Randomness was everywhere today as the rev-up to the first rehearsal is a flurry of activity. Having never experienced pre-production week of a Broadway show, I was not quite prepared for how everything just starts to happen at once. All of a sudden, there are a hundred people doing a thousand different things; try to keep tabs on it all and you start to go a little insane.
We started off the day with a little visit from our good friends at Fed Ex:
I have never received a package before that says "Pick up a pig in a dark alley."
Fun Fact: Memphis is home to FedEx, the world's largest overnight package delivery company.
The backstory: on August 3rd, Memphis the Musical went to Memphis, Tennessee. Hosted by Pat Halloran and the Orpheum Theatre, Memphis stars Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, who play the leading roles, sang three songs from the show for a packed house of potential investors and sponsors.
Fun Fact: Memphis is the site of the first Welcome Wagon, founded in 1928. (So it only makes sense that we would get such a warm welcome.)
So they do the presentation at the Orpheum (video footage coming soon) and then the whole group of Memphis people go out on Beale Street.
Beale Street is world famous for being a center of rhythm and blues music and the birthplace of rock 'n' roll. Memphis the musical has many scenes which take place in Delray's Club on Beale Street- so its clear why the group had to go there.
Now I wasn't there, but apparently, our group did not disappoint. Composer and rock star, David Bryan, got up and did impromptu concerts at two different clubs, Montego got up and did some serious singin', and the rest of them were making some memories on the dance floor. (Unfortunately, there is no video footage of this part of the evening.)
So why are we being sent BBQ in the mail?
Fun Fact: Memphis is the Pork BBQ Capital of the World.
The backstory: on August 3rd, Memphis the Musical went to Memphis, Tennessee. Hosted by Pat Halloran and the Orpheum Theatre, Memphis stars Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, who play the leading roles, sang three songs from the show for a packed house of potential investors and sponsors.
Fun Fact: Memphis is the site of the first Welcome Wagon, founded in 1928. (So it only makes sense that we would get such a warm welcome.)
So they do the presentation at the Orpheum (video footage coming soon) and then the whole group of Memphis people go out on Beale Street.
Beale Street is world famous for being a center of rhythm and blues music and the birthplace of rock 'n' roll. Memphis the musical has many scenes which take place in Delray's Club on Beale Street- so its clear why the group had to go there.
Now I wasn't there, but apparently, our group did not disappoint. Composer and rock star, David Bryan, got up and did impromptu concerts at two different clubs, Montego got up and did some serious singin', and the rest of them were making some memories on the dance floor. (Unfortunately, there is no video footage of this part of the evening.)
Mental Note: purchase a flip video camera immediately.
So why are we being sent BBQ in the mail?
Fun Fact: Memphis is the Pork BBQ Capital of the World.
The lovely gentleman who owns Rendezvous, John Vergos, was at the presentation and thought he'd send us a little souvenir of the trip:
I am always trying to get my office to participate in "Friday Feast;" a common meal we would share together instead of the usual solo desk picnic that happens everyday. Well, tomorrow, thanks to Rendezvous, we will probably have the greatest Friday Feast we will ever have.
Show Power Alert: Montego Glover will be performing "Colored Woman" from the show as part of the Harlem Week celebration on Sunday at 2pm at 135th & 5th. Today, I watched the footage of her singing this song at the presentation in Memphis and got chills three times.
Show Power Alert: Montego Glover will be performing "Colored Woman" from the show as part of the Harlem Week celebration on Sunday at 2pm at 135th & 5th. Today, I watched the footage of her singing this song at the presentation in Memphis and got chills three times.
