the Diva Platform

On a random day my friend Carl will call me out of the blue.  He’s a pianist and moved from Chicago to New York a few years ago in an attempt to make in on Broadway as a music director.  I hadn’t heard from him since he got back from a stint on a cruise ship, but things like that happen.  He’s the kind of friend where you pick up right where you left off, even if it’s been a few months since you’ve last talked.   When you don’t have time to talk to everyone all the time, that’s just the greatest type of relationship to have.

Anyway, Carl had been looking for steady work for a few months, and a contractor he worked with was having him audition for different tours.  He didn’t get one, and another fell through, and then he got a call about auditioning for the tour of My Fair Lady.  He didn’t really know much about that show and thought it was something he’d get bored playing after a couple of months, but he said OK, I’ll audition.

Then he told a friend what he was auditioning for, and the friend went nuts.  “My Fair Lady?! That’s the Cameron Mackintosh production!  That’s a big deal!”  Long story short, he got a job as an associate music director and is on a 42-week tour around the country with a show that’s getting great reviews and has good audiences.  He loves the music–he had one of those reactions where you suddenly realize all the classics songs that are in a show, and they’re just amazing, even after decades.

Needless to say, I’m just thrilled for him because he’s such a talented piano player and really great at working with vocalists, and it’s so great that he got this break.  I only hope it leads to something even better once the tour is over.

So if the show is coming to your city, consider seeing it.  It hits Chicago at the end of January/beginning of February, and Carl will actually be conducting some of those shows.  You know where my butt will be.  Front and center.