The Doctor Dolittle tour is now in full swing. Despite the grueling schedule for the first six weeks, everyone has remained in good spirits and there’s a positive feeling regarding the prospects for the show. The last week of August brought the first layoff and a welcome break it was. Everyone is looking forward to a refreshed start after Labor Day.

The new musical director has been announced: Eddy Robinson, whose credits include supervising the first national tour of Mamma Mia, and conducting several Broadway shows and National tours, including Scrooge, Phantom, Cats, and Miss Saigon.  While Nick is disappointed he wasn’t chosen for the position, he is happy to have the opportunity to work with a musician of Eddy’s calibre. Nick very much enjoyed conducting the show during the four week interim period and is thrilled to have had such a large input in helping to shape the show into what it is today. Nick has just completed orchestrating an underscore cue which will be put in at the first rehearsal in Greenbay and he will conduct the sound check and will open the show in Greenbay to give Eddy an opportunity to learn the nuances. Nick will conduct through the first Friday when Eddy will take over. Nick will continue on as the associate musical director.

What follows is a letter to the cast and crew from producer Van Kaplan regarding the transition:

I trust that you have all had a great week off!  Thank you all for your extraordinary efforts in putting together this production of Doctor Dolittle.  You are an awesome team!

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on some exciting evolutions in our Music Department.  It’s with great pleasure that I introduce the new Musical Director for Doctor Dolittle:

Edward (Eddy) G. Robinson

It is my belief that Eddy, working in tandem with Associate Musical Director Nick DeGregorio will be an unparalleled combination to support this production. 

On behalf of myself and the whole production team, I would like to extend my highest gratitude to Nick for his immense contribution in shepherding this project to life over the challenging production period. 

Eddy brings to our team a diverse background of experience, from supervising the Mamma Mia I tour, conducting several Broadway shows and National tours, including Scrooge, Phantom, Cats, and Miss Saigon. 

Eddy was with us for the first few days in Pittsburgh and both David and I are excited that he has made himself available for our production!

We are confident that you will all be thrilled with the first rate musical team of Eddy, Nick and the rest of our traveling musicians (Todd, Mike & Nathan).

Looking forward to seeing you all,

Van Kaplan

This month will see Doctor Dolittle in Greenbay, Memphis, Philadelphia and Hershey, PA.

In other news, Scott Guy has submitted the first draft of the Nine O’Clock players Cinderella.  Nick is excited to begin work but is waiting for a rewrite based on notes from the producers (who, incidentally, are thrilled with it). Nick hopes to begin writing in the first few weeks of September.

The Darby O’Gill project has begun rehearsal and all the feedback has been terrific regarding Nick’s submissions. The presentation for McCoy/Rigby will be on September 12. Check here for updates on the status of that project.

Finally: Help the people of the Gulf Coast as much as you possibly can. It’s difficult to feel the urgency when you’re far away from the devastation but don’t let that stop you. The conditions there are worse than you can imagine.  There are too many people suffering to sit idly by.  Do something.