should probably know what the "RCA Deluxe Editions" are, but my mind isn't clicking -- could you name them? Or some of them??? And any feelings you have on those that are reissues of existing CDs?

Posted by Rno Pulliam @ 06/06/2003 03:39 PM PST

Wow wow wow, fellas(and ladies) thank you for all the responses regarding the Pearl Bailey version of "Hello, Dolly!". I may take several of you up on your offers, so that I can give some of my fellow cast members a copy.

All of you here are so wonderful. I feel grateful to have found you all.

P.S. Belated thanks to whoever it was who let me know that Brian d'Arcy James is the nephew of Brian Kelly from "Flipper".

P.S.S. Hasn't anyone gotten word yet on the meeting between Maya and Jose last night???

Posted by TCB @ 06/06/2003 03:53 PM PST

I, too, would love to hear the Pearl Bailey "Dolly," having passed on the LP at a time when there were so many titles I wanted and so few I could afford.

If anyone is willing, I'd be grateful! I can burn CD-Rs, too, so if someone is looking for something...even movie-related, I have a lot of movie musicals on CD and tons of dramatic scores.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/06/2003 04:28 PM PST

Jason -

After reading your post and the various responses, it would appear that you'll make more $$ from your solo on "Jeepers Creepers" than in New Hope!

Time is short, but hopefully there's an lawyer among us who can check your contract before you hop on the bus.

Hope it works out for the best. And if you're not around, I'll be glad to comp your vocal for BK :)

Craig -

When can we expect to see the session photos up and running?? Any chance of posting Michael's videos of JK singing "Song of the New Wine?"

BK -

Trust the mix down in going spledidly. Thanks again for the opportunity. Hope we can do it again!

Posted by Phil @ 06/06/2003 05:22 PM PST

With only forty posts (I'm NOT complaining, mind you) I shudder to think what this weekend will be like. Help me not to shutter and show up and post a lot or, at the very least, Camelot.

I got an e-mail from our very own Juliana A. Hansen who has been cast in the road company of Thoroughly Modern Millie - she'll be in the ensemble and a Millie cover to boot.

Posted by bk @ 06/06/2003 06:19 PM PST

Our Saturday morning newspaper included an item with the worthwhile news that Rod Stewart songs have been "bought" for a musical based on them. London theatre is mad. Of course there is also a musical (??) based on the hit song of Brit group "Madness" too.
In Melbourne we have the wonders of "We Will Rock You" in the near future.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/06/2003 06:27 PM PST

BK - ask Juliana IF she will be appearing in Pittsburgh this summer with THOROUGLY MODERN MILLIE, alrighty then?

Posted by td @ 06/06/2003 06:35 PM PST

Yay for Juliana! She was so sweet...and GORGEOUS...and has a lovely voice. I'm glad for her! Woohoo!

Thanks for all the concern re. my contract woes. I'm sorry to have vented in such a public forum, but...I had to or I'd have burst. I'm not expecting care packages or anything, but a postcard or two would be lovely! I'll post my addresses for the summer below. I'd love to hear from you guys!

Anywho, back to packing.

Send your letters and postcards to me:
(Dates: 6/16-7/20)
c/o Buck County Playhouse
PO Box 313
New Hope, PA 18938

or
(Dates: 6/9-6/15 and 8/12-8/31)
c/o Pocono Playhouse
PO Box 207
Mountainhome, PA 18342

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 06:45 PM PST

That should read Bucks County Playhouse for the address...not Buck.

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 06:46 PM PST

Jay, that is so cool that they did the announcement for Best Musical 4 times. I just hope they end up showing the right winner :)

Jason, you didn't mention your last name when you gave those addresses.

Posted by Jennifer @ 06/06/2003 06:52 PM PST

In my car CD player: Guy Haines, the first album.

No tv, vcr, or dvd player.

DR Jason: You will be the envy of all the other actors in the company with a plethora of postcards arriving from all of us here.

Posted by Laura @ 06/06/2003 07:04 PM PST

Laura: You're so right! People will loathe and hate me with passions they've never felt stirred up before. Oh, what fun it shall be to sort through my postcards...to alphabetize them by sender (just to keep them all straight, of course), and to stick them to my makeup mirror. I will, indeed, be the envy of all the others I work with.

BK: I just put your name on my bio. I was so proud. :-) Just imagine...Bruce Kimmel and Cameron Mackintosh--on MY BIO! I swoon just to think of it.

DR Jennifer...email me.

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 07:14 PM PST

Geez! I can't write anymore. I meant to write, "They will loathe and envy me..." What I wrote earlier was VERY redundant. Wasn't it redundant?

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 07:15 PM PST

Jason, it was not only redundant, it was repetitive again.

Posted by Laura @ 06/06/2003 07:45 PM PST

Run that by me one more time...? ;-)

Posted by Jason @ 06/06/2003 07:52 PM PST

Ron---
RCA just released "deluxe" CD editions of the OBC of OLIVER, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and HELLO, DOLLY. Each has at least 20 minutes of bonus tracks including interviews with original participants, tracks from other productions, cut songs, etc. They come with an informative booklet and are packaged in a cardboard book insterad of a jewel box. They are well done, but I wish RCA would issue some of their rarer shows that have still not come out on CD (NEW FACES OF 1956, SEVENTEEN, HAZEL FLAGG, MAKE A WISH, et. al.) instead of repackaging shows that have been available since the invention of the CD.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/06/2003 08:00 PM PST

Jason (or someone who knows)---

What is your last name so it can go on the Post Card in case there is more than one Jason at the theatre?

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/06/2003 08:06 PM PST

May I renew my subscription?

Posted by Corrine Calvet @ 06/06/2003 08:07 PM PST

Jason, In spite of the problems with your contract, I hope you have a rewarding summer. Bucks County is a beautiful area. We spent 5 years there, about 20 minutes from New Hope. If the Thomas Sweet ice cream store is still there, do treat yourself. Then I want a full report of what you had.

Posted by Jane @ 06/06/2003 08:10 PM PST

Bratton.

Posted by My last name is.... @ 06/06/2003 08:23 PM PST

Ron, just drop me an e-mail with your address. TCB and anyone else, feel free to contact about the Bailey/DOLLY.

I've got the Mary Martin/DOLLY on LP, and to be honest, I really prefer it to any of them.

I saw Pearl in DOLLY, and by the time I got to it, she had won her special Tony and basically turned it into the Pearlie Mae Show. Added all this stuff about her feet hurting and getting back to the story now-sort of stuff. The audience mostly ate all those asides up, but I was rather put out about it. Memorable, yes, but not HELLO, DOLLY.

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/06/2003 08:38 PM PST

Dear esteemed, chic, and guapo BK,

A thousand pardons for extended E&T conditions. I have been rehearsing all this past week for a fairly difficult concert appearance tomorrow, Saturday. I hope everything went just as you wanted in New York, and the the follow-up production work is finished soon. We're looking forward to the new CD!

A big hello to all the dear readers also! I'm stuck in a hotel in Philly, with just a clunky dial-up connection for my laptop. I also can't stay logged on too long, so I've only gotten to read today's posts.

Sunday, I get to fly home to DR Kerry and Mazal, so all will be right with the world again, and I can catch up on reading back posts.

Play nice, and eat your vegetables.

Posted by MusicGuy @ 06/06/2003 08:40 PM PST

DVD: GODFATHER I
CD: CHICAGO

FRIDA is coming out on DVD Tuesday! Noone but me has mentioned this awesome film...so I'm guessing noone has seen it. Rent it, buy it, whatever...it's so good. C'mon, you Broadway mavens, it's Julie Taymor's creation, for heaven sakes!

Posted by KT @ 06/06/2003 08:57 PM PST

So nice to get away from the toil and drudgery of a part-time summer job and to come home and read posts from all the Dear Readers.

KT--I saw Frida...it was amazing and I fully intend to buy it on DVD. I think that film should have gotten more awards than it did; Julie Taymor is a genius. I loved the soul of the movie and the costumes and the music..it just felt so real and honest. And it was so cool how she worked the Kahlo portraits turning into Salma Hayek. Have you seen Titus? An equally awesome movie.

William E. Lurle--two questions for you, if you don't mind. I would love to get my hands on the Pearl Bailey Dolly recording, but I've also heard that there is a Merman as Dolly bootleg floating around. Do you have that one or know how I could get it? And where did you get the Big Show recordings? I'm a big Tallulah fan (so much so I even liked the OCR of the Helen Gallagher musical), and would love to hear some of them. Thanks.

Jason--I agree with everyone else that this stock gig may be something to be careful about. But best of luck, or better yet, break a leg and grow as an actor and don't eat too much Ramen!

Well, as TCB mentioned, I did meet DR Jose last night and he couldn't have been nicer. He did a bang-up job as the associate conductor of 1776 at Ford's Theatre in DC. If any of you are going to be in the DC area before the 8th, try and get tickets for the show, I urge you. It was a stirring production, with some incredible talent packed in.

Finally (boy, I can go on), the last CD I listened to was a CD I burned of Leo Ferre songs. He was a French singer much in the Brel mode who also put many French poets to music--Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Verlaine, etc. Perhaps DR François would have heard him? As for DVDs, I haven't really watched much lately but I can't wait for the Tonys!

Posted by Maya @ 06/06/2003 09:58 PM PST

Dear Maya,
So glad someone saw FRIDA here...and couldn't agree more with your comments. Weren't Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina perfect!?
In reading her illustrated diary and her biography, the film totally recreated the essence of the characters and the artwork..they looked so much like Frida and Diego, it was uncanny. I loved the costumes, makeup, sets, the psychodelic sequences. The story was passionate and fascinating.

Posted by KT @ 06/06/2003 10:37 PM PST

Dear Maya,
So glad someone saw FRIDA here...and couldn't agree more with your comments. Weren't Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina perfect!?
In reading her illustrated diary and her biography, the film totally recreated the essence of the characters and the artwork..they looked so much like Frida and Diego, it was uncanny. I loved the costumes, makeup, sets, the psychodelic sequences. The story was passionate and fascinating.

Posted by KT @ 06/06/2003 10:38 PM PST

My goodness, we had ourselves a rally, by gum and by golly.

Posted by bk @ 06/06/2003 10:52 PM PST

I despair of the London theatre, honestly I despair.

Just heard that Ragtime is closing early (June 14, when it was scheduled to run until September (almost a Carole King reference)), and now there's talk of a musical based on Rod Stewart's songs, when we already have musicals based on the songs of Abba, Queen, Madness and Boy George. I ask you - what is the world coming to? I blame George Bush myself. If he hadn't started that war, Americans would still be coming to London and going to the theatre to keep them alive as, sadly, none of my compatriots seem to have any taste.

Anyway, in the car CD - the new deluxe edition of Hello Dolly - love the Mary Martin tracks, pity they haven't released all of that on CD yet. The new double CD of Nine - at last in its entirety. And the bonus tracks by Maury Yeston are really amusing with him multi-tracking his own voice. The Carlyle Set by Christine Andreas - I thought this was meant to be a live CD? What happened that it became a studio CD? BK - any ideas?

I went to Bilbao in Spain last weekend and picked up a live recording of Zorba with a Spanish cast. It's a double CD so you get the whole show, including vast tracts of dialogue in Spanish. There are a couple of bits of music which don't appear on either Broadway recordings, though. Also a new CD by Paddy McAloon (the leader singer of Prefab Sprout, if that means anything to anyone) called I Trawl the Megahertz. Mostly lush and orchestral and a bit repetitive - almost like Philip Glass woke up one morning and decided to be romantic.

Also waiting to be played is newly released House of Flowers which says it's the first time on CD, but I have it already, bought many years ago. This one has extras though.

Posted by Allan @ 06/07/2003 02:33 AM PST

Just finished watching the Barbara Cook DVD which is indeed wonderful. I know someone out there mentioned it at some time but I have forgotten - where was it filmed? No mention on the DVD.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/07/2003 04:05 AM PST