Happy Halloween 2009!

Happy Halloween 2009!

So much happens so quickly backstage on a Broadway show that it's hard to keep up sometimes:

*Last Sunday we began an in-house scavenger hunt game titled "Bats, Rats and Riddles" (put together by our brilliant stage management team headed by the incomparable Andy Fenton!), consisting of clues in a book that lead to more clues, located inside AND outside the theater (often at OTHER Broadway shows) that concluded Friday night with the best team winning a top prize of a clothespin memento in the shape and form of a witch. A fun game meant to enhance the morale of the company - mission accomplished! Five teams of five or six members fought for supremacy, and yes, it's true, my team won. Hail to the victors! Clues were as cryptic as "Travel where it was red and blue - but not anymore, now yellow and blue will open the door" [Answer: the Broadway Theater where The Color Purple (red and blue) once played, but now Shrek (yellow and blue) is playing.] Or "Travel quickly through the stormy night, to see the NHL and NFL fight" [Answer: the Palace Theater, home of West Side Story and the (NHL San Jose) Sharks and the (NFL New York) Jets.] Told you they were cryptic. But fun none the less!

*Wednesday we began collecting for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids by stopping the show at the final applause and making an audience appeal for donations. Our "Sky", Eric Morris, well spoken and articulate, made a generous and gregarious speech to a very appreciative crowd. Not just seeking donations, items are also sold, including our signed posters ($40), CD's of various Broadways casts singing Christmas carols ($20), a Mamma Mia apron ($30) and a Mamma Mia recyclable grocery bag ($10). The sentiment is well placed and altruistic, but (and I know this is an unpopular opinion) I think it's a bit much to do it after every show for six weeks. Talk about gilding the Lilly!

*Amidst all the offstage hoopla, I do enjoy my time onstage enormously and often, still, find myself looking at other actors in various moments and find some small discovery of joy or happiness. I think, ultimately, that the core of my character "Bill" is all about joy and adventure. He's a real man with many dimensions, but he's an action taker who doesn't wait for things to happen to him. He goes out there and looks for it. And that's what appeals to me!

Credit Where Credit Is Due

I play hockey with a bunch of crybabies!  Everybody wants their 15 minutes of fame and apparently they think I can give it to them. Assuming anyone beyond my family reads this blog, I now bestow celebrity and stardom on the following slackers:
Doug, aka "Bert", aka "Kovalov"- you're a weaselly puck hog, but you're also an artist so you get a bye.
Scotty - if you weren't such a (word I can't print here), you'd be okay too.
Uri - there, "Stinky", I mentioned your name, now stop complaining!
Coco the Racist Goalie - haven't seen you for a while, we miss your whitty, racist comments.
Fuzzball - Where the hell are you? Raising gerbils in Chicago?
Paulie - When you're not hungover, you're great between the pipes.
Billy - Ditto, only in front of the pipes.
Big Nick,aka "Gigantor", aka "The Ice Manatee" - Your girlfriend Scotty called, wants you to pick up some tampons at the grocery store.
Big Mike, aka "The Snow Ape" - Thanks for the continual supply of lefty equipment.
Terry - Seems you got swallowed up at the U.S. Open. Venus Williams shove a ball down your throat, too?
Val, aka "Valishnikov" - you're socks look snazzy, but you gotta finish, my friend.
I'm sure I've missed a few and I know I'll hear about it, but for a ragtag group of posers, it's more fame than you deserve.
Best,
Minut, aka "The O.C."
There, now that that's out of the way, we can get back to the business of "The Mia", as we call it.

Monday's show was like a group hangover, only with a great audience. They were very into it, but the end of a long weekend, and the knowledge that we're still in the middle of a 13 show run left us reeling from the long weekend.  But we're pros, so we take it in stride and move on.

Great Weekend!

Unbelievably exciting day and matinee performance! Not sure why, considering it's a humid, rainy day in NYC (and weather always seems to effect theater audiences), but I'm thrilled for it since my Aunt Kathy and Cousin Amy are here, visiting from Ohio and celebrating a certain someones 70th Bday! Happy Bday, Aunt Kath!
Funny clout moment of the day: I called Joe Allen Restaurant, the famous theater hangout, for dinner reservations for us and was told they were all booked up.  Then I "mentioned" that it was too bad, "I can only make it between my shows."
"What show is that?", I was asked.
"Well I'm in Mamma Mia, so I can only make it for early dinner.  And I DID work for Joe in the past - I was a waiter at Orso Restaurant (owned by Joe Allen).
The maitréd's response? "Well sir, you need to tell us these things first. Of course we have a table for you."  MM! membership has its privileges.
*And if the matinee was fun, the evening show was beyond!  What a day! Must have been something in the air.  Responsive, excited - full audience on their feet by the end!  When they're clapping along during "Take A Chance", we know they're a good audience.  Favorite moment? After the show and the cool down and the exit and the autographs outside the stage door and the walk through a rain-soaked Times Square and getting to my gate at Port Authority Bus Terminal I'm waiting in line for my bus with a young couple I'm front of me - a well dressed Indian gentleman and quite pleasant date.  After 5minutes of waiting, and some odd staring, he finally asks, "Are you with the...are you in the Mamma Mia?"
"Yes, I am."
You would have thought he was meeting Gandhi himself.
"Oh my gosh! It is you! I thought you were him, cause you look like him, the beard and all... Look-" he points out to his compatriot, "It's him! You were wonderful. The whole show - wonderful. Wonderful! So much fun!"  And he went on like that for the whole bus ride.  It was delightful, again, to chat with fans who are so appreciative of not only my work (which is nice to hear) but of the show itself.  Believe me, it's hard to come down from a day like this.  I didn't get to bed till almost 2:30am!
*Sunday, a different story.  Nice audiences, receptive, but not very enthusiastic.  We all felt like we were performing a show with a big group hangover. Whew!
*We're now we're halfway through a 13 show run. Brutal, but challenging!

I Went To The Theater And A Baseball Game Broke Out!

I was brought up to believe that you were nice and respectful to people. Especially your elders.  Decency and kindness were inbred in me.  I'm from the Midwest.  It's a trait that I fought against most of my youth.  I wanted to be different, unique. Not rude, but I never wanted to follow the status quo. I wanted to be "different".  I decided to be an actor.  To come to New York, where the action is.  Where people speak their mind and get what they want and "don't take no crap from nobody!"  That's what I wanted, too.  I thought.  Now, I'm not so sure.
I watched the Yankees battle the Angels tonight in the ALCS (you would think there wasn't a show!) and I came to a realization:  In Detroit - the place of my youth, the home of my heart, the anchor of my soul - in Detroit, we hope to win.  We hope to succeed.  We hope that with enough hard work and resilience and dedication (and maybe a little bit of luck) that we'll succeed and win that Pennant or that Stanley Cup or that we'll survive this economic downturn and come out the better for it.  We hope, with decency and humility as our backbone, that these things will come to pass.
In New York, they EXPECT it.  With no humility, no decency, little forgiveness and simply no class.  It's crass and ugly and comes at you like a truck driver on NoDoz.
"When we win (not if, but when), it's because we deserve it!  Not that we've worked hard or dedicated ourselves to the task or overcome obstacles (many of which may be true), but simply because we're New Yorkers and we're entitled to it. Period.  And everyone else can go f --- themselves.  And if by chance we should lose, anyone else's victory is inconsequential because it's not a New York victory."  To quote Billy Joel, this is the "New York state of mind."
I'm glad I've made the realization.  It allows me the clarity to do my job unfettered from the vagaries of petty regionalisms (Go Tigers!) and focus on the task at hand.  The job and task I love to do so much. Act.

The Brazilians Are Coming!

Astonishing to me that 25years into this business (the allotted time for an actor to fully develop, according to David Mamet) I can still feel like an impostor and completely insignificant.  A shocking admission, I know, but sometimes I just feel like I've worked so hard to get where I am, and then I ask myself, "Where am I?"  Working on Broadway, yes, but then what? Security? Happiness.  I ask myself these questions and then, of course can only answer them with a resounding "Yes"! (Well, maybe not yes to job security, but in this economy I'm doing okay.)
Wednesday night on Broadway, but feels like a Monday since yesterday was day off. Again, no day off as I spent it with my son at the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx.  Too close to the Yankees for comfort.
But I digress - what a 180° turn from LAST Wednesday audience.  This one?  Alive!  Vibrant!  Really into the show!
And it showed after, as well.  Walked out the stage door to resounding applause and a very appreciative group of Brazilian fans.  Most from Sao Paolo, some from Rio de Janiero, they were gaga over the show.  Gross generalization here, but the girls all seems gorgeous and the guys all swarthy and suave and debonair.  All were effusive in their enthusiasm,and that can make a long night of Swedish pop songs more than bearable, ebullient!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Apologies for the delay. I too often make the excuse, but there never seems to be enough time in the day to eek out a new post. Here we go:

Busy weekend after an arduous start. If you recall, last week's audiences were less than generous, but they made up for it on Friday night. What a house! Loud, boisterous, really into the show and on their feet. The thrill continued through the weekend, both shows Saturday and especially Sunday matinee. Who'd a thunk it? But they rocked! Really loved it! And I continue to be amazed and very appreciative of all the visitors at the stage door who simply want to say hello, maybe get a picture taken or an autograph and express their appreciation for the show. A real treat to be a part of it.

Also got a personal surprise when my oldest brother John called me from out of the blue at 11:30 Friday night to say he was flying in from Boston the next morn - at 8:45 am! He's spending 2 months at Harvard Business School in this high powered Executive Education program. Sounds fascinating, actually, living and working with business executives from all over the globe. But he wanted to see his daughter, my niece, Erica, a freshman at Manhattan College in Riverdale. A pair of smarties, these two. It was great to spend a little time with them in the city. They didn't get a chance to see the whole show, but they did get to witness the last few minutes, including "Spandex Man"! Hopefully they're not scarred for life. I know they're coming back in November to see the full event, so I'm looking forward to that.

The other BIG surprise was that Sunday, October 18, was the 8th Anniversary of the Broadway Production of MM! WOW, do these people know how to party! We went to Toloache, this great Mexican Bistro on 50th St. right down the street from the theater. The show came down early, as it does on Sunday night, about 9:30. By 9:40 we were at the bistro, by 9:45, drinking Margaritas! And damn good one's too! Wow! The food was excellent, but the booze - margaritas, sangrias, lord knows what else - flowed freely for the better part of three hours, or at least that's how long we almost stayed. And I cannot tell a lie - I'm not as young as I used to be! Every time my drink was 3/4 empty, they'd take it away and replace it with a new one, so I never really knew how much I was drinking. Well, I found out this morning! Man, did that hurt!

But what a blast we all had. It was great to finally have a chance to talk with some of the people I have been working with for the last 2 months. Strange thing, that. You spend months at work, singing and dancing on stage with some of these people (sometimes nearly have naked!), and yet you know nothing about them. Who knew, for example, that my new friend Annie was a wine connoisseur on the side? Fascinating. And David our musical supervisor? His partner Michael, one of the funniest and driest wits I've ever met! Hilarious! (Even funnier, I suppose, after kicking back a few Margs!) But it was so great to meet so many fun and new people - and what a release from the show! Many thanks go out to our General Manager Nina Lannan for putting on such a Ritz. It was a blast! And many congrats to all involved for creating such a wonderful show that has lasted for 8 years. Here's to another 8!

Monday's show was a tough but welcome recovery from the previous nights antics. We all felt a bit sluggish, but still gave a great performance. The audience was a bit on the quiet side, as Mondays tend to be, but appreciative none-the-less. Met a very sweet woman and her three girls after the show who were in New York all the way from Southern Illinois to see their first Broadway show. What a thrill to think it was ours.

I continue to be awed by the blessing in my life that is Mamma Mia!

Tough Crowd

Okay, I'm just gonna say it - not the best audience we've ever had. In fact - well, let's just say, in the spirit of Rodney Dangerfield, "Tough crowd. Tough crowd!" (I could also say "I get no respect", but I wouldn't go that far.)
It was a tough crowd, though. Tough to capture, tough to please. The beauty of theater is that every night, every show is new and unique. You never know what you're gonna get. They certainly paid attention - even clapped along during the entré act for Act Two, but somehow we knew we just didn't have them. Or at least it felt that way for most of the show. I felt confident that by the end we'd get them on their feet. And sure enough, when the "rock concert" that is the finale - "Mamma Mia", "Dancing Queen", and our secret weapon "Waterloo" washed over them, the kool aid had taken effect and they were sedentary no longer. It's like a drug. A prescription that works every time. Astonishing.
___________________________________

Okay, I can't tell a lie. I wrote that post before the end of the show, halfway through the second act. I was projecting, putting a positive spin on things. Hoping for the best. Boy was I surprised!
I am so angry right now! Angry at the audience! I know, "Who do I think I am? They paid their money, they can do what they want". Yeah, yeah, I know, but come on! I killed myself out there. We all did! Show a little appreciation. It started when we got no applause after "Take A Chance." None! Not a peep! What gives? Allison and I killed ourselves out there. And we're frickin' funny, dammit! Nothing?
Then, in the final number, "Waterloo", the killer-of-all-killers, the sure fire-get-them-on-their-feet, leave-nothing-on-the-table number --- nothing! Well, okay, something, but a very little something. Heads bobbing, small, placid grin on the face. Satisfaction, but hardly jubilation! And the worst offenders? Right down front - FRONT ROW - aisle seats (if you're reading this, you know who you are!) They had the gall - the GALL - to actually stay in their seats! Didn't budge! Sure they smiled and clapped a bit, a knowing grin of satisfaction on their faces. But I wasn't buyin' it.

"If you're gonna come to my house, you're gonna ROCK!"

But alas, nothing. Disgusting. I can only hope and expect that future audiences will show more self respect and behave accordingly. As John and I quote each night before our final entrance (and in the infamous words of AC/DC),
"For those about to rock, we salute you!"