...can't sleep...browsing Playbill online... and whoa!

IT'S FINALLY OFFICIAL. Patti's Turn at City Center this July.

Playbill News is reporting, 'round Midnight here:

"...Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone, who triumphed in last summer's Ravinia Festival production of Gypsy, will get the chance to perform her Rose for New York audiences this summer.
The New York Times reports that City Center will present the Arthur Laurents-Stephen Sondheim-Jule Styne musical as part of its new Encores! Summer Stars series, a spin off of the popular Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert series.
Laurents, who wrote the book for what is considered one of the finest American musicals, will direct the production, which is scheduled to begin performances July 9 for a limited run through July 29. The official opening night will be July 12..."

I'm so knee deep in soggy, chilly, filled with giant ego's, all encompassing, break neck paced pre-production that this news somehow seems pure and honest like real theatre is alive and justified. Seriously. I will be up to my eyebrows in principal photography in July. JetBlewIt taught me to fear the weekend jaunt when schedule is immovable... Will the geniuses I work with understand?

I'm a little concerned with Laurents directing... Oh, to be the piano gal at rehearsals! I hope Mr. Laurents allows her a warm Herbie and a real Louise. Jack Willis and Jessica Bogart were wonderful at Ravinia last summer.

There's been talk of celebrity casting...

Again, from Playbill news online a few weeks ago:

"...Question: Are you going to be involved in the "rumored" City Center production this summer with Patti?

Jessica Bogart: I hear they're looking for celebrities, which I'm totally bummed about because I would love to do it. I hope maybe I'll get really lucky and all of those fancy people will say no. [Laughs.]
Question: You never know. Maybe one of them will get a movie role.

Jessica Bogart: Right — even better, if Scarlett Johansson says yes and the day before she backs out, and they call me, desperate..."

I must get back to bed, but this news has lightened my brain somehow.

Patti, in a role she was born to play, I think. In one of my all time, top of the heap, favorite Musicals, at Ravinia last summer. The first time she played Rose. The Universe provided me a second row center isle seat. Much direct eye contact through out from Miss Lupone. Divine. I'll never forget it.

Tagged... what I read for work....

fun game... tagged by Sarah, I obey...

rules: WORKBOOK... "find the nearest book, turn to page 123, post the fifth, sixth and seventh sentences"; "tag three folks".

P. 123 - hmmmmm. My name and the words
"This script is the confidential and proprietary property of W__ B__. P___ and no portion of it may be performed, distributed, reproduced, used, quoted, or published or shared."
is overlayed on each page...

2nd choice "book", P123, 5th, 6th and 7th sentences...

"Producer agrees to indemnify and hold Licensor harmless from all claims for injuries to persons and damage to property (ordinary wear and tear excepted) resulting from Producer’s occupancy and use of the premises. Licensor hereby warrants and represents that the right to use and occupy said premises is under the exclusive control of Licensor and Licensor has full right and authority to enter into this agreement and to grant the rights herein granted. Licensor agrees to indemnify and hold Producer harmless from all claims made against Producer as a result of Licensor’s breach of this warranty."

I tag Little Voice, This Kids Got Moxie and Steve On Broadway.

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx

A nemesis of mine... At work and at play.... The City of Chicago's department of Streets and Sanitation. Yesterday, my 10 minute drive down Ashland Avenue became a 25 minute exercise in self restraint and introspection. I literally experienced the five stages of death as I (and about 20 other unluckies) traveled south on Ashland Ave. from Foster to the river at Clybourn St. We all drove 15 mph behind two yahoos in their big, mean Garbage Trucks. Who has time for this? The 21 unluckies behind said rolling road block, apparently.
• Denial and isolation: "This is not happening to me."
• Anger: "My time is valuable!"
• Bargaining: "Just let me drive the speed limit and I'll be fine."
• Depression: "I can't bear to drive so slowly."
• Acceptance: "ok, what song shall I sing?"

Something upbeat, something catchy...with hope and humor... Mr. Goldstone came to mind... So I sang...

"Have an eggroll...

Mr. Goldstone....

Have a napkin, have a chopstick, have a chair.

Have a spare rib, Mr. Goldstone...

Any spare that I can spare I'll be glad to share!

Have a dish, have a fork, have a fish, have a pork.

Put your feet up. Feel at home...

Have a smoke, have a Coke.

Would you like to hear a joke? I'll have June recite a poem!

Have a leechie, Mr. Goldstone...

Tell me any little thing that I can do.

Ginger peachy, Mr. Goldstone...

Have a kumquat, have two!

Everybody give a cheer.

Santa Claus is sitting here.

Mr. Goldstone I love you!"

Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Merry Christmas

A quiet, private Christmas is a lovely Christmas. Apple pie for a late breakfast, a long walk up the lake shore and down Michigan Avenue without my camera, commitments or worries. Happy, loving phone calls, small, perfect presents, occasional glimpses of the Larry King Marathon, currently enjoying Broadways Lost Treasures II and III on PBS...

Coolest Christmas tree

I've had in years......

Peace.

And Quiet.

Merry Christmas 2006.

Oh, What A Beautiful Morning

Michigan Avenue today....

"Oh, What A Beautiful Morning," when you put it on paper looks vapid, but it's not when it's sung. That's another thing he understood, which is how rich music is, and lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers. Not always, but generally they do, because the language is too rich. It's like what they call in England "over-egging the cake." It's over-enriching something, so that you get drowned in it. I firmly believe that lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to understand what's going on."

Stephen Sondheim Interview - July 5, 2005 - Los Angeles, California

Belting out "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" inside ones auto on an icy Michigan Avenue early morning is a great way to start a day...

Sorry Grateful

As Ravinia announces their 2007 summer season, I am noticing a lack of Sondheim amongst the musical productions. Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella, starring George Hearn, sounds good to me. It's certainly worth the trip out to Ravinia. But... it doesn't make my heart stop and sing with giddy expectation the way it has for each of the past seasons announcements at Ravinia.

This time last year I clicked on Ravinia's home page to see what magical Sondheim event was planned and literally stood up and gasped when I saw Gypsy was announced with Patti Lupone as Rose. That night at Ravinia... with Patti as Rose, Jessica Boevers as Louise, Paul Gemigani directing the world class Chicago Symphony Orchestra behind them, Lonny Price at the helm... was simply the most full, enriching, fully realized, soaring theatrical event I have ever experienced. The actual Magritte-blue sunset was the perfect backdrop... as if the whole Gypsy at Ravinia was an Event within the EVENT. Ravinia itself became part of why none of us will ever forget the perfect weekend that was. Even the cicadas added to the drama.

Just three performances... I feel so grateful to have been there.

All of us, including the performers and creatives, are better for what Ravinia has given us with its Sondheim Series.

Passion, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Anyone Can Whistle, Gypsy...

Patti Lupone, Michael Cerveris, Audra McDonald... George Hearn, Paul Gemigani, Lonny Price... SONDHEIM.

Patti amazed me and moved me every season. Her Fosca still moves me, even on youtube. And Michael Cerveris... we were sooo lucky.

Lovely Thanksgiving

Short but so sweet trip East was really quite perfect.

Long walks during magic hour...

... the rich Atlantic Ocean! Divine.

...the feast had plenty of vegetables

No tears, no drama, just lucky and happy to be together...

Ahhhhhh....

It feels like a world away now that I am back and am working again in

Chicago.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

Rush hour tonight...

I'm afraid traffic will not be restored to normal now until after the Holidays. Shoppers, museumers, theatre goers, winter breakers and more fill our sidewalks and city streets. My mind is occupied by watching them drive, walk, gape, laugh, spend, seek and dream - I imagine who they are, what their lives are like and what they think of Chicago. And I wait, wait, wait for them to speed up to the urban pace that I am on...

I do like living downtown... In the thick of it.

Tomorrow morning, 0-dark hundred hours, I join another hundred people and get on an airplane for a very brief visit to the countryside. I can't wait to feel the open air... hear, smell and touch the Atlantic Ocean, and generally enjoy the no agenda feel of Thanksgiving in New England with my family. I expect long walks, deep tubs, good dogs, good stories and lucky people. Too short a visit really. But lucky to be a part of it all.

Fire up my magic carpet; everybody is singing Weill these days ...

Michigan Avenue yesterday, from my magic carpet.

Todays Arts, Breifly reports on an exciting production that has just been announced as the final production of Manhattan Theater Company's 2006 - 2007 season. I'd love to see this. I need to figure out a way to get paid to be in NYC for extended visits. I love my Chicago, medium hot city, life. And I'm booked (holding my breath) through summer '07 here in Chicago. So weekend magic carpet rides seem to be necessary at least until then.

"...Manhattan Theater Company’s production of “LoveMusik,” the new musical about the marriages (two, separated by a few years) of Kurt Weill to Lotte Lenya. The show, written by Alfred Uhry, uses Weill’s music and is being directed by Harold Prince. It is scheduled to begin previews in mid-April at the Biltmore Theater, and to open on May 3. Michael Cerveris will play Weill, Donna Murphy - Lenya, and David Pittu - Bertolt Brecht..."

Thank you Ravinia for giving me Michael Cerveris in Sunday in the Park with George, Anyone Can Whistle and Passion... Chicago does rock. But I also can't wait to see Kurt Weill's Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny in LA in Feb... Magic carpet me there.

"...his numerous progeny prospers and thrives; And the village is proud of him in his decline..."

"...Old Deuteronomy sits in the street

He sits in the High Street on market day;

The bullocks may bellow, the sheep they may bleat,

But the dogs and the herdsmen will turn them away.

The cars and the lorries run over the kerb,

And the villagers put up a notice: ROAD CLOSED

So that nothing untoward may chance to disturb

Deuteronomy's rest when he feels so disposed...

...Old Deuteronomy lies on the floor

Of the fox and French Horn for his afternoon sleep;

And when the men say: `There's just time for one more,'

the landlady from her back parlour will peep And say:

`Now then, out you go, by the back door,

For Old Deuteronomy mustn't be woken

I'll have the police if there's any uproar'

And out they all shuffle, without a word spoken

The digestive repose of that feline's gastronomy must never be broken..."

Bud. This morning.

He's always had an old soul.

At 21 years old, he's officially reached Old Deuteronomy status.

Finding NPR from Olando to Chicago

The plane ride was uneventful I guess. Southwest has great prices, and I imagine the cattle drive seating idea somehow keeps prices lower. My "A Seating" ticket afforded me the right to board after the Military folks, people with small children and "special needs" travelers. I had about 3 seconds to choose my seat after I rounded the bulkhead. Pick your poison. I chose the 3rd from the front, isle seat next to two elderly, super - sized sisters. They were fine, relatively quiet. Terrified of the landing though. Bea and Angie. From Wisconsin. I smiled as much as I could, did my best to be as social as I could muster until I eventually buried myself in Film Comment Magazine. 2 1/2 hours. It really wasn't horrible.

The prize was my father. He was waiting at baggage claim, with a smile, a hug, a lovely lunch at the Hyatt and keys to a very early 1990's Honda which has been coddled and cared for through each of its 50,000 miles. Not a speck of rust, nor a tear of it's tan interior. Deep, dark, ocean blue exterior. Brilliant. New tires, sunroof... I could go on. And I will.

She drives like a pro. And the window and radio controls are cool. Tape deck. I will have to dig out my old cassettes...

1,200 miles...


18 hours driving time. A sleep at Days Inn in Tennessee.



Suffered through Prairie Home Companion this morning.
Found NPR stations the whole way North.

And, before the sun set, I was back in Chicago.

Fabulous fog from the roof of the Peninsula today...

Argonautika is a lovely cure for a Pirate Queen hangover...

In early October I couldn't stop myself from buying a single ticket to The Pirate Queen's 3rd preview. The Pirate Queens reported $14,000,000 budget and it's creative pedigree including book and music by Boublil and Schonberg, direction by the great Mr. Frank Galati and scenic design by the delightful Eugene Lee (from Trinity Rep!) demanded that I see this Pre-Broadway show as it develops here in Chicago. I'm glad I saw it, but man... all that money, all that talent... lots of problems and so much potential. The story is an ancient 16th century Irish tale, somehow not guided seamlessly for today's theatre experience. I can not remember one tune from the score, nor do I forgive them for the lack of a rousing, scary, well executed, musical, high-flying sword fight. Mr. Galati seems like such a teddy bear (I saw him at the third preview - he was locked out of the theaters glass doors - he knocked and made a "help me!" face to the kids getting ready to sell P.Q. merchandise just inside the doors... they let him in... I hope it's not ironic) I hope he has it in him to make some tough choices with this material before it transfers to Broadway.

Isn't it Rich? Mary Zimmerman, a former student of Mr. Galati, has steered the "ship" of Argonautika smoothly, clearly and with her usual trust of her fine ensemble and creative team. I loved it. Pure, never forced, immediate, funny, unashamed, inventive, clear... She used every inch of Dan Ostling's simple and sturdy "ship" stage space, including all the "up" space, of course. The entire cast took their time, but not too much, trusted each other and their material and generally had a ball. And so did I. Besides the guiding light of Mz. Zimmerman, the unencumbered, beautiful "cotten"y costumes of Ana Kuzmanic, John Culbert's forceful and direct lighting; I loved the sound design by Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman. The fantastically intimate old Watertower space allows for no amplification needed... but the lone body mike, tweaked just perfectly... barely there... on Athena was genius. Michael Montenegro's Puppet design fits nicely with the entire Lookingglass / Argonautika aesthetic. Zimmermans idea for the death of the baby puppet shows how well she listens to her artistic partners, trusts her self and material, and listens to her gut. She forces nothing. It's all there for her to choose from and use... and she's wise enough to know that and execute it. Genius. And a pleasure.

*edited to add Variety review of Argonautika and The Chicago Reader compares the two...

Secret neighborhoods...

I've always loved a good secret. One of my favorite secrets is a well hidden street, preserved at its best, lived in and/or adored by those of us lucky enough to know of its existence. There are many secret spots in Chicago that I cherish and share carefully. I went out of my way today to walk this block and enjoy the Autumn day.

Rest in peace - 630 S. Wabash

It was one of those buildings that I've kept my eye on over the years...

I figured it was a time capsule on the inside.

It was 6 stories tall and over 100 years old.

630 South Wabash Avenue sat empty at the Hiltons back door, on Wabash, and before this afternoon, it was ripe for condo conversion. Its brick shit-house facade seemed thankful for the small fortune of ancient red iron fire escape that climbed the street side of the building. Formerly "cold storage" on the upper floors, George Diamonds Steak House thrived on the street level in the 30's through the 80's. Best steak house in the city from the 30's through the 60's they say. Whoever they are. 630 South Wabash is protected as a Historical Landmark. And yet, it sat empty. Until this afternoon. 250 firefighters descended upon old 630 South Wabash.

Today I parked my car and snapped photographs of it burning itself into an inferno... CBS News says it's a five alarm blaze. That's 250 firefighters on the scene. Highest alarm possible. Traffic in my neighborhood ceased to move. Gridlock. Traffic controllers, in their day-glow green slickers, had even less than normal clues how to manage the rush hour madness. Doomsday does not look good for Streets And Sanitations version of traffic management.

What would George say?

R.I.P. 630

10.24.06

...rich with marathon runners...

Chicago. Sunday, October 22nd, 2006 in the South Loop... I love living downtown. Even when its inconvenient. The Chicago Marathon ran half a block from my front door this morning. It completely blocked me in with its street closures. 38 degrees, brisk wind and the occasional raindrop did not keep me from the inspiring athletic event happening steps away from my kitchen sink.

CPD cleared Michigan Ave...

First came the wheel chairs...

Then the official time van...

The lead runners ran so fast that I literally missed them!

My corner had cheerleaders!

And, true to South Loop form... lots of good dogs...

...and one cold, royal dog.

It's good to live at Mile 25 of The Chicago Marathon!