By Seth Rudetsky
04 Sep 2007
Right now, I am writing this from beautiful Salem, CT. Dev Janki —the award-winning director-choreographer of the brilliant Zanna, Don't — has a family owned house that he rents every summer that can literally sleep 30 people. It’s not a mansion — it’s more like bungalows, and he's been having these retreats for his friends since 2001. Andrea Burns, Peter Flynn and Robert Tatad used the proximity to Westport, CT, to go to the Westport Playhouse to see Billy Porter's Sondheim revue, Being Alive. I've never heard such raving. The phenomenal singing, the brilliant James Sampliner music arrangements/ Michael McElroy vocal arrangements and especially the last 20 minutes of the show that Andrea said made her head explode. I'm devastated I couldn’t go. It better hit Manhattan ASAP! Brava, Billy!!!
Going to Dev's is always the highlight of my summer...and the highlight of my dog's year. She runs around non-stop, and when she gets back to NY, sleeps for two days straight. The best part is it's always teeming with musical theatre people, and every meal is rife with hilarious stories about onstage antics. I was obsessed with James Hadley's story about Debra Monk’s understudy in Thou Shalt Not. They were having an understudy rehearsal, and the stage manager literally said, "Let's take it from the stroke." The Debra Monk character has a major stroke during the show that cues a dance number.
It's always embarrassing to have a stroke onstage, so the understudy said her line with little conviction and then muttered, "…And … then I have a stroke." Suddenly, CUT!
MUSIC DIRECTOR: I need the actual full stroke. You need to say, "Ooh, ooh…ah"…twist your mouth to the left..and then the music comes in.
MUSIC DIRECTOR: I need it louder!
Of course, by now, the ensemble offstage was laughing hysterically. The understudy finally did her complete stroke/became paralyzed, and the ensemble entered and circled her while trying to contain their laughter. They spun her around in her wheelchair, and when her back was to the audience, she came out of her paralysis just long enough to give her fellow cast members the finger.
Let me sign off by saying Happy Labor Day, everyone! And by the way…shout out to all the kids that read this column. Let me just say that it’s amazing to be an adult and be able to enjoy your Labor Day instead of it being the bridge to the devastation of school beginning again. There is hope, trust me!
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(Seth Rudetsky is the host of "Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and the author of "The Q Guide to Broadway." He has played piano in the orchestras of 15 Broadway musicals, and he can be contacted by visiting www.sethsbroadwaychatterbox.com. His first novel, "Broadway Nights," is due in the fall.)
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| Cheyenne Jackson and Seth Rudetsky dish at the Chatterbox.
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