Here's to another great start:
Two of my oldest friends and most favorite performers began the day: Jeff McCarthy and Michael Rupert.
Jeff did a Billy Collins poem, Conversions. One of the most interesting things about this experience is seeing how many actors love contemporary poetry. Billy Collins has been the most requested poet but I only thought I could use one. So Jeff got it! And what a beautiful, sensitive performance. Jeff brought out all the complexities and subtleties in this seemingly simple poem.
Michael came in and NAILED Ginsberg's Supermarket in California. I've known Michael since I was a rehearsal pianist for Pippin. This was a spectacular performance. When I asked him about his connection to Ginsberg, he said he was writing a piece about San Francisco during the beat period and he had been reading and listening to Ginsberg. If the new piece is anything like the reading we're in for a treat.
Next came Lynn Sherr who has had a distinguished career as a newscaster. Lynn couldn't decide on her poem until this morning but she chose well! Now we have an Adrianne Rich poem about Suffragettes called Heroines. I'm so glad she performed this. We have lots of women in love poems, women hurting poems, women thinking poems, but this is a great political diatribe, and yet still deeply emotional. Another great performance.
Ed Dixon, our co-producer, who contacted so many of you, finally got a chance to perform. His version of Frost's Bearer of Evil Tidings was spot on. He handled the verse and the rhythms so beautifully I know Robert F would be proud. And I loved his interview when he talked about Frost being the first poet he ever knew. Many thanks to Ed for introducing you to GPR Records and this CD. We couldn't have done it without Ed!!
The gorgeous, brilliant and legendary Dana Ivey was next with one of my favorite poems, Invictus. Honestly, I knew this would be sensational but I had no idea HOW sensational it would be. Her performance was masterful. She did it 4 times, each one better than then next! How will we chose which take to use? Maybe we'll just use all four. And Dana also was so kind with her friends. She introduced us to so many people. Who introduced us to more. And now we're almost at 100! GRATIAS.
Amanda Green came next. I've know Amanda for a long time. Since I was 16! I was thrilled she picked Lewis Carroll's You Are Old Father Williams. I'm so glad that's on the CD. Amanda had us in stitches. A truly hysterical and at the same time, a whole original reading. A little side note: we had just finished the interview and had stopped rolling tape when Amanda casually mentioned her father used to recite this to her when she was young. I screamed at Richard, "ROLL THE TAPE AGAIN!" and asked Amanda to tell that story on tape. At the end, I asked her to imitate how her father sounded reading that poem. And she did. And it was wonderful!
Linda Balgord, a new friend but a great friend of Ed's, read after our lunch. She took a suggestion of mine and read one of my favorites, Mark Strand's Eating Poetry. It turns out it was the perfect choice with a perfect performance. Wait till you hear her read, "Ink drips from my lips/I have been eating poetry. Delicious.
Another old dear friend, Chip Zien brought in Longfellow's Mezzo Cammin. This is a devastating poem that I always thought was sad and depressing. But no. Chip made me discover it was actually life affirming and beautifully contemplative. I loved it.
Another husband and wife team closed the day: Danny Burstein and Rebecca Luker. I'd never met Rebecca before although of course I've seen her on stage many times. We both we kind of surprised we had never met. But no matter. Now we have. Over poetry. Danny read first and he performed Hayden's Those Winter's Nights. I suggested this poem to Danny and he said, "That's amazing. Someone gave me that poem and I had it framed and in my dressing room for two years at Drowsy Chaperone. Talk about synergy. Well, of course, Danny was brilliant as always. The perfect dad reads the perfect poem about fatherhood.
Rebecca seemed a bit nervous at first before she read with Rosetti's Remember. I don't know why because even her sound check was amazing! She read it with such an inner beauty that our studio started glowing. It was a glorious way to end a glorious day and an amazing week.
Thank you all for everything.
And welcome Cynthia Nixon to our group.
I will do you proud with the mixing, mastering, and marketing.
We had our press agent, Keith Sherman, come afterwards and he is overflowing with ideas. We also had Max Horowitz there who is in charge of getting radio play for the CD. Both guys are confident this CD will get lots of attention.
Next blog on Monday!
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