The rollercoaster adventure rolls on

Welcome back and thank you for clicking over to d'Blog (d'Urberville, d'Blog - in case you're wondering).

Coming up, lyricist (and award-winning playwright, don't cha know) Michael Davies shares his thoughts, and a lot more besides, on the recent auditions for TESS - The Album. It's been quite a time!

​So take it away, Mr Words.

​"Well, we’ve had some pretty extraordinary moments in the TESS journey so far, but this week has surely got to be the most exciting to date.
 
Now, keep up at the back, please. It’s hard enough for us to ride the rollercoaster without you dilly-dallying about over last week’s news. Aren’t you signed up for the regular updates on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram etc? If not, why not?
 
But I digress…
 
With only the slightest hint of irony about the date, April 1 saw the two Michaels ensconced at the ever-so-helpful Dance Attic in Fulham for the second day of auditions. We were casting the five principal roles in the show for the forthcoming album recording (what do you mean, what album?). And while we were excited enough about that prospect, we couldn’t have prepared ourselves for what we actually got.

For a start, let us give appropriately grateful nods to our esteemed casting director, Anne Vosser. Next, the tenacious and ever-willing assistants she supplied – Katharine Moraz and Tam Kirk. And finally, our two audition pianists, Dean Austin and Barney Ashworth, both West End ‘stars’ in their own right and unbelievably helpful in the process of auditioning singers.
 
Across two exhausting days, we met probably 50 or 60 immensely talented, totally professional and clearly very dedicated performers. There was not one dud in the entire crop and, it’s fair to say, it has left us with the most wonderful of headaches.

Day 1 with the brilliant Dean Austin 

Day 2 with the (yes) brilliant Barney Ashworth at the Samick 

In case any of them are reading this, and the message hasn’t got back to you via your agent yet, we would both like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who took the time and trouble to come and meet us, and deliver such wonderful audition performances in all five of the roles. We’re under no illusions that we are but little fish in this sizeable musical theatre pond, so to have so much talent, commitment and sheer hard work given over to preparing so fruitfully in such a short space of time was, I don’t mind admitting, rather humbling.

If only we could have twenty-five Tesses.
​
​Now, of course, we have to address that wonderful headache: who to cast? As I write, conversations are taking place. I can’t at this stage divulge their nature, or the people involved, but suffice it to say that the excitement generated by the audition days has continued throughout this week and throughout the conversations. When we are in a position to make announcements, we will, and you will understand, I hope, why we have allowed ourselves the indulgence of becoming quite so excitable.

The 2 Michaels - with some tough decisions 

And so the TESS rollercoaster rides on. I just hope my heart can stand it."

Thank you for your continued support of the show. We are very grateful and appreciate all your comments, likes and shares. They spur us on.

Next time on d'Blog... In the studio with West End and Broadway leading man Tam Mutu.