Harvey's Broadway Blog: D-Day Approaches!

Harvey Returns! Welcome to The Return of 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 Opening Night (and beyond). Check back for updates as rehearsals get underway!

Today is...

EASTER

And tomorrow is...

DRESS REHEARSAL!!!

That's right, kids. the time for hiding out and creating in the womb of a darkened theater is almost over and my new baby is about to see the world AND the world is about to see my new baby. WOW!!!

SITZ PROBE

This week started off with the traditional SITZ PROBE (I have no idea what it means but...) which is the first time that the orchestra plays through the score with the actors present. It's really the most exciting experience. I mean, after weeks of rehearsing to a piano, suddenly there are strings and wind instruments and percussion behind what you're singing. It's a thrill to feel it all come together.

Some of you may know that one of the changes we made between our San Diego try-out and our NY debut was to have the show re-orchestrated for a different sound. We were lucky enough to get the undisputed genius of orchestrations currently working on the Rialto... the one and only Jonathan Tunick. So, hearing the music with his brilliant vision was an entirely new experience for us. And let me tell you, TUNICK DELIVERED! The music has never sounded more romantic and lush and evocative and magical.

Here are two photos of the ORCHESTRA and us. Hard to see, but I didn't want to be too intrusive as I got my inside views for you.

THE THEATER

From there we went over to THE WALTER KERR THEATER where we had our first onstage rehearsal. It was another total thrill. The set has not changed much from San Diego. But it was designed for this theater, and so, to see it finally in the space for which it was conceived was a revelation indeed.

I'm sorry to say that rehearsals and lighting considerations did not allow me to snap any photos of the completed stage pictures that I can share. But here are a few of the backstage moments I snapped up for you.

You know I love to share the world from my viewpoint with you. So here is what we see when we stand center stage at the theater. Ain't this joint a pip? It was originally built in 1922 in 60 days. Can you imagine? So how come it's taking my guys 30 months to build my house?????  

Of course it's an entirely different view with the houselights off. Here's my vantage point as I stand upstage looking out toward the audience. That's FAITH sitting on the edge of her daughter's bed and singing the haunting "MARRIED".

And here is what things look like when you're standing in the wings waiting to make an entrance. That's FAITH at her sink in the kitchen of her apartment.

Another view I get to enjoy is looking up from the stage floor at the windows of the Bronx apartment houses that inhabit the stage. KRISTINE is looking down at me saying HELLO to you all.

And a final view taken onstage as FAITH places a wedding veil on LESLIE in rehearsal. In the background you can see my trusty dresser KEITH who has been working along side of me for years. I'd be lost without him. Believe me.

BACKSTAGE...

...is another world altogether. These older theaters were simply much smaller than anything you can imagine. And the KERR is certainly one of the tightest fits you'll ever find on Broadway. In fact, arriving at the theater each night we have to literally step over the doorman to get into the building.

But tight quarters just make things more fun when you've got a gang like ours. So here are some shots of us hanging out in staircases, laundry rooms and anywhere else we can find to sit down during the long hours of technical rehearsals.

ZBORNIK and ME clowning around.

KRITZER and MATT S hanging in her room.

HEATHER perches in the wardrobe room for her times offstage.

CAVENAUGH may be standing next to the exit sign, but there's no way I'm letting this talented man out of the building!

SPEED SMITH is this man's name and if you want to know how he earned it... Well, you'll have forget a prop on the wrong side of the theater one night to find out!

SPENCER is our newest stage manager. I don't know how we got along without him until now.

BRITTA is our lovely understudy for ALICE/JANEY/SARGEANT roles. I'm not sure she will be all that happy about my publishing this view of her. But when you are as gorgeous as she is, there are no bad angles or even silly faces.

LORI and KRISTINE share a step as they wait for an entrance.

And here's my pal MIKE from the NEIL SIMON THEATER. He came all the way over from HAIRSPRAY to help make my dressing table stay on the wall. Ain't he the best? And his brother TIM is on our house staff so you'll be seeing him on this blog soon.

BOX OFFICE

The last view I can share with you today is one that you can actually see for yourself if you come over to the theater. Here are two of our loyal, devoted and very accommodating BOX OFFICE STAFF ready to dispense the best tickets available. So come on by and let them take care of you.

SUNDAY

So it's now 4 PM and the sun is slowly setting on my last day off until the first public performance. I think I will take a spot on my couch and catch up on all the stuff waiting for me in TIVO-LAND. There should be TOP CHEF, JOHN ADAMS, and even POKER AFTER DARK.

It's anyone's guess how the public will receive our show. But if you want to know, all you have to do is...

STAY TUNED!