There is a joke that goes like this: A piano player shows up at a gig. They tell him he needs to play cocktail music all night. He says he only knows two songs. The boss says,
“Well, maybe you can just play those two songs over and over. What two songs do you know?” The piano player thinks for a while and says, “Duke Ellington’s ‘Lust Life’ and ‘Jesus Loves Me’.”
If you are laughing, you are a musician. If you aren’t laughing then chalk it up to me not being able to tell a joke. The point is this. Tonight I am walking home and as I round the corner of 49th and 7th there is a cornet player squeaking out a tune. I have never seen him on that corner before and I know all the regulars. I finally realize that he is playing an almost unrecognizable rendition of “Jesus Loves Me”. I start laughing wondering if his next song is “Lush Life”. Rather than have him think I am anti-Christian, I end up giving him a buck for the worst version of “Jesus Loves Me” I have ever heard.
We had a large group of drama students from La Guardia High School at the show tonight. They were great. Thanks, come back and bring more of your friends. I loved working for you. Wish it had been a talk back night so I could get to know you all.
Speaking of which, I understand we are going to be doing an additional talk back night weekly. I’m not sure when or what night. Like most things I usually read about it in the trade papers.
The show seems to go by so fast recently. I feel like I am just warming up and it is over. There are times when I long for my theme park days when 30 minutes later we would be doing another show. My five show weekend is coming up, I’ll let you know if I still feel that way on Sunday night.
As you were,
Jay
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The Wiz report for Thursday
You won't believe this but - I WON!! I WON THE GAME!! And it wasn't something easy like "Can Can". Nope! It was "School's Out For Summer" by Alice Cooper. So that makes the score something like 30 for Darwin and 5 for the Wiz. But who's counting?!
You may think that this song choice is a little odd, but it actually makes sense. At this evening's performance we had some large high school groups. They were a very lovely audience. They responded to different things than our usual audience does, so it was a bit of a different show. This show is a living, breathing entity and it changes with every audience.
This particular group latched onto lines that usually aren't the big scene stealers, such as Nethernore's "I don't have a cell phone", Bob's "You kinky devil", and Arthur Drew's jokes. Each of these lines got very big laughs. It's fun to hear what the different audiences respond to. It's part of what makes this show so special.
Until the next one,
Wiz
You won't believe this but - I WON!! I WON THE GAME!! And it wasn't something easy like "Can Can". Nope! It was "School's Out For Summer" by Alice Cooper. So that makes the score something like 30 for Darwin and 5 for the Wiz. But who's counting?!
You may think that this song choice is a little odd, but it actually makes sense. At this evening's performance we had some large high school groups. They were a very lovely audience. They responded to different things than our usual audience does, so it was a bit of a different show. This show is a living, breathing entity and it changes with every audience.
This particular group latched onto lines that usually aren't the big scene stealers, such as Nethernore's "I don't have a cell phone", Bob's "You kinky devil", and Arthur Drew's jokes. Each of these lines got very big laughs. It's fun to hear what the different audiences respond to. It's part of what makes this show so special.
Until the next one,
Wiz
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
I met with the Telecharge operators today. These are the actual people you contact if you are buying tickets to my show or any other Broadway show on line or over the phone. They are wonderful, helpful and know more about what is happening on Broadway than most producers. This is where the buzz of Broadway is first heard.
Those operators who had not yet seen my show asked me if it was appropriate for kids. We get a lot of kids and the show certainly is appropriate for all children over four years old. There is one bad word in the entire evening. The word is calculated to have an affect and gets one of the biggest reactions of the show. It is not the word itself but the set up of the scene that causes the reaction. The ushers at the Hayes are aware enough to let parents know that it will be said when they think it is necessary to say so.
That was the case when one parent had a small child in attendance several nights ago. The parent was grateful for the “heads up” and was ready for any reaction from the child. The actual line is “well get a f----ing chisel” delivered by one of the wooden actors on stage. The reaction this evening was no different than usual and the crowd went crazy with laughter. The little girl immediately turned to her Father and said, “Daddy…. What’s a chisel.”
Sometimes we parents worry about the wrong things. I know that what a child remembers from my show is not a word, but how it felt to have their imagination exercised for an evening.
As you were,
Jay
Those operators who had not yet seen my show asked me if it was appropriate for kids. We get a lot of kids and the show certainly is appropriate for all children over four years old. There is one bad word in the entire evening. The word is calculated to have an affect and gets one of the biggest reactions of the show. It is not the word itself but the set up of the scene that causes the reaction. The ushers at the Hayes are aware enough to let parents know that it will be said when they think it is necessary to say so.
That was the case when one parent had a small child in attendance several nights ago. The parent was grateful for the “heads up” and was ready for any reaction from the child. The actual line is “well get a f----ing chisel” delivered by one of the wooden actors on stage. The reaction this evening was no different than usual and the crowd went crazy with laughter. The little girl immediately turned to her Father and said, “Daddy…. What’s a chisel.”
Sometimes we parents worry about the wrong things. I know that what a child remembers from my show is not a word, but how it felt to have their imagination exercised for an evening.
As you were,
Jay
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Halloween has always been my favorite day of the year. One of my first shows was on Halloween night. Harry Anderson and I used to take over the Comedy Magic Club in Los Angeles and produce a Halloween spectacular each year. Those shows featuring the “Bubonic Players” are now legendary. We once “produced” a haunted house that was so good David Copperfield flew in just to see it. He was most impressed by the demonstration of Lycanthrope. With a special moonlight-emitting flashlight, anyone shining that light on a severed head could watch it change into a Werewolf before their very eyes. It is an original illusion Harry and I created. I expect to see it in a Copperfield show someday.
It could have been just another evening tonight. A Halloween performance, but not the themed show or Halloween Haunt I am used to doing. Not to say I will ever forget the night I performed on Broadway for Halloween.
It quickly changed when the silent partner of the team of Penn and Teller turned up in the audience. I am a huge fan of Teller’s work and he came backstage to take pictures and sign my guest book. It became a Penn and Teller routine when we could not get the camera to work. We tried five times, each person in the room taking their turn to try and fix the problem, we would strike our best pose, but the camera let us down every time. Teller actually spoke and said, “I am beginning to think I have no soul”.
We finally gave up. I suggested it would be quicker to get a Times Square sketch artist to do a pencil drawing. As he was leaving one of the ushers offered up her camera, we posed again, but it would not work either.
Finally Linda and Abby saved us with their cameras. We finally got the picture. It was a thrill and a gift that I will always remember, one of the most famous magicians of our time, coming to see my show on Halloween? Wow. He signed my book with these words, “If I ever talk I want you to do my voice.”
Thanks Teller you made this Halloween even more special, and once more I am indebted to the Helen Hayes house staff. You all are the very best, every night. Thank you, Thank you.
Waiting outside was Jo and Richard. They are friends and fans of Scott Bacula, and were at the benefit performance at Los Angeles Hamilton High School three years ago when the team of Kreppel, Cross and Johnson began. It was great to have that circle completed. Fans and friends who support this show are a continually blessing. Thank you for your tireless efforts to spread the word about The Two and Only.
On a musical note, the monkey song tonight was supposed to be the theme from the “Munsters” television show. Darwin was a little over ambitious in his rendition and some how it turned into the “Baby Elephant Walk.” Joe and the Wiz guessed right away. They probably would have gotten the Musters theme as well, but chalk a loss up for the monkey. I am not sure how a baby elephant relates to Halloween, but you have to play the game as it goes. Good guessing crew.
As you were,
Jay
It could have been just another evening tonight. A Halloween performance, but not the themed show or Halloween Haunt I am used to doing. Not to say I will ever forget the night I performed on Broadway for Halloween.
It quickly changed when the silent partner of the team of Penn and Teller turned up in the audience. I am a huge fan of Teller’s work and he came backstage to take pictures and sign my guest book. It became a Penn and Teller routine when we could not get the camera to work. We tried five times, each person in the room taking their turn to try and fix the problem, we would strike our best pose, but the camera let us down every time. Teller actually spoke and said, “I am beginning to think I have no soul”.
We finally gave up. I suggested it would be quicker to get a Times Square sketch artist to do a pencil drawing. As he was leaving one of the ushers offered up her camera, we posed again, but it would not work either.
Finally Linda and Abby saved us with their cameras. We finally got the picture. It was a thrill and a gift that I will always remember, one of the most famous magicians of our time, coming to see my show on Halloween? Wow. He signed my book with these words, “If I ever talk I want you to do my voice.”
Thanks Teller you made this Halloween even more special, and once more I am indebted to the Helen Hayes house staff. You all are the very best, every night. Thank you, Thank you.
Waiting outside was Jo and Richard. They are friends and fans of Scott Bacula, and were at the benefit performance at Los Angeles Hamilton High School three years ago when the team of Kreppel, Cross and Johnson began. It was great to have that circle completed. Fans and friends who support this show are a continually blessing. Thank you for your tireless efforts to spread the word about The Two and Only.
On a musical note, the monkey song tonight was supposed to be the theme from the “Munsters” television show. Darwin was a little over ambitious in his rendition and some how it turned into the “Baby Elephant Walk.” Joe and the Wiz guessed right away. They probably would have gotten the Musters theme as well, but chalk a loss up for the monkey. I am not sure how a baby elephant relates to Halloween, but you have to play the game as it goes. Good guessing crew.
As you were,
Jay
Sunday, October 29, 2006
The community of Broadway actors is very small. It is an exclusive club that requires dues paid in years of dedication to your chosen art. Because it is such a small family, tonight was very special.
I had never seen Avenue Q before tonight. Given my art form you would think I would have seen it many, many times. But, I was always performing my show at the same time and never had a chance to see it. Because we start our last Sunday night show earlier than Q, tonight was the night. With two minutes to spare Murphy, Paul and I ran over to the Golden Theater after we finished our show.
Avenue Q is everything you have heard it is, a Tony Award winning musical that is clever, funny, charming and unique. The show was wonderful, but it was more than just another exciting evening of theater. After five years of performing with the show both here and in Las Vegas, Rick Lyons is leaving. I got to see his last performance tonight.
Rick Lyons is the master puppeteer for Avenue Q. He designed and made all the puppets and has been performing in the show since it began in workshops. He is my friend. We met many years ago in an airport waiting for baggage. I wrote about Rick in this blog when he came to see my show a week or so ago.
My eyes never left him when he was on stage. Whether he was performing as Nicky, Trekkie Monster, the Bad Idea Bears or others, the life he created with each puppet was totally real to me. Everyone on stage is a great actor, but to be a "puppet actor" is a skill for which Rick is uniquely qualified. Perhaps it is also a skill that I am also uniquely qualified to understand and fully appreciate.
At the end, Rick gave a tearful curtain speech to the cast and crew to say goodbye. I wasn’t expecting that. I’m not sure I have gotten over it yet. He ended his heartfelt thanks by looking at Nicky, the puppet, on his arm and said, “I will miss you the most.”
Rick, you are a good friend. I will miss knowing that you are just around the corner entertaining the crowds. To us puppeteer’s on Broadway there is one less light on the Great White way. Best wishes, you and Tonya enjoy your time off. I’m richer for having seen you perform.
As you were,
Jay
I had never seen Avenue Q before tonight. Given my art form you would think I would have seen it many, many times. But, I was always performing my show at the same time and never had a chance to see it. Because we start our last Sunday night show earlier than Q, tonight was the night. With two minutes to spare Murphy, Paul and I ran over to the Golden Theater after we finished our show.
Avenue Q is everything you have heard it is, a Tony Award winning musical that is clever, funny, charming and unique. The show was wonderful, but it was more than just another exciting evening of theater. After five years of performing with the show both here and in Las Vegas, Rick Lyons is leaving. I got to see his last performance tonight.
Rick Lyons is the master puppeteer for Avenue Q. He designed and made all the puppets and has been performing in the show since it began in workshops. He is my friend. We met many years ago in an airport waiting for baggage. I wrote about Rick in this blog when he came to see my show a week or so ago.
My eyes never left him when he was on stage. Whether he was performing as Nicky, Trekkie Monster, the Bad Idea Bears or others, the life he created with each puppet was totally real to me. Everyone on stage is a great actor, but to be a "puppet actor" is a skill for which Rick is uniquely qualified. Perhaps it is also a skill that I am also uniquely qualified to understand and fully appreciate.
At the end, Rick gave a tearful curtain speech to the cast and crew to say goodbye. I wasn’t expecting that. I’m not sure I have gotten over it yet. He ended his heartfelt thanks by looking at Nicky, the puppet, on his arm and said, “I will miss you the most.”
Rick, you are a good friend. I will miss knowing that you are just around the corner entertaining the crowds. To us puppeteer’s on Broadway there is one less light on the Great White way. Best wishes, you and Tonya enjoy your time off. I’m richer for having seen you perform.
As you were,
Jay
Saturday, October 28, 2006
The Wiz report for Saturday
It was a very different, surreal day for me today. As you may have heard (or read) I will be taking the day off tomorrow for a personal obligation. In preparation for this, I have been training Alternate Wiz. Now, for the first time on the East Coast (including Cambridge), I am not calling the shots. It's very difficult to give this repsonsibility to someone else, no matter how excellent and talented that person is. I feel a very deep personal connection to this show and it's tough to let someone else be a part of that. During the matinee I was backstage with alternate Wiz, making sure that he feels comfortable. It will be the last time he can ask questions, and we chat during our quieter moments to make sure all is going well.
The evening show was the most surreal. I was able to sit in the audience and just watch and laugh. I have only done this a few times - all of them in Los Angeles when another stage manager was in charge. But here, in NYC, I've never been able to do that. It's quite an experience. I could hear everything the audience was saying, watch what they were doing, and be a true part of them. I've seen this show many, many times and I have not laughed (or cried) like I did tonight with all of you.
Perhaps one of the funniest moments was during the Bob routine when Jay needed to clear his throat. Bob stops and says "if you don't clear your throat, I'm out of work." So Jay takes a drink of water and then drops the bottle of water on the stage. He picks it up (not an easy task with Bob at the end of his arm) and all the time I'm sending telepathic messages. I send those messages during the show and Jay always seems to get them. He surely got this one. Meanwhile, we're all laughing and Bob asks a little girl in the front row (who was laughing at everything) "Have you ever seen those Chuckie Movies?" So we all laugh, and just as I think we're going to get back into the routine as written (silly me), Bob says "Don't step in that (water) you'll electrocute yourself". Now we're in hysterics again. My head hurts from laughing so hard.
Tonight's monkey song? Definitley NOT the song from "The WIZard of Oz" as I thought, but "Teddy Bear's Picnic". We use "Teddy Bear's Picnic" several times in the show. I've heard it hundred of times and still, still I cannot get it right. Jay thought it was a dead give away, and laughed when I got it wrong. Don't worry Mr. Johnson - I'll text message my guesses in tomorrow, and I darned well better win!
Until the next one (on Tuesday)
Wiz
It was a very different, surreal day for me today. As you may have heard (or read) I will be taking the day off tomorrow for a personal obligation. In preparation for this, I have been training Alternate Wiz. Now, for the first time on the East Coast (including Cambridge), I am not calling the shots. It's very difficult to give this repsonsibility to someone else, no matter how excellent and talented that person is. I feel a very deep personal connection to this show and it's tough to let someone else be a part of that. During the matinee I was backstage with alternate Wiz, making sure that he feels comfortable. It will be the last time he can ask questions, and we chat during our quieter moments to make sure all is going well.
The evening show was the most surreal. I was able to sit in the audience and just watch and laugh. I have only done this a few times - all of them in Los Angeles when another stage manager was in charge. But here, in NYC, I've never been able to do that. It's quite an experience. I could hear everything the audience was saying, watch what they were doing, and be a true part of them. I've seen this show many, many times and I have not laughed (or cried) like I did tonight with all of you.
Perhaps one of the funniest moments was during the Bob routine when Jay needed to clear his throat. Bob stops and says "if you don't clear your throat, I'm out of work." So Jay takes a drink of water and then drops the bottle of water on the stage. He picks it up (not an easy task with Bob at the end of his arm) and all the time I'm sending telepathic messages. I send those messages during the show and Jay always seems to get them. He surely got this one. Meanwhile, we're all laughing and Bob asks a little girl in the front row (who was laughing at everything) "Have you ever seen those Chuckie Movies?" So we all laugh, and just as I think we're going to get back into the routine as written (silly me), Bob says "Don't step in that (water) you'll electrocute yourself". Now we're in hysterics again. My head hurts from laughing so hard.
Tonight's monkey song? Definitley NOT the song from "The WIZard of Oz" as I thought, but "Teddy Bear's Picnic". We use "Teddy Bear's Picnic" several times in the show. I've heard it hundred of times and still, still I cannot get it right. Jay thought it was a dead give away, and laughed when I got it wrong. Don't worry Mr. Johnson - I'll text message my guesses in tomorrow, and I darned well better win!
Until the next one (on Tuesday)
Wiz
Tonight I am standing at the subway on the corner of 8th and 44th saying goodbye to the Wiz. Wiz has a personal obligation that must be attended tomorrow and alternate Wiz will be running the shows. We have known about this since we started the show. It is a good thing, but it will be strange doing a show in New York without the Wiz calling the shots.
There is a delicate dance in this show between the Stage Manager and Me. Lighting cues, and sound cues happen on certain words and movements. The Wiz keeps Joe (on the lights) and Bobby (on the sound) ready for anything. The Wiz can sense the cue even when I say something I have never said before that moment.
Once the show begins, the Wiz is my only connection to the stage and we have to communicate without saying a word. It is a psychic connection. No one knows the amount of work it takes just to listen to what I am saying and keep the show moving technically.. If it works right it is seamless and no one is ever aware, except me. I don’t take the talents of the Wiz for granted.
So it is not without concern that I am saying bye to the Wiz at the subway stop, not thinking of much except how I will get through two shows tomorrow. As we are going over the last details, a man comes up behind me, grabs me and says,
“Don’t move buddy, just give it up”. He has a grip on me that I won’t be able to break. He grabbed me so tightly I can tell he is wearing a bullet -proof vest, and there is a gun in his waistband. This only happens in the movies. I wait for him to release me so I can hand over my wallet and cash.
That is when the man starts laughing. It is Officer Don, my friend, the beat cop of 44th Street.
“Happy Halloween!” he tells me. He is off on vacation next week and won’t be able to give me a scare on October 31st. I will remember that long after Halloween.
As you were,
Jay
There is a delicate dance in this show between the Stage Manager and Me. Lighting cues, and sound cues happen on certain words and movements. The Wiz keeps Joe (on the lights) and Bobby (on the sound) ready for anything. The Wiz can sense the cue even when I say something I have never said before that moment.
Once the show begins, the Wiz is my only connection to the stage and we have to communicate without saying a word. It is a psychic connection. No one knows the amount of work it takes just to listen to what I am saying and keep the show moving technically.. If it works right it is seamless and no one is ever aware, except me. I don’t take the talents of the Wiz for granted.
So it is not without concern that I am saying bye to the Wiz at the subway stop, not thinking of much except how I will get through two shows tomorrow. As we are going over the last details, a man comes up behind me, grabs me and says,
“Don’t move buddy, just give it up”. He has a grip on me that I won’t be able to break. He grabbed me so tightly I can tell he is wearing a bullet -proof vest, and there is a gun in his waistband. This only happens in the movies. I wait for him to release me so I can hand over my wallet and cash.
That is when the man starts laughing. It is Officer Don, my friend, the beat cop of 44th Street.
“Happy Halloween!” he tells me. He is off on vacation next week and won’t be able to give me a scare on October 31st. I will remember that long after Halloween.
As you were,
Jay
Friday, October 27, 2006
The Wiz report for Friday. (Not really it's me... Jay)
The Wiz is not blogging tonight. So I will be bringing you the show report. I will write in third person so you won’t get confused.
It was a fabulous show, funny, touching and introspective, the crowd could not get enough. The applause alone took up 30 minutes of the evening. The Helen Hayes record for longest sustained laughter was broken tonight by a joke from Darwin, seventeen minutes and thirty-two seconds of sustained laughter. The previous record of sixteen minutes and thirty-five seconds was held by Golda’s Balcony.
The audience was mesmerized when Bob joined Squeaky in an impromptu break dance /tap challenge in the middle of the stage.
The patrons were equally divided as to who actually won the contest. For my money Squeaky’s style was so reminiscent of Gregory Hines’ “Sophisticated Ladies” tap solo he should have been the clear winner.
There was talk in the audience of suspending the Tony’s next year and just dedicating the television time to James Lipton talking to Jay Johnson about his technique of duet acting on the Broadway stage. Jay is not sure if he can do it since he is planning on being honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Jay will be taking some afternoons off next week to help fix the “Jersey Boys” script, which could really use a little ventriloquism to liven it up. The guy playing Rudy/Frankie Valli moves his lips.
The monkey song was “Good Ship Lollipop”. Although Joe said it sounded more like the “Bull Shit lollipop” Oh yeah? Well one of your blue gels is faded, Mr. Beck.
Tonight the much anticipated “show buttons” arrived. Our fabulous ushers will be handing them out for future audiences to wear. There are five versions. . One says, “Broadway IS for Dummies”, another, “Help stamp out Ventilophobia” another, “Find Your voice and Throw it” and two for the grown ups, “Got Wood?” and “Ventriloquists do it with there lips shut”.
You really don’t know what you miss if you don’t see the show every night.
Until the next Juan,
The Whiz
(Tonight the part of the Whiz was played by Jay Johnson)
.
The Wiz is not blogging tonight. So I will be bringing you the show report. I will write in third person so you won’t get confused.
It was a fabulous show, funny, touching and introspective, the crowd could not get enough. The applause alone took up 30 minutes of the evening. The Helen Hayes record for longest sustained laughter was broken tonight by a joke from Darwin, seventeen minutes and thirty-two seconds of sustained laughter. The previous record of sixteen minutes and thirty-five seconds was held by Golda’s Balcony.
The audience was mesmerized when Bob joined Squeaky in an impromptu break dance /tap challenge in the middle of the stage.
The patrons were equally divided as to who actually won the contest. For my money Squeaky’s style was so reminiscent of Gregory Hines’ “Sophisticated Ladies” tap solo he should have been the clear winner.
There was talk in the audience of suspending the Tony’s next year and just dedicating the television time to James Lipton talking to Jay Johnson about his technique of duet acting on the Broadway stage. Jay is not sure if he can do it since he is planning on being honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Jay will be taking some afternoons off next week to help fix the “Jersey Boys” script, which could really use a little ventriloquism to liven it up. The guy playing Rudy/Frankie Valli moves his lips.
The monkey song was “Good Ship Lollipop”. Although Joe said it sounded more like the “Bull Shit lollipop” Oh yeah? Well one of your blue gels is faded, Mr. Beck.
Tonight the much anticipated “show buttons” arrived. Our fabulous ushers will be handing them out for future audiences to wear. There are five versions. . One says, “Broadway IS for Dummies”, another, “Help stamp out Ventilophobia” another, “Find Your voice and Throw it” and two for the grown ups, “Got Wood?” and “Ventriloquists do it with there lips shut”.
You really don’t know what you miss if you don’t see the show every night.
Until the next Juan,
The Whiz
(Tonight the part of the Whiz was played by Jay Johnson)
.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
The Wiz report for Thursday
What a fun night I had tonight. "Alternate Wiz" was with me for the show, watching just one more time to make sure he's all ready for Sunday when I am out. It's great to have him there. We have our little moments and laugh even more.
I have a couple of things tonight. First, Spaulding. My dear Spaulding decided to defy most laws of physics and rolled right off the stage again. Not sure how, not sure why, not sure if he'll do it again tomorrow. I think he likes to keep us on our toes.
Once it's time to start the show, I check in with sound to make sure that he's ready. Tonight I said "Hi friend of Gary, Lewis, and Bob" - all names that he has been called since his return a few days ago. We chuckle and guess at what the puppets may say tonight. We were all wrong - Nethernore went for "Bobby" while Darwin called him "the missing link". I guess that's a "science joke".
We had a rousing game of "name that monkey song". Just before we started the show, I gave Jay the category of "1970's tv theme songs". So the game starts and in my best stage whisper (or not) I'm shouting "Dick Van Dyke". Joe says "no, it's Green Acres" and alternate Wiz was trying to re-sing what Darwin had done. Joe won. It was "Green Acres" followed by a little bit of "Can Can". I lost again, but I am not giving up!
Not many people can say they love their job as much as I do!
Until the next one,
Wiz
What a fun night I had tonight. "Alternate Wiz" was with me for the show, watching just one more time to make sure he's all ready for Sunday when I am out. It's great to have him there. We have our little moments and laugh even more.
I have a couple of things tonight. First, Spaulding. My dear Spaulding decided to defy most laws of physics and rolled right off the stage again. Not sure how, not sure why, not sure if he'll do it again tomorrow. I think he likes to keep us on our toes.
Once it's time to start the show, I check in with sound to make sure that he's ready. Tonight I said "Hi friend of Gary, Lewis, and Bob" - all names that he has been called since his return a few days ago. We chuckle and guess at what the puppets may say tonight. We were all wrong - Nethernore went for "Bobby" while Darwin called him "the missing link". I guess that's a "science joke".
We had a rousing game of "name that monkey song". Just before we started the show, I gave Jay the category of "1970's tv theme songs". So the game starts and in my best stage whisper (or not) I'm shouting "Dick Van Dyke". Joe says "no, it's Green Acres" and alternate Wiz was trying to re-sing what Darwin had done. Joe won. It was "Green Acres" followed by a little bit of "Can Can". I lost again, but I am not giving up!
Not many people can say they love their job as much as I do!
Until the next one,
Wiz
Sometimes you just feel like Damon Runyon when you walk the streets of New York.......
So it’s after my show and I say goodbye to my west coast pal Sonny who has come back stage to give me a toss, and I head next door to John’s for a quick one. One turns into three or so as I am shootin’ the breeze with Trixie and Pinky. They have hooked up with a couple of actor types and the show biz stories are flyin’, and I don’t mean somewhat. Over a garlic and pepperoni pizza we solve all the dramatic problems of a new show called “Tough Titty”. Pinky has done this show and knows all about it. You see it is not so important that an actor just do a show, you have to deconstruct it every waking minute you are not on stage. Beer and pizza are a must when doing this kind of work.
Pinky collects the toll for the evening and I say goodbye to my thespian friends. I leave John’s and I am feeling good as I walk past the front of my theater.
That’s when I hear a voice say, “Hey, what are you doin’ on the streets, you finished your show hours ago.” I did, there’s no denying that. We start at seven o’clock and with no intermission we can be well into the third or forth round before them other shows have even solved the crisis of the first act.
This voice I hear is coming from Officer Don. He is the beat cop from Midtown south and he is in charge of keeping 44th street civil. Now Officer Don is conferring with Shorty, who is the beat cop for 45th. I am introduced to Shorty with a firm handshake, and a fine “how do you do.”
Now these are two regular guys who are charged with keeping theater patrons out of the traffic. Not an easy job by any means. I start to confer with the two of them. I always like to keep on the good side of the law. Especially when I have seen burly Officer Don move a loaded semi-trailer truck with his bare hands just because it was blocking his 44th Street.
We determine that we all have kids, and how we gonna keep them safe in this modern day. Shorty offeres that his boys are small and not blonde like Officer Don’s tall girls. He allows that if his wife had given birth to a tall blonde he might be looking for Officer Don with his service revolver drawn. It is none of my concern since I don’t even know Shorty’s wife.
About this time the rest of the shows let out. The streets are crowded with tourists that don’t know when to cross the street. Officer Don gets back to work with Shorty in tow.
I have to get home and do my bloggin’. I give them a “see you tomorrow, come see my show”. Just another night on Broadway.
As your were,
Damon Runyon
So it’s after my show and I say goodbye to my west coast pal Sonny who has come back stage to give me a toss, and I head next door to John’s for a quick one. One turns into three or so as I am shootin’ the breeze with Trixie and Pinky. They have hooked up with a couple of actor types and the show biz stories are flyin’, and I don’t mean somewhat. Over a garlic and pepperoni pizza we solve all the dramatic problems of a new show called “Tough Titty”. Pinky has done this show and knows all about it. You see it is not so important that an actor just do a show, you have to deconstruct it every waking minute you are not on stage. Beer and pizza are a must when doing this kind of work.
Pinky collects the toll for the evening and I say goodbye to my thespian friends. I leave John’s and I am feeling good as I walk past the front of my theater.
That’s when I hear a voice say, “Hey, what are you doin’ on the streets, you finished your show hours ago.” I did, there’s no denying that. We start at seven o’clock and with no intermission we can be well into the third or forth round before them other shows have even solved the crisis of the first act.
This voice I hear is coming from Officer Don. He is the beat cop from Midtown south and he is in charge of keeping 44th street civil. Now Officer Don is conferring with Shorty, who is the beat cop for 45th. I am introduced to Shorty with a firm handshake, and a fine “how do you do.”
Now these are two regular guys who are charged with keeping theater patrons out of the traffic. Not an easy job by any means. I start to confer with the two of them. I always like to keep on the good side of the law. Especially when I have seen burly Officer Don move a loaded semi-trailer truck with his bare hands just because it was blocking his 44th Street.
We determine that we all have kids, and how we gonna keep them safe in this modern day. Shorty offeres that his boys are small and not blonde like Officer Don’s tall girls. He allows that if his wife had given birth to a tall blonde he might be looking for Officer Don with his service revolver drawn. It is none of my concern since I don’t even know Shorty’s wife.
About this time the rest of the shows let out. The streets are crowded with tourists that don’t know when to cross the street. Officer Don gets back to work with Shorty in tow.
I have to get home and do my bloggin’. I give them a “see you tomorrow, come see my show”. Just another night on Broadway.
As your were,
Damon Runyon
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
This blog goes out to Matthew, my young friend, first row center of the audience tonight. For those of you who weren’t there, Matthew is eight years old and a ventriloquist. A good friend once told me, “I don’t have to see someone perform to know immediately if they are good.” Although I don’t think that is a rule every time, I know what he meant. Some times you just know, there is something that one artist senses about another. Matthew I felt that from you tonight. Thanks for coming to my show and thanks for staying around for the talk back. SQUEAKY enjoyed answering your question.
Here is my real advice to you, find your passion, learn all you can about it and follow where it leads. No matter what you end up doing your passion will make you a success.
There is only one secret to ventriloquism, or any other art. Practice. Fall in love with practice. If you are a performer fall in love with rehearsals. I promise you will spend more time rehearsing than you will performing, if you do it right. A person once asked a famous artist how long it took him to paint a picture. He said, “At least one hundred thousand strokes of the brush”. He counted every time he put a brush to canvas over his lifetime.
A shout out to Mr. S. Thank you for believing and thank you for the virtual hug. I am very blessed by your participation in this journey. It is an exciting ride and enjoyed more when shared with people like you.
And to Susan. You are an angel. The room lights up when you enter. The world is a better place because you are in it. Thank you for coming to my talk back. You have no idea how grateful we are to have your support.
As your were,
Jay
Here is my real advice to you, find your passion, learn all you can about it and follow where it leads. No matter what you end up doing your passion will make you a success.
There is only one secret to ventriloquism, or any other art. Practice. Fall in love with practice. If you are a performer fall in love with rehearsals. I promise you will spend more time rehearsing than you will performing, if you do it right. A person once asked a famous artist how long it took him to paint a picture. He said, “At least one hundred thousand strokes of the brush”. He counted every time he put a brush to canvas over his lifetime.
A shout out to Mr. S. Thank you for believing and thank you for the virtual hug. I am very blessed by your participation in this journey. It is an exciting ride and enjoyed more when shared with people like you.
And to Susan. You are an angel. The room lights up when you enter. The world is a better place because you are in it. Thank you for coming to my talk back. You have no idea how grateful we are to have your support.
As your were,
Jay
The Wiz report for Wednesday
The past two performances have been terrific - lots of laughter throughout. We've even gotten some very long rounds of applause where we haven't really gotten them before. Every audience sees things just a little differently.
After almost two weeks our sound engineer, Bob, is back. He has been on vacation. During his time away, we had a sound man named Gary. They are both terrific. As I learned from Jay, the letter "B" is a plosive consonant. Plosive consonants cause you to move your lips - so ventriloquists will avoid them like the plague. In the show, both Nethernore and Darwin call to the sound man, using his name. They generally start with "Hey (insert name here), give me that..." Prior to Bob's vacation, both Nethernore and Darwin would call Bob by his name. It never seemed to matter, as we know that Jay can say B words (as he does during the Bob routine). However, now that Bob is back, we're aware that he has a B name. I'm not sure what changed over the course of the past two weeks. Yesterday he was referred to as "friend of Gary". Tonight, he was actually given two names. Nethernore called him "Lewis" (Bob gave Jay permission for that - we're not sure what it means) and Darwin called him "Bob". We're having a lot of figuring out who is who and exactly how many people are running sound on any given night.
Speaking of sounds - the monkey song was either made up or not remembered. Either way, I don't have an answer for you. Maybe I'll win tomorrow, but I doubt it.
Until the next one,
Wiz
The past two performances have been terrific - lots of laughter throughout. We've even gotten some very long rounds of applause where we haven't really gotten them before. Every audience sees things just a little differently.
After almost two weeks our sound engineer, Bob, is back. He has been on vacation. During his time away, we had a sound man named Gary. They are both terrific. As I learned from Jay, the letter "B" is a plosive consonant. Plosive consonants cause you to move your lips - so ventriloquists will avoid them like the plague. In the show, both Nethernore and Darwin call to the sound man, using his name. They generally start with "Hey (insert name here), give me that..." Prior to Bob's vacation, both Nethernore and Darwin would call Bob by his name. It never seemed to matter, as we know that Jay can say B words (as he does during the Bob routine). However, now that Bob is back, we're aware that he has a B name. I'm not sure what changed over the course of the past two weeks. Yesterday he was referred to as "friend of Gary". Tonight, he was actually given two names. Nethernore called him "Lewis" (Bob gave Jay permission for that - we're not sure what it means) and Darwin called him "Bob". We're having a lot of figuring out who is who and exactly how many people are running sound on any given night.
Speaking of sounds - the monkey song was either made up or not remembered. Either way, I don't have an answer for you. Maybe I'll win tomorrow, but I doubt it.
Until the next one,
Wiz
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
There is nothing like a little rest. I love to come back on Tuesdays. My voice is ready and I never have to think about placement, the boys are always in good voice with a lot of energy. The audience was especially good tonight. What a great time we had together.
There is a grate in the middle of Times Square where 7th crosses Broadway. It is in the middle of the street, a little triangular island of concrete and metal. Traffic goes flying by on three sides. It vents something, I don’t know what, a subway, an electrical unit, whatever. It is an airway to the bowels of New York City. It emits a low tone like the biggest pipe in a pipe organ. It is constant and somewhat spooky to me. You don’t really hear it unless you are on top of that island. I like to stand there and just listen every chance I get. It truly is the city humming a lullaby to itself.
Tonight Murphy and Paul walked with me part of the way home. We stopped at that spot and just listened. Before long we were humming the same tone to ourselves. There was just something about the energy of the sound and the pace of Times Square that was magical. The weather was brisk and cool, but we just stood there listening and humming the tone. Then we harmonized with it, and it became the mantra of a monks chant in the greatest temple in the world.
Paul then said, “Look where we are.” It was a panorama of the “Great White Way” and there we were, on Broadway. We just left our theater and were about to go our separate ways. However, not before we connected with George M and every other actor, dancer, musician, singer, writer, producer and ventriloquist who ever had a dream to perform in a Broadway theater. It was overwhelming.
There is just something about New York. It lives, it breathes and tonight it kissed us on the cheek and said, “welcome”.
Thank you New York.
As you were,
Jay
There is a grate in the middle of Times Square where 7th crosses Broadway. It is in the middle of the street, a little triangular island of concrete and metal. Traffic goes flying by on three sides. It vents something, I don’t know what, a subway, an electrical unit, whatever. It is an airway to the bowels of New York City. It emits a low tone like the biggest pipe in a pipe organ. It is constant and somewhat spooky to me. You don’t really hear it unless you are on top of that island. I like to stand there and just listen every chance I get. It truly is the city humming a lullaby to itself.
Tonight Murphy and Paul walked with me part of the way home. We stopped at that spot and just listened. Before long we were humming the same tone to ourselves. There was just something about the energy of the sound and the pace of Times Square that was magical. The weather was brisk and cool, but we just stood there listening and humming the tone. Then we harmonized with it, and it became the mantra of a monks chant in the greatest temple in the world.
Paul then said, “Look where we are.” It was a panorama of the “Great White Way” and there we were, on Broadway. We just left our theater and were about to go our separate ways. However, not before we connected with George M and every other actor, dancer, musician, singer, writer, producer and ventriloquist who ever had a dream to perform in a Broadway theater. It was overwhelming.
There is just something about New York. It lives, it breathes and tonight it kissed us on the cheek and said, “welcome”.
Thank you New York.
As you were,
Jay
Almost forty years ago, Art Sieving told me to do the “best show you can every time” and “you’ll do alright”. I think I have been caught up in the error that this advice isn’t enough. I have been tricked into believing that there is something else I am not doing.
A good friend told me months ago that this show was a spiritual journey for me. Perhaps that is what I am trying to understand. I am just an old modern day necromancer plying the art. The spiritual roots of ventriloquism still run deep. Perhaps this is what drew me to this unique form of entertainment to begin with.
It dawned on me today that I can’t do anything more to make this show a financial hit. I continue to do the interviews and promos that are given me to do. The Two and Only is the second best rated show just behind Jersey Boys in the New York Times reader poll. We have the best PR firm, the best advertising firm, the best marketing firm and the most generous and enthusiastic producers ever assembled. My directors are angels as close to me as family. My own family has loaned me to New York theater in spite of the burdens it causes them, because they believe like everyone else on this dream team.
I will always do the best show and the best interview I can do every time. That is the only power I have. I can’t make people come to the theater. I can’t make them choose my show over the others that are across the street. But I also don’t believe there is a limited number of people per night and we have to take audience from anyone else to sell out. Good gifts come with batteries included, we don’t have to steal the batteries from another show to run.
I can’t decide to do my best shows only for the sold out audience. Everyone who comes is here for a reason I have no control over. They will be affected by the show in the way that they need at the moment. All I can do is be there for the people who have chosen this night to attend.
So Rosie O’Donnell, I want you to come and see my show, not for what you can do for the show, but for what the show can do for you. That goes for anyone else who has not seen the show. I have a whole cast of imaginary (read spiritual) characters here waiting for you. Don’t come to see me or my show, come to see a mirror of your own spirit and your own passions.
As you were,
Jay
A good friend told me months ago that this show was a spiritual journey for me. Perhaps that is what I am trying to understand. I am just an old modern day necromancer plying the art. The spiritual roots of ventriloquism still run deep. Perhaps this is what drew me to this unique form of entertainment to begin with.
It dawned on me today that I can’t do anything more to make this show a financial hit. I continue to do the interviews and promos that are given me to do. The Two and Only is the second best rated show just behind Jersey Boys in the New York Times reader poll. We have the best PR firm, the best advertising firm, the best marketing firm and the most generous and enthusiastic producers ever assembled. My directors are angels as close to me as family. My own family has loaned me to New York theater in spite of the burdens it causes them, because they believe like everyone else on this dream team.
I will always do the best show and the best interview I can do every time. That is the only power I have. I can’t make people come to the theater. I can’t make them choose my show over the others that are across the street. But I also don’t believe there is a limited number of people per night and we have to take audience from anyone else to sell out. Good gifts come with batteries included, we don’t have to steal the batteries from another show to run.
I can’t decide to do my best shows only for the sold out audience. Everyone who comes is here for a reason I have no control over. They will be affected by the show in the way that they need at the moment. All I can do is be there for the people who have chosen this night to attend.
So Rosie O’Donnell, I want you to come and see my show, not for what you can do for the show, but for what the show can do for you. That goes for anyone else who has not seen the show. I have a whole cast of imaginary (read spiritual) characters here waiting for you. Don’t come to see me or my show, come to see a mirror of your own spirit and your own passions.
As you were,
Jay
I guess I never realized that Broadway is a constant promotion. Doing the show is about the easiest thing to this venture. Last night, on my night off I was at Bloomingdales entertaining the “shoppers elite”. It wasn’t the best of conditions, but I think I got the prime location. My stage was in the fur coat section. It reminded me of my trade show days, grabbing a crowd from a moving target. However, I was delighted and actually shocked at the number of people who came to see me do my bit. They had a lot of talent through out the evening and the crowd seemed to ebb and flow as something would catch their attention. Thanks Amanda for being there and helping me through it. You know how much we appreciate your work for "The Two and Only".
I was hoping to get to hang out with some of the other cast members of the other shows. That is one of the fun perks of being on Broadway. However, there were several stages and the talent was spread out over the evening, so I didn’t really get to hang with my peers much as I wanted. I did meet Amy and her 8 year old daughter August in the make shift green room. It was actually a storeroom off a fitting area. Amy has been in “I love you, you’re perfect, now change” at the Westside Theater for six years. It was really nice to meet them.
I asked Rick Lyons from Avenue Q if the pace of promotions/ interviews every slowed. Avenue Q has been a hit now for a couple of years, you might think by now they could coast. He said it never stops and never slows. I’m not complaining, just becoming educated.
For most of the day off I am a waste of space. I am so tired after the long week and 5 show weekend it really takes 24 hours to even get the batteries to start charging again.
Of course if I have too much time away from the theater I start to obsess on the business of show business. How can we sell more tickets, get more people in the door, start paying back the producers debt? Where is our tipping-point? How long can we stay at the Hayes? Then I go into overwhelm. I am so glad that the actual experience of doing this show is so wonderful, because the bi-polar nature of the rest of the experience is daunting.
Tonight I will get to do my show again and all will be fine. The best promotion is just to do the best performance I can every time. More later TAO readers.
As you were,
Jay
I was hoping to get to hang out with some of the other cast members of the other shows. That is one of the fun perks of being on Broadway. However, there were several stages and the talent was spread out over the evening, so I didn’t really get to hang with my peers much as I wanted. I did meet Amy and her 8 year old daughter August in the make shift green room. It was actually a storeroom off a fitting area. Amy has been in “I love you, you’re perfect, now change” at the Westside Theater for six years. It was really nice to meet them.
I asked Rick Lyons from Avenue Q if the pace of promotions/ interviews every slowed. Avenue Q has been a hit now for a couple of years, you might think by now they could coast. He said it never stops and never slows. I’m not complaining, just becoming educated.
For most of the day off I am a waste of space. I am so tired after the long week and 5 show weekend it really takes 24 hours to even get the batteries to start charging again.
Of course if I have too much time away from the theater I start to obsess on the business of show business. How can we sell more tickets, get more people in the door, start paying back the producers debt? Where is our tipping-point? How long can we stay at the Hayes? Then I go into overwhelm. I am so glad that the actual experience of doing this show is so wonderful, because the bi-polar nature of the rest of the experience is daunting.
Tonight I will get to do my show again and all will be fine. The best promotion is just to do the best performance I can every time. More later TAO readers.
As you were,
Jay
Sunday, October 22, 2006
The weekends go so fast, I can't tell one show from the next. Tonight I did not play fair during the Monkey song game. Darwin sang, “That’s a Plenty”. It is a song everyone knows the tune to but no one knows the name. Okay, so who said the game had to be fair?
I sometimes forget what show friends tell me they are coming. I know they think I am daffy when I look at them with surprise when I am supposed to know when they are coming.
On Satruday night two gentleman were late to see the show. They were seated in the first row after I had done most of my first bit. (I think that is the actual time they seat late comers). Well, never before have two people been so late when their seats were directly in front of the stage. The entire audience saw them coming in and sitting. For some reason I reverted back to my comedy club days and threw them a stock line. I said, “Are you guys okay? Can we get you something… like a watch maybe?” It was only after the show that I realize d this was my ventriloquist friend Mark Merchant and the brother of another friend Ian Finkle. They were great about it and apologized for being late, but I was the one offering apologizes. Sorry guys, I stocked you.
I can’t tell you how much I love this theater. The people who work there are the best in the world. The ushers are wonderful. They let me hang in the lobby or in Linda’s “office” to shoot the breeze before the show. It is so pleasant to come to work. I even found out that Linda is a Texas landowner. How great is that.
The Wiz and I have a ritual every night. The way it works is this: Allen the house manager is in charge of the theater until he turns it over to the production stage manager. At that moment the production becomes the responsibility of the Wiz. When the Wiz gets the theater we give each other a “high ten”. Just before I take my place I say, “Good show gentlemen” to Joe the electrician and Doug the carpenter. Tonight the reply was “holy shit” as if they were totally unaware there was a show to do. Of course that is BS because they are always ready at the five-minute call. It made me laugh out loud. When we had a substitute sound man Joe made the introduction. I said hello and Joe said, “Speak up he is very hard of hearing.” How can you call this work? This is why we all went into the theater, because it was supposed to be fun. How lucky am I to get to be here. I am not sure what deity I have to thank but whom ever he or she is… Thank you.
As you were,
Jay
I sometimes forget what show friends tell me they are coming. I know they think I am daffy when I look at them with surprise when I am supposed to know when they are coming.
On Satruday night two gentleman were late to see the show. They were seated in the first row after I had done most of my first bit. (I think that is the actual time they seat late comers). Well, never before have two people been so late when their seats were directly in front of the stage. The entire audience saw them coming in and sitting. For some reason I reverted back to my comedy club days and threw them a stock line. I said, “Are you guys okay? Can we get you something… like a watch maybe?” It was only after the show that I realize d this was my ventriloquist friend Mark Merchant and the brother of another friend Ian Finkle. They were great about it and apologized for being late, but I was the one offering apologizes. Sorry guys, I stocked you.
I can’t tell you how much I love this theater. The people who work there are the best in the world. The ushers are wonderful. They let me hang in the lobby or in Linda’s “office” to shoot the breeze before the show. It is so pleasant to come to work. I even found out that Linda is a Texas landowner. How great is that.
The Wiz and I have a ritual every night. The way it works is this: Allen the house manager is in charge of the theater until he turns it over to the production stage manager. At that moment the production becomes the responsibility of the Wiz. When the Wiz gets the theater we give each other a “high ten”. Just before I take my place I say, “Good show gentlemen” to Joe the electrician and Doug the carpenter. Tonight the reply was “holy shit” as if they were totally unaware there was a show to do. Of course that is BS because they are always ready at the five-minute call. It made me laugh out loud. When we had a substitute sound man Joe made the introduction. I said hello and Joe said, “Speak up he is very hard of hearing.” How can you call this work? This is why we all went into the theater, because it was supposed to be fun. How lucky am I to get to be here. I am not sure what deity I have to thank but whom ever he or she is… Thank you.
As you were,
Jay
Saturday, October 21, 2006
The Wiz report for Saturday
We had a terrific matinee today. The audience was energized and we had the time of our lives. In fact, I'm still laughing.
I usually don't write until after the second show on a two-show day, but after our great matinee, I just couldn't control myself. This posting also requires a little back story - - When I did the show both at the Atlantic and in Cambridge, I was able to call the show from a position located in the front of the house so that I could see the show from the same view as the audience. I loved that position. It allowed me to be in close proximity to the audience, enabling me to see and hear the show exactly as the audience does. I always felt a great connection to the audience from there. It's a little different at the Hayes. Here I am calling the show from backstage and have to look at it either from a monitor or "live" from the side of the stage. It's a position that I have had to get used to. Now that I'm used to it, I love it. I have a little less of a sense of the audience but a much greater connection to Jay while he is onstage. In fact, during the Squeaky scene we are no more than 6 feet or so away from each other. Over the past two days, Jay and I have had a slight difference in opinion as to the audience reaction for Nethernore's "How do you know when something is dead? There's a lull in the conversation". Today we get to that part in the show and it gets a very nice laugh. I'm looking at the stage live and suddenly see Jay and Nethernore swing around and give me the look of death! I thought for sure that I would be Nethernore's next meal. So what do I do? Laugh, of course. So we're coming up on the end of the routine and Nethernore starts to talk about the fact that he is a student at Cornell University. Last night, Nethernore said that he was a student at both Cornell and NYU. Jay and I were discussing that today. So we're at that moment in the show today and Nethernore says that he's a student at Cornell and then adds "and sometimes NYU" and once again he swings around to give me the look of death. I am defintely his next meal. But I have to say, I've never felt more connected to an actor during the course of a performance. It is one of the great things about doing a one person show. We support each other out there and do the dance together. It's a wonderful thing to be such a part of.
And the monkey song...from "Carmen". We all got it, though Joe the electrician had to tell me it was from Carmen. At least I could sing the song!
Until the next one,
Wiz
We had a terrific matinee today. The audience was energized and we had the time of our lives. In fact, I'm still laughing.
I usually don't write until after the second show on a two-show day, but after our great matinee, I just couldn't control myself. This posting also requires a little back story - - When I did the show both at the Atlantic and in Cambridge, I was able to call the show from a position located in the front of the house so that I could see the show from the same view as the audience. I loved that position. It allowed me to be in close proximity to the audience, enabling me to see and hear the show exactly as the audience does. I always felt a great connection to the audience from there. It's a little different at the Hayes. Here I am calling the show from backstage and have to look at it either from a monitor or "live" from the side of the stage. It's a position that I have had to get used to. Now that I'm used to it, I love it. I have a little less of a sense of the audience but a much greater connection to Jay while he is onstage. In fact, during the Squeaky scene we are no more than 6 feet or so away from each other. Over the past two days, Jay and I have had a slight difference in opinion as to the audience reaction for Nethernore's "How do you know when something is dead? There's a lull in the conversation". Today we get to that part in the show and it gets a very nice laugh. I'm looking at the stage live and suddenly see Jay and Nethernore swing around and give me the look of death! I thought for sure that I would be Nethernore's next meal. So what do I do? Laugh, of course. So we're coming up on the end of the routine and Nethernore starts to talk about the fact that he is a student at Cornell University. Last night, Nethernore said that he was a student at both Cornell and NYU. Jay and I were discussing that today. So we're at that moment in the show today and Nethernore says that he's a student at Cornell and then adds "and sometimes NYU" and once again he swings around to give me the look of death. I am defintely his next meal. But I have to say, I've never felt more connected to an actor during the course of a performance. It is one of the great things about doing a one person show. We support each other out there and do the dance together. It's a wonderful thing to be such a part of.
And the monkey song...from "Carmen". We all got it, though Joe the electrician had to tell me it was from Carmen. At least I could sing the song!
Until the next one,
Wiz
Sometimes you need to step back and look at your life in third person. That is usually called counting your blessings. I need a calculator to count my blessings these days. Just getting to do my show at the Helen Hayes is a blessing that continues to count. Every night is different as the show grows. It is never the same experience so it is like opening night every time. The fact that this experience is happening on Broadway is a fairy tale addition .
Two nights ago Lucie Arnaz comes to see my show. She comes back stage to sign my guest book and I end up having drinks after the show with her Sandi, Murphy and Paul. It is great fun. I love Lucie, and I am sure she has never heard that before.
Lucie sent an email blast to all in her address book telling them to come and see my show. Thank you Lucie. You are the best.
The next night Dan Costellano came back stage after the show. I am a huge fan of Dan. It is not often Homer Simpson himself comes to see you. Not to mention, Barney, Krusty and all the other people that inhabit his creativity. Later that night as I was walking home I saw Joan Rivers coming out of a show. I spoke to her briefly and then said, “See you tomorrow”. It was the next morning we were doing the radio interview. That is when it dawns on me, did I have drinks with Lucie Arnaz, hang with Homer Simpson and say “See you tomorrow”to Joan Rivers?
All of this happened in the same week. Rosie I am getting closer.
As you were,
Jay
Two nights ago Lucie Arnaz comes to see my show. She comes back stage to sign my guest book and I end up having drinks after the show with her Sandi, Murphy and Paul. It is great fun. I love Lucie, and I am sure she has never heard that before.
Lucie sent an email blast to all in her address book telling them to come and see my show. Thank you Lucie. You are the best.
The next night Dan Costellano came back stage after the show. I am a huge fan of Dan. It is not often Homer Simpson himself comes to see you. Not to mention, Barney, Krusty and all the other people that inhabit his creativity. Later that night as I was walking home I saw Joan Rivers coming out of a show. I spoke to her briefly and then said, “See you tomorrow”. It was the next morning we were doing the radio interview. That is when it dawns on me, did I have drinks with Lucie Arnaz, hang with Homer Simpson and say “See you tomorrow”to Joan Rivers?
All of this happened in the same week. Rosie I am getting closer.
As you were,
Jay
Friday, October 20, 2006
The Wiz report for Friday
What an amazing audience! We all (me too!) laughed from beginning to end. The energy in that theatre is indescribable. I've never felt anything like that.
Usually at this point in the report I would tell you about a few interesting moments from the show. But I have to do this a little backwards tonight. You'll see why. Once I get home at the end of the night I get myself a snack, start writing the performance report, and watch Letterman. I've been watching Letterman for as long as I can remember. I watched (and recorded) every episode while he was promoting Ventriloquist Week. So I am sitting at my desk writing the performance report and watching Letterman. It's a repeat of a show that was promoting Ventriloquist Week. Dave is telling Paul that Jay and Darwin will be on. There is some discussion between them about the fact that it used to be "Jay and Bob" and now it's "Jay and Darwin" - and what happened to Bob? So I continue writing the report and I turn back to the tv just in time to hear Dave say that they found out what happened to Bob...he's given it up to become a writer. OK, I've seen ALL of these shows and I do not remember this from the first time around. I had never seen this part before. Huh! So I turn back to my computer and the very next sentence I type is: "Bob said 'You got an idea? Isn't that a revolutionary thing?'" Well there you have it - Bob just may have a second career as a writer - or maybe a re-writer.
Both Bob and Darwin had me in stitches tonight. They were both just hysterical. The monkey song was not a known song - it was something that they made up. We can't count those little jazz riffs in the scoring so no one wins tonight.
Until the next one,
Wiz
What an amazing audience! We all (me too!) laughed from beginning to end. The energy in that theatre is indescribable. I've never felt anything like that.
Usually at this point in the report I would tell you about a few interesting moments from the show. But I have to do this a little backwards tonight. You'll see why. Once I get home at the end of the night I get myself a snack, start writing the performance report, and watch Letterman. I've been watching Letterman for as long as I can remember. I watched (and recorded) every episode while he was promoting Ventriloquist Week. So I am sitting at my desk writing the performance report and watching Letterman. It's a repeat of a show that was promoting Ventriloquist Week. Dave is telling Paul that Jay and Darwin will be on. There is some discussion between them about the fact that it used to be "Jay and Bob" and now it's "Jay and Darwin" - and what happened to Bob? So I continue writing the report and I turn back to the tv just in time to hear Dave say that they found out what happened to Bob...he's given it up to become a writer. OK, I've seen ALL of these shows and I do not remember this from the first time around. I had never seen this part before. Huh! So I turn back to my computer and the very next sentence I type is: "Bob said 'You got an idea? Isn't that a revolutionary thing?'" Well there you have it - Bob just may have a second career as a writer - or maybe a re-writer.
Both Bob and Darwin had me in stitches tonight. They were both just hysterical. The monkey song was not a known song - it was something that they made up. We can't count those little jazz riffs in the scoring so no one wins tonight.
Until the next one,
Wiz
It is early and I am off to talk to Joan Rivers on WOR. I was up late last night with dear friends from Dallas, reliving the days of Charlie's Place. That was a club in Fort Worth, Texas where we, Sandi and I, perfromed for a couple of years of our career.
It is a long story and probably deserves its own show some day. However, not to slack off on the responsibility of the blog, there is a clip on the website under things of interest, Me and Darwin on Late Night with David Letterman. It was quite a night. I hope you enjoy.
As you were,
Jay
It is a long story and probably deserves its own show some day. However, not to slack off on the responsibility of the blog, there is a clip on the website under things of interest, Me and Darwin on Late Night with David Letterman. It was quite a night. I hope you enjoy.
As you were,
Jay
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