Do YOU Hear the People Sing?

Some inspiring highlights from REAL TIME with Bill Maher on HBO tonight:

American's believe we are the greatest country in the world, but according to our rank in infant mortality rate, illiteracy, health care (all 3 below 45th in the world), and many other vitals, we're actually quite far from being the greatest country in the world.

It's time we recognize that being the greatest country in the world is not simply our birthright, but an honor we must work to earn and uphold.

It's time we stop relying on the achievements of past generations of Americans to brag about.

It's time we find America's soul again.

On Tuesday November 7th, wherever you are, whatever you do...go out and vote.

p.s. tonight, Alan Boubil and Claude-Michel Schoneberg are coming to our show!

Behind the Scenes--Previews

For those of you unfamiliar with how a big Broadway musical goes from a rehearsal studio to a packed theater...

Load In--While the cast finishes rehearsing in a studio, the crew begins the process of loading in all the set pieces, lights, costumes to their appropriate locations in the building.

Dry Tech--Stage Management begins to work through the show with a rehearsal pianist and the crew setting lights, set moves, traffic, auotmation, etc; without the cast, to try and expedite teching with the cast.

Tech--The cast moves into the building, settles into the various dressing rooms located througout the building (often many flights of stairs up :), and from the top of the show, begins working through every cue with director, conductor, and stage management. To get through the show once often takes more than a week of 10 hour days for cast (longer days for crew) with no days off.

Dress Rehearsals--The show is run with mics, orchestra, make-up (i.e. Val Jean's multiple wig changes), costumes...etc; Regardless of how it goes--you push through and see where problems arise. With our cast of 30+ people every one of whom has 7 costume changes within the first 30 minutes of the show--you can imagine the traffic issues, quick change problems, and so on. It's madness.

Previews--With our show, we had our first dress reh. the night before our first preview. Our second dress reh. the day of our first preview, and will then continue to rehearse every afternoon (except matinee days) to work out kinks while performing previews at night.

Tired yet?

The new www.AARONLAZAR.com

...is being launched next Tuesday October 24th! Be sure to check it out!

Les Mis & Other Updates

Hey everyone,

I can't believe I haven't written an entry in soooo long. There's so much to catch up on!

After 3 1/2 weeks of rehearsals in 890 broadway (on the original broadway cast rehearsal turntable!), and a last day run of the show for Claude-Michel Schonberg (flew in from Chicago where he's readying Pirate Queen; man was it cool to meet him!), we're finally settling into our new home for the next 6 months--The Broadhurst Theater.

It's thrilling to be back on Broadway in the heart of Times Square (Lincoln Center and even The Gershwin don't have that same feeling as being in the Majestic did). We're next door to Phantom and back to back with A Chorus Line--pure unadulterated Broadway histrory. I do miss the comforts of the Beaumont, but it'll be fun being a part of this show in a true old school Broadway house--mold, critters, stairs and all :)

We've just started tech (a process that involves moving through the show at snail pace to set the lights, crew moves, costume changes, traffic, sound, turntable, props, etc; for each and every moment of the show). To give you an idea of 'snail' pace--we've been teching for 16 hours and have just finished the trial where Val Jean reveals he's '24601!' (about 30 min in). What's wonderful though about this tech, unlike most i've been a part of, is that despite the grueling pace, our director John Caird has kept things light and incredibly fun--allowing this tech to be creative. We're all enjoying bonding as a company.

Speaking of our company--it's spectacular. Every cast member is equal parts talented, professional, hard working, and FUN! And that's pretty special considering there are 40 of us!

So we tech through Saturday, when we finally get to add costumes to the mix. And we work through the show until Tuesday (1pm to midnite every day) when we have our first preview. After that we're called in from 12:30 to 5:30 for rehearsal every day before each preview until we open November 9th.

What else?

Oh! I had the honor of reading a pledge in Times Square on Sunday as part of the UN's STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY rally. It was crazy to be on a stage in the middle of Times Square with my face on every digital screen around me and thousands of people repeating the pledge after me. I'll post some photos and video when i've got them.

Alright, I promise to blog in more often!
Stay tuned!
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