Most musicals have 12-20 songs.

Male lead:                   4 (including a soliloquy?)

Female lead:                4  (including a soliloquy?)

Supporting male:          3

Supporting female:       3

Duets:                        2 (one each “couple”, including a possible “round”)

Chorus:                      1 (reprise the feature song)

Styles: 8 swing/lively; 3 pretty (including a waltz); 1 tango; 1 or 2 other Latin; 1 or 2 rock

Dances: to the above songs. 

Long-time fixture in the local drama scene Terrance Afer-Anderson presented his twenty-first play, “Tempest,” at Norfolk’s 40^th Street Theater in August. It is running also through September 19^th at 8 PM Fridays and Saturdays, plus 2 PM matinees on Sundays.

Don’t miss it!

Essentially a two-person play, he couldn’t have chosen anyone to top Sheila Lee as his estranged wife. She recently delivered a winning Billie Holiday in “Three Divas,” at the Chrysler Museum (see review elsewhere on this blog), which mainly showed her singing talent.

Working with his gripping story-line and true-to-life dialogue, they moved from an argument at their home, up to the roof as the hurricane approached, bulwarked by realistic sound-effects.  I won’t reveal the story, hoping you’ll see it for yourself. Despite the limited space, much action takes place, but the real strength is in the script and the acting.

   The realistic dialogue is adult, but not smutty, the author having the taste to omit terms that are unnecessary, that too often visit our living rooms via television.  Much humor is veiled in terms that are understandable to teenagers, but wouldn’t spark embarrassing questions from tots. If you miss something, ask your teenagers to explain.

Many important messages are sent, regarding Katrina, marriage, men, death of a child (so common),

money, religion, successful African-Americans, race relations, and heroism, disguised as action and dialogue.

New Orleans –flavored music enhanced the intermission.

This would make a splendid movie, with no reason to change the cast except for the value of having name actors as a draw. 

Affirming his Creole heritage, the author dedicates the play to his late cousin, Sister Mary Thecia Bonner.

 Our local theaters consistently offer wonderful shows at steal prices. Entertainment Sections of the papers regularly present the details.  Keep LIVE  theater…and LIVE music LIVING!                                                             

July 25, 1009

“Life’s too short to be subtle,” was one of Lindsay’s asides.   Hence, her opening song, “Hit Me With a Hot Note,” from Duke Ellington’s pen, signaled the flavor of her two-act one-woman show of the same title. She was soon performing the best version I’ve seen of “If I Cain’t Sell It.”  The leggy blonde takes no prisoners!

As a pre-schooler on Long Island, my favorite song was JESUS WANTS ME FOR A SUNBEAM (actual title: I’ll BE A SUNBEAM FOR JESUS). 

It’s much more than a song; it’s a WAY OF LIFE….. smiles, hugs, pats on the back, compliments, absence of complaints, persistent cheerfulness…..and NOT LIMITED TO ANY RELIGION.

Among my favorite Sunbeams have been:

The late pianist Dave Greenberg;  the late founder of Birdland Records Tom Friedman;   Barbara Bishop, Physician's Assistant; and lovely singer Emily Pilzer Frank, all Jewish.  And trumpeter Gary Gompers whose father was Jewish.

The Number One Sunbeam in America (my term) is J.P. “Gus” Godsey, who was established as “The Happiest Man In America” not by vote, but by actual psychological testing, by USA Weekend Magazine. I’ve known him for years, and firmly vouch for his deserving that title.  Judge for yourself by reading his book, “How To Be Happy Every Day” by Morgan James Publishing LLC.  Also  listen to his Monday-Friday broadcasts, 4-6 PM, on AM 670.

Engineer-musician-businessman Doug Gray, of Gray Area Music, and Atomic Sound, who has enough troubles for several people, but never complains; I’ve never even heard him cuss!  His adorable sons, 2 and 4, inspired my newest song, GONE TOO SOON.

Barbara Simpson, professional clown, whose company “LAF LUV” tells so much about her.                      

Please see my blog entitled “How Do You Hold a Moonbeam In Your Hand,” about the late Gale Knight Dunlap.

High school: Peggy Holiday. JMU: Nan Rennie; Billie Totten Huff.

The ultimate Sunbeam was my maternal Grandmother, Jenny MacLeish Muller.  This American keyboard  I’m using can’t even make a German umlaut over the U, but they pronounced it Miller anyway.  She lived ‘til I was 22, and I was next-door for my first 8 years; never heard a bad word about anyone.  She’s mainly the subject of my song,   GRAMPA  AND GRAM.  I say mainly, because few songs are 100%; after all, the words should rhyme, forcing the writer to make up some of the lyrics.

Very much like Gram, in disposition and physique, was my beloved Mother-in-Law, Grace Smith Munson.  She’s pictured on my leadsheet to THANKSGIVING TIME IS HERE; Gram’s photo is on the music to GRAMPA & GRAM.  How many guys are lucky enough to have a M-I-L  they adored?

I could wrap this up with a list of “Rain Clouds;”   but then I might lose my SUNBEAM LICENSE.