Archive for February, 2007

Is Spring Here Yet

Well it’s been quite an interesting past week. Last Monday I came down with the dreaded stomach flu that had been taking victims in our cast and around the US. I haven’t had that type of flu since I was in grade school. I specifically remember being in our family kitchen and seeing campbell tomato abc soup spelling weird words coming out of my nose.(Sorry to anyone snacking) So needless to say I missed Tuesday and both shows Wednesday and returned for Thursday.

Thursday night Pete and Stacey we’re at the show after her bday dinner at Gallaghers. They are fans of the show along with their little boy Petey..and Pete Sr is a comic and a ventriloquist also. They live in NJ but were kind enough to give me a ride home. My voice over agent was supposed to come to but he got the flu and gave his tickets to clients at the agency…who happens to be on the Sopranos…who happens to have come with his dancing partner??…who happens to be dancing on a big Dancing show on tv…to possibly a 4 Seasons song…you’ll have to watch TV to see if it’s true.

On Sunday we sang “Who Loves You” and right when we hit the last note and pose we noticed a whole row of the audience spring up and start screaming..we ran off the stage…ran back on when the lights came back on to supposedly bow??? and discovered a gentleman was having a heart attack..John Leone yelled for a doctor in the house..which thankfully there was, an ambulance was called, the audience was pleased asked to leave and thanked for coming…it was horrible and we were all shaking…and Christian led a prayer with a few of us to the side of the stage for the man and his family and those who were to help him…the ambulance came..Richard our stage mgr told us his color had returned and he was breathing, and we’re all just praying he is indeed alright…It was a disturbing way to end the show..and also thought provoking in where our priorities and joys and thankfulness in being alive, should be.

This coming Sunday I’ve been invited to be in a benefit along with Daniel Reichard, Titus Burgess, Constantine Mauralis and others for the 3rd Annual Broadway Purim Schpiel..details to come. I do know that the amazing Seth Rudetsky is the music director. That’s all she wrote for now.

PS Oh I forgot..Last Sunday night I got to see my friend Paul Vogt(Mad TV, the RerunSHow) in his Broadway Debut as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. He was hilarious!!and the show is so high energy. I couldn’t believe I caught their last show on a 5 show weekend and the energy was at %300!! I also have other friends/acquaintances in the show..Jonathan Dokuchitz, Jere Burns, and Joe Abraham(who’s actually in the Frankie Valli bootcamp )All adorable and enromously talented..Thanks for a great night

what a week!

It’s been a great busy week at Jersey Boys. First off, we just won the Grammy last night!! YAHOO…I gave a call to Steve Orich who was supposed to collect our award if we won, but somehow there was a miscommunication and he couldn’t get the ticket so he and his wife Judy and our musical director Ron Melrose and new wife Alexis were in Las Vegas about to see Zumanities…and were 3 hours behind what we had seen on TV..but they were ecstatic! I also left a message for Bob and Judy Gaudio and our own John Lloyd Young..Without the above mentioned we would be nowhere. Especially Bob and Frankie and Tommy and Nicks story..Thank you everyone. What an exiting time I’m in…I’m trying to enjoy it while it lasts..

Also, my long lost theatre college friend Laurin Cowling came into town with his partner Troy. I hadn’t seen him since my first year of college at Hope College in Holland Michigan before I got into NYU Grad Acting program the next year. He is extremely talented and when I was singing in a top 40 Band he would have blackberry tea with honey awaiting me in between sets…I lost contact with him..and now he’s an extremely successful interior designer based out of Chicago and writer..They invited me to join them at Cafe Des Artists which was beautiful and classy and quiet and highly recommended by me..and the following day I invited them to Renaissance Diner in between shows…even trade right..I’m so glad we caught up finally.

I also saw Wanda again…who came to our show in LaJolla and I had met years ago while performing in Williamstown Cabaret. She treated herself for her birthday..and she is a doll. She gifted me with a wonderful, funky necklace made out of film..and a very special medal from Medjugorge, Yugoslavia…which was a pilgrimage I made in 1990 after my last show in Les Miserables..and she too had visited …that’s a whole other chapter..

We all also met Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell after the Friday night show. They could not have been more enthusiastic, warm and genuinely down to earth. Thank you all for your generosity..enjoy the photos…

NEW VIDEOS!

HEY, CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO CLIPS MY GENIUS WEBMASTER, DALE, HAS CREATED. EVEN A CLIP FROM MY WORK ON SCRUBS..WHICH HAPPENED TO BE NOMINATED FOR AN EMMY THAT YEAR!!!!!!!!!

BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE

On my day off yesterday I could hardly get across the street to my new apt. It’s on the River and literally I had to walk backwards to get across the street because of the wind coming off the Hudson River. Who knew? They say with the windshield it was 13 below. But hey, my family in Grand Rapids, Michigan were snowed in with 16 inches of snow. SO I’m not complaining. I’m savoring being able to look out the window everyday at NJ!! until they finish construction on this new high rise that will than block my view. I think it’s Donald Trumps new property. It makes me so sad. I finally have a room with a view. But I can still see the park right under me with little kids all bundled up, and happy dogs leaving their mark…literally.

I got reaquainted with a Broadway genius last week. Seth Rudetsky. He was at the theatre in between shows Saturday rehearsing with Daniel Reichard for last nights LEADING MEN 11..Hopefully I can start doing these benefits soon, as Daniel has put a bug in my ear..and may be guiding me into doing some kind of show. Daniel Reichard astounds me. Every night off ,every week I can remember he has performed somewhere. During intermission he is learning or singing a new song..constantly learning, growing and inspiring me. I love him…he is one of a kind. And I hope you have all seen his act…if not you’ll have plenty of opportunities. Ok off to the show. This week , my long lost college friend is coming in..he used to serve me tea at my first year of Hope College(before I transferred to NYU Grad Program) when I sang lead in a top 40 band. We also did The Real Inspector Hound that year. I’m excited to catch up with Lauren Cowling..