Thank You for Being a Friend

The show had its first preview performance last night.

To celebrate, this blog is now fully integrated into the Memphis Official Website, which is sort of like a virtual promotion.

It's been real Blogspot, but I have to move on.

Don't Stop Believin' and Don't Stop Readin'.

You can find the Memphis Lives in Me Blog here:
http://www.memphisthemusical.com/blog

Last Fun Fact on Blogspot: My best friend from middle school whom I haven't seen since we graduated high school [redacted] years ago came to the show last night.

This morning, as part of her New York tourist experience, she went to the Today show.

And she made this sign:

...and she is coming back to see the show again this weekend.

Now that's a good friend.

You've been a good friend too, Blogspot.

You were my first blog and I shall never forget you.

A Memo, not a Mission Statement

To: Company Management
from: Carolyn
date: around 2am on 9/23
re: Post show, 9/22

Dear Company Management,

The Invited Dress went great. Thank you for organizing all of those passes, especially the last minute RSVPs. It was wonderful to have a few hundred of everyone's friends, families and colleagues in the house.

However, I did notice when I was leaving that there were an awful lot of socks in the aisles.

Apparently, the show is rocking people's socks off.

I'm not sure if we should be thinking about hiring someone specifically to pick up the orphaned socks after each performance or if it is something the Shubert house staff wants to handle internally.

Either way, we definitely need to start a "Lost & Found;" there are a lot of people who will be trying to retrace their steps to figure out where they lost their socks. Perhaps we should start a sock reuniting initiative on the website? I don't know. Maybe this idea is premature.

I guess we should see what happens tomorrow night at the first preview.

Let me know your thoughts.

Hockadoo,
Carolyn

Memphis Blog Shout Out: Happy Birthday to Sarah of New Time Productions!
Thank you for being my desk neighbor, for your technology "consults," for your willingness to jump in and do video release forms when it is so not in your job description, and for knowing that I take my bagels "poppyseed, toasted with cream cheese"- and for making me eat one tonight as dinner. You are fantastical. And your new haircut is super cute.

I think, therefore, I am

I think this is Week Seven.

I think today is Monday.

I think the cast & crew must have enjoyed a much deserved day off today.

I think that Samson (Show Pup) looks handsome after his grooming appointment.

I think I better get those Opening Night gifts ordered.

I think the Stage Managers really enjoyed having Joe, Kevin and I in their office yesterday whilst we "tweeted."

I think everyone is thrilled that we got through 2 full run throughs this weekend.

I think I am loving that Lin Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) is on House right now.

I think that there are changes to the blog coming.

I think I have everyone on the list for the Invited Dress Rehearsal tomorrow night.

I think I learn something invaluable from my bosses everyday.

I think the show is ready for an audience...I don't think, I know.

Holy Run Through Batman!

I'm not sure what I expected to happen tonight.
I expected to be entertained, but I was rocked.

Having only caught glimpses of the show during tech, to see it play out in front of me, with a full band, fully lit, fully staged, fully costumed=fully blown away.

How could I not be with Danny Tidwell doing things like this?

Photo by Chris Owyoung www.onelouderphoto.com

I know what it is like to have expectations be built up and get to a show and have it not deliver. So I am not going to use the blog (much) to tout the fierceness, or rattle on about performances that break my heart a little each time.

It's time I encourage people to embrace the idea of not knowing a lot about this show.

Forget about not having the recording (yet) and knowing every word to every song before you walk in the theater doors.

Stop reading this blog if you have to (not really) and embrace the surprise.

There was a time you wen to the theater just because.
Not because it proved you were able to get a ticket, or saw this person in that show.

Take a friend. Buy a student rush ticket (or a full price one). I want you to love it, but I won't have my feelings hurt if you don't (well, maybe just a little).

But now is the time that you can have an impact on musical theater by going to the show during previews. The creatives and producers are all around: seeing what lands, what doesn't, what's clear, what needs clarification.

If/when you go, email me your thoughts.

Post them on our Facebook page.

Heck, if you can keep it under 140 characters, tweet it.
(in my mind, I heard "Just Tweet It" to the same tune of Michael Jackson's "Just Beat It.")

Memphis Blog Shout Out: Thanks to all who tweeted us during the Broadway League Tweet-Up today!

Oh, and if you leave the theater and feel like I did tonight, feel free to shout it from the rooftops.

Nick-tastic Broadway Video Series, Vol. 2 or Drink with Me Susan Blackwell

First of all, when Nick-tastic brought this into the office, he was rocking a sweatervest which should indicate that we are officially into the Fall season. Sweatervests=Fall goodness. Fall is, in this blogger's opinion, the best season in New York City. And not just because Memphis opens.

Second of all, the fact that Susan Blackwell (of the phenomenal Speech & Debate and the equally brilliant [title of show] and the fantastical "[titleofshow] show" webseries)
a: interviewed Chad Kimball (4:18 into the video),
b: suggests a Memphis drinking game,
is beyond brilliant.

Beyond.

I will be playing this drinking game very soon.
Perhaps tomorrow during tech would be the perfect time for the inaugural game.
Susan, please stop by the Shubert. BYOB.

[Insert witty blog title here]

This blog entry is brought to you by the letter"D."

"D" is for "Dance." Which they do in Memphis. A lot.

And they do it really well:

"D" is also for "Discussion."
Which the choreography associates Edgar, Jermaine and Kelly do during Memphis rehearsal.

And that discussion leads to more dance.

"D" is also for "Danny Tidwell." Danny is in Memphis doing a lot of dancing.

And tearing it up while rockin' the period costumes.

"D" is also for "Dress Rehearsal."

Which means the actors are getting used to moving and performing in the clothes they will be wearing in the show.

Fun Fact: Montego's character, Felicia, used to wear a pink dress in this pivotal scene in Act II. I have to say that I am loooving the new green dress. It has really fantastic pleating on the bodice and a really interesting back. Plus her shoes....

Apparently, I am obsessed with shoes. I'm just going to embrace it because let's be honest, most people rarely pay attention to what an actor is wearing on their feet but sooo much time is spend on footwear that it at least deserves some blog attention.
Bravo to the wardrobe personnel who have been working on the footwear! I support you.

"D" is also for "Director." And Memphis has a great one in Christopher Ashley.

Chris works with Chad and Montego on perhaps my favorite moment of the show.


Fun Fact: Chris uses a microphone during tech so that he can speak to the entire theater and be heard. Especially helpful during the rockin' musical numbers which we also have in the show.

"D" also stands for "Do you think this is picture of Chad Kimball (Huey) is amazing?"

Because I do.

Hit the Wall Wednesday

Welcome to Hit the Wall Wednesday. I'm not sure if it is because of the change in weather or the lack of sleep or the fast paced nature of producing a Broadway show, but, whatever the cause, I was not having the most productive day. Sometimes the art of making art involves no art and that can be hard on one's soul.

I'm happy to report that the show saved the day! Being over at the theater today for tech was exactly the cure I needed. Even though the technical rehearsal process is a stop/start, hurry up and wait, fix the lighting cue, reprogram the set change, kind of experience, watching it come together is ridiculously reinvigorating.

There is magic around every turn, like taking a trip to the restroom and finding August (dance arranger) and Edgar (Associate choreographer) using the piano in the downstairs lobby working out some new ways to pump up the "Stand Up" number in Act II.

You see scenes like this in the PBS documentaries they do of Broadway shows-capturing an idea at the moment of creation. It's pretty awesome to bear witness to these moments all over the building. The creative electricity in the Shubert is overflowing and was exactly the jolt I needed to get over the wall.

Plus, actors are fun to watch during tech as they find ways to amuse themselves during the "holds."

Chad and Derrick, acting:

Chad and Derrick during a hold:

Still holding:

Yup, still holding:

Plus, I will never tire of Derrick Baskin's smile.

Here are some more photos from the tech of Act II today:












Favorite Photo of the Day:

Brad Bass makes me laugh.
(And you have to love the guitar print shirt. Paul Tazewell=genius)

Thanks Memphis. Looking forward to Thursday.