January 22, 2019
Good morning, dear reader. This is going to have to be short and sweet! I’m running to rehearsal at the Copley to begin our final week of rehearsals for The Producers before we move our work onto the Paramount stage a week from tomorrow! The set designed by William Boles, and built right here in Aurora at our scene shop headed by technical director Jason Pikscher, is being loaded in and soon lights by Jesse Klug will be hung, sound gear will be positioned by Adam Rosenthal, props by Jesse Gaffney will be set, costumes by Jordan Ross will move from our costume shop on the Fox and be delivered to the actors’ dressing rooms and out of the wig room will come Katie Cordts’ wigs. The mid-house aisle will look like “mission control” full of lighting and sound boards and various production staff computers including Mike Tutaj’s projection design.
At the end of the day last night, I realized how indebted I am to our Stage Manager Jinni Pike, ASM Nora Mally, Associate Director Trent Stork and Production Manager Jonathan Allsup how they always seem to know what is wanted before I do. We get to work, and everything we need has been thought of and is ready! And choreographer Brenda Didier has refreshed what anyone can expect of a Broadway blockbuster with new takes of her own that I can’t wait for our audience to see! There are loads of surprises in store for fans of this show, and this week will be about adding and editing, creating and refining finishing touches in anticipation of what it just might be like once we get on the set! Our cast is gonna knock your socks off with singing, dancing and comic chops the likes of which I don’t think we’ve ever seen in the Broadway Series. That’s mainly because there is no other writer and brand of comedy quite like the living legend that is Mel Brooks. And if you’re going to be seeing the show for the first time, not only get ready to bust a gut laughing with everyone sitting around you; it’s my hope you will discover beside all the insane plot twists, zany antics and showbiz razzmatazz, a very human heart full of fun and love, beating ever so sweetly within it all! I know our team is going to surpass expectations in the theater next week. They always do!
Our cast is gonna knock your socks off with singing, dancing and comic chops the likes of which I don’t think we’ve ever seen in the Broadway Series.
I have to mention that while “Team Producers” has been making merry madness in rehearsals, “Team August Rush” has gotten this new baby moving full steam ahead led by our New Works Director Amber Mak, VP of Productions Rose Quealy and President & CEO Tim Rater! (Geez, guys, I missed all the fun!) Tony-winner John Doyle will bring his Broadway magic this spring to Aurora, directing Paramount’s first world premiere musical making for quite a dazzling double-bill to end Season Eight: The Producers and August Rush!
Love & thanks,
Jim
