"There is a certain immortality involved in theater,not created by monuments and books, but through the knowledge the actor keepsto his dying day that on a certain afternoon, in an empty and dusty theater, hecasts a shadow of a being that was not himself but a distillation of all he hadever observed; all the unsingable heart song the ordinary man may feel butnever utter, he gave voice to. And bythat he somehow joins the ages. " Arthur Miller, The Essays of Arthur MillerHappy Sunday!I hope you had a great week, an even greater weekend, andthat next week even tops that! I’m very excited about my subject today. I havelived through many emotional nights with her. She probably did more movies ofthe week than anyone I know.
Linda Purl recently filmed recurring roles on True Blood and Homeland, and she has also been making plans - along with afabulous team – to record a solo album this fall with a great group ofmusicians, including a guest appearance by Desi Arnaz Jr. on percussion. The CDwill feature classic standards that conjure up the glow of swanky, smokyafter-hours nightclubs the ’40s and ’50s, with great music that told stories oflove and heartache, stories that entertained and healed and helped make senseof a changing and uncertain world.Linda's show, with a working title of MidnightCaravan…Travels Through the Great New York Nightclubs, will open in New YorkCity on September 30 at Feinstein’s at the Regency, where they will make thelive recording. They’ll lay down tracks for songs such as “Easy Living,” “IThought About You,” and “My Romance,” to name just a few. A portion of theproceeds from the event will benefit the Actors Fund.
You will get to experience all of this live when Lindaappears next month at Feinsteins on September 30th.
I already have myreservations! I hope that you will join me! Think you know Linda Purl? Thinkagain! Today, I celebrate Linda Purl's Body of Worth!It all began in Linda’s childhood living room. Linda’s fatherwas a businessman, but both parents were artists at heart. They would do playreadings. They went to the theater a lot. It was a huge part of this family’sglue and fun. Linda grew up in Japan with an interest in the theater andcould also speak the language. When a part came up for a little Western girlwho spoke Japanese, Linda got it. There was nobody else. It started out as afun thing for her and one thing led to another. She didn’t have an “epiphany”or a fabulous “aha” moment that many people have, a moment when they see thelight and choose this path. For Linda, it was a gradual organic process. Linda went from the living room to Japan and then to Englandto study her craft as well as in New York, then working in New York and LosAngeles. Then for a long stretch of time, she was only working in LA. Shestarted working professionally at eighteen in earnest. Now, she seems to havecome full circle with ample work on both costs.
Linda admits to me that she really doesn’t have a routine, atime when she works on her craft, but considers it a very good idea. It is anongoing process and one of the things that has really helped Linda in thatregard is the cabaret section of her career. She has autonomy. She goes outabout once a month, sometimes more, to sing somewhere. That means she has tolearn her new songs. She does her sit-ups, puts her lashes and pantyhose on, andget on that stage and throw caution to the wind. So, in that sense, she hasfound it very healthy, helpful, and a good discipline just to have the privilegeof getting on stage with that kind of regularity. Linda say’s it’s a wonderful life. It’s tough. It willdisappoint you. It will take you around the world. 
It will give you the bestfriends in the world. It will give you the best education in the world. When Linda gets “stuck” in her career, she focuses on life. The most embarrassing thing that ever happened to Linda onstage happened during a production of Romeoand Juliet. It was the “morning after” scene. “Juliet” discretely goesbehind a draped curtain to change from this sheet that was wrapped around her.She made this quick exit behind a draped curtain. Linda’s business was to dropthe sheet and slip into her dress. Just as she dropped the sheet, the curtainfell, and she was absolutely “starkers” to the audience. The audience got morethan they bargained for that night! The audience knew in a moment what had happenedand Linda heard a gasp from the audience that nearly sucked her and Romeo offthe stage. The audience felt sorry for Linda. She had never experienced thatmuch sympathy on stage before, even when “Juliet” dies, even when Romeo dies,not even both killing themselves! Nothing compared with the sympathy she feltwhen they came off the stage at the end.
What would Linda would tell her twenty-five year old self?Linda thinks this is a great question. She has a teenage son and what she isseeing so clearly now, with hindsight, is that the choices that he and hiscontemporaries are making at this stage in their lives, have long termtrajectories. The choices that are made on any given Wednesday night, forexample, whether or not to do their homework will play out years later. Shewould tell her twenty five year old self to make value based decisions. The one major change that Linda would like to see in thisbusiness is for the reality shows to be killed. The one person Linda would like to meet above all others isObama. She would say to him, “Keep going.”The work that she is most proud of is a movie of the weekthat she did many years ago called LikeNormal People that she got to do with Shaun Cassidy. It is the true storyof a mentally handicapped couple. They were remarkable people and veryinspiring and Linda learned a lot from them. Preparing for upcoming show at Feinstein’s, Linda listens toa lot of music. That is how they very gradually arrived at her song list forthis CD and engagement. She listened to easily two hundred songs, maybe more. Becauseit is now a show and not just a CD, there is the matter of the dress! She hasrifled through all kinds of images from fashion magazines to those wonderfulglam coffee table books just to try and find a look that would also becomfortable. When she can, she also loves to go see other entertainers. Sheloves the art form of cabaret.
She believes it is an unusual intimate form. Sheadores Christine Ebersole and Clint Holms on stage. Linda does not know how much she succeeds in reaching heraudiences in today’s option filled world. What is she doing to combat that?Word of mouth, friends, Facebook, Twitter, whatever the particular venues reachfor pulling in their own audiences and subscribers. She just pursues allavenues available. For my singer readers, Linda recommends apple cider vinegar,honey, and hot water and lemon when you are battling vocal issues. Mix it alltogether in a thoroughly disgusting potion. When Linda is putting a show together, it is an emotionalprocess for her. She doesn’t mean weepy emotional. She means going from yourgut. Deborah Grace Winer, who run’s 92 Street Y’s Lyrics and Lyricists, amongmany other things, has worked with Linda, which Linda considers an extreme privilege.Rex Reed made that connection happen years ago. That’s how Linda met Miss Debas she calls Debra. That was it. They became friends. She is so smart, soknowledgeable, and has such great taste. Linda asked Debra to help her. Debra,in turn, introduced Linda to Mark Waldrop. They became the three musketeers onthis project. As much as anything elseand as much as Linda has enjoyed the work, part of the agenda is also havingDebra and Mark in her life as her friends. She feels very fortunate on thatfront. They talk. They listen to a lot of music. They discuss why Linda isdrawn to “that particular song” or what it seems to say or Mark or Miss Debwill find some chestnut. It is kind of a stew they are making. Sing, sing, sing is how Linda prepares for herperformances. Being in LA a lot of the time finds her in her car a lot of thetime and that has become her rehearsal studio. Pilates and time at the gym isanother part of the preparation so that she has more tools to play with. Yourbody is pulled into the process.  |
| Maria Callas |
Who would Linda like to see a future blog feature on?Linda suggested Lee Lessack as the subject of an upcomingblog. Linda has done a lot of concerts with Lee and has spent a lot of time withhim. She admires him. So do I! He is deeply entrepreneurial. In a world that isconstantly changing. Lee has a life gift of propelling himself forward. Hedoesn’t just do it for himself. He takes other people with him, like Linda! Heis generous and understands that it is not just show, it is business and viceversa. He’s got both going on. A man after my own heart. Lee after you read this, call me!Better yet, come to New York and join me at Feinstein’s onSeptember 30th. Desi Arnaz will be on congas. It’s going to besilly, ridiculously, fun. Also, Ted Furth, Linda’s musical director, is a jazzgenius. If people have not had a chance to hear him play live, you have no ideawhat you are missing. Linda considers her an actress first and then a singer.Tedd plays the subtext of the lyric in his music. He has it in his hands. Lindadoesn’t know where it comes from, but he is an actor and singer’s musicaldirector. Whether he likes it or not! Linda Purl with Special Guest Star Desi Arnaz, Jr. at Feinstein's at The Regency
DATES:
Sunday, Sep 30, 2012: 6:00PM
Monday, Oct 01, 2012: 6:00PMCLICK HERE for more info and to buy tickets.
Thank you Linda Purl for the gifts you have given to the world and will continue to give!
With grateful XOXOXs ,
Check out my site celebrating my forthcoming book on Hello, Dolly!
I want this to be a definitive account of Hello, Dolly! If any of you reading this have appeared in any production of Dolly, I'm interested in speaking with you!
Do you have any pics?
If you have anything to add or share, please contact me at Richard@RichardSkipper.com.
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Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!
My next blog will be... My Exclusive interview with Richard Leppig (Gornelius Hackl, Dorothy Lamour Bus and Truck Tour of Hello, Dolly!)
Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
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Richard Skipper, Richard@RichardSkipper.com
This Blog is dedicated to ALL THE DOLLYS and ANYONE who has EVER had a connection with ANY of them on ANY Level!
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