Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 3 => Topic started by: bk on August 28, 2005, 12:15:52 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, you've picked up the gauntlet and run the forty yard dash with it, and now it is time for you to post until the cows come home - they'll be picking up the gauntlet as soon as they figure out what it means.
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And the word of the day is: LIGATURE!
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And now - Dino at the piano.
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I am here at the change of notes!!! Yeah!
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Well, it's about time. ;)
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Of course, I'm just sitting here like so much fish. ::)
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BEDAZZLED, I loved when I was younger and first saw it. Then a little less with each viewing. Some great moments, but not cohesive and particularly fizzles towards the end.
But I do love the song "Love Me!!!" and the "Bedazzled" song Cook does, and I found those for download last week, so I'm set.
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Going to a minor league baseball game in Newark tomorrow. Not my idea, believe it or not, so can't do brunch unfortunately, Jose.
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Going to a minor league baseball game in Newark tomorrow. Not my idea, believe it or not, so can't do brunch unfortunately, Jose.
No prob. I just have me a craving for some Popover Care, Sarabeth's or Good Enough To Eat. We shall see...
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Well I've seen a few times on vinyl a Broaday cast recording of a show called TAKE ME ALONG, about which I know nothing, except it has songs by Robert Merrill and a cast of Jackie Gleason, Robert Morse and Walter Pidgeon, so maybe I would like to go back in time and see that. Anyone know anything about this show?
Otherwise, since I am on a Morse kick, I would like to see his best night in HOW TO SUCCEED.
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Later today (Sunday), my niece and I are going to see "Red Eye." I don't really know anything about it except that it's a scary movie set on a plane. Ebert and Roeper gave it Two Thumbs Up®, but I didn't really pay attention to the overview of the story. I'll find out in the early afternoon. :D
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Topic of the Day:
The one show that comes to mind at this hour of Merrily We Roll Along. It's a show that's near and dear to my heart, even with it's faults and shortcomings. And I really would like to see a full scale production of the original book and songs - or maybe even an Encore's type remount. I want "The Hills of Tomorrow" at the "end" and end of the show again! -I wish I could have gone to that reunion concert a few years back!
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Take Me Along is based on O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness. It has a really wonderful score, and, until the last minute, Guy Haines was going to do Staying Young from it. I gather that because of Gleason's star power, the show became skewed to his character, which apparently was fatal for a musical based on a play that is not really about his character. But the songs are great. But the topic isn't just to see a show, it's to take the Time Machine back so you can be there for the entire creation of a musical from start to finish.
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DR Cillaliz - As for "The 40-Year Old Virgin"... Just make sure you stay for the "finale". ;)
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Well, I must go to bed. I also have to take my contact lenses out. I've been wearing them for quite a while, today and my eyes are tired...and a little dry. :P So, goodnight, all!
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I've always preferred the "original" version of Merrily too Jose. I saw an excellent production of it. The rewrites don't work as well at all IMHO.
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I was in fact going to say "Merrily" for my choice. I'll go for "Pacific Overtures" instead. I found the "Someone In a Tree" segment on "Broadway - The American Musical" very interesting. I've only seen the show produced in a semi staged concert version and it was wonderful.
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Ah, yes, I read the TOD more closely now. I still would like to see the HOW TO SUCCEED creation. Imagine Loesser, Fosse, Morse in his prime...
For a negative vibe experience, it might by fun to see what really happened behind the scenes of the ill-fated Jerry Lewis HELLZAPOPPIN.
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And since I mentioned Merrily We Roll Along, I now shall proceed backward in time...
When I got out of the subway, I heard a bunch of police sirens, cars racing by, horns beeping... And once I walked the few steps to 145th and St. Nicholas Ave., I noticed a bit of a commotion across the street on the other corner. A few women were yelling at someone, some people were trying to hold other people back... Apparently, some sort of fight. Well...
By the times all the sirens had stopped, I had counted 15 squad cars on the scene, and numerous men and women in blue checking out the scene. An ambulance eventually came on the scene, but I did not see anyone get in or out of it once it was parked. Eventually, some of the policemen got back in their cars and drove off, and that helped to partially restore some of the traffic flow. I'm still not exactly sure what happened, but I was just glad that it appeared that no one really got hurt - even though a few people were cuffed and put into squad cars - and that it was not happening in front of my apartment just about a 100 feet away.
:-\
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Rodzinski has a point - it might be equally fascinating to sit in on the creation of a musical that had the highest hopes going in - great creators, cast, etc. and see what went wrong, how they tried to fix it, and finally why it still failed. Say La Strada, or Lolita, My Love, or Breakfast at Tiffany's.
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Oh, one lovely thing about Major Dundee was the appearance of the recently departed Mr. Brock Peters. Our screening was preceded with a little twenty-minute clips tribute to Mr. Peters.
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The subways were/are running weird tonight. I was waiting to take an A-Train at the Port Authority stop, when a D train pulled into the station. People were asking people who were on the train if it really was a D train or if it was an A train "in disguise". Well, since both the A and D go to 145th, I got on.
Once on board, the guy sitting next to me said that it was an A train, but that they had not changed the signage on the train. -Something to do with the fact that no C trains are running this weekend due to track work.
Well... We reach Columbus Circle, and we hear - very faintly - "Next stop, 125th Street". OH! It is a D train - Express too! Some people then ran for the closing doors to get off the train - otherwise, they would have had to deboard at 125th and wait for another train heading back downtown.
Well, I wasn't really complaining. ;)
Once I got home, my roommate, Faith, had just gotten in too. She mentioned the whole subway mess tonight. Unfortunately, she was stuck on the other side, so to speak. She was waiting for the D train at Rockefeller Center. She and about 200 other people on the platform. After about 20 minutes, she said that a subway worker came by walking the tracks, "I don't what you guys are waiting for, there are no D trains running on these tracks tonight." A chorus of expletives from everyone on the platform as they headed back out to the exits... and towards Eighth Ave. to catch the D train over at 50th Street.
...And on her way out, Faith noticed the small, handwritten sign posted in the MTA Booth stating that the D Trains would be running on the A/C tracks in midtown tonight.
>:(
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Rodzinski has a point - it might be equally fascinating to sit in on the creation of a musical that had the highest hopes going in - great creators, cast, etc. and see what went wrong, how they tried to fix it, and finally why it still failed. Say La Strada, or Lolita, My Love, or Breakfast at Tiffany's.
...Well, Merrily was a flop too.
:P
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I've said this many times, but the MERRILY at Kennedy Center a couple years back should have come to Broadway. To me that was the realization of that show's ever-lamented potential.
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I went ahead and braved the late night crowds in Times Square tonight. Lots o' tourists out and about, and all the street vendors were doing good business tonight. Instead of investing in a caricature of myself or having my name painted "decoratively", I headed to the Virgin MegaStore. -I missed you by a couple of hours, DR Rodzinski.
Man, were they having some pretty good sales! Lots and lots of $10 CD, DVDs and other items. And there were even some recently released items in the sale bins too. I had a bunch of things in my hand as I was walking through the store, but eventually settled on Peter Cincotti's debut CD, two 2-CD compilations (I'm a sucker for "easy listening pop hits", and The Carpenters' "Singles" CD. Each one was only $10. Not bad at all. Oh, and I went ahead and picked up the OCR to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels too since it was on sale. -I figured I might as well get to know the score now since I now the contractor for the pit. ;)
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Oohhh... It's just you and me, DR Rodzinski.
Hmm....
;D
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I could not find the Broadway section in the store! They've uprooted everything and moved stuff around. But yes, tons of $10 DVDs.
Okay, the HHW East has outlasted the West Coast it seems. And I must sleep.
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Before heading to Times Square, I spent a good hour just sort of wandering about the city. I started up around Lincoln Center, Tower Records to be exact. I finally picked up the OCR of The Light in the Piazza. While I was there, I did notice the After the Ball and "Haines His Way" CDs on display - and "Haines His Way" was also set up in one of the listening stations.
:)
Then I wandered down to Therapy. Sort of. I walked down Ninth Avenue to 59th. I was hoping to use the bathrooms in the Time Warner Center, but even though the doors were still open, they had closed off access to the upper floors. So, I headed out the 60th street side and back over to Ninth. Once I got to 52nd, I took a right to get to the bar. Then I hit Tenth, hmm... Then I hit 11th... Then I walked around the block and started to backtrack. Where's Therapy? I remember passing the construction site, and seeing St. Vincent's... Luckily, I had picked up one of those freebie mags earlier at Tower, and I was able to look up one of the ads for Therapy. OH! It's between Eighth and Ninth! -I was thinking it was between Ninth and Tenth. Ah, well...
I eventually made my way there, walked in, proceed to use the bathroom, and then I walked right out. The music was just way too loud tonight. I could even tell the patrons were not dealing with it well - there weren't that many people hanging out on the ground floor. There were these empty spaces on the floor which seemed to coincide with the placement of the speakers. Ah, well...
But once outside, I did notice an acquaintance of mine having a pretty deep "conversation" with someone. Alas, that someone was not his boyfriend. Hmmm... I took that as the "hint" that I was meant not to be there tonight.
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I could not find the Broadway section in the store! They've uprooted everything and moved stuff around. But yes, tons of $10 DVDs.
Okay, the HHW East has outlasted the West Coast it seems. And I must sleep.
The Broadway section is currently on the Main Floor (street level) to the left as you enter the doors. Yes, very weird. They are currently remodeling the store, and the "new" Virgin Megastore is supposed to be unveiled sometime in mid-September. Luckily, I noticed one of the dry-erase boards indicating where everything currently was living, and "apologizing for the inconvenience".
However, it was nice being able to browse the Classical and Jazz sections in relative quiet. -That part of the store almost looked like it was closed since the lighting was so dim, but it was open.
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I believe the West Coast is still here. Glad to hear Tower has done as promised, and hopefully they're selling a few.
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And one for Mahler.
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The "inspiration" for my purchase of the OCR for The Light in the Piazza was seeing The Light in the Piazza earlier tonight. It was sort of a post-birthday present to myself. I had remembered that this was Matthew Morrison's last weekend - he leaves after tomorrow's show(s), and I really wanted to see the original cast while and since I could. So, I checked at the Box Office, and was able to get a pretty decent seat, Row M, 202. Center orchestra. In fact, just a few rows in front of me sat Ms. Barbara Cook and her companion, and in front of her was Richard Thomas and his wife. -I had always thought "John Boy" was taller. I recognized a few other faces in the house tonight too (Jeff Calhoun and Rob Berman), as well a few other faces who's names I could not remember. Well.. As for the show...
"Beautiful" truly is an appropriate adjective for this show. I enjoyed it immensely. For some reason, I wasn't expecting such a "large" scenic element, but the depiction of the streets of Firenze was at once simple and grand. The performances were top notch across the board, and it was fun watching some of the background players carry out their own stories... well, in the background.
Across the board, the leads were amazing! Mark Harelick, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Michael Berresse, Patti Cohenour, Matthew Morrison, and, of course, Kelli O'Hara and Victoria Clark.
The orchestra wowed me too. -That's one helluva piano part! I may try to arrange to sit in the pit one night. It would be wonderful to be down there surrounded by all that sound - all those strings! And that harp too!
-Actually, my only quibble with tonight's performance was that sometimes I heard the orchestra a little too well. There were a couple of places where the vocals were drowned out and/or just not brought up to the proper level in the sound system. There are a lot of words, lyrics - even with all those "aaahhs" - and I missed a couple of them.
I went ahead and waited at the stage door afterwards, and got my program signed by most of the principals. And I also went ahead and reintroduced myself briefly to Ted Sperling since I happen to have worked over the past year with a bunch of his assistants and pit personnel. He'll be leaving in about two weeks to start rehearsals for the Michael John La Chiusa piece at the Public, See What You Want To See (or something like that). He'll be directing the project, just like he did when the show was known as R Shomon up at Williamstown last summer.
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...And while waiting at the Stage Door, I got a few giggles listening to the two gentlemen who were standing next to me. Apparently, they had seen the show "countless" number of times, and, from what I overheard, they also read and post on a many an internet theatre chat site. *And if you two happen to be lurking and reading this now, well, you should have said HI! -I do look like my avatar, I think. ;) In any case...
Each time someone would come out of the stage door, and they would approach them for an autograph, they would ask, "So, what's next for you?" Of course, since they keep up with everything on Playbill.com, TalkinBroadway.com, BroadwayWorld.com., etc., they already knew the answers to the questions they were asking. In fact, they knew some of answers that the actors did not know.
And then they started commenting on how they noticed that "Victoria" was crying a lot tonight. More than usual, speculating that it was due to the fact that it was Matthew Morrison's final performances. They asked Kelli O'Hara if that was the case. -Of course, one of them had read the recent interview with her on Playbill.com, so they already knew what the gist of her response would be. They asked Matthew Morrison if he noticed. And they even asked Victoria Clark is she was bit more emotional tonight.
I can be an uber-fan of some shows and people at times too, but there was a smugness to their "knowledge" that was a bit off-putting. They even seemed genuinely bemused by the fact that Kelli O'Hara, one of the stars of the show, was getting home by bicycle - she was carrying her seat and helmet in her hands. -And, btw, Matthew Morrison, rides a motorized scooter. ;)
Thankfully, on the other side of me, was a young lady and her friend. She genuinely loved the show, and she actually understood that signing autographs is not an obligation for the people in the show. She did want to impose on their time, especially when Victoria Clark came out talking on her cell phone, and then stated she was running late for another function. Thankfully, she got most everyone to sign her program - using my Sharpie - and she even managed to get a few pictures with them too. I even helped her decipher one of the autographs, Sarah Berry. She didn't recognize her at the stage door, but since everyone else was asking her to sign their programs... She was thrown by the fact that she uses her full married name in the program, but only signed at Sarah B---.
And then when Barbara Cook walked by, they - the two gentlemen - were wondering why Barbara Cook would happen to be walking around the garage of Lincoln Center. Well, I told them that she was at the show tonight, but they didn't seem to hear me. ;)
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And Michael Berresse told an amusing anecdote... He was met at the stage door by an Italian couple, from Florence. They immediately started talking to him in Italian, in the Florentine dialect. They had picked up the patois in the course of the show (bonus points to Craig Lucas), and since he speaks no English in the show - and since his Italian is actually very good - they thought he was a native speaker. After a brief exchange, he was able to converse with them... In English.
:)
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And as I mentioned "yesterday", the meeting with the producer of this possible project fell-through. For some reason, Sprint is doing that "thing" again, where the voicemail notification does not "go" until a few hours after the message was left. She got my message late, I got her return message late, and so on and so forth. We'll be checking in with each other tomorrow/today, and we'll try to set up something then. I'm still leaning towards not taking it due to the financial situation, but I still want to meet with some other people on the team before I finalize my decision.
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And speaking of tomorrow... It's already very much today, so...
Goodnight.
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Later today (Sunday), my niece and I are going to see "Red Eye." I don't really know anything about it except that it's a scary movie set on a plane. Ebert and Roeper gave it Two Thumbs Up®, but I didn't really pay attention to the overview of the story. I'll find out in the early afternoon. :D
We saw it last week and found it to be very entertaining.
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DR Jane at 3.18am???
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Cillaliz good luck with Match.com.
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Hi Tomovoz.
Oh my I have now been away since before 2:00. I’m going to try and go back to sleep. If I’m lucky I’ll sleep in- until 7:00.
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If I still can’t sleep I would like to read in bed, however with the windows open little flying bugs have come in through the screens. I don’t notice them until I turn on my flashlight and they come swarming to it-very annoying and they make it too uncomfortable to read.
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Well, I must go to bed. I also have to take my contact lenses out. I've been wearing them for quite a while, today and my eyes are tired...and a little dry. :P So, goodnight, all!
Do you know eyedrops that you can use with your contact lenses in your eyes, especially for your dried-eyes(don't know how to say in English)? Every my friends, not me, who wear contact lenses use it and they really like it. ::)
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Hope DR JANE is sleeping soundly now.
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Good morning, all. In another hour I will be off to Bard College for tHE GOLDEN APLE in concert, so I will be E&T the entire day. I've got an hour and a half train ride each way and taxis to and from the school, and I figure I'll be back around 10:00 tonight.
Yesterday I started work on the Chicago Humanities Festival project, did a bit of work for the cruise singer (final number!), and I talked to Faith Prince about some work for her this month as well. I am looking forward to the Ohio vacation at the end of the month.
I saw the original MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG twice: fourth preview and final performance, and I still look on it with horror. No one wants to pay (at the time) $50 to watch a bad high school production: the cast was too young, the production was god-awful ugly, the backward premise doesn't work, and I think a third of the score isn't as good as it could be. There were major improvements both in staging and in the material by closing night, but watching beginning young actors portray jaded 40 year-olds in the first scenes was pathetic. There must have been much angst and bloodshed backstage and I know of some grudges that continue to this day.
My show would be (what else?) the 1903 BABES IN TOYLAND for several reasons:
1. the form "extravaganza" is quite bizarre from the photos, and I want to see what it looked like in performance.
2. Julian Mitchell, the greatest musical director/choreographer of the day, dealing with Victor Herbert about interpolations, changes, music he didn't like, etc.
3. Ambitious young actresses "negotiating" for new material, getting jewelry from their after-show assignations. fighting for billing.
4. Touring a huge company of 104 performers through four preview cities before Broadway.
5. Cast deaths, replacements, general disputes between artists, writers, and production.
6. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
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I got a new video player today, since my old one had been making a hum from the motor and the sound was getting louder. I didn’t know that the price of video players is greatly down (shocking prices!) lately and it made me happy. And now, MY BOOM video, dear BK's own What If?, is in my brandnew video player. :)
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Good morning, fellow Dear Readers. Today it is supposed to be 112F. I'm glad I don't have to work outside today.
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At any Broadway show from start to finish? Are we allowed to tell them we're back via a time machine and have seen the future lives of their shows? If so, I'd like to go back and be there for either RAGS or THE BAKER'S WIFE - and be able to tell the creators what things they did on subsequent rewrites that made the shows pretty much work in their later incarnations that just weren't working in their original productions. The idea would not be to inject my own point of view, but to let them know what changes they would later make on their own.
If I'm not allowed to tell them I'm there via a time machine and not allowed to "interfere" as it were, I'd like to be a fly on the wall for GRIND. I've heard so many stories about that show from some folks involved, and it would have been fascinating to be there, and to know those people in those days.
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...A chorus of expletives from everyone on the platform as they headed back out to the exits...
I can imagine this quite well...The worker makes the announcement, and there is a moment of silence. Then, someone fishes a pitch-pipe from his/her pocket, plays a note, which everyone hums. One group after another sings a string of expletives, and then the four groups sing their strings together, in perfect counterpoint and harmony. They continue to sing their various parts while trudging to the exits. Moments after the last voice fades into the distance, a train comes roaring up and deposits one passenger, who looks around quite anxiously, sheet music in hand. Curtain.
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... -I figured I might as well get to know the score now since I now the contractor for the pit. ;)
Since I know the contractor...
Since I'm now the contractor...
Oh, wait, there's that smiley. Know, definately know.
::)
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Then we watched WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, which has among its outtakes a very brief reference to Frances Farmer, in case JRand and JMK did not know that already.
I ADORE WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER! I bought it at a liquidation sale last week, and promptly watched it. As I posted on another forum, one which BK and Jrand frequent:
WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER (2001) contains another fine characterization from OZ' (and LAW AND ORDER's) Christopher Meloni. Quite a post-modern comedy from the guys responsible for tv's THE STATE. Picked this up for a few pittance at a liquidation sale, and couldn't resist popping it into the player despite my intolerance for Janeane Garafolo, who actually nails the character in this one.
Paul Rudd is as handsome and hot as ever, still, the film's best moments belong to Meloni, David Hyde-Pierce and Garafolo.
The Deleted Scenes and Special Features feature more skin from Meloni and Rudd.
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TOD:
For a show that works/succeeded, West Side Story.
For a show that failed, Carrie.
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Yes, it took some wandering around to find the Broadway show section at the Virgin Megastore earlier this month, but I LOVED that it was on to street level floor. Had a lot of activity in the section when I was there, too. One of my friends whom I went with to NYC went there on Sunday to buy three of the show CDs that we had seen since they were all on sale. I already had them.
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DR td said exactly what I was going to say about WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER. Wonderfully absurd comedy, and Meloni is as memorable as ever. He said on a talk show after he made it that he thought he may have even gone too far with a character this time, but the character is so lovable, there was nothing to worry about.
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DR Rodzinski and I have a "horse race" going with our opinions about THE OFFICE. For me, it was the best new comedy introduced on TV last season, and I thought Steve Carrell made the character (based on Ricky Gervais' original David Brent) his own.
No, the show hasn't yet hit the heights of hilarity of the original, probably never will since it's operating in the shadow of the original's brilliance, but on its own terms, I find it wonderfully funny, and I'm looking forward to its new season.
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I really love the score to Bob Merrill's TAKE ME ALONG. Not as much as CARNIVAL, of course, but it's filled with wonderful songs.
I think the same thing happened to TAKE ME ALONG focusing on Uncle Sid as what happened to A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN focusing on Aunt Cissy: threw the shows off balance and took time away from the real story going on.
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My first automatic response to the topic of the day would have been FOLLIES, but since Ted Chapin gave us such a fantastic book on the subject, perhaps I'd want to do a show that has been less fully discussed: I'm thinking REDHEAD.
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Really enjoyed your LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA story, DR Jose (though you were REALLY up late, young man!)
And a reminder that the Arthur Freed-produced movie version comes on this week on TCM - Thursday 12:30 p.m.
I WILL remember to record it this time!
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A reminder about the series premiere of ROME tonight on HBO. Reviewers have been pretty enthusiastic in their praise of this new series, and I'm looking forward to it.
However, tonight's first episode is HEAVY on exposition and supposedly is a little slow going. Subsequent episodes (most reviewers were sent the first six) are livelier and more "fun."
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And, summer is back with a slowing advancing humidity and warmer temperatures. Maybe rain tomorrow will cool things off again, but today promises to be fairly miserable.
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And one for Mahler.
And the magic word: Julie Andrews!
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Elmore's disdain for MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG reminds me once again that I've never seen ANY version of this show staged. It KILLS me that I didn't take advantage of the SOndheim Festival in DC some years ago and see it then, but I *stupidly* believed there would be no tickets available and didn't even make the effort.
Live and learn, I guess.
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[move=down,scroll,6,transparent,100%]Page 3 Dance!!!![/move]
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...perhaps I'd want to do a show that has been less fully discussed: I'm thinking REDHEAD.
Take a movie camera along. A real record of this show was never made.
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DR MATT - As much as I loved and appreciated the Sondheim celebration, I think they mishandled the ticket situation for the second round of shows, which included MERRILY, PASSION and NIGHT MUSIC. The first round had sold so well, with COMPANY, SWEENEY, and to some extent SUNDAY IN THE PARK, that they withheld so many of the best seats and tried to make believe there was a frenzy for tickets to the second round-of-three as well. Lots of people I know couldn't get decent tickets to all three shows, and therefore simply decided not to bother making the trip. The result was that Kennedy Center ultimately started begging for ticketbuyers, even offering tremendous discounts. I suspect they got spoiled by the interest in the first round, and thought they would automatically get a frenzy for the second round, but instead I saw lots of empty seats during the second round of shows. People just didn't want to travel to sit in the bad seats Kennedy Center was offering until very near to the performance dates, when loads of tickets to supposedly balcony-available-only perfs magically started to show up on the internet.
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So much was the imagined frenzy for the D.C. shows that I actually bid for MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG tickets on ebay, but - it turns out fortunately - I didn't win. But ebay sends out an email telling you about other "similar" products you might be interested in. So they sent me a notification about a ROLL-ALONG LUGGAGE CARRIER that I might be interested in since MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG fell through. I love the way computers think!
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Thanks, DR FJL, for the information. I will always consider that a missed opportunity on my part. I just hope that sometime, I can see a professional production of it so I can judge for myself its merits or lack thereof.
I do love the original score even more than the revised version.
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I have made no selection for DVD watching today.
I do have three films on the DVR, only one of which I'll attempt to watch today. Then, I'll select a DVD.
Of course, I still have some WILL & GRACE episodes to watch, too, and that may end up being this afternoon's DVD of choice.
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Previous engagements and late arriving friends have made me postpone my weekly kitchen floor mopping until now.
Off I go to get that chore done.
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DR Cillaliz - As for "The 40-Year Old Virgin"... Just make sure you stay for the "finale". ;)
Ok, now I HAVE to go!
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Just noticed that the Kritzerland AFTER THE BALL CD is one of the top sellers and featured items listed at www.footlight.com - nice placement, BK, especially on Footlight's last day of in-store operations when people will probably be visitng the site a bit.
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Easy question" A CHORUS LINE. I would have loved to be in on the first two discussion groups that led to the show. At one point they were supposed to be released on CD but I guess that never happened. Then on to the whole developement phase and the off Broadway production at the Public (which I saw) and oin to Broadway.
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DR MATT - As much as I loved and appreciated the Sondheim celebration, I think they mishandled the ticket situation for the second round of shows, which included MERRILY, PASSION and NIGHT MUSIC. The first round had sold so well, with COMPANY, SWEENEY, and to some extent SUNDAY IN THE PARK, that they withheld so many of the best seats and tried to make believe there was a frenzy for tickets to the second round-of-three as well. Lots of people I know couldn't get decent tickets to all three shows, and therefore simply decided not to bother making the trip. The result was that Kennedy Center ultimately started begging for ticketbuyers, even offering tremendous discounts. I suspect they got spoiled by the interest in the first round, and thought they would automatically get a frenzy for the second round, but instead I saw lots of empty seats during the second round of shows. People just didn't want to travel to sit in the bad seats Kennedy Center was offering until very near to the performance dates, when loads of tickets to supposedly balcony-available-only perfs magically started to show up on the internet.
<nod>
Been there, done that. Or rather, was there, did that.
It really was such an interesting situation with the tickets. First of all, unless you were one of the "stars" you were allotted no comps. And then your house ticket requests were placed in with everyone else's, so if you got yours in late or later, and the allotment was already spoken for, well, then no house seats. Although, now that I think of it, I think we were given two half-price tickets to use during the first part of each run.
I still remember doing "standing room" - which we were basically allowed to do for free as long as we had our badges on - for a bunch of shows. Although, technically, we were also supposed to "reserve" a standing room slot too. Sometimes they would truly be sold out. Other times, I would see people who I had spied waiting in the cancellation line in the house row seats come curtain time. -Even for the final performance of A Little Night Music which was the final performance of the Celebration. It seemed like the Kennedy Center was counting on a lot of last minute requests from VIPs, and when those requests did not come through, then they were able to make some die hard Sondheads very happy.
I think part of the problem also had to do with the second round of shows having a lesser number of performances than the ones in the first round. The Kennedy Center was counting on a lot of repeat business, they wanted to insure that people who wanted to see all six would be able to see all six - whether or not they purchased the whole package in advance.
However, there was another "problem" with the second round of shows: they were basically the less popular ones in the Sondheim canon, at least in comparison to the first three (Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Company). *Although, Sunday should have sold a better than it did. There was also a lack of star power draw among the casting of the second series. Yes, there were some amazing Broadway greats in the second round, but no Stokes, Baranski or Redgrave. But it is funny to look back and realize that Passion actually became the draw of the second series. My "house seat" for that was in Row X - second row from the back of the house.
But... To get back on track here... It was a little amazing to me to read after the fact, that the six main shows at the Celebration only sold around 86% - or some figure like that - as a whole.
But... I have to give the Kennedy Center and Michael Kaiser major praise for taking on such a major enterprise. Double-Triple repertory! "If it's Wednesday, I must be in Company today." And for taking the financial lunge - and risk - of going ahead with full-scale productions of each show, rather than the bare bones, "modular" set idea that was originally proposed.
Finally, as I've mentioned before, being able to be a part of that whole event has been one of the highlights of my professional career - and my life. Yes, I may have technically only been the "rehearsal pianist" for Sweeney Todd and A Little Night Music, but we were all one big family backstage at the Kennedy Center - like it said on our t-shirts: Camp Sondheim. -And having my day begin with a half hour with Christine Baransksi - just me and her - and ending with a half hour with Brian Stokes-Mitchell... -Never in my wildest dreams.
:)
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Easy question" A CHORUS LINE. I would have loved to be in on the first two discussion groups that led to the show. At one point they were supposed to be released on CD but I guess that never happened. Then on to the whole developement phase and the off Broadway production at the Public (which I saw) and oin to Broadway.
Well, DR WEL, those tapes still might get released in some form or another, and the release might end up coinciding with the opening of the upcoming revival next year. HBO is currently filming all the auditions (the actors had to sign releases at the first open call they had a few months ago), as well as conducting interviews with the surviving members of the original cast and crew. And then once the new cast is in place, they will conduct similar interviews with them. Then a documentary will be put together and will premiere the week after the revival opens. I have a feeling those original tapes will be a part of the documentary, and they may even have a life of their own too. *It's also a good sign that the man who runs/owns Michael Bennett's estate - which includes those tapes - is very much involved in the revival.
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Am caught up on last nights posts, but not todays as I must hie myself to Sherwood, Oregon where I will be escorting my grand niece Taylor to see MARCH OF THE PENGUINS. She loves animals so I am hoping this documentary will entertain her. I had thought of taking her to see VALIENT but the reviews have been so awful.
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Here is something for Rodzinski and Tomovoz to digest...what do you guys know about a 1960s group called MERCY. They had a semi-hit with a song called LOVE CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY, which is one of my favorite 1 hit wonders.
I have been unable to uncover any other recordings by this group.
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Since I know the contractor...
Since I'm now the contractor...
Oh, wait, there's that smiley. Know, definately know.
::)
Or, as I meant to type:
...since I now know the contractor. ;)
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Really enjoyed your LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA story, DR Jose (though you were REALLY up late, young man!)
And a reminder that the Arthur Freed-produced movie version comes on this week on TCM - Thursday 12:30 p.m.
I WILL remember to record it this time!
...I'm just glad I decided to see the show last night so that I could share the stories. And even though I ended up having another "show" of sorts while waiting at the Stage Door, I truly did enjoy the show. Agan, just beautiful. In fact, I was toying with the idea of seeing it again this afternoon... :)
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Nice reviews of AFTER THE BALL and NEW GUY IN TOWN on American Theater Web. Have these been posted here already?
www.americantheaterweb.com/news/xmt.asp?id=110214
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Well, I think I'm going to get ready to head out and about today... With umbrella in hand... Ah, well... It was nice while it lasted.
-And in a few hours, DR elmore, will be sitting with members of the Moross family listening to The Golden Apple. :)
Laters...
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I'm up, I'm up. I was first up at eight, but got so annoyed I just went back to sleep.
Glad to see those reviews, FJL - hadn't seen them. And there's a really sweet listener's "review" up on CD Baby for Guy Haines.
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Vibes for any lurkers in the New Orleans area (please, these are our usual vibes, nothing symbolic intended)
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I'd have like to have followed KEAN from beginning to end.
I saw the Donmar Warehouse revivial of MERRILY. Wasn't terrible, wasn't great. Backward book is still the problem, I think.
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I've finished going through the short story and making all the fixes and additions for the change of profession - lots of rewriting, but I really like it better now.
Now, might I just ask where in tarnation IS everyone?
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DR Jose - If PASSION was the big draw of the second round, that was probably a result of the (well-deserved) amazing rave that Brantley gave that production. Before that rave, the Sondheim Celebration's PASSION was discounting very heavily. I was able to get fourth row center for $40.
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Hi all.
I would also like to send vibes to anyone in this hurricanes path. My thoughts are with you. Lord, to think it was a little tropical storm just a few days ago.
I’m hearing on the news that many don’t have the means to leave. Why don’t they use buses to pack up as many as possible and get them out of there?
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Skip's on his way back from Sacramento, but he has to change planes in Houston at about 8 p.m New York time. Continental's website is saying there'll probably be storms in Houston tonight. Is that part of the hurricane? The folks on TV aren't predicting any problems in Houston until tomorrow, though.
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DR FJL, yes it is more then likely that it is part of hurricane. It could be one or more of the outer bands of it.
We're having rain on and off today as the hurricane pass by in the Gulf. Nothing major.
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BK, I'm glad that the site will always be around in some form.
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In a very unusual move, I took Dixie Bell to Walter Chapel United Methodist Church for "The Blessing of the Animals." Before the blessing, Dixie and I strolled up to Dad's gravesite; well, Dixie (at nine months) didn't exactly stroll, she tugged, she pulled, she ran.
Rev. Darlene, who if she were a canine would be a twin to Dixie, performed prayers over several animals, a chihauhau, a lab, a persian cat, a springer spaniel on the front steps of the church. Only Dixie sat at Darlene's feet while being blessed, her only moment of truly good behavior.
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No rain for us here, today at least. Hot as blue blazes and mighty uncomfortable to be anywhere but inside.
But I did get the kitchen mopped and the laundry done.
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Spent all afternoon watching WILL & GRACE episodes and the outtake reel on disc 3.
And though WILL & GRACE has become rather infamous for its unending stream of guest stars, what I love is seeing ordinary actors on the show who have gone on to other roles in series and specials.
One of Will's one night stands in an episode was played by Dan Gauthier who now plays the notoriously straight Kevin Buchanan on the soap I watch, ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
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A lovely day here in Tacoma. Mid 70s, blue skies with a few clouds sprinkled in. Watching a bit of hurricane coverage at the moment, and later will be going to a theatre barbecue.
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Page 4 Dance!!!!
(One of the greatest musical numbers of all time!)
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I picked out a DVD to watch after I get full of WILL & GRACE - THE ADDAMS FAMILY, the movie version. Let's see what it looks like on TV in this anamorphic transfer.
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And speaking of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, I wonder why the TV series episodes haven't been compiled for a DVD set. I just noticed that the second season of THE MUNSTERS is coming at some point this year, but we haven't had the first season of THE ADDAMS FAMILY yet. Strange.
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And speaking of dvds, last night I finally got around to Sidney Lumet's 1974 film of Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS; a perfect way to spend a late Saturday night. The dvd has a nifty four part documentary which features Lumet, Sean Connery, Michael York and Jaqueline Bisset from the film as well as Dame Agatha's grandson. Not to mention BK's personal friend Tony Walton.
The film itself is a glorious, glamorous, old-fashioned entertainment, done with style and panache from the acting and directing on down to the believable process shots behind each of the train's windows.
And what a brilliant cast Lumet assembled! First there's Mr. Connery (who was indeed the first one cast) at that sexy moment when he was just starting to show his age, whilst Dame Wendy Hiller's make-up allows her to look quite aged. Lauren Bacall's gum-popping gal is close to her work for Howard Hawks, on closer examination, Ingrid Bergman's Swedish missionary is NOT a caricature, but a full-blooded character. Albert Finney is barely recognizable as Poirot, and the entire all-star cast is quite good. (On a lesser note, newish actors York and Bisset almost get lost amidst all the veterans).
Reminded me of the old Ethel Merman line:
"Be careful of the scenery, you never know who's been chewing it before you."
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Dear World, from the beginning to the end. We have a friend who was in the show and he has told us stories of how it changed and the director problems. I would like to see how it started to find out how it became what it was.
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Thanks for the AMERICAN SUMMER info, DR RODZINSKI.....hmmm Frances would be so proud. Her favorite part of a Hoosier summer was when she had to do her show LIVE the Indiana State Fair! She certainly fought the battle of hair and makeup on THOSE days.
Last major film mention I remember of her was in WONDER BOYS.
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TOD:
Well, since I have been reading so much about it lately, I would like to have been in on the beginning, middle, and opening of PIPPIN. Major clashes and a show becomes something it was NOT written to be, but the image and creation of its director-choreographer, much against the writers' wishes.
AND also, COMPANY, just because it is so good. I love the score, and I love watching the recording of the cast album on the DVD and the group of people seem to be all working on the same wave length to create the show....and of course seeing Michael Bennett and Hal Prince (DR JOSE's close personal friend) working together with Mr Sondheim.
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I just got home from 40 Year Old Virgin....Jose you were right, the "finale" literally made me cry!
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Finished addressing packages and filling out delivery confirmation slips - this is the last time that I will personally do this stuff, but it's done, I know it's done correctly, and all is well.
Wrote some more, and now I must be on my way to find something to eat.
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I'm a BIG fan of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, and it was worth the long, long wait to get it on DVD in such a beautiful transfer. I paid to see it twice in the theater I loved it so much, and I always supported the Oscar Bergman won as Best Supporting Actress, but in recent viewings, I've come to admire Lauren Bacall's work as much if not more than Bergman's.
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I also find Martin Balsam's jumping on each suspect after his interview with "He did it" just hilarious. No wonder this movie was such a worldwide smash hit. All those stars, all that glamour, the lush RIchard ROdney Bennett music, and the delicious mystery, totally baffling if one hadn't read the book beforehand.
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And now, it's time to take the clothes out of the dryer and do some folding. Will be back later.
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In fact, DRRODZINSKI - the Life magazine issue of November 2, 1959, featured a cover story on "Take Me Along"
Circulation more than 6,400,000 weekly
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The articles touches on Gleason's arguments with producer David Merrick! ;D
Gleason demanded a jazz band for entertainment on the train to the Boston Tryout! 8)
The cast included Una Merkel, Walter Pidgeon, Eileen Hurlie, a dour-looking Robert Morse and Gleason as Uncle Sid.
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And who else would be chosen to direct such an American television icon in such as American story?
Why British Peter Glenville, of course! :P
He looks as if he's getting right into the spirit of things in this (obviously) posed backstage shot.
"Just do what Mr Gleason is doing. Thank you!" ::)
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Back to learning lines....one more scene to go.
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http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=beloint_wwltv&props=livenoad
WWL TV in New Orleans has live coverage of Katrina on the web if anyone is interested
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Here is something for Rodzinski and Tomovoz to digest...what do you guys know about a 1960s group called MERCY. They had a semi-hit with a song called LOVE CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY, which is one of my favorite 1 hit wonders.
I have been unable to uncover any other recordings by this group.
They were from Florida and also had "Forever" as a single. Jack Sigler Jnr was lead. Second single in 1969 was issued on Warner Bros. They did not chart in Australia or in the UK.
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Watching the live coverage from New Orleans. They are talking about a storm surge of 20 feet, preparations for recovery of bodies after the storm etc. Pretty scary stuff. Send vibes and prayers to whoever you happen to believe in, they may need it
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One more thing, fill up your tanks. They are predicting that the oil rigs in the Gulf that are already shut down will be heavily damaged and gas prices will be going up even more
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Very scary. What gets me is they're saying that some people are in the bars. What kind of idiot sits in bar when a Cat 5 hurricane is coming their way?
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MBarnum "oldies.com" and its link to Gemm.com have the single listed. "B" side was "Fireball". "Forever" is also available.
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Had bagels, cream cheese, and lox.
And don't you believe anything about oil problems. There aren't any, there won't be any, but they will say there are. However, IF prices rise beyond where they are, I think you will finally see a revolt in this country - believe it.
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Am now having pasta - not really - I'm watching a very good spaghetti western.
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Welcome eight GUESTS. I'll bet you're all wondering where in tarnation IS everyone, just like me and tomovoz.
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My goodness, AOL is slow as molasses today.
Speaking of today, it's like a sauna bath outside. Hot, humid, and arid, not necessarily in that order.
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Lazy Afternoon at HHW. A "Golden Apple" reference.
A Lazy Sunday Afternoon for those who prefer the Small Faces.
Too late for a Kris Kristofferson reference.
Never too late for a Sondheim reference.
Here in Oz it is Monday but it is not rainy and not getting me down. Tuesday is the birthday of Monday Monday man John Philips.
Saturday was Tuesday Weld's birthday.
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My goodness, AOL is slow as molasses today.
"The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" Reference. I've cleared the breakfast table and there is no longer Marmalade nor Honey
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Ah! A John Philips reference and TCB appears. A coincidencental appearance from the #1 Mamas & Papas fan of the NW.
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I would love to find out what the average price of a gallon of gas was in the United States, on the day before we went to war with Iraq. Since one of the reasons that was given for going in and getting Saddam was to protect the Middle Eastern oil reserves. Well, Saddam is long gone, and the price of oil goes up and up and up.
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Ahhh.........John Phillips......... The Mamas and The Papas.
What beautiful music they produced. I thought of marrying Mama Cass, but she said something about not liking ham!
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DR TCB aka Mama Cass' personal ham:
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&sa=X&oi=scholart&q=average+price+gallon+of+gas+United+States+day+before+we+went+to+war+with+Iraq. (http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&sa=X&oi=scholart&q=average+price+gallon+of+gas+United+States+day+before+we+went+to+war+with+Iraq.)
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The first time I read of the Karen Carpenter/Mama Cass sandwich connection was in the notes on a Ben Bagley album. Tasteless - and funny. Two ladies with the most wonderful voices.
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DR TCB aka Mama Cass' personal ham:
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&sa=X&oi=scholart&q=average+price+gallon+of+gas+United+States+day+before+we+went+to+war+with+Iraq. (http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&sa=X&oi=scholart&q=average+price+gallon+of+gas+United+States+day+before+we+went+to+war+with+Iraq.)
Well, the best info I could find, said that on the day George Bush took office in January 2001, the average price for a gallon of gas in this country was $1.47.
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Good Evening!
Back from my trek to midtown. A friend of mine ended up calling me to go through some music since he got called in for an audition for Spamalot tomorrow. So we ran through some of the stuff in his book, as well as "Look On the Bright Side of Life" - he's been called in for Patsy. -And if he gets cast, he better mention me in his bio!
;)
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...And in the studio next to us, there was some sort of dance recital/reception. And they had lots of yummy smelling food too - I'm thinking Eastern European.
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I just ate a perfectly delicious pear. I love good pears. I'm eating it whilst watching the coverage of Katrina and the evacuation of New Orleans...crazy stuff.
DR Jed and I spent some time this morning listening to the new Guy Haines album, which I got to listen to even though I was not technically the recipient of the Sparkling Prize.
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DR Cillaliz - Glad to hear that you cried. :D
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DR Cillaliz - Glad to hear that you cried. :D
I haven't laughed that hard in a long long time
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I found out a little while ago that a friend of mine who lives in a great house in New Orleans that is shaped like a steamboat is now in Baton Rouge. Glad she's out of there.
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Hope DR JANE is sleeping soundly now.
Thank you. By then I was, finally.
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I haven't laughed that hard in a long long time
And what's even more amazing, is that they actually try their best to do the Twyla Tharp choreography!
:)
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And what's even more amazing, is that they actually try their best to do the Twyla Tharp choreography!
:)
Too funny
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...Just switched over to coverage of Katrina...
VIBES and PRAYERS
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And on a lighter note, I ended up $29 ahead playing lottery scratchers today.
:)
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MBarnum, that is one of the all-time great pop tunes as far as I'm concerned. It has such a unique arrangement. That "B" side Tomovoz mentions, "Fireball" is a fuzz-guitar garage instrumental, totally different.
Here's a site that tells a bit of the Mercy story:
http://www.teddwebb.com/garage_bands/mercy.html
But what it really doesn't go into was that the people who recorded the big hit "Love Can Make You Happy" were studio musicians different than the original Mercy. After the hit, an LP was put out by a Mercy that had very little do to with the real band, which was more rock-oriented. Confusing?
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[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~VIBES TO EVERYONE IN KATRINA'S PATH~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/move]
It's the disdainful elmore3003 back from the wilds of Rhinecliff, NY, where THE GOLDEN APPLE was performed at 3:00 pm in concert. There were lots of folk showing up, composers Stephen Schwartz and Steve Alper, Peter Howard, Don Pippin, Steven Suskin, Erik Haagensen, Bruce Pomahac, Jim Morgan of the York Theatre Company, Howard Kissel, and many more. I sat with the Moross family and met some wonderful folk. DRJose, it was a zoo! You would have had a great time. There were several highlight moments: "Lazy Afternoon" was close to perfection: slow, sultry, and not a sound in the house for the whole number. I thought Crista Moore had the best grasp on a character with Penelope, and "Windflowers" was a beautiful moment as well. Danny Marcus as Menelaus was also excellent, and he had the most moving line to lead into "Windflowers":
We don't get any younger
Everything changes but the heart's hunger
Danny and John Cullum were wonderful as well in the Scylla-Charybdis brokerage number, and the chorus sang wonderfully. I hope this concert gets another performance in New York.
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Thanks JRand, for that LIFE article info!
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In a very unusual move, I took Dixie Bell to Walter Chapel United Methodist Church for "The Blessing of the Animals." Before the blessing, Dixie and I strolled up to Dad's gravesite; well, Dixie (at nine months) didn't exactly stroll, she tugged, she pulled, she ran.
Rev. Darlene, who if she were a canine would be a twin to Dixie, performed prayers over several animals, a chihauhau, a lab, a persian cat, a springer spaniel on the front steps of the church. Only Dixie sat at Darlene's feet while being blessed, her only moment of truly good behavior.
:)Sweet.
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And on a lighter note, I ended up $29 ahead playing lottery scratchers today.
:)
I call that winning the lottery
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DR elmore - Thanks for The Golden Apple report. Glad to hear that it went well. It would have been nice to have been there today, but, all in all, it was nice to have another day off, more or less. I had a nice morning getting stuff done around the apartment, and it also gave me a chance to take a closer look at the show I'm up for. I shall hope for a presentation in the city sometime soon too.
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I call that winning the lottery
:)
Let's just hope I'm on a streak now... Especially since I also won on Friday!
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Had a great day at work, went very quickly and had great customers, some of them downright funny
Getting home again, der B had the news stations on, of course. The only thing I can do is send my prayers to New Orleans. A couple of friends of ours, Mark and Josea, are doctors there; I expect they'll be extra busy for the next week or so.
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I posted this earlier, but I've been watching WWL on line. They have been having more detailed coverage than I'm seeing on the networks
http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=beloint_wwltv&props=livenoad
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Evenin', all.
There was just a news update about Katrina. Mr. Brian Williams was standing outside the Superdome where they plan to house 30,000 New Orleans-ers for "one night or possibly several weeks." And I thought sharing a house with 21 people was tough doing summerstock. All kidding aside, I really wish the best for the people of New Orleans. They are in my thoughts and prayers.
I was one of the lucky ones who got to see all six shows at the Sondheim Festival - a couple of them twice, and all FREE. IMHO, PASSION was the best of the six. I'll admit this at the risk of hurting DR TomofOz's sensibilities (Aussies and their sensibilities, my lord) - PASSION was not, is not, nor will it ever be one of my favorite Sondheim scores, but that production was in and of itself as close to perfection as I could imagine. Ms. Judy Kuhn was amazing as Fosca and Mr. Cerveris was wondeful as Georgio. I've seen him do the role twice since then....he was best at the Kennedy Center. I was even uber-impressed with Ms. Rebecca Luker, whom I have always found to be a lovely singer but not-so-strong actress. She was great, and didn't even have to bare her breasts.
I was also lucky enough to get a comped ticket to the PASSION reunion concert last fall (one of the few perks of working where I do), and to see/hear Donna and Marin was thrilling.
I was also lucky enough to see/hear Ms. Patti LuPone and Ms. Audra McDonald do the concert version at Lincoln Center this spring. Every time I see the show, I go in thinking, "Not this again! I hate this show!" and I walk out in tears.
"I'm someone to be loved, and that I learned from you..."
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DR Jason "Passion" I really like but it is not my favourite Sondheim show. Way below Sweeney, Follies, Merrily and Sunday and Company. SITPWG is IMHO the most moving of his work.
Had I seen the LuPone version I too would have walked out in tears. Subtle she knows not.
The Sondheim review's article (review) on her "Candide" is spot on!!!
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Had a busy night watching some wonderful television. First up, the always entertaining COLD CASE. I had not seen this during the regular season, so it was new to me, and I did not figure out the murderer's identity before the end of the show. I was going in a totally different direction.
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I'm watching the local NBC news coverage of the hurricane - this is one mother of a storm! It's horrifying. It looks like the storm will hit Louisville late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Louisville is a city prone to tornados in such weather... Here's hoping my parents will stay in the basement for the next few nights...
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DR Jason "Passion" I really like but it is not my favourite Sondheim show. Way below Sweeney, Follies, Merrily and Sunday and Company. SITPWG is IMHO the most moving of his work.
Had I seen the LuPone version I too would have walked out in tears. Subtle she knows not.
The Sondheim review's article (review) on her "Candide" is spot on!!!
Tom: Part of what I love about La LuPone is her ability to play over-the-top, but honestly - and I'm not just saying this to be contrary - she was surprisingly moving as Fosca. By far the most understated performance I've seen her give, and she sounded great.
I love act one of SUNDAY IN THE PARK. I could do without the second act.
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I was one of the lucky ones who got to see all six shows at the Sondheim Festival - a couple of them twice, and all FREE. IMHO, PASSION was the best of the six. I'll admit this at the risk of hurting DR TomofOz's sensibilities (Aussies and their sensibilities, my lord) - PASSION was not, is not, nor will it ever be one of my favorite Sondheim scores, but that production was in and of itself as close to perfection as I could imagine. Ms. Judy Kuhn was amazing as Fosca and Mr. Cerveris was wondeful as Georgio. I've seen him do the role twice since then....he was best at the Kennedy Center. I was even uber-impressed with Ms. Rebecca Luker, whom I have always found to be a lovely singer but not-so-strong actress. She was great, and didn't even have to bare her breasts.
I was also lucky enough to get a comped ticket to the PASSION reunion concert last fall (one of the few perks of working where I do), and to see/hear Donna and Marin was thrilling.
I was also lucky enough to see/hear Ms. Patti LuPone and Ms. Audra McDonald do the concert version at Lincoln Center this spring. Every time I see the show, I go in thinking, "Not this again! I hate this show!" and I walk out in tears.
"I'm someone to be loved, and that I learned from you..."
Well... Well.. Umm...
I saw the original Broadway production five times! Including Closing Night! I saw the original Dr. Tambouri - who was eventually replaced by Tom Aldredge. And I even saw one of Donna Murphy's moles fall off during a matinee during previews! So there!
;D
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Tom: Part of what I love about La LuPone is her ability to play over-the-top, but honestly - and I'm not just saying this to be contrary - she was surprisingly moving as Fosca. By far the most understated performance I've seen her give, and she sounded great.
Well... It would have been nice to hear a few more of the correct notes.
;)
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Then came HBO's monumental ROME. There was quite a bit of action. Yes, there was exposition, but it was entertainingly done, and already sides are being formed and we see the vipers on both sides of the upcoming struggle between Pompey and Caesar. The stories of the soldiers which are going to comprise a great part of the series were only begun in tonight's episode.
I watched HBO high definition broadcast, and one could certainly see the $100 million spent on this series. Lots of authentic looking armor, hundreds of extras, and elaborate sets.
Plenty of female nudity from every angle for those interested and some nudity for the males too, but nothing frontal.
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I love act one of SUNDAY IN THE PARK. I could do without the second act.
Just you wait, DR Jason. You'll get it someday.
::)
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I know this hurricane is going to be horrendous and BOY am I glad I don't live on the Gulf Coast, but these newscasters are out of control. "The Storm That New Orleans Hoped Would Never Happen." I think that's a given, don't you? And to add to the fear, they've mentioned twice that this storm could turn New Orleans into a "toxic swamp of household cleaners, human excrement and floating coffins (from the above-ground cemetaries)." And the weatherman just said "catastrophic" five times in less than 30 seconds.
Maybe I'm just unable to wrap my brain around how bad this storm could be, but it seems like these guys are also enjoying themselves as they scare everyone to death.
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Next came HBO's penultimate episode of ENTOURAGE. I have only recently gotten into the show (a bit too much of a frat/buddy show for my taste, I thought), but Jeremy Piven, who's Emmy nominated for his slick show biz agent Ari, had a pivotal moment in his career tonight, and he was superb. I found myself being drawn into the three stories that are ongoin on the series, though I'll admit I didn't find it all that funny.
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Ooh...Sam Champion has a great new haircut and dye-job. He looks good!
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Having survived Hurricane Hugo, I can tell you for a fact that they are scarier than you can imagine, especially if you live in a neighborhood filled with huge pines and towering water oaks. I never believed the hurricane would be able to come as far inland as Charlotte and still retain power, but I was dead wrong. I was very, very lucky I didn't sustain any damage to my home. Neighbors all around me had trees going through the roofs of two story houeses and crashing through the floor down to the ground of the first floor. Walking around the neighborhood the afternoon after the storm hit was exactly like you see in disaster movies with power lines down and trees blocking roads. Cars couldn't go more than a few feet before getting to something blocking the road, so everyone was either walking or riding bicycles where they could.
I agree that newscasters tend to get melodramatic with their reports, but believe me they are scary and hopefully their dire warnings will scare people into being smarter and more imaginative than I was in order to process what could happen.
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So, it goes without saying that my thoughts and prayers are with those who are living through this ordeal.
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I definitely did find Lisa Kudrow's THE COMEBACK, also on its next-to-last episode of the season, funny. And exhilarating, too, as she finally let her emotions win out and took some decisive action against someone who's been mistreating her shamefully. A memorable episode.
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Having lived in Oklahoma City and Louisville, I know from tornados - not hurricanes - but I equate them to be on the same level. At least a tornado tends to be through in a few minutes. Hurricanes can last for hours, can't they?
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I didn't get top any movies tonight since I had a full night of TV shows. I did finish listening to the KISMET soundtrack, thoroughly enjoying the excellent singers and production.
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Having lived in Oklahoma City and Louisville, I know from tornados - not hurricanes - but I equate them to be on the same level. At least a tornado tends to be through in a few minutes. Hurricanes can last for hours, can't they?
Yes, Hugo lasted about two and a half to three hours. It started before sunrise that September morning, so a lot of the wind and crashing trees were happening while it was dark - one of the most frightening experiences I can ever remember.
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And once it was over, many homes in the area were without power for two weeks. I very luckily lived on the same street as the elderly parents of Charlotte's then-mayor, and my street's power was restored after three days. We were out of school for 8 school days: the Friday the storm hit, the entire next week, and the Monday and Tuesday of the following week.
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I remember nights when my dad would wake me up and we'd all go down to the basement with jugs of water and rolls of toilet paper, waiting for the tornados to hit. Thankfully, they never did, but there's nothing scarier than not knowing what's going to hit you in the night. It's terrifying. I used to have nightmares when I lived in OKC because I was afraid I'd sleep through the warnings and not make it to shelter. At least witha hurricane, you have more than 10 or 15 minutes' notice, I guess. Tornados often take you by surprise.
On a lighter note, I just had a LOVERLY surprise - I just found a box of Girl's Scouts Thin Mint cookies in the freezer that I tucked away earlier in the spring. YEE and HAW!
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Continued with WILL & GRACE DVDs before the TV shows started. I'm now on Disc 3 and saw the episode which featured the actor that Megan Mullally fell for and later married. He played a plumber that her character gets the hots for.
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Oh, yes, you get plenty of notice with hurricanes IF you heed the warnings. As I said, I just never believed it could come inland with any real force to fear. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
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...I love act one of SUNDAY IN THE PARK. I could do without the second act.
Fascinating! For me, it's almost the exact opposite: without the second act, I have no reason to care about the first act!
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...And I even saw one of Donna Murphy's moles fall off during a matinee during previews!...
WHAT!!! They were Fake????
;)
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Oh, yes, you get plenty of notice with hurricanes IF you heed the warnings. As I said, I just never believed it could come inland with any real force to fear. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
With this one, they're predicting Katrina will hit CENTRAL Mississippi at a category 2 level. Wow! Don't most hurricanes hit land at that level??
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I remember nights when my dad would wake me up and we'd all go down to the basement with jugs of water and rolls of toilet paper, waiting for the tornados to hit. Thankfully, they never did, but there's nothing scarier than not knowing what's going to hit you in the night. It's terrifying. I used to have nightmares when I lived in OKC because I was afraid I'd sleep through the warnings and not make it to shelter. At least witha hurricane, you have more than 10 or 15 minutes' notice, I guess. Tornados often take you by surprise.
I'm in Iowa. I was in a tornado that did a lot of damage when I was 7 years old and still remember it vividly. My dad was outside watching and Mrs. Beasley and I (Yes I carried a Mrs. Beasley doll - I still have her actually, just quit carrying her around :) ) ran outside and saw one of the tornados turn into a water spout over the lake. I ran back in the house right away. It didn't hit our house, but it was extremely scary.
The thing you don't get in a tornado is the storm surge of water. They are talking waves of 20 feet or so hitting. That causes a ton of flooding and that's the fear in New Orleans. it's like a bowl and below sea level so there could potentially be 15 feet of water inside the flood walls with no power to pump the water back out.
I agree the coverage is over the top. But better to scare people into leaving than to not say anything and have them stay and die.
BTW- NOAA Weather radios are great for storm warnings.
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I'm in Iowa. I was in a tornado that did a lot of damage when I was 7 years old and still remember it vividly. My dad was outside watching and Mrs. Beasley and I (Yes I carried a Mrs. Beasley doll - I still have her actually, just quit carrying her around :) ) ran outside and saw one of the tornados turn into a water spout over the lake. I ran back in the house right away. It didn't hit our house, but it was extremely scary.
The thing you don't get in a tornado is the storm surge of water. They are talking waves of 20 feet or so hitting. That causes a ton of flooding and that's the fear in New Orleans. it's like a bowl and below sea level so there could potentially be 15 feet of water inside the flood walls with no power to pump the water back out.
I agree the coverage is over the top. But better to scare people into leaving than to not say anything and have them stay and die.
BTW- NOAA Weather radios are great for storm warnings.
Yes, the flooding is what they're most worried about, though it sounds like the winds will be enough to cause a great deal of destruction on their own. I don't really know about these things - will the water eventually recede on its own? I know that's really kind of insiginificant once the damage is done, but...I guess what I'm asking in one of those "stupid actor" moments is, if New Orleans floods like they think it will, does that mean the end of New Orleans as we know it? Will it just become a swamp?
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Whew! Hurricanes a blowin'!!
Sending all my vibes and good thoughts that way.
It will certainly be a different New Orleans, DRJASON. Destruction means re-building, and it's always different!
A couple of tornadoes lived through here....and storms are still frightening to me. We are heading into the fall twister season now.
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All this talk about match.com and all that....I just have one question.
What is a date?
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Have no idea what will happen due to flooding, but wouldn't that be a catastrophe if New Orleans was destroyed! All that beautiful history and atmosphere potentially gone. Horrifying.
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Yes, the flooding is what they're most worried about, though it sounds like the winds will be enough to cause a great deal of destruction on their own. I don't really know about these things - will the water eventually recede on its own? I know that's really kind of insiginificant once the damage is done, but...I guess what I'm asking in one of those "stupid actor" moments is, if New Orleans floods like they think it will, does that mean the end of New Orleans as we know it? Will it just become a swamp?
New Orleans is below sea level and has levees and flood gates to keep the water out. There are huge pumps to keep the water that does get in pumped out. (like gigantic sump pumps!) If the water gets inside the levees and flood gates it will be literally like a bowl full of water, power can go out and the pumps will fail. This has been a doomsday type scenario talked about for years, but no one really thought it would happen.
They are thinking they could still pump out the water in a couple weeks, or something like that, but they don't know. So there may be 15 feet of water sitting in NOLA with no way out for awhile. Plus, all the oil, chemicals and bodies from the above ground cemetaries that may float out could make a total mess. I'm sure they'd clean everything up, but it would cause major damage and take a long long time to get things even remotely back to normal. Not to mention what could happen with the wind damage.
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Hopefully I know MOST of my lines. I will review them all again tomorrow before rehearsal.....but NOW I will watch The Invincible Gladiator starring Mr Richard Harrison and sent to me for my birthday by a reader who need not be named.
DR ELMOORE thanks for the GOLDEN APPLE info. Love to hear those stories....and DRJOSE thanks for the stage door story from PIAZZA last night. It makes me feel connected to the REAL show business world.
Was that Kennedy Center Sondheim festival the one that Ilona Dulaski was in? Her brother is in MY THREE ANGELS with me right now. Small world, isn't it? Small and funny and fine........................
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All this talk about match.com and all that....I just have one question.
What is a date?
Thank you, DR JRand, for my best laugh of the day. What indeed! I haven't a clue.
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The news cretins LIVE for this sort of thing. They thrive on it - and the inherent drama is not nearly enough for these jerks - they have to make it BIGGER, and score it with dramatic music, and, of course, they LIE - they just out and out lie and say whatever they please, and then when they are proven wrong they never come back and say, "Oh, dear, we got that bit wrong, didn't we?
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Right now, we're looking at a storm that could last TWELVE hours at hurricane force, centering on a city that was never built to sustain that kind of damage.
We're also looking at a major natural catastrophe to our oil supplies, not because of the oil wells, but because of our lack of oil refineries, and so many of the refineries that we have being in the path of this hurricane.
Now is not the time to whine about our lack of an adequate number of refineries, of course, but we're all going to live with our lack of action earlier due to too many people refusing to let more refineries be built. Look forward to higher prices.
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Having done the Sugar Bowl gameday program for the last six years, I worry about my contacts down there. They work at the Superdome, so they may be having company, I guess, if they haven't cleared out of town altogether.
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Thank you, DR JRand, for my best laugh of the day. What indeed! I haven't a clue.
LOL...I seem to remember something in high school that we called a date.....but it's been so long.... ;D
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Here's Mrs. Beasley, for the uninitiated. Okay, I couldn't get the image to work, but boy there was a family controversy when my dad mistakenly threw out my sister Anne's Mrs. Beasley doll!
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Glad you liked the LIFE magazine TAKE ME ALONG photos DR RODZINSKI. If you ever see issues of LIFE for sale, grab them up. They almost always featured stage and/or Hollywood personalities in photos that haven't been seen since.
And contemporary reports of shows are always interesting to read, as opposed to the "johnny come lately" reports we get about them now.
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Mrs Beasley had it ALL OVER Kitty Karry All....that's fer dern shure.
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The news cretins LIVE for this sort of thing. They thrive on it - and the inherent drama is not nearly enough for these jerks - they have to make it BIGGER, and score it with dramatic music, and, of course, they LIE - they just out and out lie and say whatever they please, and then when they are proven wrong they never come back and say, "Oh, dear, we got that bit wrong, didn't we?
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a newscaster and Sylvia Browne. :P
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Here's Mrs. Beasley, for the uninitiated. Boy there was a family controversy when my dad mistakenly threw out my sister Anne's Mrs. Beasley doll!
You should have seen me when my dog ate her glasses!!! BTW The photo didn't get attached
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I can't see Mrs Beasley in DR RODZINSKI's post, but her image is burned into my brain....so it's like she's there!
But....what about Talking Tina?
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Mrs. Beasley was the doll Buffy carried on Family Affair
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Was that Kennedy Center Sondheim festival the one that Ilona Dulaski was in? Her brother is in MY THREE ANGELS with me right now. Small world, isn't it? Small and funny and fine........................
Yes, it was. It was where I first met Ilona. She was in the ensemble of Sweeney Todd.
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I enjoyed the LIFE photos as well, and thank you for them. Yes, for those of us who grew up with that magazine every week, the world seems less colorful and vital without it in its original form.
Do other DRs get a weekly small little LIFE magazine insert in the newspaper now like we do. It bears very little to no resemblance to the magazine I remember.
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Here she is
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You can tell it's Mattel - it's swell!!
Another view. 8)
(http://www.feelingretro.com/toy_img/beasley.gif)
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Oh, I remember FAMILY AFFAIR very well. Loved that DeVol theme music.
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Do you know eyedrops that you can use with your contact lenses in your eyes, especially for your dried-eyes(don't know how to say in English)? Every my friends, not me, who wear contact lenses use it and they really like it. ::)
I do of these kinds of eyedrops, but I'm just too lazy to get them...and to use them. I don't wear my contacts very often so I don't usually have any trouble with them drying out. I think it was just that I had had them in for so long and did a lot of driving in very sunny weather and stayed up late with them in.
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thanks DRJOSE....I thought you had said that before! Ben is a nice guy. He is playing Joseph (the Humphrey Bogart role) who is basically the lead!
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Oh, I remember FAMILY AFFAIR very well. Loved that DeVol theme music.
DRMATTH - I loved it as well....remember the CBS Powerhouse Monday night lineup?
9 pm Family Affair
9:30 The Doris Day Show
10 pm The Carol Burnett Show
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DRMATTH - I loved it as well....remember the CBS Powerhouse Monday night lineup?
9 pm Family Affair
9:30 The Doris Day Show
10 pm The Carol Burnett Show
Oh, yes, I remember, and Lucille Ball's show was on at 8:30. Arte Johnson used to say goodnight to her at the end of LAUGH-IN on NBC.
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The "funny thing" is is that I was actually thinking of heading back to New Orleans in a couple of weeks for a mini-vacation. Let's hope I can still have the option of doing so.
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Those two kids were so dang cute. Brian Keith made a great foil with his jetsetting ways but mellow attitude. Then Ol' French with his understanding ways. And the underutilized Sissy.
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And remember when Sebastian Cabot had to leave the series for a time and they brought in John Williams as Brian Keith's manservant? Didn't hurt the show, and I liked each man equally well.
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Good evening, fellow Dear Readers.
Can anyone tell me about a play called "Marvin's Room?"
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DR JRand, I think I told you before, but I played Felix Ducotel in a local production of MY THREE ANGELS. I was called in to replace an actor who dropped out (I was doing THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the time, but the director had cast me with really good roles in some previous shows, so I couldn't say no.) I had three weeks to learn my part before we opened. I was SO grateful that as the play progressed, Felix had fewer lines in each act. By Act III, he was barely a presence which suited me JUST fine.
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Good evening, fellow Dear Readers.
Can anyone tell me about a play called "Marvin's Room?"
Made into a good movie with Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert DeNiro.
Two sisters who have never been friends are reunited as they tend to a dying relative. Lots of family issues come to the surface.
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Later today (Sunday), my niece and I are going to see "Red Eye." I don't really know anything about it except that it's a scary movie set on a plane. Ebert and Roeper gave it Two Thumbs Up®, but I didn't really pay attention to the overview of the story. I'll find out in the early afternoon. :D
We saw it last week and found it to be very entertaining.
I agree! I really enjoyed the suspense of what was happening, even though we weren't told why anything was happening...I mean, I know it was for an assassination, but why was Jack Scalia being assassinated? Going into it, I thought that it was going to be either some supernatural thriller or shoot-em-up airplane disater movie, but it wasn't at all. It was very refereshing.
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Well, it's past midnight, and I need to go to bed.
Will wish everyone a pleasant evening.
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Thanks Rodzinski and Tomovoz, for the info on MERCY! I knew you two guru's of pop would come through for me....and with the info provided I found an e-mail address for Jack Sigler and sent him a note...although I am sorry to hear that the singers of LOVE (CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY) would not be the singers on MERCY's lone album..which I was unable to find the title of...which is what I asked Mr. Sigler in my e-mail.
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Thanks, MattH. Is it a heavy drama?
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...And I must Wussburger now too... Just tired, and I want to get up early to check the news reports... And if I do end up heading down to Fairfax tomorrrow afternoon... Yadda-yadda-yadda...
Goodnight.
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Cillaliz, you must post a photo of yourself as a child holding Mrs. Beasley!!
I loved FAMILY AFFAIR...next to ADAM-12 and FLIPPER, it is my favorite show. As it was not a police show or a western, I did not get to see it much during it's original run (we only had one TV at that time, and my father had control over it!)...but did catch it in reruns a couple of years later.
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Well... Well.. Umm...
I saw the original Broadway production five times! Including Closing Night! I saw the original Dr. Tambouri - who was eventually replaced by Tom Aldredge. And I even saw one of Donna Murphy's moles fall off during a matinee during previews! So there!
;D
ROTFLMAO!! (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/lachen/laughing-smiley-014.gif)
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New page dance!
(http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=bollywood+dancers/v=2/SID=w/l=IVI/SIG=12ac3l7i5/EXP=1125377154/*-http%3A//i.timeinc.net/time/daily/2004/0404/amse0423.jpg)
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Cillaliz, you must post a photo of yourself as a child holding Mrs. Beasley!!
LOL, I don't have any here, my mother still has the photo albums of me as a child.
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~~~ Vibes to Any and All who are affected by Katrina, the Hurricane!! ~~~
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All this talk about match.com and all that....I just have one question.
What is a date?
A fruit. Kinda like a fig.
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And of course this is a date and fig friendly site.
(an old HHW reference).
My shopping trip today - $10 purchase of Helen Reddy's Bk produced CD "Centre Stage".
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As for the official Topic of the Day, I would love to have seen/been part of the development of Wise Guys / Gold / Bounce and to see what's still to come. Starting back in the 1950s when both Irving Berlin and Stephen Sondheim (separately?) got the idea for a show based on the Mizner's lives, all the way through the infamous Sam Mendes workshop, the production that was eventually recorded as Bounce and into the future, since Sondheim has said that he and John Weidman continue to work on it and are going back to what they want to do with the show. I have a (shhh...don't tell anyone ;)) bootleg recording of the Mendes workshop and I thoroughly enjoy it. I must admit (and I'm sure that it's abundantly clear) that I have no idea what makes a "good" show, but knowing how it all developed and where it's going it incredibly fascinating to me. ;D
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Forty-five minutes without a post, and yet I spy hainsies/kimlets on the board. Does no one have any moxie?
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HEY! They all disappeared without so much as a fond farewell!