I've had a busy day. I got moved to a new desk and have spent much of the day re-orienting (something like Henry Orienting) myself to my new workspace. I think I'm all settled in. My computer works, my phone works, but most important, my Internet connection works and I can get my daily fix of certain material (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean, know what I mean?).
I also had a phone call (which I missed) from the BBC. I'm becoming a fixture over there. One of the many programs I listen to is on BBC Radio 3. It's Stage and Screen. I've promoted them shamelessly, most recently when they did the 2-part Birthday tribute to Sondheim. Well, they are having a "Stage and Screen Interactive" which just means that the listeners can call or write or e-mail and suggest that a certain song be played. The show will air sometime in May when they have all the requests together.
I e-mailed the show, never expecting a response, since I'm on this side of the pond and they have thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of listeners easier to reach than me, suggesting that they play This Nearly Was Mine from South Pacific. I told them why that song meant something to me. In 1979 I was a chorus sailor in a summer stock production and besides having a wonderful summer, the show had a great Emile DeBecque. Every night I would stand in the wings and watch and listen (I wish I could remember his name but I can't) to the man playing DeBecque sing This Nearly Was Mine He nailed that song every night. It could bring tears to my eyes, and it was a six-week run.
This long drawn out story is the lead up to the fact that Edward Seckerson's producer from Stage and Screen called today asking if they could record my story about South Pacific to use as an intro for This Nearly Was Mine on the "Stage and Screen Interactive"
Hoo and Ray! I have a radio career, finally. I may not be getting paid for it, but listening to Internet radio has sure paid off for me.
