In the spirit of making sure that information gets out to Memphisheads in a timely fashion, here is my Sunday Round Up- this week featuring the videos I sat on the floor of the Times Square Information Center to shoot when J. Bernard, Derrick and James were interviewed by Seth Rudetsky for Sirius Radio, which should air tonight!!

In the event you don’t get Sirius Radio, here are some clips of what went down!

James does it up with “Make them Hear You” from Ragtime.

J. Bernard sings “One in a Million.”

Everyone Has A Dream…by Derrick Baskin

What does one do when they get on the train without the keys to one’s office?

Naturally, they go to the Shubert Theatre and find refuge in the Stage Management office.

Before today’s matinee, I hung out with the Show Pup backstage and somehow got my hands on the Stage Managers camera which meant 2 things:

1. I had a photo shoot with Samson during “Underground.”

Samson action shot #1

This activity caused some barking backstage so I quickly had to put an end to it

Once the ball was taken away, we hung out until it was time for Rhett and James' quick changes.

2. I found ALL these photos with celebs!!!! So naturally, I stole the camera, took it to company management, downloaded all the photos and returned the camera before the finale!

Montego with Nat King Cole's daughter, Casey Cole

Dionne, James, Rhett, Danyelle and John Eric with Casey Cole

Ephraim, James, Daniel and John Eric with Chris Jackson (center) from In the Heights

James and Chris are total buddies

Ephraim, Sydney, Glenn Close and Katie Webber.

Kevin and Montego, Florida State alums, accept Glenn Close, a William and Mary graduate.

Hillary and Candice get Close...

Two of my favoite people: Brad Bass and Fred Willard

Show Power alert: Brad Bass will be part of tomorrow night’s At this Performance; a show featuring the vocal talents of Broadway understudies. The McGinn/Cazale Theatre is located at 2162 Broadway, Broadway at 76th Street on the 3rd Floor. Tickets, priced $25, are available by calling (212) 579-4230 or by visiting www.iseats.com. For more information visit www.musicalstonight.org.

Fred and Chad looking dapper and excited.

I wish I could hang out with both these guys at the same time- dinner with James and Fred would be epic.

3. There was also this adorable picture of Montego, Michael and Cass that I thought was too precious not to post.

Where I should be right now: New York City

Where I am right now: California

Poor Randy. He apparently discovered a hole in his shoe on his way to today’s Ad meeting at SpotCo, which is not good when there is an inch of “slush” on the ground.

Barefoot in the Office- the sequel to Barefoot in the Park

And still, despite the snow, there was a line at the box office. THAT is the music of my soul*….

(*for effect ONLY; that sounded very heartless and like ruthless-broadway-producer-impresario speak…I just liked the way it incorporated a reference to the show- don’t hate me for being sassy- or for being in sunny California. If all goes well, I will be back in time to enjoy the slush by 9:45pm tomorrow night.)

The Covert Report – Week 18

Another Day In Paradise

Here at The Shubert, we enjoyed one hell of a week! I don’t know what was in the water in NYC, but our crowds were HUGE and incredibly enthusiastic!! Thanks to all of the Memphis fans for the great turnout!!

I have said it before and I will say it again! There is nothing like WORD OF MOUTH on a new Broadway show, and I have never seen such amazing word of mouth as I have with MEMPHIS!

Some updates here from homebase. The Final Four are still in tact. I tried to have John Jellison clubbed, but the person I sent had one too many brown waters and apparently went to the wrong apartment. So, my apologies to whomever got whacked in the knee in midtown a few days ago….Jellison keeps on shuffling in to the show.

The bowling teams went head to head last week. It was a battle royale. A battle to see who is worse. The Strike-Adoos are currently in 7th place overall while my team, The Pin-Tasticals are holding strong in 13th place. The good news is, we have a hell of a time. It is such a cool bonding experience! We may need to start having weekly practice, however, if ole Huey continues on his downhill spiral.

Mike McGrath and I at bowling last Thursday

Other than that, it was a pretty easygoing week. Not really much to report. I am excited that my baby sister and her husband will be coming to the Big Apple this weekend to see the show!! My family is always so supportive of me, and I can't wait to spend some time with Kristi and Joe. Did I mention that my mother named her children Kevin, Kristian and Keith? All K names....it was the 70's...it was the thing to do. Don't judge.

Also this weekend, one of my best frie nd Enders parent's are in town! Her Mom...or Cathy with a C as I like to call her, is a huge theatre fan!! I am excited for them to see the show! Montego and Enders were roomies in college. Go Noles!!

Also this weekend brings another bestie, Mia and her fiance Al to the show! I am going to St. Lucia in July for a week to celebrate the Price/Notarnicola nuptials and I couldn't be more excited!! My flight is booked (thank you American Express points) and my room is booked at the JaLouise Plantation for a week of fun in the sun. I get there on Monday. The wedding is Saturday. I hope I make it to the wedding and am not lost in a bottle of brown water on the other side of the island. Luckily Jermaine will be with me to keep me in line. Oh who the hell am I kidding? He will be lost on the other side of the island with me!!

Sometimes it really does take my breath away how very lucky I am. Not only do I love the show, but the cast, crew, creatives and producer's are ALL amazing!! My family and friends throw SO much support my way!! It really is another day in Paradise!! I am fairly certain that paradise includes a water fall made of the good brown water. Maybe I can find it in St. Lucia?

Sorry to make this short this week....it was pretty smooth sailing. But isn't that nice?

Hockadoo!!

-Kevin

Celebrity Sighting – Straight from the New York Yankees…..Pitcher CC Sabathia!!

I feel as if we need to do a recap because I just feel behind.

1. Our composer, David Bryan, is on tour with Bon Jovi. Producer Kenny Alhadeff got the royal treatment at the concert in Seattle.

2. Our author, Joe DiPietro, is getting ready for his new play, Creating Claire, to premiere at the George Street Playhouse starring Sandy Duncan. She will not be flying in this production.

3. People are spreading the word about the show via Twitter. This was an especially good tweet that I just felt compelled to share for its succientness:

Memphis is a bomb ass broadway show go see that sh*t. it was tough & I’m shakin my booty to the soundtrack right now

4. We got the most practical/best gift ever in the office last week. A HUGE thanks to Memphis mega-fan Jenn for sending us this Broadway super fuel via Fed Ex! If Kevin Covert is Mr. Brown Water, then perhaps the Junkyard Dogs are “Diet Coke hounds”?

I recently went to 5 Napkin Burger on 9th Ave and the server said, “Can I get you a water, a Diet Coke?” Clearly he knows his clientele in the theatre district.

5. This ESPN sports anchor came to the show on Saturday.

Apaprently, his name is Stuart Scott and his presence at the show built MAJOR cred with my boyfriend. Between Mark Sanchez and the ESPN guy (who was on his feet at curtain call before me I have to say) we seem poised to become the new “guy approved” Broadway show. Memphis on Broadway- the new way to say “Happy Father’s Day.”

To be fair, I am not in NYC so I am not “on the pulse” of Memphis as I would be on a normal day. Instead, I am in California waiting to become an aunt- I only have a few hours to convince my brother and sister-in-law that “Felicia” would be a great name for my new niece so I am off the the hospital!

Finally.

At the Broadway Bowling League last Thursday night, my friendster Miz Molly said, “oh look, it’s Mr. Brown Water.” Naturally she was referring to bowling captain and Memphis cast member Kevin Covert, who is a staunch supporter of the brown water.

Molly was at bowling with me as Memphis had just hosted 15 kids from the 52nd Street Project of which Molly is a teaching artist.

From their website www.52streetproject.org:

“The 52nd Street Project is dedicated to the creation and production of new plays for, and often by, kids between the ages of nine and eighteen that reside in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New York City. The Project does this through a series of unique mentoring programs that match kids with professional theater artists.”

“The Project is about making children proud of themselves. The Project is not about teaching children to act, although they will learn to. It is not about teaching them to write plays, although they will learn that as well. What it is about is giving a kid an experience of success. It is about giving a kid an opportunity to prove that he or she has something of value to offer, something that comes from within that he or she alone possesses, something that cannot be taken away. ”

The group from 52 Street Project onstage at the Shubert

The kids got to meet Bryan, Dionne, James, Derrick and Daniel after the show; it was so much fun to have them at the show and hear their enthusiastic responses. We look forward to having more kids from all over the city as our Inspire Change program starts this week!

So then it was off to Bowling!

This week’s featured match up was between the Memphis Pintasticals versus the Memphis Strike-adoos!!

Thanks to Producer Dugan Moore for sponsoring this night of bowling for the bowling teams and it was quite an eventful night.

Bowling was incredible and I have to admit, I totally geeked out; how could I not? At one point, I was sitting next to George Akram from West Side Story, then doing a photo op with Lin Manuel Miranda from In the Heights- Corbin Bleu from Heights was also there too though I couldn’t convince Miz Molly to get a picture with him so we admired from afar.

I’m sure the Covert Report will cover the bowling match up more in depth so for now I will just share the photo highlights!

Melissa and Gary show off their personal bowling footwear previously reported about in their Behind the Title pieces

Cast members Cary and Syndey

Dionne, Ephraim, J.Bernard, Michael, Derrick and Maestro Kenny Seymour

The BEST part of bowling with Broadway dancers may in fact be LaQuet's victory dances. A video of this exists somewhere as well...

Tegan, Vivian, LaQuet and Cary do it up

The Pintasticals: Chad, J.Bernard, Kevin, Jermaine, Vivian, and Tegan

D'oh! A blurry but adrable picture of the Strike-adoos: Cary, Sydney, LaQuet, Gary, Daniel and Melissa

Thanks to Dugan Moore from the entire Memphis Bowling League Family!

Dear Blog,

I am sorry I haven’t been able to write in the past few days. Somewhere between bowling and hosting guests and trying to fly across the country to be there when my sister-in-law gives birth tomorrow, I did not log on. I did not share the show power.

But now I am stuck- not only with what to write to make up for lost time, but literally stuck in the middle of the country- connection flight cancelled on route to San Francisco; I find solice in the warm cookies of the airport Doubletree Hotel. Thank goodness I carried my luggage on, thank goodness I brought my laptop, thank goodness that Nick-tastic lent me Season One of Glee.

But this is a blog about Memphis so let me get to it. This week was incredible.

It started off with the Monday night performance of WORDS. Being stranded has meant that I have finally finished the video- which really only features about 3% of the total piece but I wanted to give you the flavor of what that evening was about.

But of course, the internet connection leaves something to be desired- namely uploading my video to YouTube in under 4 hours. Perhaps it will be uploaded by the time I finish this blog…maybe…

At WORDS, I loved that Vivian Nixon was the “box office” for the night, guarding the cash box and handing out blow pops as “your admission” to the show. I love that so many cast members were there to support Derrick and Daniel. I loved walking up to Lincoln Center and finding their theatre just as snow was starting to fall on our fair city.

Seeing a performance like WORDS reminded me why I live here and put up with the cost of living here, the burden of transportation, the feeling that you are putting your real life on hold to follow your dreams. Art is born here, every second of everyday. So thank goodness we have Monday night off to see what’s going on outside of the Shubert. (3 hours and 40 minues remain in uploading this video.)

I can’t remember what happened Tuesday. Mostly because Wednesday and Thursday were so memorable.

Wednesday, I hightailed it into town to track down the sheet music for “Make them Hear You” from Ragtime. Why, you may wonder, would such a task be neccessary when I work on the musical Memphis?

James Iglehart, Derrick Baskin and J. Bernard Calloway were booked to be on Seth Rudetsky’s Sirius Radio Broadway show Wednesday afternoon and each were going to sing something. A distress text from James while I was walking Samson that morning meant my mission was clear; find the sheet music, save the show.

I met the guys, Ragtime songbook in hand, at the Times Square Information Center which is where the show is broadcast in front of a live audience only to find out that, of course, J. Bernard had that very song in his book of music.*

*This of course makes sense when you recall that James and J were up against each other for The Wiz last year.

The boys were terrific on the show and, of course I have video of that TOO, but there may not be enough hours in the day to get them to load. (3 hours and 34 minutes remain on the WORDS video…)

But I do have pictures as well. Please note: I sat on the floor to get good pictures and videos of this event- on the floor- in New York City- Memphis Lives in Me for sure, and perhas I should submit my dry cleaning bill for reimbursement. Who am I kidding? I was totally wearing yoga pants that day.

Seth made Derrick tell the “I moved to New York because I wanted to be a hand model” story again, which I also got a video of… 3 hours and 31 minutes remain.

Seth totally busts Derrick on the Hand Modeling thing

Then there was a round of trivia against two different members of the audience in which the boys, playing for one of the other audience members, were relentless in their determination to win the game. and win they did, scoring tickets to The Miracle Worker for their audience member.

The guys are victorious!

3 hours and 26 minutes…will it continue loading whilst I sleep? I hope so.

VIDEO update: computer just froze- there will be no videos tonight. Epic FAIL.

Alas, I better post this now before it’s midnight on the east coast and it looks like another day went by without a blog entry. I won’t let that happen to you again dear Blog.

your fantastical interweb pal,
Carolyn

Dear Friends,

There has been so much going on in Memphisland I have not been able to actually get on the computer to blog. This has been one of the most fun weeks EVER and I promise to catch everyone up on the events of the week. Cross my heart.

For now, I shall leave you with this amuse bouche, Lin Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) with our own Cary Tedder.

The Covert Report – Week 17

The Final Four

As we enter our 5th month of performances since Opening, things are getting more and more exciting over here at The Shubert. Word of mouth is definitely spreading (keep it up!!) as our houses are getting more and more enthusiastic with each passing week.

The crowd at the matinee today in Shubert Alley

The line extending all the way to the Broadhurst Theatre next door!

When you miss a show, you get a black mark...

This week’s report will dedicated to those “final four”….with analysis on who will be the last man standing. I say man, because the final four are all male. A special shout out to Jennifer Allen (our very own Clara) who was the last woman to go out.

SO, let’s start with the person I believe will be the last to miss a show….

KEVIN COVERT. Yes, that is me. So what? Clearly my dedication to this show can’t be denied. It’s more than that, though. I grew up in the South..where guilt is a part of your upbringing. Everytime I even think about calling out, I have a vision of my mother standing over me shaking her head in disappointment. Also, I have the fact that I really only dance in Collins Department Store….so my body isn’t going through it like the rest of the kids. Add on to that fact, that I really enjoy doing the show. I would be bored silly if I wasn’t able to come to the Shubert. Also, did I mention that I am nosy and if I am not in the building, I am afraid I will miss something. There you have it. I would also like to point out that after a long and patient battle with David Hyde Pierce in “SPAMALOT”…I was the last person to miss in that show. So, I am a stubborn SOB….If we were betting bottles of brown water, I’d lay the bourbon on me.

Now, to be fair I shall analyze the other 3…..

JOHN JELLISON. Now, if you pull out some older Covert Reports…I believe I discussed Mr. Jellison in length in the first report. Remember, he is the one who has done 227 Broadway shows and stripped me of the Gypsy Robe? Yeah him…he is still standing. Isn’t it enough that he got to wear the Gypsy Robe? Does he really need to win another contest here? Yes, he is super talented and I hate to admit it, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, but come on. Just know that I know where he lives….I have had him followed…so, I may have to go all Tonya Harding on his ass…..

JERMAINE REMBERT. Yes, our dance captain has been in the building every single show since we began. AND, he goes on ALOT so I have to give a little credit where credit is due….Jermaine is a Broadway veteran as well. He has a strong work ethic…damn him. I suppose he feels some sort of responsibility as well, since he has to watch the show and maintain. Luckily for me, Jermaine enjoys an occasional drink. Next time he is having a brown water with me, he should think again….or at least not leave his glass anywhere near me…..

CHARLIE WILLIAMS. Or as I like to call him…Boo Bear. Charlie is making his Broadway Debut here at “MEMPHIS”….which makes him a little more eager than others. Not to mention, he likes to save a penny…so he doesn’t wanna use up those sick days that you get paid out for at the end of the contract. He is young, but stubborn. He may be harder to take down. He does enjoy going to the gym. Maybe I will get off my fat butt and offer to lift weights with him….I mean, if I am spotting him and accidentally lose my grip…well, what can be done? < /div>

Now, I believe that there should be some sort of reward if you are the last of the final four. I am sure everyone would agree that a nice big bottle of brown water would be an appropriate prize.

I would like to say that even though there are only 4 of us left to miss a show, this cast as a whole has an AMAZING work ethic. People don’t like to miss around here. However, with all the crazy dancing and singing, injuries and fatigue are just a part of the game…

Who are you putting your money on?

Hockadoo!!

-Kevin

Celebrity Sighting of the Week – JERRY SPRINGER was in the house!! And quickly on his feet at the end of the show!!!!