Tucson Tales
Jan. 26th, 2006 11:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansGreetings from the desert where several of you were playing last week at Fiesta ... just before I arrived. Was it something I said? *grin* Did you have to leave? It’s been sunny and moderate weather-wise, with highs of 65-72 degrees during the day. We had a successful opening night, a full house ... though I’ve got to admit, the Music Hall is the most utilitarian, plug-ugly building we’ve played on this tour.
Last night, we had a bit of last-minute excitement back stage. Sarah Litzsinger (Eva Peron) decided at the last minute that she couldn’t go on ... vocal problems from the dry climate. Dena DiGiacinto went on with less than 15 minutes prep. She was scheduled to watch the show and was sitting in the dressing room with wet hair when she got the call. I love her performance; so, last minute or not, it was a treat for us and for the audience.
This dry climate is very hard on singers. I’m waking up in the morning with a mouth full of dust ... at least that’s the feeling. We are doing our best to stay hydrated; but to give you a comparison ... in just two performances, the cast went through seven 5-gallon containers of water ... 35 gallons ... Normal for us is two 5-gallon containers. More water has been ordered as the supply on hand won’t last the week.
I’ve spent my days taking photos, shopping at a nearby mall (saw a rack of tee-shirts marked slim fit ... odd to see a XX slim fit:) Today my friend Mary and I are going to drive to Mission Javier about 15 minutes south of town. We had planned to visit Tubac or Bisbee, but Austin Eyres, an original member of the “Evita” tour, is coming back to replace our fired co-worker for the last two weeks of the tour, so we have rehearsal tomorrow. We love Austin, so this is a good thing. In addition, I was offered comps for tonight's show. I've invited![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bonkishnurtaz to see the show, so Keith will be in the audience tonight.
In 1981, I was in Tucson on tour in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” when I decided to take a week's vacation, my first after 18 months on the road. I hopped a red-eye flight to New York. There was no food on the long flight other than Doritos. I ate seven bags ... and I don’t like Doritos:) I arrived on a Monday morning and went to bed on Thursday.
I stayed with a costume designer for film, Michael Dennison, who I had met in Florida while he was working on the movie “Honky Tonk Freeway”. When I arrived Michael had just finished doing the costumes for the Al Pacino movie “Cruising”. Michael insisted I make a visit to The Mineshaft. Michael had spent weeks there during filming and told me I wouldn’t believe the environment unless I saw it for myself... so, I did ... (Insert here tawdry story to be told to trusted friends in person:)
The whole week was thrilling. I saw seven shows in six days ... among them “Evita” with Loni Ackermann and David Cryer (my first Broadway show to see), “Amadeus”, “A Day in Hollywood, a Night in the Ukraine” and “Barnum” with Jim Dale and Glenn Close. My memory’s fuzzy about the other three. One may have been “Cloud Nine” at the Lucille Lortel in the Village. I remember trying to see everything available that Tommy Tune had directed as I was working in one of his shows at the time. Looking at my words, I guess this is more of a New York story than a Tucson tale, but my first visit to a magical place started here. I moved to New York in June 1982 after four months on the road as a replacement in the tour of "A Fiddler on the Roof". That vacation determined the course of my performance dreams. After that visit, I knew I belonged ... was good enough to compete on the largest stage.
Last night, we had a bit of last-minute excitement back stage. Sarah Litzsinger (Eva Peron) decided at the last minute that she couldn’t go on ... vocal problems from the dry climate. Dena DiGiacinto went on with less than 15 minutes prep. She was scheduled to watch the show and was sitting in the dressing room with wet hair when she got the call. I love her performance; so, last minute or not, it was a treat for us and for the audience.
This dry climate is very hard on singers. I’m waking up in the morning with a mouth full of dust ... at least that’s the feeling. We are doing our best to stay hydrated; but to give you a comparison ... in just two performances, the cast went through seven 5-gallon containers of water ... 35 gallons ... Normal for us is two 5-gallon containers. More water has been ordered as the supply on hand won’t last the week.
I’ve spent my days taking photos, shopping at a nearby mall (saw a rack of tee-shirts marked slim fit ... odd to see a XX slim fit:) Today my friend Mary and I are going to drive to Mission Javier about 15 minutes south of town. We had planned to visit Tubac or Bisbee, but Austin Eyres, an original member of the “Evita” tour, is coming back to replace our fired co-worker for the last two weeks of the tour, so we have rehearsal tomorrow. We love Austin, so this is a good thing. In addition, I was offered comps for tonight's show. I've invited
bonkishnurtaz to see the show, so Keith will be in the audience tonight.In 1981, I was in Tucson on tour in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” when I decided to take a week's vacation, my first after 18 months on the road. I hopped a red-eye flight to New York. There was no food on the long flight other than Doritos. I ate seven bags ... and I don’t like Doritos:) I arrived on a Monday morning and went to bed on Thursday.
I stayed with a costume designer for film, Michael Dennison, who I had met in Florida while he was working on the movie “Honky Tonk Freeway”. When I arrived Michael had just finished doing the costumes for the Al Pacino movie “Cruising”. Michael insisted I make a visit to The Mineshaft. Michael had spent weeks there during filming and told me I wouldn’t believe the environment unless I saw it for myself... so, I did ... (Insert here tawdry story to be told to trusted friends in person:)
The whole week was thrilling. I saw seven shows in six days ... among them “Evita” with Loni Ackermann and David Cryer (my first Broadway show to see), “Amadeus”, “A Day in Hollywood, a Night in the Ukraine” and “Barnum” with Jim Dale and Glenn Close. My memory’s fuzzy about the other three. One may have been “Cloud Nine” at the Lucille Lortel in the Village. I remember trying to see everything available that Tommy Tune had directed as I was working in one of his shows at the time. Looking at my words, I guess this is more of a New York story than a Tucson tale, but my first visit to a magical place started here. I moved to New York in June 1982 after four months on the road as a replacement in the tour of "A Fiddler on the Roof". That vacation determined the course of my performance dreams. After that visit, I knew I belonged ... was good enough to compete on the largest stage.
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I did a spit take just then...
Date: 2006-01-26 06:49 pm (UTC)Wish I could be there to see the show -- drat that one-week difference in schedule again...
Re: I did a spit take just then...
Date: 2006-01-26 07:56 pm (UTC)Re: I did a spit take just then...
Date: 2006-01-27 12:17 am (UTC)Hugs, Handsome!
It's from the genius of Don Asmussen
Date: 2006-01-27 08:32 am (UTC)Re: I did a spit take just then...
Date: 2006-01-27 12:16 am (UTC)As to the misread .... Can you imagine ... "Evita"! Starring WKRP Cincinnati's own Loni Anderson ... with Gary Sandy as Peron! LOL!
Re: I did a spit take just then...
Date: 2006-01-27 03:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-26 09:32 pm (UTC)Bathroom Breaks
Date: 2006-01-27 12:23 am (UTC)It's really tough with "Evita" and all of the fast changes. You try to make sure you go before hand; at the very least intermission, because you won't have time to make to the dressing room during the acts. We never take costumes to the dressing room; they live in gondolas (sort of traveling storage closests) with all of our clothes, shoes and accessories organized in them. Bottom line - Be ready to go 60 minutes without a bathroom break:)!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 12:27 am (UTC)Look forward to seeing some of your pictures of your journeys this year.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 12:37 am (UTC)I'm drinking so much water that I'm up half the night ... some folks have purchased humidifiers and are attempting other remedies for the dry climate.
I visited Mission San Juan Javier today and I'm really pleased with some of the pictures. Good to see you're checking LJ today! Saw where at least 15 men and women have friended you or responded to your new journal. YAY!
HUGS!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 01:22 am (UTC)