Stephen with a "PH"....

OK. So it doesn't have quite the ring of "Liza with a Z" but I thought I'd try!

Just spent a really fantastic couple of hours both watching and listening to the great lady herself. CRUSAID had arranged a screening of "Liza with a Z" in Leicester Square, which has never been seen before on a British cinema screen (Oooh!), and in addition Ms Minnelli gave an introduction and also there was a Q&A session after the show. How camp!

Now, to be honest, although I am fairly familiar with Liza's work over the years (could you work in Musical Theatre and fail to be?!) but have never had quite the rabid interest in her that other people do. I think that might have been changed a little tonight. Listening to her talk after the screening about how the show came about, her other work, people she has collaborated with throughout her career and her life... I really warmed to her.

She was very genuine and warm, and when asked questions about her advice for young performers her answers were very honest and mad a lot of sense - even to a wizened old turn such as myself! Obviously this was a very partisan audience, but I doubt if anyone would have not been won over.

She answered all the various questions very well - and even took an offer of marriage on the chin... which she of course point-blank refused, saying she's not going to be getting married again!! Someone asked why she had chosen to give up her time and efforts to help raise money for AIDs charities all over the world, and she said very plainly "... because of all the friends I have lost..." and she entreated everyone to keep up the hard work, fearing that people believed with the advances in HIV/Aids treatments that there was nothing to worry about anymore.

She told us that she is working on a new movie which she has written herself, and will also be coming over to perform in the UK next year. I think she has just secured another audience member!

Dressing up..

.. in dresses and things!

One of the many good things about being in the cast of The Producers (and there really are many...) is getting to be one of the covers for Roger DeBris - one of the best characters in the show...well, I think so!

Sadly, Matt rixon (who is currently playing Roger in London) is far too healthy, and doesn't seem likely to be going off any time soon. Nonetheless, I do get the chance to do rehearsals, and last week and next I get to do the run in costumes. And here you can see perhaps the my best loved one - the Chrysler Building dress.

Yep - I know. Stunning huh!! hehehehe

I think what with the shoes, the choker, the earings etc. it makes quite a stunning ensemble. It took a little getting used to - not having worn dresses before (NO - I HAVEN'T!!) but it's all OK now. I'd worn the shoes in a bit, just trotting round the theatre (!) so it was just the beaded dress to contend with.

So even if I don't get on, at least I've got to dress up a bit - which is half the fun :-)

Dancing up a storm...

OK. Over the grumpiness now. And one thing that cheers me up is my friend Eddy who's a performer in the U.S.

We met whilst we were working at Tokyo Disney Sea in Japan. It's great to have friends all over the world, but it can be a bit of a bind when you can't see people - airfares being what they are! But with the wonders of the Inernet, at least we get the chance to chat to each other every now and then online to keep up with the news. (Oh - and no comments about how much older I look now, please - it was nearly 5 years ago!!)

Eddy is in rehearsals for the new Boublil & Schonberg show "Pirate Queen" (or something with Pirates in anyway!) which is fantastic. We used to work on songs for auditions for him whilst we were in Tokyo, and now he's done as many shows on Broadway as I have in the West End...

I always thought he was a great dancer, but if you look at the Choreographer Adam Hougland's website and go to Video 1 of "Fledglings" featuring the Cedar Lake Ensemble in New York - and that's Eddy! How fab is he ??!?!? Now, I'm no officionado, but I reckon he's a bit good at that dancing mullarkey!

Ooh - crikey. Now I've started something - I'll have to do little bits on all my talented friends. That'll take a while....

Grumpy old man...

Because I'm off the show tonight :-(

Amazing how susceptible us singing types can be to the common cold! Grrrrr....

I'm going to post a few entries tonight I think then - cheer myself up. This is going to be the only grumpy one.

Honest!