Anastasia — Page 15

Sunday

February 12, 2017 at 9:51 am by Claudia

It’s snowing again. 3 to 5 inches expected today, with the addition of sleet later in the day. Less than an inch overnight.

I have to get to NYC tomorrow. Non-negotiable. So, Don will be manning the snowblower, the car will get parked down at the end of the driveway, I’ll get up early and he will drive me to the train station. The train is better at moments like this because it’s more dependable. The bus travels on the thruway and goes through the Lincoln Tunnel, where there are often delays in bad weather. So, the train it is for tomorrow, which will take me to Grand Central Station with a quick shuttle ride to Times Square.

This snow has been nothing but a pain in the tush for yours truly, as it has fallen during key rehearsal days. But having said that, I’m grateful that the bulk of the snow is falling today, instead of tomorrow!

We watched Hannah And Her Sisters last night on TCM. It is one of our favorite movies. I think it’s Woody Allen at his very best. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen it, but I never grow tired of it. It was just as fresh last night as it was the first time I saw it in a movie theater. Wonderful performances by everyone but Dianne Wiest and Michael Caine are brilliant.

I miss Robert Osborne. TCM just isn’t the same without him. I know he’s had bouts of illness in the past, but this latest stretch without him at the helm of TCM has to have been a least a year. But every time I google the question “Where is Robert Osborne?” I’m referred to articles of 2 or 3 years ago. I assume he isn’t well. Do any of you TCM fans have an update?

As we’re stuck indoors today, I’ll do the usual Sunday chores: washing the sheets and towels, swiffering and vacuuming. I’ll go over my Russian pronunciations for tomorrow’s table work. And I’ll read, of course! The Sunday edition of New York Times and the Deborah Crombie – Garden of Lamentations.

What are you up to today?

In the City (In the Snow)

February 9, 2017 at 7:42 am by Claudia

I took a quick shot of the Broadhurst theater yesterday while on my way to the hotel. Pretty cool!

I’m in the city. The first rehearsal starts in a few hours. I came in early, as you know, because of the snow storm that is hitting the east coast. Last night, while watching the weather forecast, I realized that getting back home today would be close to impossible. Buses would be delayed and maybe cancelled, trains would be late and since we’re supposed to get a lot of snow dumped on the city and back home in the country, I didn’t want Don trying to drive to the train station (which is at least a half an hour from our cottage) in the middle of the storm. So I decided to stay one more night. Quite a pricey first rehearsal!

But it’s safer. And that’s the most important thing.

The hotel is very nice and it’s only about six blocks from the rehearsal space. And the bathtub! It’s very deep and perfect for a bath. A heavenly experience!

I’m having trouble uploading photos to the blog, most likely because of the demands on WiFi here at the hotel. It took forever to get the first photo loaded, so I may stop at that.

Hurrah! I managed to get another photo uploaded! This was the view out my hotel window last night. This morning it’s a mass of white, as snow blows everywhere. It’s going to be quite a slog to the rehearsal studios.

And another! Patience is a virtue.

My newest Nancy Drew arrived the other day. I now have 12. I think there are something like 26 books that have cover illustrations by Russell H. Tandy.

Okay. Have to go get ready and grab some breakfast.

Happy Thursday.

Grateful For The Feast

February 7, 2017 at 10:01 am by Claudia

Late afternoon sun. I spent the afternoon cleaning, doing laundry and other chores, all the while playing Ravel’s Bolero over and over again at very high volume. Don was out and about, so I didn’t have to worry about making him crazy. The recording (from 1980) that I found at the record shop was – is – really spectacular with the ending the best I’ve ever heard it done.

Sometimes I forget how great music and a sunny day can change my mood for the better. Yesterday was one of those days.

But today is rainy and gray and it looks like it will stay that way.

I just realized that I have no idea where my script for Anastasia is. It’s here, I know it is, but I moved it from the floor right by my desk to some other place, which, at the moment, is unknown. Since rehearsals start on Thursday, I have to find it, pronto.

I’m so looking forward to working on Anastasia again. It’s such a beautiful musical. Most of the original cast will return and it will be lovely to see everyone again. And it’s Broadway, for goodness sake, which makes me very happy. While I’ve worked in NYC a lot, the majority of productions I’ve worked on have been what is considered off-Broadway. I worked on a Broadway musical well over 12 years ago which starred Michael Crawford and was big and bold and a more than a bit misguided. It had a short run.

Anastasia, on the other hand, already has fans all over the world and it has a beautiful book, written by Terrence McNally, lyrics and music by Ahrens and Flaherty (who wrote the music for the animated movie and also wrote the musical Ragtime,) and a talented cast directed by Darko.

Looking at the rehearsal schedule and the days I will have to be there, I realized that the week I’m staying in NYC for dress rehearsals and previews will be the same week that Don leaves for California.

It’s all happening fairly quickly. Anastasia, Don leaving for California and Escape to Margaritaville, and then Heartbreak House at Hartford Stage.

And sometime in the midst of all of that, I have to find time to clean up the garden and plant seeds.

Feast or famine. I’m grateful for the feast.

A must read (at least for yours truly): from John Pavlovitz – his latest post.

Happy Tuesday.

Sunday

In the City (In the Snow)

Grateful For The Feast

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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