Memphis Lives in Me

Thank You for Being a Friend

2009-09-24T12:47:00.004-04:00

The show had its first preview performance last night.

To celebrate, this blog is now fully integrated into the Memphis Official Website, which is sort of like a virtual promotion.

It's been real Blogspot, but I have to move on.

Don't Stop Believin' and Don't Stop Readin'.

You can find the Memphis Lives in Me Blog here:
http://www.memphisthemusical.com/blog

Last Fun Fact on Blogspot: My best friend from middle school whom I haven't seen since we graduated high school [redacted] years ago came to the show last night.

This morning, as part of her New York tourist experience, she went to the Today show.

And she made this sign:

...and she is coming back to see the show again this weekend.

Now that's a good friend.

You've been a good friend too, Blogspot.

You were my first blog and I shall never forget you.

A Memo, not a Mission Statement

2009-09-23T01:42:00.005-04:00

To: Company Management
from: Carolyn
date: around 2am on 9/23
re: Post show, 9/22

Dear Company Management,

The Invited Dress went great. Thank you for organizing all of those passes, especially the last minute RSVPs. It was wonderful to have a few hundred of everyone's friends, families and colleagues in the house.

However, I did notice when I was leaving that there were an awful lot of socks in the aisles.

Apparently, the show is rocking people's socks off.

I'm not sure if we should be thinking about hiring someone specifically to pick up the orphaned socks after each performance or if it is something the Shubert house staff wants to handle internally.

Either way, we definitely need to start a "Lost & Found;" there are a lot of people who will be trying to retrace their steps to figure out where they lost their socks. Perhaps we should start a sock reuniting initiative on the website? I don't know. Maybe this idea is premature.

I guess we should see what happens tomorrow night at the first preview.

Let me know your thoughts.

Hockadoo,
Carolyn

Memphis Blog Shout Out: Happy Birthday to Sarah of New Time Productions!
Thank you for being my desk neighbor, for your technology "consults," for your willingness to jump in and do video release forms when it is so not in your job description, and for knowing that I take my bagels "poppyseed, toasted with cream cheese"- and for making me eat one tonight as dinner. You are fantastical. And your new haircut is super cute.

I think, therefore, I am

2009-09-21T21:11:00.006-04:00

I think this is Week Seven.

I think today is Monday.

I think the cast & crew must have enjoyed a much deserved day off today.

I think that Samson (Show Pup) looks handsome after his grooming appointment.

I think I better get those Opening Night gifts ordered.

I think the Stage Managers really enjoyed having Joe, Kevin and I in their office yesterday whilst we "tweeted."

I think everyone is thrilled that we got through 2 full run throughs this weekend.

I think I am loving that Lin Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) is on House right now.

I think that there are changes to the blog coming.

I think I have everyone on the list for the Invited Dress Rehearsal tomorrow night.

I think I learn something invaluable from my bosses everyday.

I think the show is ready for an audience...I don't think, I know.

Holy Run Through Batman!

2009-09-20T23:37:00.009-04:00

I'm not sure what I expected to happen tonight.
I expected to be entertained, but I was rocked.

Having only caught glimpses of the show during tech, to see it play out in front of me, with a full band, fully lit, fully staged, fully costumed=fully blown away.

How could I not be with Danny Tidwell doing things like this?

Photo by Chris Owyoung www.onelouderphoto.com

I know what it is like to have expectations be built up and get to a show and have it not deliver. So I am not going to use the blog (much) to tout the fierceness, or rattle on about performances that break my heart a little each time.

It's time I encourage people to embrace the idea of not knowing a lot about this show.

Forget about not having the recording (yet) and knowing every word to every song before you walk in the theater doors.

Stop reading this blog if you have to (not really) and embrace the surprise.

There was a time you wen to the theater just because.
Not because it proved you were able to get a ticket, or saw this person in that show.

Take a friend. Buy a student rush ticket (or a full price one). I want you to love it, but I won't have my feelings hurt if you don't (well, maybe just a little).

But now is the time that you can have an impact on musical theater by going to the show during previews. The creatives and producers are all around: seeing what lands, what doesn't, what's clear, what needs clarification.

If/when you go, email me your thoughts.

Post them on our Facebook page.

Heck, if you can keep it under 140 characters, tweet it.
(in my mind, I heard "Just Tweet It" to the same tune of Michael Jackson's "Just Beat It.")

Memphis Blog Shout Out: Thanks to all who tweeted us during the Broadway League Tweet-Up today!

Oh, and if you leave the theater and feel like I did tonight, feel free to shout it from the rooftops.

Nick-tastic Broadway Video Series, Vol. 2 or Drink with Me Susan Blackwell

2009-09-19T08:25:00.004-04:00

First of all, when Nick-tastic brought this into the office, he was rocking a sweatervest which should indicate that we are officially into the Fall season. Sweatervests=Fall goodness. Fall is, in this blogger's opinion, the best season in New York City. And not just because Memphis opens.

Second of all, the fact that Susan Blackwell (of the phenomenal Speech & Debate and the equally brilliant [title of show] and the fantastical "[titleofshow] show" webseries)
a: interviewed Chad Kimball (4:18 into the video),
b: suggests a Memphis drinking game,
is beyond brilliant.

Beyond.

I will be playing this drinking game very soon.
Perhaps tomorrow during tech would be the perfect time for the inaugural game.
Susan, please stop by the Shubert. BYOB.

[Insert witty blog title here]

2009-09-17T21:14:00.010-04:00

This blog entry is brought to you by the letter"D."

"D" is for "Dance." Which they do in Memphis. A lot.

And they do it really well:

"D" is also for "Discussion."
Which the choreography associates Edgar, Jermaine and Kelly do during Memphis rehearsal.

And that discussion leads to more dance.

"D" is also for "Danny Tidwell." Danny is in Memphis doing a lot of dancing.

And tearing it up while rockin' the period costumes.

"D" is also for "Dress Rehearsal."

Which means the actors are getting used to moving and performing in the clothes they will be wearing in the show.

Fun Fact: Montego's character, Felicia, used to wear a pink dress in this pivotal scene in Act II. I have to say that I am loooving the new green dress. It has really fantastic pleating on the bodice and a really interesting back. Plus her shoes....

Apparently, I am obsessed with shoes. I'm just going to embrace it because let's be honest, most people rarely pay attention to what an actor is wearing on their feet but sooo much time is spend on footwear that it at least deserves some blog attention.
Bravo to the wardrobe personnel who have been working on the footwear! I support you.

"D" is also for "Director." And Memphis has a great one in Christopher Ashley.

Chris works with Chad and Montego on perhaps my favorite moment of the show.

Fun Fact: Chris uses a microphone during tech so that he can speak to the entire theater and be heard. Especially helpful during the rockin' musical numbers which we also have in the show.

"D" also stands for "Do you think this is picture of Chad Kimball (Huey) is amazing?"

Because I do.

Hit the Wall Wednesday

2009-09-16T22:32:00.011-04:00

Welcome to Hit the Wall Wednesday. I'm not sure if it is because of the change in weather or the lack of sleep or the fast paced nature of producing a Broadway show, but, whatever the cause, I was not having the most productive day. Sometimes the art of making art involves no art and that can be hard on one's soul.

I'm happy to report that the show saved the day! Being over at the theater today for tech was exactly the cure I needed. Even though the technical rehearsal process is a stop/start, hurry up and wait, fix the lighting cue, reprogram the set change, kind of experience, watching it come together is ridiculously reinvigorating.

There is magic around every turn, like taking a trip to the restroom and finding August (dance arranger) and Edgar (Associate choreographer) using the piano in the downstairs lobby working out some new ways to pump up the "Stand Up" number in Act II.

You see scenes like this in the PBS documentaries they do of Broadway shows-capturing an idea at the moment of creation. It's pretty awesome to bear witness to these moments all over the building. The creative electricity in the Shubert is overflowing and was exactly the jolt I needed to get over the wall.

Plus, actors are fun to watch during tech as they find ways to amuse themselves during the "holds."

Chad and Derrick, acting:

Chad and Derrick during a hold:

Still holding:

Yup, still holding:

Plus, I will never tire of Derrick Baskin's smile.

Here are some more photos from the tech of Act II today:

Favorite Photo of the Day:

Brad Bass makes me laugh.
(And you have to love the guitar print shirt. Paul Tazewell=genius)

Thanks Memphis. Looking forward to Thursday.

Samson, Stockard, and Peanut Butter Squares

2009-09-15T21:38:00.011-04:00

I love this photo of Lead Producer, Sue Frost, on the phone taken outside the Shubert box office during tech. To me, it epitomizes the serious multi-tasking that is going on at this point in the production process. The day flies by in a blur of emails requiring approvals, producers making ticket requests, daily press clippings, Playbill proofing and constant double, nay triple checking, to make sure that all systems are a go.

Working in a Producer's office is like being an air traffic controller. The challenge is trying to keep everything on your radar, each initiative flying smoothly and landing without incident.

I'm pretty sure my work email is outpacing my personal email at a inbox ration of 17:1; my Netflix queue is empty and I am barely updating my personal Facebook Status Update (tragedy, I know). Samson (Show Pup) and I were running around town today: to and from Grand Central, 3 visits to the Shubert Theater, and an advertising meeting at SpotCo.

Show Pup Broadway Star sighting: While we were leaving SpotCo's offices today, we walked right by Stockard Channing. Props to Randy (Producer) for seeing past the "I'm going incognito" dark glasses and pointing her out. Samson was thrilled.

The cast returned to the Shubert today after a day off to continue technical rehearsals. Producers Nick Demos and Francine Bizar sponsored a delicious buffet meal down in the lower lobby tonight for the cast and crew. The tortellini was out of sight but I was most excited to see that Francine made her famous peanut butter squares.

We should really call them "I wish I could quit you" peanut butter squares- they are that good.

(This may not seem like important "show related" information but when you are in technical rehearsals, getting a good, not-so-fast-food meal is a challenge. One barely has time to sleep, let alone go to the grocery store/pack nutritious and delicious food for the day ahead.)

The countdown continues as we have our first preview performance one week from tomorrow!!
What the What?? I am dizzy with anticipation.

Just for Fun: Broadway.com released photos from the Memphis cast visit to The Toxic Avenger performance last night. Photos by Jenny Anderson.

David Bryan, Chad Kimball, Montego Glover, Toxic's Diana Degarmo and Nancy Opel, Joe DiPietro. I wish you could have seen the shoes Diana and Nancy were wearing...I covet.

Thank you to Broadway.com for capturing this super fun evening--
next time, don't crop out the fierce shoes...

Totally Toxic

2009-09-14T23:44:00.011-04:00

Dear Oprah,

I know you are busy prepping for your two day season premiere Whitney Houston interview, and goodness knows that is like opening a hot box of crazy, so I will keep this short.

I think I had one of those "aha moments" you are always writing about in your magazine; moments that take you to level of understanding about who you are and further define your purpose. (Every time I hear or say the word purpose, I sing "gotta find my purpose" from Avenue Q in my head. Shout out to Avenue Q, who closed their Broadway run yesterday, BUT announced they are reopening at New World Stages in 3 weeks!)

It happen halfway through The Toxic Avenger tonight.

Ironically, this "aha moment" did not come during the "Choose Me, Oprah" song- though I suppose that if it had happened during that song, it wouldn't be ironic so much as it would have been poetic.

So Memphis composer David Bryan and Bookwriter Joe DiPietro have two shows in New York. The Toxic Avenger, which is currently playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages and Memphis which begins performances next week (!) and opens October 19th. Joe and David were so generous and invited the entire Memphis cast to see Toxic tonight.

Fun Fact: Memphis cast member James Iglehardt reminded me that the first NYC reading of Memphis took place on March 21, 2007 in Stage 1 of New World Stages. This is the same theater where Toxic is currently playing. I'm not sure if that is ironic, poetic, or just, cool.

Anyway, my "aha" moment came during "Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore" (yes that is the name of the song) while Nancy Opel proved she is:
a. a genius
b. a comic revelation
c. fierce
d. all of the above

Fun Fact: I'm pretty sure that my dog (Samson) met Nancy Opel's dog (Momo) on 9th Avenue last week. But, due to my inability to talk to people whose talent I appreciate and admire, I just let our dogs do their thing which mostly involved a lot of smelling.

Back to Nancy. The cast of Memphis gave her a standing ovation after this song and that's when it hit me; I think my whole life has been leading up to this moment.

That may sound trite or cliche, but I never thought that I would ever be part of theater in this way, knowing and working with people who are creating musicals. And it's pretty addicting. Dare I say, In-toxic-ating.

I could really get used to this. Being around amazing people. Talented people. Watching amazing, talented people do genius things in brilliant original musicals. Between Memphis and Toxic, my cup runneth over.

So Oprah, do what you have to do to come to New York to see Memphis and The Toxic Avenger. Call Gayle, send Stedman an email, let them know you are heading to the Big Apple.
Bring the dogs if you want- Samson would love to hang out with them.

Perhaps you too will leave the theater with a renewed sense of purpose.

Perhaps not, but I can guarantee that you will have a good time.

Yours very truly.

Huddled Masses

2009-09-13T13:48:00.014-04:00

Broadway on Broadway was crazy....crazy awesome. Die hard fans had been lining up since 1 or 2am this morning to get a good spot at the barricades (there has to be a good Les Miz joke in there somewhere) and the show did not disappoint. Mother Nature let the sunshine in; there was no rain on this parade.

Memphis Blog Shout Out: to Mat's group who found us in the crowd and won tickets to the first preview!

Times Square is funny because when there is something going on, people will just line up even when they don't know what it is for. And when there is music, it's like the Pied Piper's drawing them in to the crowds. So the thing about wearing an "official" show t-shirt that says Staff on it, is that you instantly become the "question girl." Team-tastic and I were happy to help the good folks in Times Square, because at Memphis, we are all about bringing people together.

Here are some of the people we brought together:

The only thing about my location was that I could not see the stage and could only see one of the jumbo screens. But fortunately, my boyfriend is somewhere in the range of 6'8" tall which means with his wingspan, he was able to get some excellent shots.

The Cast of Memphis on a screen in Times Square!!!

Tracee, Hillary, Sydney, Dionne, Vivian, and Katie:

The fifties were such a beautiful decade for women: the silhouettes, the hairstyles, so flattering. I'm sort of obsessed with Paul Tazewell (Costume Designer) and Chuck La Pointe (Wig Designer).

Rhett, Charlie, Ephraim, and Daniel (check their image on screen behind them also):

I think that Memphis is going to bring the Fedora back.
Hip Cats all around the city are going to be rocking them.

Danny Tidwell and the Cast lookin' good:

They have made it onto the jumbo screens, now all we need is a GAP billboard ad in Times Square. If anyone knows anyone at GAP corporate...our cast looks excellent in winter scarves.

James, Cass and Chad:

Chad sang his face off.
Edgar (Associate Choroegrapher) told Sue (Producer) that from where he was standing, a group of fans were standing with their arms crossed waiting to be impressed by our performance. Little by little, as Chad and the cast rocked them, Edgar said they let their arms down and finally exclaimed "oh, that's so going on my list of shows to see."

In the brilliant words of Effie from Dreamgirls, "And I am telling you," you should go see this show while we are in previews and there are some good deals out there. Go in with your arms crossed. I'm pretty sure you will have the same experience as those fans had today.

How fun is this?

I felt like stalkerazzi taking this picture but I had to capture Derrick, Dan'yelle, and John walking down the street to the Shubert; the juxtaposition of them against the modern city was just too good. Dan'yelle has opted for more comfortable walking shoes which makes it even better.

Daniel strolling down 44th street:

Total Hip Cat.

Tegan (Associate Company Manager) reports that the Broadway on Broadway greenroom was fun because the cast got to see a lot of their friends who are in other shows.
James leaves Times Square with Chris Jackson from In the Heights.

I'm a total stalker on this one too, but I did it for the blog, James.

The Blog made me do it.

Ticket Giveaway or Throwing You a Bone

2009-09-12T15:19:00.012-04:00

When I first moved to New York City, I can remember waking up one Sunday and deciding over cereal that I would go to see a show. I played the matinee lottery for The Drowsy Chaperone and saw the original cast right before many of the first replacements were set to begin. It was a great day. That, among many other things, is what makes New York special- you can just wake up and go to a Broadway show.

But tomorrow, if you live in the area, you can wake up and go see many Broadway Showstoppers before they go to their matinees or, in the case of Memphis, back to tech rehearsal. The weather report says it is supposed to be 75 degrees tomorrow, so here's hoping.

Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Seeing the Memphis cast in costume and wigs for the first time.

2. Seeing the Fela performance- I didn't get a chance to see that show Off-Broadway so I am excited to see a glimpse of what it is all about.

3. Nick-tastic is excited because he says the cast of Ragtime is allegedly doing a "Wheels of a Dream" and "Ragtime" medley. Nick-tastic is as obsessed with Ragtime. And Memphis. He likes shows with one-word titles. And sassy high belting.

4. Seeing the In the Heights performance so I can tell my mom about it. I gave her the CD last Christmas and she tells me she's obsessed with it. I'm pretty sure it's the only CD she listens to. I'm looking forward to giving her the Memphis cast album so she can mix it up and live on the edge a bit.

5. I GET TO GIVE AWAY EIGHT FREE TICKETS!

Yes, that's right. I get to hand some lucky fans tickets to the first preview performance! We know times are tough and that everyone is cutting back. So all you have to do is show up at Broadway on Broadway in your homemade HUEY gear!

The first 2 groups of four to meet the Memphis fan street team at 44th and Broadway (we will be wearing show t-shirts) will get tickets for their whole group (total of four) to the first preview of Memphis, on September 23rd at 8pm.

Of course no contest would be complete without some legal eagle conditions:
Contestants should wear homemade H-U-E-Y shirts with each letter of his name being worn by one member of your group. Contestants must find the street team between 11:30am-12pm, get their picture taken all together, and they will get a voucher for scheduling their seats. Seat location will be determined by the production.

So get your Sharpies out and make it happen. Don't say the Producers of this show never threw you a bone.

Speaking of bones, several people have been asking me if Samson (Show Pup) will be attending Broadway on Broadway tomorrow. And while Samson is particularly obsessed with Cheyenne Jackson, I'm pretty sure that Times Square during a huge Broadway event is not particularly safe for a small, 14lb dog.

Unless of course, I invested in a quality stroller:

Or perhaps he would prefer a trendy knit carrier:

But I draw the line at Dog Belts.

Or is this a fanny pack? Either way, no.

See you tomorrow!!

Singing and the Rain

2009-09-11T10:47:00.013-04:00

Today in New York City, it rained. Now this is not newsworthy in itself but it does play an important role in my day. Let's start from the very beginning.

This morning, I made a poor shoe choice. The misstep really stems from Labor Day when I ignored my impulse to purchase rainboots at DSW. Still, I wore little flats to work today. And I brought Samson to work, which means the Show Pup and I walked in the rain from Grand Central to Times Square. We were both a little wet, but it was still manageable.

Then from 12:10-12:25, before the start of today's tech rehearsal, the cast of Memphis had a music rehearsal with the orchestra for their Broadway on Broadway performance this Sunday in Times Square. The rehearsal was at Carroll Music Studios on 55th Street and 12th Ave. We took a cab there so this was good for the shoes.

This rehearsal was very cool not only because we got to hear the song "Memphis Lives in Me" performed with the full orchestrations, but because it was like a revolving door of Broadway shows. As we were walking in, the Bye Bye Birdie cast was coming out. Alex Lacamoire, the Tony-winning orchestrator of In the Heights was conducting, and as we were leaving, Sutton Foster, Daniel Breaker and the cast of Shrek were coming in. It was a pretty awesome 3o minutes. I really had to concentrate on not totally geeking out over the coolness of it all.

But the coolness was quickly over and it was time to go. And when you are on 55th and 12th Ave and its pouring out, there are no cabs to be had. So we walked all the way to 43rd and 8th which essentially meant that I was soaking wet from the knees down.

And that is why I was then forced to pull a Britney.

Yes, I went into a public bathroom barefoot. Try not to judge. And it wasn't exactly a public restroom as much as it was the bathroom at the end of our hallway, but still, I felt a little too close to Brit Brit.

Speaking of toxic, next Monday, Joe DiPireto (book and lyrics) and David Bryan (composer) have invited the cast of Memphis to see their other show, The Toxic Avenger, which is currently playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages. Toxic is ridiculously funny and just when you think there is no way they are going to go there, they do. I think Monday is going to be a blast and I am super pumped to see Toxic again.

And it better stop raining soon.

1. Because I do not have the proper footwear, and

2. Because we are giving out fans at Broadway on Broadway and rain would make that difficult. Handing out fans in the rain, to quote Memphis, would be "downright foolish. Dangerous even."

Sunshine equals fans and fans equal happiness.

Like these ladies.
The one with the fan is clearly happier than the one without the fan.

Don't be the lady without the fan.

Living on a Prayer...and a Diet Coke

2009-09-10T16:46:00.010-04:00

Today's blog post is brought to you by Diet Coke. And the Westway Diner on 9th Ave between 43rd and 44th.

Highlights from today:
1. Chatting with David Gallo (set designer) this morning at the Westway diner. He is a fountain of Broadway Fun Facts, which I am so excited to share. As we are in technical rehearsals, I thought it would be fun to hear a little more about his background, how he approaches his work and what makes him tick. He had so many things to share I need a couple days to get that blog posting ready.

2. Watching the afternoon tech session while working with the film crew on capturing our first footage of backstage antics. The Women's Ensemble were crazy funny to interview and I can't wait to see that video. Basically, we handed them the mic and magic happened.

Fun Fact: Broadway dressing rooms are notorious for being small and outdated. People often think that the dressing rooms must be luxurious and glamorous because it's Broadway after all-not the case. I can't wait to show you around the nooks and crannies of the Shubert.

3. Finding myself at the Westway Diner again, this time with my gal pals, Tegan (Associate Company Manager), and Sarah (Associate New Time Productions), for a chat 'n' chew.

4. Watching the evening session of tech-which was purely for my own selfish enjoyment as I contribute nothing to the process at this point. EXCEPT, I was able to rescue my boss, Producer Randy Adams, who found himself locked in the Shubert box office lobby! So I guess I was somewhat helpful.

The Orchestra has become command central. I think Sarah and I counted almost 30 computer monitors throughout the house tonight.

I have no idea what is on this computer. But whatever it is, it is doing its job- the show is looking great so far.

They started the day with "Hello, My Name Is Huey" from Act I. John Jellison waits to get started. Waiting is a common theme during technical rehearsals.

While waiting for some technical cues to resolve themselves, Chris Ashley (Director, in the white shirt) works on the staging with Chad and Michael. Stage Manager, Monica, chats with Kevin Covert in the radio DJ booth. Kevin's character of DJ Buck Wiley may be one of my favorite character parts in the show.

Cary Tedder hanging out during the tech of "That's Not Possible" in Act I. That contraption around his chest, which will be worn under his costume, is how his mic pack stays on his body.

I was in the box office lobby during parts of this number and kept hearing phones ring. I could not believe that so many people had their cell phones on during tech. Turns out, those ringing phones were sound cues. You know, for the phones like the one in Cary's hand. Apparently, I could not put two and two together while taking this photo.

Fun Fact: Several people walked into the Shubert box office this afternoon to buy tickets and could hear the rocking out that was happening inside. Going to the box office of a new musical that is in tech is a great way to get a little aural sneak peak.

Shubert Hot Tip: The first couple of rows of the mezzanine may be the best seats in the house. I typically like sitting in the orchestra for a show, but I love it up in the mezzanine of the Shubert. I'll be checking out the balcony tomorrow...

Nick-tastic Broadway Spotlight Series, Vol. 1

2009-09-09T16:23:00.007-04:00

Three things:

1. This makes me want to have a child. Not just any child, this child.

2. I need to find out if this kid takes requests, especially if he can riff as well as he can shake his bon bon. Because if he has any amount of sass in him, he'd do a killer version of "Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll" from our show.

3. It is videos like this that make me excited to be part of the Broadway community and, hence, why I am sharing this Hair video on the Memphis blog. I can't wait for the show to open, for the Original Cast Album to drop (more details on that coming soon), and for Memphis to inspire babies all over the world to, in the immortal words of Lady Gaga, "just dance."

Thank you to Nick-tastic for sending me this amazing gem of a video! (Nick-tastic is a new intern at the Junkyard Dog Production (Producer) office and his presence has helped me stay sane and keep it sassy).

Memphis Show Power Alert: The cast of Memphis will be performing, in costume no less, in Times Square this Sunday, September 13th as part of the Broadway on Broadway concert sponsored by the League. The festivities start at 11:30am. Broadway stars of Broadway shows doing some Broadway belting; it will be my first time at the event and I hope to see you all there!

Bloody Excited or Hamlet for Huey, Allegedly

2009-09-08T20:27:00.004-04:00

Do you ever have one of those days where you are working and working and working and then you finish and aren't quite sure what you've accomplished? Welcome to Week Four of producing a Broadway Show.

The cast made it to the Shubert Theatre today and took the stage for the first official day of Tech. If you have not been a part of tech before, what Meg said yesterday is totally right on; tech has a very different cadence to it than rehearsals. Rehearsals are fast and furious; they are all about discovery and impulses and being in the moment.

Once you move into technical rehearsals, moments become hours of carefully orchestrated lighting, sound and set cues. What is difficult for an actor is you begin some part of the show, and then hear "stop" or "hold" and things are happening all around you, except you are not really sure what is actually going on most of the time. Then you reset and run something again. And then maybe run it again just to make sure.

I tried to get in on the action today but was turned away at the stage door because Samson (Show Pup) was with me and he doesn't have clearance yet. awwww...but I don't cry for me Argentina; on my way to Fed Ex this evening, Samson and I walked by Jude Law who was being very British and drinking pints with his chums. I'm pretty sure I heard him say "I'm bloody excited for this Memphis show I keep hearing about." Though, sometimes with that accent, its hard to be sure...

Before the Parade Passes By, or last chance for Summer

2009-09-07T20:22:00.006-04:00

Happy Labor Day to All!

Growing up in California, Labor Day was never really a big deal; just another nice day that you may or may not take advantage of. In New York City, Labor Day has this crazy, frenetic feel to it; New Yorkers all over the city are savoring their last chance to get out and go somewhere, before summer passes by.

I thought I would conduct a quick sample survey to see how the various members of the Memphis team are enjoying this Labor Day Day Off before technical rehearsals begin tomorrow.

"I am in Vermont with my family. I spent the afternoon with my two granddaughters at the Fair in Guildford. We ate some hotdogs, drank fresh squeezed lemonade, saw lots of 4-H kids with their cows and chickens, played some games on the midway, rode some rides and heard some folk music. It was glorious."

- Cass, Actor

"I am spending my day off in the country (last chance I'll have to come here for the next few weeks, methinks) doing some rewriting based on what we learned after our run-through on Saturday.

Besides some minor dialogue tweaks, I'm especially trying to give the song "Stand Up" a more exciting through-line, so Felicia's entrance at the song's end has a dramatic punch as exciting as its musical and choreographic punch.

I'm also spending quality time with my dog who I've guiltily neglected these past few days as we hit the final surge of run-throughs. Right now, he's lying on my feet napping. And tonight he's getting a grilled turkey burger.

- Joe (Book & Lyrics)

"I practiced yoga this afternoon and am going to Birdland for the NAMT (National Alliance for Musical Theatre) concert with Randy (Producer) this evening."

-Nick (Memphis Producer)

"Let's see: I slept in! (first time in a month or two) Then I made coffee and got my daily fix of mafia wars on Facebook. While enjoying that vice, I turned on the TV to realize my next vice was being taken care of; the Hallmark Channel was having a Golden Girls marathon! Sadly though, I had to pull myself away from the tube to come into the office. Tomorrow starts an extremely busy and exciting week for us and I wanted to get a jump start on all the piles of work I have sitting here on my desk. I am sorting through emails from the weekend (we never seem to stop!). So the next three hours or so will be me updating the weekend wrap, adding new crew members (wardrobe, hair & makeup) to payroll and last but not least, tackling those house seat requests! Hockadoo! I did manage to get some sun this weekend in Long Island and had two blissful days of relaxing, knitting, reading and most importantly, enjoying margaritas! Speaking of margaritas, as soon as I can make a significant dent in my work here I am heading to my friend apt in Harlem. She has a backyard and we are going to cook out and indulge in more of those tasty beverages!

-Tegan, Assistant Company Manager

So basically, what I've done for my Labor Day weekend (other than coming into the city to see the run through on Saturday)...drumroll please...Slept in. Went to Rhode Island to visit family and ended up eating the best "chowda" in all of New England (or so my family says)."

-Mattie, Member of Team-tastic

"I am spending my Labor Day having brunch and going to the park. I'm trying to absorb as much sunshine as I can before tech week starts."

- Charlie, Actor

"I'd usually spend Labor Day in my PJs watching a grainy bootleg of the original production of Dreamgirls on YouTube, but I've decided to change things up. This year, I'm going to see the documentary The September Issue with friends and chowing down for dinner at Junior's, in full view of the Memphis marquee. Holla!"

- Nick-tastic, Member of Team-tastic

"Kevin Covert here. Well, after a very disappointing loss from my favorite tennis player, Venus Williams, yesterday I have decided to try and shake it off on this Labor Day. Why u ask?? Well- it is College Football BABY!! It is my Alma Mater's kickoff this evening! Florida State VS Miami!!! I am a Florida State Seminole through and through! (As is Montego Glover- our own Leading Lady!!) So I will spend this Labor Day preparing for football battle!!!"

-Kevin, Actor

Sidenote: As I am posting this, Miami and Florida State are tied 7 to 7 at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. Hope its a good game!

"On this beautiful Labor Day, I'm setting aside a few hours to read in my local park - the commission that maintains it has just renovated the seating area, so I will be finishing my novel on a glossy, newly- painted bench, under a gorgeous tree in Queens. I love reading outside, and with the two-day weekend as part of this holiday, I feel very lucky to have nice weather and a chance to enjoy it.

Part of today, also, will be about preparing for the days and weeks to come in Memphis: I will be reviewing show paperwork, reminding myself of important landmarks coming up (a birthday later in the week, a memo to compose), and allowing myself a few minutes to savor the change of tempo we're approaching.

The last three weeks in the rehearsal studio have had their own cadence of dance rehearsal and review, script changes, quick lunch breaks and callboard chitchat; now we are about to launch into the very different rhythm of technical rehearsal. When they say "hurry up and wait," they are talking about a tech rehearsal: it's all about urgent, focused work, incorporating lights, sound, costumes, scenery and more into the playing business we've been rehearsing with the cast. The hurrying up is usually done by all these departments that have not been at the studio for weeks; the waiting is spread out evenly among everyone, because it's important to let each department have a minute (or several minutes) to make sure they are
ready to move forward safely and efficiently after each pause."

- "Magical" Meg, Memphis PA

I really could not have written a better introduction to technical rehearsals than Meg (which is part of the reason why she has the name "Magical Meg-" things are just better when she is around) so I will leave you with that- and a picture taken from the World Financial Center where I enjoyed a tasty lunch, followed by an unsuccessful trip of shoe shopping at DSW. Double thumbs down for DSW- double thumbs up for the lovely weather.

Huey's Packing Up, Huey's Moving out.

2009-09-05T14:51:00.015-04:00

It's time to say good bye to the Hilton Theatre rehearsal studio. It has been a three week love affair, and now it is time to go our separate ways. Because Memphis is moving into the Shubert Theatre people!

Time to pack up the props...

Make sure you grab...the Tic Tacs??
(I think these are prop "pills" but I'm not 100% on that.)

And make sure we take...the cigarette graveyard??

(No actors were harmed in the smoking of herbal cigarettes)

Pull up the tape marks.
(Every spike mark-which indicates where set pieces are- is measured and transfered to the stage at the Shubert. PA "Magical" Meg told me today they have been doing this every night after rehearsal as it is such a big project. It requires math. Hence why I have not been asked to help.)

Fun Fact: A stage floor that is custom built for a show is called a deck. I don't know why it's called that but I will find out from Set Designer, David Gallo, when I sit down with him this week to ask him about "decks" and other probing questions.)

Oh, and for heaven's sake, make sure to tell the actors where to go.

Photo by Chris Owyoung. www.onelouderphoto.com

That's right. Tuesday, September 8th, the cast is onstage! And, having just come from a run thru of the show, I could not be more excited to see Memphis get all dolled up during tech.

So pack it up. And move it across the street.

Tell the Phantom. Tell Jude Law. Their new neighbor is moving in.

Fast and Furious

2009-09-04T18:19:00.012-04:00

So the dance in the show is pretty amazing. Sergio Trujillo (Choreographer) is doing really great work and the dancers are, in short, incredible.

On the flip side, my camera is not amazing, which means that I have several blurry action shots I have taken while trying to capture the aforementioned genius. But then it occurred to me; individually, the pictures aren't great, BUT, as a "collection," THEN it is sort of artsy, no?

In the spirit of Tim Gunn, I am making it work.

May I present my artsy collection of cutting room floor photos:

Danny Tidwell and Dionne Figgins

LaQuet Sharnell

Jennifer Allen and Katie Webber

Director Chris Ashley and Sergio Trujillo watch the Opening Number

Ensemble Guys

Chad Kimball (Huey)

Charlie William, Bryan Fenkart, and Kevin Covert

Edgar (Associate Choreographer) lifts Tracee Beazer

Charlie Williams

Cary Tedder

Dionne Figgins and Danny Tidwell

Ensemble

Memphis Blog Shout Out: Happy Happy Happy Birthday to Cast Member James M. Iglehardt (Bobby)!

It's Official

2009-09-03T22:12:00.018-04:00

We have launched!

The new website that is...

If you are a regular reader of the blog, thank you! I want you to be the first to know that the super snazzy, tricked out, official Memphis website is ready and waiting to be explored and enjoyed by all.

http://www.memphisthemusical.com

So go there and linger for a while taking in the sites and sounds of Memphis. And while you are there, you may notice in the navigation bar, lovingly placed between "Spread the Word" and "Music Mixer,"you'll see "Blog."

That's right, this blog is now linked to the official Memphis Website.

That is both seriously cool and seriously serious.

(If you have come to the Blog from the Official Memphis website, welcome! Do not be scared, you are in good hands, albeit hands that are in desperate need of a manicure. This is where you will find information, stories and photos of the process and the people working on the Broadway production of Memphis; information that will make you even more excited about the production for which you are about to buy tickets.)

I feel that in order to properly honor this exciting night, I should welcome the official Memphis website to the official Memphis blog with some special edition "Fun Facts."

Special Edition Fun Fact: The Official Memphis Website was created by the Fantastical folks at SpotCo in New York City. SpotCo is an Entertainment Advertising Company that has terrific people, a terrific midtown office, and a terrific "snack alley" in between the conference rooms that features TWO mini refrigerators full of cold beverages (plenty of Diet Coke, of course) and tempting chocolate treats.

Special Edition Fun Fact: The official website has an awesome photo gallery as well--In a previous post, I mentioned that there was live video feed taken onstage during the show and the images are projected onto the scenery. Here's a sneak peak of how that technology actually looked during the show at the La Jolla Playhouse production last summer. Photo by KevinBerne.com:

Special Edition Fun Fact: I used to watch James M. Iglehardt (Bobby), pictured above, when he was acting in the Bay Area. After seeing him as "Judas "in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Broadway by the Bay, a good friend of mine saw James at the stage door and gave him a ziploc bag full of cheddar goldfish and a piece of baguette; this was supposed to represent "loaves and fishes." For those of you looking to give out cast gifts for a production of JCS, I recommend Joe's take on "loaves and fishes."

Special Edition Fun Fact: Speaking of cast gifts, one of my jobs is the incredibly fun but incredibly arduous task of dealing with Opening Night gifts. No matter how many productions I have worked on with Junkyard Dog Productions, no matter the planning and preparation, there always seems to be this last minute scramble to get everything done. But, I am pledging to turn over a new leaf and not be a crazy lunatic on October 19th when Memphis opens. Thank goodness Nick-tastic will be helping out in the office, bringing his magic and crazy creative ideas to the table. Welcome, Nick! Check in on October 20th to see what we've come up with...it will have to be a surprise until then.

The cast did a full run thru today in the rehearsal studio for a packed audience of designers, producers, production staff, group sales agents, etc. I stayed in the office working on Memphis magic with Nick-tastic, but all reports were super positive. This is good because...

Show Power Alert: Memphis begins previews 3 weeks from today!!!

September 23rd, Shubert Theatre.
Mark your calendars.
Save the Date.
Update your Outlook.
Tweet your pals.
Facebook your friends.
Or kick it old school and pick up the phone;
however you communicate, ask someone to be your "plus one" and make a date to go to Memphis.

Special Edition Fun Fact: In order to get this post online before midnight, I have forgotten to eat dinner. But I remembered to feed, Samson (Show Pup).
He is very excited about being official. Clearly.

Looking Good, Sounding Great

2009-09-02T22:31:00.002-04:00

Today, I actually spent more than 20 minutes in the rehearsal room. I typically do a late afternoon "pop in" at the end of the day. But this morning, I was there for an unprecedented 2 hours! They were running the first half of Act One and things are looking good.

Looking good and sounding great. That's pretty much a winning combo.

Brad Bass, lookin' good:

Derrick Baskin (Gator) lookin' good but lookin' disapprovingly at Chad Kimball (Huey) who is lookin' good:

Derrick and James Monroe Igelhardt (Bobby). aware that they are being photographed, give me some non-candid lookin' good:

Thank you to Miz Molly for the clip that inspired this post:

Fun Fact: Randy Adams (Producer) does a great “lookin’ good” impression. It is hi-larious.

Here's some sounding good (the full performances from the Shubert Alley BBQ):

"I Guarantee It"

2009-09-01T20:22:00.011-04:00

Wowza. Week three.

To say things are busy is putting it mildly.
Well, it would be lying.

The cast is working on a Run Thru of the entire show at rehearsal, dry tech begins at the theater tomorrow, and several marketing initiatives are getting ready to launch.

Show Power Alert: The cast of Memphis will be performing as part of Broadway on Broadway, Sunday, September 13th. 11:30am. Times Square. Be there.

So needless to say, I literally sat in front of my computer this morning as Outlook was launching my email inbox and did some deep breathing. Focus is perhaps the most important trait to have at this stage and, not surprisingly, it is the easiest to lose.

For instance, I've stopped bringing reading material on the train with me in the morning- that's right, commuting in New York without some sort of entertainment- I've found I need that time to just focus...on nothing.

Here's the thing. One would think that having worked in theater for over a decade, I would know all the lingo.

Nope.

For (a rather boring but important) example: to "guarantee" can actually mean to agree to be liable for the cost of something. (d'uh I say now with hindsight). Not, as I thought earlier today, in the Men's Wearhouse sort of way, where you just "guarantee" that you will be a satisfied customer.

Even the Off-Broadway shows I've worked on have fallen short of helping me understand the full scope of mounting a Broadway show.

Basically, my learning curve is so steep, that I'm practically doing backbends.

Speaking of backbends- such a smooth transition- I noticed that there was time allotted on the rehearsal schedule today for tumbling. Tumbling! Yet, another skill these amazing dancers have. And while I did not witness the aforementioned tumbling, I did stand in the corner today and watch a few minutes of some Act II staging/choreography.

Fun Fact: Memphis has live video feed that is taken through an onstage camera and projected onto the set, so Director Chris Ashley and Choreographer Sergio Trujillo use these monitors during rehearsal to direct the camera moves.

Fun (Random) Fact: did you know that there is a Broadway Bowling League?? I had known about the Broadway Softball League that plays in Central Park during the summer, but I was bowled over by the existence of a Bowling League. Must get more info.

Tomorrow's agenda includes a little bit of this, a little bit of that, a whole lot of rehearsal and probably a ton of emails in between.

It's a hard knock life, I know.

In Daniel We Trust

2009-08-31T20:36:00.005-04:00

Here are things I know for sure:

1. Dancers are superheroes.

2. A dancer is often asked to do choreography that requires complete trust in another human being.

3. I will never be more than an "actor who moves."

But if I HAD to do the following move, I am pretty sure I could trust Daniel Watts and his biceps.
Check out this sweet lift sequence featuring Memphis cast members LaQuet Sharnell and Daniel Watts:

This is a new lift for the opening number of the Broadway production and it is crazy hard.

Fun Fact: Cast members Derrick Baskin and Daniel Watts have an original work called "Words." They performed it a few weeks ago and it was perhaps one of the most exciting performances I have seen in this City in a long time. Not only did Derrick sing (whose voice is glorious beyond words) but I discovered that Daniel is an amazing poet.

Coupled with his dance skills and his biceps, one might say that Daniel is a catch.

Fun Fact: in the photo above, you can see the rehearsal set for the Memphis band on the right side of the actors (technically speaking, upstage left). Anyway, there are several scenes where the musicians are not just onstage, but they are in costume/wigs and even have character names.

Hip cat names like "Chester" and "Vernon."

Listen for Montego (Felicia) to shout out their names during Act One.

Ladies and Gentlemen

2009-08-30T18:30:00.005-04:00

If you found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, would your friends believe you? No they wouldn't. So you'd take a picture with your iPhone and send it to them via the world wide web.

Well, I have found my pot of gold and through the magic of the interweb, I am sharing it with all of you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce Memphis Lead Producer Kenny Alhadeff with a most excellent companion:

Yes, that's right. Carol Channing y'all.
And not just any Carol Channing; this is 1970s gaucho wearing Carol Channing.

And how cool is Kenny?
Not only is he rockin' the afro, but the casual- meeting a legend- hand in one pocket stance---amazing.

I'm not sure I have ever been this excited about a photo, ever.

Kenny is the coolest.

Getting there

2009-08-29T17:37:00.015-04:00

Sitting at rehearsal yesterday, with Samson (Show Pup) on my lap, I watched as Chris Ashley (Director) staged Huey's Act II song "Memphis Lives in Me."

Chad sang this song in Shubert Alley on Wednesday:

So the cast is running through the song in the rehearsal studio, no orchestra, no set, no costumes or theatrical lights; there are no fancy dance moves, no swanky special effects, and still...it was hard to keep it together.

Cary Tedder, Kevin Covert and Brad Brass:

It was that overwhelming feeling that comes from being so excited and so proud and so moved that you want to burst.

It was a moment that reminded me why we are doing this show.

Dionne Figgins and Dan'yelle Williamson:

It's so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of working on a show, whether it is a school production or a Broadway show. Laundry doesn't get done, refrigerators become hotels for condiments and summer movies become winter Netflix rentals.

But there is something happening in that rehearsal room that is very exciting.

It's Heart + Art times Show Power.

Now I have never been much for math, but that is an equation I can understand.

Sidenote: I just finished 5 loads of laundry and am feeling very accomplished.

LaQuet Sharnell, Jennifer Allen, Hillary Elk, Katie Webber and Vivian Nixon

Photos by Chris Owyoung

What the What?

2009-08-28T20:31:00.012-04:00

I have to admit, amongst all the Zazzle.com/BBQ/producing a Broadway show activity of this week, I sort of forgot about the massive load in effort that is happening at the Shubert Theatre.

If you are in town, the craziness on 44th street has only increased as Hamlet starring Jude Law has begun loading into the Broadhurst Theatre next door. Just to clarify, Jude is not actually doing any of the load in himself. Cheeky Bastard. So between the road boxes and the deck pieces and the carpenters, there is not a lot of room for walking between Memphis and Hamlet.

But today is Friday in New York, and in the summer, Friday means that if you are in town working, you can actually get some work done. Phones stop ringing, your Blackberry takes a break from its virtual workout, and you get to do all those things you have been wanting to do all week, like go to the Shubert. And it wasn't even what was happening onstage that blew my mind today.

Just take a gander of what the house (where the seats are) looks like as we forge ahead towards technical rehearsals which are slated to start after Labor Day:

What the what?
Having never been through a Broadway tech before, I am totally out of my league.

The house looks like the control room of a shuttle launch.

Come to think of it, opening a Broadway show does feel a lot like what it must feel like when you are strapped into a space shuttle getting ready, and I believe the correct terminology is, to blast off.

Fun Fact: My boyfriend has an undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering which means he is pretty much a rocket scientist. And last night while he cooked dinner, he said to me "you know, not everything has to be a song." I may or may not have been freestyling a song about him cooking at the time.

Tech terrifies me. Probably because the only thing I really remember about technical theater from college is how to use a power drill and that there is, allegedly, a lighting instrument called a fresnel.

Fun Fact: My boyfriend does not know how to use a power drill.

Fun Fact: Memphis cast members Montego Glover and Kevin Covert went to college together. I want to say they went to Florida State University. But you may have to Wikipedia that to get the facts.

But truth be told, I cannot wait to sit in the dark theater for hours and watch it come together.

To quote my friend Molly, it's going to be epic. And it is only a week away.

Maybe I will twitter as we tech.

Mental Note: Learn how to twitter.

While I spend the weekend figuring out how to twitter, enjoy this artsy photo I snapped while standing on 44th street in the rain while wedged in between some road boxes and carpenters.

The mesh wall on the Shubert is reflected in the Sardi's 2nd floor window.

I thought it was cool. And poetic and stuff.

Hidden Treasures

2009-08-27T21:19:00.007-04:00

Randy (Producer) walked by my desk today while these clips were playing and said something to the effect of "people always ask why we don't have 'stars'. But that's the thing; we do."

It only makes sense that in the background of this screen shot of Chad, the banner across the street says "Hidden Treasure."

You've gotta love the Memphis logo mic. That's pretty serious.

Fun Fact: Yesterday at the Box Office event was actually the first time I had heard Montego, who plays Felicia, sing that verse of the Act II finale song "Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll" as this is a new change from previous productions. She pretty much belts her face off and I love it.

photo by Chris Owyoung

Get ready to fall in love with these two and the entire cast of Memphis.

You will wonder how you have lived your life thus far without them.

Fan-tastical Debut in Shubert Alley

2009-08-26T20:52:00.016-04:00

Today was amazing.

First of all, a huge shout out to the Memphis Team for successfully shutting down Shubert Alley AND to the Memphis cast who really, in the words of Rachel Zoe, "shut it down."

Then, a few disclaimers: 1. I did not get great photos today mostly because I had my hands full with these most excellent fans. But fear not, there were so many photogs there that it will probably take me several days to post the photo goodies. 2. I was also stationed behind the stage on 44th street so I not in great photo position. 3. Also that is not a blemish in the center of my forehead but a souvenir from last weekend's Canada trip given to me by a loving mosquito. Thanks Canada!

How to survive a Broadway Publicity Event:

1. Take note that UPS has an early early delivery pre-8:30am.
To quote Memphis "Have faith and believe" that the driver is willing to come back to your office. The Zazzle.com shirts arrived at 11:20am. This may not sound like a big deal except they had to be at the theatre and on the cast before noon. There is nothing like stalking a UPS driver throughout midtown.

Ephraim Sykes, Derrick Baskin and J. Bernard Calloway look pretty great:

2. Support A Great Cause.
The VH1 Save the Music keyboard ensemble and vocalist were stellar. The young man who soloed on "My Girl" and "Just My Imagination" had the Memphis cast (and crowd) loving every jewel-toned high note.

Please forgive the poor photography but note the "I'm loving it" expressions:

3. Invite great people.
There was much love from the the crowd as well as the Broadway community.

Memphis Blog Shout out to Sweet Apple: I was thrilled to catch the teen ensemble from Roundabout's upcoming revival of Bye Bye Birdie hanging out before their rehearsal.

4. Assemble a great team.
I was in charge of the Fan-tastical Street team who will henceforth be know as Team-tastic. Thank you Mattie, Kristel, Emily, Diana, Nick-tastic (who had this name prior to the forming of Team-tastic) Francesca, and Hannah (Memphis PA "Magical Meg"'s sister who proved that Magical-ness is genetic) for handing out fans and spreading the word.

Emily and Mattie of Team-tastic:

Nick-tastic and Francesca got extra points for giving a fan to Billy Elliot Tony nominated actor, David Bologna:

(Again with the failed camera work. I think that's one of the fans I was holding obscuring the bottom left of the picture...)

Best question asked to a member of Team-tastic:
"So is this where they are giving out the free BBQ...and shots?"

Most encouraging question asked to a member of Team-tastic:
"So, can we see this show today?"

5. Learn how to download zip files so you can properly post the professional photographer's photographs on your blog.

6. But the key to surviving a Broadway Publicity event may lie in one little device:

I call it simply, The Pack.

Yes, I did bust out my boyfriend's fanny pack in order to help me get through today.
And no, I did not rock it Hulk Hogan style, but chose the more refined, pseudo-European, casually thrown over the shoulder way.

Fun Fact: the babies in the photo are my niece and nephew, 1 year-old twins, Lilly and Tyler. They love Memphis.

Make Your Day

2009-08-25T17:13:00.004-04:00

This girl got a fan and it clearly made her day.

You too can get a fan and find this kind of happiness.

Tomorrow. Shubert Alley. 44th & 45th Sts. between Broadway and 8th. 12-1pm.

And based on the weather report for tomorrow (91 degrees or something), you may NEED this fan simply for health reasons.

Props to the Props

2009-08-24T21:49:00.015-04:00

Week Two of rehearsals.

I have to be honest; I have never experienced anything of this magnitude. The force of a Broadway show is like no other theatrical experience.

And I have been a part of some pretty "big deal" shows.

Like my star turn as "Crystal" in the 1997 Sacred Heart Preparatory Spring Production of Little Shop Of Horrors:

You know it's classy when the props are totally accurate to the period.
I would also say that I make this expression about 12 times a day right now.
I digress.

Unlike those used in my high school production, the props in Memphis are legit.
No anachronistic inconsistencies here.

When doing a Broadway show, you may want to trade your boombox for a period radio:

You also know you are doing a Broadway show when the props are serious.

Exhibit A: Corn Service Sets.

You may never see what these things are from the audience, but let me tell you, here at Memphis, we don't mess around.
If and when you get a chance to see the show, you'll be able to spot these highly sought after Corn Service Sets when the actors are shopping in the Collins Department Store scene in Act One.

Mental Note: Try and bring back Corn Service Sets.

Am I the only one who gets excited about period prop pieces?
In the event that you are not yet as excited as I, take a gander at the cash register also used in that Collins Department store scene:

Artistic Shot of the Day:

And when your Broadway musical is about the birth of rock 'n' roll and a DJ who helps bring that music to mainstream America, you better have the goods, equipment wise.

Fun Fact: Though Felicia Farrell IS a character in Memphis, this is not a photo of Montego Glover who plays Felicia Farrell in Memphis. (That is not so much a "fun fact" as it is a disclaimer.)

Actual Fun Fact: Lead Producer Sue Frost, worked at Goodspeed Musicals. Goodspeed Musicals was producing They All Laughed, which was a show by Memphis Bookwriter, Joe DiPietro. A week before rehearsals were to begin, the director dropped out of the show and Sue called Chris Ashley (Director) hoping he had a window in his schedule. He did. And that's how Sue brought Joe and Chris to the creative table where they have feasted ever since. Thanks Sue!

My Dog Samson aka "Show Pup" Shot of the Day:

Disclaimer: Although Samson is not a prop, he is in the rehearsal room so, technically, this shot is Memphis related.
Unlike yesterday's photo which was clearly just gratuitous stage-mom-promotion on my behalf.

A Wedding and a BBQ

2009-08-23T11:32:00.009-04:00

You are cordially invited.

As previously mentioned on this blog, the box office for Memphis is opening TOMORROW, Monday! I'm pretty sure this means I will have to stop by and check it out. I hope they have taken the road boxes out of the box office lobby...

Of course you can buy tickets online, but there is something snazzy about being able to walk up to Shubert box office, choose your seat with a real life person and not pay any online fees.

To celebrate, the cast of Memphis will be performing in Shubert Alley on WEDNESDAY, August 26th at noon.

We have been planning for this event for about two months now. And by we, I mean mostly Nick and Nina from Type A Marketing. You don't just shut down Shubert Alley for an hour and have that come together in a week. Those two have been in the thick of things planning for this event and I am so excited. As long as the Memphis t-shirts arrive here by Wednesday, we should be all good. Come on Zazzle.com- don't fail me now.

Insider Fun Fact: the kids playing with David Bryan as part of the VH1 Save The Music portion of the Wednesday presentation are reportedly going to be performing "Just My Imagination" and "My Girl." I think the cuteness factor will be off the charts.

Shout Out: I would be remiss if I did not give a Memphis Blog Shout Out to Sarah Nashman and Chris Owyoung who got married yesterday in Peterborough (which is somewhere in Canada).

The backstory: Junkyard Dog Productions shares an office space with New Time Productions. New Time Productions is run by Lauren Doll and Sarah is her Associate. Lauren is also a producer on Memphis so it makes it fun (and convenient) to have a project that the whole office is working on together.

Sarah is a total gem and it was great to be in this beautiful setting yesterday for such an amazing event. They wrote their own vows which had everyone in tears; I was literally stunned by the beauty of their vows and want to have a copy for myself- that's how good they are.

I am thrilled for Chris and Sarah and can't wait for Sarah to get back to the office and give me a consult on the printer issues.

They were also kind enough to let us bring Samson (Show Pup) to the wedding. Driving to Canada and back makes for one tired Pup:

Getting to Know You

2009-08-21T09:33:00.014-04:00

Just got photos in from Apples and Oranges photographer, Sharad Jaiswal from the Meet and Greet on Monday. So I decided that today would be Photo Friday! Enjoy!

Cast Members Brad Bass and Sydney Morton:

Wig Designer Chuck La Pointe, measures Music Director, Kenny Seymour, for his wig. With the band onstage for much of the show, Kenny must cover his dreads. There were about 6 cameras taking pictures of this one event:

Michael Hartman, from The Hartman Group (Press):

Lead Producer, Kenny Alhadeff, likes what he hears during the read thru:

Percussionist, Clayton Craddock, keeps it real:

Cast Member, James Monroe Iglehart, plays "Bobby":

Costume Designer, Paul Tazewell:

Jermaine Rembert, Dionne Figgins, and Derrick Baskin (Gator).
This may be the most attractive cast currently on Broadway:

Cast Member Vivian Nixon:

Kenny's birthday surprise.

Fun Fact: Last Monday, I brought a giant knife and a lighter on the Metro-North train and subway with me to deal with this cake. Thankfully, the police were not doing random bag searches that day.

A Day in the Life or Razzle Zazzle

2009-08-20T21:34:00.008-04:00

I thought it would be interesting to log my day and then blog about it. Log n' Blog.

6:44am: Woke up and showered.

7:08am: Watched episode 7 of Season 1 of True Blood while eating breakfast and getting ready so I could mail the disc to Netflix today.

8:08am: Walked Samson.

8:46am: Continued to get ready. Samson is exhausted and will not be coming to the office today.

9:14am: Out the door to the train station.

9:16am: Decided I do not need an iced latte.

9:24am: Express train to Grand Central. Activities include list making, texting, followed by general daydreaming and brainstorming.

9:53am: Arrived at Grand Central.

9:57am: Am so preoccupied that I walk at full speed into the turnstile at the Subway Shuttle because I try and walk through without having swiped my Metro Card. Full speed. This may be the most embarrassing thing that has happened to me while commuting in New York. Perhaps I should have purchased that coffee.

10:03am: Arrive at Times Square. Walk past the Hilton Theatre and resist the urge to camp out at rehearsal all day. Instead, I stop at the deli and purchase 3 Diet Cokes. One for Randy, one for Sue, and a Caffeine Free one for me.

10:07am: See Lead Producers Barbara & Buddy Freitag outside the office and ride the elevator to the Junkyard Dog office together. Barbara has on great jewelry as per usual and a great bag; let's just say it starts with "Pra" and ends with "da." My Kate Spade bag bows out of respect.

10:11am: Lead Producers are meeting in the conference room and I get to the business at hand, which mainly involves emails. Lots of emails.

10:56am: Sue takes a phone call and one producer needs 6 packets by 3pm. With the Freitags taking my last 3, I now need to make more packets. Okay...

11:28am: Meeting at the General Managers office with Michael Lawrence whose firm is planning the Opening Night Party. Buddy makes sure that there will be plenty of room for dancing.

11:58am: Party planning meeting turns into a Box Office Opening meeting.

Show Power Alert: Memphis is taking over Shubert Alley. Next Wednesday, August 26th from 12-1pm, all are welcome to join us for the first NYC performance by the full company as well as a special presentation by the VH1 Save the Music Program. A portion of the proceeds from the box office that day will help Memphis restore a music program at an NYC or New Jersey School. Plus, there will be free BBQ. And belting. Lots of belting.

12:15pm: Chipotle for lunch. Large iced tea/lemonade needed today.

12:37pm: Time to get to the business of making packets; the packets contain information regarding the show, mostly for Investors. Printing begins.

Packets include reviews from the La Jolla and Seattle productions:

1:14pm: Major Color Printer malfunction. I literally say out loud, "Oh, my stars." It feels both appropriate and classy for the workplace.

1:53pm: Packets are done.

2pm: Conference call with Apples and Oranges. They are a company that works between New York City and Orange County, CA. So the name works on many levels.

2:48pm: Conference call ends.

2:51pm: Already have an email from Jacob at Apples and Oranges about scheduling a meeting for next week. We are going to be "locked in a room together" sometime next week; our creative minds will apparently give birth to brilliance.

2:55pm: I steal the Diet Coke that I had originally purchased for Sue. (See 10:03am).

3:29pm: After much witty banter between Jacob and I in which I reveal that I am allergic to the elastic in socks (true), he writes "I could tell from your blog how funny you are, but now I am really looking forward to meeting you." That may be the greatest compliment I have ever received.

3:30pm: I immediately write back and make sure I can quote him on the aforementioned blog.

3:45pm: Despite the stress, something makes me laugh and I tell Sue "at least I am having fun."

3:54pm: Sue leaves for rehearsal. I start moving into hyper speed so I can get there to watch some of it before a 5pm meeting. I realize I don't know where Randy has gone.

4:06pm: Attempted to create some Memphis t-shirt magic on Zazzle.com. But it doesn't load my design correctly.

4:07pm: Producer Kenny Alhadeff makes a clutch decision regarding the BBQ. It's going to be a blowout.

4:10pm: Try Zazzle again. No go.

4:15pm: Office phone rings and my phone cord tips the remaining liquid from the contraband Diet Coke, DIRECTLY ONTO MY BLACKBERRY. Tried to assess the damage to the blackberry while talking to the person on the phone.

I took this picture way before I spilled the diet coke, but you can see sort of see my Blackberry Pearl right next to the phone cord:

4:19pm: Randy comes back. He has been at the bank and at the Shubert Theatre. The giant back wall of the set has gone up and he says it looks awesome.

4:28pm: Discover that the photo disc with pictures from the Meet and Greet on Monday is stuck in my disc drive.

4:38pm: Finally headed over to rehearsal.

4:52: Caught the tail end of "Make Me Stronger;" the Act 1 Gospel-inspired number. I found myself unable to contain my excitement and rocked out a bit in the corner.

5:01pm: I catch Buddy Frietag dancing while Composer David Bryan is singing and clapping along. This is a fun group. Buddy agrees to do a special video piece for the blog to spotlight some of these moves. Art is meant to be shared after all.

5:07pm: A meeting of the minds.

6:54pm: took a Cab to Grand Central- perhaps because of the heat or most likely because of the shame of the morning's turnstile mishap. The cab driver decided to take 42nd street instead of 44th street to Grand Central. I'm annoyed but I am distracted by my clearly non-functioning Blackberry.

6:55pm: Phone is working but I cannot access my emails and they have been pouring in since turning on my phone post-meeeting.

6:59pm: Arrived at Grand Central- forked over more cash than normal due to driver's ridiculous route choice.

7:07pm: Decided to get a refreshing coffee beverage. (better late than never?) With that purchase, I am out of cash.

7:25pm: Express train home. Anxiety over phone increases with every email that is coming in that I cannot open. Or perhaps its a text. I don't know. I. Cannot. Open. It. I am not working in the office tomorrow and will not be by a computer for the lionshare of the day. Where's Eat, Pray, Love when you need it?

7:41pm: Will (boyfriend) calls and says he will meet me at the train station and take me to the Verizon store which is only open until 9pm. A glimmer of hope...

8:20pm: Arrived at Verizon store and put my name in the cue.

8:35pm: Name is called. Phone is diagnosed. A new phone is ordered. Tomorrow is going to be painful. Made mental note to bring Eat, Pray, Love with me.

9:15pm-Now: Finally at home. Read emails. Blogging begins. I stop keeping track of time.

10:29pm: I finally look at the time.

10:31pm: Will asks me to take the dog out. I've come full circle.

11:33pm: Realized I still have to order that stuff from Zazzle.

Divide and Conquer

2009-08-19T20:31:00.012-04:00

Busy Busy Busy.

Rehearsals are in full swing. It is pretty much all about dividing and conquering. There are two rehearsal rooms that are constantly in use, actors have costume fittings at various costume houses around town, shoe fittings are happening in the hallway of the rehearsal studio, new pages of the script and score are being distributed, and there were at least three smaller meetings happening in various locations around the Hilton Theatre.

Fun Fact: there is actually a VIP lounge on the bottom basement level of that theatre called the Conrad Hilton room: full bar, comfy seating, private restrooms. It is a pretty luxurious place to have a meeting...

Back upstairs, the dancers work on the opening number "Down, Down, Underground" with Sergio (Choreographer) and the Dance staff:

Cast member Ephraim Sykes:

Cast member Danny Tidwell:

I was able to catch the last session of rehearsal from about 4:30-6pm but was hanging around as actors were released and saw the Stage Management/Production Assistants (PA's) reapplying the tape on the studio floor.

The tape is used to mark out where the set pieces and boundaries of the stage are so that the cast members can familiarize themselves with their dance and blocking (where they move onstage) patterns before they are on the real stage with the real set pieces.

Me: "Oh, has something changed with the set?"

PA: "No, we re-tape the floor everyday. Especially after a dance rehearsal."

Fun Fact: Apparently, PA's re-tape the floors everyday. (I will add this to my list from yesterday about "Things I have learned about Broadway since working on a Broadway show").

Production Assistant, Kendra, works the yellow:

PA, Meg, handles the blue:

One must note the classic technique of collecting the old, used pieces of tape on the toe box of your ballet flat- well done, Meg!

Behind the Curtain

2009-08-18T20:53:00.008-04:00

Three Things I have learned about Broadway since working on a Broadway show:

1. You actually reserve an Opening Night date. Sort of like making a reservation at the Olive Garden, but sort of not.

Show Power Alert/Reminder: Memphis is opening Monday, October 19th.

Producers work with their Press Agents and request dates for opening night to The Broadway League. If another production already has your preferred date reserved, then they have 48 hours to either book it or release that specific date.

In my mind, its a little like issuing a challenge. But not a "slap the face with a glove" kind of challenge. A much more civilized challenge. Like this classic Cosby gem (start at 1:25):

2. The information found in the Playbill (program) is not actually generated by the people AT Playbill. They do the Ads and the articles and that sort of thing, but the specific show information literally comes from the production personnel to someone like me and then is wrangled and formatted by the press office and company management.

Perhaps this information is not shocking or particularly informative. But when you are editing someones bio on your computer, it is a bit unsettling. As if you have pulled back the curtain and the secret magic of Broadway has been revealed. Because now you are worried about typos.

For me, a Broadway Playbill has always been a sort of treasure; a sacred token of my time with Broadway. I guess I had hoped that there was some High Official of Ye Olde Playbill who came and collected the information in a well choreographed and revered ceremony. Nope.

3. A full page color ad in the Sunday New York Times costs well over $100,000.

Jones v. Farrell

2009-08-17T21:17:00.016-04:00

Let's be real. The first rehearsal of a Broadway musical is a little intimidating. Part family reunion, part first day of school, there are a lot of people to meet. People who are ridiculously talented. I'm not great at casually meeting people who are super talented and/or that I admire.

Case in point: I was on the subway once standing next to Bebe Neuwirth on the a train from 42 street to West 4th and said nothing. Nothing.

I have no idea how many people were in the room; it takes a small, well organized army of professionals to get a Broadway show on its feet.

Chris Ashley (Director) welcomed everyone and we went around introducing ourselves and saying what "role" we had in the show. The best part about this day is that one can finally begin to put names to faces. "So you are who I have been emailing all these months..."

Chris and Set Designer David Gallo then presented the scenic design for the show:

There are amazing changes to the set from the recent regional productions. Perhaps the most exciting development is a new technology making its debut on Broadway with Memphis. It is (I think) a projection technology software called Pandora's Box; it essentially allows for projected images to be more fully integrated into the set. For example, an image projected on a moving column travels with the set piece, even as that column swivels around. It is seriously cool and drew a lot of "oohs and ahhs" from the room.

Fun Fact: Co-Projection Designers, David Gallo and Shawn Sagedy, flew to Tenessee to take the photos of Memphis that will be the images used in the projections.

Paul Tazewell (Costume Designer) then introduced his design concept for the costumes.

I get seriously excited by costume sketches:

This was actually the first time since working on the show that I have actually been in the same room with Paul Tazewell; I am pretty much a huge fan of anything he designs. Translation- I didn't actually introduce myself to him, even though I sat next to him during the read thru. Oy.

I do not have much more to report from the design presentations as I was totally preoccupied with getting a surprise birthday cake ready for Lead Producer and Junkyard Dog partner, Kenny Alhadeff.

Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff are the other Junkyard Dog partners along with Sue Frost and Randy Adams. Kenny and Marleen are Executive Producing partners at Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre and have been life-long theatre lovers.

Marleen was very sneaky and put together a surprise dinner for Kenny and all the Junkyard Dogs on saturday night at Frankie & Johnnie's Steakhouse.

Kenny is an amazing boss. He comes to the table with such heart, with such an incredible sincerity about what this piece means to him and the importance of creating art, that it is inspiring to work for him.

After we took a break for cake, it was time to get to the main event for the day: reading through the new script.

Cast members Dan'yelle Williamson and Cass Morgan (Gladys):

For several months, I have been privy to, not only the discussion about the script changes since the Jan/Feb production in Seattle, but have been able to read the subsequent drafts of the script as it was developing.

I forgot that it would be the first time the cast was seeing any of these changes. There are a lot of small changes to the script but none of them got by the veteran cast members. The reactions were priceless. Akin to thinking you know what gift you are getting, but then unwrapping the package and being totally surprised.

Cast member Tracee Beazer:

Leading Lady, Montego Glover:

Perhaps the biggest laugh of the day came in the first scene. J. Bernard Calloway plays Delray- Delray is Felicia Farrell's brother. For seven years, Delray's name in the script has been Delray Jones; the fact that he didn't share the last name with his sister was never really explained or questioned widely by the audience. But now that they have re-written Delray's song "I Don't Make the Rules," to "She's My Sister," the authors have changed Delray's last name from Jones to Farrell.

Let's just say J. Bernard's line reading sounded like this:

Chad as Huey: "Name's Huey. Huey Calhoun."

J. Bernard: "Delray (slight pause and then as if encountering a new, never-before seen word)...Farrell???"

It was nice knowing you Delray Jones.

One More Day

2009-08-16T19:47:00.008-04:00

Monday, August 17th is the first full rehearsal for Memphis.

The cast will arrive at 10am where they will do top secret business for Actor's Equity with Stage Management.

Then the Designers, Producers, and Show riff-raff like myself, will join at 11am for the official "Meet and Greet," Designer Presentations and General Love Fest.

I am so excited for the Meet and Greet- it is a little like an AA meeting where you stand up and say your name and what you are doing in the room. I'm not sure what my slate should be. Possible options:

1. Hi, I am with Junkyard Dog. My name is Carolyn D. Miller. The D stands for Delicious.

2. Hi, I am a Junkyard Dog. My name is Carolyn D. Miller. The D is silent.

3. Hi, my name is Carolyn. I am one of the Junkyard Dogs, some have called me Junior Dog. You can call me Carolyn or Junior, whichever feels right to you.

4. Hi, my name is Carolyn. I work for Junkyard Dog Productions. I also have a dog named Samson. It is my secret wish that my dog will become best friends with (Book Writer) Joe DiPietro's dog, Rocco. I am so freakin' excited that I may lick your faces.

It is also entirely possible that I will just stand up and cry from being absolutely overwhelmed.

Fun Fact: My dog Samson comes into the office with me several times a week.

Samson is (usually) very good and rides on the Metro-North train with me no problem:

Although, sometimes "Bad Samson" comes out and innocent tupperware containers fall victim:

So far, Samson has come to rehearsals twice.

Highlights for Samson this week were: meeting cast member Danny Tidwell, destroying a plastic tupperware container, becoming friends with Chris Jahnke (Music Supervisor).

Low points for Samson this week: Destroying a plastic tupperware container, barking during rehearsal when provoked by the taunting of his former friend, Chris Jahnke, being called "a confused cat," due to a recent grooming experience.

Show Power Alert: I am off to see cast members Derrick Baskin and Daniel Watts in an original piece called "Words." They have put together a song/spoken word piece and are performing it tonight. They are amazing and I can't wait to see them perform something they have created. Good luck guys!

Harlem over the Hamptons

2009-08-16T18:56:00.011-04:00

I'm pretty sure that I am dehydrated. It is wickedly hot here in the City. I have heard more New Yorkers complaining about the lack of summer this season; well, it is finally here. Of course, all those complaining New Yorkers are in the Hamptons or at the Shore.

But I would gladly risk dehydration and mild sun poisoning to hear Montego Glover sing.

As part of Harlem Week, Montego pretty much sang "Colored Woman" as if she were onstage at the Grammy Awards. Note the fierceness:

The song comes as a critical point in Act I where Montego's character, the singer Felicia Ferrell, encounters a seemingly career-ending blow.

In Montego's own words, "when everything else is telling her to stop, she keeps moving forward."

Accompanied by the ridiculously talented, Kenny Seymour (Music Director), Montego takes the stage at Harlem Week:

Fun Fact: Kenny Seymour is a first degree black belt.

My favorite comment came from a man who walked past her after the performance and, while still on his cell phone, said "That was beautiful. I could hear you from two blocks away!"

And as I waited for the Metro-North train home and willed myself to not fall asleep, (wait, I think that's for a concussion not for heat stroke) I could only smile and think that those people out of town this weekend seriously missed out.

Harlem was the place to be today, not the Hamptons.

Fun Fact: Speaking of the Hamptons, today I was in an amazing apartment in the building where P.Diddy has a place. Like a true New Yorker, I immediately got my camera out to take pictures of the view:

Phantoms and Hip Cats

2009-08-14T10:48:00.020-04:00

I'm pretty impressed that these road boxes are just sitting on 44th street and no one is messing with them.

Of course, I haven't actually tried moving them. They probably are so heavy that anyone attempting to make off with a box of expensive lighting equipment would probably get about as far as the Majestic Theater down the street before giving up and abandoning the road box in front of Phantom. Where it would stay for the next 20 years...

There is a significant increase in activity in the Shubert- so much so, there was no clear shot of the stage today:

I am so fascinated by stagehands and load-in crew. I am determined to find some of them who will talk to me and tell me stories. Perhaps I can lure them to Sardi's with the promise of beer, cheese & crackers. The main question I want to ask: Were you always behind the scenes or did you dabble in the footlights as well? If they did, I would like to see pictures.

I also stopped by rehearsal which is always a huge pick me up in the middle of the day.

The new guys were working on the choreography for "Everybody Wants to be Black on A Saturday Night," which has a Temptations sort of feel to it in sound and movement.

My favorite direction of the day came from Choreographer Associate, Edgar Godineaux, who encouraged the guys to approach the dance moves like "hip cats." I'm proud to be associated with a show in which the phrase "hip cat" is being bandied around.

I hope someone uses "jive turkey" one day- though I'll have to get the dramaturg to look into whether that phrase was used in the 1950s.

Update: Friday Feast was a huge success.

There was even BBQ flavored popcorn.

Memphis in a Box

2009-08-13T18:00:00.009-04:00

It has been such a weird day. I knew it was going to be a random day when it was cold enough for jeans but still warm enough for flip flops.

Randomness was everywhere today as the rev-up to the first rehearsal is a flurry of activity. Having never experienced pre-production week of a Broadway show, I was not quite prepared for how everything just starts to happen at once. All of a sudden, there are a hundred people doing a thousand different things; try to keep tabs on it all and you start to go a little insane.

We started off the day with a little visit from our good friends at Fed Ex:

I have never received a package before that says "Pick up a pig in a dark alley."

Fun Fact: Memphis is home to FedEx, the world's largest overnight package delivery company.

The backstory: on August 3rd, Memphis the Musical went to Memphis, Tennessee. Hosted by Pat Halloran and the Orpheum Theatre, Memphis stars Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, who play the leading roles, sang three songs from the show for a packed house of potential investors and sponsors.

Fun Fact: Memphis is the site of the first Welcome Wagon, founded in 1928. (So it only makes sense that we would get such a warm welcome.)

So they do the presentation at the Orpheum (video footage coming soon) and then the whole group of Memphis people go out on Beale Street.

Beale Street is world famous for being a center of rhythm and blues music and the birthplace of rock 'n' roll. Memphis the musical has many scenes which take place in Delray's Club on Beale Street- so its clear why the group had to go there.

Now I wasn't there, but apparently, our group did not disappoint. Composer and rock star, David Bryan, got up and did impromptu concerts at two different clubs, Montego got up and did some serious singin', and the rest of them were making some memories on the dance floor. (Unfortunately, there is no video footage of this part of the evening.)

Mental Note: purchase a flip video camera immediately.

So why are we being sent BBQ in the mail?

Fun Fact: Memphis is the Pork BBQ Capital of the World.

The lovely gentleman who owns Rendezvous, John Vergos, was at the presentation and thought he'd send us a little souvenir of the trip:

I am always trying to get my office to participate in "Friday Feast;" a common meal we would share together instead of the usual solo desk picnic that happens everyday. Well, tomorrow, thanks to Rendezvous, we will probably have the greatest Friday Feast we will ever have.

Show Power Alert: Montego Glover will be performing "Colored Woman" from the show as part of the Harlem Week celebration on Sunday at 2pm at 135th & 5th. Today, I watched the footage of her singing this song at the presentation in Memphis and got chills three times.

The great countdown has begun!

2009-08-12T21:40:00.006-04:00

On Monday, August 24th, the Shubert Box Office doors will finally open. Though you can currently buy tickets online, there is a small obstacle preventing us from selling tickets in person.

That obstacle would be:

Load-in.

Sidenote: I am pretty sure I am not yet at liberty to say what is going down on Wednesday, August 26th, but I do feel comfortable saying you may want to take lunch at Shubert Alley that day. It will be absolutely amazing Show Power. More to come...

FunFact: Did you know you can Fed Ex BBQ? I think someone is sending BBQ from Memphis to our offices tomorrow. For reals. I anticipate that this will be the topic of tomorrow's blog.

Show Power

2009-08-11T19:37:00.000-04:00

The great Load-In has begun.

Load-In is the literal load in of all the equipment, technical instruments, set pieces, etc., to be used as part of the physical production of the show. Even though we do not start public performances until our first preview on September 23rd, it takes a seriously long time and some seriously skilled labor to bring the physical production to life.

Here's a shot of some of the lighting equipment waiting to be taken to their new home:

The cast doesn't take to the stage for tech until after Labor Day (which is crazy late this year by the by), but the crews in the Shubert will have already been in there a month before any actor walks out onto that stage.

Here's a shot of the stage from the center Mezzanine:

I almost wish I had one of those time lapse camera dealies to capture this whole thing coming together. Ah sigh...

They have actually built a platform over the orchestra seats in which to house all of the road boxes full of equipment because space backstage is extremely limited:

Here is the mezzanine view of those road boxes:

This show has a lot of scenery- the book has many different locations: an underground Beale Street bar, a department store, a radio station, a recording studio, the inside of a house, a road, a bridge, a television studio, a dressing room, a church... there are a lot of moving pieces, trap doors, the whole enchilada. Let's just say its a big Broadway musical.

Speaking of big Broadway musicals, I have to talk about the Shubert Theatre for a second. This is the home to the original production of A Chorus Line people. Kiss Me, Kate, the revival of Chicago, A Little Night Music, the 2003 revival of Gypsy with Bernadette Peters...this is good company to be in.

Fun Fact: On a personal note, A Chorus Line was the first show I ever directed back in college so it sort of feels like coming full circle. Though my show was a limited run of one weekend while the original Broadway production ran for 6,137 performances, or, you know, 15 years! http://www.achorusline.com/achorusline_history.php

This theater is seriously gorgeous. Here's the view of the house from Stage Left:

The best part about walking around back stage is seeing actual evidence of shows that have been there. Like this little memento from the most recent tenant, Spamalot:

Current Memphis cast member, Kevin Covert, was in Spamalot and will no doubt be key in unlocking all of the hidden treasures of the Shubert. Look for his blog this week!

There is something completely magical about seeing the inner workings of a stage.

I love watching a show from the audience, but I also LOVE knowing how things are going down backstage. I think quick costume changes are my obsession- I love trying to figure out how they stage and rig a change. I also think its funny when you see an actor running offstage already reaching for a zipper-that's a quick change.

Fun Fact: In Opera, anything under 10 minutes is considered a quick change. In 10 minutes, I could change your clothes, wash, dry, press them and still have time for some idle gossip.

My absolute favorite part of today, was discovering this little gem:

World, meet my new favorite phrase: Show Power.

Let me be the first to say that Memphis has some serious Show Power.

Connection Not Found

2009-08-10T20:08:00.000-04:00

The other day in my post about Sardi's, I pondered what producing a Broadway musical was like without the internet.

Today, I found out.

No Internet. No Server. No Printing. No Problem?

Randy Adams was the man of the hour with his laptop hooked into his Blackberry and the Junkyard Dogs got down to the business of producing in the conference room. I cleaned my desk and reorganized my computer cables which felt very important though has little to no bearing on getting Memphis open.

Today was the first rehearsal for the new Memphis cast!

(I hope to have pictures from rehearsal towards the end of the week- according to the Actor's Equity rules, performers need a 24 hour notice before any photography can happen).

While I didn't make it to this morning's "meet and greet," I did make it there for the end of the day. Though only there for 15 minutes or so, it was enough to watch Serjio (Choreographer) get some DANCIN' out of them.

This was full on dancing. Lifted battements into assisted splits- I mean, one has to be warmed up to do these things. Fortunately, Vivian Nixon, Danny Tidwell, LaQuet Sharnell, and Ephraim Sykes were all over it.

Jermaine Rembert (Dance Captain) said when rehearsal was over, "I am SO happy."

Here's hoping that I will be saying the same thing when I get to the office tomorrow and am able to blog- I mean, email important work related things from my newly refreshed work space.

P.S. Load In of all the set, lighting and sound equipment has begun in the Shubert Theatre so I am hoping to get over there tomorrow to see what that is all about.

P.P.S. I thought this chick was awesome:

Rockin' out in front of the Shubert Theatre.
Unfortunately, NYPD didn't think it was so awesome and shut it down.

P.P.P.S. I have had a lot of comments on the cheese at Sardi's. I'd like to additionally report that it is this sort of whipped cheese, like the kind you might have had in a snack pack and eaten with a red plastic tool. It's a must.

Memphis in the Mail

2009-08-09T09:14:00.000-04:00

The Direct Mail piece was just delivered to my mailbox!

SpotCo, the Advertising agency who created this piece, had a couple hundred thousand of these printed which "dropped" (industry lingo for mailed) this week.

This is the first introduction many people will have to Memphis. With a show that is not featuring a celebrity or is based on a known commodity like a movie, pieces like this become very important.

Here's what the inside looks like:

The goal is to tell the story and engage people enough so that they a. don't throw it away, b. are inspired to get more information, c. actually buy tickets, d. all of the above.

*Production photos by KevinBerne.com

I Wanna be a Producer

2009-08-08T18:59:00.000-04:00

One of the goals of this Blog is to introduce you to the people making Memphis happen.

From the July 29th Press Release:

"Memphis is produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, David Copley, Dancap Productions Inc., Latitude Link and Tony Ponturo in association with Broadway Across America, Lauren Doll, Linda and Bill Potter, Chase Mishkin and Patty Baker/ShadowCatcher Entertainment."

Inspired by this photo taken at Sardi's the other night,

I think I will start with these Producers.
Left to right: Barbara Freitag, Randy Adams, Sue Frost, and Buddy Frietag.

First of all, this picture was taken at the bar on the second floor of Sardi's. Its pretty crazy to be in that restaurant which is such an important place in Broadway's history and to have the view be pretty much only of Memphis. I have a feeling the bar will have many more visits from this crew. This is great news for me as they have cheese and crackers at the bar. Cheese and crackers can oft be consumed in lieu of an actual dinner. As was the case this night.

Fun Fact: Barbara and Buddy have been involved with Memphis since the March 2007 reading, which was my first day of work. Together, and individually, they have produced and invested in many shows including Tony winners like The Drowsy Chaperone and August: Osage County. My good friend Miz Molly has assisted them occasionally and I believe she has had the opportunity to hold one of their Tony Awards. Go to work, make some calls, hold a Tony...pretty standard stuff in New York.

Fun Fact: My favorite thing about Barbara is that she always has amazing jewelry on- she consistently has the best accessories. I can barely get earrings on in the morning.

Fun Fact: Besides having been a successful Ad Man for years, Buddy is best known for getting down- he is most often found in the aisles during the finale/bows of Memphis dancing away. So when you come to see Memphis, be sure to look for Buddy in the aisles.

Randy and Sue are my bosses. Together, with Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff (who are Seattle based), they make up Junkyard Dog Productions.

Fun Fact: Randy worked at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, before starting Junkyard Dog. Randy has a thing for Diet Coke. He will occasionally mix it up with a Mountain Dew, but its mostly the DC. There is some story for his 20th or so year at TheatreWorks, he was given a case of Diet Coke for every year he had been there. Randy is the go-to guy for getting things done. I'm not sure how much of that is the Diet Coke.

Sidenote: Broadway runs on Diet Coke. Go to a meeting and you will be one of two things: water or Diet Coke.

Fun Fact: I have worked on three shows with Junkyard Dog: Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn, Vanities, a New Musical, and Memphis. I have never seen Randy sit down at any of those shows. Even if he is there every night, he prefers to stand in the back. Come to think of it, he did this at TheatreWorks as well. So to recap, we have Buddy in the aisles and Randy at the back of the house.

Fun Fact: Sue Frost. A composer once said to Sue, "If I die, my show will still go on. If you die, my show will die too." Sue is to the creative process what Diet Coke is to Broadway. Essential.

I feel very lucky that these brilliant producers have taken me in and are showing me "the biz." Being a producer is a lot like being a wedding coordinator. There are a thousand if not millions of decisions to make the "event" go well.

I bet there were about 350 decisions pictured here;

Decisions that were made from about 2600 emails.

What did producers do before the Internet?

I suspect you went to Sardi's and made decisions over cheese and crackers.

A Room with No View

2009-08-07T15:38:00.000-04:00

I have been walking by the Hilton Theater almost everyday for 21/2 years. Technically, the 43rd Street entrance, I guess. Apparently, and I feel as if I'm the only one who did not get the memo about this, but there are rehearsal studios in there! Had Memphis not booked it for rehearsal, I may have gone my whole life without knowing that little factoid. I'm sure not everyone is feeling the same kind of impact upon hearing that news as I, but who am I to judge what information is important or not to reveal on this blog? There's a place for you here random factoid.

I did get the memo that the Hilton is where Spiderman, Turn off the Dark is headed. I used to work for Opera Colorado in Denver where the Opera House and the Buell theater (which houses a lot of the touring productions) share a stage door- so there were Opera singers walking by Lion King people or Phantom people or Dr. Dootlittle people and I always wanted there to be a super stylized confrontation: Carmen takes on Carlotta, O.K. Corral Style. Or I just love the idea of everyone in the greenroom together, having tea, doing vocal warmups. Phantom and Scar and Figaro as if its totally normal. How excellent would it be to ride the elevator with the actor playing Spiderman...in full costume.

But for now, Memphis has taken over the third floor, window-less rehearsal studios.

The Large Studio Rehearsal room:

We are wrapping up, trumpets please, Pre-Production week! Stage Managers have been in: taping the floors, generating paperwork, keeping up with the creatives who are busy continuing to get the script and score ready to go into rehearsal.

Sergio Trujillo (choreographer), August Eriksmoen (dance arranger) and Chris Jahnke (music supervisor) work out one of the new sequences:

I'm not sure what they were working on as I was mostly focused on trying to capture a "candid" moment. Here is a not so candid, gem, of Chris:

There have been some new changes to the script and score since the most recent production at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater-some new elements to the script and score that will be exciting to hear once the cast gets a crack at it.

We have some new cast members joining us for the Broadway Production and they begin rehearsing on Monday-learning the music and dance routines- before the rest of the cast comes in on the 17th.

I cannot wait for the actors to be here! It was weird to be there yesterday; almost slightly melancholy without any actors. This empty callboard...

...it seems so lonely. As if at any moment, it was going to start singing "Use me. Choose me."

We are ready for you, Memphis cast. Ready and waiting with open arms.

Give My Regards to Broadway

2009-08-06T12:49:00.001-04:00

First Day of the Blog!

Not quite like the first day of school, though some extra attention was paid to my outfit this morning. Why today? Why is Thursday, August 6th the day to start the blog? After all, this show has been in development for several years. I think I've gotten ahead of myself.

Welcome to the Memphis Blog. However you found us, I am glad you are here. Memphis is not only the capital city of Tennessee, but it is also a new musical opening on Broadway October 19th, 2009: Book & Lyrics by Joe DiPietro, Music & Lyrics by David Bryan, Directed by Christopher Ashley and Choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

Fun Fact: Joe DiPietro wrote the smash-hit I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and has an adorable dog named Rocco. Joe and David also wrote The Toxic Avenger, currently playing Off-Broadway. Joe is to being wickedly funny as Rocco is to being adorable as Toxic is to being a brilliant movie-to-musical adaptation.

Fun Fact: David Bryan is a founding member and keyboardist for Bon Jovi. My first Bon Jovi concert was when I was in 8th grade at Shoreline Ampitheatre in Mountain View, CA. To this day, it still reigns as the greatest concert I have ever attended. Extreme opened for them. To say it was "More then Words" would be an understatement.

Fun Fact: Christopher Ashley directed my favorite show of '07- '08, Xanadu. I saw it four times. Other shows I have seen at least four times: Phantom, Wicked, Color Purple. Chris is currently the Artistic Director of the La Jolla Playhouse. He now has a tan on top of being a total genius.

Fun Thought: Sergio Trujillo needs to choreograph the Broadway routines for TV's "So You Think You Can Dance." Sergio's resume= a ridiculous amounts of shows. At least with Memphis he will get to work with cast member Danny Tidwell from Season 3 of SYTYCD. My Dad is a firm believer that Danny should have won over Sabra.

As for me, I am an Associate working in the office of the Lead Producers. It's true; I have a business card and everything. All this really means is that I will try to capture and report on things that are going down. Like today, August 6th. I got on the train from Yonkers an hour earlier to make it to 44th street to see this:

and this:

Because when you find yourself working on your first Broadway show and the ginormous wall posters are going up on the Shubert Theatre (home to the original production of A Chorus Line by the by), you get up and take an early train to be there.

I promise that mine won't be the only voice contributing to this blog. "Memphis Lives in Me" is basically the anthem song of the show and thus the idea behind this blog is to spotlight the perspectives of those involved in the show. Authors, Cast Members, heck maybe even an usher, will have a chance to show you Memphis through their eyes.

Oohh, David Bryan just sent us a picture from his iphone! (That's him in the white shirt.)

I wonder who took the picture. Was he with someone he knew or did he just ask someone to take his picture? I would love it if a tourist had taken his picture. Especially if that tourist was actually from Memphis.

That would rock.