The sweet sounds of my Google Home Assistant wake me up at 10AM. I was up late last night. Note the inconspicuous and unintentional Playbill product placement.
I get Mr. Coffee to do his thing...
...while I get my morning stretch on.
A hot lemon water a day keeps the doctor away.
Google Home Assistant plays my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify as I cook up some breakfast.
My delightful roomie, Chris Dwan of Broadway's Finding Neverland, comes in the door.
And The Golden Girls distract us from getting our days started.
Uhh, did I miss the matinee?
Glad tidings!
Raising all of the thousands of dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Pre-show planks portend a postive performance.
Rodd Sovar, our amazing dresser, zips me into my gorilla suit. Yes. My gorilla suit. (Is there any other way to make a Broadway debut than in a gorilla suit?)
Hollywood hopefuls await an entrance into the opening number, "Let's Have Lunch."
I love this woman. She goes by "Pekas," which I've learned is Spanish for "freckles." Pekas is our elevator operator at the Palace and also an exquisite tutor of the Spanish language.
Mr. Matt Wall applies his signature to Playbills to be sold for contributions to BC/EFA.
Lance Roberts captions this: "Young Actor and the Sage." Julian R. Decker discusses his character (Lloyd, the studio lot choreographer) with Roberts, a Broadway vet.
Andy Taylor catches up on the New Yorker between scenes.
The dashing Drew Foster.
Lance and Preston Truman Boyd stage an old-timey advertisement for our iced coffee sponsor, Sunup.
One of my favorite moments in the show us a backstage break during Act Two when I get to gab with dresser extraordinaire Phillip Rolfe.
Stephanie Martignetti glows ghoulishly backstage awaiting an entrance as Norma's Ghost.
James Nadeaux, Glenn Close's dresser for both Broadway productions of Sunset Boulevard, shines Glenn's way to her final costume change of the afternoon.
Lauralyn McClelland and Stephanie Rothenberg are ready to report the very real news of Norma Desmond's breakdown. Love cosutme designer Tracy Christensen's allusion to Hedda Hopper in Steph's look here.
Lauralyn shows off our SUNSET robe (an opening gift from our producers) and a meal we all share today in honor of the Ms. Glenn Close's birthday!
Some cast and crew members break bread between shows.
Only the most glamorous birthday cake for our most glamorous leading lady.
I mean, look at this spread! Thanks to our producers, Paul Blake and Mike Bosner!
The gorgeous Siobhan Dillon and Michael Xavier (Betty Schaeffer and Joe Gillis) enjoy a food coma after our massive meal.
The woman of the hour with her cake and her adorable pup, Pip. Happy birthday, Glenn!
Hairdressers Amelia and Leanne show up to the party dressed as Norma Desmond!
Michael Patrick Walker, our assistant conductor and keyboard 1 player, shows Glenn the very awesome birthday video he made for her.
Spotted at Starbucks between shows: Matt Wall and his Stephanies (Martignetti and Rothenberg). This photo was totally candid.
Julian comes by dressing room 16 to hang before show #2.
My dressing station. Items of note: an 11 year-old photo of my best friend and me, a birthday card from my nineteenth birthday that comes with me everywhere, and a Playbill stuffer from the day I played Joe Gillis a few weeks ago.
Stage left at Places for show #2.
Kristen Blodgette, our music supervisor/music director/conductor, who has become one of my favorite people on the planet.
Our stage manager deluxe McKenzie Murphy calls the show tonight.
On a backstage monitor, Kristen conducts her 41-piece orchestra against projections of Hollywood in the show's opening sequence.
Norma's car is hoisted a story above us on stage right until it is used later in the show.
A nightly occurence: right after the "Car Chase," Phil and I take the lift back up to floor six with Jess, our nighttime elevator operator.
David Hess-asaurus.
Cliff and Heather (the beautiful Britney Coleman): Mr. DeMille's right hand man and woman.
Darling Mackenzie Bell signs away.
Fred Johanson, our Max von Meyerling: terrifies onstage but delights in real life.
Katie Ladner backstage with a friend.
Drew and I toast to another lovely day spent cruising down the BLVD. (Photo cred: our fearless leader, production stage manage Tim Semon)
Okay, Google. Sing me to sleep.
It's blurry, but you can just make out Lance auctioning off Michael Xavier's costume boxer shorts - which sold tonight for a $3000 donation to BC/EFA.
I include this heinous picture because it's my only shot with Paul Schoeffler, our Cecil B. DeMille and a man whom I adore!
