We've finally reached our opening night for
Smokey Joe's Cafe, and what a great night it was!! Last night was truly one of those rare amazing experiences that everything seems to go exactly right! Although the audience was smaller than our preview night, and our invited dress rehearsal, they were the perfect audience for this show. It was so nice to look out from the piano and see audience members singing along, toes tapping to the beat, and heads bouncing as some people just couldn't help themselves but to move with the music. . . Including the gentleman who was there to review our show!!
As with every live performance, there is always that one or two spots that things could have been a bit better or tighter, or just a bit different in general. The show is not completely perfect yet, but our overall performance last night felt so good, that it is very easy for us to look past those things that weren't perfect.
I am so pleased with how last night went, and I really have to thank my band for the great job that they've done with getting the show to where it is already. Like I said in a previous blog, I am so lucky to have gotten these musicians. They are all good friends of mine, and I had so many people come up to me after the show last night telling me how great they thought the band was. These guys have been so patient with my extensive notes and nit-picking the details of how we play this show. After 4 nights of being told that tempos were wrong, volumes were wrong, chords were wrong, and keyboard patches were wrong, last night finally felt like the show I've always wanted. Even though this is the third time I've been involved in a production of
Smokey Joe's Cafe, last night was the first time that I've ever been TOTALLY happy with the way my band played!! Great job last night guys!!
The Smokey Joe's Band:
Keyboard II: Jonathan Castillo
Saxophone: Ray Gonzalez
Guitar: Robert Wolf
Bass: Stephen Martin
Drums: David Lerner
Piano/Conductor: Myself
It is so nice to have a full production that I am so proud of!! Over the last couple of years of working as a music director, there have been some shows that I have even felt bad inviting my parents to come see. But this is one of those shows, that I truly want everyone I know to come out and see. The cast is great, the director has really made the show exciting, the choreographer has made the dance moves look fantastic, and I've really got the best band in town!!! Please come out and support what we do:
Smokey Joe's Cafe at Texas Repertory Theatre
Thursday-Sunday
Now through July 24th
