Wednesday, June 29th
'The Vast Difference' closed over the weekend. We had great word of mouth and were more or less sold out for the last few performances so I guess we went out with a bang. It turned out to be a lot of fun and a good experience and I won't feel quite so apprehensive auditioning for such shows in the future as I have one under my belt. There was no newspaper review but most of what I heard back about my performance was fairly complementary so I assume I did OK. We have a dress of the cabaret show tomorrow evening and then it goes on the road to Biloxi for a performance on Saturday, assuming we aren't rained out - storms in the gulf, you know. Given that the previous performances have included a power outage, an unheated boot factory and an unairconditioned warehouse in hundred degree heat, anything would be par for the course.
We find out by the end of the week whether or not Tommy and the powers that be at CenterStage come to agreement in having him put some more businesslike structure on the company. It has the potential of growing fast and producing some damned good shows but some of the seat of the pants decision making will have to stop if it's going to take the next step forward. Another company in town (one with much more money) mounted 'Cats' this week and we saw it last night - quite good, but the majority of their male talent, while having Birmingham affiliations, is paid and imported. Even they can't find chorus boys around here.
Not much new on the work front. Still negotiating with Minneapolis. I don't think they need me full time so looking to see if there's an expanded consultancy role available. Would make much more sense for us and for them. I should see some of them in a couple of weeks in WV and perhaps we can continue to talk then.
Thursday, June 23rd - Covering Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tommy and I spent a couple of days in Minneapolis this week so I could talk to the good folk at Long Term Care Group about a job for which they want to hire me. As the job currently stands, and it's interesting, it would require a relocation. Tommy and I are discussing the pros and cons and will let them know whether we would proceed with that this next week - and no, I'm not going to spill the final decision here where who knows whom is going to read it and spread the word...
I hadn't been to the Twin Cities for nearly twenty years. Remind me a lot of Seattle circa 1985 just before the Microsoft money really hit town. I could live there and be comfortable with it. Of course, I would have to rebuild professionally, socially and theatrically if I did a relocation of that magnitude at this particular juncture. We were wined and dined, good food and nice to see people I've been working with for years under some more social circumstances.
I could have done without the modern air travel involved. They seem to cut another couple of inches off the seat every year or so and I now have to fold up like an accordion to even get into the damned thing. Plus it was hot in the midwest on Wednesday. Monday, however, was thundershowers and I got caught in them in my one and only good suit and quietly wrinkled and steamed through the first round of interviews.
Last week of performances of 'Vast Difference' start tonight. I'm going to miss this show when it closes. It's been a blast. Move on next to 'Politically Incorrect Cabaret' - then a break for a while.
Tuesday, June 14th
Well, I survived the first weekend of 'The Vast Difference' - two more weekends to go. Audiences have been appreciative and laughing at all the right spots and I haven't gone up on my lines so something is going right. I'm still not sure if I'm any good in it although people I don't know have been complimentary so I must make some sort of impression. It's been a big learning experience and is making me less afraid of doing certain kinds of things on stage. The weekend after this closes, we're doing 'Politically Incorrect Cabaret' in Biloxi on Saturday night the 2nd. I have a new number to learn 'I wonder what the shrub is doing tonight' to the tune of Arthur's opening number from 'Camelot'. As I will be performing in practically naked, it should be a rather memorable moment.
'42nd Street' had to cancel its Sunday matinee this past week - Tropical Storm Arlene dropped some trees on the power lines that fed the theater and the power company was not able to restore it in time for the show, despite twelve hours or so of work. It was my one chance to actually see it live as I have performances opposite it every other time. Guess I'll have to see it on tape.
Not a whole lot going on on the work front. Clinic tends to be oversubscribed and we're looking forward to the new person who's going to handle sick call/acute illness starting on the 11th of July. Everything else is same old same old. I'm off next week to Minneapolis to interview for a job but will need to be sold on uprooting yet again, especially for a desk job.
Travel schedule set through the end of July -
June 20-22 Minneapolis MN
July 1-4 New Orleans LA and Biloxi MS
July 15-19 Ashville NC, Princeton WV
July 20-24 New York, NY
Likely to be a beach weekend sometime in August but that will depend on the 'Twelfth Night' rehearsal schedule.
Wednesday, June 8th
Another long exhausting day, where's my thousand dollars? No matinee, or Pinter play, just another dress rehearsal (the last) of 'The Vast Difference' tonight. It's been a very interesting four weeks getting this show up. I'm not sure I'm cut out to performa cerebral modern comedy, but I also think I don't totally suck. If I keep working, I might eventually be a decent performer in a variety of roles. There's eight of us in the cast and it's an ensemble show and everybody has some great moments.
As we've been in tech since the weekend, I've barely been home for days. As far as I know, it's still standing. Tommy's busy teching 'Forty Second Street' at the same time so we both get home late night, fall into bed exhausted, and race off again in the morning. It's going to be like that through the weekend. Then it's time to think about 'Politically Incorrect Cabaret' again and get it ready for Biloxi on the 2nd. After that, July is relatively calm before rehearsals really begin in earnest for 'Twelfth Night' in August.
I lost a patient rather unexpectedly last week. That usually doesn't happen. Of course patients die in my business, but it's relatively rare for me to have an unexpected death or a death from an unforseen cause. Those still get me on a certain level and probably always will. That's likely to be a good thing as it means I'm human.
Off to Birmingham Festival Theater in a few minutes to transform myself into Al Kaline, a new age guru, a gym rat and a cheapskate getting a haircut. I'm not sure if this is typecasting or what...
