Once Every Hundred Years

That’s the name of the song cycle Bill Finn wrote with Danny in what turned out to be the last few years of Bill’s life. I am producing the NY premiere at 54 Below on November 16th and 17th. I am also executive producing the live cast recording of the concert.

I’m pretty sure there are things I should be doing that I’m not doing because I don’t know how. I trust that will all work out.

Michael Starobin is orchestrating. Joe Calarco is directing. The concert will feature Jeff Blumenkrantz, Demond Green, and Zachary Noah-Piser. Benji Goldsmith is our MD.

When we nailed down the concert dates with 54 Below, Playbill ran a story about it. Someone sent Playbill a second press release and they ran a story today featuring Zach’s headshot. I don’t know if Zach has a publicist who sent it, or if 54 Below sent it. I just know I didn’t.

Most importantly, the Playbill article mentioned Danny Ursetti prominently. And Broadway Briefing picked up the story and BOLDED Danny’s name.

Common and Extraordinary

It’s been about a year and a half since we released the Regretting Almost Everything concept album featuring the glorious Beth Leavel and inimitable Jeff Blumenkrantz. Because of Beth, Jeff, and our producers Kathy Sommer and Matt Anthony, the album is wonderful. And I’m proud of the songs Danny and I wrote. And the show, too.

William Finn told me to write what only I could write: The story of a long marriage. A story of extraordinary moments masked by the mundane.

I believe there’s a tendency to confuse what is “common” with what is “ordinary.” What I mean is, I think people reflexively assume that what is “common” is, by definition, also “ordinary.”

But that’s so, so wrong. Falling in love is common, but it’s not ordinary. Having a child is common, but not ordinary. Sex is common but, when done well, not the least bit ordinary. In fact, falling in love, having children, and sex are among the most extraordinary things we experience as humans. And that’s what Regretting is about.