Well, dear readers, we survived our final dress. Show ran what it’s been running consistently. Some tonal issues we addressed in the general note session. This show, especially in the first scene, is tonally tricky because while the subject matter (ALS and a brain tumor) is serious, there are laughs throughout the scene. I put in a physical gag early on that will help, but the actors really have to let the audience know a) that it’s okay to laugh, and b) where to laugh. Pacing was off a bit, too, but we’ll get that back on track, too. Overall, though, I thought it ran smoothly, save for some new sound issues out of nowhere – may have had something to do with putting in three new cues before the show, but it has to be fixed before tonight’s preview. Prior to our final dress, I got almost eight hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails galore, then began futzing and finessing twenty-five pages that I hadn’t done yet. As you can imagine, that took a bit of time, but I got everything smoothed out and I thought it read pretty well. Then my turkey sandwich arrived and that was very good. After that, I wrote about three or four new pages, then shaved. I had some telephonic calls, no modern major miracle, no Social Security, but lots of junk mail – that there was plenty of. Then I moseyed on over to the theater. The floor had been painted, so all the spikes had to be put back – we’d taken photos and measurements, and we checked each spike, as they’re all light specials and it all seemed fine. After we finished, I just gave general notes and a few specific things to a couple of cast members, but right now, they just need an audience and to keep the JEF on high. After that, I came home, had a filet o’ fish for food, and took pill three. And here we are and after I get these here notes posted, I plan to write another three or four pages for sure.

Today, I’ll try to be up by ten again, I’ll futz and finesse, I’ll eat something very light, I’ll pray hard for Social Security and a modern major miracle, I’ll write as many new pages as I can, I’ll shower and then mosey on over to the theater at five-fifteen. At six, we’ll do warm-up vocals, the actors get in mics, and we’ll do a proper sound check, then I’m hoping we have at least twenty people who are friendly in the audience. I’ll give whatever general notes I have, then come home.

Tomorrow is the same exact routine and then we play our second preview. Friday, I have to write notes to the cast, and then I’ll just write until it’s time to be on my way to the theater for our opening night. I’m hopeful we’ll have a nice crowd. Saturday is our second show, and Sunday is a matinee followed by a talkback. And somewhere between Thursday and Saturday, Muse Margaret will get the first 100 pages of the book. Here is our splendid cast.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, try to be up by ten, futz and finesse, pray for Social Security and a modern major miracle – please send your most excellent vibes and xylophones – write new pages, shower, and then mosey on over to the theater, do vocal warm-ups, have our first preview, give some notes, and come home. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, as we move closer and closer to our opening night.