Harvey's Broadway Blog: A Day Off

Welcome to the debut of a very special new series on BroadwayWorld.com - four time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein's personal MySpace blog of bringing his brand new musical, A CATERED AFFAIR to Broadway. We'll be exclusively picking up Harvey Fierstein's blog as he shares his first hand reports from rehearsals, to out-of-town tryouts to Opening Night (and beyond).  A CATERED AFFAIR also features a score by John Bucchino and is being directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle. Prior to Broadway, the new musical will play at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre beginning September 20th and then hit the Great White Way at the  Walter Kerr Theatre with previews beginning on begin March 25. The cast includes Broadway favorites Faith Prince, Tom Wopat, Harvey Fierstein, Leslie Kritzer and Matt Cavenaugh. Group tickets for the show are now on sale...

A CATERED AFFAIR is in full swing at THE OLD GLOBE...

MONDAY REPORT:
Today was our first day off and it was terrific. A few of us had planned on hopping down to Disneyland but as it turned out, we were all a bit too beat and ended up just vegging out. Actually, Jordan Roth and I went to the mall and had a blast. Target, Hallmark, Ruby's Diner, and Michael's Crafts kept us busy for hours.

MEANWHILE...
We've performed FOUR previews thus-far and only have five to go before the critics come in. Each day we rehearse little changes and tweaks and improvements and then try them out that night. I must say that Friday was better than Thursday's performance, but I wasn't so happy with Saturday. But then things really started coming together on Sunday and the show kicked butt. I can't wait to see what this week brings!

The audiences have been wonderful. They laugh and applaud and even cheer at times. San Diego certainly does have it's theater audiences. Personally, I never go to previews of a show unless asked to give my opinions by a creator. I prefer to wait until after opening night when I know the show is in shape. But we've been packed every night, so I guess folks here want to be among the first to see what we are up to.

PHOTOS:

Here I am leaning out "the apartment window" during a rehearsal of the show's opening number.

I am hoping that my next blog will have REAL production photos to share. We are still awaiting them. So, I will give you further glimpses into the backstage world we inhabit six days a week. By now you should be getting quite familiar with the faces that come together to put on the show.

And here's John Doyle hugging superstar Zbornik. 

We've got a great bevy of dressers on the gig. Here are a few of them gathered at their central station in the hallway. Our show shares dressing room space with the outdoor Shakespeare repertory company. We are all one big happy family at The Globe.

A Tale of Two Heathers:

Stage Manager Heather shows off our new dinnerware.

Actress Heather laughs it up during rehearsal.

This is what the audience of The Old Globe looks like to us on stage. It's a beautiful house with around 600 seats. Intimate and comfortable. A great place to see a show.

Carpenter Jack and set associate Josh were caught here just hanging out in the wings.

And here is one of our sound technicians, Keala Settle. Some of you may recognize this diva of all trades as the young lady who starred as Tracy in the national tour of Hairspray. Well, when not tearing up the room with her voluminous voice, she's plying her trade in the sound department. And I could not be happier to have her silly self around. What a great gal she is!

And here I am with Richie Jackson and Jordan Roth posing in front of my favorite tree in all of Balboa park. This place has some amazing flora, landscaping and vistas. it's a real joy to wander through this park to go to work each day.

Here are Richie and Jordan again as they cross a bridge into the park at twilight. Romantic? No wonder there are weddings taking place daily all over the park.

PREVIEWS CONTINUE

So, that's how things are rolling for us here in San Diego. Halfway through previews and readying ourselves for the critics. We're working hard and enjoying the view.

As I said in last weeks' blog, it's so wonderful to be performing a show that touches the audience so deeply. My fan mail has been stupendous. So we'll stay on this road and hopefully ride this train right to YOUR hometown where you'll get to experience A CATERED AFFAIR for yourself. Until then....

STAY TUNED