Monday, April 24th
The month of April seems to be flying by - it may have something to do with way too much to do and not enough time in which to do it. Work has been a bit of a nightmare with both the other clinicians out all month but I've managed to stay on top of it all. One comes back next Monday from her surgery and then things should calm down a bit for me. I don't think I'm too far behind in anything but I have been surprised before.
Kiss Me Kate is progressing quite nicely. In five rehearsals, we've got nearly half the show on its feet. Of course, it's the half that's relatively easy to mount. We won't get to the nightmare of the opening number until next week, for instance. We're on course to have the whole show staged and moving along by the 10th of May, giving us a couple of weeks to polish before we move into tech. The cast is great and seems to be enjoying themselves. Sets and costumes are progressing and it looks like we have enough money to pay for it all - now we just have to get off our butts and sell some tickets.
Tommy and I had a social weekend. We hosted a kick off party for a theater group in town to announce their new season and then went to Birmingham's equivalent of a circuit party, an affair known as 'Rites of Spring' where the gay boys dance all night under the roof at Sloss Furnaces. Smaller turnout than in years past and I'm starting to get too old for the twist and gyrate to overloud techno in the wee hours of the morning. We're moving on to hosting a party for a local political candidate in a couple of weeks. Comes of having the ideal party house - everyone wants to use it. And then there's Tommy who enjoys being the Martha Stewart of 13th Avenue South. The things he can do with cut fruit and mylar...
Things remain tightly scheduled through the middle of June. Then I think I collapse.
Thursday, April 13th
Today would have been Steve's 58th birthday. Far too old for him, as he would have said. I miss him, probably always will to some extent. If you're reading this and you have no idea who Steve is, you don't know me all that well now, do you? For those who remember him, put on some vintage Tina Turner, and have a sliced and salted tomato in his honor.
No updates for a while as I have been horribly busy between work and 'Kiss Me Kate'. Kate is going relatively well. We're on schedule with music and move into staging next week. Dance numbers may be a problem but the blocking is all done in advance and going out as blocking books to cast next week so that should save hours and hours of rehearsal time. We're still seven weeks from opening so I don't forsee any major issues coming up. The staff are communicating and Tommy is riding herd on us all. The biggest concern of the moment is production dollars. Still need to raise another $5000-7500 if we can. If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution, let me know. The bank of Andy is starting to become a bit tapped out. The Kate cast is excellent and it's going to be a very well sung production. I could still use a couple more men in the chorus but, they're in short supply in Birmingham. If you're male and like to do musicals, this is the place to be. All you have to be able to do is carry a tune and move all four extremities rhythmically and you can be cast.
Spring blustery weather is here. Quite a powerful set of inline storms last Friday night. They swept through in about twenty minutes, knocking down the usual trees and power lines. We lost the porch umbrella. Despite taking it down and putting it away, some of the spokes managed to snap. It was six years old and we've been wanting to replace it anyway.
Nothing much new at work. Trying to hold the fort while the other two primary clinicians are both out all month. So far, so good. I'm out a bit on business next month so it will all come out in the wash. I'll be ready for a collapse round about mid June. Tommy and I want a vacation in June or July - where can we go that will only cost us about $1.95?
Andy on the road -
Chicago 5/3-5
Washington DC 5/8-11
