Baby New Year

Week 5: Washington, D.C.

First, let me express a great big thank you to the lovely audience members here in D.C. who found my web address in my program bio and took the time to contact me and pay me such generous compliments! I am delighted that you are enjoying my performance and the production. It is especially great to hear these things since I have only just finished my second week of performances. Please feel free to email me at james@jamesbeaman.com. I do get the comments posted to my blog and have published some of them.

Well, it's New Year's Eve again, and we will be doing a festive 7PM performance of "Spamalot" tonight. The company is throwing us a little New Year's party after the show. It's an odd thing to see out the old year surrounded by all new people. But I think it's appropriate. D.C. launched my journey with this great show, and 2008 will be a full year of touring with this company. New Year's Eve has always been a time of introspection for me, taking stock of the year that is passing, and creating a vision for the one that is unfolding.

2007 was an amazing and exciting year for me personally and professionally. It started with a five month repertory season at Alabama Shakespeare Festival performing the rarely produced John Barton/Peter Hall adaptation of Shakespeare's "Wars of the Roses." A wonderful immersion in renaissance theatre and the chance to develop four great characters amongst a wildly talented company of actors. From there, fate swept me into an unexpected opportunity, coming in at the last minute to play the incredible role of Albin in "La Cage Aux Folles" for Ogunquit Playhouse's Diamond Jubilee. Not only is Albin one of the great roles in musical theatre (right up there with Dolly and Mame in my book), but I got to play it opposite the charming Maxwell Caulfield as Georges, and was directed by BT McNicholl, who is now the Associate Director on "Spamalot." Following the Ogunquit run, I returned to New York and played the title role in "Macbeth" in a modern dress production with ShakespeareNYC at the Beckett Theatre. Jumping out of sequins and into combat boots was such a great time, and scaling this monumental role of 700 lines was an incredible, invigorating challenge. And, just as I was headed to Denver to do another "La Cage," the offer came to join the tour of "Spamalot." What a thrilling year this has been!! I only feel deep gratitude for the gift of being able to spend nearly a whole year employed in my profession. And through all the challenges and changes in my life, my steadfast friends, family, colleagues, counselors and of course my terrific agent have encouraged me, bucked me up, listened to me, lent a shoulder to cry on and in general believed in me. I am blessed.

I wish for you a year full of adventure, fulfillment, love, connection, and peace. Keep your vision strong. Believe. Anything is possible and the Universe is holding out to you everything you want and dream of. You just have to let it in. Feel good, keep your energy high and your thoughts in a positive place. And know that you are never, ever alone. Happy New Year!!

And yes, that baby is me! Thanks, Mom, for that picture.

A Capital Christmas

Week Four: Washington, D.C.

Well, it's Boxing Day and I hope that everyone had a great Christmas. Or Kwanzaa, or Solstice Celebration, or whatever gets you festive and happy. My Christmas was very low key. After the rigors of my first week and nursing a pulled muscle in my back, I decided to just lie low for the most part. Christmas Eve I took myself to a nice dinner in Georgetown at a lovely French restaurant and wine bar called Bistro Lepic. The place is charming and the staff very French and very serious about providing an excellent experience. I indulged in the pre fixe menu complete with Bouche de Noel for dessert, and enjoyed champagne and wine, and a nice B&B with dessert. My young waiter was excellent, very helpful in choosing wine etc, and I think has a bright future as a sommelier (sp?). I left with a warm glow and walked down to the movies where I saw "Sweeney Todd." Not the most upbeat subject matter for a Christmas Eve (revenge, throat slitting and cannibalism) but it was the movie musical event of this season. Unfortunately, I felt it was not much fun and should have been. Johnny Depp and Helene Bonham Carter were very fine, but overall I felt that there wasn't enough of the vigorous black humor that the original show had. The score, or the pieces of it they kept, sounded really great. It was worth seeing but didn't blow me away.




Christmas Day was spent mostly in my hotel suite. My body can't seem to get enough sleep to make up for last week! I got up late and cooked myself a delectable champagne brunch with mimosas, french toast made from homemade walnut raisin bread, an exotic fruit salad. Anyway, I took a photo of it I was so proud! It is possible to have a very lovely quiet holiday by oneself and really enjoy it. The R&R were just what the doctor ordered. In the afternoon I spent some time with a few cast and crew people who had chosen to stay in DC. An indulgent food fest at which I got to know some people better and it got me out of my little hotel cave for a couple hours! It was a quiet and very satisfactory holiday.

I am glad I can now begin to share some of the pictures I have taken along the way here in D.C. Took a few shots during our final two show day before the Christmas holiday. The mood was very festive at the theatre. Our company manager and stage manager were in Santa hats, the ensemble put on parkas and sang carols in the hallway outside my dressing room, and the Knight of Ni came on with tinsel garland on his antlered helmet. We pumped out our evening show for a lively crowd, shook off the confetti and dropped our sweat drenched costumes. Then people began to go their various ways for the holidays. The holidays really brought out the spirit in our company. That night in the Metro station one of my castmates got on the phone with one of the girl's mothers and sang Karen Carpenter's "Merry Christmas Darling" to her. I have a feeling that once my initial exhaustion is past and I get stronger and stronger in the part I will be experiencing a lot of special moments amongst these talented and kooky people.




So the photos here include a shot of me in full Sir Robin regalia (how bout that wig?); a photo of me and Robert Petkoff, the wonderful actor I replaced in the role who is currently on Broadway with the show; and a shot of me and Lynn, my terrific dresser who always makes sure I have just what I need to get my job done. She's just great. As I get more into the tour, there will be more pictures and updates to the website so look for those. I am delighted that I have received a couple enthusiastic emails from folks who have seen the show here in DC. Your compliments and good wishes mean the world to me and I am so glad you enjoy the show! I was tickled to sign my first autograph at the stage door the other night. A lovely young woman named Rachel approached me with a pen and a poster, not at all sure who I had played in the show (we are all pretty well disguised) and when I told her, she lit up and said, "Oh! You were my FAVORITE!". Now who would not love that??

Well, friends, I need to start thinking about detoxing from my holiday indulgences and warming up and gently getting my sore back ready for the show tonight. My thoughts and prayers were with all my friends and loved ones this Christmas and I hope you had a great time. I will post again come New Year's Eve if not before!

The Human Cannonball

Week Three: Washington, D.C.

Dear Readers:

My apologies for keeping you hanging. It has been difficult, without a computer, to add to my blog. But today I got my brand new Macbook and I am back in business. Merry Christmas to me! So there will be better posts and pictures and all sorts of good stuff from here on out.

Tuesday night I opened in "Spamalot" on the National Theatre stage. It was, for all intents and purposes, a dress rehearsal as well as my first actual run through of the show with the full company--correction: my first run through, period! Only way to describe it is being shot out of a cannon. Remember those nightmares you had in high school or college where you found yourself taking a final exam for a course you never took? Well, that begins to capture the feeling of being out on stage in a show I had watched 20 times, suddenly in a wig and "chain mail" and two microphones pinned to my head with a spotlight in my eyes and an audience in three tiers staring at me! All in all, my debut performance went pretty darn well. No major screwups, but it was sheer muscle and adrenaline that got me through that night. Terrifying! And I had not realized how aerobically challenging the thing is. It's a real workout, folks! By the end of the first big production number, I was drenched in sweat, panting for breath and my heart almost jumped out of my chest it was pounding so hard. I have four performances under my belt now but let me tell you, this show takes it out of you. I was very lucky on my first night that the company rallied around and were so amazing and supportive. They did an hysterical ritual with me backstage before the overture, where they formed a ring around me, sang an odd little song, and then all humped me en masse! I guess I am part of the team now, or the "spamily" as they call it.

I was further blessed this week when our new Associate Director BT McNicholl and our Associate Choreographer Scott Taylor came to see the show and worked with us on refining our performances. Being in the beginning stage of developing my performance in my role, getting the chance to be directed by BT was such an advantage. I worked with BT on "La Cage Aux Folles" this summer and he is a wonderful director, incredibly bright and detail oriented and loves actors. The work I got to do with the other principals was invaluable and helped us connect with each other and really play the reality (as bizarre is it is in this show) of the characters and relationships. I think audiences would be really pleased to know the incredible attention to every detail and nuance of the show and the performances that our creative team attends to. People really care that this show be not only the highest possible quality, but that every moment be crafted to uplift, elate and amuse. I went on Thursday night feeling much more prepared and confident, knowing that some really smart and talented people were out front not only keeping an eye on me but also in total support of my work and what I am bringing to the role of Sir Robin.

So I am about to launch into my first four show weekend and I know it will be very physically demanding. But I keep reminding myself that I have ahead of me over 400 performances of this show. I will either be in the shape of my life, or it will kill me!! No, seriously, the physical challenge is just part of the good, exciting work of this job. I am looking forward to becoming stronger and more confident in what I am doing. Meantime, the holidays have crept up on me and I regret to say that for me, this is a lost Christmas. I simply haven't had a moment to think about shopping or anything festive. Many of the company members will be traveling to family gatherings during our two days off next week but since I will be seeing my Mom and sister and my nieces and nephew in Boston in a few weeks, I am staying here and spending a low key Christmas in DC. A nice meal on Christmas Eve, a movie, probably "Sweeney Todd," this year's big holiday movie musical, and french toast and mimosas prepared by yours truly in pajamas in my little hotel suite on Christmas morning. I think the rest and relaxation are just what the doctor ordered. Next week, a holiday post for you. For now, enjoy your last minute shopping, give a hug to those you love and enjoy the season.

All For One...?

Week Two: Washington, D.C.

Ah, to be back in Washington! Having lived here three years ago as a grad student, returning to this city in the midst of the arduous preparation for my debut in "Spamalot" has been very comforting. Washington is quite a beautiful city in many ways and the Dupont Circle area where I am staying is especially lovely. The wonderful mix of architecture, from Renaissance Revival to Art Deco, the broad avenues, the smell of woodsmoke in the crisp chill air. D.C. seems to be swathed in garland, red velvet and twinkle lights and I think it will be a very nice place to spend the holidays.

This week I continued my rehearsals, working at last with Ken Davis, our Production Stage Manager, who returned very tan from helping to mount the Australian production. From the excitement and affection effusing from the company, I can tell he is well liked and respected. And of course he knows this show inside and out. Once I had my staging and had done more intensive work with our Maestro, Ben Whiteley, on the music, and continued to drill dances with Graham on the stage, I got to rehearse scenes with the other principals, who have all been very supportive and lovely. Today was the "put-in" rehearsal, a chance to do the big group numbers with the full company and work with some of the important set pieces and props. I know I have a good grip on things but mental strain and physical weariness have made me something of a bundle of nerves. I have gotten pats on the back from all and sundry and feel very appreciated. I have a few days to let things settle, to rest and review and just get myself focused for my opening in the show next Tuesday.

A couple D.C. snapshots:

On my way to the theatre on the Metro and across from me is a large lady reading a book. The title? "The Quest for the Holy Grail." Hmmm. Got off the train and was riding the escalator to the street and behind me there were three women having an animated conversation. One of them said, "I want to see "Spamalot!" Second lady: "Camelot?" Other two, in unison: " NO! SPAMALOT!"

Standing at one of the many stop lights in Dupont Circle and looked over at the young woman next to me chatting on her cell phone. She had written her shopping list on her hand in ballpoint pen. It read, 'Coffee. Milk. Truffle Oil.' You know you're in a cosmpolitan city when you see something like that!

Well, folks, for better or worse I go on as Sir Robin next week. Pray for me! More as we get closer to opening night...

Go, Spartans!

Week One: East Lansing, MI

Exhausted does not begin to cover the way I feel toward the end of my first week in the deep end of the pool that is the First National Tour of "Spamalot." It's been a tough adjustment all around. Remember the feeling you had that first day of school in a new town, or the first week on campus as a college freshman? Well, that's the feeling I have had coming into a group of people who are well established in their jobs and the touring way of life. It's all new. And that can be very exciting. For me it has been a mixed experience, mainly because the control freak part of me doesn't love not knowing stuff! And honestly,I am learning the nuts and bolts as I go along.

East Lansing is dominated by Michigan State University, a massive campus, and the theatre, the Wharton Center is an enormous facility with a beautiful Grand Hall in which the show is performing. It's quite something to see this production in such a cavernous space after the comparatively intimate Shubert in New York. But the audiences love it here as much as they do there. The show is just the perfect blend of naughtiness and ribaldry combined with a sweetness that is at once an homage and a sendup of musical theatre. I am staying in a terrific little hotel with a nice plaza across the way with very good and wonderfully cheap restaurants, and the company has been given free access to the Michigan Athletic Club, also across the street and one of the three largest health clubs in the world. And I need to keep my strength and energy up for the task at hand!

I have been learning the show from Graham and Tera-Lee, the two terrific dance captains, who have been incredibly helpful, and our Associate Conductor Adam has taught me the music and a simplified piano bit which I have to learn as part of my big number, affectionately known in the company as "The Jew Song." I have been wondering if I am in fact the first Jewish person to play Robin...

As of this posting, I have learned all the choreography in the show that I am required to know and all my music parts. Not bad for four days' work!! I have my aches and pains and am looking a little worse for wear but I do feel I have a good handle on the bones of the part. Next week in DC, our Production Stage Manager Ken will come back (from mounting the Australian production) and work with me on the scenes I have to play between all the musical material. I have been very fortunate that Robert Petkoff, who I am replacing in the role, is not only terrific in the part and a joy to watch, but is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I am actually a little sad that I won't have a chance to work with him! He has been so helpful and so welcoming. The first night I met him he said, "I guess I'm the old you and you are the new me!"

It's been a weird adjustment for me getting used to the complex ways that the tour operates and I will learn--patience has never been one of my predominant qualities. I am a little hampered that my old laptop computer decided to retire itself yesterday and in DC I will have to bite the bullet and buy a new computer. There goes the Christmas budget! To my lovely family and friends--you may be having a little extra Yuletide in January...

I am excited to get to Washington, where I spent such a wonderful year working on my master's degree and to be there for a month means a chance to see old friends and teachers and to reconnect with that terrific city. "Spamalot" was a triumph during it's first engagement there on tour so it is a grand return engagement which will, I am sure, with the holidays around it, be festive and very exciting--what a great way to begin my performances as Sir Robin. Meantime, we leave Michigan Monday, and I am so grateful for the cheerful, helpful people and the great CHEAP meals I have enjoyed here! Stay tuned, friends, for news from our nation's capital.

And Away We Go!!

It's early morning and I am all packed and ready to go. Taking a few moments here to gather my thoughts in the quiet of the morning. I am sure that within a couple weeks all of the anticipation, anxiety and nerves about this adventure will be a dim memory and I will have settled into the life of the touring actor. But today there's still tingles and concerns--did I pack too much? Is my suitcase too big? Did I need to buy that? Do I have enough this or that? Fact is, I will figure it all out as I go. It's really fun to be doing a show like this for the first time at this stage of my life. I can truly appreciate it in view of all the hard work and persistence that got me here. But at the same time, I am still excited and wowed by the whole adventure. Only a sucker for everything about the theatre can understand the giddiness I feel this morning!

Having gotten sick over the weekend, I am on the road to recovery but not 100%. The antibiotics are doing their thing and all I can do is ease my way to East Lansing, MI with as little effort as possible, and show up ready to work (sniffles and all) tomorrow morning for my first rehearsal. All will be well. I feel extremely grateful to all my friends, family and colleagues who have believed in me and who are rooting for me as I embark on this journey. You are in my heart! And away we go...

One Week To Go

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I am into the final stretch before leaving for the tour. This week will be about settling things here in New York and making sure my home base is taken care of before leaving it for a year. I will also be buying a new set of luggage and some neccesaries for the trip. I anticipate another possible round of fittings before I head out to Michigan next week. Everyone from the tour has been extremely helpful, answering my questions, large and small, and making me feel very welcome and taken care of.

The Broadway stagehands strike may be coming to an end this week, as both sides were into negotiations late into the night last night. For the sake of my friends working on Broadway, and for the industry and the audiences alike, I hope that they can come to a satisfactory conclusion this week. Unfortunately, with "Spamalot" dark for the past two weeks I have been unable to view the show as many times as I would have wished before starting the rehearsal process, but I will see it many times over the next couple weeks before my performances begin in DC December 18. What a treat to begin my role during the week leading up to Christmas!

Decorating the Cake

This week was about fittings, of several kinds. First I made a call at Euro Co where the chainmail is made for Spamalot. I was measured and put into a pair of mail tights and some sleeves. The tights made me feel a little like I was in a child's "footie" pajamas and I'm afraid, if you look at the picture taken during my fitting, I look it a bit! From there I trudged through the rainy, soggy Manhattan streets to T.O. Dey, a long-established Broadway institution, where custom made shoes are created.

This is one of the great pleasures of becoming part of a Broadway show. Doors open onto creative workshops where the finest work has been done for the biggest shows and biggest talents for decades! T.O. Dey just reeks of history. I was greeted by Gino and shown to a fitting room where I waited with sadly soggy stocking feet. The whole place seemed to be working, and leather and shoes and foot casts were everywhere. Gino measured my feet and traced them and I was on my way. They will be making two pairs of custom made boots for me. Now if you think I am not feeling giddily like a star, you would be wrong. It's so much fun! And more, one begins to see that the reason for all the great expense is the pursuit of absolute excellence.

Today I went to Barbara Matera, an amazing costume shop, where the rest of my costumes will be constructed. I was greeted so warmly by everyone and shown into a plush fitting room, where I just imagined like, Chita Rivera being pinned into a costume (I know--whenever I think STAR I think immediately of Chita Rivera first!). I was measured and met the talented man who would be building my white tailcoat for the glitzy finale of the show. I am just in awe that I have been invited into this rarefied world. Got my script yesterday! Now the real work begins...

What's that on your head?

A wig! Today I was measured for the three wigs that will be made for me to wear as Sir Robin and others. The wigs are designed by David Brian Brown, a very accomplished designer who has done many Broadway shows and was nominated for an Emmy for "Angels in America." I went to his studio where he wrapped my head in Saran Wrap and adhesive tape and scribbled on it with a Sharpie. When he slid the concoction off my head, it was revealed as a transparent mold of my head, on which the wig makers in London will build the wigs! Amazing. Then David draped various switches of strawberry blond and light auburn hair over my forehead in a series of bangs that, well, made me look a little Jane Wyman frankly! But I know David will give me that signature Sir Robin look, and on the wall nearby David Hyde Pierce smiled down from a "Spamalot" photo, sporting his strawberry blonde mane. And he didn't look the least Jane Wyman. I almost had to pinch myself to realize that I am actually going to be playing Mr. Hyde Pierce's role in less than two months...

Welcome!

Welcome, friends, fans and family, to my blog. As I embark on the grand adventure of my first Broadway National Tour, I invite you to come along for the ride! I will be posting regularly with stories, observations, reviews, and photos as I make my way around the USA. Feel free to comment or email me and keep me connected with what's happening in your world. And enjoy the ride!!