Been a while

I haven't written a blog in a while. So...

This summer: finished Man of La Mancha; did Tommy with a bunch of kids in a small theatre without mics; wrote some new music for another production of Silent Pictures, by the same people; started rehearsals right away for Kiss of the Spider Woman in Winston-Salem; took a week off from Spider Woman to do Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog in Burlington.

Kiss of the Spider Woman opens this weekend. I did new orchestrations for the whole show. After doing that for Guys & Dolls earlier this year, I thought I wouldn't do it again for a while. it's a big undertaking, especially when you're doing other stuff at the same time. But since the role of Aurora/Spider Woman is written so very low, and the director cast a soprano, I had to transpose several songs or parts of songs. Then I got a look at the band parts that were sent; they were a mess. Sometimes it's hard to tell what sounds the keyboards should be using, and when other instruments should be playing or not, and there were songs that were missing in some parts. Tacky and unprofessional: I'm talking to you , Samuel French.
          (Samuel French is a publishing company that does a lot of musicals. They often
            send out scores and parts that look like crap.)

It looks like I'll be doing a show at Ragsdale High School this fall, with Susan Reinecke (see my "Stuff & nonsense" blog form march this year). I don't know yet what show it'll be. We've tossed around several ideas. I even sent her a script of mine. I should find out soon, 'cause she wants to get started soon.
Classes started at UNCG a few weeks ago. I have 4 (yep, only 4) signers right now, and probably a Euphonium recital to accompany. So, I'm a little concerned about money.