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mrdreamjeansAfter writing about it for several months, finally today was the first day of rehearsals for the new national tour of "Evita". As often happens, the first day is one of paperwork and greetings. We met with representatives from Actors Equity, hearing info on Workmen's Comp, insurance, special terms of this particular contract; after this, the cast introduced themselves to the production team and each other and then we met the production team.
It was particularly exciting to see that Hal Prince is going to be very involved in putting the show together, though much of the work will fall on the on the shoulders of the original choreographer (and director of the national tours since the originals back in the early 80s) Larry Fuller and his assistant Kim Jordan. Hal hasn't been involved in over 20 years, but chose to be very involved in our tour because he felt the message of the show... the manipulation of the people by those in political power, the controlling of the press and other media by the government in clever ways.... replacing the motor energy of the populace with regimentation, as in Fascism,...keeping the voting public from the facts.... is particularly relevant today.
He also said that the best musicals are stories that include a mystery. The mystery in "Evita" is, "How in the hell did a plain, illegitimate little girl from Hunin become one of the most glamourous figures in history?" Hal told several entertaining stories, speaking for over an hour. I was fascinated, but I can't share all of the information here. Eva Peron is now buried in a well-maintained crypt in Buenes Aires. The words, chosen by her and chiseled into the stone, are: "Don't cry for me Argentina." There are many moments and details in the show that are pulled directly from history, told through metaphors and poetic imagery.
I am very optimistic about our tour after meeting the cast members and beginning vocal rehearsals. It's a company of actors mostly new to the show. There are only five holdovers in the cast from the 1998-99 tour; I am the only holdover from the 1992-1994 and '98-99 tours. I am surprised by that and, believe me, I know and understand how fortunate I am. I will do everything in my power to justify Larry, Kim and conductor Kevin Farrell's faith in my abilities.
One fun and heartening item on today's agenda.... I had my costume fittings. When they brought in my costumes to try on, they looked very familiar to me. They were the costumes created for me in 1998! I asked if they had been used a lot after that tour ended in 1999; the costumer replied, no...only in Houston in 2000. I wore them then too! LOL! They had to be let out four years ago (I'd gained a bit of poundage), but were restored to the original size from 1998 for my fittings today and all of them fit me...in fact, were a bit loose. Thank goodness I lost the weight earlier this year:) It was a wonderful feeling! I plan to continue the work on my fitness goals throughout all of the tour.
I decided to save money and avoid the rush in the subways after rehearsal ended. I walked the 40 blocks back to the apartment my friend Bill has so generously offered to me for the three weeks in NYC. Tomorrow the real work begins... more vocal rehearsals, though the opening which we learned today, has the toughest harmonies and begins with a string of High Cs for the first tenors. We'll start staging the opening sequence in the afternoon.
Even though this is about my 10th rehearsal process for "Evita", I am ready to discover the "the ole girl" all over again with these new folks. At this point of a production, all things are possible.... Life can be very good indeed!
It was particularly exciting to see that Hal Prince is going to be very involved in putting the show together, though much of the work will fall on the on the shoulders of the original choreographer (and director of the national tours since the originals back in the early 80s) Larry Fuller and his assistant Kim Jordan. Hal hasn't been involved in over 20 years, but chose to be very involved in our tour because he felt the message of the show... the manipulation of the people by those in political power, the controlling of the press and other media by the government in clever ways.... replacing the motor energy of the populace with regimentation, as in Fascism,...keeping the voting public from the facts.... is particularly relevant today.
He also said that the best musicals are stories that include a mystery. The mystery in "Evita" is, "How in the hell did a plain, illegitimate little girl from Hunin become one of the most glamourous figures in history?" Hal told several entertaining stories, speaking for over an hour. I was fascinated, but I can't share all of the information here. Eva Peron is now buried in a well-maintained crypt in Buenes Aires. The words, chosen by her and chiseled into the stone, are: "Don't cry for me Argentina." There are many moments and details in the show that are pulled directly from history, told through metaphors and poetic imagery.
I am very optimistic about our tour after meeting the cast members and beginning vocal rehearsals. It's a company of actors mostly new to the show. There are only five holdovers in the cast from the 1998-99 tour; I am the only holdover from the 1992-1994 and '98-99 tours. I am surprised by that and, believe me, I know and understand how fortunate I am. I will do everything in my power to justify Larry, Kim and conductor Kevin Farrell's faith in my abilities.
One fun and heartening item on today's agenda.... I had my costume fittings. When they brought in my costumes to try on, they looked very familiar to me. They were the costumes created for me in 1998! I asked if they had been used a lot after that tour ended in 1999; the costumer replied, no...only in Houston in 2000. I wore them then too! LOL! They had to be let out four years ago (I'd gained a bit of poundage), but were restored to the original size from 1998 for my fittings today and all of them fit me...in fact, were a bit loose. Thank goodness I lost the weight earlier this year:) It was a wonderful feeling! I plan to continue the work on my fitness goals throughout all of the tour.
I decided to save money and avoid the rush in the subways after rehearsal ended. I walked the 40 blocks back to the apartment my friend Bill has so generously offered to me for the three weeks in NYC. Tomorrow the real work begins... more vocal rehearsals, though the opening which we learned today, has the toughest harmonies and begins with a string of High Cs for the first tenors. We'll start staging the opening sequence in the afternoon.
Even though this is about my 10th rehearsal process for "Evita", I am ready to discover the "the ole girl" all over again with these new folks. At this point of a production, all things are possible.... Life can be very good indeed!
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Date: 2004-10-04 07:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-04 07:23 pm (UTC)Keep walking 40 blocks and you'll definitely loose more weight.
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Date: 2004-10-04 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-04 07:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-04 07:39 pm (UTC)My parents brought back the playbill from "The Wizard of Oz" (local University is putting on). I saw the Winkies listed and thought of you and your post a few weeks ago. :-)
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Date: 2004-10-04 09:18 pm (UTC)Regardless, it's really great to get an inside peek with your pespective.
Thanks :)
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Date: 2004-10-05 05:28 am (UTC)I received a revised schedule yesterday. "Evita" is booked for two weeks in Cincy next Fall.
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Date: 2004-10-04 10:20 pm (UTC)Sounds like this show will be a poignant one for the reasons you stated, but also for all it has going for it.
To quote the muffin man, Go you!
Damn it!...
Date: 2004-10-04 11:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-05 07:33 am (UTC)REALITY Blogging
Date: 2004-10-05 11:38 am (UTC)We in the blog world should come up with interesting tasks for you to do in each city that the tour visits… On the road with Neil. …. It could become a version of REALITY Blogging…(G)
Re: REALITY Blogging
Date: 2004-10-06 05:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-05 02:48 pm (UTC)Oh yeah, John wanted me to ask you who's playing Eva and Che, if you have that info, he'd appreciate it, and in turn so would I :o)
I'm also happy for you that you're clothes didn't fit... in the good way!
no subject
Date: 2004-10-06 05:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-07 09:23 pm (UTC)But I have to add my dissapointment to see Minneapolis has been dropped :o(
Can't you go to the "big wigs" and tell them, "But Keith wants to see the show, and he's in Minneapolis" :o)
PS> sorry it took me so long to respond.