Between the gypsy run through, the Letterman show, a quick video piece for the local CBS news and back to the theater for our first preview, it was a very long and exciting day. It ended with a quite drink at Angus Mc Ido’s sitting with my wife, the directors Paul and Murphy, the musical director Michael Andreas, director of fan relations Bill Brunell and David Gotwald our sound designer. Martin Short, who was relaxing at the bar with some of his cast, was the first one to raise a glass in congratulation of our opening preview. However, it was David Gotwald who summed it all up. He said, “No matter what happens from here, this is a day we will never forget.” Thanks for reminding us to enjoy the ride, David.

All I can say personally about the day is this. The Letterman Stage is much smaller than it seems, and very cold. I don’t mean unfriendly, I mean they keep it at 58 degrees. The only contact I had with David Letterman was when he walked over to me at the end of my set. I spent the most time with Paul Shaffer rehearsing the song with the band.

For a Letterman stunt they dropped a safe off the roof of the Ed Sullivan building onto a car. As circumstance would have it the green room window was directly behind the targeted car. We watched them heave the safe off the building on the television monitor and watched it hit the car from about four feet away. A surreal experience, and that was before I did my set. The set on the Ed Sullivan stage, for ventiloquist week of Late Night on the day of the first performance of my Broadway show, was an out of body experience.

The Helen Hayes is a magical theatre. There is some energy the location itself generates. All I have to do is ride that energy through my show. Performing on that stage is an experience like no other I have ever had. I cannot wait to get back there tonight and take the ride again.
As you were,
Jay