Rehearsals and San Francisco

Rehearsals convened at Chelsea Studios in NYC. I was so immediately impressed by all the new Sweeney company members. After our meet and greet, we plunged into rehearsal at "the top of the story" (as Doyle likes to say). The new members had a week of rehearsal before the Broadway members arrived.

Some of them already had their instrumental music memorized. Edmund Bagnell has a gorgeous 1760 violin, plays the score with stunning precision, and makes a great Toby. Katrina Yaukey blows my mind with her musical abilities (especially on accordion), her sick sense of humor, and she makes a fierce Pirelli. Everyone brings something unique to the story.

I must admit that I had a tinge of sadness and nostalgia on the first day of rehearsal. I missed that feeling of creating something for the first time. I missed the old members of the company who aren't on this tour. I missed that feeling of butterflies in your stomach from the nervousness and excitement of performing Sondheim's music in a small rehearsal space for Sondheim.

Because the show had been set on Broadway, Adam Hunter, as the Associate Director, gave everyone their blocking first. We also worked on music with David Loud and Andy Einhorn. John Doyle would come in for a few hours and give individuals their motivations and talk about the characters. However, it was very different on Broadway when we spent so much time improvising, and figuring out who we were, and what our purpose was in this asylum. I felt bad that the new cast members couldn't experience those invaluable acting exercises.


The Rehearsals flew by in 3 weeks, and before we all knew it, we were flying out to San Fran. My cello had it's very own seat next to me on the plane.

As I got off the plane, I received a text from playwright Israel Horovitz, my friend, who said his son Adam had a show at the Warfield and asked if would I like to go. Adam is in the Beastie Boys. My first night in San Fran and I already have a sick night planned. I went with Ben Magnuson we stood a few feet from the stage, danced all night (though we were so tired), and went backstage afterwards. It was a perfect welcome to the city.

The next day, we had the morning off. I went to the Ferry Building Farmers Market. I was in heaven. So much organic produce, delicious cheeses, and the atmosphere is so refreshing. Everyone is so nice here. The air is clean, the weather is beautiful.

Then began the killer tech rehearsals. 10 out of 12s. The smoke was so brutal on the first day that I lost my voice by the end of the day. Then to make matters worse, my allergies started kicking in. I've been on claritin and mucinex, so I can still sing out.

We had an invited dress rehearsal last night for a few hundred people. I think it went pretty well. We open in previews tonight. I can't believe how fast this month has flown by.