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.