Doing A Broadway Musical … Day 2

Oh boy … after yesterday my brain is scrambled and my body is fried. Not something I recommend for a menu. I took the long soak in the welcome hot tub with Epson Salts last night and I’m ready for Day 2.

We are rehearsing in the new studios on 42nd Street, a building which contains many floors of lovely spaces to accommodate the rehearsal needs of all the performing arts. Got into the elevator with two men … one was wearing a hat … had a salt and pepper beard … and was taller than I remembered him to be. “Hi Bruce,” I said, pointing at myself … “Stefanie.” … “Oh, hi,” he said. “You rehearsing here?”… “Yes, a new musical called “Gotta Dance. And my old bones are sore.”… “I know what you mean. See you.” And he got off at his floor.

I first met Bruce Willis when he was a very young actor making his mark in a TV series called “Moonlighting.” His show was on a rival network that took the risk to place “Moonlighting” opposite “Hart to Hart.” In the first year we beat them in the ratings every week, but when “Hart to Hart” was unceremoniously canceled by the new programming boss of ABC … whose name no one will ever recall … “Moonlighting” persevered … and the rest is history.

By the way … canceling “Hart to Hart” and a few other shows dropped ABC from 1st position in the ratings wars to 3rd in the network game. Today we have so many more channels that all three of the old networks scramble for ratings among a much larger field of competitors. At our worst “Hart to Hart’s” ratings dropped to a 36-share, almost unheard of in today’s vernacular where a 24-29 share is a mega hit.

Back to rehearsals … Speaking of vernacular … we are learning an entirely new one, dance-wise. The show was initially conceived as a one act, 90 minute marathon of song and dance … it has now become a marathon in two acts … so much more to learn … and much more to retain. For most of us it is mind over matter … for me, my mind is willing but my body gets the message a little later than I’d like … still, it is very early days …

Whoops! Gotta go, Gotta Dance.