This morning we filmed interviews and b-roll of us dancing for “NY1” which is the most popular local news station in Manhattan.
We then ran in sequence most of Act II which will be our major itinerary for the next two days. The following week we will begin a review of Act I, eventually running both acts non-stop in anticipation of the last two days before leaving for Chicago, when we will have in attendance a limited amount of invited guests. The audience will probably consist of some of the financiers, and possible potential investors, or as they are called on Broadway “Angels”. I believe the minimum investment is $50,000 so if you have loose change rolling around in your pockets I’m sure you’d be welcome to jump in.

Our rehearsal studios, the “New 42nd Street Studios”, contain nine floors of rehearsal spaces. Rehearsing a few floors above us is Brian Stokes Mitchell … one of American music theatre’s national treasure … and Audra McDonald … another national treasure … who are teaming up to do a ragtime musical called Shuffle Along. I hope our paths cross because I’m very fond of both of them. Many years ago … many years ago … I did an ill-fated and rather unfortunate revival of a musical called Applause that had not been revived in 29 years … for justifiable reasons we found out. Audra was in the chorus, her brilliant talent was just budding at that stage but it has blossomed profusely since then. Stokes, as he’s called, I know through my friend Katie and the Actor’s Fund for whom he is Chairman of the Board and I have done many a fund-raiser concert. The small world aspects of show business is truly wonderful. In that vein, and also a few years ago, I spent a great deal of time playing Mrs. Anna in the glorious musical called The King & I, which I played in the U.K. and the USA. Both productions had the choreographer Suzie Kikuchi. Suzi’s mother was the lead dancer in the original production in the 1950s and Jerome Robbins, who famously choreographed that spectacle, named Suzi’s mother as the keeper of the choreography, which is not only an honor but a great responsibility because that person has to authenticate every step. Suzi’s mom passed this legacy to Suzi and Suzi has a daughter who is working on GOTTA DANCE as an up-and-coming thespian. This sense of continuity is very special and rare. How fortunate when one can be a part of it.
I now have a hot date with a tub.
Gotta go, GOTTA DANCE.
Stefanie