Playing the Hand

[mrdreamjeans]

Our opening tonight in Montreal was a success. We earned a standing ovation. It was a long, difficult day, as we rehearsed for five hours in the afternoon; after a two-hour break, we came back to the theater, introduced ourselves to our dressers at half-hour and explained our multiple costume changes and hit the stage. We met the 10 local children for the first time on stage while performing with them.

The most stressful element of the first day back after the three-week layoff was dealing with the absence of Bradley Dean as Che. As I said in a previous post, he was replaced a day after we closed in Atlanta. So at noon, we met our new Che, Keith Byron Kirk. Keith is the first African-American actor in the history of “Evita” to play Che. Keith rehearsed and learned the show in one week and was plugged into the show during today’s rehearsal. He did a fine job, though it will take us a couple of weeks to get used to his rhythms and riffs, his acting choices and for Keith to settle into the role.

It’s a bold choice by Hal Prince and our artistic staff. I was proud of the cast’s professionalism. Though we miss Bradley, our goal was to be supportive of Keith’s efforts in such a way that he could be successful. In essence, it’s playing that hand we are dealt. Keith was the only debut tonight; but by week’s end, we will add several more to the mix.

Jeremy Leiner, our male swing, is being replaced by Halden Michaels. Halden is already in the cast, but has become assistant dance captain and swing. Replacing Halden in his regular spot in the show is Marcos Santana, a dancer from Los Angeles. Kate Manning does her final shows as the Mistress this week, but has been asked to stay on through our first week in Cincinnati, as a standby for Eva. Heidi Dean takes over as the Mistress in Kate’s place. Dena DeGiacinto will make her debut as an Eva understudy before the end of our run here.

Sara Edwards ends her 11 months with “Evita” in Montreal and is being replaced by Nova Bergeron. Joining the company as a female singer swing and Eva understudy is Ann Brummell. When I introduced myself to Ann tonight, she said, I do know you. My dad is David Brummell. My jaw dropped. David was Peron on the 1992-94 National Tour of “Evita”. Ann was on the road with us when she wasn’t in school. She was 11 years old at the time. I’m still not over the shock of working with second generations of actors:)

Our tango dancer, Eric Fogel is out on paid disability for three weeks with a groin injury. Barry Brown is filling in for him for that period. (I tried to convince them I could be Barry’s back up since there is no other tango cover. I just don’t think they go for the sillouette for some reason:) Jeremy, in his final week, is performing the remainder of Eric’s track. One of our singers, Natalie Ross, is hobbling around with a broken toe but still doing the show, albeit it gingerly. She accidently slammed a door on it during our break.

rossbear and I have been watching the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina on television. It seems to have gotten much worse for the French Quarter since one of the levees broke. I am saying a fervent prayer for all of the people who have lost their homes and loved ones. I am saying an extra prayer for two friends who have businesses there, one just off Jackson Square and the other a gallery on Royale. I hope they are safe and that they can recover from their losses. So much destruction. So much suffering. I am sick that people are looting stores on Canal Street.

Andrew Ragone, one of the actors in our show, was in Miami when Katrina passed through there as a Category 1 storm. He and his partner lost power in their home last Thursday. The power company said it would not be restored in their area of Miami until this Thursday. I can’t wrap my mind around what New Orleans has gone through and will be going through for the forseeable future.

“Evita” in Montreal is playing the casting hand it has been dealt, but it pales in significance to the hand, the furious blow Katrina has dealt mythic New Orleans. May this beloved city find the strength and resolve to recover and prosper.