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...