Happy Halloween from the entire cast, crew and production team of Memphis!

Yes, I carved a Memphis pumpkin. This is my first Broadway show; I felt a jack o’ lantern tribute was appropriate.

Samson was also very interested in the Memphis pumpkin.

Samson was less interested in his lobster costume.

REMINDER: Tonight is the Derrick Baskin “date auction;” talk about a Halloween treat!

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween!

THE COVERT REPORT – WEEK 2

“SETTLING IN AT THE SHUBERT”

Greetings from “The Bungalow” here at the historic Shubert Theatre on Broadway. Many thanks for all the words of encouragement regarding my initial blog last week. The outpouring of support was overwhelming…I expect at any moment to be summoned to the E! Network and given my very own Chelsea Handler like half hour talk show. It was hard to keep up with all of the encouragement and emails I received praising my blog. I feel I must give a shout out to EVERYONE who wrote in with kind words. Therefore, get ready for the list as it reads like a who’s who of theatre royalty. Here goes…

Molly Payne-Hardin and Kelly Ramey.

Who are they you ask? Well, they are two lovely, talented ladies who attended The Florida State University with me. The very first scene I ever did “Owl and The Pussycat” was with Kelly my freshman year and we came full circle our Senior Year, starring opposite each other in “The School For Scandal” right on the Mainstage at FSU. I also did a wonderful scene from “Beyond Therapy” with Molly. Molly had bigger political aspirations than Acting 2 at FSU could handle, so the World will never know what could have been.

Nonetheless…they have rallied in support behind “The Covert Report” and their tireless efforts (a comment on the blog from Molly and a 2 line email from Kelly) will not go unnoticed when the E! Network finally comes a callin’….

Back to The Shubert. As I mentioned before, this is my second show and second original cast here at The Flagship (as I like to call it). The beauty of this theatre is breathtaking. To stand on the stage and look out at the audience is overwhelming at times.

There is such a difference between “Spamalot” and “Memphis”.

The first was an outlandish comedy…a silly two plus hours that passed like a runaway train. I will forever be grateful to have made my Broadway debut in that amazing show!!

I am even more grateful to be a part of this amazing journey. “Memphis” has been a labor of love for all involved. I can’t describe to you how exhilarating it is to be a part of something made from scratch. Every dance move, every word, every note has never been heard or seen before. To watch the audiences EXPLODE with applause and support sends chills down my spine (of course, that could also have something to do with the fact that The Flagship is FREEZING most of the time…or HOT as hell…never a middle ground…or maybe it’s menopause…)

The Men’s dressing room, as I mentioned before, is known as The Bungalow (I don’t know if someone from “Spamalot” made that up or if it has always been called that…anyhoo…that’s what it is called…don’t judge).

Well, here at “MEMPHIS” it is a rowdy and happy bunch. There are twelve of us plus two amazing dressers (Franklin and Kyle…well, Franklin is amazing…Kyle is a hot mess….not really, but I just like to be a pain in his ass…) all jammed in here!!

You would think that it would get tense or claustrophobic, but so far so good! The spirit is light and funny…and we are constantly watching youtube videos and howling at other peoples tomfoolery (do I get a bonus point for using tomfoolery in a sentence?).

Of course, maybe we are all getting along so well because we got more candy than a fat kid on Easter could ever want for opening night!! I swear, there is candy EVERYWHERE. It’s like Willy Wonka threw up in here. Well, whatever the reason that we get along so well, I only hope it continues.

I can’t really speak as to the Women’s dressing room…but I did just hear the doorman say that the “exterminator” was on his way down there…hmm…I’ll just leave it at that.

The principals all have their OWN dressing rooms…(how in the hell Buck Wiley doesn’t qualify as a principal…..I REALLY have to get on that entrance applause thing…) so don’t go worrying about them…..

SO, everyone is settling in just fine at The Shubert, or The Flagship, or The Home of Memphis, or whatever you would like to call it. SO, get your tickets or tell your friends and come see us!!

Keep those cards and letters coming, and the words of encouragement flowing! (Speaking of…brown waters can be delivered to Leon or Rose at the stage door c/o Kevin Covert)….

Hockadoo!!

-Kevin

Celebrity Sighting – This week it goes out to Marion Ross!! I mean, Mrs C from HAPPY DAYS was here!! She was so kind!! And she looks like a MILLION Dollars!! I totally had my picture taken with Richie Cunningham’s Mom….maybe she was the original MILF? Too much????

On 10/31, after the show, we will be doing our first of five live “date auctions” with the cast members of Memphis. So if you have not yet purchased a ticket to see the show, there is added incentive to go on Saturday nights over the next five weeks. I mean, besides the show being kick-ass and awesome on a nightly basis. (Mom, is it OK to say kick-ass on the blog?)

That’s right, folks. Derrick Baskin (Gator) could be yours this Saturday night.

If you need additional reasons why you might be interested in bidding on Derrick after seeing that smile….well then, I just don’t know.

BUT, not one to judge, I will lay it out for you. For those who have been reading this blog since the beginning (I thank you) this might be a bit of a visual redo. But, I think most of these photos deserve a second posting if they have already been seen.

First and foremost, the money from the “date auctions” will be supporting the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraising drive. It is a great cause that supports many programs for professional artists including the Actors Clinic which has personally kept those without health insurance, aka, me, healthy since I moved to New York as well as those around the country.

Secondly, Derrick is a dream.

Even blurry, he is dreamy.

3. Derrick is also a very good listener.

4. Derrick appreciates good dancing of which there is a lot in Memphis.

5. Derrick rocks a Gator head nightly. And twice on matinee days. It takes a fine man and a fine actor to shine through this headpiece.

(I couldn’t resist showing a picture of Costume Designer, Paul Tazewell’s sketch of Gator. Those who have been reading the blog for a while (I thank you again) know I have a weakness for these types of show-mentos. A Show-mento is a new term I made up tonight.)

6. Derrick is a conscientious friend who does not talk about you behind your back when your boyfriend messes up your life.

7. Derrick likes my dog. I think…I will double check on that but I believe he does.

8. Derrick can sing. Like sing to me all the days of my life singing. This is the Original (sorry James) “Mitch Mahoney” from 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee. You’ve heard the “I Love You Song”- now meet the man with the Voice. In fact, I bet you could ask Derrick how he feels being the Original (sorry James) “Mitch Mahoney.”

Fun Fact: James M. Iglehart (Bobby) also played “Mitch Monhoney” on Broadway. I saw both Derrick and James play the role and they were both amazing.

9. Derrick was also in Little Mermaid which means Derrick knows Sherrie Rene Scott. Which means, several of you reading this blog are jealous of Derrick.

10. Basically people, if you have ever wanted to know how one moves to New York City and makes it on Broadway, ever wanted to kick back and eat cheesecake and sip a cup o’ joe with the original Mitch Mahoney, ever wanted to just have a lovely evening with a wonderful human being, come to the Shubert on Saturday and put your money on the line for a great guy benefiting a great cause.

Hey Memphis Fans!

(And with those first three words I can officially put a big fat check mark on my bucket list next to “Write on the blog of a brand new Broadway Show”. Hockadoo!)

My Name is Charlie Williams and I’m in the ensemble of this little diddy we call MEMPHIS. Last Monday was my official Broadway debut and I have to tell you it was an unbelievable night.

Needless to say that making my Broadway debut was also another check mark on the old bucket list. For those of you who are scratching your heads right now at the words “bucket list”, I’m not talking about the crappy 2008 movie staring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I’m talking about my own “bucket list” of things I have to do before I die/ kick the bucket. But I digress-

We are officially out of the daily grind of creating and opening a new Broadway show, and into the daily grind of …. doing a Broadway show. That’s 8 shows a week people! So I guess you might say- Same Show. Different Grind.

We are all having a blast and really feeding off the energy of the audiences, who have been going head over heels for the show every night.

**Side note- Please watch your step in the Shubert Theatre. We don’t want anyone literally going head over heels.

Last Night was our first Tuesday night performance and everything went really well but I do feel that it is my duty to inform you of this fact-

TUESDAY NIGHT SHOWS OF MEMPHIS START AT 7:00 PM NOT 8:00 PM.

This isn’t an early Halloween trick or me trying to be funny on the blog.

This is a fact.

So if you buy tickets for a Tuesday night show, just know that the curtain goes up an hour earlier than usual. Crazy right? I wish I had some great Broadway insider reasoning as to why it’s necessary to start the show at 7:00 instead of 8:00 but alas, I don’t. But I can tell you this, if you do end up showing up at 8:00 for Tuesday show you will wonder how the entire audience got seated before you, and why there is a whole lot of jump roping going on onstage. You’re late.

I’m going to move onto the real reason why I’m here and leave the rest of the backstage blogging to the weekly Covert Report.

Memphis is doing something REALLY REALLY COOL! We are raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Most of you have probably been to a Broadway show where they make a speech about the organization after the curtain call and then cast members wait at the doors of the theatre with buckets for any donations you are willing to give. Well not only our we doing that, but we are also selling some really cool things and all the profits go to the Broadway Cares organization which helps people all over the country living with HIV/AIDS.

Broadway Cares also provides support to others facing a variety of health issues in our industry through the Phyllis Newman Woman’s Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic of The Actors Fund, as well as supporting over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide: Food banks, health clinics and housing program, reaching tens of thousands in need.

When you come see MEMPHIS you have the opportunity to buy the following items – (remember 100% of the profits go to the Broadway Cares Charity):

-MEMPHIS posters signed by the ENTIRE Broadway Cast- $100
(These posters are beautiful and would look great framed)

-Broken Records from the show Signed by our two leads Chad Kimball and Montego Glover- $20
(These are halves of old 45 records that have actually been used in the show. Each record is signed and dated with the performance that is was used in. This is your chance to actually own a part of the show! We are also selling the first preview performance record and the opening night record for $50 each since they are extra special)

-Carols For A Cure CD- $20
(Carols for a Cure is a CD put out by the broadway community each year. Its a great holiday CD with lots of your favorite Broadway shows providing the vocals. It’s never too early to think of stocking stuffers)

AND NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE…………………. DRUM ROLE PLEASE……

At every Saturday night performance from October 31st through December 5th we are having a live auction onstage after the curtain call!

What are we auctioning off you ask?

Our Leads!

You can’t keep them forever, but you can have them for a coffee/dessert date after the show!

This Saturday October 31st (yes, it’s halloween) our very own DERRICK BASKIN will be on the auction block. He plays the character of Gator. You might have also seen him the original casts of The Little Mermaid and …Spelling Bee.

You can cast your bid for you and a friend to go on your very own coffee/dessert date with him after show. Ask him about the show, his character, his career, his favorite color, anything you want to know! The date will be right across the alley from the Shubert Theatre at Junior’s Restaurant. Now that’s what I call an awesome Halloween, seeing the hottest new show on Broadway and then being able to sit down with one of it’s stars for the inside scoop on how it all goes down!

So when you come see MEMPHIS and bring your cash, checks, and major credit cards! We are selling the signed show posters, the signed broken records, and the Carols For A Cure CD after every show until December 6th, but you can only bid for a date with your favorite lead after the Saturday night shows!

And remember that 100% of the profits from all these items go to Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Aids. If none of these items are your cup of tea, we will always have cast members waiting after the show with donation buckets. Every little donation helps, so come see MEMPHIS and support a great cause.

Until Next Time!

-Charlie

Howdy FANtasticals!

Memphis Blog Shout Out: to Swing Candice Monet McCall who went on tonight in the show and who is one of the cast members making her Broadway debut in MEMPHIS! She went on during previews but I don’t think I blogged about it and therefore, I want to officially welcome her to the Memphis family! We are thrilled to have you and having your fierceness in the show!

OK, so you open a Broadway show a week ago. Now what?

Now you try and dig out from under everything in your office and try to resume business as usual- business as usual except that you are running a hit Broadway show!

The emails are still invading the Inbox, with everything from people wanting tickets to the scheduled press that the cast and creatives are doing this week to conversations about Broadway Cares posters…and on and on.

And the thing that has been the saving grace of it all? You guessed it. The little red wagon. Besides Samson, this is my favorite thing in my life right now. How has a little red wagon become the cornerstone of a successful Broadway Producing office? Because it makes things happen.

Producer Ken Clay, and Lead Producers Kenny & Marleen Alhadeff, used it to move boxes of custom Memphis hats and jackets.

Kenny is actually really excited about the wagon- I feel his facial expression is reflecting the realization about the sheer amount of custom products he has ordered. But he has outfitted almost everyone who works on this show from the cast to the box office.

Even Samson is hooked up.

Today, the little red wagon helped Lead Producer Sue Frost and I move her things from one place to another. We did not get a picture of it, but trust me. It was many-a-tote bags (for which Sue is famous) and was totally glamorous. Moving your belongings in a red wagon….in the rain…around mid-town. Ah, the life of a Broadway Producer.

And, the saga of the Opening Night gifts continues. Sick of hearing about it? I understand.

But, a major milestone was reached today with the help of the little red wagon.

So Producers/Investors who are reading this blog, do not fear. Your gifts were brought to the Port Authority US Post Office today and were shipped priority mail. Alert your doormen, stand by your mailboxes; they should arrive within 1-3 days.

What else is going on?

The cast is getting excited for a poster signing party in between the matinee and evening performances tomorrow.

The industry is continuing to respond well to the show and the group sales agencies are very excited about this new, big show we have at the Shubert. Look what they put on the front of the Telecharge.com Group Sales booklet!! MEMPHIS!

I’m getting very excited for our next guest blogger, Mr. Adorable himself, Charlie Williams from the cast. Look for his post in the next day or so.

Also on pins and needles about the Covert Report Vol. 2; what will Kevin have to report on this week now that all opening night hoopla has died down?

Here’s a quick shoot of some of that “hoopla” as found in the Junkyard Dog Office:

Thank you to all who helped us celebrate the Opening of the show!

And, thank you, to the little red wagon. Without whom, I would be lost. (and tired, wet and sore from carrying stuff all over the city).

-Carolyn

If you have been in any Duane Reade (akin to a Walgreens or Rite Aid for those of you in different parts of the country) or a Papyrus card shop, you’ll notice that the city is already totally geared up for the Holiday Season.

At Memphis, we are gearing up too.

The holiday season for Broadway officially begins when the shows that are currently playing begin fundraising efforts in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA).

“Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation’s leading industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American Theatre community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $160 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV or HIV-related illnesses.” www.bcefa.org

It is an amazing organizing that also supports The Actor’s Fund as well as a National Grants Program. BC/EFA puts on a ton of events throughout the year in addition to the in-theatre donation drives including Broadway Barks, the Flea Market, Broadway Bares, and many more- they are even doing a special concert with Bernadette Peters on November 9th!!

If you have been to a Broadway show between the beginning of November through December, actors will make curtain speeches and encourage people to donate, either with a straight donation or through the purchasing of merchandise-like a signed show poster.

I think it was Daniel Radcliffe, (yes, Harry Potter himself) who raised the bar last season when he started auctioning off the jeans he wore in the show during his run in the show Equus.

So at Memphis, the actors are taking it up a notch. Make that several notches, turning that dial all the way to awesome.

So there will be show posters as signed by the entire cast…

And…..

Gosh, I don’t feel like I can reveal what else besides show memorabilia that will be auctioned off yet, but, I can tell you, if you are seeing Memphis on a Saturday night between THIS Saturday, October 28th through December 5th, check the balances in your bank accounts because you are going to want what we have to offer.

And you are going to have to bid against me to get it.

So bring it on.

I’m not above outbidding small, adorable little children either.

Earlier in the week, Joe DiPietro blogged about being at an Ad meeting on Tuesday the day after Opening in which we were all going over the reviews for the show. The gang at SpotCo, our own personal Mad Men and Women, had alot of amazing quotes to work with and worked furiously after the reviews came out to get a “quote ad” ready to run in the New York Times on Friday.

If you did not get the Friday New York Times, do not fear, I will bring the New York Times to you.

I cannot tell a lie. It feels great to have been received well by the critics. Freaking great.

And they did not mince words.

Let’s face it, Memphis rocks.

AND, it fully rocks from the front row!

Last night was totally my redo Opening Night as I sat front row with four fab friends. In an effort to keep it real, you will not see a lot of feet from the front row. Often times when actors are mid or upstage, you will see people from the knees down. BUT, what you will see entirely makes up for it.

I noticed things during the show that I have never noticed before:
1. heard what LaQuet says in the first scene (“talk on it, talk on it” being one of my favorite phrases),

2. saw so much in Derrick Baskin’s eyes (Gator) that it brought me to another level of understanding about his character as well as a new appreciation for Derrick the actor,

3. sweat actually flings off people when turning quickly,

4. The chemistry between Chad and Montego as Huey and Felicia is unbelievable. It was innumerable the amount of times that Kristel leaned over and said “he loves her sooo much.”

As shout out to Chad and Montego, here is a photo I took during tech that I haven’t shared until now.

It may be one of my favorites:

Loving them, right?

Anyway, it was so amazing from the front row that by the end, I felt exhausted/exhilarated- like I had just finished a 2 hour exercise class.

If you have seen the show already from another seat, run, do not walk and get those rush tickets for the front row. You will have to beat me to the box office because I am definitely doing that again!

Memphis blog Shout Out to the Official Front Row Crew (Allie, Cindy, Christina, Danielle, Kelly, Jamie and Michelle) who commented on the blog the other day:

“HEY WE ARE THE FRONT ROW CREW! We made this sign and brought it to the stage door opening night! We all attend Hofstra University and LOVE this show. We have Student Rushed so many times and sat front row several times( a couple of us two nights in a row)! WE LOVE THIS SHOW! We sing the songs constantly! We are Memphis #1 fans.”

Clearly, myself, the Front Row Crew, and Roma Torre from NY1 all agree, Memphis rocks.

THE COVERT REPORT- WEEK ONE.

“OPENINGS AND UNDERSTUDIES”

When asked to do a weekly blog entry for “MEMPHIS” – I assured the powers that be that I would do begin post haste and start with the first week of rehearsal….so, um, welcome to my first entry….The show opened this past Monday.

I didn’t really fully comprehend the amount of time that rehearsals, previews, and more importantly, hanging out with my fellow castmates would consume.

Therefore, the COVERT REPORT will now begin as a weekly journey through the Broadway run of this little gem of a musical. With the overall amazing reviews and crazy word of mouth on “MEMPHIS”…I may get blog elbow, as I feel this puppy is gonna run for awhile.

I shall begin the weekly recap at the beginning (that sounds like a very good place to start).

The big news this week at The Shubert was OPENING NIGHT! We opened on a Monday…which I thought was rather odd, but I guess Thursday or Sunday seemed off-putting to someone.

We were called to the theatre at 5 o’clock so that our fearless leader, Chris Ashley, could address the company. I, myself, got here at 3 so that I could pass out my cards and opening night gifts (a smart black plastic cup with “MEMPHIS” written out in red letters…jealous? Yeah, I thought so). At 5, we all gathered on stage and Chris said some very nice words about the process and integrity of the show. It was very special and the love that this cast has for that man is overwhelming!

Then our writers, Joe and David, were their usual witty and positive selves and predicted a decades long run! Then came the wonderful tradition of The Gypsy Robe.

The robe is presented to the ensemble player who has been in the most Broadway choruses. The recipient must wear the robe and circle the stage 3 times counter-clockwise so the company can touch the robe. He/she must then visit every dressing room, then the show will be blessed.

The winner of the robe for our show was John Jellison. The man has done 18 Broadway Shows…I mean, seriously. 18!!! This is my second (the first being “SPAMALOT” here at The Shubert as well)….and I was thinking I maybe had an outside chance of wearing that bad boy on opening night. How am I ever to compete with John Jellison? I should have had him taken out when I had the chance…Oh wait…am I writing with my inside voice now?

Anyway…congrats to John whatever-his-name-is…he clearly deserved it. The show was scheduled to begin at 6:30, but with the Peabody Ducks and all walking the red carpet, we got off to a bit of a late start. Right from the beginning the crowd was ELECTRIC!!! I have NEVER in my life been in a show that has had the kind of reception we did that evening.

Even my first character, Buck Wiley, got entrance applause. Come to think of it, why shouldn’t I get entrance applause? I should plant someone in the audience nightly to begin a thunderous round of applause as my DJ booth ascends to the stage)…By the end of the show, it was like being at a sold out rock concert at The Garden. The reaction was deafening, and AMAZING!! What an exhilarating experience……(entrance applause…who do I know that would come to the show every night and do that for me….)

After the show, the boys of the bungalow (the name of our dressing room) shared in a champagne toast courtesy of cast member Ephraim Sykes! We all then put on our fancy clothes (YES, I ROCKED a vest on opening–I may be a year behind the fashion trends, but I get there eventually…) and headed over to The Hard Rock Cafe for the party.

I will admit that when I first heard that the party was at The Hard Rock I was a little cautious…but that place was on POINT Monday. The ensemble fellows (including that one with the 1800 shows…who got the robe)…all went through the press line so that our cute and adorable mugs could be shown on the various theatre websites…then off to meet our guests, friends and families. Right away I spotted my dear friend Sutton (YES, that Sutton…how many other people do you know named Sutton?) who very graciously offered to get me a drink. I ordered up a bourbon on the rocks (or as my friend from high school, TM, calls it….the brown water. TM was also in attendance that night and kept pushing the brown waters on me…I blame him for the hangover I had the next morning….).

Cocktails in hand, I then found my other friends in attendance. They were all SUPER excited about the show…with my friend Brad claiming it to be the best show he had ever seen. I would like to point out that he grew up on Long Island and has seen TONS of theatre…so I take that as the highest form of praise!

We ate, drank and were merry at The Hard Rock until a little past midnight…then to the AFTER party. Sponsored by our very own David Bryan, the cast headed down to AVENUE on 10th and 17th. Things get a little fuzzy for me here….I remember a glass of champagne, my friend Liz dancing on a table with someone from The Hartman Group, and another brown water courtesy of TM…..Next thing I know I am in my bed and it is Noon on Tuesday. THAT is how you open a Broadway show! (I guess if I had actually met someone and hooked up that would have added a plus to the A grade…but after that last brown water…who knows….I may have hooked up and just don’t remember…)

SO, “MEMPHIS” is off and running here at The Shubert. Just because opening night has come and gone here, we are still hard at work.

On Thursday and Friday we began understudy rehearsals. I cover the role of Mr. Simmons (played by the always brilliant Michael McGrath with whom I did “SPAMALOT”….he is a great friend and an amazing talent, and he enjoys a brown water on occasion as well…).

Each principal role in the show is covered by two people. In addition to myself, John with the 18,000 shows also covers the role. SO, we are slowly going through the show from the beginning so that each person can have a chance to go through the music and the blocking of the characters they understudy. Come to think of it…how the hell did I get myself involved in this understudy thing? Maybe with the entrance applause for Buck, they will realize that I need to always ride up in that DJ Booth…..

Simply put, I LOVE my job and I LOVE this show. I am so lucky to be able to do what I dreamed of doing as a child. Maybe one day I’ll have 18 million Broadway credits and finally get to put on that robe they call the Gypsy and bask in the glory of entrance applause nightly.

HOCKADOO!

-Kevin

BONUS ENTRY- I’ll do a celebrity sighting weekly. I am gonna give the shout out to Patrick Wilson this week. I have known him for many years, and he is very good friends with some of my very good friends….that having been said, you’d think he could have sought me out on Opening Night…and maybe even offered up a brown water.

Let me begin by saying that I seriously would not have made it through the last week of my life without the tremendous help of the friends and colleagues that answered my distress calls and came to my rescue. As this was my first Broadway show, I realized pretty early on that I would need some serious help. Luckily, I was surrounded by a terrific cast of characters: Kristel, Darin, Sarah N., Sara G., Sarah Jane, Nick-tastic and my personal Batman, Tegan. They were my pizza eating-scissor wielding-gift tag punching-running around town for silver sharpies-dealing with anything and everything I could, and did, throw at them- Personal Army.

As I went to college with 4 of the 7 people listed above, our shared experience last week reminded me very much of our theater exploits from back in the day. There is not much difference between the guerilla warfare theater tactics of your college Fringe Festival and Broadway, which I hope inspires people who may be reading this blog while getting a theater degree in. DO STUFF while at school beyond the mainstage productions. You never know what Broadway will ask of you.

And a further “Thank You” to gal pal Kristel for answering the call of yesterday’s blog entry for photo submissions to help illustrate what actually went into Opening Night!

I call it “A Study in Contrasts.”

Exhibit A: Here is what Kristel and Darin looked like at the Opening Night of Memphis. (Sorry Kristel, I stole this off of your Facebook page. The blog made me do it.)

Beautiful. The red lip, the pulled up hair, the husband in the suit….picture perfect.

Exhibit B: Here is Kristel that very morning in the lobby of the Shubert, looking bright, cheery and very put together whilst she waits to hand out producer/investor tickets for the Opening Night performance. This look is somewhat caffeine inspired, but still, she is working it.

Lovely.

Merch note: Since we will be recording the Memphis Original Broadway Cast album soon, you can actually pre-order the CD at the merch booths in the theater OR on our website under the “Buy Stuff” link. Check it out.

Some may think based on the pictures above, that I am “overdramatizing” the drama that was getting ready for opening night. And while no pictures of me were allowed during this last week as that would have been cruel and unusual punishment for all those reading this blog, might I present as evidence Exhibit C: Please note the difference between the Kristel pictured above and the Kristel pictured only a day before while in the Junkyard Dog office.

This is what cutting 400 yards of Zebra striped grosgrain ribbon will do to a person. Nick-tastic, Sarah N., Kristel, with her husband Darin, were super troopers about this particular project.

Fun Fact: We discovered that the ratio between Darin’s large man palms to somewhat dainty feminine fingers made for perfect bow tying. This is extremely important when tying 400 bows.

I think I cut the original template ribbon, and that’s the only ribbon that I cut. I call that “successful delegation.”

Fun Fact: For those of you who have not seen the show, our main character, Huey, has a “thing” for Zebra print. For the last two years, I have thought, “Oh, Huey. You’re so zany- that’s why you are rocking the zebra print.” It wasn’t until about, oh, 3 weeks ago, that I noticed the symbolism in Paul Tazewell’s “zany” design decision; Memphis is about a white DJ who uses music to navigate his way through the tumultuous social politics of race relations in the 1950s while involved in an interracial relationship with an African-American singer. Therefore, the zebra= not just a zany character choice.

Not everyone has received their nifty gifty so my goal for tomorrow is to mail out as many gifts as I possibly can to those associates, producers and investors who have not gotten their hands on one of their Opening Night gifts. (Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I see a Zebra pattern. This is a true statement which indicates I need to get these gifts out of our office as soon as possible).

Speaking of tomorrow, I am SUPER excited as I plan to rush the show and watch it from the front row!

Though, and I found this out last night, there is a “Front Row Crew,” as evident by this Happy Opening sign that is posted just inside the Stage Door.

FRONT ROW CREW: Are you an equal-opportunity Broadway show front row crew or are you Memphis specific front row crew? Will you be there Friday night? Is there an initiation? Who are you Front Row Crew and how do I join your posse??

Dear Cast: I look forward to being up close and personal with you tomorrow night!

The show has opened.

This is wonderful mainly because of three things:

1. The show is the show. No more rehearsing or changes or notes. The show is the show that it will be forever. Memphis 4 eva. The cast rejoices and gets to settle into life on Beale Street.

2. The seating chart mania is totally over. All emails and post-it notes regarding Opening Night have been deleted and/or recycled.

3. There is a lot of sweet Opening Night swag to go through.

So much so, that Sarah (office pal) and Samson (Show Pup) and I had to take a Producer’s giant red wagon to the theatre this afternoon and collect all of the gifts that were left there for the Junkyard Dog Producers. Bonus, we pulled Samson in it for a block and a half or so and that was pretty awesome.

(Why Francine has this wagon and where she stores it is still a mystery, but it has saved my life over the past few days taking gifts to and from the theater. And it is not some little Radio Flyer wagon; it is a full on 4 x 4 off-roading red wagon with sweet turning capabilities and air bags. Ok, no air bags, but it is serious.)

Some of the nifty gifties we picked up included:

-MEMPHIS luggage tags with a great note that said “Never let anyone ‘Steal your Rock ‘n’ Roll’- or your backpack or baggage.” And nice play on the finale song of the show.
-Francine’s famous peanut butter squares aka Deliciousness.
-flowers, flowers, plants, and flowers. You can smell them from the hallway outside our office door.
-chocolates. Lots of chocolates.
-lots of adult beverages including MEMPHIS wine and custom Dupont Beer (Dupont is the fictional beer that is oft referenced in the show.)

And then there was the gift to each of my bosses from Christopher Ashley (Director):

We had to take a picture of Samson next to it to give you a sense of scale. Samson is only about 9″ tall….

I don’t know when, I don’t know where, I don’t really know how, but someday, we will drink this champagne. And we have two of them in the office, so you will all be invited.

Also, I would be remiss if I did not thank the amazing Joe DiPietro for guest blogging all last week.

Everyday, someone in my office would erupt in peals of laughter while reading his blog entries and exclaim “Joe is sooo funny” which was really a blow to my ego great to know people were being entertained. Joe is an amazing writer, but an even more amazing human being and never in my life would I have expected that my professional life would cross paths with his. And, I think we are going to get Rocco and Samson together for a photo op play date in a few weeks so get excited for that.

Also, Joe has introduced this term “Memphisheads,” which I think is nice, but if, I may, I’d like to offer some additional suggestions for fans of the blog/show/the dogs/the Peabody ducks:
1. Hocka-dudes

2. Rock Shoppers (there used to be a song called “Rock Shop” during Huey’s TV show, so it doesn’t really work, but I liked it anyway)

or my personal favorite,
3. FANtasticals

If you have any suggestions, do let me know. I’m happy to whip up some shirts on Zazzle.com and start my own Memphis gang.

On a serious note, I feel compelled to tell you that I did not make it through Opening Night. Having not slept the night before, I made it to intermission and then had to call it a night. Disappointing yes, but necessary. Therefore, I will not be able to report first hand on the party or the outfits or the fancies but I will make it my mission to Anderson Cooper it and get the details. And I had such grand plans to do some serious in depth reporting but now I must rely on the people who were there to send me the details.

So cast members, designers, associates, guests….if you read this blog and have my email address AND want to throw me a bone, send me a snapshot, a brief memory, some tidbit about opening that you feel you can share with the FANtasticals.

The people want to know.

Heck, I want to know.

While I await your responses, I am just happy to be part of Broadway. Officially.

Hockadoo, people. Hockadoo.