Friends, family and readers alike:  This is Kiki (aka Brian Patrick Murphy) here as your new Blonde blogger guest starring while my dearly departed and injured brethren Abs Dalton is healing.  I will try and faithfully continue this lovely blog whilst he heal.

We are in Tempe Az and the weather is hot and the show is busy.  We have been losing people left and right as our 1st year came to an end.  On the road we become a family for good and for bad.  We realize who to go to for all things.  You learn who to call when looking for Whole foods, or who to get directions to the gym from, or who to find out where CVS is.  Not to mention who to talk to about anything.  So when turnover happens in a cast, which is inevitable in this business, it is always a little strange.  

The new cast members are wonderfully nice and absolutely talented.  We are thrilled to have them and excited to get to know them.  Last night Ashley Moniz went on and did a superb job for her first show.  WOW, what a great opportunity!  She proved to be a total pro and it was thrilling for her and for the cast.

We look forward to putting Candice Marie Woods in the  show as Pilar and Adam Zelasko formerly Nikos/Padamadan into Monster Dalton's track.  Adam is a great actor and will be awesome and i am sure Candice will too.  

We send love to our brother Tally Sessions who opened in the South Pacific tour this week and are thrilled that departed family Josh Walden and Mamie Parris will be working together in Ragtime on Broadway.  They are both brilliant and great people, so please support them and go see it in NYC.  

It is strange to be here for over a year now.  I remember a year ago like it was yesterday.  So much has changed yet so much is similar.  We will again be experiencing Halloween, THanksgiving, Christmas and New Years together.  All of those seem so monumental from last year and now it will be with so many new people.  I am nervous and excited about all of it.

So, let's wish all our departed well and hope that this year will treat us as good or better than the last......

til next time, KIKI 

KIKI goes Cyber

Whilst I am gone Brian Patrick Murphy will be taking the over the blog.......

FIERCE!

Times they are a changin.......

I write this while living in unfortunate irony, having sat by the shore in Newport Beach for the last two weeks because I was sleeping less than 100 yards away.  

The irony is I skinned my toe going to PT so am unable to submerge in saltwater for the rest of the weekend.

And, tonite is the night that  Lucia Spina starts as ENID. 

I leave Monday for an inditerminate amount of time on Medical Leave, alongside Cortney, Gretchen, and Crystal Joy. We will have Bloody Marys in the airport as Zelasko flies back to cover me for a month.  Hilarity!!!!

Its been sunny and beautiful here, watching dolphins frolicing in the sand doesn't really feel like work.  But, people have still been stuck in theatre in rehearsals.  Why you ask?

Lauren is leaving after Tempe to go to the land where all Prom Nights are rained out and Sara Jenkins leaves after Sacramento.  

So, we now have Kathleen Monteleone ( my acting partner from GREASE: YOURE THE ONE THAT I WANT) replacing Lauren.  

Who is replacing Sara?  Did anyone ever see the movie DOUBLE TROUBLE in the 80's?

Also, Ashley Moniz is our new swing and 

Candice Marie Woods will be Pilar as of Wednesday.

So many changes and in so little time, but once we pass the 

1 year mark of tour, after Costa Mesa, anything is fair game.  

Thats right---

year 2 totes goes International!!!!!

Enjoy these random 

pictures from the year......

NJJ on the Internet Highway

Click for NJJ's Interview on Broadwayworld.com

Click for Pics from Natalie's Cabaret on Broadwayworld.com

LB Goes Daytime

One more reason to love BEN + JERRYS

So....

 as if there was a better reason to stick w/ the ole standby 

instead of conceding to the debaucherous vehicle of COLDSTONE, 

BEN + JERRY'S has turned yet another hypothetical liberal thought into yet another

 genius entrepreneurial adventure.

Click This For The Article on Equal Rights Ice Cream

New Additions to the Cast

So as forseen by Shawnee Shamans across the great burning state of California, our new additions have gone on early.

Let us begin with.......

Mrs. Cjay Hardy Philip   as SALESWOMAN/JUDGE

then Mr Jonathan Rayson as AARON SCHULTZ

Soon it will be Constantine Rousouli as NIKOS

Then JD Wing as MOM/COURTNEY/WHITNEY

Then other people as:

Serena (rumor is it is TIFF ENGEN), 

Pilar (could be another HSPRAY alum), 

Enid (who closed it on BWAY?), 

and whoever will replace the adorable Lauren Zakrin?

Well, with Lou Diamond Phillips and our writer Heather Hach visiting this weekend anything was possible.........

And so we went to support our friend and comrade 

(and my TWEEDLE Partner from BwayBares)

JAKE WILSON 

on the launch of 

Season 2 of

BATTERYS DOWN

(starring LB cast members old and new)

Stay tuned for "Last week in LA Shenanigans"

Natalie Joy Johnsons Cabaret--Sept 7 at UPRIGHT CABARET

“Natalie Joy Johnson is a knockout who sings with a purity of spirit.”
The New York Times

"Merman-voiced Johnson is a scream as the floozy-ish Paulette, nailing every laugh and belting out her numbers to the back row of the balcony."
Los Angeles Times

“It truly felt like watching a young Bette Midler, just on the verge of exploding.”
HX Magazine

NATALIE JOY JOHNSON
at Upright Cabaret
Vermont
1714 Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90027

MUSICAL DIRECTION by OUR LADY J
SPECIAL MATERIAL and GUEST APPEARANCE by JOHN HILL
DIRECTED by BEN RIMALOWER

Monday, September 7th at 9pm

Tickets: $20
http://www.uprightcabaret.com/events/2009/08/12/natalie-joy-johnson/

Natalie Joy Johnson, currently starring as Paulette in Legally Blonde at the Pantages Theatre, brings her popular club act to Upright Cabaret for its West Coast premiere, after sold out engagements at Joe’s Pub, the Cutting Room, Feinstein’s and Ars Nova. Natalie’s act harkens back to a time when the great ladies of show business entertained every night in swanky, smoky rooms. She brings her powerful and expressive voice to an evening both compelling and irreverent, and completely unlike any other show around.

Audiences can expect to hear Natalie’s exciting take on songs originated by an eclectic group of artists including Amy Winehouse, Cyndi Lauper, Melissa Manchester, Whitney Houston and Diana Ross, as well as original songs, all woven together seamlessly by the signature sound of Our Lady J’s unforgettable arrangements, created just for Natalie.

NATALIE JOY JOHNSON is thrilled to be in the Legally Blonde: The Musical family, originating the role of ‘Paulette,’ the hairdresser in the National Tour and the role of ‘Enid Hoopes,’ the Law School lesbian, on Broadway. Other NY credits include bare: a pop opera (Nadia), But I'm a Cheerleader (Sinead), Joy (Kegan), and the national tour of Godspell (Bless The Lord). Her concert act, Natalie Joy Johnson with Our Lady J and the Pink Champagne Orchestra featuring the Bubblies has been selling out shows at Joe's Pub, Ars Nova, and the Cutting Room. www.nataliejoyjohnson.com

OUR LADY J is a New York based singer/songwriter known for her visionary gospel stylings and powerhouse piano playing. She has been described as "virtuosic" (Time Our New York), "stunning" (New York Magazine) as well as "dazzling, talented and deliciously playful" (Metro UK). Along with The Pink Champagne Orchestra and The Train-To-Kill Gospel Choir, Our Lady J has performed at NYC's The Zipper Factory, Ars Nova and The Beechman Theatre. She has also traveled the US, Ireland and England as music director for Justin Bond's critically acclaimed production of "Lustre." This year, Out Magazine named her as one the "OUT100", a list of men and women who helped shape LGBT culture in 2008. Before her work with The Pink Champagne Orchestra, Our Lady J (aka Jonnah Speidel) musical directed and performed with some of NYC’s most colorful talents in hot spots including Alice Tulley Hall, Birdland, Carnegie Hall, Caroline’s on Broadway, The Cutting Room, Feinstein’s at the Regency, Joe’s Pub, Makor, The Metropolitan Room, Radio City Music Hall and The Town Hall. As a pianist, she has accompanied the NYC Gay Men's Chorus, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and the Mark Morris Dance Group, where she was a featured performer in the MMDG Music Ensemble.

JOHN HILL is best known to Broadway audiences for his roles as Fender in the original cast of Hairspray, Mark Herron in The Boy From Oz, and Jason in Bare. He wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed (lol) one-man performance art show Whiskers on Kittens and the deeply hated Skinny Corpse, directed by Ben Rimalower. After his days as a Broadway slut, he went on to serve as a producer on the television shows "Tori and Dean,", "Project Runway" (Emmy Nomination), "Top Chef", "Dance on Sunset", "Step It Up And Dance", "MTV Show Choir" (which was shelved due to teacher pedophilia), "Attack Of The Show", "Ninja Warrior", and "Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D List".

BEN RIMALOWER is a director and producer working in theatre in New York. He directed The Fabulous Life of a Size Zero (Daryl Roth/DR2 Theatre), Joy (Actors Playhouse, Out Magazine: "Top Ten Theatre" & HX Award nomination), Snoopy! (Symphony Space, starring Sutton Foster), And/or (Dixon Place Hot Festival) and Sodom the Musical (Kraine Theatre) as well as staged readings for Second Stage, The York and Ensemble Studio Theatre. He conceived and directed Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches (Time Out New York Award) and subsequently produced Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records’ long-awaited recording, “Patti LuPone at Les Mouches” (#25 on Billboard “Heatseekers” Chart), digitally restored from archival tapes of LuPone’s legendary 1980 performances. In venues such as Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova and The Zipper Factory, Ben has helmed a slew of solo shows for artists including Alec Mapa, Natalie Joy Johnson, Lindsey Alley, Wendy Ho and John Hill. Ben writes the weekly blog “The New Old Gay” for the website akawilliam.com. Assistant Director credits include Lonny Price’s productions of A Class Act (Manhattan Theatre Club, Broadway and Tokyo) and A Little Night Music (starring Patti LuPone, George Hearn and Zoe Caldwell) as well as the Emmy-winning Sweeney Todd. Ben studied Theatre Arts at U.C. Berkeley where he was the founding Artistic Director of BareStage (now celebrating its 13th anniversary).

Upright Cabaret at Vermont is located at 1714 Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027. For more information, visit www.uprightcabaret.com.

City of Angels Opening

Injuries and Sickness and Goodbyes

So i have been injured since thursday, other people have been sick and I thought.....

why not just update more often.  

So here goes......

Today we mourn the loss of yet another brother-
Monsieur Tally Sessions ( a.k.a. Aaron Schultz)

He leaves us to go play with the
1st National Tour of SOUTH PACIFIC.  

So, we shed a pink tear and hope that we will see him soon.  

Jameson-a-plenty will be spilled in lieu of his departure....

                                                  

A highlight of the weekend, that I missed, was Christian Slater bringing his daughter to see the skit. 

But, courtesy of fellow cast members I have a picture. 

Can anyone say....

"Gleam the Cube!"

Also, if anyone is out and about tomorrow night, Monday Aug 24th, come to the 

STAR SPOT 

at 

ELEVEN NIGHTCLUB

881 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood

It starts at 9pm and there is no cover til then---

and a mere trifle to see us and all the other casts that are currently in town (SPAMALOT, PARADE, etc...)

It is hosted by Scott Nevins and Ryan O'Connor normally....
but tomorrow will also be

RUSTY MOWERY + HAYLIE DUFF

Be there or be square!

LA LA LAND

Bunker down....its time to catch up!

We r simply goin to pretend that Fayetteville + Atlanta were blurs. 

Nuf said!

It involved swing magic (Alex went on a week early for a role he hadn't studied- as I predicted), understudies abounding, sickness, altered tracks, and now BPM is the UPS guy through LA. 

What I am at Liberty to say is that Rusty Mowery came out for Atlanta to be multiple people then settled on Kiki. And then Nathan Balser showed up for 3 weeks as KIKI til Rusty can return in LA for the month.

Highlights, however, were Megan Lewis and Rhiannons bdays. We all went skating and costumes abounded for Megans, whilst we limoed to a college bar for Rhiannons 21st----stunning the locals with girls dressed to the 9's when i think they were used to dress sweat pants.

Dallas Summer Musicals treated us well. We were in the middle of FAIR PARK, which is also home to the COTTON BOWL , which i think all my Texas family have been too for the famed UT vs OU game since the dawn of time. Our opening night party was held at a great law firm downtown, with glass windows looking out across the city. The highlight of the night wasn't just the hospitality and the live music being played, but also one of the producers. His father had run Dallas Sumer Musicals for a long time, and somewhere in the world found a pastel pink suit and pink patent leather shoes.
I wish I had a picture, because it was something better seen than read.

I feel like somebody was on vacation that week, but I couldn't honestly tell you who. 

The monday in between, which is always a coveted day, we were given free tickets to the RANGERS game and SIX FLAGS and asked to do a cabaret. But, due to a major rainstorm going through town we weren't able to do all three. Some baseball'ed it up and some did yet another BCEFA benefit cabaret at MAMMA's PARTY ( which took place in an old church), raising over 2000 dollars. There were jumpropes auctioned, jumproping, and BPM even carried a woman to her car for cash. Oh the things actors will do for money or food.......

The 2nd week brought alot of heat......and a grill out. We started a tradition now, if we can, of grilling out as a family in between shows on the weekend. Along with it came the arrival of casting director JUSTIN HUFF, which we had a bday party for, and the arrival of X Swing Leslie McDonel ( AKA Guadalupe) and Josh Walden. One of our favorite haunts was the DOUBLE WIDE, not far from the theatre, and it is exactly what the name implies. But, also add black velvet paintings on the wall and gay men ravagely playing BUCK HUNTER. 

It was surreal and beautiful.....

At the end of our DALLAS trip, before driving 15 miles to Ft Worth, we presented a box to the theatre. Every show that comes through is asked to build a box that best represents the show itself. We painted it pink and included alot of trinkets from the characters of the show and pictures. Then, we sadly said adieu to vacation swing Casey Leigh Thompson. I am going on a limb and saying that she will be back, but before she left we also started a game called WHERE CAN WE SHOVE CASEY? So far its been a laundry hamper, a company managers road box, a prop box, and my Pleated Cavaricci Pants from 1991 that we both stretched out to fit. It looked like something from the group PARABALUS.

So a weight fell offstage right during the harvard party, a cast member violently ill, understudy chihuahua was on, and Shep had her hat on under a visor ALA MushMouth during WYW. That was our Happy opening to Ft Worth!!

Ft Worth was great, sans the drive from our hotels in Arlington because 40,000 people convened on the city for an Evangelical Conference. 

But.......

The downtown area is great, and THE STOCKYARDS area just north is even more interesting. It is the oldest running cattle drive in the coutnry. Every day at 1130 and 4 they bring the cattle through the streets before they are shipped or slaughtered. It also has a great slew of vintage stores, boot shops( where I had a pair made by a Cherokee woman named Georgia), and the largest Honky Tonk in the world. 

If anyone is ever in the area, go to BILLY BOBS on the weekend or just stop in during eth day for $1. It is a huge space, with two performance stages, a dance floor, an indoor bull riding arena, pool tables, video games, and a BBQ restaurant that serves CALF FRIES- which is actually another name for Rocky Mountain Oysters. If you dont know what those are, they are Deep Fried Calf Testicles. Needless to say, nobody ordered any. We should have though, cause that is where we lost Nathan Balser to the quickly closing 9 TO 5. We will miss you Kiki 3.0!!!!!

Then off to LA......with a quick two day stop in Vegas for Gretchens Bday.

We also got to see PEEPSHOW while we were there, which is directed by our own captain JERRY MITCHELL and starring Bway's Josh Strickland, Shoshana Bean, former Bway LB member Nick Kenkel, and PLayboy Bunny and all around nice girl Holly Madison.

15 of us convened on what was the 1year anniversary of when we started rehearsals, but no better way to ring it in for the 2nd year but with a huge vat of milk, a smoldering car number, and a good ole 30 foot saddle ride, a Playboy Bunny, and old friends who may or may not remember the nights happenings.

If you go to Vegas soon, venture on over to the Planet Hollywood, spend some time in the
Pleasure Pit (yes thats its real name) then see PEEPSHOW!!! You wont regret it!

We flew into BURBANK just in time for sound check on wednesday, where we were greeted by the smiling JERRY MITCHELL. We waited for the double doors to pop open and he to come sweeping in embracing us with those mammothly long arms. But, it wasnt until stretching during the half hour that we saw him.

The crowd that night was great, and maybe it was due to the return of Rusty Mowery as KIKI......or they just understand the show better than the rest of America. Either way, it was a nice way to end the night running on minimal sleep.

The next day we had a brief note session before our second show, and then on to opening night---which had everyone a lil nervous. This opening was to be the equivalent of the original BWAY opening in NYC, and it came damn close. There was even a red carpet for the dogs to walk down...well and Dick Van Patten, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and many others.

The party was great, with both Larry + Nell coming in, after their current reading of HEATHERS, and all of our producers. As usual with this bunch, we shut the place down----eventually getting kicked out at 2 am. But, sleep was needed. We still had 4 shows for the weekend.

Now here we are in week 2. Its Tally's final week, with replacement Jonathan Rayson already here.

Cjay Hardy Philip went on early in the JUDGE/SALESWOMAN track, we know who the new poolboy will be in a few weeks, and there may be more people leaving. It could be a whole new show in a month, so stay tuned. But before that happens, Ass Dir. Marc Bruni also came in to tweek some things.

The highlights of the week:

* LOU the chihuahua from THE SOUP rode out with Mamie on the golf cart during WHAT YOU WANT. We are still waiting for the shmeer campaign that will be on cable!

*Cast members are filming Webisodes of THE BATTERYS DOWN

* And our friends from PEEPSHOW came in on their night off for a lil pink relaxation.

Ft Worth BabYYYYYYYYY!

Dallas ELLE CAM

KANSAS CITY ELLE CAM

Everything was UP to DATE in Kansas City

So once again I am playin catch up on our travel bus, but here goes...

We landed in Nashville and were eager to get out. So BPM + I headed towards The Gulch to a place I read about on Tripadvisor.com----which I will say has not guided me wrong yet on this tour. We hit up a local joint called THE STATION INN. Not only does a great band called THE TIME JUMPERS play every Monday night, but international country star VINCE GILL joined them. He apparently subs in when their regular guy is unavailable. Not only was the place like an old Juke Joint, with no windows and only selling beer, but u also had to get their at least an hour early to get a seat. The standing room was the aisles. Due to a massive storm moving through, bringing tornado warnings and blackouts we were not privvy to, it started a lil late with even an audience member going to their car to help aid with an amp. I asked for a Hootnanny and that's what I got. They jammed for 2 hours, jammin on C+W Swing. They would feature each other, whether it being a specific persons song they had written or just solo driven. With a 10 piece band, the variations rocked. Vince sang 3 times, amazing, and the two female singers were offensively effortless.

Opening night was a blast and a blur. Not only did the day start with BUY 1 Pair of Boots Get 2 Free, but a few of us also decided to get $5 cowboy hats. What better way to welcome LBB back to the company? Well, that wasn't the only addition to the night. At the end of the show, the curtain was held and D.B. Verbally welcomed LBB back as a now local Nashvillian. But, then Betty Witherspoon came out and welcomed all of us. She gave birth to the woman who gave birth to Elle Woods: Reese Witherspoon. That night we were shuttled in a stretch limo-bus to a swanky party, where we stayed only shortly before venturing out for some music. We ended up at Roberts, which would then remain our stompin grounds for most of the week.  

Also, Cortney was on vaca all week. So, Tiff was on as Serena. And as always, she kicked the role in its butt.

Wednesday brought us the death of an icon--Michael Jackson.

One LB Fan said he " thought he was just a child molester." But, long before court trials and weird babies dangling out of German windows he was a beacon of hope and Americana----back before the Bush Dynasty and the creation of The Simpsons. Yes, that long. My first Vinyl Album and non christian music as a kid was the Thriller Album, which I still have in the plastic sleeve.  And before that, he was apart of the Jackson 5. Son that night became shout out to MJ Day. We changed a few dance moves, improv'ed in some blank spaces, and sold it for the King of Pop. So what that he named his child after the inanimate object that they would prize for the first 5 years of their life. I dare anyone to name another current artist that will be remembered in 100years.

On friday, we all went to LBB's pool to catch some rays and avoid the heat. Cause it was stiflin!!!!!  It was great and also got to run into Miley Cyrus' X boyfriend...it made us feel very special. Sat started the ELLE switcheroo with Lauren and LBB again, but that night LBB hurt herself, which ended up being her last show in NVille.  BOOOO!!

Then to KC. Its the home of more BBQ, Swing, Bebop, and was the 2nd largest FBI center in the country at one time. Yep, high national security in Missouri. Go figure!

Our first night, after a lengthy bus ride, we hit the road for BBQ. After stopping at Gates, which I kid u not has a "4 Boner Special", we ran back to the car wanting table service so ended up at Fiorello's Jack Stack. It has Flintstones Beef Rib and hands down the best Carrot Cake I have ever had. We all went home in a food coma and prepared for the opening night skit.
Only 6 shows in KC....because its outside. And no, that's not a typo.

Kansas City Starlight is a 7918 seat amphitheatre in the middle of a city owned park, smackdab against the zoo(which was nice when the wind changed course and blew fragrant bouquet of Elephant Droppings our way). Not only does AC barely tease the heat away while we r dawning layered clothes, but patrons mill in while we soundcheck, it isn't completely dark til the Dewey scene, and there was an army of bat around to eat the bugs hanging around by the lights.  Oh yeah....and the Star Bangled Banner is sung before every show en masse. Who said Patriotism was dead?

Cue the bat drama!! So it started with one sleeping under a speaker during soundcheck. Then, one flew out at the end of "Serious" and landed on Jeff as it buttoned. He swatted it to the floor where it squirmed during the "Candle Flying V." It was even noted in the review!!!! Hilarious. Then, as we r changing into beer bash one crawls out from the back scrim into our quick change booth, which was then slightly kicked by Efe. They swooped backstage, even hittin our ASM Greg in the face, which resulted in the head of Wardrobe walking around with a laundry basket for a helmet.  They kept swooping, the funniest being during Scene of the Crime, and ended with one just swooping back+forth upstage during the graduation.  Well apparently the theatre was so embarrassed that they brought in peeps from the Zoo to do something. What they did we have no clue, but the next nights brought only one bat. What it also brought was the emergence of Mike Isaacson to tell us that as of Dayton our tour recouped all of its initial investment. That's right, we are now a money making machine!!! 


Thursday, we got free tickets to the Royals. Why u ask? We sang the 7th inning stretch on top of the dugouts. Not only is it one of the most beautiful stadiums, with massive water fountains in the outfield, but they have frozen margaritas en masse. Heaven!!! We even got free T Shirts.

The other highlight of the week, other than fireworks going off the whole show on July 4th, was a torrential rainstorm that happened on Friday. People had ponchos, and we kept going. But I think it was a first for us all....watching the scuttling and sheets of rain as the curtain rose for Act 2 was amazing.

We had a sad departure of our MD Jan though, and hope she gets back soon....so Kyle will be conducting for a while. AND, Louis the Bulldog made his debut!!!! The fireworks freaked out Nellie too much....she has delicate tendencies. We have also now a new swing to replace Jay Garcia. His name is Alex Puette and came the last day in Nashville.  Will he go on this week, a week early? It could be so...only time will tell. With both NJJ and Ven on vaca anything is possible!!! 

Bring on Arkansas! 

Legally Blonde Takes FRANCE

LAURA BELL BUNDY is ELLE all of NASHVILLE

Okay fans,

So this week you can find us in NASHVILLE with LBB back at the healm, with Lauren Zakrin doing the matinees.

for the full press release click here
For all intense purposes, we will just pretend like DAYTON happened and all is well. LZ was on all week while Becky was out, as well as Sara Shepard's first performance as Kate/Chutney ( welcome to the LB fam sistah), and the appearance of Mamie Parris as Viv for the first time. All 3 of them are fabulous!!!!!

Also, some people went to KINGS ISLAND and forgot sunscreen.......or maybe Paul just wanted a real Golfers tan because he is so method!!!!!!

Wait for shenanigans in TENNNESSEE!!!!!

Elle Cam in PITTSBURGH

Pitts ELLE CAM part 1

ELLE CAM in Pittsburgh

Backstage Videos

Josh Waldens Farewell LB Ballad Dance

Our Girls on the TONY's

300 Shows, 3 million pride filled trannys, and a Stanley cup

So as I sit on our ever quiet chartered bus to Dayton, I thought it only due time to pontificate on recent events.

No, this isn't just because for some sad reason ( which many people could postulate and have) North Shore Music Theatre is closing its doors after 55 years of business, or that the people of IRAN have finally decided to unite for a cause, or that strange foreigners are trying to have sex with porcupines in FLORIDA to see why its illegal. 

Nope, just because.

So, Week 3 in Chicago was great and melancholic. Tiff led us into it with show as BROOKE, while Coleen did a concert in Seattle with Savion Glover.  We also got to finally see Mary Poppins.  They changed TEMPER TEMPER, which I didn't even know having not seen th Bway run. But, my brother and I squealed like little kids the whole time. And, I may or may not have cried the first time MP flew into the sky. The cast is amazing, the story a classic (other than HOOK it was our favorite childhood movie), and I'm proud of my friends ( both in the cast and GEORGE STILES who wrote the new tunes).

That monday was our benefit cabaret at SIDETRACK. It was a raving success. We got a full video of it (thanks to the bar),  and BPM MC'ed the evening. The bar was packed with strangers, lovers, producers, and fellow actors in Chicago shows.  And by the end of all the awe inspiring performances ( Mrs Elizabeth Ward Land even joined) we raised 1500 more dollars for BCEFA + Chicago House. That brings our total monies raised on the tour to a lil over $113,000 I think. So thanks!!!! 

The last week of ChiTown was full of grey weather, and much shenanigans. Adam was on for Warner the first part of the week, with me rounding off the weekend. But,also Lauren was Elle all weekend so that Becky could sing on the Tony's(putting Casey on as the Stenog). And it was great!!!!  The LB performance was about halfway thru the show, and sounded amazing!! And congrats to all the winners!! There were some surprises and some expected...but anything that helps BWAY is a good thing. So, thank u for supporting live theatre!  

Pittsburgh produced sun and a week long Arts Fair----which many of us took advantage of by paying hefty sums of money. Our opening night party was at the FISH MARKET, which also saw the return of bronzed Jeff McLean and Josh Walden. Josh happens to be doing SWING after us in the PCLO season. So, its like old home week. Also, since Crystal and Coleen were gone all week it was super swing bonanza. Andreas played BROOKE the beginning of the week with Jenkins as PILAR. Then, Tiff played Brooke all weekend with Andreas as BROOKE. And it was sports final madness!!!

On Friday not only was it our 300th show, Mamie's Bday which inspired a healthy Cake, but also Music Supervisor James Sampliner surprised us with having secretly watched for 3 shows, and then the PENS won the Stanley Cup. There was 5 mins left as our curtain came down, and Becky came out with a jersey on for her bows. The place irrupted into mayhem!!!!! Then as they won, the town went crazy. All this happened after Champagne toasting our 300th show, and a cast member getting engaged to another surprising guest. It was jubilatious evening! The only thing that could Trump it?  GAY PRIDE WEEKEND!!!!

The weekend was full of streets being shutoff, scary Trannys mingling with the blue hair patrons, another surprise with Mike Isaacson stopping out to say HI and then we all said a goodbye to Alex Ellis. She is heading to a new Cirque show, and will be missed. But it marks the addition of the first Non-Bway cast member. Sarah Shepard is replacing her, who ironically enough is totes besties with Kyle Brown.  I can't wait to see her in action. She had only been in rehearsal 2 days and already everything but Chutney.

That's a professional, babeeeeeeee!

This week will be Dayton. Sarah and LBB's joint put in and Spencer's vaca should make it a colorful week. 
And I am not just talking about the 15-year-old telling people he is joining the touring cast by simply taking the workshops led by cast members.
I'm talking WIZARD OF OZ once film went TECHNICOLOR!!!! Those horses were crazy!!!!

U better serve us Dayton. 
Serve us good. 

Beware of JOB SECURITY Delta Nu Ladies

How we should vent our frustration on modern news frenzies

Cleany Your Seaty in the Windy City

So I'm sitting our dimly lit dressing room, shaded strategically so that old man Murphy can take his ritualistic 2 show nap, and amid savory sips of my capitalistic STARBUCKS realized its time for a mid Chi-Town update. 

First off let me say that this last weekend was the 

WORLD Beard & Mustache CHAMPIONship. 

If you have never read about it  CLICK HERE

Also, there was a picture of a soldier in Afghanistan. 

Read the article of why REAL MEN WEAR PINK overseas.

Our preview went smashingly well, which was celebratoriously received by our friends in the resident company of MARY POPPINS.  We did a ticket exchange, which means Our bosses and Their bosses swapped tickets so we could see each others skits. Kinda cool right? 

The next day was our opening--on--a-Wednesday. But first, we had another soundcheck so that everything was just right.

That night we went across the street for our party, which was full of adorable lil fans in PINK. We then cabbed it thru rain to ROCKIT, to wrap the night. Its a great bar with pool tables and delicious comida. Our old pal and producer Mike Isaacson even came with friends. It was a right ole' hootnanny!! 

Thursday saw the assembling of a bike gang. A slew of us went and bought bikes to traverse the hectic streets a lil easier, while also working the waistline to offset the awesome food in the Windy City.  Our first weekend saw Casey on for the 1st time as Stenog, cause lauren was gone all week. And if u havent seen her, she is a pint sized cat lady of adorability. Sunday produced a mixer with Jersey Boys cast at rockband karaoke. That's right, a live band to make u feel like u are actually Steve Perry.  

Impossible? 

I say yes....nobody is Steve Perry.  

With our 2nd week came Tally going on twice and Barry on twice for Emmett. They both soared in this palacial theatre, which was no surprise to anyone. Also added in was Amber rockin it fro-style as Paulette. Thursday, however, was chalk full of fun. 1st was a Macys promo for the TONYS. Natalie, Jeff, + Lauren got to judge the contest. It was kids singing preappro

ved songs. And the winner....well I don't know who it was but it ended with Lauren singing "So Much Better" in the scarf department, to a track that was a step higher than our show version. I wish I had even a picture. That day also came the announcement of a revisit to the ELLE FANDANGO...only this time its the ELLE SWITCHEROO.

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL RELEASE

The city of Dayton will see only Lauren as Elle and Nashville will see the return of Laura Bell for the week.  Go buy tickets now kiddies!!!! 

That night was another gloryous WHIRLBALL event paid for by our producers. They totally know how to keep up morale amongst the touring ranks  A bus awaited us as the curtain came down, and we scurried into the night for 2 hours of fun packed Ball de Whirly. It was the first time for a lot of peeps, though with the attendance of producer extraordinaire Doug Meyers competition was at an alltime high. If I had the pics of the unisex bruising that happened, it would look like pictures of domestic violence. Those metal steering cranks do some serious damage!!!! 

Jump two days, and saturday gave birth to Tiff as mom because......

 (cue the musical theatre horns) 

Cara was Paulette all day. She kicked some serious heinie.....what I love is how totally different all the possible hairdressers are!! 

The holidays took us to Doug Meyers pad for BBQ.

 He bussed us up into what was the closest thing to a musical theatre museum. His house is full of childhood memorabilia, the show posters of the ones he has produced, his sons awesome Star Wars Legos, and oh yeah....his 2 TONY awards sitting above the piano. 

That's right....

readily available

 for photoshoots!  

Monday was the CUBS Game. 

Mr D.B. Bonds got to sing

"God Bless America" and the "Star Spangled Banner".

 

                                                                               At the end, Challenger the bald eagle was released then quickly chased by some pidgeons. We were hoping it would eat one in the cold air, but alas. 

We were sitting right behind home plate( with a few peeps in the SKYBOX ON SHEFFIELD), and other than a Triple Play that was technically only a double play(which rarely happens), the highlight of the cold night was the 7th inning stretch.
Who sang? None other than Mr T...yes that Mr T.Check out the video of he and DB I spliced together. 

Tuesday brought the first of 4 shows with Lauren as Elle and Casey on as the stenog. Why u ask? Well I am guessing by now word is out that there is a montage of the touring shows on the TONYS. So, Becky will be singing SO MUCH BETTER, from what I know along at least Kate Rockwell + Stacey Sargeant + Cara Massey. Thus, Lauren will also be ELLE the entire last weekend we are here, alongside me as Warner. Adam will be on for Warner the beginning part of the week.   

Things to come:  

#1 Tiff as Brooke on Friday 

#2 Our Benefit Cabaret next monday 

      Here's the info again: 

6p.m. - 8p.m. 

Showtunes til 2am 

SIDETRACK 

3349 N .Halsted at Roscoe 

$25@door or $20@Adam Zelasco's FBook  EVENT

Benefits BCEFA/Chicago House  

I will close with this, a quote from a weird lady that spoke to my friend Maria in the Wrigley Stadium Bathroom. 

"If u sprinkle when u tinkle be cleany and wipe the seaty" --lady in bathroom 5/25/09 

THE BOSS before the WINDY CITY

Well here BPM, Spencer, and I sit in the early morning of another tuesday morning.  This one is  little different though....

We sit, slightly sleep deprived, in the observatory deck of an AMTRAK train from ST PAUL to CHICAGO. Which, all in all, I believe is an 8 1/2 hour trek.  It wouldn't be that bad, all three of us love long travels on trains. But, there is a gaggle of AMISH families and the strong aroma of manure filling the air.  I am guessing one of the brothers---i will call him stinky BROTHER JEBEDIAH---may have IBS. Because, everytime he walks through the car with his button flap crotch open, the strong nose curdling stench of fertilizer and top soil beats our senses into a bloody pulp.  Yet, he and the other men are well manicured.  To this I say, "Is it possible for an Amish man to be stinking and still be called Metrosexual due to hair product and cuaffage?"

Since Rhiannon came back, things have flown by.  Our put-in/dance cleanup went smashingly well!!!  RUSTY MOWERY, dance captain to the stars, was amazing.  He tweaked some things, and also solidified some moments that had either mushed into oblivion or we never even had.  These were things that all parties involved didn't remember when we were mounted.  This would also be why he and James Sampliner are the cats going to LONDON to set that company ( which by the by is all Brits).  Once done we had Rhiannon's first night back, which also brought the 1st of 2 night with Barry Anderson on as Emmett.  He was amazing.

He was lovingly endearing, awkward as Emmett should be, and pulled the audience in with him the whole way.  I felt like a proud brother!!!!   If i had pics this would be where I inserted them.

We also had a vocal cleanup with James, who was completely happy with the show---spare some tweaks here and there once again.  

Other than that it was a pretty much cut and dry week.  All three Kate/Chutney covers went on---Andreas, Tiff, and Jenkins....and we soon see the return of Megan Lewis as Lauren leaves us for a week.  

But, after seeing DR. MAMBOS COMBO again ( who rocked the mic as always) a few of us stayed behind in the Twin Cities.  This is why the 3 of us are now on the train.

We stayed behind to see the BOSS, Bruce Springsteen, in concert at the EXCEL CENTER next to the Ordway.  BPM has been now 15 times, and it was the virginal voyage for the rest---including Josh Campbell who came along. We got General Assembly seats on the floor.....which means you have a chance at heaven.   There is a lottery 3 hours before the show and if you are part of the mass of fans selected you get the honor of standing on concrete for close to 6 hours to be within 50 feet of the front of stage.  We sadly fell out of the bracket chosen, which was boosted from the normal alottment of 500 to 600 people due to the size of the crowd.

 It was the 2nd largest turnout for the Lottery--1159 people i believe.

So dejected, we went to use some free drink chits at a local restaurant we ate at for opening night.

I will now go on record as saying that BRUCE gives one of the most amazing concerts I have ever been to. It ranks in my top 4---with FARMAID '98, BEN FOLDS at CARNEGIE HALL, and ETTA JAMES at the NEW ORLEANS in Vegas alongside it.  

Not only was it the earliest he has started all tour, but he plays continually for close to 3 hours with no breaks.  This has happened for 35 years, and astounding seeing as how he turns 60 this fall.  Also astounding is the fact that his amazonian best friend Clarence Clemons--the tall Black man in the ornate MJ looking band costume, is 67 and still rocking it out 4 nights a week.  BPM thinks this may be his last tour--so we saw history in the making . It was action packed, non stop, and as a now FAN awe inspiring as a performer.  He is truly the peoples entertainer.  And not only did he open with THE BADLANDS, but he takes requests.  They have a thing called STUMP THE E STREET---which is impossible He grabs signs from the audience and decides what songs are next.  They played a song that they have never done on tour---EVER----and we got to watch it.  And GOOD LOVIN was better than I ever remembered!!!!   Nils Lofgren on guitar is just jaw dropping.  He shredded at every turn.  My favorite is when he started doing whirling dirvish turns while still fingerpicking at the speed of sound.  

Also, he has a new drummer. If you watch CONAN O'BRIAN you know that his band is led by MAX WEINBERG.  Well he has also been BRUCE's drummer since the dawn of time. But, with the LENO takeover, Max is unavailable for concerts. So, Bruce has brought on Max's son---Jay Weinberg.  He is 18.  

Thats right, 18!!! And after only playing drums for 4 years he is playing for THE BOSS.  Not bad when most kids are too busy drinking their freshman year in college away!!!!

The story goes that Bruce gave jay a list of 200 songs to learn. Jay came back a month later and Bruce then gave him another 500 to learn. And learn he did.  Jay brought a level of ROCK and energy to the concert that is unabashedly unique, and something fans haven't seen from Max. This was evident when he even shredded a drumstick during the BALLAD OF TOM JOAD.  And, from BPM's prediction, he's going to be a staple in concerts from here on out.   History in the making on all levels!!!!

Before I  close this lil ditty....I want to plug a great organization.  Since Bruce is the people's entertainer, he dropped the backdrop and sold all the tickets behind the stage for 20 bucks.  He then gave those ticket proceeds to benefit 

SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND.  They are an organization in Minnesota that gives food and aid to families that are down and out.  Recently, they are especially helping the families of those that have lost their jobs with the recession.  Its the only safety net that some families have, and a massive gesture coming from a generous performer who pays all the people on stage alongside him the same that he pays himself.  Selfless?  I would say so.   Its the little things that can make this a better earth to be on, and I now know why they call him THE BOSS.   Its gestures like this that remind me why I don't shop at WALMART---when the CEO's and the WALTON CLAN donate under 5% of their net profits to charity while their full time employees still live below the poverty level.....please excuse the soapbox.

In closing.....

HAPPY NATIONAL RIDE YOUR BIKE WEEK!!!!   Commute, car share, or hop on that banana bike Schwinn and take a lengthy ride to your nearest tree. Hug it, and hear the wind gently whisper THANK YOU for saving the environment one small step at a time.

I sit here not broken hearted.....a PUT-IN/CLEANUP has just started

So I sit here in the middle of our RUSTY MOWERY Cleanup/ RHIANNON's Put-IN Rehearsal, and thought it only fitting that I update the blog now.  And while we are here, the Tech Staff and Josh Campbell are off playing PAINTBALL again....

Last week was great. Not only did an army of pink shirt wearing families come from Becky's hometown ( i think the # was actually over 300 and were shipped in a fleet of buses). But, we also had a great party, hosted by Becky's parents at the ST. PAUL HOTEL.....which involved even more people from her hometown.

It also gave us a week of Andreas as BROOKE WYNDHAM, which then end capped with Tiff Engen going on as well for 2 performances. Check out her smoking courtroom outfit!!!!!!  She did amazing---and she never covered it on the BWAY so I think she has now played everything except Callahan.

Sunday night, not only did we sadly say goodbye to Kate Rockwell----with a great party at the W Hotel, but also got to see MAMBO'S COMBO at BUNKERS. They are amazing, if you have never seen them. They are a staple of the TWIN CITIES, and from what I am told have played there every Sunday and Monday night since the beginning of time. They have all played with PRINCE (or insert the symbol), seeing as how its his hometown, and Jellybean(his guitarist) is also there every night. And if you have never heard Margaret Cox sing, you have missed out on some musical brilliance!!!! Needless to say, I went back again monday night. 

Also, Monday brought a tour of the GUTHRIE---which is the most beautiful theatrical complex I have ever seen.  Its open all day to the complex ( their motto is YOUR new Guthrie Theatre), and my college bud David Alpert ( who was Asst. Dir on the GUYS AND DOLLS revival and is Asst. Dir. on the new Kushner play there) gave me the V.I.P tour.  Its breathtaking!!!  Google it!

But back to FUNK.....

From what James Sampliner our Music Supervisor told me, who is back in town for a cleanup tomorrow, this is the home of FUNK. George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and all the P-Funk AllStars came from here. Without the TWIN CITIES, we would have no funk!!!!!

Last night Lauren got to go on for Margot as we await....( cue the horns) .....putting RHIANNON back into our show, and cleaning up our dance numbers from start to finish. Thats right kiddos, the PMS GIRLS are back intact!!!!!




What also came this week was the notice that Alex Ellis will be leaving after Chicago ( so warm up your KAte/CHUTNEY routines if you want to be out here) and the arrival of our new Vacation Swing---Casey Leigh Thompson. She was in the BWAY company as it closed last fall.

Lastly, I want you all to know that we are doing a Cabaret while we are in Chicago.

It will be at SIDETRACKS on Monday June 1st. It will benefit both BCEFA and a local charity ( which I don't know the name of).
So, wait for more details on that!!!! I think tickets will be $20 and feature most of the cast!!!!!

Alex is also going to be VIV all week....so expect Tiff and Andreas swapping off all week.

Til then friends.....