I just got back from the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles where they hosted the Western Arts Alliance Booking Conference. It's a trade show where all of the agents introduce the 2008-2009 seasons and who will be touring. It looks like it will be a great year for Broadway shows for the Paramount.SInce many of the downtown Chicago theatres have long runs that wil "Sit down" many of the new shows will be moving out of the city next season. It looks like we will get the premier of "The Wedding Singer", also on my list is "Pajama Game" it's the new Harry Connick Jr. version, (Sans Harry) but with the new orchestrations, choreography and direction. Also Tyla Thorpe choreopgraphed the tour for Billy Joel's "Moving out" which we are holding. Other tours are "Footlose", Oliver" and "Chicago". Other acts we are taking under consideration are, Yanni, an amazing Dance show called "Burn The Floor" and Sally Struther is doing the 25th anniversary tour of "Nunsence" which looks great! If you have a minute, e-mail me and let me know what shows sound interesting to you.
Our production 
manager, Val Devine, cameout for the last 2 days of the conference to meet the agents and while we were driving back one night we had a "Star sighting".While lost in Beverly Hills, at a stop sign, Adam Sandler pulled up next to us and waved his arms around imitating us, trying to figure out which direction we should be going, and smiled and waved as he turned into Bel Air. He had his big dog in the SUV with him!
Now for the LA gossip, I got to stay with my friend Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) who is now producing. (Sean used to work for me when I directed shows at Pheasant Run Theatre in St. Charles ) He has a new show that he developed and sold called "8 Days a week" it's about the assitants to the recording executives in New York. Sort of Grey's Anatomy meets "Entourage" and how the assistants really run the industry. It stars fellow Pheasant Run Alumni and friends Rosa Blasi and Anna Chlumsky. I am so proud of all of them and can't wait to see the show air in December.
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