EVITA!!

[ozron]

We're one week away now, and things are getting exciting!

We're in a beautiful theatre (especially for a high school auditorium), the set is gorgeous, if disorienting, and the cast is amazing.

Eighteen hours of rehearsal over the weekend, but with temperatures heading up toward a hundred in Portland, that's not a bad place to be. I'm always happier when I'm in a project, and this is a great one.

Meet my Eva:

http://videos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2009/07/actor_susannah_mars_stars_in_e.html

If anyone's in the area between July 30 and August 16....

[Betty]

When I saw this threat title I immediatly had to sing out

Don't cry for me Argentina!!!

My mom used to have the album and I would sing sing sing in our living room. SING!

[mousepod]

Wish I were there. I love the show, and it looks like you're going to have a great production.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Aw, wish we could make it to your what-a-circus! Break appendages, and let us know if anyone has sneaked any footage. (I'd love to see!)

[flippyshark]

One of exactly two Andrew Lloyd Webber shows that I actually love. (I kinda like a couple more and despise an awful lot of them) I would so go if I could. Let us know how it goes. :)

[Gemini Cricket]

Awesome, ozron!
Break a leg!

Love that show.
:)

[Chernabog]

Don't cry for me Barbra Streisand / The truth is, I never liked you / Though you're a belter / And very shrewish / You'd ruin the movie / 'Cos you're too Jewish.... ;)

Gotta love Forbidden Broadway.

Break a leg in the real thing.... love that musical.

[ozron]

Preview in ten minutes. I have friends front and center - not the best seats, actually. We'll see what they say.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Break a leg!

[lashbear]

Heck, break two !! ;)

This is a show I LOVE - I wish I could transport myself there to hear it.

[ozron]

Preview went well. A few shaky tech bits, but nothing that can't be fixed - or finished - by tonight. Our Che finally knows his music, the dances look great, and my Eva is amazing!

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs159.snc1/5960_121818999082_53667709082_3090591_7832859_n.jp g

Tonight we officially open. Life is good.

By the way - Let me introduce Susannah Mars (http://www.susannahmars.com/)

[Not Afraid]

I really wish we could all fly up and see this!

[flippyshark]

Your Che just now learned his music? Oh, that would drive me into conniptions. Of course, I once directed Jesus Christ Superstar, and my Judas never learned his words. Kid you not, he wrote them on his arm. (It pains me to remember this.)

[ozron]

I really wish we could all fly up and see this!

Hey, feel free!

To be fair, Brian was cast two weeks before we started rehearsals, had never done the role or seen the movie (actually a plus in my book) and only listened to the soundtrack.

On the other hand, he's the out of town hired gun - an equity hire out of New York with soaps, Broadway and even a Tony nomination on his resume. Most of the rest of us have day jobs. He had plenty of time on his hands for score study.

He had it down for opening last night, but it was a bit nerve-wracking wondering if it would be there!

[ozron]

Matinees are the work of the devil.

Just saying...

[ozron]

Review in the Oregonian:

A Command Performance Befitting "Evita" (http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2009/08/at_the_heart_of_the.html)

Hey, I'm "solid".

[katiesue]

Congratulations!

[flippyshark]

You're solid and stolid - by the way, did this reviewer really have to dedicate nearly a third of the review to making sure the reader knows he's above this Andrew Lloyd? It came off as a bit of a superiority dance. I admit that ALW has written loads of tripe, but Evita is a happy exception, and reviews of regional productions do better to focus on how well the cast and crew executed the work. Anyway, congrats, and I hope there will be more photos soon.

[ozron]

We're in our final weekend, and the rest of the run has been sold out since Monday. Friends have been calling me to see if I can get them tickets! Sadly, there are simply no tickets to be had.

It's been an incredible experience, and as usual, I really hate to see it end.

But on the bright side, you guys don't have to hear about it any more!

[flippyshark]

pics, man, pics!

[ozron]

pics, man, pics!

In good time! My PC is still in a coma, and I'm limited to my iPhone at the moment. I'll put up more pics when I can.

We closed yesterday, after a weekend of turn-away crowds and some of the strongest performances I've ever had the privilege of beiong a part of. It's a tough one to put behind me.

I'm right into rehearsals for "Moon Over Buffalo" at a small company on the west side. I'm going from a 700-seat, state of the art theatre with a big budget (and a nice paycheck) to an 75-seat house with little budget and no pay. Why? Because I haven't done a straight play in years and I need to prove to people that I can spend an entire evening onstage without bursting into song, and the director's a friend and I have trouble saying no!

And it should be fun.