THE LITTLE JUKEBOX THAT COULD (Despite the Elements and the City's Busted Gas Line)

So it was with a ready and excited spirit that I arose yesterday morning set to prepare for my sixth season premiere. Then I looked out the window. Rain. A lotta rain. That never bodes well. I decided not to stress it and to keep on keepin' on as they say. On the way to the theater I was to discover that there had been some kind of problem with part of the city's gas line so transportation had been completely stopped in one part of Prague (naturally the part I lived in) so I ended up an hour and a half late to prep for my own show. ARGH! I figured if I was having this problem then others would be too. I wasn't mistaken. Before I went on I learned that there were four audience members. Two staff members were kind enough to come and participate and with my sweetie on lights then I had an audience of seven.

Before I continue I'd like to tell you a little story. In 2004, the first year of my show things were going well. One evening I was waiting at my venue and no one seemed to be showing up. So I had some wine. Then I had some more. And some more (you get the idea.) Finally two good friends showed up and I started the show for them. About 1/3 of the way through about three other people came in - two of whom looked familiar. I was quite surprised to learn they had come for me. It turned out that that particular night was the opening of the new Czech hockey arena (yeah, so no Czechs at the show.) It was also the night of a major charitable even hosted by the expatriate community (so no expats either.) Apparently I'd been spoiled by always having decent turnouts to my events and the sadness I felt combined with all that wine left me belligerent and downright inappropriate. At the end of the show when I asked Joost how I did he informed that it was the worst show he'd ever had the misfortune of hearing me do. I was shocked as I thought I had nailed the songs. He told me that that was not the question. My singing was fine but my attitude made him actually ashamed of me. He said that I was so busy being pissed off about the low turnout that I held it against the people who had chosen to spend their evening with and their money on me. His saying that sobered me up immediately and left a tremendous impression. I decided then and there that even if one person shows for any production that I'm a part of they are going to get 110% Gail Whitmore.

So last night after having been asked twice if I'd like to cancel I happily took the stage and did the very best I could for the seven people who chose to spend their evening with and their money on the Human Jukebox.

Here's what was performed:

ACT 1:

Bangles - Eternal Flame (Really felt like belting one out!)
Porgy and Bess - Summertime (Always feels good to sing that)
Czech Children's Song - Tři čuníci (There was a pause here and sadly for me this song has been going through my head for days so I spontaneously broke out into it)
Ramones - I Wanna be Sedated (Go, Joey, go!)
Gospel - Soon Ah Will be Done (Been listening a lot more to Mother Mahalia this summer so tried some of her ways. Lady knew how to craft a piece!)
Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter (A lot harder to sing than it sounds)
Little Shop of Horrors - Suddenly Seymour (I absolutely LOVE singing more than one character in a song. Had never done this one before and it felt great)
David Lee Roth - Just a Gigolo (It wasn't DaveTV but it was still fun)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (Sometimes I wonder if people just want to watch my head pop off)
Weird Al Yankovic - Which Backstreet Boy is Gay (Hey, I'm not sayin' that it's Howie!)
Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop (Men aren't the only ones who appreciate quality booty!)
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (Proud to report that I did NOT lapse into "Amish Paradise" for once! Woo hoo!)
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man (This is really great for all audiences)

Act 2:

Celine Dion - A New Day (OK sappy time. My little boy turned three last week. I know that Celine and Rene tried very hard for a child and suffered a great deal along the way. I cried when their son was born. The same thing happened to a wonderful friend of mine and I cried and thought of her when her son was born. I thought a lot about this song in the years I was trying to conceive my boy and I couldn't help but cry when he, too was born.)
Blues Traveler - Runaround (Just can't help remembering hearing them in Michigan in 1995. They played for two hours then took a 45 min break to watch a game. Then came back and played another two and a half hours! And not a single hit! John Popper was throwing harmonicas into the audience like nobody's business. Amazing concert!)
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos (Can't say I've ever done this one before but I had SUCH a good time. I just really wanted a marker to draw a mole so that I could truly embody him :-P )
R.E.M. - Nightswimming (A classic. Plain und simple)
David Bowie - Modern Love (Just not the same without all the silver balloons)
The Wizard of Oz - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (A friend told me that was the first time she ever heard me sound innocent. Now whatever is that supposed to mean? :-) )
Les Misérables - On My Own (I've always seen myself as more of a Fantine than an Eponine but it doesn't make it less of an amazing feeling to sing)

Medley:

Herbert Grönemeyer - Der Weg
Kinks - Lola
Wet Wet Wet - Love is All Around
Barenaked Ladies - One Week
Tina Turner - Private Dancer
Sasha - I Feel Lonely
Guns 'N Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
Limp Bizkit - Nookie
Westlife - Mandy
AC/DC - Shook Me All Night Long
Police - Message in a Bottle
Weather Girls - It's Raining Men
The Sound of Music - The Lonely Goatherd
Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partirò
Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
The Holy Grail - Brave Sir Robin
Fame - Fame
Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl
Le Nozze di Figaro - Voi, che sapete
Les Misérables - Castle on a Cloud
U2 - With or Without You
Les Misérables - I Dreamed a Dream
Czech Christmas Song - Půjdem spolu do Betléma
Evita - Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Prince - Purple Rain
Depeche Mode - Somebody
O-Zone - Dragostea din tei
Fugeez - Killing Me Softly
George Michael - Father Figure
Police - Can't Stand Losing You
Weeds - Theme Song
Tom Jones - Sex Bomb
Maroon 5 - This Love
Placebo - Daddy Cool
Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
Tracy Chapman - The Promise
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Presidents of the USA - Peaches
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
Alanis Morrissette - Ironic
Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag
Limahl - The Neverending Story
AC/DC - TNT
Aerosmith - Dream On
Styx - Mr. Roboto
Guns 'N Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun

All I can say is that last night was 110% better than the season premiere last year. If you don't know why - check the archives. Anyway, together the eight of us had a great night - or I did anyway. I truly hope they did too.

:-)