More E.A.

Another week of previews and still a work in progress. We do the daily drive out to New Jersey and back in a van captained by our dance captain Kevin Munhall. We have named the van The Munster

Which can also be used for sunbaking.

We think the other vans are full of scary hoodlums

Once we're back in town after the show, most of us have to continue our journey on the subway. One night on the A train we celebrated a birthday when our swing, Justin Schuman, turned 24 at midnight.

Paper Mill itself is pleasant and peaceful

It's pleasant to sit by the brook by the theatre between shows and chat and chew.

Here is the gorgeous Annie Funke who plays stepsister Jacqueline.

Sometimes we start the day with a music call. Here is our leading man James Snyder in mid-warble.

Then at night....on with the motley! With Charles Shaughnessy

Julie Halston as the Queen

with Alena Watters

We're Here!

with Gregg Goodbrod, Kevin Raponey and Charl Brown.

We travel by van from the city to New Jersey and back every day. My van is captained by the excellent Kevin Munhall.

And let the bunting be hung!

Press Day

 

 

We performed five numbers from the show this afternoon for the media. Nerve-wracking doesn't begin to describe it as we haven't even run the show yet! Above and below, with Margo Seiber as Danielle.

 

 

Margo with Nick Corley as Maurice

Christine Ebersole as Rodmilla and Mara Davi as Marguerite

Annie Funke as Jacqueline

Gregg Goodbrod, Will Mann & Kevin Munhall restrain James Snyder as Prince Henry

Julie Halston & Charles Shaughnessy as the Queen & King

Mara Davi and the company

with Andrew Keenan Bolger (Gustave)

The EVER AFTER family

The Reservoir

Central Park on a Spring Sunday

Carnegie Hall

Marcy Heisler, our brilliant book writer and lyricist, very kindly invited me to join her at Carnegie Hall where Margo Seibert and James Snyder sang "Out of the Darkness" from EVER AFTER with composer Zina Goldrich at the piano and the entire New York Pops Orchestra as part of their Birthday Gala tribute to Kathleen & Rob Marshall. Who else was on the bill? Oh, only Alan Cumming, Victor Garber, Rachel York, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Laura Benanti, Sutton Foster, Rob McClure, Kelli O'Hara, Bebe Neuwirth, Renee Fleming and Queen Latifah. Died and gone to heaven.

Alan Cumming

Victor Garber

Rachel York with Josh Buscher, Max Clayton, Michaeljon Slinger & Amos Wolff

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Laura Benanti

Margo Seibert

James Snyder

Renee Fleming

Rob McClure

Kelli O'Hara

Bebe Neuwirth

Queen Latifah

The Company

All Dancing! All Singing!

Another triumph for LYRICS & LYRICISTS at the 92Y with their tribute to Irving Berlin in Hollywood. Written by Barry Kleinbort and directed & choreographed by Randy Skinner, the programme was mainly performed by six personable young dancer-singers who excitingly interpreted Skinner's imaginative and witty choreography with an emphasis on tap.

For me the absolute high point was "Drum Crazy" from EASTER PARADE stunningly danced by Danny Gardner, Con O'Shea-Creel and Drew Humphrey.

Drew Humphrey (with whom I worked in HELLO, DOLLY!) oozed star quality all night and his duet with Darien Crago, "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" from WHITE CHRISTMAS, was a study in style and elegance.

 Special guests Sandy Duncan and her husband Don Correia (seen here with Randy Skinner) stopped the show with "A Couple of Swells".

And Correia and Skinner raised the roof with some bravura tapping to "My Walking Stick" from ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND. Nice to see dance making a big splash at 92Y.