See it to believe it!

We are now represented by Tim Fox at Columbia Artists Management, which is a really exciting development in the Basic Training journey. I am finally able to look back at the run in New York and it feels good to come out on the other end with some positive feelings. Still some things that need to be figured out but for now I can say that it's all good. I am also working with a wonderful attorney in Los Angeles and things are definitely looking up. I'll be sure to keep you in the loop as things develop.

Speaking of developing, the baby is growing like mad. My wife is still all baby which makes me happy because when you marry a girl you kind of wonder how she's going to look pregnant and I'm proud to say she shines. Got me a good one yall.

Here in Vancouver the snow has taken everyone by surprise. Two huge dumps of snow in the last week and believe it or not there's more on the way! I haven't been this cold since spending my teen years in Davenport, Iowa. The Midwestern US and the Canadian prairies AIN'T NO JOKE when it comes to cold weather. At least the air temp here is reasonable and we don't have that cutting wind to deal with. This snowstorm caught Vancouver by surprise - so surprised that the city didn't even plow the streets for four days and the side streets are still not done.

Anybody got an extra shovel? I love some hard work.

The Vancouver performances are selling really well, as a matter of fact the Feb 14 8pm show is sold out and the others are filling nicely. Check out www.thecultch.com if you'd like to join in the fun.

For anybody on the east coast we have some dates in Charlotte, North Carolina coming up in March so keep an eye out for it. Just gotta make sure the dots are connected before the tickets hit the streets.

I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and if Christmas ain't your thang then be safe and eat up. Tis the season to get chubby!

TONYTONETONI

It has come to my attention that several fans of Basic Training have come to my defense in an online argument regarding an unfavorable review of Basic Training in TimeOut New York. On the TimeOut NY website these fans have posted comments defending the show and my talent against some reviewer who remains among the 1% of people who didn't like the show despite the fact that he was laughing and applauding throughout. (one of the fans sat behind him on the night he saw Basic Training). He has a right to his opinion, I just think these people want him to make up his mind.

The editor of the TimeOut New York theater section expressed that he didn't appreciate these fans calling his reviewer a jerk and he accused me of 'standing in the doorway and creating an awkward exit' as if I don't allow people to leave the theater when the show is over. This is New York. When New Yorkers are ready to go, they go. And I stand to the side after the show. I was raised to say thank you. It never ceases to amaze me how someone who didn't even see the show can make assumptions about things they know nothing about.

Maybe he needs to stand there 'in the doorway' with me and listen to the stories of hope audience members share with me as they exit about how they don't normally go to the theater and my show makes them feel like they might want to consider going again- for a few reasons:

a. Basic Training ain't a musical and it actually speaks to issues that are on people's hearts and minds every day

b. The American Fear Machine wants everyone to think we'll all be living in hostels and eating at soup kitchens by 2010 so hearing a story of hope and redemption is never a bad thing.

To the fans I thank you, because you are the reason I get out of bed every day. Much like the 2008 election, the people have spoken. It's good to see democracy at work.

Not everyone who sees this show likes it and I fully accept that. I think that's the same for every show, movie, restaurant, whatever. Choice is a good thing. But when you get 10 awesome reviews and one bad one, it ain't the show that needs to change.

Keep it comin.

Finale

Tonight was the final show and it was pretty exciting. Uncle Tony and Aunt Debra were in attendance so Uncle Tony got to bask in his glory for a bit. I won't be able to process things about this run until I can get back to Vancouver and step away from it. Mixed feelings. My wife made it home safe and our baby is growing by the minute. Its fun to see it move when it hears my voice, apparently when my wife came to see the show the baby was moving and kicking like crazy. Either it hates theater or it thinks daddy is a genius. Once its born next year I'll be sure to ask.

Home Stretch

Basic Training will have its final Off Broadway performance on December 1 and it feels good to know that we came to NY and conquered.

In the past few weeks I've been doing lots of radio interviews including an interview with the lovely Farai Chideya on NPR which is posted on the website www.basictrainingnyc.com if you'd like to listen in. Early this morning I did an interview on WBAI which went really well. The best thing about doing a 7am interview definitely ain't the time slot. It's seeing the city of New York slowly come to life. WBAI is down on Wall Street and it's right in the middle of the action. I had never experienced that before: The news anchors setting up to let the world know what was happening on Wall Street and how the markets were looking. The vendors warming up their carts full of bagels, coffee and juice. The rumble of the subway under your feet and the cabbies using their horns like a rooster's call to awaken the sleeping giant that is New York City. I miss Vancouver but NYC has a flavor all its own.

My wife returned from England last week and we spent a few days at a gorgeous house in Connecticut. Always good to get away and enjoy the sound of nothing. We just sat by the fireplace and watched movies and talked about our excitement and expectations of our new baby. What will it look like? Will it eat a lot? (if it takes after it's Dad it will) Something tells me fatherhood will change everything but I wouldn't have it any other way.

The success of Basic Training has provided me with so many wonderful opportunities that I am forever grateful for but it's also exposed me to a lot of fake promises and fake people. Like any industry you gotta take the good with the bad I guess. The joy I get in coming home to a loving wife, a few true friends and family is the only thing that seems real to me right now. Like mama used to say - people are what they do, not what they say.

I feel like my hardest work is still ahead of me but this journey started with a few people that need to be recognized. Tony Lepore is one of them - this guy is my stage manager but he's not just any technician. Since 2004 he has stood by the show through thick and thin always believing that it would one day open Off Broadway. When ever I had to do an industry showcase in a rehearsal room at the last minute he would drop everything and make sure that although we only had a boom-box the cues were right on time. Tony's professionalism and work ethic make him one of a kind and he has traveled with Basic Training to Dubai and Abu Dhabi which solidified his place in my mind as one of the hardest working dudes I know. Hanging out in Dubai also meant my wife and I got to spend some fun time with him and it was unforgettable. In 2005 when Tony and I first arrived in the Middle East and realized that we didn't have to pay for food we almost ate ourselves sick. Looking back we probably looked like two inmates sitting there wolfing down gourmet food like somebody was going to steal it from us.

Good times.

I can't say this run in New York flew by but I can say that every show feels like the first one. Except for the matinees. I will never understand the logic behind doing a 2pm show when the 7pm still isn't sold out. But when the lights go down it doesn't matter. Everybody gets 100%.

48 Hours

In the last 48 hours Barack Obama has won the election to become the first African American President of the United States and I have celebrated my 35th year on earth.

The power of the spoken word was so evident in Obama's acceptance speech and as I went to vote at 6am today the build-up to his victory was palpable. There was electricity in the air as we all stood in line in Greenwich Village, way too tired to socialize but not too tired to pull the lever.

My wife will be back soon, and I am really looking forward to having her here. Our baby is quite active and it has been kicking her and making its presence known. Something tells me we have an especially active and healthy baby on the way! Thanks so much for your well wishes and prayers.

This has been a particularly tough week for myself and the show, challenges continue to pile up and the pressure is keeping me awake at night. It's times like this that I really enjoy performing on stage because for as long as I can remember adversity has always been a part of my journey. Not too sure what its like to have things come easy to me but this journey has shaped me in ways I cannot put into words.

There is a revised performance schedule for November so please check www.basictrainingnyc.com or call the Box Office at 212.868.4444 for updates. We want to make sure we are making the most of the time we have in the theater and these changes will reflect that. I apologize for any inconvenience but I promise it will be worth your while. The Basic Training team continues to work harder than ever behind the scenes to make the magic happen every night and it shows. In the coming weeks I'll introduce you to some of these people but you should take a minute and come meet them yourself after the show.

Once you see all the aspects that go into making Basic Training happen every night I think you'll agree that there's no such thing as a one man show.

p.s.
We have 2009 tour dates for Australia! More to come.

NetFlix

One of the most common questions people ask me is 'What do you do after the show? You must be tired!' This is where Netflix comes in. I don't watch much television but I am a sucker for a good movie. A typical Off Broadway evening for me is

5-5:30: Arrive at theater, stretch and warm up my voice
6:55: Places
7pm-8pm: Showtime
8-8:20: Shake hands with the audience
8:20-8:45: Towel off and change clothes, take the subway to the apartment
9:30: arrive at the apartment, shower and eat meat with vegetables of some sort
10:00: Watch an educational epic like '300' or something more sensible like 'Braveheart'. (depends on what my wife wants to watch as well, we take turns).
11:30pm-Midnight: Crash and burn. Bedtime.

So as you can see without Netflix I'd be stuck watching the three channels that are available in the apartment that has been subletted for me. Each channel has a different version of the news but they all have a lot in common - somebody got killed, the nation is in a financial panic and John McCain is 'just like me' or somebody's cat gave it's life to save a crippled rat trying to cross the subway tracks.

I'm sure this is the exciting jet-setting life you expected of an actor performing his own one man show Off Broadway. I am one wild and crazy dude. Kids, do not try this at home.

Critics Pick!

Basic Training is a New York Times Critics Pick. It has been a huge pleasure shaking everyone's hand after the show and there is so much goodwill surrounding the show. As long as I can look the audience in the eye after the show as they leave the theater and personally thank them for an hour of their time and $35 bucks of their hard earned (especially now) money then I believe that the show will continue to do well. The audience numbers still aren't exactly where we'd like them to be but there is no denying the quality of the people who come to see Basic Training. Hopefully you can assist us in getting some more people like you through the doors.

My wife is visiting family in England and it warms my heart to hear that she is happy and enjoying her time there. Family is so important to her and as we start a family of our own we have a different understanding of what it stands for. Who knows what kinds of challenges the future will bring to families. Unfortunately I won't get to spend my birthday (Nov 3) with any family but that void is slightly smaller now that my Tops In Blue family has come into town and supported me here and there. I feel ten feet tall when I see a member of Tops In Blue in the audience because much like troops who served together in the field we have a connection that you can't put into words. Ever been a part of something bigger than yourself? My first was Tops In Blue, then Caesar's Magical Empire at Caesar's Palace, Akeelah and the Bee (I was the Postman) and now Basic Training.

Next stop...more feature films!

Review of the Review

The week the show officially opened was manic - in a good way. It seemed like everybody arrived in town at the same time. My wife and I really enjoyed having visitors and it made the time go by so fast. Spending time with my mom and grandmother was slightly painful but still good. So much of the show depicts a time frame that was very tough for my mother and I so I kind of felt bad that she had to see the show. Its one thing to see Basic Training and say that's a great show but when its your life you look at it with a different set of eyes. My mom has been so brave and supportive through the whole thing. She could've said 'change my name' or 'don't put that in the show' but she never did. One of the battles I fought in keeping the original concept of the show intact for the NY opening was that I didn't want to soften the blow. Life sucks sometimes and you don't always get a 'set-up' or warning about what's coming next. It makes me feel good to know that my family supports me in that.

Three days off immediately after the opening night was a blessing! I was so damn tired. Talk about being lazy. I have been sleeping no less than nine hours every night and it does wonders for my vocal chords. I also use a Kaz Personal Steam Inhaler and it is magical. Interesting to learn the trade secrets of how people on Broadway perform shows like 'Wicked' or 'The Producers' eight shows a week for years and years. Its a new level of health consciousness.

The reviews come out this week. Drumroll please. Since I first performed the show in May 2003 I have let my stage manager know that I don't want to know who is in the audience. Reviewer or not, everybody deserves 100% and that's what they'll get. It doesn't help to tell me 'hey the NY Times is coming to see your show' because unless they put their underwear on any different than I do - one leg at a time - all I can do is perform the best I can that night.

Regardless of how good or bad the reviews are I hope you come and decide for yourself. Tops In Blue. 100 percent baby.

Opening Night

Tonight was opening night and I am tired as hell. Seven shows in four days. My mom was in the audience and there were also some more Tops In Blue members who came out to support. Pictures are on the way! Good night.

Mornin!

It has truly been a crazy and busy week. I have done four shows in two days and I can feel it. Today I have two more shows with a press interview in between. Yesterday's 7pm show was a blast - Barry Josephson was there, his first time seeing the show in a while and he loved it. He was like a proud producer/father in the lobby afterwards. Two of my BROTHERS from Tops In Blue were also in attendance, Gregg Jordan and Arturo Eusebio. It did my heart good to see them before the show. Afterwards Barry took us out to dinner and we had a good laugh and just reminisced. I also had one of my closest friends Ed Lambrich and his girlfriend Nikki arrive yesterday. They're staying with us for a week - their first time in NYC! Ed and I performed at Caesar's Palace together and he was also an usher at my wedding. Solid dude. My mom and grandma arrive on Monday and we also have a marketing meeting Monday morning. Two more shows till opening night and my voice is tired but strong, my wife and baby are healthy and life is good. Bring it on.

Fall

New York in the fall has to be one of the most gorgeous sights in the world. From my many years touring I can remember seeing some amazing sights around the world but there's something about the way God paints his pictures on the trees in New York City (and the American Northeast) that leaves me breathless.

After performing the show five different ways on four different nights I feel like we have finally found the best way to tell the story I want to tell. It has been a lesson in compromise, a few angry outbursts and many 'devil's advocate' conversations. I have personally learned to trust my instincts as well as listen to the audience but not allow the audience to decide how the story is told. Two nights ago two elderly black women walked out a few minutes into the show because they couldn't handle the 'drill sergeant scene', which has a lot of cursing. Not the first time this has happened and it won't be the last. As the great Bill Cosby once said
' I don't know the secret to success but the secret to failure is trying to please everybody.' It made me feel bad to think that people can pass judgement so quickly but we live in a society where sometimes we judge a book by its cover.

I have to admire people who have gone before me (Sammy Davis Jr, Redd Foxx, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor) who had to deal with so much racism just to perform onstage. Whenever I get pissed off about people walking out (which doesn't happen very often) I think of how many people must have walked out on those guys. The good news is that Basic Training elicits a strong reaction one way or another and I am honored to have those kind ladies in the audience, regardless of their opinions or beliefs. I was much more nervous performing my show in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (the Middle East) where it played to sold out audiences.

Like my grandma says...the truth is supposed to hurt.

The Old One-Two

My wife arrived on Tuesday and it's been a blast hanging out and taking in the sights. She saw the show and really loved the changes. Speaking of changes we had a conference call two nights ago that lasted for about two and a half hours. We discussed the changes we needed to make in the show and how soon they could be implemented. Tonight I got the changes worked into the show after a few hours of sweating and rehearsing. Where did I learn to do that so quickly? United States Air Force. I bet you don't see that on the recruiting commercials. If you did more people might sign up. My two cents.

Lots of important people are seeing the show and I'm learning how the 'right' people seeing your show can make it or break it. At the end of the day all I can do is just perform and pray. As Tony (stage manager) says...give 'em the old one-two. The rest ain't up to me - if ya know what I mean!

Off to bed now, busy weekend ahead and more rehearsal.

Doc

It is so good to relax and enjoy New York City. There is no city quite like it. My wife arrives tonight and she has several favorite spots as well so we're looking forward to spending some time together and enjoying the weather while we can. She had a prenatal appointment right before she left and the midwife says all is well, healthy baby. I suppose parents through the ages have experienced that feeling of helplessness when you go on prenatal visits and they tell you everything that could go wrong even if you're a healthy couple with no family history of anything. It really crystallizes the purpose of making good choices in life. Because a tiny life is depending on it.
Went to the gym this morning and saw a dude that used to be a lady or a lady that used to be a dude. What can I say. Never a dull moment. Which makes me wonder if wearing my iPod while riding the subway or going to the gym is tuning me out. I try not to have my headphones on when I'm in a public situation because people in New York are so colorful inside and out and I feel like texting and shuffling through songs just shuts me off to the richness of the surroundings. In Los Angeles most people have cars which seems to create a kind of insular 'me' subculture that isn't dependent upon human contact. In New York City most people take the subway and you have no choice but to have human contact, especially if you're headed downtown on an express line in the morning. Don't want to sound like a technophobe but its much easier to portray interesting characters if I know what makes them tick and that's impossible to do without some sort of contact, even if its with the eyes.
Had a doctor's visit today just to make sure this nagging cough is the remnants of a cold I got over weeks ago and he gave me the all clear. Interesting moment when he looks at you and rubs his hands together and gives the diagnosis. 'Ain't nothin wrong witcha boy now get on up outta here and stop acting like you crazy.' I feel better already. Friday night at 7pm I hit the stage again. Ready to rock and roll. See ya there.

1957

As I shook hands with the audience as they left the 2pm performance of Basic Training today I met Natalie Nevins (formerly Nunn) who handed me a yellowish folded piece of paper. It read 'Tops In Blue '57 All-Airman Revue'. I nearly fainted. Natalie toured with Tops In Blue as a vocalist in 1957. Such a sweet lady and she was surprised to hear that Tops In Blue was still alive and well.
I told her about the documentary I'm producing and directing with Shane Riley (TIB 00,01) and Juan Femath (TIB 97) www.tibdocumentary.com. You never know who's in the audience. One more show at 7pm and then its back to vocal rest. I'm sharing a dressing room and the stage with a show called 'In Conflict'. It's a group of actors from Temple University and ironically we both played the same venue in Edinburgh and we both won the Fringe First award. They're great fun and I hear nothing but good things about their show. I also received a huge 'good luck' bouquet of flowers from film producer Barry Josephson (Enchanted) and his wife as well as his production company. I love my job.

Debates and Previews

The first preview show went really well. As usual I shook every person's hand as they left the theater - its a tradition I learned when I performed with Tops In Blue. If it wasn't for the audiences, none of us in 'the biz' would matter. Even those of us who think we matter more than we really do. Tops In Blue taught me to never forget who I work for. The audience. People who work their asses off every day in jobs they may or may not like just to make ends meet only to flip on the t.v. to hear that the world is going to hell in a hand basket. If they spend time and money sitting in the theater for an hour the least I can do is say thank you. My mama raised me that way. Speaking of turning on the TV I'm watching the debates. This is my first time voting and this election promises to be a game changer. Anybody find it hilarious that John McCain can't pronounce Ahmadinejad? When people can't pronounce things for some reason they keep trying and it gets progressively worse...maybe I just notice the little things. Both great candidates and the best thing about America is that there's a little somethin for everybody.

The www.kahlilashanti.com website has been redesigned so please let me know what you think. The rest of the week is fairly busy with rehearsals and preview shows. Two shows tomorrow, one show Sunday with a photo shoot and one show on Monday. My wife (with baby) arrives on Tuesday so I'm really excited about that. Life is always better when you wife is your best friend. Isn't she loooovely...

Wanna Get In Touch?

Hey just a quick note. For any of you who want to stay updated in other ways you can reach me through Myspace and the Basic Training Facebook Fan page http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Kahlil-Ashanti-Basic-Training-One-Man-Show/68013375491?ref=ts where you will find photo albums, exclusive backstage video and lots of other goodies. You can also visit www.basictrainingnyc.com and click on 'Links' and fill in the contact form. More news on the way...

Starbucks

Wow. The last four days of rehearsal have flown by and Hal Brooks (Production Supervisor) and I have accomplished quite a bit in a short amount of time. Tony Lepore my stage manager since 2004 is now on board and it's great to have him back. Good people are hard to find and even harder to keep so I'm counting my blessings. Yesterday after rehearsing for most of the day I did a promo tv spot for Current TV. We shot some footage at rehearsal and all around Greenwich Village. We also went down to Times Square to shoot some B-Roll and do an interview. It was great fun but believe me when I say I fell asleep at 9pm that night. I'm sitting in a Barnes & Noble on the Upper East side near my apartment. Having problems with the internet connection at my place - actually there is no internet connection at my place but Erich and his team are on top of it. Cris and Kate (Company Managers) have been working their tushies off making sure everything is done so I'm grateful for their support. We have two full days of tech rehearsal and then we really start to get busy. How did we survive before the Internet? (I'm asking that as if there was internet when I was a kid) As I tried to find an internet cafe it became sort of frustrating because there aren't many here. The first one I came across was in the most unexpected place. Burger King. I kid you not. Only in New York can you clog your arteries and check your email simultaneously. Although my diet has changed significantly since signing the NY deal (a brother LOVES his food) I know I'm going to love this place. Onward and upward. Whopper with Cheese, some fries, and one Internet Explorer please. Next step - Friday Sept 26th. The previews begin! And yes, I'm YOUNG enough to remember the world before the Internet. We had the library and the Dewey Decimal system. I can't believe I just said that.

The Calm before the storm

New York City is an amazing place! I arrived two days ago and the energy of this city is unlike anything I've ever felt. The show is coming along, Erich has been really supportive and it makes a world of difference to be working with producers you trust. I've been rehearsing with Hal Brooks for the last two days and it has definitely been a learning experience, the technique of working with so many different character transitions. So much work to do in so little time but I wouldn't have it any other way. My wife and I are expecting our first child so that has also been heavy on my mind. The more Vancouver becomes home for me the harder it is to have a temporary home elsewhere. I suppose it all comes with the territory. I have a few days off and on Monday its back to work, although taking days off is hard for me. I always end up doing more work in my off time because unlike a regular 9 to 5 gig this show follows me where ever I go. Before I know it I'm subconsciously rehearsing scenes while I'm on the subway, in the shower or doing dishes. I guess the best thing about New York is that if people catch you talking to yourself on the subway they don't look at you funny. They might even hand you some change.