After six months of being “ol’ hop along” on crutches here, yours truly was finally checked into the hospital early Friday morning and had a hip replacement surgery so successful that he was discharged Saturday night! See how all of your goodness and energy and prayers work?! You must know how grateful I am for all the good thoughts and support I received from you, Paramount Nation! Physically compromised as I was, my gratitude is quite profound as I take stock in all we accomplished together. ABBA’s Mamma Mia! was designed, cast and opened to a staggering audience response from individuals like I have never experienced before and is about to close on Sunday, October 30, just as Disney’s The Little Mermaid began rehearsals yesterday! Just a bit too soon after surgery, I was unable to attend the “meet and greet” (pictured below) which is always a highlight of the season for me, welcoming everyone and thanking them for being here. Director & Choreographer Amber Mak has done a spectacular job casting and designing the show with her production team, and I regrettably missed her words of inspiration and the excitement of having the company together in one room for the first time! This gorgeous production is going to surprise and delight in remarkably fresh, new ways, all for an unforgettable family holiday entertainment this year!
Team Paramount did not skip a beat while this old guy hobbled around, and I’m happy to report the production design and casting for Sweeney Todd and Jesus Christ Superstar are well under way, as well, to great dramatic and theatrical effect. Both productions are almost completely cast and designed. The great, giant, last push to bring them in beyond expectations is before us as we serve two of the greatest composers of contemporary Broadway musical theatre, Mr. Stephen Sondheim and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.
I can attest to having talented, passionate, dedicated individuals around to always lift you up when you’re down is what makes a difference in our lives. And enough cannot be said for the power of music and a good story to remind us how great it is to be human. To be truly alive! The Arts bring us together, working together, sharing and contributing to what is indeed the best in us. Don’t miss out on this season and on discovering yourself in the riches of live orchestras and storytelling on a magnificent scale at Paramount Theatre. Get in on the four-show package this week before Mamma Mia! closes on Sunday!
Love & thanks,
Jim