Show News

We now have an opening date and a title.

"War! Now in its 4th Smash Year!" will open on Sunday, July 2. Yeah!

Just short of 5 weeks to go and we're feeling good. We have plenty of material; now it's a matter of figuring out what we still need. Today we brought in physical group scenes, which is an area where we're a little light. We're working on a big song that will most likely serve as an opener, closer, runner, or all three. Spirits are still high and everyone seems to still be having fun. I do admit that yesterday (Monday) I really wished we had 2 days off in stead of just one. I feel like Monday is my one day to actually relax but also buckle down and get some writing/brainstorming done, and it's pretty much impossible to do both. But now that the end is in sight I can push through.

And on a more shallow note, I'm really glad we're opening early enough to leave 2/3 of the summer free. We earn our summers in Chicago, and I'd hate to spend too much of it in a freezing cold theatre.

Simple. Really.

If you happen to have the June issue of Real Simple magazine lying around, flip to page 142 and you can read a couple of my quips about what to do when people invade your space. Now my secrets are out.

It's my day off (Monday), and I'm trying to write lyrics for a cast song we're working on. I think my brain is fried, or is aware it's a national holiday and refuses to work. On Wednesday some of the cast is going on a "research lunch" to Benihana. Hopefully what we're researching will make it into the show, but if not at least we'll have enjoyed some entertaining Asian cuisine.

Rich and I have just discovered something very dangerous nearby: a take-out pizza place that has large 1-topping pizzas ready to pick up immediately for $5. We've had it twice this weekend. It's not the best pizza in town, but it's definitely $5 good. I'd tell you the name but I'm saving it for when Real Simple calls to ask me to contribute to their next story "Things I do to Sabotage My Health." Watch for it!

Briefly...

If you are on your cell phone at the gym, you are an idiot.

If you even have your cell phone on you at the gym, you need to take a long look at yourself. Ask yourself: "Am I a doctor on call? Is my wife due to give birth any minute now?" If you answered yes to either question, you are allowed to have your phone with you at the gym. If not, please stop it.

Thoughts from backstage

For what I believe is the first time, I'm writing this post from backstage at Second City. Tonight's running order (it's changing every night) leaves me with a few scenes off at the end of the first act, and that's where we are right now. The writing process continues to go really well; tonight I have a new improv scene in with Joe in the second act. We've done it in the set several times but we're trying some new things tonight. It's called Walk-a-thon. We'll see if it's still in when we open in about a month. Watch for it.

Yesterday (Monday) was my day off. I flew to Dallas first thing in the morning for my grandfather's memorial service, followed by the interment of his and my grandmother's ashes. This was done at a national cemetery, since my grandfather worked for the military his whole life. I've never been at a full military honors funeral, and it was truly amazing. The ritual and choreography of it all was really moving: the marching of the honor guard, the folding of the flag, the 21-gun salute, and a bugler playing Taps. It was a sad occasion, and I don't think "enjoy" is the right word, but I was really glad I was able to be there for it.

Oh! When I was sick last weekend I watched a documentary on the History Channel about rogue waves, and the Norwegian Dawn was mentioned. They showed a computer-generated graphic that was fairly terrifying, and they basically said that we were lucky we hit the wave head-on as opposed to from one side...like what happens in the newly-released movie "Poseidon," which just so happened to be about to open when this documentary aired. They even mentioned the movie. Kind of like those Parade Magazine questions like "Hey, I don't hear about Lisa Kudrow anymore. What has she been doing lately?" And the answer is something like "It just so happens Ms. Kudrow is starring in a made-for-TV-movie airing this week on The Farming Channel..."

Notes from quarantine

Yeah, I've really let this thing go, huh? I'm sorry about that. But right now I have some unexpected time on my hands since I woke up this morning (Saturday) with a nice case of tonsilitis and/or strep. Last night during the shows I was getting a little bit of a sore throat, but I chalked it up to a lot of singing in the past 2 days (I put a new song in the show last night that featured my Second City flute debut). I woke up a couple of times in the night and noticed that it was feeling worse, and then I looked at it when I woke up (at noon) and saw a lovely deep red-purple color with white patches all over. And my glands are swolen and I just feel generally bad. So I'm resting up this weekend in hopes of hitting the ground running again next week.

I'm pretty disappointed that I have to miss shows and sets this weekend, and that's actually a nice feeling to have. I'm still having a great time in this process - I think the whole cast is. Our show now features 2/3 new material, and a lot of it is hitting really well. We should be in great shape to open in another 6-7 weeks.

For the record, the Walgreens at Clark just south of Howard has the most ridiculously terrible pharmacy I've ever witnessed. Avoid at all costs.

What else has been going on...my Second City stage manager Craig built us an entertainment center that is pretty stunning, and that's helping us slowly get more settled in here. Every unit is occupied now, and our biggest problem at this point is figuring out what to do about the fact that our downstairs neighbors (who are renting their unit) smoke, and the smell is wafting up here, primarily through our bathroom fans. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I think service at Flattop Grill has gotten really sketchy. The last two or three times I've gone - two different locations - Rich or I or both have gotten wrong orders, weird extraneous ingredients, and a manager that insisted that the strobe-like light bulb above our table was due to vibrations from the air conditioner, even though no other bulb in the entire place was doing it. If I were 20/20's John Stossel I'd tell them to give me a break!

Oh, one last thing. My musical director, Ruby Streak, has a podcast where she talks about her time at Second City and has weekly guests. Rich and I did one a couple of weeks ago and it's available now. Just go to itunes and search for "Ruby Streak," or you can find a link on the Second City website. Not groundbreaking, but I think they're pretty fun and interesting to listen to.

Apologies

If you're still checking this blog, thank you and I'm sorry. It's been a busy few weeks and I've completely neglected my duties to fill you in on the details of my life.

We started our rehearsals for a new mainstage show this past Tuesday, May 2. After four days into the process I can honestly say that things are going great. We've turned over about a third of the show if not more in the first week. Last time it took us 2 weeks just to put in a new blackout.

I'll have more later, but I just wanted to assure you that I'm still alive and planning on updating you on this process and other things Erdman-related. But for now, life is pretty good.