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.