Broadway Debut (Dec.16)

so…

Saturday, December 15.

I got to the theatre about an hour before curtain. I usually like to loiter a little bit before half hour is called and everyone starts to trickle in.

Gus, the guy who takes care of the stage door for us, told me I had a delivery and an envelope in my mail slot and was so pleased to see a very nice note from my old friend, Bill Selby (from Forbidden Broadway) who decided to get some standing room tickets to see my debut. Also got a fantastic cupcake arrangement from Chris and Jenna Jones (they were delicious – thanks guys!!!!).

Checked in with stage management to see if they had any last minute notes for me, ran downstairs to our wardrobe supervisor, Lee, to try on a pair of shoes and a new shirt and tie they pulled for me, and then it was upstairs (4^th floor) to my dressing room to start getting ready…

…”half hour. This is your half hour call. Today, Eric Gutman makes his debut as Hank.”

The cast was great. A lot of them took time before the show to make sure I was good and to either wish me “break legs” or just to say it was nice to have me with the company. Peter (Gregus) and Mark (Lotito), my dressing roommates, left me alone to just focus while I looked over last minute harmonies and notes I had taken on the show the last few days…

…”15 minutes. This is your 15 minute call.”

My biggest problem before the show was my microphone. The mics are slightly different than on the road and the hair clips totally started getting me pissed off because the last one wouldn’t stay clipped. Mark tweaked it for me and all was good in the world. I could finally do my hair and start getting into costume…

…”5 minutes please. 5 minutes until places.”

Put on my suit jacket, popped a Ricolla into my mouth, filled up my water bottle and started heading downstairs.

“Ladies and gentleman, this is your places call. Places for Act One.”

And then it started.

The show was great. Great audience. Great energy. And my heart did a little leap as I entered into my first scene as “drunk in bar”. No problems with wardrobe or props and I was so pleased with the laughs I got as Hank, in the Brill Building and of course, Mika.

Had a little problem with my guitar part in “Stay” when Tommy leaves the group and of course managed to accidentally do one of the dance parts in Boyfriend’s Back like the tour, but all in all a very good show.

But the best part, without a doubt, something that will stay with me for a very long time, was taking my bow on stage and peering up at the mezzanine and seeing these two maniacs yelling and jumping up and down waving their arms and, sure enough, my Dad and Karen had flown out from Michigan to surprise me for my Broadway debut.

I can’t begin to tell you all how much that meant to me and how much that peaked any other feelings I had about that day. To see them both up there, waving and wiping tears from their faces…it really is a testament to how much my family has loved and supported me all these years. I only wish that my Mom and Jeff and of course, Sarah, could have been there as well.

…and for them to also be there after the bows, before the Broadway Cares speech when Daniel Reichard announced that this was my Broadway debut and have the audience give me such a nice ovation was also fantastic.

After a nice dinner at the Playwright Tavern with my folks and walking them to TKTS to get 50% off tickets for Spelling Bee (I LOVE that show), I went back to the August Wilson to do the evening show (was able to fix the guitar and dance problems from the first show), and then crashed at home because I was exhausted.

So that’s that folks. I just wanted to blog so you could all “be there” with me during my first show. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun back in NYC – I just wish Sarah and Toby were here already…but just a few more days until they fly out and then the family is all together again.

Also, to answer some questions I have gotten on my comments and in emails:

1. I am now understudying the Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi tracks. I lose Tommy with the move to NYC and Bob Crewe is still up in the air…time will tell with that.
2. Yes, on Broadway I no longer play the accountant in Act Two. But I now get to be the guy behind the 3^rd door in the Brill Building (“come back when you’re black”).
3. Sarah is in Seattle still getting things finished up on that end. We are shipping our car to a friend who is going to take it from us and they are scheduled to join me on Dec.24 – though I am trying to get them in earlier.
4. I am subletting from a friend right now in Washington Heights. But we just got approved for that apartment in Hell’s Kitchen so I should be getting in there in the next 3-4 days.

More blogs to come. I think I am going to the Gypsy of the Year competition on Tuesday with my stage manager from the tour, Lori Byars, and that should be a blast. And of course, this week will be my first full week with the Broadway company – so I will have to get back into the swing of things doing 8 shows per week.

Again, thanks to everyone for the comments and emails. I promise to try and email back once we get settled into our new place, so please bear with me a little longer.

Night for now. A much deserved day off tomorrow...

Hello From NY (Dec.12)

okay, okay...

i guess people still want me to blog...so here i am...my first full day in NYC...and i'm blogging. a big thank you to Taylor Sternberg who came up with the new blog name (though Ron Melrose suggested "New Man in Town" and i liked that too). make sure you check out his new tour blog, Tour THAT, for all the goings on of the Sherry cast.

let's catch you up on the last 24 or so hours.

Sunday night i finished my final show (show #390) on the road with the first National Tour. i miss my friends on the road tremendously. i have been thinking of them nonstop today. i wish they could all be having this experience with me and i can't thank them enough for their texts throughout the day just saying hello (Bates, the text you sent me was awesome). my final performance was a good one; good audience and everyone just enjoying each other on stage as we all knew it was the last time i was going to be up there with them. because i know there are creative staff reading this, i will tell you that there were absolutely no hi-jinks going on onstage during the show...but for any of you who know me and have worked with me in past shows, you know that's a load of bullshit. the highlight of the night for me was getting to play the guitar solo in the band playoff at the end of the show and seeing the entire case in the wings cheering me on.

we'll leave it at that.

but thank you once again to the Sherry company for making this last year on the road one of the most memorable of my life. thank you for opening your hearts to Sarah and i and for being an amazing family. i will never lose touch with any of you and wherever i may end up down the road or you may end up down the road, you will always have a friend in me.

as soon as the show was over, we got into the car, headed home to load the suitcases into the back and got to the Seattle airport about 75 minutes before the flight.

5 hours later, i landed safely at JFK.

the rest is kind of a blur. i only got about 2 or so hours of sleep on the plane and by the time i got to my sublet in Washington Heights and got in the shower, it was already about 2pm. after a very quick few hours in the city to see my buddy Val, i headed back up the The Heights to grab a few groceries, eat some wonderfully mediocre Chinese food and was dead asleep by about 10pm.

had to get some good sleep as today was a big day.

day started with me filling out an application on some long-term housing. the apartment is a cute little 550 square foot studio located at 57th and 10th (amazing location and so close to the theatre) that we found through a friend of a friend. we should know by the weekend if we are approved. that will be a load off. it's kind of hard getting into the mindset that i will possibly be living in such a small place with Sarah and Toby when i have a 3 bedroom house back home in Michigan, but i guess i just need to remember the city that i am now living in and what a steal we are going to get a studio in Hell's Kitchen for (just a phrase they call that area Bubi Goldie...it's actually safe and very cute).

then i was off to rehearsal...

i had about 4 hours of rehearsal today. the first 1 1/2 hours was to check spacing and staging with my new production stage manager, Michelle. it's amazing to see the little differences in the Broadway company versus the road company. then about an hour with my new music director; let me just say this: only three songs are the same as i have sung on the road - all the rest are different harmonies and it turns out i double Frankie for a few songs...what???

the last hour or so was with Peter Gregus, the show's dance captain who also plays Bob Crewe. he was fantastic and super nice and very helpful with all the questions i had. turns out that on the road we actually dance a lot more than they do on Broadway so he had to pull me back quite a bit. but i am hopefully going to have another hour with him before Saturday because i need to get some things better in my head and body before i get on stage...

...speaking of which:

i went to the August Wilson Theatre today. and i just kept catching myself giggling like an idiot. going through the stage door: giggling. seeing my dressing room: giggling. walking the stage and seeing the empty house before the show: giggling and overwhelmed.

i will say this about the house: it's so small! i mean, i guess playing in these huge houses the past year has really made me realize just how intimate the theatre is. i can't wait to get up there with an audience.

i met most of the cast, band and stagehands tonight too. everyone was very inviting and welcoming. it was great to see my old friend Daniel Reichard again (he and i did Forbidden Broadway together 100 years ago) and Bobby Spencer was super nice. hell, everyone took the time to shake my hand and make sure i am getting along okay in NYC...and i really appreciated that...because God knows i am going to be a mess on Saturday.

tonight i was also able to sit in the house and watch the show. it's SOOOO surreal watching the show when all i have in my head are the performances i have grown to know and love on the road. it will definitely take some getting used to with the wonderful characters this cast has developed but i welcome it. i also have to say, pacing wise, i was exhausted. the Broadway show probably cuts 7 minutes off their show compared to ours and in theatre terms - that is HUGE! so buckle me in kids, because it's going to be quite a ride for awhile.

but all in all, there is a reason this cast (along with the book and lyrics, of course) lifted the show to win the Tony for Best Musical and i am beyond words and beyond honored to have been offered this opportunity.

so what's next this week...?

Wednesday - trail Colin backstage tomorrow matinee to start learning the track and the differences from what i am used to. the whole cast is also going to some dinner party thing after the matinee and i have been invited to go along, so that will be a nice bonding experience. Wednesday night i think i have a free ticket to see Little Mermaid so i think i am going to take advantage of that.

Thursday - rehearsal with Michelle and then a full run of the show with the other understudies to get me prepped for Friday's put in rehearsal with the whole cast. will either track Colin or watch the show again.

Friday - put in rehearsal.

Saturday matinee - the big debut!!!!

and that should keep you all up to date! i can pretty much guarantee i will have no time to blog again before my debut on Saturday, so everyone just send good thoughts my way this week into Saturday. i promise to blog sometime on Sunday to share the experience with you.

i want to close just by saying thank you to everyone who has emailed or commented from my last blog. the response was overwhelming and i can't tell you how much it meant to me that so many of you contacted me just to congratulate me. i guess i never quite realize how far this blog extends until i start getting emails from people across the Country and it meant a lot to know people are still reading my posts and are enjoying them.

until the next blog...on Broadway...

wow, i don't think i'll ever tire of that.

Walk...Like a Man (Dec.9)

Okay…this is going to be the blog to beat all blogs.

I want to start by telling a story about my experience with the show thus far:

I auditioned for this show while living in Michigan. I was working 40 hours per week at a ticket brokerage company in Southfield, MI. I was making good money as their concert and theatre manager but other than some random regional theatre in the Southeast Detroit area, I had just about given up on my future with a career in theatre.

I found out about the Jersey Boys audition after randomly searching the Equity website for open auditions in Chicago. I saw that Jersey Boys was having an open call and I pretty much scanned past it because the thought of going to an audition in Chicago to simply sing 24 bars and be told “thank you” wasn’t really worth my time…

…then I bought the cast album.

I kept that cast album in my car’s stereo for literally three weeks without taking it out. I fell in love with the arrangements and the harmonies and the songs helped tell the story that I never got to see on Broadway.

So I called Chicago’s equity office for an audition, booked a flight and called in sick to work.

My audition was great; I auditioned for Ron Melrose and the casting associate of the time, Dunja Vitolich. I sang a real good cut of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and after singing, Ron Melrose gave me some great direction and asked me to sing it again. From there, he said (and I’ll never forget this), “well Eric, there’s about nine different parts in this show for you, so why don’t you give us a second here so we can figure out what you are doing for your call back tomorrow.”

The next day, after working my ass off all night going over the sides and music they gave me, I auditioned again for Ron and Dunja and thought it went well…but that was that.

About three days later I get a call from the NY offices that they would like me to come to the final callbacks in NY in about two weeks. So…I booked another flight to NY, came up with another horrible lie to tell my boss so I could get out of a ticket conference in Vegas the same weekend of my callback, and off I went.

The callback was surreal. Other than the fact that the first three hours was a dance call (and I hadn’t done one of those for about three years) and when Erik Bates walked in I thought it was Christian Hoff, it was for the most part relatively relaxing…

…that was until I walked in to read, sing and play my guitar and behind the desk is Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman (the authors), Des, Ron, all of the show’s producers and the actual Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio.

After changing my pants from the shock, I sang “Stand By Me” (thanks to Bobby Spencer who sang the same song for his callback) and was asked to do Hank’s “Heyyyyy” about twelve different ways.

And then I left.

But the signs the rest of that day were unreal:

1. I met up with one of my good friends right after the audition and he works right near the Wintergarden Theatre. Right next to the Wintergarden is a horrible tourist hole called “Ellen’s Stardust Diner” where lots of school groups go to during the day and the waiters and waitresses perform Broadway show tunes in between taking your orders (no, seriously, get me my cheeseburger and fries and put that microphone down). As I walked up to wait for my buddy, one of the waiters breaks into “Can’t Take My Eyes…”. Weird.
2. That night, I saw Sweeney Todd. As I am reading through the playbill before the show, I realize that the lead, Michael Cerveris was in Des McAnuff’s production of Tommy. After the show, since I am a huge stage door dork, I asked for his autograph and told him that he’s my good luck charm as I just auditioned for one of his past directors. He looked right at me and said, “well then, I guess you’ll be busy after you get the show.” Thank you Mr. Cerveris (you should have won the Tony that year by the way).

I flew back to Michigan thinking to myself, “well, the show starts rehearsals in about two months, so if I don’t hear in about 6 weeks, then it wasn’t meant to be.”

I got "the call" two days later.

Everything from there seems like a dream. From my blogs you all know that I packed up my house into storage, shoved as much as I could into our car, and Sarah, Toby and I have been on this adventure ever since.

One year and eight days to be exact since we started performances. #390 shows as of this Sunday night.

I have spent time in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Tempe, San Diego, Costa Mesa and now Seattle. I have driven countless thousands of miles across the west side of the Country…however…

After performance #390, this Sunday evening, December 9, I will be leaving the National Tour of Jersey Boys…

…and joining the Broadway company.

Holy shit.

This has all come very quickly; Colin Donnell (who plays “Hank” on Broadway) put in his notice just a few weeks ago and I got the official word less than a week ago. Since then, it has been all about negotiating what terms I need in order to get me and my family there safely, and of course, looking for housing has been a lot of fun (I think it’s all taken care of – cross your fingers).

But everything is slowly coming together and this experience on the road has really become something even more. I am going to miss my family here on the road so badly – so badly I really don’t want to blog about it – but to have the opportunity to perform on Broadway and literally live a dream that I have had since I was a child is unlike anything else in the world.

So that’s the big news. I want to share it with all of you because other than my family who reads this blog, I have gotten comments and email from all over the Country from fantastic people I have met at the stage door (or have yet to meet at the stage door). Your comments have really helped keep Sarah and I rooted during our travels and I thank all of you for your encouragement and support this whole year.

So what happens to the blog…? Well, I guess I can’t really call it “Tour This” anymore – so I’m open to suggestions. Now that I am going to be sitting in a city for more than 3 weeks at a time, honestly I don’t know how much I will update. But of course, as rehearsals finish up this week and I make my Broadway debut this Saturday matinee, December 15, I will of course bring you all in to the experience as well.

So that’s it. I feel like I have so much more information to share about my experiences on the road but I guess one day I will have to re-read my blog since the start and see what memories they conjure up.

In the meantime, I guess for now you will have to rely on other cast members of the Sherry company to keep you informed – which might be tough because I don’t think any of them have a blog. As far as my cast mate’s parents are concerned, I’m sorry I have to leave because I know you all find out information on your sons and daughters through my entries…I guess they will have to pick up a phone every once in awhile now to keep you in the loop.

Again, thanks to everyone for the support (especially all my parents and Sarah). Think good thoughts for us as we travel to NYC and get our lives set up there.

Until then…this is officially the last blog entry of “Tour This”. See you on Broadway.

Where the Hell Are We? (Dec.3)

let's cut to the chase...

Orange County was a blast. i was fortunate enough to go on as Tommy for 3 shows through the run and we had an amazing time at our beautiful beach villa in Laguna Beach. it went way to quick and just as we are unpacked and comfortable, we have to pack up the damn car and head to our new destination...

...and here's what's being going on in the last two days:

we left Sunday morning for Seattle. Chris and Jenna Jones caravaned with us so we could drive safe and so i could help Chris drive because Jenna doesn't drive stick shift and i do and we all took shifts. me and Sarah in "Bruiser" (our Jeep Grand Cherokee) and Chris and Jenna in "Pepe" (his '92 Honda) trekking across 1200 miles.

the first day we got almost 11 hours and then had to stay the night in Weed, CA because the road conditions were getting real bad with sleek rain and snow and hurricane grade winds. so we pulled over and got some much deserved sleep in some random Quality Inn...

...why are they called "Quality Inn's" and "Best" Westerns? I really don't see the "best" or "quality" in any of them. and seriously, what is with the continental breakfast in the morning? why do they feel that dry cereal, Lender's bagels and hard boiled eggs sitting in some plastic bin for hours on end qualifies as a "continental" breakfast? at least Holiday Inn Express' have those cinnamon buns.

today (Monday) we left Weed, CA around 9am and started our 518 mile remainder of our trip toward Seattle. the drive was beautiful for the most part; very clear skies with an amazing view of the mountains and some random waterfalls here and there. sure, we hit some rain but nothing we couldn't handle. the traffic was relatively clear and we were making some great mileage...

and then we hit Portland.

heavy rain, slow traffic. but success - we get through it!

and then 95 miles before our destination, we get to exit 68 on I-5 and sure enough, it is blocked off by local police and road work. we drive for over 30 minutes trying to find a detour and by now, the rain is horrible and it is getting colder. we jump online and our worst fears our realized: I-5 North to Seattle as well as all other local routes around it are closed due to the torrential rain, mud slides and flooding.

our trip to Seattle has now become a day in history as today's flooding is the worst in history. literally bridges over I-5 are flooding over by almost 10 feet. and now a good handful of us in the cast are stuck in Longview, WA until...well...who knows.

the Washington state authorities are saying that all roadways to Seattle are most likely closed for the next 24-36 hours and that's interesting because with me stuck in Longview is our assistant hair supervisor, one of our swings (Erik Bates), our Bob Crewe (John Altieri) and our very own Frankie Valli (Chris Jones). and we have to be at the theatre this Wednesday for orientation and to run Act 1 before our first show in Seattle that very night!

so keep reading loyal blog readers...because as things progress (or regress) i will post as much info as possible. most of all though, think good thoughts for us because all we want to do is now drive the short 100+ miles to our destination and stop eating crap fast food and sleeping in uncomfortable hotels.

lastly, i promise for a posting within the week as there is some CRAZY changes getting ready to go into effect. Broadway World boarders - please feel free to have a field day with that.

until next time...stay safe and keep your eyes on the road.