http://www.rnh.com/news/winter2001/mail.html

Posted by R&H @ 09/24/2003 08:34 AM PST

All that traveling in California. My question for ASK BK day then - do you get to drive a production truck with a logo on it, or do you have to drive your own wheels in all these travels?

My best friend I met in 1979 when we worked on a production of OKLAHOMA! Her name is Vickie and she teaches English at the high school level and is the drama and yearbook sponsor as well. We always try to do a show together at least once every couple of seasons..and next June she is directing STATE FAIR and I will choreograph it! Hurray!!!

I too loved The Hardy Boys books, but also read a lot of Whitman books that were authorized stories of tv series I liked to watch...I.E. Ripcord!
Also read the Encyclopoedia Britannica when I really wanted to know about something.

I guess I am a morning person for writing but for listening to music and conversation, I am a NIGHT person.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 08:37 AM PST

Interesting R/H site! Thanks...my head is high!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 08:40 AM PST

Good morning everyone!

Craig's Question:

1) I will admit that I was quite the collector of the Babysitters' Club books when I was younger. I think that by the time I stopped reading them I had something like 110 separate books from the series! I also liked Trixie Belden (which I THINK DR Lulu remembers as well). In terms of actually well written children/young adult books I adore the Narnia and Horatio Hornblower series. Ooh... and everything by Roal Dahl. Did I spell that right? I can't believe I've forgotten how to spell his name! :)

2)My oldest friend? Well, I'm going to come out and admit that I am a terribly fickle person who has a tendency to move from group of friends to group of friends. I've KNOWN my current good friend Andrea since our first year of high school (9 years ago... wow time flies!). Of course, back then I flew in a different circle than her so I wasn't really "friends" with Andrea as much as I was an "acquaintance". When we both ended up in the same school and program in CEGEP we became much closer. We also now have the same circle of friends - so I guess that helps too :)

3)I am most definitely a DAY person. The most difficult part of my day is simply getting up and trying to locate the coffee maker in my kitchen. It can sometimes take me several attempts. I'm also pretty notorious for falling asleep at parties and - once - in a very very noisy bar. I can not stay up past 1 o'clock in the morning without either passing out or becoming very very cranky. :)

My question to all DRs:

I made a late post last night that asked whether any of you could reccomend any cheap hotels in New York for when I make my trip there this Christmas with friends (including perhaps the abovementioned Andrea). I'll ask it again. Remember - we will all be students working with CANADIAN funds. Cheap is the key word. A good location would be nice too - because at first glance, the NY subway system looks confusing beyond belief. If anyone wants to explain how THAT works - I'd appreciate it too.

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 08:50 AM PST

Since I got no responses to my trivia question last evening, I will repeat it here, now that it is a new day and I cease to gloat.

"Everyone loves Individual Oats.
It's the cereal everyone votes...
For."

1. Identify the source of the quote. (I know the answer.)

2. Was it penned by Stephen Sondheim? (I don't know, but I have my suspicions.)

The wording of the questions should serve as a big clue.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/24/2003 09:01 AM PST

As a child, i enjoyed the Babysitters' Club series. I'm proud to say I read every book, and the entire collection now resides on three (count them, three) bookshelves in my basement. I read a lot as a child. Now, one of my favorite books is A Prayer for Owen Meany.

To answer the next question:
One of my best friends, with whom I've remained close, is a girl named Aquila. I've known her since sixth grade (about seven years now). She's a wonderful person.

Finally, i am a late night person. I don't usually go to bed until 3:00 or 4:00 am. I blame it on Harry Potter 5, which I couldn't put down at the beginning of the summer.

A question for all the Dear Readers: what song describes the mood you're in at this moment? I actually have two for my split feelings on a certain subject: "Gimme Gimme" and "I Hate Men."

Posted by Laura II @ 09/24/2003 09:01 AM PST

Emily - try www.orbitz.com for some really good deals on rooms. I think finding an internet site that gives you all the details is the way to go.

Now - ONCE when I was visiting NYC with friends (and I would not recommend this for you) but we stayed across the river in NJ and took the train in everyday.

I think you want something close to Times Square so that you can walk to most everything you want to do - avoiding taxis and subways, etc.

Check the site!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 09:01 AM PST

Ow! I've been cramming for today's Western Civ exam all morning and my brain literally hurts. I need to take a breather, and what better way to do that than by posting (or not posting, hehe)!

When I was very little, I loved to read (or have read to me) the Mercer Mayer books, Where the Wild Things Are, and Strega Nona. I knew my mom hated the Berenstein Bears series, which I LOVED, and I hate to confess that I gleefully made her read them to me anyway! Wasn't I a sweet child, hehe?

When I was a bit older, I devoured all those preteen books like The Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High (and identifed with Elizabeth of course ;)). I also got into the horror books of RL Stine and Christopher Pike.

My oldest friend is a girl named Theang whom I've been friends with since my freshman year in high school. Lately though that friendship's been on the rocks, as Theang is not the person now that she was a few years ago.

And I am most definitely a night person! Somewhere in my ancestry there must have been a vampire....

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 09:03 AM PST

OK Mr. Brockman~

Hardy Boys series were high on my list in 3-4th grade - once read a complete book in a day.

Oldest friends - three from Elementary School. We grew up together, did Boy Scouts together(well, 2 out of 3), theater, barbershop quartet, you name it. One has won numerous regional theater awards in NE, one does Karaoke in FL, the third is a commercial photog (also in FL). Almost 40 years and counting - I'm truly lucky to have each of them as my friends.

Definitely daytime - which makes hell week rehearsals truly hell!

Posted by Phil @ 09/24/2003 09:24 AM PST

What a coincidence, Joy, Noel is flying off on his honeymoon on Columbus Day also. Hey, wouldn't it be funny if you both ended up on the same plane?

1) Favorite kid's books: Freddie the Pig series
2) Oldest (literally) and dearest friend: My friend Sharry. It is rumored that she was dating JW Booth during that incident at Ford's Theater, but I say there is no truth to it, none at all. I first met her at the theater where she was playing Bonnie in "Anything Goes" in '67.
3) What kind of person am I: Definitely a night person.
4) Song?: Cockeyed Optimist

Posted by TCB @ 09/24/2003 09:27 AM PST

All of the Oz books, even the non-canonical ones, i.e. not written by Baum, all of which I got from the library. It wasn't till I was an adult that I purchased them.

All of the Dr. Dolittle books. So much better than either the okay film with Rex Harrison or the Eddie Murphy travesty. Dr. Dolittle is not about fart jokes, as a new generation of movie-going children must think.

When I was in fifth grade, my class actually staged a version of Dr. Dolittle and the Green Canary which I wrote.

And of course the Alice books.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/24/2003 09:30 AM PST

The song that describes my mood right now...

But Alive

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 09:33 AM PST

I've been very close friends with William for 34 years, but in the last several he's started calling himself Will, just to shake things up.

The longest song in Our Wedding is sung by my best man, Sandy, who details our friendship of nearly 30 years. The big question is: Is it too long? And the writers group I played it for Sunday night seemed to think it wasn't. Then, my sister seems to think her song is too long, so my head's spinning with length questions when it comes to "personal history" type songs.

I could turn this into a DR reader question -- how long should a song in a wedding musical that's less than an hour long (the whole thing, all 14 songs) be? But I fear the response would be like Abe Lincoln's response to how long a man's legs should be. "Long enough to reach the ground" Woody Allen wrote a short play about this response.

Posted by Noel @ 09/24/2003 09:34 AM PST

My answers...

1. Gosh.. where to begin.. anything by Seuss and Dahl, Curious George, Judy Blume, and Shel Silverstein. I also went through a "choose your own adventure" phase... did anyone else read those types of books?

2. My oldest and dearest friends are Lori and David. Lori I have known for about 20 years and David about the same. The funny thing about David is that we met at camp and were BITTER enemies (he broke my camera) and somehow by the end of the summer, we were inseperable... Unfortunately, I don't get to talk to him that much - which reminds me that I should pick up the phone tonight and say hi.. Lori, on the other hand I talk to quite a bit...

As for what time of day is best for me being me.. it really depends.. sometimes I wake up quite perky.. I know I tend to experience a midday low.. But invariably - I am a night to late night person, often getting a LOT done in the late hours when things are most quiet and there aren't so many distractions...

Posted by Craig @ 09/24/2003 09:38 AM PST

I wasn't much of a reader as a kid. I would find one book that intrigued me, then read it over and over and over again. I think "Billy Had A System" was the record-holder.

I'm definitely a morning person. However - and it's a big however - if I can make it past 11 pm, then I seem to be on a roll again.

My oldest friend is Patty. She and I met in 10th grade in high school (NYC). Both of us arrived early each day. We formed a breakfast club and feasted on chocolate cake. I've posted before about how Patty and I would find out where celebrities lived or were staying. We'd pay them a surprise visit, which today might be called stalking. Overall, there were quite a few stars who didn't throw us out.

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/24/2003 09:38 AM PST

Bill - your trivia question is a puzzlement!

Song that best describes my mood, right now?

16 Tons - and yes, I am at work.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 09:39 AM PST

WEL - is it from Topper?

Posted by ? @ 09/24/2003 09:52 AM PST

1. My favorite book when I was a child (I think it was the first one I was able to read all by myself) was "What Do You Say, Dear?" It had illustrations by Maurice Sendak and was about being polite in unusual situations.

2. The friend I've known the longest is also my best friend and we met over 25 years ago in college. Though he is in New York and I am in L.A., we talk frequently and I often travel with him and his partner. That's almost as good a sign of true friendship as helping out on moving day.

3. I tend to be a morning person, though I'm fairly adaptable.

Descriptive song for me right now? "Where Am I Going?" My job search has been very frustrating because I really don't know the answer to that question. (I thought I did, but that career path proved untenable.) In the end, though, I know things will work out the way they are supposed to.

Posted by Jay @ 09/24/2003 10:01 AM PST

? - Is what from Topper? This is my first post of the day. I did mention Topper last week when I said I saw a Sondheim written episode but your question to me makes no sense.

Favorite children's books - the Uncle Wiggly books and the Bobsie Twins

I am my own best friend (oh - a Kander and Ebb reference)

I try to be a night person and pay for it in the morning

While I agree A MIGHTY WIND is not as good as GUFFMAN and BEST IN SHOW, it was still very funny... especially the live concert version I saw last week. This might be because I was a big folk music fan in the late 50s, early 60s, especially The Weavers.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/24/2003 10:16 AM PST

WEL, That question from ? should have been directed to WFO.

Posted by steveg @ 09/24/2003 10:19 AM PST

WEL: I think the question was meant for William F. Orr...not you. They just got the names mixed up.

1. Favorite books as a kid: Without a doubt, any book by Edith Blyton, especially the Magic Faraway Tree books. I had a collection of about 40 of her books in hard-back, but I have no idea where they are now. I would guess in a box in my mom and dad's basement; I'll admit it, 'cause I'm a man--I was obsessed with Nancy Drew books in 7th and 8th grade. I would go through two a week. I never really enjoyed the Hardy Boys as much.

2. I've moved around so much that I never have really had long-term friendships, I'm afraid. On occasion, I speak with my two best friends from high school (one friend from each school). They're both married now. I guess the oldest friends I have that I talk to on a regular basis are my friends from graduate school that live up here with me. I keep in touch with a few people from undergraduate school, but NONE from high school.

3. I am most definitely a late, late night guy. If I had my way, I wouldn't go to bed until 7am and I'd get up at 3:45pm, just in time for the Oprah Show.

4. Song that most describes me right now? That song from the commercial for the bladder medication. How does it go? "Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now...gotta go, gotta go, gotta go!"

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 10:28 AM PST

I just realized I was very contradictory in my post. I suppose I DO keep in touch with people from high school, but only those two people that I called my best friends. They're the only ones.

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 10:31 AM PST

My favourite childhood books were probably the Tarzan novels.

I have several really close friends. My oldest I met in 7th grade which means I've known him since Fall of '62. Forty-one years. Two close friends I met in college...1969. 34 years. One friend I met acting in 76. 27 yrs. Another acting chum for 25 yrs.

Try though I might and for as long as I've been in the movie business, I stay on theatre time. I'm a night person. If left to my own habits and if I didn't have to consider anyone else, I'd stay up to two or three in the morning every night. Of course, this was my natural tendency before getting into the theatre. I was always staying up, watching the late show.

Posted by Charles Pogue @ 09/24/2003 10:39 AM PST

I shouldn't be allowed to type. Her name is ENID BLYTON, not EDITH. Mea culpa!

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 10:51 AM PST

I saw an interesting movie last evening called TAKING SIDES. It is about the investigation into Wilhelm Furtwaengler's association with the Nazi party before and during WWII. (Furtwaengler was a much lauded orchestral conductor.) The central theme, of course, is whether art can or cannot be disassociated from politics. Though it's a bit talky, and Harvey Keitel's acting is a tad too obvious for my taste, the other actors do a fine job, and the theme is very well presented. It just opened here in L.A. on Friday and will likely disappear on Thursday.

I understand that the film is based on a play that ran off-Broadway with Ed Harris. Can anyone tell me the name of the actor who played Furtwaengler?

Posted by Jay @ 09/24/2003 11:15 AM PST

The play is also called Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood

Posted by TCB @ 09/24/2003 11:36 AM PST

Jay...

According to the Internet Broadway DataBase (www.ibdb.com), the show played at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway and Daniel Massey played Furtwaengler.

Just thought of another set of "books" I was obessessed with when I lived in England. They weren't really books...they were short-story magazines that were released every fortnight (every two weeks) and they were accompanied by a cassette tape with famous actors reading the stories, so you could read along. They were called "Story Teller" magazine, and I simply adored them. I looked them up on E-Bay, and if I had the money right now, I'd buy the whole collection. Only one person is selling them right now, and they're relatively cheap, but I'll have to wait.

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 11:36 AM PST

Sorry, it helps to read the question. The actor was Stellan Scarsgard(?).

Posted by TCB @ 09/24/2003 11:38 AM PST

Craig - I remember being enthralled by the "choose your own adventure" books when I was in grade 3 or 4. Or maybe 5.

The only problem is that I would read them so quickly - trying to "win" the story I guess - that I no longer remember ANY of the plots.

Oh - well... I DO remember something Medieval about a unicorn which might have been one of those stories. Of course, I may have dreamed it all along...

Jason - your song of the day cracked me up! :)

I've been looking at hotels on all the major travel discount sites and am getting slightly concerned re: prices.

I may have to invite myself to stay with Craig or Jason!

(jk! wipe that terrified look off of both your faces!)

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 11:43 AM PST

By the way, regarding high school friends and reunions, the last time I got a reunion notice it came with a list of people they could not locate. Everyone who I would have liked to "reunite" with was on that list so I didn't bother going.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/24/2003 11:46 AM PST

"...and I don't have to go right now."

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 11:48 AM PST

Did any DR see 'Under the Tuscany Sun' yet??

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 12:08 PM PST

I am at work, DYING for the gun control cause, and you people can't even post for my enjoyment?!?

I will die from boredom if there aren't posts soon...

(my BK impression is getting better and better although now I'm adding my own certain "zing" to the character)

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 12:27 PM PST

DR MBarnum is going to have lunch with two High School Hellcats in Hollywood in a couple of hours...one of the hellcats was also THE QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE....

It is too bad that Mr BK won't be there.

WEL...you didn't answer the inquiry. My first suspicion was that the OATS jingle was in an episode of TOPPER, but I don't remember it. Was Cosmo an ad executive? I don't remember the specifics of that series clearly, although I think Kathleen Freeman played a maid at one point.

For DR Emily's amusement....the names of two Broadway shows put together that form an amusing sentence or duo.

My contribution:

High Button Shoes with No Strings!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 12:34 PM PST

Emily--I didn't even realize you weren't BK until I saw your name at the bottom, hahaha.

I don't know if I could post anything interesting right now. My brain is fried from the exam.

Here's a question for Dear Readers though--what was the first musical you remember seeing, either a stage production or a movie. Mine was the King and I when I was 6 or 7 and I would waltz around the house singing Hello Young Lovers.

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 12:37 PM PST

Jrand...perhaps you should be asking WFO, not WEL. He doesn't seem to know what the heck you're talking about, though I suspect the other William would. ;-)

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 12:40 PM PST

Who was it that wanted to see Jason and I have a rumble? Cuz' after what Jason has done today, I think it might happen. Oh yes, DR's - I am a little miffed at our DR Jason and I am wondering if he even knows why.... hmmmm

Posted by Craig @ 09/24/2003 12:41 PM PST

Dammit - whoever the hell posted that question, that enquiry is for you.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 12:45 PM PST

Meet Me in Saint Louis by way of Oklahoma

Posted by Ben @ 09/24/2003 12:45 PM PST

Thank you, Ben.

How's that, DR Emily?

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 12:47 PM PST

Here's a question: Why is my electric bill so high? I've never been in double figures, kilowatt-wise, and suddenly it says 12.78 during the month of the great blackout. You'd think the things would be less not more.

Ultimate irony: the guy from the theatre we really wanted just called to say we could have it. A mere 50 hours too late. If only he'd called when he'd promised to call . . . but these "if onlys" can kill ya.

A bachelor party guest from Seattle called to make sure her husband wasn't invited to the bachelor party. How much clearer can I make this? No men (but me) are coming to my bachelor party.

It's a week of mock audtions. Today, I'm playing for students who'll audition for an old friend of mine who will choose obscure musical theatre songs for them to sing, based on the audition. There's no show.

Friday, there's no show either, but I want to see how my college students audition. Cruel, ain't I?

Posted by Noel @ 09/24/2003 12:49 PM PST

Hello, Dolly, Goodbye, My Fancy

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 12:52 PM PST

Big River, The Wiz

Posted by Koehler Bros @ 09/24/2003 12:54 PM PST

As for children books, I also adored all the Baum Oz books (not so much the non-Baums), the Dr. Dolittles, the Mary Poppins-es (yes, there was more than one) and also a series of books featuring a woman who live in an upside-down house named Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. Does anyone else remember her?

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 09/24/2003 12:54 PM PST

Wicked, Taboo, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 12:55 PM PST

Ah yes, I remember her well.

Posted by Mr Piggle Wiggle @ 09/24/2003 12:55 PM PST

In searching for a cheap hotel for our guests, we settled on the Hotel Newton, but, unhappily, they didn't honor their promise to keep our guests at a special low rate.

I'd also check out the International Youth Hostel on Amsterdam Avenue. Even if there's some fee to join IYH, you'll probably end up paying less than for any New York hotel.

Posted by Noel @ 09/24/2003 12:55 PM PST

I must have read the "Little House"
series a dozen times as a kid. As
well as Beverly Cleary and all of
Judy Blume - yes ALL of Judy
Blume. Oh yes! Although, I can
remember reading "Then Again,
Maybe I Won't" and not getting any
of the sexual references until I was
in high school. (eye roll - is that
allowed here?)

Posted by Matthew @ 09/24/2003 12:59 PM PST

I wasn't going to mention anything, because I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but since Craig brought it up...

He was very kind in sending me some casting information for a reading of a Tennessee Williams show, VIEUX CARRE. Now, I don't normally even consider auditioning for "legit" (non-musical) shows, because I'm always afraid that if I don't have my singing to rely on that people will tell me that I'm terrible. Anyway, I took a leap of faith and I submitted my headshot and resume this afternoon. I don't know if they'll even see me for an audition, and if they do, I'm not sure what I'll do for a monologue, but I'm taking the chance. Its an unpaid gig, but its only evenings and weekends and its an Equity Showcase here in the City, which would totally make it worth my while.

Thank you, Craig!

Now, am I out of the dog house? ;-)

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 01:01 PM PST

Yes.. all you had to do was email me back and acknowledge that you even got the notice..

Sheesh LOL... I'm glad you went for it!

Posted by Craig @ 09/24/2003 01:03 PM PST

I would have IM'ed you, but you always have your away message up!!

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 01:03 PM PST

You guys sure know hoe to keep a girl entertained while she's data entering...

keep it up and I *may* dance the data entry dance for your own entertainment factors.

Of course, we also could let Craig and Jason go at one another. That could definitely prove interesting. Veeeerrryyy interesting you might say. :)

...especially if they say they are fighting over me. As awfully medieval as it sounds, I always wanted to be the prize for duelling gentlemen...

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 01:03 PM PST

First musical I remember seeing was Song of Norway. I don't remember much about the show other than the sets. I was probably five at the time.

Posted by TCB @ 09/24/2003 01:05 PM PST

Jason--Good vibes on the Vieux Carre audition! I'm sure that you're very versatile (oh, a Styne and Sondheim reference!) ;)

For real though, I almost think of Tennessee Williams as having a musical quality. His words are just so poetic.

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 01:06 PM PST

That "hoe" in my last message should of course read "how".

My fingers are cramping from the data entering.

All of these stupid health care professionals that I am working with are francophones with suuuuuuuppppper long names. And lots of "é" in their addresses. That's a lot of ALT TAB 130s for me!

éééééééééééééé :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 01:06 PM PST

é

Ah! Haha!! I made an 'é!!'

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 01:08 PM PST

Any of Tom's monologs from THE GLASS MENAGERIE would be wonderful...particularly the closing one.

And of course if you wanted to be very, very - you could choose one of Blanche's!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/24/2003 01:11 PM PST

Jason - good vibes to you tonight.

Maya - first musical - Oliver during its initial NY run. I was 8 at the time, and had just played the part in a summer school production. After the show, my grandmother took me to the stage door, where I got to meet and talk to none other than the Artful Dodger - Davy Jones! I think he was as intersted in talking to me as I was to him. First show, first celeb sighting, all in a couple of hours! :-)

Susan - where ARE you?????

Posted by Phil @ 09/24/2003 01:19 PM PST

Maya: The first show I remember seeing was BUGSY MALONE in London, starring Ms. Catherine Zeta-Jones as Tallulah. It was so much fun! All those eggs and cream pies flying about the stage... What a mess that must have been to clean up! In connection with Phil's Davy Jones story (BTW--I saw Davy as Vince Fontaine in the nat'l tour of GREASE! He was a hoot...), BUGSY was directed by Mickey Dolenz--another Monkee.

I also remember my second and third shows...CAMELOT with Richard Harris and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with Topol as Tevye. I slept through most of those.

My first Nat'l Tour was GUYS AND DOLLS starring Ms. Lorna Luft as Adelaide, and my very first Broadway show was THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA starring Mr. Howard McGillin on Friday, January 18, 2002. I had a standing room ticket and halfway through the first act, an usher showed me to an empty seat Orchestra Right. That seat probably would have cost me $100. I saw the show for $20. I'll never forget it.

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 01:26 PM PST

To Maya's question:
First stage musical, Pipe Dream, 1956, followed shortly thereafter with Pajama Game.
First movie musical, probably, Oklahoma in 1955, although I remember seeing With A Song in My Heart earlier, which had lots of music, but was not a musical as we know it. Then there were the Disney animated musicals in revival, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which I saw in the early '50s.

Posted by steveg @ 09/24/2003 01:47 PM PST

First show I saw was the National Touring Company of SOUTH PACIFIC which my parents took me to for my 9th Birthday. Janet Blair was Nellie, Irene Bordoni was Bloody Mary and Ray Walston was Billis. I don't remember who was Emile. I enjoyed it and learned the words "stingy bastard". The other thing I remember was all they sold at the refreshment stand was orange drink and lemon drops.

Posted by William E Lurie @ 09/24/2003 01:52 PM PST

Great memories, guys! I'm having fun reading them.

But now off to work *disgruntled sigh*

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 01:55 PM PST

First musical: Fanny, with Florence Henderson, Ezio Pinza and Walter Slezak.

Second: Damn Yankees, with Gwen Verdon.

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/24/2003 01:57 PM PST

OK.. I must be daft.. did you all get Bruce's topic right off the bat?

Torrance of Arcadia? As in.. Lawrence of Arabia.

I must need extra sleep because I just got that quite a few hours later and had a chuckle..

Posted by Craig @ 09/24/2003 02:02 PM PST

The first professional musical I saw
was the first National Tour of "Les
Miserables" in 1990. The rest is
history....

Posted by Matthew @ 09/24/2003 02:07 PM PST

Loads of Ask Reader questions today. I'll tackle two:

1. Favorite childhood books: the DANNY DUNN series available through the Weekly Reader Children's Book Club. A year or two later, my fifth grade teacher introduced me to the MISS MINERVA series, and I loved them. Years later I read Nancy Drew (yep, as a teenager) when my fellow students were sneaking PLAYBOY when they could get them. (I always marched to a different drummer.)

First Broadway show: MY FAIR LADY with Sally Ann Howes and Edward Mulhare

First touring show: CAMELOT with Jeannie Carson and Biff McGuire.

Posted by Matt H. @ 09/24/2003 02:24 PM PST

First Broadway show: KISS ME KATE (Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie) at the Martin Beck

First Touring Production: First National Tour of LES MISERABLES. I had wanted to buy my girlfriend tickets for this show as a birthday present, while I also wanted tickets for "10,000 Maniacs". I ended up buying tickets for both, without realizing that they both were for the same day!

Needless to say, I scalped the Maniacs, and took my best girl (now my wife) to see LES MIZ.

But first musical ever?? I can't remember that far back.

Posted by Dave @ 09/24/2003 02:33 PM PST

Maybe not as funny as the last two films but I thought "Mighty Wind" had lots of laughs - the "Folk Boom" was big here when I was in my early teens. The boat was rowed ashore so often by more Michael and his friends before they went to the Cotton fields.Melbourne OZ/International Group "The Seekers" are still doing reunion tours! A most enjoyable movie IMHO. (Much better than the very dated "This Is Spinal Tap").
A morning person am I. I think after 9.00pm is a late night!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/24/2003 02:33 PM PST

First professional show: "Kismet".
First Broadway show (45 years later!) "Passion".
First West End show: 1973 - "Gone With The Wind".
(I still love all three shows and recordings of Original casts)

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/24/2003 02:36 PM PST

Tom from Oz!

My buddy Dean Bryant and his associate, Matthew Frank - both of whom are from down under are here in town doing a reading of their new show. Have you heard of this duo? They did Prodigal at the York last year with our very own Kerry Butler and Alison Fraser. They've also won quite a few awards there in Oz...

Posted by Craig @ 09/24/2003 02:39 PM PST

I liked A Mighty Wind, but I found Waiting For Guffman and Best In Show better.

Posted by Brandon @ 09/24/2003 02:41 PM PST

Here I am after a long day of school. I took a HUGE test in History that I was SURE I was going to fail, but it ended up being much easier than she had worked it up to be. I had even skipped lunch to do a study group with my History teacher from last year in the library, and it turned out to be completely uneccesary.

THEN I stayed after school to re-take a test in ALgebra that I had done pretty poorly on, and ended up having a review session with the teacher. Before I knew it I was running late, so we decided I'd take it TOMORROW. Then I went to voice and blahblahblah...Too many tests.

Maintenant, les questionnes...

Fav. Childhood Books: As previously stated, I was a big fan of The Babysitters Club, and the Bobsey Twins (my mom had kept hers and given them to me), and I always read The Boxcar Children, and a lot of R.L Stine, and Amelia Bedelia. I'm not sure if I still count for being in "childhood", but at the moment I'm addicted to the "Georgia Diaries" and the "Cat Who" books.

Longest Friend: Before I was born, my mom was a nurse in a hospital outside of Boston. Well she and another nurse friend got pregnant at the same time, and even delivered a week apart, both having girls. While she now lives in Plymouth, and I'm here in DC, I talk to her every day. And so do our moms.

I'm most definetly a LATE person, I usually don't even get remotely tired until midnight, and getting up in the morning is killer.

At the moment, I don't really know what my mood is besides BLAH, so I don't think there IS a song for my mood. Anyone know one?

First show: I saw The Sound of Music when I was 8 or 9, and fell in LOVE with it. I remember being a bit perturbed that the people didn't look like they did in the movie, but that faded the second they started to sing.

I REMEMBER MISS PIGGLE-WIGGLE! I think we still have those books somewhere...

Posted by Sarah @ 09/24/2003 02:59 PM PST

I loved the question, and subsequent link about, the R&H lyric in "Carousel" so much that I sped down here to add my $.02 without any regard for all the messages in between.

That's right. I ran past all of you...headlong into the rushing wind...screaming like a banshee to ward off evil spirits. THAT's how anxious I was to post about the lyrics.

My take on this is simple: When Oscar Hammerstein II wrote "keep your chin up high," the phrase "keep your chin up" was in vogue and had widespread usage. Sometime during WWI and afterward, the phraseology shifted to "Hold your head up" -- it was a loftier notion than sticking out one's chin, and it fit the mood that predominated throughout American thinking at that time. Thus, the shift to "hold your head up high" was a natural progression.

Both are correct, but the OBC and OST reflect their times. Whatever works best now is correct, too.

That's the view from my bridge. It's all just opinion.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/24/2003 03:01 PM PST

In the above commentary, the WW reference was meant to be WWII (TWO) vice WWI (ONE). Sorry for any confusion.

Keep your chins up! ALL of them!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/24/2003 03:02 PM PST

Well, I somehow managed to
wrap my shoots two hours
early and I am back at the
office, but will leave early. I
drive my own car to these
shoots. Surprisingly, there
was no traffic once I got on the
405 and passed Getty Center.
I managed to get to my far-off
location in Torrance in
twenty-four minutes - everyone
thought it would take at least
an hour to an hour and a half.
No traffic going to the second
location in far-off Arcadia, and
no traffic coming back. Most
excitingly, my copy of Once
Upon a time in the West DVD
(from France - two months
earlier than the US release -
but same package, transfer
and extras) and I shall be
watching it this very evening.

What a lovely number of posts
to come back to.

Posted by bk @ 09/24/2003 03:26 PM PST

BK: While you've worked on reality television series, are you a fan of the reality TV thats shown on major networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, etc?

Posted by Sarah @ 09/24/2003 03:54 PM PST

...by that I mean dating/survival/patience/risky/knowledge games, like The Bachelor, Big Brother, Survivor, etc...

Posted by Sarah @ 09/24/2003 03:55 PM PST

DR Craig: Can't say that I think much of "Prodigal". I wish Bryant & Frank success with "Emoh Ruo" but I did not really like the forced exagerated accents used for singing in "Prodigal" - OK for dialogue but people don't usually sing with such strong accents - I wondered if the director was worried that the audience would forget that Australians were being represented. A comparison perhaps with shows like "Big River" - the songs don't need the heavy southern accents.The music was enough.
Of small OZ musicals I have enjoyed "Only Heaven Knows" and "Martin & Gina" more.Watch out for "Paris" (by Jon English) for me that really is a mistake.
I will be interested in the changes to "The Boy From Oz". A good entertainment here but the musical lacked tension and any sense of drama in the local version.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/24/2003 03:57 PM PST

Sarah: I don't watch TV - at
least not for the last year, with
the exception of The
Sopranos, which I did manage
to catch the fourth season of.

Posted by bk @ 09/24/2003 04:10 PM PST

First Musical I ever saw: Touring Company of Fiddler on the Roof

and the Worst Touring production: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; (It was something like the 4th National Touring Bus and Buggy Company)

First Musical my parents would not take me to: Hello, Dolly with Carol Channing, but 35 years later (or so) my father took me to see it with Carol Channing.

First Operetta: The Mikado with the Doyle Carte Opera Company on tour.

First Broadway: Can't remember if it was Pippin, The Magic Show or Chicago (Saw them all in one weekend)

First Canadian produciton: Billy Bishop Goes To War or Cruel Tears

First London Show: Sweeney Todd (Original London Cast)

First Musical I acted in: Gypsy

First Musical I produced: Oh What a Lovely War!

First Musical I wrote the libretto for: Lysistrata

First Musical I directed: Survivors: A Kirt Weil Songspeil

First Musical where I bought the last ticket and sold out the theater: Little Shop of Horrors (Original production)

First Three films I ever saw: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music & The Sound of Music.

Favorite Children's books: Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, The Noddy Books, CS Lewis' books like The Lion, The Witch and the Unicorn. The Wonderful Wizard of OZ which I was able to receite the first few chapters from memory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which I still have with two of its pages stained with grape juice. Read the Hardy Boys but they were not a favorite of mine.

Posted by Mike @ 09/24/2003 04:38 PM PST

Here is something most amusing: My friends the Joneses just called. In the mail today they found a flier for a record label, a label which, some years ago, I created and ran. Now, my friends the Joneses have never purchased one item from the company and would sooner have knives thrust up their nasal cavities than purchase anything from that label now. So, why did they receive the flier? Because the label seems to be using MY personal mail list. I guess that's why I also got the flier. I mean, really. Using MY personal list to send out fliers to people who don't want to know from them. Brilliant. If anyone from said label is reading this (and we know you are) - bravo. You might want to save yourself the postage. You hear? Just a thought. Love you. Don't ever change.

Posted by bk @ 09/24/2003 05:13 PM PST

First show I ever saw: a wonderful children's play called "Many Moons." First touring company: "Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing - the very first time she toured in it. First Broadway show: "Promises, Promises."

Posted by Gunther @ 09/24/2003 05:18 PM PST

I, too, saw Ms. Channing in a Nat'l Tour (I think it was the 4,000th national) in 1994, I believe. It was, in fact, the production for which our very own BK produced a cast recording.

BK: I know you don't watch TV, but you really should turn on FOX and watch this "Performing As...." show. It involves people dressing up and singing as their favorite celebrity, and it is SO hideously bad that I can't turn it off. We're getting up to the Justin Timberlake impersonator. Some of these singers are SO off-key and try as they might, they do not look like the celebs they're trying to "be." The Freddy Mercury frightened me with his hairy pecs hanging out of a SPANDEX UNITARD!! Here's a tip to anyone out there reading this...

NEVER...NEVER, EVER...WEAR SPANDEX UNITARDS WITH A SCOOP NECK TO YOUR NAVAL ON TELEVISION! IN FACT, NEVER, EVER WEAR IT ANYWHERE!

This has been a public service announcement from your local television viewer. Thank you.

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 05:40 PM PST

Jason: Hairy men in spandex?

As appealing as THAT sounds, I think I'll pass on that show :)

BK: TV is way too overrated. You're not missing out on much these days.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/24/2003 05:44 PM PST

my ASK DEAR READERS question of the day is:

How many of us have actually pre-ordered our copies of JEEPERS CREEPERS from Scarlet Street? I would like to see a show of hands. My money order went out in this week's mail, so, I raise my hand proudly.

Posted by td @ 09/24/2003 05:51 PM PST

Are you saying, Sarah, that hairless men in spandex would be more appealing? Haha! The only reason I'm watching it is because its so ridiculous. You should at least watch ONE of the performances to see what I mean.

Let's see who is coming up next: Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, Madonna, and (YIKES!) the hairy man in the spandex unitard! He just won semi-finals, so they will all be competing for the next hour for a $200,000 grand prize.

Riveting, isn't it?

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 05:53 PM PST

Aughghghghghghghghghghghghghg- hghghghghghghghghghghghghghghgh- ghghghghghghghghghghghghghghghg- hghghghghghghghghghghghghgh!

My first threatrical musical experience: "Brigadoon"

My first musical memory of any kind: "Peter Pan" on TV, even before "The Wizard of Oz," if I recall correctly.

Noel: In a wedding musical in which folks other than the bride, groom, rites conductor (rabbi, priest or minister), and father of the bride are going to sing, I'd say 3 minutes, tops, should be sufficient to get their point across, exercise their lungs and make an impression that will linger if they're good and won't stink up the place if they suck.

Ohmygosh but I love the Bay Area. That abominable heat wave ended dramatically Monday evening when cool air began drifting in from the ocean...today is gorgeous and beautiful and cool. The fabulous fog is wafting across the Bay and Fall is in the air.

It makes me feel glorious!!!

La, La, La-a-a-a-a-a-a!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/24/2003 06:39 PM PST

A lull. The Aretha girl was actually pretty good...so was the Barbra. The Freddy Mercury guy is about to do his thing...

Stay tuned...

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 06:43 PM PST

I got back from work - half an hour ago!!!

That means I had been guncontrolling for 9 hours (without a break) and then had to face a lonely metro ride home from the East End of the city to the West End. Actually that should read "bus, bus, metro, metro, bus" ride back home. Blech. I'm supposed to be working 12 hours a week. Now it appears as though they want me to work full time (40 hrs) and go to school 15 hrs a week. Plus homework. Plus sleeping. PLUS HHW posting!

The only good thing about all this is that I will be rolling in money by my December trip.

Thanks to everyone who's made suggestions to me for places to stay! I appreciate the help. Or, I will when I wake up tomorrow from my mass mailing enduced coma.

If all of you would donate money to the Canadian Coalition for Gun Control, maybe we'll finally be able to afford to CONTRACT OUT THE FRIGGING 10000 PEOPLE MAILINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I ever see an address label again, it will be too soon.

Oh well, at least I got a free poutine out of the deal (my boss took pity on me to bring me dinner from the "hotdogerie" across the street). She didn't let me go pick up the food myself for fear of my never coming back. :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 07:22 PM PST

My first Broadway show: Guys and Dolls in 1992 with Nathan Lane and Faith Prince

My first show: Bye Bye, Birdie! (I think)

Posted by Laura II @ 09/24/2003 07:38 PM PST

I'm so happy! I got home from school today to find a wonderful package waiting for me, and the moment I saw the word "Amazon" on it, I knew exactly what it was!
My Sondheim Collector's DVD set! It has Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park With George, Passion, Sondheim at Carnegie Hall, Sweeney Todd in Concert and Follies in Concert! I am going to be in heaven for the next week or so watching all these! I've already seen most of them, but I've been waiting to see Follies in Concert for ages!

Ron--you sounded very lovely chirping like a little birdie ;)

Come on everyone, only 6 more posts! We can do it!

PUUUSH!

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 07:41 PM PST

I have officially been beaten to the punch, methinks!

Posted by Maya @ 09/24/2003 07:42 PM PST

I'm going to bed.

I feel compelled for some reason to write a post about it. Mmmm....

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 07:44 PM PST

puuuuuuusssshhhhhh....

Posted by Emily @ 09/24/2003 07:45 PM PST

Puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuush!

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 07:55 PM PST

*plop!* (that's two nights in a row)

Posted by Jason @ 09/24/2003 07:56 PM PST

Favorite childhood books:

Harold and the Purlple Crayon

The Dick and Jane books

The Bobbsey Twins (I wanted to join Bert and An and freddie and Flossie in their adventures)

A Hole is to Dig

The Boxcar Children

What Do you Say, Dear?

Posted by Kerry @ 09/24/2003 08:00 PM PST

Although I have occasional contact with grade school and high school friends, it's kind of forced. My best friend for the longest period of time would have to be Lyn who I've known for 30 years.

I am biologically a night person but have had to adjust over the years for the sake fo jobs.

Posted by Kerry @ 09/24/2003 08:02 PM PST

EMOH RUO (spell it backwards), the Australian musical mentioned above is part of the Developmental Reading series at the York. It's this Sunday at 7:30 and is FREE!!!!! Just call the York to make a reservation. I don't know the phone number, but the URL is www.yorktheatre.org.

BK - Did you see the full page ad for JEEPERS CREEPERS in the new issue of Classic Images? If not let me know and I'll snail mail you a copy.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/24/2003 08:06 PM PST

Didn't see it, WEL, so snail away.

Posted by bk @ 09/24/2003 09:26 PM PST

Good evening esteemed, mobile, swarthy, lithe, and directorially blessed BK and DRs --

This is just a shorty-post, as I'm gonna turn in kind of early. I'm getting ready to drive over to the land of La La tomorrow. And in the evening, oh joy of joys (a Rudolph Reisenweber reference) I shall sup and munch and savor wonderful things at Musso & Frank with esteemed and lovely company.

DR TD -- I shall raise two hands, in answer to your question regarding Jeepers Creepers. That is because we ordered 2 copies as soon as Scarlet Street made it available. That way, we don't have to fight about who gets it for whose car, etc. :)

DR Jason -- You better be a good boy, and eat right and not live on junk food.....don't you make me come back there and deal with you!! Ah haz spoken!

Posted by MusicGuy @ 09/24/2003 09:37 PM PST

-Most definitely a late night person... Although on this audition tour, I've become a morning person - it's amazing how long the day is when you get up before 9:00... or even before 8:00... or even before 7:00... Now what's up with that?!?!?!?

-Best friend... I was a Coast Guard brat, and I have no real friends from my childhood since I was usually in one town for only a year or two at a time. However, I have two dear friends from my high school years - although we did not go to the same high school - the power of music! And I made some wonderful friends in college too.

-Favorite books... Judy Blume, Katharine Patterson (Bridge to Terabithia still makes me cry), Madeleine L'Engle (the Wrinkle In Times series), and C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia).

-First show: I think it was either Fiddler on the Roof, or The King & I.

-First Broadway Show: The Tap Dance Kid (Ugh! - And I still remember the running joke: First Prize: Two weeks in Philadelphia; Second Prize: Three weeks in Philadelphia - Yuck, Yuck, Yuck.... YUCK!) -Or something like that...

-Performing As... Very interesting... However, I do think the whole announcing of the runners-up (a.k.a. losers) is kind of cruel. And, yes, the 19 year-old girl who performed as Aretha Franklin wasn't bad at all... although I think her first performance on Monday was better - she sang "Respect", tonight she sang "Chain of Fools". Oh, and the winner is... Aretha Franklin - Sharon Youngblood in real life.

Well... We had our final day of singer and dancer auditions today for the tour... It was actually kind of sad in a way. However, we now have three days of wrap up coming up, and that's when the real hard work begins - reviewing all the tapes and resumes, going over the pros and cons of the various performers, making sure we have enough people to cast, etc... However - again - the team will be taking Friday off, and we'll be heading to Laguna Beach for the day - kind of like a retreat. *Tomorrow is the last stunt call day - however, I don't think I'll be jumping of the dive platform this time - it's 14(!) meters high this time... last time it was only 10.

However... Tomorrow night I shall be supping with various and sundried Hainsies and Kimlets, as well at the original Hainsie/Kimlet.

Until then...

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 09/24/2003 10:03 PM PST

I may be errant and truant for a few days, with short spurts. The ever-loving der Brucer has decided to let a couple of strawberry blondes into our lives, until we can find their owners, which means leaving the phone and modem lines open as much as possible. When we have come to a happy ending of the tail...er, tale, I will be back to tell the story of Life With Bonnie and Clyde, which is filled with wags, licks, and sex.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 09/24/2003 10:36 PM PST

What, only three hands for JEEPERS CREEPERS? I know more than only three copies were ordered from this estimable site! But the question is, who HASN'T ordered who's GOING to . . .

Richard Valley
www.scarletstreet.com

Posted by Richard Valley @ 09/24/2003 11:55 PM PST

A lull.

By my post at this very unseemly hour you can tell that I am a night person.

Anyway, I have preordered the Jeepers Creepers CD! My Paypal account was charged a couple of weeks ago.

One of my favorite childhood books was "Hilda Boswell's Treasury of Children's Stories." She was an illustrator and this was a book of existing stories. I just loved them. I've been trying to get a copy on eBay for several months now. It doesn't come up very often and usually end up forgetting to bid. (I wonder if that means something.) I know I never read any series books like the Hardy Boys or Oz.

My oldest friend? I had one best friend in high school, then we went in different directions in our lives and I haven't seen him in probably 18 years or so. Norma, my former boss, has been a great friend for almost 20 years and another co-worker Margo is probably my best friend right now. Misi (that's her full, legal name--she had it changed) is one of my best friends that I got to know through theater.

As for my first musical experience...my dad was in a community theater group when he was in the army and I was about 4 years old. I remember seeing him in plays but he worked backstage for their production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (original version, of course). Early last year, I got to play Charlie Brown in a local production of the revised version. It's like we came full circle. It was pretty neat.

I've seen too many movies to remember which was the first musical. I do remember my sister and I watching "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum" when we were growing up. It seemed that it used to come on every summer and we would love to watch it…all the physical humor was just plain fun for us kids. It wasn't until I was in high school that I really discovered and fell in love with the musicals of Stephen Sondheim and realized that HE wrote the songs for that movie that we used to watch growing up!

The very first theatrical production that I was in was the opera "Carmen" at Western Washington University. The next year I was in "Brigadoon" (my first musical). The first show that I did here in Olympia (WA) was "Man of La Mancha." My first lead role was Hero in "Forum." My first play was "Noises Off." I've never performed Shakespeare.

Posted by George @ 09/25/2003 02:35 AM PST

First show may have been Brigadoon at City Center. First Broadway show was Mame with Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur. I've been opening new windows ever since. I didn't make it back to Broadway for another 8 years, but made up for the lull with a vengeance.

The tickets go out today. Our graphic designer sent something called a zip disk, which couldn't be read properly, so the bride had to create a ticket from scratch, which was so frustrating she was literally beating her computer. We managed to print out one ticket, as she couldn't get the image to repeat. But our local copy store took pity on us, and, for 50 or 60 bucks, took on the job overnight. I'm waiting for the sun to rise before walking over there. Then comes the stuffing.

What am I, a Thanksgiving chef all of a sudden? What the hell am I talking about?

Posted by Noel @ 09/25/2003 03:06 AM PST

td - I pre-ordered on the day they became available!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/25/2003 03:37 AM PST

No doubt the "Jeepers Creepers" Cd orders will be posted in order of orders so that I shall be among the first to receive the long awaited BK work - the first in OZ perhaps! I should have ordered this week as the Oz $ is worth more!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/25/2003 03:40 AM PST

Well, as for those other questions of the day:

I am a NIGHT person, which is why I wait tables during the day: the workday infuses me with energy, especially when our dining room is being slammed to hell and back. (Ooooooh! an Audie Murphy reference!)
My body finds itself in the late afternoon, early evening.
Mornings are for children, and anything earlier than 7:30am is torture to this poor soul.

Childhood reading material: Twice a week, my father would bring home a "Little Golden Book" for me.
I read The Hardy Boys.
Comics that I read then were the "Classics Illustrated" series.
While my mother was working on her Master's in Guidance Councelling, I (being in the second grade) got to sit in on her classes at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, wherein I was exposed at an early age to Shakespeare, Mark Twain and Tennessee Williams! My second grade teacher was quite aghast when I asked questions about Hamlet and his ghostly father in class.

The first professional theater productions I saw were The Knickerty Knockerty Players, who were a touring children's theater company. Every Saturday morning, this subscription series would appear at our local high school. The one production I still remember vividly would have been an adaptation of KING MIDAS.
First professional musical: OKLAHOMA! with Judy (HELLO, DOLLY!) Knaiz as Ado Annie as part of Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera summer series.
First Broadway show:
drama: THE SHADOW BOX: original cast.
musical: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (original cast); but since that's technically a revue, two nights later, I saw ANNIE with its original cast.

Posted by td @ 09/25/2003 05:53 AM PST

I just read that playwright Herb Gardner (A THOUSAND CLOWNS, I'M NOT RAPPAPORT, et. al.) passed away last night. What makes this even more newsworthy is that for the first time in over a year I read about a theater celebrity death in the New York Times before it was posted on HHW.

I've enjoyed all of his plays I've seen, although my favorite was not one of his "hits"... it was a play called THE GOODBYE PEOPLE which had a very short run.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/25/2003 06:11 AM PST

Very sad to hear this as well.

I was in one of his plays CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER, and wrote him a note about it - he sent a very nice letter back and wished the cast well and sent a photo, too!

I like THE GOODBYE PEOPLE, too, and I really like THIEVES!

When the girl who is moving in calls to her neighbor: "Come over and join me for a drink, I'm up to my ass in French provincial...."

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/25/2003 06:33 AM PST

I relly liked the girl who did Tina Turner. I think her name was conchita Leeflang. I loved her performance.

Posted by maria @ 09/26/2003 06:49 PM PST