Call-Back: Some Enchanted Evening – Pt. 3

Check out the latest episode featuring Some Enchanted Evening. We open this week!!!! Nervous Excited!

Some Cool Production Pix

Ben Czarnota and Maureen Clark

Maureen Clark

Liz Baumgartner

Liz Baumgartner and Bob Stoesser

Colleen Zettler (top), Maureen Clark (l.) and Liz Baumgartner

Colleen Zettler (top), Maureen Clark (l.) and Liz Baumgartner

(l. to r.) Maureen Clark, Liz Baumgartner and Colleen Zettler

(l. to r.) Colleen Zettler, Maureen Clark and Liz Baumgartner

Colleen Zettler

Liz Baumgartner

Maureen Clark

Colleen Zettler

Bob Stoesser

(l. to r.) Maureen Clark, Liz Baumgartner and Colleen Zettler

Thoughts on Opening Night

I can’t believe I’m saying this…but, the show is open! Fortunately a lot of the process has been documented in the Call-Back video episodes, so I haven’t written much, but I’m thrilled to say the show seems to be a hit! The opening night crowd raved last night and I really have to say it’s all becasue of the incredible cast. These five are so professional and talented and attractive that audiences so far really seem to fall in love with them. I thnk they could sing the phone book and crowds would cheer. But the fact that they are singing some of the most beloved music of the musical theatre just makes the evening even more – enchanted! Huntington Playhouse Managing Director Tom Meyrose told me at intermission that he was stopped many times by people raving about the show. He said another indicator of a please audience was how long they stayed at the opening night reception after the show. Well, they did stay. And I talked with many of them about what a fantastic cast was on that stage.

This show was a challenge. I had never directed a revue before and I’ve said before the lack of a firm structure is a blessing and a curse. I second guessed myself many times in this project, but in the end I think I just had faith in the talent of the cast and the magic of the music. And it seems like that was they way to go.

I have to say thank you to many people for making the show possible: Tom Meyrose and everyone at Huntington Playhouse especially our Stage Manager Mark Williamson, Dale Hruska and Keith. Our band Bryan Bird on Keys and Joe on drums. The amazing duo of Choreographer Jennifer Glowe and Costumer David Glowe and of course my partner in this whole project from the very beginning Musical Director John Franks.

But most of all my heart and thanks goes out to the five amazing singers on that stage – Liz Baumgartner, Colleen Zettler, Bob Stoesser, Maureen Clark and Ben Czarnota. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with all of you and I can’t wait to do it again. And to any other directors, producers, casting agents, etc. …if any one of these five ever graces your door, do not hesitate…..grab them, embrace them and thank your lucky stars they gave you the time of day. I know I do.

I said at the very beginning of this blog that the start of the process of outting together a show is sort of lonely for a director. You’re the one thinking about the show in vivid detail – living in it in your imagination – long before anyhone else even knows it’s going to happen. The end of the process – at least the end for the director – which is always the very beginning of the run for the cast – is the same. All of a sudden you’re not an intrigal part of the group. No one looks to you anymore for advice on a scene or a song. The show is theirs now. A very happy weirdness. But in the hands of these five, there is no other place I would like my show to be.

Much Love – Geoff