March 30, 2009

"Legends!" appears in the print edition of New York Magazine.



By the way, I went to see the show "Happiness" at Lincoln Center, starring Ken Page, Joanna Gleason and Hunter Foster. Songs by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie who wrote the musical "Grey Gardens." I enjoyed it very much. A metaphysical cross between "A Chorus Line" and the subway thriller movie "The Taking of Pelham, One, Two, Three!"

I enjoyed a couple of days in the country with Scott Wittman, watching old Kay Francis and Loretta Young movies.

March 28, 2009

There were no critics invited to "Legends!" It was a one-night staged reading, not a preview of an official production. Of course, everybody's a critic, especially in a democracy where the internet is popular.

A Provincetown drag queen who finagled a ticket to "Legends!" for himself had these excerpts to say about the show on his blog. I've removed some of his ruder comments that really have nothing to do with the show: "I am not sure this will interest anyone outside of NYC but last night I had the pleasure of attending 'Legends!' at Town Hall starring drag divas Charles Busch and Lypsinka and TV host and movie star Whoopi Goldberg. 'Legends!' is a tired old play about two faded rival movie stars whose careers need reviving. The conflict begins when a young upstart playwright has the perfect stage vehicle for the two of them, but will they put their differences aside and agree to star in this possible hit? Who cares! John Epperson (Lypsinka) has done his very best to refresh the play with some new jokes and current pop references...but the entire cast knows it is a stinker and occasionally they slyly state this throughout the performance letting the audience in on the joke and taking the sting away from the sluggish play. That being said, watching Charles and Lypsinka duke it out on stage was wonderfully entertaining. Lypsinka looked lovely and thin in a gorgeous purple dress accented by oodles of diamonds and a fur cape. And Charles can command the stage [to the degree that] everyone leaves satisfied.

Sadly Whoppi Goldberg called in sick due to the flu.

All in all the event was a huge success and raised lots of money for Friends In Deed-The Crisis Center For Life Threatening Illness. Besides that we were witness to history: this was the first time that the play 'Legends!' was every performed on a NYC Stage. Hopefully it will be the last."

I guess this is what is called a mixed review! But I smell the bitter odor of sour grapes. And the onstage character is not a playwright, but a producer.

Another person who is a culture maven, and is someone I know and have socialized with, apparently got himself a free ticket (to a benefit) and then wrote about the event. I didn't read his "review" but I'm told he supports the cast but finds the play unsalvageable, racist and internally homophobic. I can understand why he thinks the play is unsalvageable (we all knew going in that the play has that reputation; that was one of our selling points!) and racist (all the characters are archetypes -- the sassy black housekeeper, the bitchy movie star, the goody two-shoes, the conniving producer, etc.), but I'm not sure about the "internally homophobic." I'm curious to know how he justifies that. (I haven't actually read his comments; they were reported to me by Michael B., the publicist for the event.)

And he left out misogynist! Many people think drag is inherently misogynist, and they are usually women. But let me point out that Gloria Steinem (who probably wouldn't remember this) told me she enjoyed my act because it was a sendup of the kind of behavior she was encouraged to display when growing up.

Some theatre people also think if you read the good reviews, you have to read the bad ones too. Here are some of the quotes from emails I received:

From a legit online theatre critic (full disclosure - I've known him for over 30 years), major-publication-journalist, and memoirist: "You were genius last night. Congrats on LEGENDS! .. you were amazing and funny and even a bit moving at times ... I loved the way you were able to underplay and be outrageously funny all at the same time. So proud of you. And it was a good cause too."

The artistic director of a downtown theatre: "John, last night was so SWELL! What a truly great night for a bad play. There were times I was laughing so hard I almost wet my pants - your entrance for example. And then when Charles flubbed up the lines toward the end. I hope you all were having as much fun as it seemed you were having. It was one of those magical NYC evenings I dreamed of when I was growing up in the Midwest."

An Off Broadway director (and good pal of Charles B.): "Congratulations to you on on a wonderful evening! Just stellar work. Your performance was absolutely pitch perfect -- delicious, hilarious and touching -- and your adaptation of Mr. Kirkwood's play was just scrumptious. You looked absolutely stunning, and it's always a thrill to get to see you play a role as well as give us a taste of of your peerless lip-syncing. Thank you for rescuing this play and getting it on a New York stage. I nearly got to see it lo those many years ago with Misses Martin and Channing but missed the booking by a week. I am so happy to have gotten to see it at last with Busch and Lypsinka. Aren't we all!!!"

Famous playwright: "Well, congrats on an evening of great fun. You can't say they didn't fall for you -- especially on your entrance. I think a good time was had by all. I thought the costumes were wonderful. Of course, the absence of Whoopi was disappointing, but in the end...you and Charles were the show. Supporting cast first rate. Dancing birthdaygram was a big hit. Bryan Batt fine. Fran Liebowitz was a surprising theatre pro and got her laughs! And one should give credit to the understudy, too. She seemed secure and didn't throw you or Charles ever. Christine was great in warming us up to her."

A friend who works in the "display" world: "john!!!!! i saw the show last night!
the show was such fun-i laughed and laughed-you looked amazing, and your moment
of dance and lip-synching was electrifying as always-god, you're great!
so happy to see you on stage again-your energy with charles was awesome."

A friend in the graphic design business: "Sorry I wasn't able to let you know sufficiently [last night] about how much I enjoyed myself and how good 'Legends!' was. Wow--I hope it gets a second life! There was so much dialogue I'd like to ponder over, and so many lines that had me absolutely doubled over. I must also say that Bryan Batt was wonderful. The Brad Pitt call and the hash brownie routine were priceless! Your entrance alone was worth the price of admission. And your ad lib when Charles stole your line. That was a brilliant moment."

Broadway and TV actress: "Thank you for your wonderful, TRUE, touchingly hilarious performance and presence. I had such a delicious time. At last I have had a glimpse of Lypsinka...I love her almost as much as I love you!!!"

Stage manager friend: "I don't think there could have possibly been any more applause on Lyp's entrance. And you looked gorgeous! Everyone else in the cast was wonderful. Truly a great evening of theater. My dear friend, Wayne, came to see the show and this is from an email he sent me yesterday: 'I had never seen Lypsinka perform before. Amazing!! Please tell him that she was hilarious and...I am now a total fan. A very smart performer, no? She balanced the line of being in the apartment and on stage so hilariously.' I couldn't agree more with his statement. Bravo to you, John, and brava to La Lyp!!"

From an employee of the managing office that handles the building I live in: "Well, I can certainly understand why the play never got to Broadway - what a clunker. Of course, refreshed with your input, and the casting, the evening was totally delightful. Thank you for sharing the fun!"

An African-American friend who works at a museum and has written some non-fiction works about popular culture: "let me be the first to congratulate you. the play was a success--everyone loved it (and the reporter in me was, most certainly, listening). i'm so proud of you for pulling this off. whoopi who? this was YOUR baby and i appreciate and respect all the hard work you put into it--and you even had a musical number--YOU BLACK BITCH!!! (yes you--not whoopi's understudy!--who, by the way, was fantastic.) the play had everything: sex, comedy, bitchiness, a dance number, a striptease, a pot-induced breakdown, a carol burnett show-like audience pleasing moment when you all stepped out of character--'she did that in every rehearsal,' and a musical finale. bravo!"

From Charles Busch: "It really was a great night. You should be very proud of yourself as writer and actor. You really did a great job in both roles. I'm very glad you involved me."

March 27, 2009

I am listening to The Grand Canyon Suite and hope to finish here tonight what took place Monday and Tuesday.

As usual, I was the last one out of the theatre. It always takes me awhile to get off the makeup and pack it up, and all the other gear. Fortunately, I had Rodd Sovar to help me. Friends In Deed had got a donation from a car service called Attitude, so I was able to put all my bags in the car while I went to the party. I don't do well at parties like that, so I admit I had a Maredsous ale from Belgium to make me more of a "people person."

At the party Michael Borowski was waiting for me. Libba Wilkes and her daughter Alexandra were also at the front door. They had come up from Mississippi to see the show, but I had told them in advance that I probably wouldn't be able to talk to them much at the party. I introduced Libba to David Zippel and his partner. Michael B. pointed me towards Ken Kleiber and I did an on-camera interview with him. Due to the powerful ale and the headiness of the whole thing, a lot of the party is blurry. I chatted with Elisa Lefkowitz, the literary executor of the Kirkwood estate, and Arthur Beckenstein, the beneficiary. Both of them were pleased and excited. Arthur's partner was also pumped, and a friend of theirs from Buenos Aires was very effusive about the evening. Cy O'Neal was there; John Kelly, too. I was re-introduced to Ultra Violet who I hadn't seen for 20 years. Michael then pushed me toward a New York Magazine reporter who was doing a story about the party.

I got home very late (the car had to make a detour coming down Seventh Avenue) but I was too wired to go to sleep immediately. So I watched the end of the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race! I found out from Charles the next day that he was up until after 4 am. I fell asleep at 3, but woke up at 6!

Biff Liff, agent for the estate, called about 11:20 Tuesday morning to tell me how much he enjoyed the evening, and that he would speak with Elisa and Arthur.

I stumbled through the day, receiving calls and answering emails, and did take a nap at 4 pm for one hour. I could have gone longer, but knew I needed to get back on a regular schedule, so I made myself stay awake. At 7:30 I left my apartment to walk to Orso where I had dinner with Libba, Alexandra and Fabio. We were there for over 3 hours! We had a lot of fun yakking and eating.

J.C. McClatchy was there by himself reading a book at a nearby table. I had met him before, and our eyes met, but I wasn't sure he remembered me, so I didn't say hello. He left, and then Gloria Steinem sat at his table! She was with 2 women, one of whom I met at "33 Variations" and was told at the time that she was Ms. Steinem's best friend.

"Guys and Dolls" must have had an early curtain, because Craig Bierko arrived for dinner with friends at the table next to ours.

During the day, I was hearing about all the celebs at the show the night before: Stephen Sondheim, Joel Schumacher, Liz Smith, Michael Kors, etc. And someone mentioned a visually stunning redhead, but no one knew who she was.

Well, there at Orso, in walked a visually stunning redhead, and all heads turned and a hush came over the place. I told Libba, Alexandra and Fabio about the redhead I had heard about the night before, and maybe that was her! I dared Alexandra to go to her table and ask if she was at the show the night before. Alexandra did, and it turned out to be Barbara Flood who was a model in the 1960s and was one of the investors caught up in the Bernie Madoff mess!

Fabio and I walked Libba and Alexandra to 34th and 7th and then put them in a cab to 34th and Lex. Fabio and I walked to my place, and said goodnight.

Wow! What an incredible last few days. As a Facebook friend of mine said (quoting Susan Hayward in the movie "Valley of the Dolls") we really rolled with the punches on Monday!

March 26, 2009

After much adrenaline and not much sleep, I have come out of my fog to deliver the post-mortem.

For those who have wondered, Cheyenne Jackson had hoped to play the role of The Policeman (not the stripper) but had to bow out a few days before the show because of his commitments to "Finian's Rainbow" at City Center that starts tonight. So Mark Waldrop got Todd DuBail to play The Policeman and he was excellent. (Todd can be seen here in the first photo on this link. Wow!) Dashaun Young, sweet and sexy, played Boom-Boom the stripper. Dashaun is currently playing Simba in "The Lion King" on Broadway.

Monday morning I got the word that Whoopi was sick and would not be appearing on The View that day, and would try to get to the theatre at 6:30 p.m. (Rehearsal was scheduled onstage at 1:00 p.m. Dinner break was scheduled for 6 to 7. House open at 7:30.) I didn't see how this could work, and found it disheartening. But when I thought about the fact that Lisa Estridge, Whoopi's "rehearsal proxy," was well-rehearsed, and that the costumes could be altered to fit her, I took heart again.

I couldn't find my cell phone that morning, so I wasn't hearing from the car service. They had my land line number but weren't using it for whatever reason. I did finally hear from them and arrived at the theatre about seven minutes late. But because of the construction across the street, and the fact that the driver wasn't thinking fast enough, he wasn't able to stop in front of the theatre and had to drive all the way around the block again. Then when he got to the intersection of Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street he couldn't make a left turn! So he went east several yards and made a U-turn that was probably illegal. I got to the theatre at 12:15 and thankfully Kimothy Cruise was waiting for me and helped me with all my stuff. (If I didn't have so much stuff to transport, car service or taxi wouldn't be necessary.)

Charles was already in the dressing room. I unpacked my things and we started putting on our microphones with the help of a very nice sound guy named Andy who works with Matt Berman. That was all easy enough. Dashaun rehearsed his number at 1 p.m. and they were ready for us at 1:30 as scheduled, with Charles, Bryan and me in costume. We started at the beginning and steadily worked our way through the show. Around 4 pm we got the word that Whoopi would not be doing the show and Lisa was taken downstairs for the alterations. We continued to work without her and when it was time to stage the bows, she was brought back wearing her first dress inside out because that's the way they were marking and pinning it for the alterations (she's smaller than Whoopi). The bows were staged and the only thing left to do was for me to rehearse my number (Charles was to have a number, too, but he decided to cut it).

There was a sound problem that had to be worked out, and I saw Roma Torre and Donna Karger waiting in the audience, so I introduced myself to them. Donna and I had met briefly before; she's very shy. And very chic in person. Tiny and thin like a model. Roma is also a very lovely woman, and not shy at all. These two ladies were part of the surprises we had planned. They both appear on a popular theatre program on the local cable television news channel we have in New York called NY1. It's on channel 1 on Time Warner Cable, and their show is called "Onstage." Donna is the host of "Onstage" and Roma is a theatre critic. I'm going to brag and say it was my idea to have Donna come onto the stage at the end of intermission and make the usual kind of introduction she makes on "Onstage" and then introduce Roma who would give her fake review of the first act of "Legends!" Her fake review would segue into a pitch for Friends In Deed. This all worked beautifully, and the next day NY1 ran a short segment about it that you can see right here. It's amazing how the media loves to feed off of, and plug, itself!

The sound was fixed. I rehearsed my number with the sound and the follow spot (that I had to put my foot down repeatedly to get, behavior I hate to have to exhibit; I wasn't raised to stick up for myself and it doesn't come easily to me) and then it was time for a bite to eat a little after 5:30.

In the dressing room, Louis Braun the makeup guy had set himself up. Just before 6 we started makeup. I didn't like the eyelashes Louis put on me; they were too severe and not appropriate for the character, so I made him change them. He wasn't happy. Again, something I shouldn't have to go through, but what's right for the show is right for the show.

Gerard Kelly arrived with the wig at 7 and it looked nice. He had added some more copper highlights at my request and seemed to have washed and freshened it so it didn't look like it had too much product in it. We put the microphone under it and Gerard styled it, and that was done.

Lisa was sent to Louis and I wasn't in the room when he did her makeup. He made her look very nice (I had never seen Lisa without her eyeglasses, or wearing any makeup, and she had always had her hair pulled back in a pony tail) but he had put glitter on her eyelids. That was totally wrong, because she has to be able to fool Leatrice into thinking she works for Sylvia, and it's just another day at work. So the glitter was removed. With her wig and costume, Lisa looked spectacular. It was like a Cinderella moment. She said she was ready to throw up, but she was smiling the whole time. I think she was loving it, and later on one of the dressers told me Lisa was very excited. I told her she was a pro, and she would be fine, and she was all that, and more. She was just great! Read about her success here from Playbill.com.

Christine Ebersole was already planning to come to the show and I think it was Michael Borowski's idea to have Christine go onstage and let the audience know that Whoopi wouldn't be there. There were signs on the front doors of the theatre teling the public that Whoopi would not be there, and plenty of buzz in the lobby about the fact, but it was important to make an announcement. Christine also encouraged the audience to be supportive of Lisa, and they were. She got an ovation when she appeared.

Fran Lebowitz was the narrator of the show, she got her laughs I'm told at the beginning of the evening. I was in the dressing room (my character doesn't appear for about 15 or 20 minutes) so I wasn't able to hear everything. But I couldn't stand it any longer so I went down to the wings to hear what was working, and what might not. I heard Bryan getting laughs and when Charles made his interest the show really started to cook and I was very proud. Proud of my own work, and proud to hear Kirkwood's text finally getting New York laughs.

Charles and I were both shaking onstage, filled with adrenaline and nerves, but I tried to keep my performance cool and not push. I hope I succeeded. Dashaun of course got a huge ovation; he and the choreographer Josh Rhodes did fine jobs.

During intermission the hair and makeup people freshened us and Patrick McMullan and Bruce Glikas came backstage to get photos of all of us: Christine, Charles, Lisa, Bryan, Todd, Dashaun, Fran, Donna, Roma, Mark, Josh and me. See Patrick's photos here. His associate took the production photos. See Bruce's photos here.

I think we were more relaxed during the second act, but, as Charles says, the play is a souffle that you have to work hard to keep light. The audience was response was enormous and the event was pure showmanship thanks to the director Mark Waldrop and others.

More photos were taken afterwards (with Fabio Toblini the costume designer and Ray Klausen the set designer) and there was a weird autograph hound who got backstage. Bored with that, I decided it was time to get out of all the trappings and face packing up. I'm going to publish this post now, and finish the rest of the evening and the event of the next day later on. Maybe later today. Thanks to everyone who attended the show, or were interested in it!

March 22, 2009

I hardly spoke yesterday to save my voice.

Another long rehearsal today. I walked to the Friends In Deed space, and then I wore that tight costume for hours! The show is tighter, too. Charles and I seem to know what we're doing.

We'd been rehearsing the cast couple of times with the furniture for the show. At 6 the stage managers arrived and taped it all up for moving it to the theatre tomorrow. Darrin Maurer showed up for that.

Bryan has a cold. (I just sneezed; that reminded me; I seem to have allergies.) But he's still doing a fine job.

We staged the finale. The choreographer Josh Rhodes was there for that. Turns out I worked with Josh years ago on a number that we were going to do at Wigstock, which got cancelled that year for some reason I've forgotten. City problems, I think. Could have been 96. Anyway, we did some of the show, including my number, at The Palladium that year and called the event Wig-Not. And, of course, now The Palladium is gone.

I walked home from Friends In Deed. Picked up things for the dressing room.

When I got home, Fabio Toblini, the costume designer for the event, had sent me this photo of himself holding my Oscar prop.



Another friend in Mississippi sent this Mardi Gras costume winner. Very funny!

March 20, 2009

Long rehearsal today at the Friends In Deed space. 10 am to 5:30 pm. Whoopi arrived at 10 and spent a couple of hours writing down her blocking (I hope she remembers it!) and asking some questions about the script.

The costumes arrived after lunch and we started at the top of the play (sans Whoopi) and put in the character of Boom-Boom.

We also rehearsed the character of the policeman. We worked all the way to the end.

After everyone else had left, Mark Waldrop, Charles and the sound people and I stayed behind to clean up some things.

I'm pooped.

Here is the Gay City News article. I don't understand the last sentence!

March 19, 2009

We had a great rehearsal today from 11 am to 3 pm. Bryan Batt was there and we did his big scene in the second act. We finished staging the show, then started from the top of Act One and went all the way through it. We had the fur cape there, so I was able to work with that. It's enormous!

After the rehearsal I went to a fitting at Eric Winterling. They have now fixed my first dress. They are pleased. I am pleased. And Fabio is pleased. Eric was in a fine mood. The lady who made the dress was impressed that I know how to stand like a 50s fashion model. The second dress is also finished and looks great. The lady who made that one was also excited.

I called Fran Lebowitz to go over her rehearsal schedule. The stage manager calls her and leaves messages, but she screens the call and doesn't talk to him or call him back. She picks up for me. And she was crabbing every step of the way. But I am still fond of her.

Michael Borowski sent this, below. It will be in The New York Times on Sunday. I suppose The Blade article and Gay City News will be out tomorrow.

March 18, 2009

This morning I went to a rehearsal involving one of the other "Legends!" cast members. This particular performance is bound to be a crowd-pleaser.

I finished transferring my stage directions from the old script to the new, larger type script.

My friend Sean Krebs sent me this photo collage from the Spring V Magazine issue (V is part of Visionaire; it's a very luxurious fashion magazine.) The collage features Linda Evangelista, Lady Bunny, me and a bunch of other kooks at their Xmas party.

March 17, 2009

Broadway World published an article about sweet Bryan.

Next Magazine wrote about me and one of my favorite restaurants.



I went to Friends In Deed to pick up my copy of the blown-up script and started transcribing my stage directions from the one I've been using to this new one.

Whoopi had her fitting with Fabio and Rosi from Studio Rouge and Fabio says it went very well. All the costumes fit, and Rosi will now do her last-minute alterations such as the hemlines.

March 16, 2009

We had another rehearsal today at the Friends In Deed space. We got into the 2nd act.

Also today afterelton.com printed this well-composed interview.

And Time Out put this article on their blog.

The staging, and the gimmicks and the schtick we are going over in rehearsal are a lot for only one night! It's ALL a lot for one night. Well, we do have commercial producers coming the to show.

Now my computer is letting me put photos again. Weird! But I'm not complaining. Here's a photo Christine Ebersole and I took Saturday night in her dressing room at The Shubert where "Blithe Spirit" is playing. I must send my gal pal a Facebook message telling her again how much we enjoyed the show. Be sure and catch it if you're in NYC!

Befuddled

I don't understand why the internet security system on my computer is not letting me put any new images on this blog. It also isn't showing (on my computer) any of the old images. I apologize. I'll have to figure this out. Very strange. I must check to see if the various links in the text of the blog are working.

March 15, 2009

Friday during the day there were emails to answer regarding "Legends!" and at 4:15 I went to what may be my last costume fitting. Eric Winterling said they will have to tweak the first costume a lot more and will be taking it apart and putting it back together. So I may have to go back for another fitting of that dress. The second costume fits really well. Beautifully made. I was very impressed, although I shouldn't be since they do excellent work.

I came back home (Eric's atelier is just around the corner) and went over the first act of my script.

The actor who dropped out (after Monday, May 23rd, I'll put here who it was) was replaced by someone I don't know, but that's okay. Mark Waldrop knows him.

At 7:30 I met Lily Tomlin, Denny Dillon, Vivian Schneider and her partner Ruth at The Eugene O'Neill Theatre on 49th St. Vivian is Lily's attorney and also her stage manager when they travel around to do her one-woman show. As soon as Lily walked into the theatre several women almost pounced on her and engaged her in an intense conversation. Lily wanted me to take charge so I got Vivian, Denny and Ruth to their seats and then went back to the area behind the orchestra to keep an eye on Lily and get her to her seat. She was disappointed she didn't get to have a drink before the show, a tradition she likes. But she and Denny and I had something wet during the intermission. Lily was very moved by a tableau in the play when Jane Fonda leans against the man playing Beethoven.

At the end of the show the security guard named John came to our seats to usher us through the "pass door" backstage. We were taken to Jane Fonda's dressing room (Lily calls her "Fonda," perhaps to differentiate between Jane Wagner) where Jane was wearing a "33 Variations" baseball cap and greeted everyone who came back, including people who somehow got back with no connection. We were hoping she would go to Orso with us, but as it turns out she already had plans to go there with her son and his wife and some other friends. Click here to read her version. The blog post is called "Friends and Family."

At Orso we bumped into Jack O'Brien and Edmund White. They didn't know about "Legends!" and promised they would come.

Jane arrived with her party and sat at the next table. It was fun to yell back and forth to her table. Jane had covered her hair with some kind of snood (it seems both her hairstyles in the play are wigs) and after an hour she put on thick dark sunglasses. That was glamorous if alienating in the dark, back area of Orso that was close to empty. Lily gave her a postcard for "Legends!" and urged her to come. We left the restaurant at 1 am. These gals like to party!

It was great fun to be near Jane in the theatre district if, for no other reason, this clip. A great movie! Check it out! I'm fairly certain "Bree Daniels" lived in Hell's Kitchen near the theatre district.

On Saturday I spent some time going over the script again and answering emails. In the evening I met my friend Stanley at The Shubert to see "Blithe Spirit." Christine Ebersole had kindly arranged out tickets. We bumped into Michael Musto and Brian Belovitch there, and also Jane Klain from the Museum of Television and Radio that apparently has a new name. I also spotted Phyllis Newman in the auditorium but didn't get a chance to say hello. I had already greeted Phyllis at "33 Variations" the first time I saw it. That Phyllis gets around!

"Blithe Spirit" was loads of fun. All the actors fine. Lovely production. Christine was great, of course, and Lansbury is deeply loved and milks every moment she can. Stanley and I went backstage to say hello to Christine (also waiting to see someone was one of the actors who played one of the asylum inmates in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest") and saw her adorable dressing room that she has decorated to make homey. She has a monitor and DVD player and had watched "Milk" between shows that day.

March 12, 2009

Charles and I did a radio interview today with Frank De Caro and Ken whose last name I don't know, but his show is called "That's Kentertainment!" It was at the Sirius studios in the Time-Life building neighborhood. Michael Borowski, the publicist for "Legends!" met us there and we had a good time. I got back home to lots of emails, including one that contained this illustration by Ken Fallin of Lypsinka as Leatrice Monsee in "Legends!"



And just for the hell of it, here's a drawing of that big 'mo Abe Lincoln getting ready for...what? A tumble in the hay? (Sent me by DJ Bus Station John in San Francisco.)



And I may as well put this link to the New York Times' slide show of the incredible Alexander McQueen show in Paris.

March 11, 2009

Rehearsed at Henry Street Settlement Playhouse today from noon to 2. Finished blocking the first act, scene 2, and simplified a lot of the first part of that scene.

Went to the Union Square market and the gym on the way home.

When I got home I found out that we lost one of the actors! That's frustrating. But then my spirits lifted when Lily Tomlin called me to invite me to see Jane Fonda in "33 Variations." I told her I had already been (see below) but will go again. We will go with Lily's pal Vivian Schneider.

Then I rushed up to the Jacobs Theatre to meet my friend Howard who invited me to see "God Of Carnage." It was enjoyable. Hadn't been to that theatre since before its name was changed. It was fun to be in it again. Bumped into Sam Peabody out front. He's always so nice and supportive. And bless him for still enjoying going to the theatre. He knew about "Legends!" What a dear man.

Also saw the adorable Stuart Thompson there. He's one of the producers.

On the way home Howard and I bumped into Steven Weber on the subway train. Another super nice guy. Always friendly. We met on the movie "Jeffrey." (My scene was cut.) Steven is rehearsing "The Philanthropist" with Matthew Broderick for The Roundabout. Today was only the second day of his rehearsal.

Just for fun, here's a photo of the divine Faye.

March 10, 2009

Today we had our first day of actually blocking out scenes. We rehearsed onstage at the Henry Street Settlement Playhouse at the Abrons Arts Center, way east on Grand St. at the corner of Pitt St. It was great to be able to rehearse on a stage. We rehearsed from 12 to 2:15.

Before I went to rehearsal I did an interview with Edge. I don't know what Edge is! Is it a hard copy publication or only online? And is it New York or Boston? Anyway, I did it. The last question the interviewer asked me was, "What is your favorite bad movie?" I could only think of "Wicked Woman!" (See below.)

Right after the interview, just before I ran out the door, I called the Nederlander office to make sure Mr. Nederlander, Jr.'s assistant had the information about Mr. Nederlander's tickets.

After rehearsal I walked west on Grand St. through Chinatown and Little Italy and picked up a piece of salmon.

Back home there were emails to answer and exercises to do.

At 6:45 I showed up at a gay restaurant and bar called Ate Ave, on 8th Avenue...of course! Next Magazine was having one of their professional networking events there called NextWorks and they were promoting "Legends!" Lily Tomlin has told me how even she has to hustle to sell tickets for her show, so though I find it very difficult to go to events like this and be chatty with strangers, I did it. (A large Stella Artois on draft helped!) I handed out postcards, had my photo taken, talked with strangers, etc. The publicist Michael Borowski was there, and Robert McNamara and Michael Cohen from Friends In Deed. It was fairly painless, except it was very loud and I had to speak more loudly than I would like to. The sad news is that when I got home I saw that the ring I wear on my right hand - a gold wedding band that belonged to my step-grandfather - was missing. Maybe it came off when I took off a glove. And I hate to sound suspicious, but perhaps one of the people who shook my hand was a professional and slipped the ring off. I've never had trouble with my rings and winter gloves before. I didn't go back to the place, or try to call them. It was a madhouse. Maybe I'll call them tomorrow when they're not so busy. I would like to have the ring back, but I'm prepared to let it go. I still have my other two, and I put them away, not to wear them again, maybe! They have more sentimental value. A sour note to a day that should have been very nice. Well, it's only an object.

March 9, 2009

We had our first rehearsal today at the Friends In Deed space with Mark, Thomas the stage manager, Charles, Whoopi's rehearsal proxy Lisa, and myself. It was a table read only, but we got a lot done with the text. We also went to Harvestworks audio studio (in the same building as FID) to make the recordings heard on Klemmer's phone at the beginning of the play. Beside Charles and me, we had to record Cy O'Neal (one of the founders of FID) as a receptionist, Michael West (from Forbidden Broadway) as a movie star, and Mr. Jimmy Nederlander, Jr. as himself. Matt Berman and his asst. Rocky were there to help with this.

I went to the gym after rehearsal. When I got home I went over the changes we made in the script and send the new file to Thomas. Now we're trying to think of something we need for the script. Please leave your ideas in the comments section here. Here's what we're looking for: who is a really vapid, successful, young, female movie star today? We need The Andie MacDowell of 2009! The names I like the best so far are, in descending order: Sandra Bullock, Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway.

March 6, 2009

Interesting things have taken place. But I'm going to hold off for now.

Yesterday I did an interview with Michael Portantiere of afterelton.com. Today I was interviewed by Chris Byrne from Gay City News. When the articles are online I will post them here.

In the meantime, unrelated to "Legends!", Charles and I are quoted in an Advocate article by David Colman (my publicist in LA for "I Could Go On Lip-Synching!" in 1991) about the new Drew Barrymore/Jessica Lange movie "Grey Gardens" which has the same title as the famous documentary and Broadway musical, and is a feature film about the two Edies. Here is the article.

Last night I went to see Jane Fonda at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Broadway in Moises Kaufman's Broadway play "33 Variations." It was thrilling to see her in the flesh! Jane was a teenage idol of mine, while growing up in Hazlehurst, Mississippi (pop. 4500). I have a memory of seeing "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" on my birthday when I was an adolescent, but maybe it was another day. Whatever day it was, it was a special occasion, and I felt terribly adult seeing this very mature, bleak film. (I connected melancholy with being adult.) I talked about this movie for months. I'm still talking about it! Although, now I have to say I think "Klute" is a superior movie and Jane is even better in it.

Another memory I have, is the 1972 presidential election. Or was it 68? Anyway, I was in high school, and all the students were too young to vote of course, but we staged a mock election. The results were read over the school intercom. It went something like this: "Hubert Humphrey, so-and-so number of votes. George McGovern, so-and-so number of votes. George Wallace, so-and-so number of votes. Stokeley Carmichael (a "write-in"), thirteen votes. Jane Fonda, one vote." I had written in Jane's name!

Here's something about "Legends!": I handed the postcard to someone and she thought Charles and I were supposed to be 2 of the other women on "The View!" Another person saw the postcard and thought Whoopi was a Whoopi impersonator! People!

Also, someone asked me since Whoopi is not in the promo video (she didn't want to participate), was she actually at the photo session, or was she photoshopped in? Nope. She was there.

March 4, 2009

Fabio and I had another meeting about shoes! Pestilence? Drug wars? The Taliban?

Seriously, the drug wars in Mexico are disturbing.

March 3, 2009

The "Legends!" promo video - only 2.5 minutes - is here!

March 2, 2009

Today I did some work on some of the surprise elements of the show.

And I met with Fred Barton who is going to help out with the original music.

Also, I spoke with Arthur Beckenstein, the Kirkwood beneficiary. He is planning to be at the show.

Fabio came by to look at my shoe collection. We made decisions about shoes! War? Famine? Crime? Economy crisis?