The Covert Report – Week 14
Shake The Blues
Did you know that the song “Ain’t Nothin’ But A Kiss” in the show used to be called “I Can Shake The Blues”. When we started rehearsal for the Broadway production, new lyrics were added to the song. It really makes a lot of sense when you think about it. It is a kiss on the air that causes all sorta trouble in MEMPHIS. Interesting that the song is called “Nothin But A Kiss”…implying what’s the big deal?? Well, in the 50’s South…it was a MAJOR deal.
Anyway, back to shaking the blues. What is it about January that brings out the duldrums. I suppose the glow of all the holidays is over and the credit card bills from all the holiday spending roll in….ALSO, I want to start a petition to do away with this Daylight Savings. How depressing is it when the sun goes down at 4:30 in the afternoon? Add that to chilly NY weather…and January can be downright depressing.
Luckily for me, once I step into the Shubert…most of that melts away. The show is so lively that you forget it is dark and cold outside!! Speaking of lively, it was a fun filled and exciting week last week here at MEMPHIS.
Bryan Fenkart who understudies Huey went on for the first time last week for 3 performances. Now, the role of Huey Calhoun is a BEAST!! With the exception of the opening number, the character is on stage pretty much the entire show. When not on stage he is changing frantically into a different Paul Tazewell designed costume!! I am exhausted just thinking about it.
Well, Bryan handled the entire experience like a true professional. He rose to the occasion and did a really lovely job. He certainly didn’t have the blues last week!!
One of the cooler things I get to do being in a Broadway show is to teach and do Q and A’s with visiting students from across the country. I work for a company called “Broadway Classroom”. Yesterday, I did my first Q & A for MEMPHIS. It was for a group of students from North Monroe, Louisiana. They actually aren’t theatre students…just honor students involved in a program called “cultural experiences”. They had lots of questions about what goes into making a Broadway musical happen, and I was happy to answer any and all questions they had (with the exception of what my salary is….and how much brown water costs in the city…)
They are seeing the Wednesday matinee, and I can’t wait to hear their reaction to the show!! I think Arts in the schools are SO important, and I am happy to hear that some schools still feel the importance of this. MEMPHIS has paired with VH1 Save The Music in the past, and I hope we continue to do more of that in the future.
Speaking of music, I have been asked by well over 100 people when the MEMPHIS cast album will be available in stores and on iTunes. I wish I knew that answer to that, but I don’t. It is certainly important to get the music out to the masses, and I am sure that the powers that be are busy trying to get it out ASAP. SO, my fellow Virginians and many Floridians….patience is a virtue. Shake those blues and expect a facebook message from me when I find out what is a happenin’.
One thing that is getting me excited and a little less bluesy is the fact that in a few weeks, The Broadway Bowling League starts! We have so much interest over here at MEMPHIS that we have 2 Teams. We will be called the “Memphis Strikeadoos” and the “Memphis Pintasticals.” Catchy names, right? Listen, as long as we beat SOUTH PACIFIC, I’ll be happy. My buddy Christian Delcroix who is in “So Pac” has been talking a whole lotta smack about taking us down. Bring It On South Pacific!!!
I hope everyone stays cheerful and positive over the next few weeks. February tends to be the same as January…Bring on MARCH!!!
Hockadoo!
-Kevin
Celebrity Sighting of the week – I added a new show to my DVR list this past week. Imagine my surprise when watching “The Deep End” to see Tony Winner Norbert Leo Butz on the TV. He saw MEMPHIS last week!!!! Woo Hoo!
couple of comments/questions
1. do you guys have shirts? And will you share them with us? i love that there is enough interest for two teams….
2. Talk smack indeed, the real proof in the pudding will be when MEMPHIS rocks it and hands it to So Pac on a platter…keep us updated….
3. Is hthere an awards ceremony at the end of the year? If so, take lots and lots of pictures….better yet…take lots and lots of pictures while bowling….and if you need a volunteer to take the pics…I volunteer … ;)
Comment by raellen — January 27, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Our friends have been raving about Memphis and we finally saw it last week. We saw it when Bryan Fenkart was in as the lead who blew us away with his terrific performance! We really couldn’t believe that he’s the understudy and we went searching to find out more about him and found this website. We can’t believe that it was the first time he’s done the show! He was fabulous! And the rest of the cast, too! Great job everyone! We’ll be back!
Comment by Pat — January 29, 2010 @ 9:15 pm
If we did away with daylight savings it would get darker earlier in the summer as the winter is when daylight savings is NOT in effect :-( So actually, we need daylight savings to ACTUALLY last all year. But I agree with what you were saying!
Comment by David — February 2, 2010 @ 11:21 am