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october
1
2012

On Monday, September 24, 2012 I received one of the best compliments ever from the playwright, Terrence McNally, after singing at a tribute to him produced by the Westport Country Playhouse. Mr. McNally, for those who are unaware, is the playwright of some of this generations most moving theater pieces including, “Love, Valour, Compassion!”, “The Lisbon Traviata”, “Lips Together, Teeth Apart”, the book of the musical, “Kiss of the Spiderwoman” and “Ragtime”. He was an absolute joy as was the evening. However, getting to that point was a week of processing and re-evaluation.

Rewind two weeks…I received a text from friend and director-choreographer of the event asking if I’d be interested in being a part of the festivities. He mentioned the musical director whom I have known for all of her adult life and I, of course, said yes. I assumed they were asking because they wanted to have some “up and coming” talents perform some of the beautiful music of the musicals Mr. McNally brought to life. Being the new generation of cabaret and having four, count ‘em…FOUR amazing notices in the NY Times for my singing, I was certain that was the reason for asking. It wasn’t. I later learned that I was part of an ensemble of performers keeping things going around the “Big” stars. I was not amused but I am a friend with both of the people putting together this show and loyalty won out over any ego I had about doing ensemble work at this point in my life. So I stuck to my original answer and continued on my journey to Westport. I hope they have hot springs there; I may need the healing waters.

First rehearsal…the kids and me.

I walked into a rehearsal room at 6pm on a Monday night, September 17, 2012, to see my old friends working away and to see a room full of 20somethings talking “showbiz” talk. You all know how I dislike that. Part of the reason that I have fewer theatrical friends than most theater people is because actors have a tendency to be, well…theatrical, which I truly do detest. There’s nothing less enjoyable than hearing people one up each other with stories of past shows and their “good” friends, some random celebrity. I know too many people and have worked with too many stars to be hoodwinked into believing or caring about stories of regalia.

Don’t get me wrong, they were all sweet kids and very talented but I’ll keep my quiet flame and ten shows to their over talkative, first show selves everyday. Everything uttered from someone’s mouth can’t be about one’s self. (This coming from the man who is writing a blog about his own life…)

So the rehearsals were going well, I find out that I will be singing some of the Coalhouse Walker Jr. music from “Ragtime” which I love and made saying yes to ensemble more bearable.  We were all having fun except for “Lyle” who missed two days of rehearsals and then decided not to take part. One person down…may more to go. We continue with the week of rehearsals and soon another person drops out…two down. Then by the end of the week, one of the “stars” hadn’t realized that she needed to memorize one of her songs for the dance number…DANCE NUMBER, so one of the ensemble girls takes over that number. Now this girl was married to the guy who is now in a relationship with the actress on “Smash” who was on “Will & Grace”. They ended their respective relationships to be with each other. How nice for them…how nice for everyone, including the blonde bombshell who got dumped and Debra Messing’s husband…I mean, “the unnamed TV star”…allegedly. For us, the show must go on and by goodness it did!

I must say that the director-choreographer is a great talent and a sweet guy and was a joy to watch work. I’d work with him anytime. It was really nice to see his attention and intention to telling the story clearly and well. He is going to do amazing things, me thinks.

Monday morning!!! 10am…you heard me. It’s the day of the show, y’all!!!

I have passed the point of looking just any kind of way for a trip, even on a van, so I got up, showered, packed my bag and dressed like an adult. I do love a cute travel outfit. I get to our meeting location, the NW corner of 44th street and 8th avenue…classy.

The van arrives, I take the passenger seat and the kids load up in the rear. Vans make me claustrophobic so there really was no chance of me sitting in the rear unless Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper had been flanking me for the ride to Connecticut. We left a little after 10am for an hour and fifteen-minute drive to Westport, CT to make an 11:30am rehearsal, during rush hour on a Monday. Suffice it to say, we were late and I had to use my iphone’s GPS because the driver got lost right at the end of the trip. Again…classy!

The Westport Country Playhouse is a gem in a pristine little town. It’s the kind of place you want to go to present new works and sleepy esoteric plays and to be creative. Many have graced the stage of this theater and I hope to again someday.

The day went along easily…we rehearsed and ate, rehearsed and ate again then rehearsed a little more. Then ate again. The stars, all friends of Mr. McNally’s, arrived in the afternoon to run their segments… Marin Mazzie, Malcolm Gets, John Glover, Richard Thomas and Tyne Daly. The show begins with my voice making an introduction. I was asked to be the Voice of God, for several announcements during the program, which I didn’t mind at all. We went through segment after segment with the audience loving every moment of the evening. As we approached the end, we’d heard that there would be a secret guest appearance. Chita? Stokes? Nope, Nathan Lane. He was light and amusing like a pinot grigio purchased on a whim! Then came the “Ragtime” segment. The audience roared with applause I we stood on stage. Me standing next to Marin Mazzie, who was center, singing to the rafters. After we finished, the rest of the performers came onstage and Tyne Daly performed a monologue from “Master Class” with each of us transfixed to her as she spoke to the audience members and the performers alike. Once in a lifetime moment.

After we left the stage, Marin came up to me and asked if I’d done the role before and when I said no, she told me that I was wonderful and should do it this role everywhere. WOW! From the woman…the artist who created the role of Mother and sang, “Back to before” in a way that will make it hard for any other performer to leave their mark on it. Sheer wonder!

Once we arrived at the after party, at which we were not allowed to eat …ensemble treatment, after all, I was standing with another playwright/librettist with whom I’ve worked when Marin came up to me with Terrence McNally, himself, who told me that I was brilliant and that I should be singing that music everywhere. My heart stopped for a moment at his generosity and infectious smile. He then told me that his husband was one of the producer’s of “Cotton Club Parade” which I’ll be doing next. Apparently he whispered to Mr. McNally during the “Ragtime” segment, “He’s one of ours!” and I am!

So after a glass of prosecco and a procured bottle of Grey Goose, I got my bag cuz we were leaving! Back on the van and after a quick stop at McDonald’s for a late night snack, I was back home and went to sleep smiling at the wonder that happened to me, all because of two friends, some loyalty and some beautiful lyrics…

”Now she is haunting me, just like a melody, the only song I seem to know…Sarah my life has change, Sarah I miss you so, Sarah I did you wrong, Sarah, where did you go?”

I am moving forward, “on the wheels of a dream”! What a difference a week makes!!!

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