One of the greatest musicals of all times returns to Broadway in previews on September 12th. This grand and glorious show that was created by the late great Michael Bennett ran originally for fifteen years on "The Great White Way". I was reminded the other day by a friend that even though "Phantom Of The Opera" is the longest running Broadway show in history, "A Chorus Line" is the longest running American musical written by American authors. Those authors are of course James Kirkwood who wrote the book (he's the author of the hillarious "P.S. Your Cat is Dead") Edward Kleban (lyrics) and Marvin Hamilish (composer). Michael Bennett (see yesterday's blog entry) conceived the show by auditioning and interviewing hundreds of Broadway gypsies, performers, dancers and singers. It was literally developed on the road. Nothing since has worked for Hamlish and Edward Kleban and James Kirkwood have passed away. Kirkwood wrote the play "Legends" starring the incredible Mary Martin and Carol Channing. The stories he tells about these two divas in his autobiography are incredible but true. Mary Martin of course bowed out of the show after her first contract expired because it was decided to cut a big scene revealing that her character had cancer. Carol Channing had a fit on opening night when she discovered that the slip cover that had been on the set's sofa all during the rehearsals had been discarded in favor of a new one. Miss Channing had an absolute fit and refused to go that night claiming that her "karma" was in that slipcover. It took the crew the better of five hours to track the damn thing down in a city dumpster. Karma in a slipcover? Now only a diva would claim that one! Stars can be so hysterically odd and funny souls. But God Bless them! As far as "Chorus Line" goes, I applaud the efforts of the current producers to bring back this landmark show. A new audience needs to see it and a new generation needs to hear its incredible life lessons about communication and tolerance! The score is amazing. Every song comes deep from the heart of each and every character on that stage! The count down for September begins. Another day of retail is all that awaits me today, and hopefully it will be a litle cooler today than yesterday! Well, until tomorrow.....

The world lost Michael Bennett on this date in 1987 of AIDS related lymphoma.He was 44 years old. Almost twenty years without him! He was of course the creator, director and choreographer of "A Chorus Line". This landmark musical opened on Broadway on July 25th, 1975 and stayed on the Great White Way for fifteen years. This October, it re-opens again to find a new audience and a new generation of musical theatre affectionests. He was a brilliant man who loved both men and women and there are some (like James Kirkwood-- the librettist for a "Chorus Line") who have called him cruel and amoral and a guy who would literally do anything to get on a show. Well that can be bad and that can be good. Sometimes you have to go the extra mile to defy the odds! Born in 1943, Michael was a child prodigy of dance. He dropped out of high school at the age of sixteen to join a touring comapny of Jerome Robbins' "West Side Story". He would make significant influence on this show. His first big hit was "Promises, Promises" in 1968 and followed that by working with Harold Prince on Sondheim's "Company" (1970) and "Follies" on 1971. His dream was realized when he was called on to rescue a show called "Seesaw" in 1973. He agreed to take over the show on the condition that we would have total creative control-- which of course saved the show. "Dreamgirls" is another show that he shaped and made unique and wonderful. He left a sizeable portion of his massive estate to funding research to fight the AIDS epedemic and his share of "Chorus Line" profits gave the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Public Theatre there $37,800,000 dollars. Today also is a great day for me. On this date in 1999, I found my life companion, John Long. John is someone so special, so unique, so good for me, I can not begin to give words that equal the treasure that this man is. I had asked God not to let me die lonely. After seven wonderful years, I doubt now that that will happen. John provides support of my dreams, great wisdom, great laughter and great love-- and that my friends, you can not buy anywhere in the world. I knew he was the one for me the very first time we said hello-- and it's been pure magic ever since that day! Thanks to him, I can persue so much more. He gives me the courage and the enthusiasim to keep writing and to keep trying. He is in short: absolutely amazing! He teaches me new things every single day! Not bad for a guy who hasn't seen his 35th birthday yet! I love you, baby! Well until next time!

Today in 1930, the late great Jack Benny made his Broadway stage debut in the Earl Carroll Vanities. Jack Benny was my all time favorite comedian. This genuinely humble, simple guy could make me laugh in more ways than I can ever tell you. When I studied comedy writing with the late great Danny Simon, on of Danny's absolute principles was that great comedy was also great honesty. If you try to be funny, you never will. Great comedy comes from within the character. If you are writing for that character, it is absolutely imperative that you get inside his or her head and talk and act and plan like that character. (That's what made the "Golden Girls" so funny!) Jack Benny was dead honest. He portrayed the cheapskate with absolute perfection. And you laughed and you laughed because why? You believed it 100% plus! You actually believed that Benny had a dungeon with a moat guarded by crocodiles and a guard named Ed (who's worked there so long that the old gink still thinks George Washington is president)where he keeps all of his money! But the funny thing, in real life, Jack was as far from cheap as man is to sky! He was a kind and generous man who was gracious and kind and encouraging of new talent. George Burns was his very best friend! I saw a sketch once that had Walt Disney guest star on Jack's television show. Now trust me when iI tell you that Walt Disney did not guest star on very many outside television shows. In this one Jack went to Walt looking for a hundred free passes to Disneyland. Now when walt says "But, Jack, I distinctly remember that when Disneyland opened, I gave you a 24 karat solid gold pass to Disneyland-- what did you do with it!?" When Jack opens his mouth and points to a molar (and we know that the cheap Benny character has had the damn thing melted down and used as a filling) you just roll on the floor! Who but the cheapest man on the planet would dare to do something like that? And yes, you know a writer invented that, but damn do you believe it-- even for the moment-- hell yes-- and long after. Jack was born on February 14th, 1894 in Weaukegan, Illinois and lived until 1974. He married dear Mary Livingston in 1927. He served in the Navy in World War One. of course the co-stars of his show were great too: Rochester, Dennis Day, Don Wilson and of course the amazing Mel Blanc! I will watch a Jack Benny re-run as gleefully as I will watch Lucille Ball. Well that's about all for now. I wish my cousin Brian a most happy anniversary and send he and his wife Betty my very best wishes. I did get an offer to manage a store a store in the last few days, but we will see about what they want to pay me! Bye for now!

I am running very late in today's entry, I must say. I had waited on James Darren at my camera store two weeks ago and I was really thrilled. I had loved his voice when I was young and I loved him in the short lived series "The Time Tunnel" back in 1966-67. So here was "Moondoggie" from that classic movie "Gidget" in the flesh. Only now he is SEVENTY years young! Oh wow, did that age me. He gave me his latest CD (Yes, he is still singing and performing in public! His biggest hit was 1961's "Goodbye Cruel World" --it was on the Billboard top twenty list for a long time! His new album is called "Because of You"-- and i will tell you, this man has still a most wonderful and delightful singing voice! He sings some great renditions of some classic songs including Cole Porter's "It Was Just One Of Those Things" and Frankie Vallie's "My Eyes Adored You" All in all I loved hearing some of the great old songs once recorded by Frank Sinatra and Tony bennett sung in a new way. Some jazzed up, some even with a Bosa Nova beat! How I would love this man to sing some of my songs! I remember him singing the title tune from "Gidget" starring the late great Sandra Dee. How did that lyric go? Oh yeah == "It's very well maybe, she's just a baby, speaking romanticly -- well if that's how you reach her, I'll be the teacher-- Gidget is the one for me" "She may say she loves you , but deep down inside she hates you and if she says she hates you-- that can also mean she loves you". Well it was a great meeting and a great album. I really enjoyed it! Until next time!

Well I notice that gas prices are coming down somewhat, but this gague is still pretty funny and kind of says it all. I really think that the oil companies are cheating us all and somebody soon needs to do something about the problem. There is just no real reason in my humble opinion for gas prices being this high. Thank goodness, I don't drive far to work like I used to when I worked for Hooper Camera in Chatsworth. Those days are over, thank God! That being said, I would like to mention that today was a day of discovery for actress Shirley Maclaine. Back in 1954, Broadway actress Carol Haney was performing in "The Pajama Game" and broke her ankle. That allowed the understudy to go on in her place. A critic happened to be in the audience that night and gave that twenty year old girl rave reviews. I doubt little more happened for the original star. That understudy was of course the amazing Shirley Maclaine. I love dreams coming true stories. It makes my own dream of becoming a really succesful songwriter a dream worth persuing. Shirley's first movie was for Alfred Hitchcock called "The Trouble With Harry" One of the funniest moments involving Shirley in a movie was the classic Albert Brooks film called "Defending Your Life". In the premise you are led to believe that when you die, there is no heaven or hell. You go to a place called "Judgement City". In this place you have five days to "defend your life". If you succeed, you get to go on to a higher plain where you are allowed to use 100% of your brain to experience new and better things (we use about 10% here on Earth) if not you will be returned to earth where you will become a tree, or a beaver or something like that. On a break from the grilling, the Albert Brook and Meryll Streep characters visit "The Pavilions of Life" where Shirley is giving a tour. The place is filled with pennants and baloons and flowers and happy decorations and Meryl Streep comments that the place reminds her of Disneyland. Albert Brooks (one of the funniest men on the planet) quips "Gee, I hope I'm tall enough" I can't tell you how many times, I have gone through life thinking I was not "tall enough" to experience what I both wanted or needed. Something or someone was always going to step in front of me and deny me what I needed or most wanted. I am debating today a suggestion of my friend Jimmy Chapel to change the name of one of my musicals from "Once More With Spirit" to "The Ghost Who Saved Broadway!" That's really what its about, but I wonder if that title is too "on the nose" Well, I will decide at some point. Well it's time to go back to work. It will be another hot day and I am very happy to be able to be working in a place with air conditioning. i will also give the Ritz people the first recording of my spec advertising song for them: the song "Capture Your World" . It has a really catchy tune and I do hope that they like it. Well, that's about all for today!

Today is a busy day. I am preparing materials for Jimmy Chapel so that he can present some promotional materials for both musicals and "First Mother" and also preparing an entry for the Fred Ebb Award. Fred is pictured here. Fred was an incredible lyricist who is best known for his association with composer John Kander. Their best collaborative work together was of course the classic "New York, New York" Most people do not realize that this amazing song was not introduced and sungfirst by Frank Sinatra but rather by Lisa Minelli in a motion picture of the same year that co-starred Robert De Niro. Ebb was an amazing lyricist who could be very clever and cynical in his wording and structure in a lyric. He wrote the lyric for one of the most famous Christmas songs of all time "Santa, Baby!" Kander and Ebb wrote the incredible score for Cabaret, Chicago, The Rink (my favorite) and "Kiss of The Spider Woman" Believe it or not one of his first jobs was bronzing baby shoes-- and you thought you're first job sucked! Kander & Ebb's first important musical was "Flora, The Red Mennace" starring Liza Minelli. Tim and I are entering "The Traveling Companion" to the Fred Ebb Foundation Award. The prize is 50 grand-- so we shall see what happens. One thing before I sign off today-- the proposed Constitutional amendment that would have made it illegal to destroy or deface the American Flag has failed to qualify for consideration of the 50 states by ONE vote in the Senate. So to all of you gentleman and ladies who voted against this amendment-- do me a favor-- stay home on July 4th-- don't celebrate like the rest of us. Stay in bed! SLEEP IN! Why do you want to defend and protect what the flag represents if you don't think we should defend and protect the flag itself! Both Mark Twain and Will Rogers would have had a field day with this one! Of course Twain said it best "It's man's idea you see that the deity sits up night and admires him-- and it's Congress who thinks God writes down every single word that they say! " Ha! Oh well, politics win again over conscience! By the way, the recording mixing session yesterday went off without a hitch! We completed the storyteller reel for "The Traveling Companion" Bill Lewis' narration was perfect and the songs sound great! Bye for today!

Well, today is kind of a very special day! Tim and I go into Smooth Sounds Studio in Van Nuys to mix the new songs we recorded for our new musical "The Traveling Companion". I am very excited about the possibilities of producing a storyteller type preview album that features the majority of the songs with a narration and music. In the recording, dear friend Bill Lewis sang and so did David Meinke and a new singer named Danny really impressed us. All of this starts about four'oclock this afternoon and all fingers are crossed that all will go well! I have had several interested parties respond to this musical and Tim has a boyhood acquaintance who now produces musicals professionally will read the show this weekend! So lets us all hope all goes well. It looks like we might get a break from the 100 degree temperatures that we've been having so that should be good as well! On another note, I read with interest that the Congress of the United Stares is about to introduce a constitutional amendment that would bar the burning or destruction of the American Flag! I support it! Now, I can hear all the Free Speech enthusiasts all yelling that this ban will violate the freedom of expression. That grand and wonderful flag has been around long before the Bill of Rights even existed. Freedom is a great thing to defend, but free speech should never cover the destruction or damage or disrespect to the symbol of that freedom. To say that nothing should be excepted from free speech is akin to saying that it's okay to yell "Fire!" in a crowded movie theatre. Sorry, that doesn't fly. I support a constitutional amendment that would protect our flag. Either you love America or you don't! Love it or leave it! That flag has been through a lot! Funny thing, we almost didn't have a Bill of Rights or a Constitution at all. In the beginning, all we had was a very ineffective document called The Articles of Confederation. During the debate for the proposed Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was adamantly opposed to the signing of this document because he felt that the Bill Of Rights, as written, did not go far enough to protect our individual freedoms. He got angry! Really angry! He stormed out of the gathering and all of the remaining Founding Fathers though the document was dead in the water. Without Ben Franklin's support of the Constitution, others who shared his then and there conservative views wouldn't sign either. Those "on the fence" would use Franklin's rebuttal as an excuse to oppose the document itself. The next morning, the patriots were sure that the vote would go badly. Suddenly, a sheepish looking Benjamin Franklin walked back into the chamber and subsequently signed the document. When he was asked what had made him change his mind, the great Benjamin Franklin said "Last night, I had a very mysterious dream-- and in that dream I was told that I must doubt my own certainty-- just a little bit more!" Those are pretty wise words: in every aspect of our lives. Before we cut off family because of an argument, before we blame someone of some perceived grievance of ours, before we vote or otherwise decide anything: let us doubt our own certainty just a little bit more. We are all human. And in being human we make lots of mistakes. An attractive looking apple lost paradise. Prejudice has hurt and even killed millions. The hasty heart is the worst weapon human beings will ever know. Nothing is in stone except a rock! So before we oppose something, let's think about it carefully! Let's not be so quick to let our emotions rule our minds! One more "apple like" conclusion and mistake from an Eden like garden in our lives and we're all finished! Well, until tomorrow!

Today is the 95th anniversary in 1911 of Irving Berlin on Broadway. "The Zigfield Follies" had two great songs by Berlin "There's a Fire Deep in My Heart" and "Woodsman, Woodsman, Spare That Tree". Of course 1911 is also the year of Irving's first big song hit "Alexander's Ragtime Band" What an amazing success story was Berlin's. He was born in 1888 in Russia and his father was a rabbai. Songwriting was a happy accident like mine. He was working in a restaurant in 1906 when the owner of that restaurant commissioned Irving to write a song that could be used to rival another restaurant that was using a catchy tune to attract customers. That song turned out to be a tune called "Marie-- From Sunny Italy" That song began Berlin' s career and earned him a total royalty of thirty-seven cents. Berlin never learned to play piano properly or read music beyond a very rudimentary level. He could play by ear but only the black keys on the piano. That made everything come out as F sharp Major or D sharp minor, since he also wrote songs in minor keys. But he owned a piano that with a pull of a lever transformed everything to middle C while an arranger wrote out everything in the proper way. I have an arranger who's a genius at figuring out my material as well! Funny, how my sisters got all the piano lessons but me the songwriter got not a one! Berlin led a charmed life. He was the only person in the world to have found his own name on the winner's envelope at the Academy Awards afterv he announced the nominees for "Best Song". The song that won him that Oscar was none other than "White Christmas" He was nominated for six other songs by the Academy, but lost. The death of his first wife singer Dorothy Goetz five months after their wedding in 1912 (contacting pneumonia and typhoid fever on their honeymoon to Havana inspired one of his biggest hits "When I Lost You" His second wife was Ellin Mackay, a devout Irish Catholic and heiress to the Comstock Lode mining fortune. They were married in 1926 and she was promptly disinherited by her father and snubbed by rich society including the Vanderbilt's. Finances were never a problem, however as Berlin assigned the royalties to the song "Always" to her in perpetuity which yielded her a huge and steady income. Berlin had three daughters and a son (Irving Berlin Jr.) who died before his first birthday on Christmas Day. Although he declined to attend his 100th birthday celebration he did attend the 100th anniversary ceremonies of the Statue Of Liberty. Hr was proud to be an American-- right to his dying day. So here's to Irving Berlin: the father of American music and a true inspiration to me. Today I meet with Jimmy Chapel and hope to resurrect a property called "First Mother" that I had written way back in 1993. IThe pitch is this: "The most eligible bachelor in the world becomes quite suddenly the first Jewish president of the United States and his Brooklyn mother moves into the White House, lock, stock and bagel and takes Washington by storm!" Funny premise! We will see what becomes of this! I am also developing a new series idea called "Changing Habits"-- this could be interesting!

Today is the birthday of a giant in both straight Broadway plays and musical theatre as well. Pictured here is the legend known as George Abbott. He is directing the original production of "The Pajama Game in this photo. George Abbott was born in 1887 and lived (and worked) until the ripe old age of 107 years old. He was known as an actor, playwright, producer and "show doctor" Whenever a musical was in trouble in either previews or tryout, the legendary George Abbott was called in to fix the problems: tighten the structure, eliminate unnecessary songs, cut dialogue and whip performers into shape. He was very astute in this arena and had a reputation for being "absolutely ruthless". He first appeared on Broadway in "The Misleading Lady way back in 1913. He went on to work in Hollywood as a writer and director while continuing his theatre work. His most notable directorial efforts included The Rodgers and Hart shows "Jumbo", "On Your Toes" and "Pal Joey". He is most noted for directing "The Pajama Game" (which gave Bob Fosse his big break) "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The forum" and of course the amazing musical "Damn Yankees" He supervised the revival of this classic starring Jerry Lewis as Applegate (the devil, himself) in 1994. When he was escorted down the aisle of the premiere of the "Damn Yankees" revival he received a standing ovation to which he quipped to his wife "There must be somebody important in here!" A week and a half before his death at age 107, George Abbott was dictating revisions to the second act of "Pajama Game" with a revival in mind. As I was preparing for what to write here this day, I decided to do a re-write to a musical I've been trying to get finally finished and produced since 1989. You know how they say that a play isn't just written-- it's always re-written? Well that can be said for "Once More With Spirit". This musical in various forms and scripts has been around my desk since 1984. Basically its a very neat story. The musical is the story of Parker O' Day, the greatest vaudevillian actor- performer and dancer of all times. The story starts in 1966 when Parker dies and goes to the "Pearly Gates" only to discover that he is not good enough to go to heaven and not bad enough to go to hell. Saint Genesius, the patron saint of all entertainers decides to give "The Old Smoothie" a second chance. Parker has twenty years to fix up the three lives that he ignored and screwed up while he lived on Earth. If he succeeds, he will become an angel in the League of Saint Genesius. If he fails, he will go to "Section 86" in hell-- where one would find the show business ruthless-- lawyers, promoters, agents, bookies etc. The trouble happens when O' Day is given a female guardian angel named McDuff who arrives announcing strict rules for this second chance to be possible.McDuff had expected herself to be assigned to royalty or somebody really important. There is conflict immediately because O' Day was never good with rules. O' Day wants three miracles to change the lives in question. Mcduff tries to explain that she couldn't give him three miracles if she tried. They argue and O' Day tells McDuff to scram: he'll earn his redemption his own way. Nineteen and a half years pass and McDuff realizes that if she fails, she will never get the assignment she wants and longs for if she fails with Mister O' Day.She changes strategy, tricks O'Day into thinking he's got those three miracles afterall and O' Day gets to begin changing the three lives in question. Of course these "miracles" are nothing more than grand good luck for angel McDuff. The life changing begins to work! But when the Majestic Theatre is threatened and O' Day takes matters back into his own hands, Saint Genesius intervenes and all looks lost for the classic entertainer. Only a last minute plea from the "Old Smoothie" saves his hide and saves Broadway. I guess you might sum it all up as "The Ghost Who Saves Broadway" I did a revision last night and changed the opening which shows how O' Day wins the reprieve from the kindly saint. I think now it is much stronger. I thought about Mr. Abbott during that re-write. Nothing is in stone. Even classic musicals (like the current revival of "The Pajama Game") needs re-vision and updating-- all for the better-- all for the good of the show! That's it for today. Rest in Peace, Mr. Abbott-- Broadway would not have been the same without you!

The musical that beats all the odds is Stephen Schwartz's "The Wicked" Since October 2003 , this amazing musical has continued month after month and week after week to be an incredible smash hit selling out continually and raking in 100 % capacity of all seats available. What is the absolute fascination about the land of Oz? What absolute magic did L. Frank Baum create in 1900 . It certainly has affected me as a writer. I read the original book back in the sixth grade. I couldn't put it down. It was absolutely fascinating. I played the Scarecrow as a teenager in a community theatre presentation at age sixteen. And it was "The Wizard Of Oz" that opened the door for me to become a songwriter in 1980. As I told the story in my very first blog here, without my wanting to play the Scarecrow again in a production that was being put on by the Gallery Theatre in 1980, I would have never taken up songwriting seriously. By 1980 I had tinkered with a few lyrics and a few melodies, here and there but only with the challenge that the "Gallery" production provided did I do anything that was important in this arena. I ended up writing an entirely new libretto with twelve songs and even did a sequel called "The Return Of The Wizard Of Oz" --in which Oz returns to Emerald City and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry come to live there as well. But "The Wicked" is unique because it is not based on the original story except for its characters. The novel by Gregory Macquire is sprawling and needed tight adadptation. The other day I got to read the detailed synopsis of the musical show and found it absolutely fascinating. Of course the wizard in this show is no Frank Morgan of MGM movie fame-- and he is most certainly not the kindly humbug that L. Frank Baum created in 1900. Now in Baum's book, animals talk and move freely about. In this musical, they are losing these rights and the word "cage" is being bantered about freely. I think that this musical suceeds so well because every one loves an underdog. Elphaba as the misunderstood "Wicked Witch Of The West" is perfect fodder for exploration. A love interest for her becomes absolutely fascinating: love can be blind, even if you're green! A lot of plot, however rides on the fact that Glinda's reputation can not be spoiled at any cost. Even if that cost means that your best friend must stage her own demise (melting the witch with water etc) and be run out of town on a rail-- no make that broom! We even find out that the two witchs of Oz were indeed sisters! The wizard is a humbug -- and that is discovered by Elphaba, herself. Of course, relying on the fact that somebody has to win and somebody has to lose makes a great ending. But I do wonder, after reading this synopsis why Elphaba could not have used the discovery that Oz is indeed a humbug as a way to save her dear green skin! Now, its true that Glinda discovers this deception also and demands that the Wizard leave Oz. But why didn't she use this information to save her long time friend? A mystery! The Wicked Witch of the West is perhaps the first victim of prejudice. Even in a fairy tale you can be misjudged, maligned, blamed and convicted because of the color of your skin. Why does the color green bother people in Oz when its capital city is indeed the same color and the brick road that leads us to its door is none other than yellow. You can benefit from color, but you can't BE a different color in any world there is: reality or make believe! It doesn't take a Munchkin to be small minded. It simply requires, mistrust, prejudice and hatred to do the job. What did the Scarecrow say "Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they!" How very true and prophetic were those words! I really believe that "The Wizard Of Oz" should be required reading for every school child. So now we return to the question of the day. What makes this musical so successful. The critics only gave it mixed reviews and Broadway critics can close a show after three performances. The producers of "Carrie" know that story well enough! So does Sir Elton John with "Le Stat" (though that lasted a month!) Well, THE WICKED succeeds because Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman have made a brilliant adaptation. The Mcguire book is a brilliant character study, but character studies don't make Broadway musicals! Believe or not some "chestnuts" don't succeed in adadptation here eithier. The attempted musical version of "Harvey" by Leslie Briccuse comes to mind! The Macguire book needed serious adaptation. The first reading of this show was four hours long! Of course, the songs are wonderful! That helps a lot! It is also great fortune that the Scwartz and Holzman knew when to cut things that didn't need telling! Baum's characters continue to live on despite the fact that during his lifetime L. Frank Baum was a androit failure! "Thank goodness" for that!

One of the most amazing creative forces in Broadway theatre was born today in 1927 in the city of Chicago. His father had taught him ballroom dancing and from there Bob Fosse learned tap and acrobatic dancing. With Fred Astaire as his inspiration, Bob Fosse became one of the most incredible choreographers of the 20th century. Some of his most famous routines was "Steam Heat" from the Pajama Game and "Hey, Big Spender" from Cy Coleman's and Neil Simon's "Sweet Charity" The filmed routines from the motion picture version of "Cabaret" were typical: full of the vulgar energy of vaudeville and burlesque updated and cool contained within a slick knowing sophistication. He won an Oscar for directing this picture. Funny thing, there was no musical that won a Best Picture Oscar after that until "Chicago" -- another show he championed on Broadway won one thirty years later in 2002. Bob Fosse was responsible for the first Broadway success of Stephen Schwartz winning a Tony award for "Pippin" in 1972. Bob Fosse developed dance routines there were intense and specific, yet had a sophisticated simplicity. He went bald at age seventeen which is why he used bowler hats in his creations. He did not like the look of his hands so he used gloves in all of his routines. It was during the Broadway production of "The Pajama Game" that he first met his future wife: the legendary and equally amazing Gwen Verdon ("Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets') .He was a chain smoking, no holds barred, in your face kind of guy that I got to meet once back in 1986-- a year before he died of a heart attack at age sixty. There has been a resurgence of interest in Fosse's work following revivals of some of his past shows. Of course my very favorite work of his is "Damn Yankees" -- who could forget "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo" or "What Do They Do When They Do The Mambo" Today he would have been 79 years young. I think every dancer in the world owes this man a great big "thank you". Well until, next time....

The more I look over all the songs that i have written over the last twenty- six years, the more I am grateful to the man who graces this page today. His name is Tim Doran and bar none other than my amazing mother and father, my immortal soul and good heart and talent there is no other gift from God that compares. My arranger and friend has taken faithfulness, dedication, and protection of me to levels few have ever attempted. We've been friends and partners in music since this day way back in 1990. Sixteen years! God does work in mysterious and wonderful ways. We had met because I needed an arranger to put my melodies and lyrics in coherent form and we were introduced by a guy who was my room mate at the time. Steve Hunt wasn't the best of singing teachers, but I will always be grateful to him for connecting me with this incredibly gifted musician. Of the six hundred songs that I've created or co-created half of them have been arranged by Tim Doran. At first, they were put on large music paper in pencil, (what a job that must have been) but later Tim got connected with a godsend: Finale computer publishing. What a great program! Now all of the songs and arrangements that he creates for me look published and truly professional. I wouldn't have known that today was the day we met except my ex-roommate and friend of many years ago found an old journal of mine that somehow had gotten mixed up with his personal things! He called me last night at 10pm of all things and asked if I still wanted it. I asked him what was in it. I had noted a Happy New Years Eve celebration. He send the move to Steve's house on January 13, 1990 was noted. He said I described an unpleasant encounter with a wannabee student arranger from Cal-State Fullerton on April 17th of the same year. It noted a joyous Easter that same year and one additional note: June 22nd 1990. It said I was introduced to a remarkable musician named Tim Doran. He was looking for work for the summer and an agreement was made. I will tell you without doubt that day was and will always be my red letter day. I had been through a difficult collaboration with a guy who was very talented, but could never finish anything on time. I simply and without doubt could never have been the songwriter I am today without Tim Doran. I have had no formal musical training. I write songs like Mel Brooks and Irving Berlin-- mostly by ear. Berlin could only play the black keys of the piano. Mel sings songs into a tape recorder. Tim has taught me more things about music and theory and structure than I could have learned from anybody else. I can not begin to tell him of my appreciation and gratitude to him for all of these years! Tim is loving, patient, and plays the piano like few can play it. I am the luckiest man in the world to have found the treasure of this sweet, kind and incredible individual. He has a heart like mine. There's a song in Stephen Scwartz's "THE WICKED" called "For Good" It tells that sometimes people come into our lives very unpredictably and very suddenly: when we least expect it! We are never the same afterwards because they have changed us: we are now stronger; we are more confident; we are kinder to others around us and most important "we've been changed for good" I am proud to now be partnered with this incredibly gifted and kind hearted man. We have written "The Traveling Companion" together and I hope a lot more. Sixteen years is a grand collaboration. Now we simply have to make our mark in the world together. Today also marks the 20th anniversary of the arrival of "Godspell" on Broadway after playing 2,124 performances Off Broadway. Stephen Scwartz is a kind and wonderfully helpful writer. So after Pippin in 1971, this marks Stephen's 35 anniversary on Broadway. I can only hope that Tim and I go the distance as he has. It's never too late. The great director Geore Abbott directed shows past 100 years of age. In the very words of one of our songs from "The Traveling Companion" "impossible is plausible; you can be unstoppable I feel" So thank you, Tim and Happy Anniversary!

Today is the birthday of Al Hirschfeld, the legendary Broadway caractiture artist who's art work for years and years graced the programs of Broadway plays and musicals on the covers of Playbill Magazine. He drew these character drawings of every major theatrical star, composer, and Hollywood comedian over a life span of over ninety years. A Broadway theatre now bears his name in NYC. Sometimes an artist contributes things in a totally different and wonderful way. This was the case with Al Hirschfeld. He ahd drawn caractictures of Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy and the great Harold Lloyd, but what made him equally famous was his renderings of Lloyd Webber, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cy Coleman. Too many of these great artists are simply memories. But thanks to Al Hirschfeld we can remember them over and over again. Well, that's about it for today. My thoughts are with my friend Jerry who returns to court today. Hopefully all will go well for him. And oh yes, let's hear it for the Beagle who believe it or not dialed "911" the other day and that "paw" action saved his owner's life. That precious dog is getting a medal today! How wonderful are our pets. I have a cat named Simon that is just the sweetest cat that I have ever owned. He talks to you like crazy and I swear he understands what you are saying to him. He's a Maine Coon and an amazing animal! But more about this unique feline in another diary entry. Bye for now!

A great big Broadway Premiere like the one pictured here.....
for "Tarzan" has been my dream for the last twenty-six years. "Skylark" many years ago came very close and now the musical "The Traveling Companion" that I've written with the incredible Tim Doran represents the next best chance that I have. Tim and I have a lot riding on this one. We've scored it for complete orchestra, hired musicians, singers and recording studios and yesterday was another big milestone accomplished as we recorded several new songs from the score. In attendance was my friend of the last eighteen years, Mr.Bill Lewiswho recorded several songs along with David Meinke. Highlights were the songs "Better Do What The Good Book Says", "Wear His Smile" and "Opposites, Opposites". A young singer nmaed Daniel from Tim's choral group at school sounded very promising in the re-casting of the protagonist's songs. Tim and are are finding more and more that singers (even so called professional) are singing nasally and not from the diaphram. Wherever they learned this horrible bad habit, I sure hope it stops. We pay singers and still find that some of them sing with some pretty bad habits in place. But all in all everything went very well with yesterday's recording session. We even managed to record the narration for the storyteller CD and a proposed song for Ritz Cameras called "Capture Your World". I sincerely hope that this musical takes off. It has a really great story and some very hummable tunes. It's based on a classic tale written by the great Hans Christian Andersen. Tim has worked incredibly long to get the score ready. It's an amazing amount of work that few people outside of musical theatre can appreciate. We have made some submissions to various theatres, including the Alliance in Atlanta, but now we need to complete the score and get this storyteller CD out to them as well. Our sincere thanks to our engineer, Mr. Robert Roth. He's a true genius in the recording studio! I notice also this morning the latest Broadway Grosses from June 12th thru the 18th. "Wicked" continues to draw incredible crowds and still maintains 100% capacity. The week in question it made a whopping $1, 365,387.00. The writers including Stephen Schwartz make about 7.5 % of the gross every single week in every single "A" type of professional production! "The Lion King" continues to draw 1oo% capacity as well as does the "Jersey Boys". Believe or not "The Phantom of the Opera" after 18 years on Broadway still is drawing 98.5% capacity or $822,302 last week alone! Tim and I dream of such numbers for us too! Well maybe.. someday!

On this day in 1966, the world lost one of the greatest comedians of all times: Mr. Ed Wynn. He was eighty years old. Ed ran away from home at fifteen to join an acting company and was almost always from that year in show business. His fame came from two distinct characters that he created. The first (pictured at left) was "The Perfect Fool" which he utilized in early vaudeville. The second was the endearing "Fire Chief" for whom he was best remembered. He was born Isaiah Edward Leopold in 1886. Vaudeville was very kind to this great comedian who often noted the difference between a comic and a true comedian. "A comic says things funny; a comedian says things that are funny. He was brilliantly cast as the voice of The Mad Hatter in Walt Disney's "Alice In Wonderland" But it was at the urging of his son, Keenyn Wynn that the great comedian took up serious acting. His incredible performance in "The Diary Of Anne Frank" as Van Dussell was absolutely brilliant. Who could forget his portrayal of Uncle Albert in "Mary Poppins", or as Refus in his last movie "The Gnome Mobile". I will remember 1966 because in that year, I lost my dad, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton and of course Walt Disney, himself. Ed Wynn used to say "I never pulled up a raddish without a mortgage being attached to it" Oh is that true today! Nothing comes without a price tag of some sort. I do remember one portrayal he made on "The Twilight Zone" Mr. Death has come to take away "Lou Diamond" the greatest pitch man on the planet. Ed Wynn's character manages to trick "Mr. Death" by claiming "unfinished business" as the reason he is not ready to claim his eternal reward and face his demise! Wynn's character ( a great salesman) wants to make "the pitch of the century" or "one for the angels" an accomplishment every salesman and dreamer (and I am both of those) wants to make. Because death is cheated, he picks a young girl to take Lou's place and her "scheduled departure" is at midnight that night. Mr Death appears an hour before and Ed Wynn's character opens his suitcase of nick nacks and wares and begins to pitch "Mr. Death" himself. Not even death is a match for the great salesman and "Mr. Death's deadline for taking the young girl comes and goes. Now death warns, there will be great reprecussions. But Wynn's character now agrees to go with Death. He has made "the pitch of the century" He has acomplished in his simple life a feat that can be called "One For The Angels" In my own life, I have prayed and asked God to be able to do just that: to have at least one success that is so fantastic it can labeled as "one for the angels" I think I will. I have a great love for songwriting and the most amazing arranger in the whole world. Together I think we can do "one for the angels". The epitath on Ed Wynn's grave is very simple, but very effective. It reads "Dear God, thank you!" And as long as thank you is the subject here: "Thank you Edward Keenan Wynn" for all the joy and laughter that you brought into the world. I have made the great "Fire Chief" a character in a musical I have written called "Once More With Spirit" --perhaps he will ask the Good Lord to make this play a great success. Until next time...

Today is Father's day. I lost my dad when I was eighteen years old, but I remember him with great clarity and fondness. My dad, bar none had one of the kindest hearts on the planet. He was generous to the fault and there was not one thing that this kind good man did not give to his four kids. I was the only boy among three sisters, (Lorie, Rosemary and Annette) a female dog (dear Happy) and a constant barrage of female cats. I think what allowed me to love him so much was the fact that his kind heart was one of the biggest good heart (next to my dear mother) in miles. No matter how poor he was, no matter what the difficulty was, (even when he was out of work) he gave us kids every thing we needed. There was never a Christmas Eve that was unhappy. There was never a birthday that was forgotten or treated economically. Now truth be told, my sweet Mother was responsible for a good deal of this, but my dad seldom complained to her-- and trust me, he could have easily! My dad was a house painter. Back then all that was used was oil based paints meant when it rained, the painter was usually out of work for several days! Oil base paint was also tough for a painter because turpentine was really hard on human lungs when it was breathed in over a long period of time. Nothing else would clean those paint brushes! Turpentine effects on his lungs and a bad heart is what eventually did him in. I remember that day with such detail! But on the talent side of the equation, My dad could match any color of any wall, of any rug, of any sample of any desired color. He could mix colors with such talent, one could sit there and watch him and be absolutely mesmorized. When he painted your house or apartment it was done with precision, time, craft and impeccable talent. He'd re-paint the house if it wasn't perfect for no additional charge. There were no paint sprayers back in the 1960's. Rollers were just beginning to be used and were very expensive. My father was a man of honor and integrity. Quite literally, Louis Ricciardi couldn't have told you a lie if the devil was standing on his foot! But he was also funny, warm, kind and witty. At the time that I lost him, I was just beginning to know and appreciate him. My God, how I still miss him, today! My dad was also an artist. His paintings were incredible and wonderful. Each painting he made told a definite story with true personalities in all the characters of his paintings. My favorite painting of all was the one of thirteen French nuns in full habit in the last century who have walked four miles to have a picnic in the woods on a very warm spring afternoon! The painting depicts the nuns ready to eat their picnic lunch after their long hike from the convent! The table cloth is spread out and everything is out and ready and waiting! In this painting, the older nuns were responsible for bringing the "sensible things" like plates and silverware and linen napkins. The oldest nun has brought the wine and the wine glasses. The Mother Superior representing 'wisdom" brings the salt and pepper shakers. Now picture if you will the faces of all thirteen of these great nuns as they discover that youngest nuns (the postulents) have forgotten to bring the picnic lunch, itself. The looks range from surprise to laughter to shock and severe disappointment. There is pure consternation by the Mother Superior, herself! Somebody is going to do pennace for this little screw-up. The painting was absolutely classic! But he also painted so many other things; there were sunsets, Italian Villages, Italian Women doing the wash in the middle of town plus portraits of my various relatives. He loved animals and he loved life. I am quite sure that my dad was one of the greatest characters of all. He loved his wife. He loved and adored his kids. And we truly loved him. But one thing for sure: the twentieth century completely befuddled my poor dad. Traffic angered him; being late truly annoyed him and unethical behavior made him cringe. He loved books, libraries, art and culture. He loved to listen to recordings made by Enrico Caruso. He would listen to these recordings over and over again. But oh man, what I gained from my dad. I love great art. I love great music and I am the same hopeless romantic that he was. He loved to sing while my mother played piano. Between and because of the two of them, I am the songwriter that I am today! Oh do I miss him. I thank God for giving me the greatest parents in the world. But my dad will always have a special place in my heart. Wherever you are my dear father, I love you! Now and forever. It was his promise that he kept (to send all of us kids to Catholic school and raise us as Catholics) that allowed me to have my relationship with God and for that alone I will hold him dear always. So dear "Luigi Pasqualli" here's to you. My glass is raised high to your memory and my heart is very grateful. I love you, dad! Now and forever!

I read with great interest that the magnificent Eartha Kitt is going to be recording a live performance album at the Cafe Carlyle where she is currently playing her 12th engagement. It will be released by DRG records recorded at a performance at the very intimate cafe in NYC. Eartha Kitt is simply an incredible performer who has been a legend for more years than she'd probably like to admit. The CD will be recorded live at the intimate cabaret, and "Eartha Kitt: Live at the Café Carlyle" is scheduled to hit stores in October. The recording will include the songs from Eartha's current cabaret act: "Sell Me," "An Englishman Needs Time," "Come On-A My House," "Hate/Love New York," "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Yuska Dara," "Waray, Waray," "La Vie En Rose," "Darling, Je Vous Aime," "What Is This Thing Called Love," "How Insensitive," "All My Life," "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "C'est Ci Bon," "September Song," "It Was a Very Good Year" and "Here's to Life." A world-renowned concert artist and actress, Eartha Kitt has appeared on Broadway in Bal Negre, Leonard Silliman's New Faces of 1952, Mrs. Patterson, Shinbone Alley, Jolly's Progress, Timbuktu!, The Wild Party and Nine. She received her first Tony nomination for her performance in Timbuktu! and her second for her work in The Wild Party. Kitt's screen credits are numerous, including the 1965 drama "I Spy," for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award. Her autobiography is entitled "I'm Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten." I simply love Eartha Kitt. Of course I had always known about "Santa Baby" the quiescent Christmas classic, but it was life partner, John who really introduced me to how wonderful she was. Her number about the guy with "the champagnee appetite" and "beer belly pockets was simply the funniest thing ever. Good luck Eartha! I will certainly buy it when it comes out. Well today should be a very busy day at work. It's the day before Father's Day and everyone and their brother will probably be out buying their dad a last minute gift. For all of you who still have their fathers-- do something special for him. Treat him right! Don't forget that "he could be here without you, but you couldn't be here without him!" I miss my dad so much. I was just beginning to appreciate him when i lost him. So don't let any more years go by. Do something for him now, before it's too late and you can't. My mom used to say "Don't bring me flowers after I'm dead-- I can't smell them! Well that is true all of the people that we love-- but especially dads. Without my father's promise to my mother to raise us kids as Catholics, I would never have had the relationship with the lord as I do now. He sent all of us kids to Catholic school! And my dad was a piss poor housepainter. But more about my dad on the proper day tomorrow. Well, its off to work! Another day, another dollar! But the new job is getting better all the time!

I really missed something in today's blog entry. Today would have been Stan Laurel's 116th birthday. As a kid, and even today, I was and am a Laurel and Hardy extreme fan. Nothing could make me laugh harder than a great Laurel and Hardy film. Now trust me when I tell you that I have seen every picture they made many many times. I ran them at home in 16mm and ran them for benefits I used to do for The Alhambra Public Library. Our "Films For The Future Club" was trying to buy films for the library collection. Thank goodness for Father Hultgren and the Holy Trinity Parish in Alhambra for always helping us and providing us free space for the fund raisers. Guess what? Even today, I still find something new to laugh at watching those old films. "The Music Box" without doubt remains my all time favorite. That was the movie that won the boys their only Academy Award in 1932. Those steps and that house were real steps and a real house. You can still climb those famous old steps even today! The secret to really enjoying the comedy of these two incredible performers is this: Oliver Hardy is actually dumber than Stan Laurel but doesn't know it! Watch Oliie ask Stanny for a solution to a problem. Stan will say something perfectly logical and intelligent. Then Olie will say to Stan: "Tell me that again!" And Stan will attempt to repeat what he just said, but it comes out all confusing and crazy sounding. After which Olie will say "That's just what we'll do! And you laugh and laugh and laugh. It all goes back to what Danny Simon always taught us writers that honesty was the basis of all great comedy. Laurel & Hardy comedy was the very best comedy next to Charlie Chaplin. Today is also the birthday of a great songwriter by the name of Sammy Fain. He was born in 1902. With his original lyricist Irving Kahal, Sammy was the composer of many incredible Tin Pan Alley hits including "Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella" in 1927, "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine" in the same year plus "By A Waterfall", "I'll Be Seeing You", "Easy To Love", and "Dear Hearts and Gentle People". With Sammy Fain, he also wrote the music for the songs from Walt Disney's animated classics "Alice In Wonderland" and "Peter Pan". But more than that he also wrote "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" in 1955 and "Secret Love" from Calimity Jane in 1953. He was an incredible composer and my hat is off to him this day! Well until next time....

My day in court for my friend Jerry was a big waste of my time. If Justice is this laid back, I seriously worry about it for the average guy. The prosecution was not ready. The public defender that my friend was assigned was going between two courts and had even brought his young five year old kid to the proceedings. The jury had not even been selected yet. Good grief! So a work day was lost and nothing was accomplished except a continuance. The only thing official that I was required to do was to stand up and state and spell my name as a character witness. I got up very early so I could find the courthouse in Pasadena and ended up going the wrong way due to a stupid directive on the Map Quest map. But once I got in there we just sat and waited ninety minutes. Oh well, let's hope the resolution of this goes my friend's way! It is a most beautiful day in Southern California. It's very pleasant here. So that is very good news! I will take advantage of that. Well, there isn't too much else to report here. I did find it interesting that the Supreme Court has ruled that the police with a warrant in their hand can now break down a door without knocking. This ruling would not have happened if Sandra Day O' Connor was still on the court. I do realize we face a uphill battle sometimes fighting crime, but let us remember, dear friends, this is still America. Other countries of the world look to us to uphold certain standards of fairness and justice. The French hate Americans because of things like this. Let us be so careful before we do things and make official rulings that make us look bad to the rest of the world. Sloppy justice and over zealous justice simply gives us a black eye that we don't deserve. Our prejudices make the "Ugly American" syndrome very real. Prejudice is like tasting a banquet with your nose-- all you get is a dirty face!" Well until tomorrow, have a great day today!

I read today that the voice behind Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards) died a pauper and for years had an unmarked grave at Valahala cemetery in North Hollywood. Cliff Edwards was a unique and wonderful entertainer who had gained great fame as "Ukelele Ike". Walt Disney paid for his funeral in 1964 -- just two years prior to his own demise in 1966. Now everyone in this world knows that "Ike" sang "When You Wish Upon A Star in Walt Disney's classic "Pinocchio" in 1940. Who can forget the character of Jiminy Cricket? He went on to be one of the most popular animated characters in the Disney Stable. He was featured in many Disney educational shorts including the I'm No Fool" series on "The Mickey Mouse Club" He also introduced songs like "Give A Little Whistle" But more than that I was he who introduced the song "Singing in the Rain" to the world back in the early 30's. Only in the last three years has there been a marker on this great entertainer's final resting place. It was put there by the Disney Studio as a fitting last tribute. Here was a gentle sweet loving man. I intend to make a visit to his gravesite very soon. My entry is short today. Tomorrow morning, I make my first visit to a Superior Court to testify to the character of a good friend. He made the foolish mistake of buying something stolen on the internet. When he went to sell it, he decided to have it cleaned before he did and the outfit that does the servicing decided to check the serial number. I am certain the only reason that the serial number was checked was because Jerry is black. Prejudice is a very ugly word. I have seen this man held up to extreme prejudice in the seven years I have known him. The lesson here is to check the serial number of anything you decide to buy from the internet. If you buy it and it turns out to be stolen-- you are just as liable as the guy who sold it to you-- that is of course if you can find him again. I will let you know what happens after my day in court tomorrow. It should be interesting!