June 30, 2003 10:43 AM

Yesterday was QUITE a day. All of our "Very Special Guest Stars" came into town to prepare for tonight's concert.

Leslie Caron is divine. And she gave us vocal coaching on how the song "Gigi" (from the movie of the same name) ought to be sung. To paraphrase her: "I know the rhythm was written the way you are singing it, but it REALLY goes like this . . ."

Cute "behind-the-scenes" story: We were rehearsing at the John Sims Center for the Arts, near the Van Ness Salvation Army store. John Sims was the founder of the Gay Men's Chorus, and the studios are a fabulous haven for the queer and queer-friendly arts. The walls these days are covered with . . . um . . . rather explicit paintings of men and their exposed genitals in all sorts of interesting positions and situations. There was some concern that Ms. Caron - who was raised in a French convent - might be a little taken aback. So . . . don't tell anyone! . . . the paintings were discretely and carefully removed for the few hours that Ms. Caron was "in the house."

I got to catch up with my buddy Davis Gaines, who I sang with last year in Connecticut Yankee. He rocks so hard.

And I'm totally in love with Annie Morrison. She was the original "Mary" in Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along." That show holds a unique place, not only in musical theater history, but in my personal history as well . . . a good chunk of my first date with my husband was spend discussing that particular show and it's quirks.

At a bar after rehearsal, Annie said, "I don't drink. I don't need to any more. I can just match the vibration of all the people around me who are drinking, have fun, and still drive home!!" This, of course, totally tripped me out because - as some of you know - this is exactly what I say about why I don't drink. I never imagined someone else in the world had discovered this trick!!

Andrea Marcovicci will also be singing with us tonight. I only saw her briefly yesterday, and she looked fabulous.

Well folks . . . I'm off for the theater. Think good thoughts . . . it's SHOWTIME!!

TRACKBACK (1)