Kristin Chenowith joins us between performances of "Promises, Promises"

Kristin Chenowith, Debra Monk, Rob Fisher, Heather Masse, and a young star to be, Kate Beahen. Friday night  we wrapped rehearsal at 7pm, so I went to the TKTS Booth on 47th to get a half price seat for Christopher Walken’s play ” A Behanding in Spokane” by Micheal McDonagh. I met Micheal when I introduced a sneak screening of his Oscar nominated film, “In Brugge”, a lovely guy and amazing writer. Christopher Walken is off the charts with his “Walkeness” in this hysterically dark dramedy about a man in search of his missing hand for some 45 years. A couple of erstwhile drug dealers try to rip him off, and a hotel receptionist brilliantly played by Sam Rockwell adds to the grisly humor. If you are in New York and have a hankering for the quirky by all means see ” A Behanding in Spokane”.

After the show we found ourselves right in the middle of the car bomb threat in Times Square. A little more excitement than the City should really have. Thanks goodness the phrase “See something, Say something” meant something.

Tim Russell and the MS Ryndam

We visited the Western Caribbean with another Prairie Home Companion Cruise, a chance to commune with some amazing fans of Garrison Keillor and the show, we debuted a workshop of a play “Voicematch”, written for us by famed playwright Jeffrey Hatcher (“Complete Stage Beauty”) and we spent two weekends in Seattle and the days in between enjoying Washington State.

The Prairie Home Companion Cruise is always a special treat and this one had amazing talent. Robin and Linda Williams, Heather Masse, Jerlyn Steele, Connie Evinson, Beausoliel, Andra Suchy, the amazing Fred Newman, The Guys All Star Shoe Band, and Salsa Del Sol all kept the ship rockin’. and Garrison was seemingly everywhere.

We did our play three times to appreciative audiences. “Voicematch” is about the voice over business. Jeffrey Hatcher was intrigued that the business today knows no geographical bounds, two voice talents can and do record Ad Campaigns together in two different cities and never meet each other face to face.

“Voicematch” brings these two disparate actors , the pro and the newbie, together in more ways than one.

Opera singer Vern Sutton played the voice of several recording engineers. Jeffrey has plans to develop this into a fully produced stage play this summer or next fall, stay tuned!

Our Seattle experience allowed us to see the beautiful state of Washington, Tim and Judy visited Bellingham , Sue spent some time with her sister Nancy on a visit to lovely Whidby Island.

Thanks to computers we are always able to send mp3 auditions to our agents virtually anywhere. Next stop Nashville and the Historic Ryman Auditorium, then a series of shows from New York City. April beckons, like l said before, stay tuned.

We just finished our run at The Town Hall in New York City. What a show! Elvis Costello and Tom Snow as our special guests, along with one of our favorite people, Heather Masse. Elvis was terrific in our “Guy Noir” and “Lives of the Cowboys” scripts.Be sure to listen to the April 18th show on Prairiehome.org.

After the show we joined Fred Newman and family at a new outdoor restaurant in Bryant Park, The Bryant Park Cafe.  A Beautiful Spring night, 70 degrees at 10pm.

Wynton Marsalis Post Show

He’s a magnificent musician and the crowd loved hearing his Quintet.

Our other guest is the wonderful singer Heather Masse.

Singer Heather Masse

She is a member of The Wailin’ Jennys . They are taking a break for a few months so Heather is free to sing on the show with some regularity.

This week we will hear some talented duos with “The Great American Duo Singoff” on “A Prairie Home Companion”.

Tim is learning how to walk again after ankle surgery so his sightseeing adventures are somewhat limited, but it’s supposed to rain this weekend anyway. Enjoy the show from New York City.