The Brontes at The Kennedy Center

 Monday evening, The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage series featured a familiar show.....The Brontes.   Yup, that same show from this past summer's Fringe festival.  It definitely has turned into the little show that could. 

It was a long day as we had to load-in, tech-in and rehearse as much of the show as time would allow, all before the performance began at 6pm.  I felt pretty calm through all of it until about thirty minutes before curtain, at which time I got a little nervous.  Actually a lot nervous.  The most nervous I've been in my experience with this show.   Usually I only get nerves like that when I'm unsure about something in the show or if I feel unprepared or something.  In this case, it was the fact that I was about to perform at the freakin' Kennedy Center.  A big deal for me.

 

The show was a great success!  We had a big crowd and the performance went really well.  If you'd like to watch the performance, you can check it out HERE.

A day later, I was thinking about things a little.  In my time, I've had the opportunity to perform at a lot of cool places.....

Lincoln Center
Merriweather Post Pavillion
First Mariner Arena

....and now, The Kennedy Center.

Not too bad!

House Of Rock

This first week of 2013 has been pretty crazy.  First there was the whole bronchitis thing.....and while I'm dealing with that turns out that I've got four gigs in four days.  I barely made thru Friday night's show with The Project.  After resting up on Saturday, I hauled out to the House of Rock in White Marsh for a gig with The Understudies on Sunday.  

It was kind of a weird show....a benefit for a friend's family.  The whole thing was a little controversial because the before-mentioned friend is currently serving time in prison for a drunk driving related accident.  Some folks kinda bristled at the whole event and I can't say that I blame them but, regardless of these particular circumstances, I felt comfortable about helping out a friend who had shown me kindness on several occasions when we worked together.  Another weird thing about the show was that our set time was right in the middle of the Ravens playoff game.  Subsequently, not a big crowd.  Thirdly, we had a fill-in guitarist.

In the end, it all turned out ok.   We played pretty well and got a really great response for those in attendance.  Also, they've got good burgers at The House Of Rock!

My Year In Musical Theatre Gigs

I spent a lot of time in theatre world this year.  The shows I was a part of 2012......

Smokey Joe's Cafe
13
Thoroughly Modern Millie
You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Camp Rock
Legally Blonde
Hairspray
Pippin
Spring Awakening
Grease
Joesph and the Amazing Blah Blah Blah

and last but not least, The Brontes!

It was a very cool year.

Don't Forget To Tip The Weather

So, yeah, I was pretty proud of myself Saturday night. The Project had an outdoor gig at the Westover Beer Garden in Arlington and it was a beautiful night.   So beautiful, in fact, that I stated the follow in a moment of between-song-banter brilliance.....

"Hey folks.  Don't forget to tip your bartenders and servers....and, if you're loving this awesome weather tonight, feel free to tip the weather too.  The tip jar is right here next to the band!"

$35 later, my brilliance was confirmed!  :-)

Back To The Pit

I've already played a couple of shows this week...and it's only Thursday.
First up was Curtains. I rolled into rehearsal for this last week having never heard or seen the show, but then again, sight-reading is so much fun. It had a couple of tricky spots but is not too hard. As usual the folks at Beth Tfiloh did a really nice job with the production. Not my favorite show, but the cast was great!

Wednesday, I filled in on bass for Grease at Olney Theater. Not my first time playing Grease, but my first time at Olney. Filling-in always makes me a little nervous. The goal should be to not be noticed. The cast and orchestra have been performing the show for several weeks and it's rude when performers step in and try to bring their own flair to the whole thing. So hopefully no one noticed the good job I was doing. LOL!!!

Battle Of The Bands

I don't know why we didn't win. We should've. But that's the thing about this whole performing thing, so much of your success is in other people's hands and, most of the time, you never know why decisions are made.

It reminds me of the time I auditioned for a role in the John Waters film, A Dirty Shame. In the movie there are three big, gay dudes who all live together called "The Three Bears". I was called in for "Baby Bear". I didn't get it. About a week later, I was interviewing John for a TV show I was working for at the time called CineMaryland. While we were getting his mic on him, I seized the opportunity.

"So, John. I auditioned for Baby Bear."

Mr. Waters began to laugh, "You're too butch!"

Awesome moment and also the only time I didn't get cast and found out the reason why!!

The thing about a Battle Of The Bands-type thing is that everything about the night was awesome. Lots of friends, good vibes and, we felt, a really strong performance...but, because we didn't win, there's a sense of melancholy around the whole thing.After having a few days to kinda reflect, I will say that I am happy for the winning band, Bethany & The Guitar. I really liked them. While they were playing I told a friend, that if we didn't win, I hoped they did. Can you say 'jinx'!?! I do still feel that we put on a show worthy of winning, but I don't say that to diminish them...and here in lies the cool thing. The band was really nervous and feeling pressure to put on an amazing show. We did! It's cool to know that when it matters, this particular group of musicians can step up and make it work.

So, it's really not that big of a bummer.

Wrapping Up Everything

It is truly hard to believe that it's over. Yeah, I know, it sounds a little cliche. Although we only rehearsed for three weeks and the show ran for five weeks, I was first contacted about auditioning for F@#king Up Everything back in February, so it's been a part of of my consciousness for a while now.

At first I had to turn the show down because of some other commitments, but life situations changed and, luckily when they did, they hadn't cast the role of "Tony" yet. I guess bass players who sing and act are hard to find. Very lucky me!Seriously, to have missed the opportunity to do this show would have been a real bummer. The chance to meet and work with work so many talented and wonderful people was truly great. The new friends. Learning all of the songs (yeah, it was a lot of music, but cheat sheets were allowed). The Bong. The Kiss. The discussions of personal hygiene techniques. Every small moment was worth the twisted journey it took me to land in the show.Thanks to all who came to check out the show.....and those who wanted to but couldn't. Thanks to all who made the show happen. Thanks to all who held my hand thru "the process"!

Up next....back in the orchestra pit for Curtains and a couple nights of Grease.