I was wondering how "Excelsior You Fathead" the play turned out. Did any of us fellow victims see it?
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07-22-2007 ( Reply#: 1667 )
ebruceb
Each play being presented was scheduled for three performances. The opening night was that of the nasty snow and ice storm last March, and performances were cancelled. So EXCELSIOR, YOU FATHEAD! had a grand total of two performances, both well attended in the very small theater.
A number of Shep enthusiasts attended as did Shep's engineer, Herb Squire, his wife, Laurie Squire, who produced Shep's last year on WOR (Leigh being occupied with other Shep projects), and another producer who worked with him during an earlier period of intense activity.
Although things got arbitrarily changed and deleted during rehersals, I felt that the actor, Jack West, did a very good job. Naturally I'm hoping that some big-time producer will pick up the play for additional performances.
07-24-2007 ( Reply#: 1671 )
m10bob
It would be nice if this were picked up by PBS. IMHO it would be of more interest than some of the programs that have been.
In Hoc Agricula Conc
In Est Spittle Louk
07-24-2007 ( Reply#: 1672 )
diskojoe
A belated thanks for the reply, "ebruceb", which is appreciated. Was the format of the play basically a one man type, using Shep's thoughts on various topics over the years? I would have attended the play myself but I live outside the NYC area. Hopefully I'll get to see a version of it some day.
P.S.: Are you working on a sequel to the book?
02-13-2009 ( Reply#: 2768 )
ebruceb
The play is in four scenes. 1. early New York--what I call the great burgeoning--he's "high on a mountaintop'--at the peak of his form.
2. "Hit the money button" --Shep begins to branch out more into other media 3. "I'm an entertainer" where he has his ups and downs in TV and film 4. finally, late in life he faces his own "dream collection day" where he realizes he hasn't achieved all his goals--but in the end, as Bahn Frei begins, he rises, accepting the good and the bad, the triumphs and defeats. The play ends on that "happy" note.
My follow-up book on Shep is nearly ready to submit. It involves all my quests for new material; part of an interview with Lois Nettleton; my interview with "The Vampire Lady"; excerpts from letters of Leigh Brown to her best friend discussing her early intellectual and emotional passion for Jean; my interview with Dee Snider, big Shep fan and singer/songwriter of Twisted Sister; what Shep's Sesame Street "Cowboy X" animated cartoon really means; and lots more.
Yikes, I can't believe I didn't answer this post over a year ago!
