Oh What A...Week (April 23)
okay, let's get right to it.
Monday, April 16:
the cast got together at Club Fugazi in San Fran for a One Night Only benefit performance to support two amazing organizations; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation (a local Bay area charity that is doing some unbelievable work).
The entire night was a HUGE success not only because we raised a lot of money (for example, at the auction, a brunch with our Four Seasons plus 4 house seats went for $4000), but because a lot of people in the cast got to shine a little bit more than they do onstage in our little show.
some highlight's of the show:
* the auction raised over $10,000 in total. some amazing people dug very deep for some awesome items. and that was just the auction.
* Nate's song, "Shiksa Goddess" was hilarious. i don't know, maybe i'm biased because i'm Jewish but it was funny as hell.
* our bass player, Josh Weinstein, called in sick for the show...so i got to cover all the bass parts, and i loved getting to play in the pit with the other musicians!
* Erich Bergen singing Brittany Spears' "I'm Not a Girl"...nuff' said.
* getting to sing with my dear friend Jackie Seiden on "Anything You Can Do" but with alternate lyrics essentially making fun of each other.
after the show, we all headed to a local restaurant for wine and desert and a lot of the audience was there to enjoy it with us. it was great to hear their reactions and to also know that our hard work made for a night that meant a lot to some wonderful people.
Thursday, April 19:
Erich Bergen was sick. So my good friend Miles Aubrey got to go on for is debut as Bob Gaudio. he was fantastic and i am super proud of him. i only wish that his lovely fiancee, Erica, got to see him in the role as well. a HUGE congrats to Miles for doing such a fantastic job!
Saturday, April 20:
Erich Bergen is sick again. Miles gets to go on again for the matinee...but i get to go on for the evening!
so Saturday night was my debut performance as Bob Gaudio!
all in all, i was really happy with everything. a few little line flubs but nothing that the audience would necessarily notice. i wasn't as nervous to go on as i was when i did my first performance as Tommy, but man oh man, once you finally get on stage 30 minutes into the show...hold on for dear life because the tornado doesn't stop! it was funny because i was so "present" on stage due to the fact that as i was doing one monologue, i was of course thinking about the next monologue i had to do. especially in the big three songs when the character has to interject so much.
but the show was awesome and yet again, at curtain call when we were giving the Equity Fights AIDS speech, Deven May told the audience that it was my first time going on as Bob Gaudio and they gave me such a wonderful response.
speaking of Deven May - i have something to say:
he is a force of nature on stage. i have never seen a performance quite like his in the fact that he as an actor and he in that role are in such control at all times. he draws you in within 10 seconds of his first monologue and you can't take your eyes off of him. i actually found myself watching him more like an audience member than as an actor at times because i was so enthralled having him up there next to me. and pardon me for saying this (for i don't know who does or does not read this blog), but if any creative staff is checking this out, you would be fools not to have him take Christian Hoff's place when he leaves the NY production.
i think we are blessed having Deven, Chris, Michael and Erich as our Four Seasons...and i can't wait for the rest of the Country to see these 4 guys in action.
Sunday, April 22:
Erich Bergen is STILL sick...so i get to go on a second time as Bob. a little more relaxed this time and allowed myself to have a little more fun, and again, the audience was wonderfully receptive. again, a few little line things (damn you nerves), but i think a smoother show altogether for me.
...and this time at curtain call, Michael Ingersoll announced that this show was my last as a single man, as tomorrow Sarah and I head off to the beautiful Dominican Republic for the wedding!
yes folks, tomorrow is the big red-eye flight to Punta Cana, so this will be my last blog for about 10 days. i promise when i get back i will give a full report on the wedding and will try to post a slide show as well, but i do want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have emailed or posted comments wishing us congratulations on the upcoming wedding day. Sarah and i are so excited for April 30 and we can't tell you how much it means to us to hear from all of you giving us your love and support.
a few last items:
* an ENORMOUS thank you to Andrea Kim, one of our biggest fans here in San Fran, for the beautiful wedding gift. we truly loved it and can't thank you enough for your continued thoughtfulness.
* for my friends and family who read this but can't go with us to the wedding - we will miss you terribly! i'm sorry that we couldn't of just done something back home in Michigan so you could all be with us, but once you see the pictures, you will understand why we opted for a destination wedding!
* for my friends and family that are joining us - travel safe and don't forget your passports!
* a HUGE thank you to all our audiences in San Fran that have donated to Broadway Cares. i am super happy to report that between our collections after the show for the last 6 weeks, as well as the benefit last Monday, the cast and crew of Jersey Boys has raised over $225,000!!!!!!!
well folks, that's it for now. it's about 10:30 and it's time to start getting ready to do wedding stuf all day...packing, errands, etc.
much love to you all and i'll blog again as a married man!
Monday, April 16:
the cast got together at Club Fugazi in San Fran for a One Night Only benefit performance to support two amazing organizations; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation (a local Bay area charity that is doing some unbelievable work).
The entire night was a HUGE success not only because we raised a lot of money (for example, at the auction, a brunch with our Four Seasons plus 4 house seats went for $4000), but because a lot of people in the cast got to shine a little bit more than they do onstage in our little show.
some highlight's of the show:
* the auction raised over $10,000 in total. some amazing people dug very deep for some awesome items. and that was just the auction.
* Nate's song, "Shiksa Goddess" was hilarious. i don't know, maybe i'm biased because i'm Jewish but it was funny as hell.
* our bass player, Josh Weinstein, called in sick for the show...so i got to cover all the bass parts, and i loved getting to play in the pit with the other musicians!
* Erich Bergen singing Brittany Spears' "I'm Not a Girl"...nuff' said.
* getting to sing with my dear friend Jackie Seiden on "Anything You Can Do" but with alternate lyrics essentially making fun of each other.
after the show, we all headed to a local restaurant for wine and desert and a lot of the audience was there to enjoy it with us. it was great to hear their reactions and to also know that our hard work made for a night that meant a lot to some wonderful people.
Thursday, April 19:
Erich Bergen was sick. So my good friend Miles Aubrey got to go on for is debut as Bob Gaudio. he was fantastic and i am super proud of him. i only wish that his lovely fiancee, Erica, got to see him in the role as well. a HUGE congrats to Miles for doing such a fantastic job!
Saturday, April 20:
Erich Bergen is sick again. Miles gets to go on again for the matinee...but i get to go on for the evening!
so Saturday night was my debut performance as Bob Gaudio!
all in all, i was really happy with everything. a few little line flubs but nothing that the audience would necessarily notice. i wasn't as nervous to go on as i was when i did my first performance as Tommy, but man oh man, once you finally get on stage 30 minutes into the show...hold on for dear life because the tornado doesn't stop! it was funny because i was so "present" on stage due to the fact that as i was doing one monologue, i was of course thinking about the next monologue i had to do. especially in the big three songs when the character has to interject so much.
but the show was awesome and yet again, at curtain call when we were giving the Equity Fights AIDS speech, Deven May told the audience that it was my first time going on as Bob Gaudio and they gave me such a wonderful response.
speaking of Deven May - i have something to say:
he is a force of nature on stage. i have never seen a performance quite like his in the fact that he as an actor and he in that role are in such control at all times. he draws you in within 10 seconds of his first monologue and you can't take your eyes off of him. i actually found myself watching him more like an audience member than as an actor at times because i was so enthralled having him up there next to me. and pardon me for saying this (for i don't know who does or does not read this blog), but if any creative staff is checking this out, you would be fools not to have him take Christian Hoff's place when he leaves the NY production.
i think we are blessed having Deven, Chris, Michael and Erich as our Four Seasons...and i can't wait for the rest of the Country to see these 4 guys in action.
Sunday, April 22:
Erich Bergen is STILL sick...so i get to go on a second time as Bob. a little more relaxed this time and allowed myself to have a little more fun, and again, the audience was wonderfully receptive. again, a few little line things (damn you nerves), but i think a smoother show altogether for me.
...and this time at curtain call, Michael Ingersoll announced that this show was my last as a single man, as tomorrow Sarah and I head off to the beautiful Dominican Republic for the wedding!
yes folks, tomorrow is the big red-eye flight to Punta Cana, so this will be my last blog for about 10 days. i promise when i get back i will give a full report on the wedding and will try to post a slide show as well, but i do want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have emailed or posted comments wishing us congratulations on the upcoming wedding day. Sarah and i are so excited for April 30 and we can't tell you how much it means to us to hear from all of you giving us your love and support.
a few last items:
* an ENORMOUS thank you to Andrea Kim, one of our biggest fans here in San Fran, for the beautiful wedding gift. we truly loved it and can't thank you enough for your continued thoughtfulness.
* for my friends and family who read this but can't go with us to the wedding - we will miss you terribly! i'm sorry that we couldn't of just done something back home in Michigan so you could all be with us, but once you see the pictures, you will understand why we opted for a destination wedding!
* for my friends and family that are joining us - travel safe and don't forget your passports!
* a HUGE thank you to all our audiences in San Fran that have donated to Broadway Cares. i am super happy to report that between our collections after the show for the last 6 weeks, as well as the benefit last Monday, the cast and crew of Jersey Boys has raised over $225,000!!!!!!!
well folks, that's it for now. it's about 10:30 and it's time to start getting ready to do wedding stuf all day...packing, errands, etc.
much love to you all and i'll blog again as a married man!
posted by The Guter at 4/23/2007 09:11:00 AM
18 Comments:
Gutty, will you please stop making me cry every time I read your blogs??? Jeff and I will see you and Sarah in the Dominican Republic on Saturday. We can't wait to celebrate this joyous occasion with you and Sarah. I wish my granddog, Toby, could be there, too! Love you lots! Mama xxooxx
I agree with you about Deven May. I've seen the show twice, including once in the front row rush seats. He is Tommy DeVito. I don't see the man/actor behind the character, at all.
As for you, you are super in every role I've spotted you in. I'm sure you did just great in all your appearances for the leads. You're a talented guy, and I hope you get more opportunities in your career. And going by your blog, you're a nice guy. Have a wonderful time on your big day, along with your fiancee.
congrats on the shows eric! i've only heard wonderful things about all the understudies! yall truly rock- have a fantastic wedding! i can't wait to read all about it...if yall are back before the cast leaves san fran i will see you (i'm coming in with the 2nd cast)!
Congrats to you and Sarah Eric. Beth and I wish you the healthiest and happiest of marriages. Have a great time!
Chuck
Wow! I'm in your blog! And you're SO welcome for the wedding gift. Believe me, it's the LEAST I could do in return for all of the fun you and the entire cast have given me over the past months (has it been nearly a HALF YEAR?!). Mazel Tov to you and Sarah! And break a leg...no, break a GLASS! Much love, Andrea.
Hi Eric - just finished reading your blog - what a thrill for you to have been able to do 2 of the the leads - Sarah's family ( soon to be yours too) can't wait for Saturday - We'll all be together as one BIG family - we are all so happy for you & Sarah
Love,
Bubi Goldie
Hey! Congrats on the impending wedding!
I've seen Jersey Boys a number of times in SF and somehow missed both of your first understudy performances by a day (Erik Bates and Miles Aubrey were a lot of fun to watch in their first shows, though). Hopefully I'll catch you in one of your understudy roles before you are off to LA, because I enjoy your work as Hank and others (especially your expressions as Crewe's PA).
Thanks for letting us all have a window into the tour and your experiences. :)
Have a great time in the DR. Congrats on the wedding!
I'm sorry I never got to see you as Bob or Tommy, but you were hilarious at One Night Only...and there will never be a Mika quite like yours.
Congrats on your debut as Bob. I wasn’t at the show but my friend was and said you were fantastic. However, I did see your debut as Tommy and you were excellent. More importantly, congratulations to you and Sarah on your wedding. It’s great when 2 people fall in love and it sounds like you two were made for each other. Since you won’t be there when I see the cast this weekend before you guys leave, since I can’t go on the last day, I have to thank you for all the performances. I fell in love with the show when I saw it in previews and enjoyed every single one I attended since then. You and the rest of the cast are so talented and SF was lucky to have you for 5 months. Although everyone knew we’d have to give you guys up to another city sooner or later, it sucks that that time is now around the corner. The cast will be missed by all of your Bay Area fans come 5/4. Well I wish you and Sarah safe travels, and you enjoy your last days in the city when you get back.
hey eric!! congrats on your debut as Bob!! I'm sure you were wonderful!!! Good luck with the wedding and have a wonderful time in the Dominican Republic!!
Congrats on the wedding and enjoy the Dominican Republic!
Have a wonderful time in the Dominican and have a beautiful wedding!
Congrats on the wedding Eric!
Congrats on the wedding and for your debut as Tommy and Bob! =)
Congratulations and have a fantastic time! Thanks for the blog - I really enjoy reading it.
Eric,
Yay! You are getting married in a few days. This time has to be so exciting for you.
Yay again on your wonderful and continued success in Jersey Boys. It is nice reading your blog, even though I have never seen the San Fran cast, but you all sound terrific.
Can't wait to hear about the wedding!
I will be looking for your footprints in the sand on Punta Cana beach when Steve and I are standing there getting married only days later :) I hope your wedding turns out to be more than you imagined. Love your cuz, Joy (aka J.O. Pitts, J.O J.O, Joey, etc...)
CONGRATS SARAH & GUTER!!! Im so HAPPY for the two of you. Cant wait to see the pics!! (What, What)
Love,
Melis
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