Am back in New York City after a month in California in beautiful Palm Springs and in hectic Los Angeles.
SO EAST SIDE / WEST SIDE -- COAST SIDE.
While in Los Angeles I saw a wonderful Gay take on the famous Arthur Schnitzler play
LA RONDE called F*CKING MEN.
Calvin Remsberg artfully and tastefully directed this piece at the Celebration Theatre. It is the American Premier seen lastly in a record breaking run on London's West End.
Joe DiPietro, whose MEMPHIS & TOXIC AVENGER are enjoying a run on and Off Broadway, wrote it and gave Calvin the rights.
Bravo Calvin!! Calvin was in the SWEENEY TODD national tour with Angela Lansbury & George Hearn and on that DVD as the Beadle.
ALso saw a wonderful version of GREATER TUNA in a small theatre in Palm Springs co directed by pal Mark Esposito and produced by Mark Nichols. It was easily as fun and entertaining and well acted as the terrific original which is somewhat preserved on DVD.
I had a lot on my plate but managed to mix business with pleasure and it was a fulfilling month for sure.
Was once again in the inspiring and spirited company of the completely unique Kaye Ballard. What a great lady. She just completed a Disc of her book "HOW I LOST 10 POUNDS IN 53 YEARS" It is available and worth any price.
I also was invited to see a screening of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE at the gorgeous RANCHO MIRAGE Library. Clark Bason, who is producing a musical version of this wonderful piece with Margo Lion, was there and acknowledged by the owner of the Camelot Theatre who sponsored the event.
LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE is in Workshop in Florida at the SUNDANCE festival there.
Keep an eye out for future mountings and an eventual Broadway production. Cross Fingers as Clark is a good friend since SWEENEY TODD days and has had this project on the burner for TEN years!
Our friends Oscar and Jeff are now permanent Palm Springs residents. They are thrilled to finally be settled and have the joy of the weather, the mountains and a gorgeous pool right in their backyard. Something their beautiful 7th Ave apartment in NY lacked. =0-)
I hear from them daily about what progress they are making. Jeff's E-Bay business is up and running from there and they are starting to live the life they designed.
It can be done!
I urge anyone who hasn't visited Palm Springs to go if they can. It is a very special and lively place. But watch out for the SPA CASINO!! =0-)
I spent a great deal of time setting up our new house but of course it is not a permanent residence ..Yet!
I am reaching a landmark birthday and had to have something start the ball rolling toward a retirement or rather semi retirement life.
Like ME it is a Work In Progress!!
It was a shock coming form Sunny and temperate Palm Springs into NY during a wet and cold spell. Brrrr
But it has turned around and was Spring-like here if not Palmy.
We saw MEMPHIS last night and really enjoyed it. Terrific entertainment and extraordinary performances by the leads Chad Kimball and Montego Glover . I had the delight of seeing Chad Kimball, among others, sing at the ACE Cabaret in Palm SPrings not too long ago. He sang the MEMPHIS song he sings in the second Act and blew us all away as he did last night.
Tonight I am seeing pals and colleagues, Sean McDermott and Ron Abel perform at the TRIAD on 72nd Street. They are there again this Saturday night Oct 24th around 9PM..go if you can as they are two Top notch talents.
We are seeing TOXIC AVENGERS on Friday and Ironically the same writers wrote MEMPHIS. Nancy Opel, an ole pal from EVITA on Broadway days, is knocking 'em out with her performance and I can't wait to see and hear her do her stuff.
Speaking of EVITA they are mounting a new Broadway production. I may be nuts but I can't imagine a better mounting and concept than what Hal Prince so artfully created in 1979...and earlier in London. What incredible talents came from that show...LuPone, Patinkin, Bob Gunton,Nancy Opel, Loni Ackerman, Valerie Perri. Terri Klausner among others. WOW!!
Pat Gorman who was in the original EVITA ensemble in 79 recently had a 30 year reunion which I couldn't attend as I was in California. She sent pictures and emails and it looked like a great gathering of great people. I am so sorry I missed it.
Anyway.. I am glad to be back in the NY swing of things and had drinks with SUNSET
BLVD pals Harvey Evans and Rich Hebert last week. We sat a Joe Allen's and schmoozed over the OLD DAYS. Harvey is retired and happy as a clam and totally active in
DANCERS OVER 40 which has done some wonderful presentations.
Rich is teaching in Boston but auditioning. he was just seen for BILLY ELLIOT.
Two terrific people and wonderfully talented. Rich and I did CATS with Calvin Remsberg and Mark Esposito in 1983-84..SMALL WORLD ISN'T IT!!
I hope you all are enjoying the weather we have had in NY these last few days..if not keep warm.
We are all concerned about the Public Option and the Healthcare restructuring. And hope that no one else dies or suffers such hideous hardships that the present system inspires.
as Angela Lansbury..soon to inhabit Hermione Gingold's role in A LITTEL NIGHT MUSIC on Broadway..says .."ONWARD!"
XXX
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