I completely forgot to mention that I've spent some time over the past week or so seeing friends in shows. I try to get out and see friends in shows as much as possible because I know how much it means to performers to have the support of their friends. And, selfishly, I'm hoping that these people will support me when the time comes for me to be in another show.
My friend Harry and I went to see our friend Tom play Joe in an off-off-Broadway production of the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along at the Gene Frankel Theatre down in the East Village. I'd give you all the information, but I believe the production has already closed.
I'd never seen a production of Merrily and was excited to see it. For those of you that care, this was the revised libretto that was first seen several years ago in a revival at the York Theatre here in town and also used at the Kennedy Center a couple of summers ago for the production that was part of the Sondheim Celebration.
It was an excellent production with a terrific cast. Tom was great and it was such fun seeing him. The only real problem was that the director tended to end the transitional scenes with awkward blackouts that basically defeated the purpose of those same transitional scenes.
And I was joined by Jim and Harry again to go see our friend Hector star in his new revue, What's Your Problem?, at The Encore, a newish piano bar/cabaret space in Times Square.
Now Hector is one of the more talented people that I know. Not only is he starring in this revue, he also wrote all the songs with his writing partner (who was on the piano musical directing the show). It was SO cool.
The show was loosely organized around the stupid things that people do that annoy us all. Standout numbers included "If We Were Gay-Married," "Fleet Week," and "Thanks For A Lovely First Time, Mr. Wilby," which I may need to borrow from Hector as an audition piece.
Hector's backup performers, Dawn Trautman, Travis Bloom, and especially Matthew Myers, all had their moments in the spotlight and each got to shine, even though this was clearly Hector's show. He was the STAR. And why not? He's a winning performer and the whole audience loved him from the moment he walked onstage.
Now I just need to get him to hire ME to do one of his shows.
Anyway, you can find information on the run of What's Your Problem? here. Go if you can. And tell Hector that I sent you.
Posted by Jere at June 13, 2005 12:20 AM | TrackBack