Harvey's Broadway Blog: Light One Up For Me!!

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!

THE FOURTH IS COMING...

But, as with most holidays, we will be onstage performing and will miss the fireworks show in NYC!

Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that we are still playing and will gratefully entertain the folks who come to see us, but some times it's nice to just get lost in a crowd of people and enjoy being a grain of sand on the beach.

So, for those of you who get out to the East River to watch the MACYS show... Say an extra "AH!!!" for me.

And for any of you who run the other way from loud noises and big crowds... Come see A Catered Affair on July 4th. We will be there doing our beautiful show.

SAMSUNG SINGING

Last week we did a CD signing over at the Time Warner Center. It was in the hyper modern Samsung store. It was lovely to see all those people who came out to hear us sing a few tunes from the show. After the entertainment, we all signed CD's for whoever wanted. Here are a few photos of the event.

HEATER MAC RAE and Lori Wilner await their turn to entertain.

Katie Klaus sings for the folks. And that's ETHYL WILL on the keyboards behind.

And then the one and only Tom Wopat took to the stage and wailed for the crowd.

SPEAKING OF TOM... OR RATHER... SPEAKING NOT OF TOM...

Mr Wopat had a gig out of town on Sunday and so his very capable understudy, Mark Zimmerman, took to the stage of The Walter Kerr Theater and rocked the house.

Here is Mr. Zimmerman in rehearsal proving that we didn't just hire him because he's the President of the stage actor's union! Ha!!! Really and truly, he did an amazing job stepping into that very difficult and emotional role. He did himself and the rest of the cast proud. Sorry I only have rehearsal shots, but you get the idea!

NOT LONG FOR THIS WORLD

As you've probably heard, A Catered Affair is now scheduled to close on July 27th. It would have been terrific to have had a longer run. The show is such an amazing piece to perform night after night. And our audiences keep getting better and better and more intense with each show.

Unfortunately, the numbers just don't match up with the enthusiasm and, although we have the MOST generous producers on Broadway, this is still a profit-making business and the numbers tell the tale.

So, if you can get to our theater... RUN and come see us before the end of the month. I promise that you will experience a show you will not soon forget with performances by Faith Prince a brilliant cast that will blow you away.

We have THIRTY-TWO performances left. And remember that we are performing a new schedule with matinees on Thursdays so even if you are in another Broadway show, you can get to see us. Don't miss this, kids.

JULY BEGAN AN HOUR AGO... and I've got to get to bed! So I will leave you with two fun photos from last week.

What can I say about Josh? He's only 26 years old, so I'd better not say anything other than I LOVE THIS TALENTED YOUNG MAN who slaved to make the physical production of our show a stand-out. He's now off on a dozen new shows, but watch for this rising star. You're going to hear from him!

And here's LOLLY, dresser to the stars extraordinaire!!!! Here she models my "valuables" wallet as a hat. Believe it or not, she isn't a fashion model in her off hours. No, our Lolly is a successful real estate agent. This lady's got it all going!

SO THAT'S IT FROM ME FOR THIS WEEK. If you want more, you know what to do,...

STAY TUNED!!!!!