HOLIDAY MUSINGS

Okay so the hoopla of October has died down. It was a great month with "New Jersey" and "Rocket Science" occupying most of my time. "New Jersey" turned out to be an absolutely wonderful experience and audiences really liked the show. Critics were for the most part, warm, positive and embracing of the show. Audiences have always responded to the essential sweetness of the show and the show is like clockwork now - runs like a machine. Cara and Christine did an amazing job and the show is as tight, as wonderfully staged and choreographed as it ever has been.

"Rocket Science" was a roller coaster ride. We tried alot of new things and some of them worked and others fell flat. Way too long, and yes, by God, it was a true reading in every sense of the word. I am so proud of the show and we know where the fixes are. By the time we were watching the 4th performance, we had to be tied down since we could have easily rushed to the stage and screamed "Stop!," we know how to make it better. But we could tell that the audience was with us. I think it was a damn good start and we are renewing the option for another 18 months to work some more on the show and hope for a full production. Friends and family were really supportive. Jason and Patricia are incredible, smart and wonderful collaborators and friends. I love working with them. A word about the cast - simply amazing. Each and every one of them.

Coming into the home stretch of "Honeymooners" and will whoop for joy when the score is done. I love our work on it and very excited to see the show on its feet when we do a reading or workshop. Pete and I are hard at work and digging into polish and rewrites of some songs.

That's it for now. Family all here for Thanksgiving. Off on Sunday to Issaqua, WA for "Iron Curtain" auditions and call backs. Rehearsals start February 15 and I can't wait to see how this show turns out. The Village Theater audiences have responded so enthusiastically to our reading and workshop of the show and The Village Theater is maybe the classiest and most welcoming theater for new writers in the country. This is not an exaggeration. I would workshop a show there in a minute and their production values, artistic integrity and quality of actors are equal to all the usual try-out theaters.

Here's hoping for a good 2011 - Iron Curtain, more Rocket Science and New Jersey, Hudsucker (God willing), and Honeymooners. Somethin's gotta stick. :)

Happy Thanksgiving! All the girls are home and the entire extended family off to see Marla in "Spelling Bee" at Philadelphia Theater Company on Friday night. Huge crowd at my Dad's tomorrow night. I love this holiday!