30 Days of NYMF: Day 17 Without You

Without You
Laura Hix
Assistant to the Producers

September 19th, 7PM Eastern Standard Time. From here on in I shoot without a script...
Few things can turn a grown woman back into a high-school musical theatre nerd more quickly than walking into a rehearsal room with Anthony Rapp. And few things are more humbling than having the studio owner look you in the eyes, motion towards Dan Weiss (Musical Director) and Tom Kitt (Additional Arrangements) and say, "I hope you know how lucky you are to have these guys".
Believe me, I do. And, believe me, I know how lucky we all are to have this incredible show on our hands.
There's this beautiful review from Without You's previous life at Pittsburgh's City Theatre in 2008 that particularly speaks to the show's ability to transcend the boundaries of sheer reminiscence and unfold as a very present, very real, very "now" human experience. Christopher Rawson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes, "A joyful, emotionally raw account. I wasn't exactly bawling at Without You, but I was certainly choking up, brushing back a tear, then doing it again a few minutes later. You don't need to know Rent to respond to the human story Without You embodies. Its music is appealing and poignant on its own. But to the extent that you do know Rent, the story widens into operatic impact."
I've been sort of haunted by that bit of writing since I stumbled upon it in a press release a while back and I can't tell you how much more excited (if that's possible!) it makes me to see Without You for the first time and for New York to see it in its entirety for the first time as well.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I just remembered-I need to go write my rent check...