Two Shows

Two shows on a Thursday....interesting schedule.  

The stage of the Paper Mill set is on a rake, which means that it's angled toward the audience.  At first glance it doesn't seem to be that bog of a deal.  But walking on it over and over and over can wreak havoc on your body. 

You are basically walking, standing and sitting on a slope for almost three hours a day (sometimes twice a day).  Long story short...it kills my back but I'm a big proponent of stretching so it sort of offsets any physical anomalies.

I am pleased that we have such a strong group.  One advantage to sitting onstage during the show is that I get to watch everyones performances.  It's sort of like when we did Assassins.  I sat in awe some nights watching the performances of Denis O'Hare, Michael Cerveris and the rest of gang.  Same goes with this show.  It's like I'm going to school everyday, learning new things.

New Concert

Wow...crazy weekend.  Very busy with no day off yet again...but what would life be without work?

Monday night was the Feinstein's Actor's Fund Benefit show. That was a load of fun and a nice room.

Tuesday night was the benefit for our dear friend Rebecca who is battling Hodgkins.   We had a great night filled with hope and joy.  I am confident that she will come through this.  She has the support of friends and family and we're a BIG family.

June 27th I'll be doing a concert on the campus of Hofstra University.  It's a great venue and it's going to be an incredible evening.  I'll get more details out there as the date draws closer but put this down as a "save the date."

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Feinstein's

So I'm gearing up for the Monday night concert at Feinstein's. It's gonna be a ton o' fun.  

The show sched for 1776 has been a bit daunting hence my lack of posts these past few days.  But that said...I'm getting back to it. 

Here's a story about Monday nights concert on Broadway World.com.  Take a peek.

BroadwayWorld Story

There will also be a discount code going out Saturday to all of those who signed up for the newsletter.  Again, all proceeds got to The Actor's Fund and it's all tax deductible!

Webber's Sequel - My 2¢

Everyone these days seems to be on the bandwagon regarding Webber’s pending sequel to The Phantom of the Opera entitled “Lover Never Dies.” There’s one big stir running across the Internet pipeline and it's filling with articles and opinions. I’ve seen everything from petitions to halt the production to others who can’t wait for the release. What do I think about all the hubbub? Here’s my two cents worth, which might greatly surprise you.

The Phantom of the Opera is a timeless masterpiece originally penned by Gaston Leroux. God bless his heart. He’d probably sit up in his coffin and shake his head in amazement over a book he wrote that did poorly when released in 1910 and is now revered as a classic. The basic premise of the story has turned into a worldwide obsession that breeds a frenzy of strong fan opinions that occasionally get down right ugly.

Fans are divided into camps: (1) original Leroux lovers; (2) Webber’s stage play lovers; and (3) 2004 movie lovers. Some lovers cross camps and some stay entrenched in one camp while despising the others. I sort of chuckle over the whole matter myself. As for me? I slide between all three, but tend to lean heavier toward the play and Leroux camp. I love the play, but without Leroux you can't understand the motivations of the characters.

However, let’s make one point clear. The story does not belong to one person in fan land, as some might like to think. Oh, sure, Leroux wrote it, Webber has copyrights plastered everywhere, but the story belongs to us ALL. We are individually touched by the message. That is what is so great about The Phantom of the Opera – it universally touches everyone, but in different ways.

The current uproar is now Webber has written a sequel, he’s chosen actors to play the part (and there's complaints over those choices), and the countdown to the stage production has begun (as you can see by my widget on my blog here). Many are screaming he should leave well enough alone. Let good things stay as they are, so to speak. Don't mess with it - it's not broken.

In reality, no one will ever stop the influx of books on the Phantom of the Opera from people who continue to write their own sequels or spinoffs. Before I sat down to write this article, I went on Amazon.com and counted at least 30 books written about the Phantom beyond Leroux’s or Webber’s version, and I’m sure there are many others worldwide in different languages. I personally know of four other works in progress from various authors that are expansions or sequels that haven't hit the market yet. Let’s face it folks, Webber’s sequel will only be one out of heaven knows how many more to come from fan-filled imaginations.

I’ve also heard complaints that in the new sequel Raoul is being portrayed in a less than lovable light. Heavens, will anybody be happy? Most didn't like Raoul to begin with. Millions of fans complained because Christine didn’t end up with the Phantom, so Webber writes a sequel that will no doubt give you Christine and the Phantom. He needs to give some plausible reason for Christine now to choose the Phantom over Raoul, so naturally Raoul becomes the bad guy rather than the Phantom. I can think of a thousand scenarios to spin everyone’s head. Webber chose a storyline spinning off from another novel sequel. Like it or not. It will be what it will be.

So I say all that to say this! Frankly, let Webber produce his musical sequel. For me it will not distract from the story that so profoundly touched my life. Erik's cry, "All I ever wanted was to be loved for myself," will continue to resonate throughout the world. Allow Webber the creative license to do with the story as he pleases. After all, he’s responsible for taking Leroux’s book and making it into a worldwide phenomenon by producing a stage play in 1986. If the new sequel flops, it flops. If it’s another success, it’s another success. Will it please everyone? Well, we all know you can only please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

In conclusion, The Phantom of the Opera belongs to us all! Not one of you out there in fan land own the Phantom, Philippe de Chagny, Raoul de Chagny, Christine Daae, Madame Giry, Meg Giry, Carlotta, the Managers, or any other character for that matter. These characters belong to us all, and each character touches us in different ways. I dare say that every one of us has the creative license and right to pen stories about their lives if we so choose no matter what venue that may be - public or private.

Webber’s sequel will touch the hearts of those it is meant to touch, and I do not believe it will dilute in any way the stage play, the movie, or Leroux’s version. His sequel will not be the last sequel to hit the market either. Many more will come, and there will probably be sequels upon his sequel. The Music of the Night never ends folks! The story will continue to morph as others see fit to satisfy the hunger within to produce the outcomes they wish.

As I have said before, as far as I am concerned Andrew Lloyd Webber is a musical genius, and he continues to immortalize the musical genius in a musical. I support him wholeheartedly in his right to do so, whether or not I like his new play or not. He is a gifted creator, and I respect his talent. Take heart. He will not ruin The Phantom of the Opera - it's immortal.

As always, I am your obedient and thought provoking servant -

The Phantom’s Student

PS -- Don't be shy! What's your view? Chime in! I respect everyone's opinion.

Opening Night

Odd to have an opening night following a Sunday matinee.

I've never done it like this before.  The cast is incredibly tired but committed as all get out...I can't tell you how many times we've run the show in the past few days, in addition to the actual performances that is. 

We've been rehearsing every day and doing the shows at night.  But the schedule at Paper Mill is quite daunting.  We have one show Wednesday, two shows Thursday, one on Friday and then two Saturday and two Sunday.  It's a tough one. 

We're all looking forward to a day off...I unfortunately am having my windows changed and will be up bright and early at 6 am making sure the dogs don't eat the plaster.  Ah the joys of a life in the theatre.

We're ready for the opening however and happy to see it just a couple hours away.

Friday Fun

Well thankfully the market is up!  We just need to stay the course and we'll get back o where we need to be.

On another note, we're doing some touch ups in the theatre today.  Tightening and fixing. We've got a great bunch of people working very diligently on this project.  

We're in an interesting business.  We work so hard on a project and in this case it has a very limited run.  It's not like we're making widgets or coffee mugs. What we do is fleeting.  It's here and then it's gone.  Even in performance.  We have no DVD, there are no re-runs and you can't catch it on cable. 

That's the nature of theatre.  Moment to moment and once it's over...it's over.  But there is something special to that as well. We are a part of something rare.  I felt that way when we were doing Assassins.  

It was one of those rare moments in the theatre when things came together to create a truly remarkable moment in Time.  That experience will stay with me forever. 

But back to 1776.  We officially open on Sunday night and have just a four week run.  Come on out from the city to see us.  You'll have a great night.

And don't forget I'm doing a concert to benefit The Actor's Fund on Monday April 27h at Feinstein's.   You can only get tickets through the Feinstein's website.

Here

Author's Proof In My Hands

Today I received my author's proof copy in the mail from my publisher, Xlibris. How totally surreal it is to see my words from this blog put into book form. It's the most awesome experience I have ever known. I sincerely want to HUG everyone of my readers and personally thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking this journey with me.

When I started this blog it was on a whim. Now that whim has taken me to a dream come true. I have always wanted to write. Yes, I've gone the vanity route of self-publishing, which I thought was the appropriate route for putting a blog into print in a short period of time. I could sell one or thousand copies, and I would still be happy with the outcome. It matters not - truly. I haven't done this to make money. I've printed this blog to share the story with all of you.

The motivational factor that has kept me month after month for an entire year dissecting Phantom of the Opera are the comments and emails you send. If what I've written touches one heart, then I have reached my goal. My success will not be measured by the lack of a book contract with a publishing house, whether it's available on Border's bookshelves and only online, or if the reviews are good or bad when it hits the marketplace. I already know from your comments that my goal throughout this whole process has been accomplished. Erik's story has tugged at my heart like none other. His struggle, humanity, passion, genius, and one longing to be loved for who he truly is touches us all on a common ground!

I do hope that you will enjoy the book. It's raw, I'll admit that, because I did not have money to have it professionally edited. You may find a typo or two, so forgive me after reading it 20 times that I might have missed a few things. (Of course, I've picked up books from big-time publishers and found typos, so go figure!) Paying Webber's licensing fees took a bite out of my pocketbook, though publication and artwork prices were minimal. My purpose, as you probably know by now, was not to write some literary wonder, but to help you reflect and enjoy the story even more.

I love you all. You have no idea! Next step is production. When I have a release date, you'll be the first to know.

The Phantom's Student

Tech - Dress

In the midst of our final Tech/Dress. Not much time to bring it all together but we've got a great cast and a great show.

It's a single unit set so that makes things quite a bit easier.  And there are no costume changes during the show which also makes things easier.

Aside from being tired we're on the mark and excited for our first real audience tomorrow night. 

Back to the Congress...

Rehearsal

So here I sit, sharing a dressing room with the great Robert Cuccioli.  

We've moved into the theatre and are in the midst of tech.  Actually just started our second day of tech.

We're having a blast.  The fun part about this show is that we're all on the stage for most of the show so the through line of the characters must be vivid.  

I like shows such as this because they don't really give you a chance to "let your guard down" on stage.  Not that one should anyway, but given the intricacies of this show and the fact that each character depends upon another...it's a must to stay within the show moment to moment.

It's also a bit of a departure for me...still a D.B.G. but not the romantic, per se.  My character is from South Carolina so there is a bit of romance in the Southern Aristocracy but none in the literal sense.

Looking forward to see you all out here.  It's not that far from the city and a very easy trip to make either by car or train.

Back to the stage....

Feinstein's - One Night Only

So I've been asked to do a one night only benefit for The Actor's Fund on Monday, April 27th at Feinstein's.

It's my night off from 1776 so I'm happy to do it.  I've been part of The Fund's Artists Committee for a few years now and as such it's a very important to me to support the cause in any way I can.

Not to mention the fact that singing at Feinstein's will be great fun.

Here's a link for tickets: Feinstein's

And here's a link to The Actor's Fund Website: The Fund

Please come.  You'll be supporting a tremendous cause and we'll all be together one more time!