Episode 2 of “Straight Talk with Covert”- this time interviewing self-professed Bungalow comedian and recently departed to LA for a new project, ensemble member Ephraim “don’t ask me what the M. stands for” M. Sykes:
Straight Talk with Covert from Memphis the Musical on Vimeo.
Happiness is….
…spending a Sunday afternoon with the show pup, Samson
…discovering a new MUST-DO craft project…a scrabble tile table=GENIUS
…setting my DVR to record Memphis leading lady, Montego Glover, sing for the President Friday night on ABC
…asking the Press Office for all the Memphis photos and discovering a disc of pictures you’ve never seen before.
Back in December, the Memphis cast performed on The View!
Check out the behind the scenes photos from that TV appearance.
Derrick Baskin (Gator) is all smiles, even at that early hour
Associate Choreographer, Edgar, organizing the troops
Kevin, Katie, and Bryan wait in the “wings” for their entrance during rehearsal
Stage Managers Gary and Arturo work with The View director as Edgar weighs in
Edgar delivers the orders about spacing
Vivian and the Beale Street cast “hold” during rehearsal
Memphis Leading Man, Chad Kimball, is ready for his closeup
After rehearsal, Daniel meets up with his buddy, Sherri Shepard, before taping begins
Cory (Wigs) and Ensemble member Cary
Dionne gets “camera ready”
The cast rocks the live performance
They performed a section of the opening number “Underground”
Into “Memphis Lives in Me”. BRAVO!
The goodbyes for June are just about over. With today, June 27th, being Ephraim’s last day in Memphisland, we get a respite from the goodbyes for a while. Having said so long, farwell to Daniel on June 13th and LaQuet on June 20th, today is another tough day in the realities of working on Broadway.
As Kevin said in his Straight Talk interview with Daniel Watts, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8ONWJ2Tl1Y cast members moving on to new shows/projects is a natural part of the process during a long-running Broadway show. It doesn’t make it any easier saying goodbye to folks who have been around for a year, or two, or three.
This part of the process is hard for me to swallow. Previous to this show, the longest run I have ever worked on is a month or so, meaning I never had to encounter this phenomenon- one minute they are at the stage door, checkin’ in, rocking it out onstage and the next minute, their dressing room space is empty. DE-VES-TATING. But, stiff upper lip and all….
So I made a video, featuring clips and photos of some of their time with us at Memphis. There is no way to really capture in 2 minutes and 46 seconds what these cast members mean to us and what they have contributed. The Rooftops Band has generously allowed us the use of another song (remember their “Sunday Morning” cover from the AIDS Walk video?). www.myspace.com/rooftopsband (this embeded link wasn’t working for me earlier, so copy and pste it into your browser to get more info on Rooftops.)
Why this song? Check the lyrics:
I wish this wasn’t such a short visit
At least it’s only a few days before I’ll see you again
Thank you for coming and talking and basically being wonderful.
I’ll miss you. You do my heart good.
I’m not sure I need any words for this post. Its all sorts of difficult to even put the experience into words, so for today, I’m going to let the images speak for themselves.
The Covert Report – Volume 35
THE Night – June 13th into the 14th
11pm – Jump up and down crying and hugging everyone in sight.
11:02pm – continue jumping up and down as the shock waves keep rolling….try to assemble myself in place for the reprise.
11:04pm- reprise begins. Not more than 30 seconds into it, Sergio runs across the stage telling everyone to just come and have fun….we abandon the planned choreography…I try to move as close to center as possible….No one is singing the right words…no one cares…just wild abandoned fun
Photo credit: Associated Press
11:05pm- telecast ends. Cast, Creative, Producers all jump up and down hugging, screaming and crying.
11:08pm- wander around stage at Radio City…still trying to take it all in…everyone is crying and pacing.
11:10pm- head back to the bus. Get congratulated by Antonio Banderas and Paula Abdul
11:13pm- wait on bus for other cast and costume people to get on bus…wave to fans outside the bus
11:16pm- everyone on bus…we try and run over some people walking in the street. no one cares….all too excited and still in a slight state of shock…
11:25pm- back at Shubert. The Shubert Door Person is flip camming the Alley screaming “MEMPHIS BEST MUSICAL”…I admire the bus driver for knocking some serious time off the 6 block trip
11:27pm- costume off and begin to get ready for the PAR-TAY! Pour myself a small brown water from the Elijah Craig 18 year….
11:30pm- Charlie Williams pops open a bottle of champagne as all the men of the ensemble gather for a toast to our friendship, hard work, and the WIN for BEST MUSICAL!!
11:31pm- drink the champagne
11:35pm- dressed except for the bow tie portion of the outfit. (sidenote….It’s Daniel Watt’s last show remember? He loves a bowtie…so ALL of the men are wearing them tonight….he even gave us lessons on how to tie them…not as easy as you would think….a lot of folding of stuff…)
11:37pm- On my second attempt, I am successful at the bow tie tying…(say that 5 times fast…bow tie tying..) with a little assistance from Daniel Watts
11:40pm- go to the stage to wait for others…realize that I left my party pass upstairs….shed a tear that I have to climb those stairs again today….seems a small price to pay
11:45pm- meet John Eric, Charlie and Jermaine outside stage door….take cute picture of us in our bow ties…hail taxi…
11:51pm- arrive at the Empire Hotel….see a LONG line forming outside….we wonder if we will have to wait in the line….
11:52pm- Spot Carolyn (looking absolutely stunning) working the door…she announces “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Tony Winning Cast of Memphis“….and let’s us in without waiting
11:54pm- see Jesse Tyler Ferguson and my friend Colin waiting for the elevator….ride up with them
11:56pm- enter the party…The atmosphere is ELECTRIC!!!!!
Midnight – gather around my Memphis family and good friends that are attending the party and start to finally realize that we WON!!
12:05am- get a text from my friend Jaime (who was one of my guests) that he won’t be able to make it. I respond tersely….
12:07am- Liz, whom I thought was going for the other “win”..seems completely in control…and very happy.
12:09am- spot my friend Jaime at the party who was pulling my chain with his text…we have a good laugh…and a brown water…
12:15am- Chatting with my pal Sam…when Matthew Morrison comes over to chat and give congratulations…He punches me in the balls. Thanks Matt.
12:24am- more merriment. Eating, chatting, general merriment.
12:45am- Chad arrives at party…we get him a cocktail STAT
12:46am- Matt Morrison does a drive by and swipes at my balls again. Really mature Matt….
1:02am- I seek out Montego. She honestly couldn’t look anymore radiant. Tell her how proud I am of her.
1:20am- Liz and my roommate Alex have figured out where to stand when the food comes out of the kitchen as to be the first to get to it…position myself there with them and wait for a burger
1:23am- Burger success
1:40am- Liz decides it is time for her to go….thus relinquishing any chance of a “win” for her this evening….
2:01am- Spot Sue Frost. Chat with her. Try and wrestle the Tony away from her. She is stronger than she looks…..
2:15am- I spot Matt Morrison chatting with someone…walk up behind him and return the smacking in the balls favor…:) we have a laugh…he is a great guy
2:21am- leave Empire Hotel….my friend Sam (now currently in the lead for the “win”) and I decide a nightcap is in order…head to pub near Empire Hotel
2:30am- get text from Chad and call from Jermaine that the “after party” is at David Bryan’s apartment. Leave pub with Sam…who is now clearly “winning” and head to David’s in cab
2:40am- arrive at David’s where his apartment is PACKED!!! No one wants this night to end. Finally get my grubby paws on an actual Tony….take that Sue!!
3:10am- party still in full swing.
4:10am- Sam is declared the “Winner” as far as my friends are concerned….and he takes his leave
4:30am- Chad decides he is hungry…he didn’t really eat after the awards…we go to Diner
4:50am- why am I eating a piece of toast and a scrambled egg?
5:01am- pay check, say goodnight to Chad and get in cab to go home. That, my friends is how to do it up right on TONY DAY 2010!! HOCKADOO!!!
On a side note, today is the first time that Charlie actually called out. He sprained his ankle last night pretty badly. Carolyn and I made a video, but in all honesty, I know my boo bear, and I am sure it is killing him not to be here. I’m sure he is just as sad as I was with my hamstring!! Get back here soon!!
Kudos to new cast member Paul McGill for jumping in to the numbers he has learned…Ah, Broadway.
Hockadoo!
-Kevin
Celebrity Sighting of the week – as a country music fan…I am gonna throw it out to Larry Gatlin from the Gatlin Brothers!!!
In the aftermath of last week, I am finally getting to post some fantastical-ness that I have been desperate to share. Check out what Memphishead Justin came to the TONY Viewing Party wearing; a “Huey-inspired” ensemble that was the talk of the evening.
His dads report that they spent hours putting this authentic Huey look together and that Justin was glued to online videos making sure he had the Huey moves down.
When your Dad is one of the Huey understudies, I guess you have a little more invested in the show than your average kid. Brad Bass reports that Justin sometimes tells him “he’s not doing it right” when Brad is working on the Huey material at home. I guess everyone really is a critic.
We love Brad Bass with all of our hearts and are so happy he has been part of the Memphis family for so long. We also love Justin for being so darn cute.
The Viewing Party was held for the staff and families of Memphis who were not going to the TONY Awards at Radio City on Sunday, June 13th. We often frequent O’Lunneys Bar/Restaurant on 45th Street; we were there to celebrate on the night the TONY nominations were announced and we even used it as a location to film the Press Conference scene of the last Kidnapping video series.
Of course, no Memphis party would be complete without a little craft project. Bags of black, white, and red M&M’s decorated the tables in “I Heart Memphis” goodie bags. Thanks to Team-tastic (Mattie, Nick and Tegan) for helping to make this project happen!
And despite having some sound issues during the first hour of the awards ceremony, we were thrilled and delighted throughout the whole evening. In fact, one of my favorite memories from that night happened halfway through the TONYs when the Memphis band arrived having ditched their costumes at the Shubert after the on camera performance at Radio City.
When I announced the arrival of the band, the place went crazy. Hoots, hollers and cheers going full volume for what seemed like 30 seconds. When I re-told that story the next morning at the Westway Diner, I started crying into my omelette. We cheered as loudly for them in that moment as we did for any award we were blessed to receive that night.
Agh, I am getting misty just writing about it now! I wonder if they go it on video?? I will have to ask tomorrow.
More videos from TONY night- interviews and more- are on the way! Look for them later this week.
Dear Sarah (aka Office Pal),
For three years, you have fielded our calls, been a wizard of all things tech, been a confidant and a sounding board, indulged my dog, never judged me on my diet coking, stayed late to craft, come early to my rescue, lent me your photographer husband, explained the nuances of international postage…
But now you have taken it to the next level, or as Nick-tastic says, “Onward, Upward and Underground.”
How did you find the time? How did you keep it quiet? How could you publish this blog into a BOOK and not have anyone spill the beans?
It is so beautiful- I wish you all could see it. But I have not let it out of my sight since Sarah gave it to me. It even has a forward by the two-time TONY Award winning Playwright, Joe DiPietro!!
That is too much. This totally explains why you kept saying you “had to go home” all the time these past few weeks- you were “too busy” for drinks with the ladies- now I know why. Hours reformatting this thing- resizing pictures- even getting my boyfriend in on the subterfuge, snagging pictures from my laptop at home followed by a jump drive handoff at the Rooftops concert we all went too. Sneaky. Brilliant.
Well, the result is nothing sort of spectacular. You edited AND art directed a book!!! Its something like 300 pages- 300 pages of beautiful. And since I rarely, if ever, have gone back and read blogs after I’ve published them, I cannot even tell you the joy I have had going back through the entries, indulging in the memories of each moment they capture.
Like when Kevin Covert missed his first show:
Or the TODAY Show appearance where I was almost too sleepy to function, let alone, remember what happened:
Sidenote: you just came over to me and asked me if you could eat some of the chocolate on Sue’s desk. I furiously tried minimizing all these windows so you wouldn’t see my writing this entry during work- I now have a small understanding of what you were doing for the last month trying to hide all of this from me. Bravo!
Sidenote #2: Sue, I said it was OK that she have some of the chocolate…
There have been some good gifts over the years (my dog stapler with the handmade superhero cape on it) but this? This takes the cake, or, in the case of our office, perhaps its more appropriate to say, it takes the cupcake. OR in your case, the producer’s chocolate.
Someday, there will be a time and a way for me to repay you this kind of extraordinary gift. Until that time, let’s just say I will be happy to burn whatever CD’s you need or take whatever packets you’re making to the post office in the red wagon. I will fix the copier whenever it jams and will take that trash out that’s in the corner wastebasket that everyone forgets about.
For you my dear Office Pal, are a treasure. I am so glad I walked into this suite 3 years ago and found you, and MEMPHIS, when I got here.
Let’s revisit last week for a moment shall we?
Sunday Morning=Sunday Times. I’m not really sure what I did before I got the “Weekender;” the Friday, Saturday and Sundy NY Times. I find myself saying “Oh yeah, I read that in the Times,” or “I saw an ad about that in the Times.” I’m not trying to be hoity toity about the role of the Times in my life, I’m just saying it has been slightly enhanced is all.
So how does the NY Times play a role in the life of a Broadway Show?
There has historically been a “special” relationship between the Times and Broadway; ever since Memphis has been Broadway bound, there have been conversations about the NY Times as part of the show’s marketing mix. To place a full page ad or not to place a full page ad? I think ever producer has that conversation at some point in the producing process.
But one of the less stressful decisions involves the “ABC’s” or the Theatrcal Listing Section. The ABC’s (and I am not sure how they came to be called that) are straight forward listings of what shows are playing on and off Broadway. They are not free and with the growth of online media, the trend for some Producers in recent years is to not run an ABC listing everyday. Well, the NY Times has responded and they are now introducting….the title treatment!!!
For some extra dough, there is now an option for color AND for the title treatment. (In the event you are yawning wile reading this blog post, I never said that being a producer is exciting everyday….)
Something that will definitely wake you if the beginning of this blog has left you a bit sleepy….BROADWAY BARES is tonight! Benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, there are several Memphians representing tonight, at 9:30pm and midnight.
Representing is an understatment- Ephraim Sykes is literally the ticket to get in:
Ephraim will be onstage tonight with Charlie, Tyrone, Daniel (we still claim him), Sydney, Candice, Jermaine, Hillary and James!
If you want to attend Broadway Bares, make a donation to BC/EFA, or, let’s be real, see pictures of Ephraim and Charlie, get all the information online http://www.broadwaybares.com/home-flash.php If only I didn’t have to be at work at 10am tomorrow, or you know I would be at Roseland ballroom tonight. Best of luck to our Memphis folks as you bare it all (or most of it) for a good cause!
There is a TONY Award in my office.
That’s a lot to process. Even a week later. I really don’t believe you can fully process it all once.
Sunday was a blur, Monday felt like a haze, Tuesday came and went, I thought Wednesday was Thursday, I can’t tell you anything about Thursday, and today, is apparently Friday.
But I did take pictures, so maybe that will help.
The new “underslings” for the marquee on 44th Street:
We also have underslings announcing the Best Book and Best Score TONY wins, but the glare of the sun on Tuesday prevented me from getting a good shot of these.
If you’ve ever wondered, “how do they get those up so quickly?” The answer is, you basically design something with the ad agency, with XX’s where there might be information, and then you wait until you have news and then someone yells “PRINT now, Now, NOW.” (That’s not exactly how it goes down, but you get what I am saying.)
Throughout the awards season, another tradition has started wherein I make some sort of board recognizing the nominations or accolades that have been bestowed upon the show. It combines my love of crafts with my love of Memphis. I have been known on occasion to throw in a baby picture of myself just for giggles-
But for this week, I kept the baby pictures at home. How do you make a poster honoring the TONY Awards though? Its a wonderful problem to have do not get me wrong. Its just hard to capture what it is and what it means in a poster. But, I gave it a go anyway:
This poster currently lives just inside the stage door above the doorway to the stage, via the Stage Left entrance. In my dreams, its like “Friday Night Lights” where everytime the cast enters to start the show, they hit the poster on their way out- very Hoosiers meets Rudy.
Randy is talking to Memphis playwright, Joe DiPietro, on the phone right now. It has been so hectic, I think this is the first time they have spoken since the party Sunday night/Monday morning. Its cute to listen to them talk about the journey they have both been on with the show. My heart is melting listening to them talk.
Perhaps the best photo of the week was actually taken in 2003: a photo taken of David Bryan, George W. George and Joe DiPietro at rehearsal at North Shore Music Theatre.
What started here, landed them here:
A lot of people were so excited by the picture in the Arts Section, they missed Memphis on the Front Page of the NY TIMES!!!
As Kevin Covert said to me yesterday, it feels like we are just beginning.
