Jay Harvey review of "Zippers" in the Indy Star.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905150364 .

It's nice to be appreciated, isn't it? I still remember years ago, Mr. Harvey reviewed a Big Band performance of ours at the Indy Jazz Fest, and he praised the "spirited, quirky resuscitation's" of some famous Nelson Riddle/Sinatra arrangements. I thought the same thing then, as I did this morning - someone gets it! (Especially in his praise of the "hard-working" cast. Watching them work their craft - and seeing the characters grow with each each performance - has been one of the real treats of this experience.)

"We're Open. Therefore, We're Ready."

Bryan Fonseca tells me I coined this phrase in the fateful crunch-time of one of our early musical productions, probably "Three Penny Opera" in 1986, and it's stuck with him ever since. And I suppose it works, it's basic logic is inescapable: "Zippers Of Zoomerville" opened last Thursday night, and therefore, we were ready.

In that same pre-show, get-your-head-together chat w/ Bryan, he told me another saying, which I'm going to mangle here, that he attributed to the wonderful Gayle Steigerwald. Concerning the long, exhausting, eventful, elating yet often-contentious rehearsal process (check my memoirs out in a few years for all the salacious, tendentious details) she once told Bryan something along the lines of: That was the play we all thought we were in. Once it opens, it becomes the play we're all really in.

And so, we're really in it now - every Wednesday thru Saturday night until June 6. (Weds./Thrs. @ 7PM, Fri./Sat. @ 8PM - call 317.635.PLAY or go to http://www.phoenixtheatre.org/ for tix.)

The early reviews have been incredibly heartening. I'm tempted to pull quotes, but will demur and let you read them in their unexpurgated glory:

"Zippy Zoomerville Launched", Lou Harry, Indianapolis Business Journal, his "A+E" column: http://ae.ibj.com/blogshell.asp?p=466

"Theatre Review: 'The Zippers Of Zoomerville' at the Phoenix", Hope Baugh, Indy Theatre Habit: http://www.indytheatrehabit.com/2009/05/11/theatre-review-the-zippers-of-zoomerville-at-the-phoenix/#more-986 , and

"Photo Flash: The Zippers Of Zoomerville at Phoenix Theatre", BroadwayWorld.com: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_THE_ZIPPERS_OF_ZOOMERVILLE_At_Phoenix_Theatre_20090507
The shows have been a blast so far. The incredible skill, talent, heart and soul of the cast has been a wonder to behold. It's truly a really fun night of entertainment - and I'm not just saying that to put asses in the seats. (Although I probably would, if it were a dog. But it's not. It's a good time. Come put your ass in a seat. Really.)