Tale CD

So I wanted to do a little update on the Tale experience over in the UK.  It was truly amazing.

We rehearsed the "staged" version of the show or about a week.  The filmed version of the show was created for Public television and will be aired as part of their pledge drive much like the Three Tenors or the Les Mis thing years ago.

So we had to re-stage the show with the television set and the new cast members.  I have to take my hat off to those guys, they had a little a very short time to learn a great deal of material.

Here's a pic of the outside of the Theatre Royal Brighton where we filmed the show for DVD.  A beautiful jewel box of a theatre with rich history.

And also during the rehearsal time for the staging we also began to record the CD.  I would more call it the International Cast of A Tale Of Two Cities.  Here's a photo of the recording studio SPHERE.  I can't tell you how many superstars have graced the halls of this studio.  There are Platinum records hanging all over the walls.

That's the great Mike Reed in the studio conducting.

So...the CD was recorded and will be released (from what I understand) when the DVD of the show is released in December.  Great Christmas presents huh?!

Brighton by the sea, TALE and Hofstra

OK so some updates.

I've been so busy over here that I've not really had the time to write a blog...so here it goes.

We've finished recording the CD of Tale and I think it's going to be great. It was three days of massive sessions to get this thing done. 

We all traveled to Brighton today to begin serious work on the DVD.  This is going to be the interesting thing.  We've had to change a bit to make it fit into the format that works best for TV but I think this version will be pretty stellar.

Michael York has come on board to narrate certain sections and there is a little surprise at the end as well.  No...Sydney does not get the girl...but it's a cool surprise none-the-less.

The UK cast is pretty great.  Simon Thomas is playing Darnay. He was last seen on the West End in "Marguerite."  And the great Nigel Richards is playing Stryver.

Brighton, for me, is a breath of fresh air.  I spent my summers by the sea and to me, there is nothing like it.  It's a great town with a rich history and a wealth of flavors.  I'll be inside most of the time we're here but it's still nice to breathe in that fresh air.

One nice thing is that Dana and the baby made the trip with me as well.  They spend time seeing friends and family while I spend time whacking away at the script and score.  

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to sing this music once more.  

And please, don't forget that I have that concert next Saturday night.  It's going to be a whirlwind of travel for me I can tell you that.  

The concert is a benefit and there is a little reception afterwards so please...come on by and send your friends!

Theo Bikel and Carnegie Hall

Hey everyone....the amazing Theo Bikel is doing a benefit concert on Monday.  

I'm helping to spread the word.  

It's for a good cause and with a truly remarkable man and other guests.

Take a peek at the info below.

Theodore Bikel: The First 85 Years!

A Benefit Concert for Juvenile Law Center

 

Join us as friends and colleagues celebrate Theo’s 85^th birthday at Carnegie Hall!

 

Monday, June 15

7:30pm

Carnegie Hall

 

**** All tickets now 20% off with discount code: FOTB8155 ****

Click here for tickets:  HERE

The French Open

There is nothing like tennis.  I've been playing this game since I was incredibly young and have found it not only a great sport but a tremendous meditative activity.  

I know...people might say "meditative are you kidding?"  But I'm not.  It's a sport where you are alone on the court with another player and during the game you often battle yourself as well as your opponent.  So, meditative in the sense that one often has to reach a sense of calm in order to play at your best. 

My cousin achieved great success in this game and there are times when I wish I had pursued it as my career.  How different things would have been.

So congratulations to Roger Federer on a great day, a great win.  Long overdue but well deserved.  He has tied Pete Sampras for 14 Grad Slam titles and if you ask me...will surpass him.  (And he's a nice guy to boot).

Here's his site:  Roger

Concert Stuff and Grand Tour

We had our opening of The Grand Tour tonight at The York.  We had a blast. 

We got the script on Monday and had our first audience tonight.  Talk about being shot out of a cannon...literally as there is a scene where that happens in the show.

Come down and see it, we've got 4 shows left this weekend.  You'll have a load of fun.

Grand Tour Tickets

My concert on June 27th will be a mix of many different songs. A mix of some of the LOVE SONGS concert, the Broadway stuff from THE HOLIDAY CONCERT and a few more that have yet to be heard.  

Tickets go on sale on June 2nd.  It's not that far away.  For those of you who live in the city, you can take the Long Island Railroad right into Hempstead and it's only a couple of minutes from there.  Do a MapQuest...it's easy.

Concert On Long Island

So much to tell...so much happening.  

One thing at a time. 

I'll be doing a concert on Long Island June 27th.  It will be on the campus of Hofstra University and will benefit the Graduate Admissions Scholarship Program.  (It's my alma mater).

Come and join us. There will be a party afterwards...details to follow.

Love, Life and The Continental Congress

What a run we had out there at Paper Mill.  Great cast, great times, great book...great googlie mooglie.

I truly enjoy 1776.  As I said before, I think it's one of the best written books of a musical that I've done. It's more of a play with music in my mind.  It's an ensemble show which really allows interaction and freedom to learn from each other on an ongoing basis.

The good news is that I actually have a coupe of days off before I have to start work again. I've been crazy with work and the awards stuff.  And what fun was that?!  Hanging out with great actors...great people. 

I got to spend some time with Jeremy Irons, we hadn't really seen each other since The Bowl...other than passing each other on the street and waving.  It was good to see him.  

So..beautiful days to spend with the dogs.  Prepping some marketing materials for some upcoming gigs and getting ready for the next project.