August finds me in Boston on a raining, sunny, drizzling, sunny, foggy rainbow day. However, sitting in on the rehearsals of the Boston Pops, with an orchestra of 80 was breathtaking. It could have been hailing outside. ROBERT CAZIMERO, my favorite Hawaiian singer, and his brother ROLAND came in from the Islands as the Pops takes Hawaii to Hyannis. Holding that golden baton was none other than KEITH LOCKHART my maestro from the Ballad of Baby Doe at the Washington Opera. I had the pleasure of teaching him and his wife, who is going to have a baby any minute, how to waltz. Later in the month I was off to Langenthal, Switzerland to KLAUS STAUFFER'S (Greg and Dance Captain-Vienna) opening of his new dance studios. For the past year he has been renovating the famous Langenthal Porcelain Factory into the most incredible dance studios I've ever seen. PETER HOWARD and I had been doing Musical Theater Workshops for Klaus for many years. So with lots of newspaper and TV publicity, hopefully we'll be able to get started again very soon. So what was happening on the East coast besides the blackout? I was at the CAMELOT auditions at the Ripley-Greer Studios. In the darkness of it all who pops out to say "HI"? MELINDA BUCKLEY Read her e-note to us.
LOST:
CAMERON ENGLISH: (Paul- Film) where are you?
CHRIS LOCKMAMY: ( Greg- Nikko Tour) old school mate is looking for him.
DON PERCASSI: ( Al -Original) Cousin Peter has never met him and would like to finally meet the guy he has always looked up to.
GINA PAGLIA (Diana-International) suggests you all write in and tell us where you were for the 1971 and 2003 BLACK OUT. What a great idea. Can't wait to hear from you all.
Seen in the hallways at the Riply-Greer studios for the CAMELOT auditions were:
- MATT ZARLEY (Mark - B'way) .
CARLOS LOPEZ (Mike- B'way)
SYLVIA RHYNE( Maggie - Vienna)
LARRY BLANK (MD - National) writes to us faithfully. Here's what he says for August:
- I'm doing the orchestrations for Barbara Cook's Christmas CD which is recording in NY this week and next, so it's Christmas in August. WALLY HARPER has laid out the arrangements and is her MD. And we are using an orchestra of 35 to do a lush BC Christmas thing. The arrangements are shameless and we are enjoying every minute of it. Wally engaged the Broadway Inspirational Singers to do backup and it sounds great. It is being released by DRG Records (thanks to Hugh Fordin) on Oct 7.
- Love to you as always, Larry
PARKER ESSE (cover-Paper Mill) has taken his family out to California for the summer. He's in WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and having a ball.
DJ CHASE (AL-2001 Tour) writes to us from Tokyo: He let us know he was home during the blackout and so he just lit some candles and read. About a week ago he got a call asking whether he was available to come out and be the Jet swing for West Side Story. This is the 'La Scala' company that girlfriend RAEGAN PIERCE (Kristine-2001 Tour) is doing. He says they are having a blast. "This is our first time here in Japan and to be here with my lady is icing on the cake. I joined the cast in Osaka, then we went to Nagoya, and now we're in Tokyo for two weeks." Love, DJ.
LUIS VILLABON (Paul-2001 TOUR) suprised us with an e-mail saying after he closed in SEUSSICAL on tour, three days later he was in GREASE in Amsterdam. He says he was in need of a holiday and why not have producers pay for it. So GREASE needed a new member, he was available and EUROPE here I come. Hope to hear from him when he returns at the end of Sept.
J. ELAINE MARCOS (Connie-B'way Tour of America) is out with FLOWER DRUM SONG. She says it's a strange schedule but she's happy to be working. They will have lots of down time.
DENNIS EDENFIELD (DON-National/Director/Choroegrapher) e-mailed to say: Hey, It's great to be home. My season at Cherry County Playhouse in Michigan was a success. SANDY DUNCAN was wonderful as Aunt Eller in OKLAHOMA, PETER SCOLARI actually walked the tight rope as BARNUM (what a great guy), EDDIE MEKKA was fabulous as Nathan Detroit in GUYS AND DOLLS, and the very charming JOHN DAVIDSON was a hit as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO. Also a huge hit was DANA MOORE as Roxy. What a treat she was. As you already know MITZI directed/choreographed CHICAGO for me and my associate AMY UHL choreographed GUYS AND DOLLS. And at the Board meeting before I left Michigan I was promoted from Associate Artistic Director to Artistic Director. Next season I have decided on HELLO DOLLY, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN, DAMN YANKEES, SMOKEY JOE'S and WEST SIDE STORY. I have some stars in mind but no offers are out yet. Any suggestions?
Dennis
Dennis, congratulations on your promotion. And remember all your friends who are out of work.
MORENIKE FADAYOMI (Diana-Vienna) got rave reviews from the Munich press for her portrayal of Bess in my production of PORGY AND BESS. She rejuvenated the cast with her acting and sent chills thru the theater with her interpretation of "I Loves You Porgy." Who would have known little Diana Morales in Vienna had that incredible voice. Lucky for me.
JOHNNY MINEO (Original-Jarad) writes it has been 13 years since he taught at the SKD school for me in Tokyo. He married his Japanese girlfriend KYO and they have a 9 year old son. Johnny who is still in the cast of CHICAGO on B'way says, "Meanwhile the show has no end in sight, KYO gets more beautiful as I get older, and the kid will either keep me young or kill me soon. However, I think he wants to keep me around just to torment me."
Love, Mineo
ANNA SANTIAGO (Connie-Regional) says she has had an incredible experience everytime she plays Connie. She really can relate to the role.
KEN LEIGH ROGERS (Butch-London) writes:
Hi to all -
As most of you may know, I will be returning to Pittsburgh for another year of teaching at Carnegie Mellon next week. I am seeking a "roommate" during this period. I will be out of town for most of the time, however, there will be occasion when I will be in NYC on weekends to share the space. Should you know of anyone who may be interested please let me know and/or pass on the following information to interested parties. I greatly appreciate you in doing so. KLR
ROBERT TUNSTALL (Bobby-2001 Tour), our NEW YORK REPORTER is always on the ball. He writes:
- A gust of wind brings so many things to the streets of NYC.
For instance, in front of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (Man of La Mancha) I saw several pieces of paper on the ground. "At this performance....the role of Maria will be played by JAMIE KARAN." (Bebe, Gateway). What joy to see your friend's name outside a Broadway theatre....even if it is on the sidewalk. The breeze took me west and I found myself in front of the Ford Theatre, home of 42nd Street. "At this performance the role of Andy Lee will be played by ERIC SCIOTTO." (Paul, Nikko tour). I was amazed at the coincidence. Further north I had to blow by the Ambassador and there was MARK BOVE'S (Zach, Paper Mill) name on the board. Glad to see that the father-to-be is back in Chicago with Melanie G.
I went to see Seth Rudetsky's show with DJ CHASE (Al, Paper Mill). We enjoyed the performance and got to catch up a bit. He's about to do West Side Story at North Shore. He went to Italy to see RAEGAN PIERCE (Kristine, Paper Mill) in West Side Story at La Scala. She's having a wonderful time and will tour with the show to Japan.
Congratulations to CINDY MARCHIONDA (Diana, Paper Mill) on her triumphant success as "Hildy" in the Gateway Playhouse production of On the Town!!! She was HILARIOUS as the lovelorn taxi cab driver. The audience went nuts when she sang the bejesus out of "I Can Cook Too."
I hope everyone survived the Blackout safely. I spent the evening with DENA DIGIACINTO (Diana, Hawaii) at the brief but inspirational Indigo Girls concert in Central Park. We ended up walking through a darkened Times Square where I was puzzled by the onslaught of photographs being taken with a flash. Kinda defeats the purpose of a blackout, don't ya think?
I was reminded of a quote by Helen Keller....
"Everything, even darkness, has its wonders."
Love to all,
Robert
Thanks Robert, I can always count on you to be out and about getting ACL News.
Well, it's Labor Day and the rain is coming down, guess I'd better get out and see how all thoses sales are going. Bye for now, stay dry and please continue to write me at baayorkATachorusline.org I love to hear from you all.
in loving spirit,
Baayork
