VOLUME 1
 

BOOK ONE -- Living in the Bonus Round
in which I establish the diary as a way to communicate with my brothers living in the south. I'm dying but Jimmy and I have created a legacy which will live on after I'm gone. A musical called THE LAST SESSION. There's no chance that it will go anywhere. After all, thousands of musicals are stacked up in agent's and producer's offices waiting to get produced. So I keep to a simple dream: To see it once before I die.

March 1996 -- "I've never read any other online diaries..."
April 1996 -- taking a turn for the worst
May 1996 -- miracles arrive in the mail
June 1996 -- he doesn't die
July 1996 -- miracles start to happen on Sunset Blvd.

BOOK TWO -- The Tarzan Years
After having unexpectedly cheated death and starring in a workshop of my musical, I learn that I'm going to live after all. But what does that mean exactly? And how much time DO I have? Having burst into the Bonus Round, I quickly make a CD and we head for New York thanks to Don, a diary reader in El Paso.

August 1996 -- Figuring out what's next
September 1996 -- "The desperation is gone."
October 1996 -- Concert on Santa Monica pier.
November 1996 -- First out-of-state gig! New York City staged reading

BOOK THREE -- The Lazarus Effect
The rush of new life is intoxicating. A actual New York production looms and the diary begins to become what one reader labeled "an autobiography in progress" which reflects on days of yore.

December 1996 -- "How come everytime I say your name...?"
January 1997 -- Chicken Palmolive
February 1997 -- Steve meets CyberGuy

BOOK FOUR -- Off-Off-Broadway Bound
Adventures on West 29th Street. An "impossible dream" begins.

March 1997
April 1997
May 1997

BOOK FIVE -- The Lazarus Reintegration
Trying to fit back into society -- but new medical problems begin interfering. Unfortunately, the new problems are not diagnosed. The New York summer is hot and the struggle is taking a toll (sky-high blood sugar), undiagnosed. Does my irritability and emotional roller coaster show in my diary entries?

June 1997
July 1997
August 1997 - Currican production closes

BOOK SIX -- Fantasy, Faith & A Runaway Train
Moving to Off-Broadway. Profiled in the New York Times. Trying to keep up with the thing that's been set in motion. Big fantasies are fulfilled but something else is going horribly wrong. Jimmy and I break up, but I'm too humiliated to talk about it in the diary. After all, we're a "perfect couple." Right?

September 1997
October / November 1997
December 1997

BOOK SEVEN -- Reconstructing Steve
We are reconstructing Steve because Steve is now falling apart and the New York production closes. The medical diagnosis is finally made but it's too late to repair the personal damage. Separated, we both hit rock bottom emotionally but I still cannot talk about it. Still, I meet Dickie, who all but saves my life.

January 1998
February 1998
March 1998
April 1998

BOOK EIGHT -- The Creation Machine
The divorce fails. We start picking up the pieces; finding each other again. I finally confess all and just when we think the show is dead, a brilliant hope suddenly appears on the horizon.

May 1998
June 1998
July 1998
August 1998

BOOK NINE -- Life's A Beach (And Then You Open)
A glorious new production of The Last Session opens at the Laguna Playhouse to rave reviews. The RENT fans find us and become TLS fans. And the diary morphs temporarily a backstage fan notebook.

September - October 1998

Episode 1	Episode 2	Episode 3	Episode 4
Episode 5	Episode 6	Episode 7	Episode 8
Episode 9	Episode 10	Episode 11	Episode 12
Episode 13	Episode 14	Episode 15	Episode 16
Episode 17	Episode 18	Episode 19	Episode 20

 
BOOK TEN -- The Fall '98 Tour
I beging touring and Gail becomes webmaster, logging emails and other correspondence from the road into the diary.

October - November 1998
Part 1 - San Diego
Part 2 - Syracuse, Rochester & Waterloo
Part 3 - Memphis & Boston
Part 4 - Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Dallas & Denver
Part 5 - Los Angeles & Michigan

VOLUME 2
 

BOOK ONE -- Sunset Superman
The Laguna production moves to Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles. Suddenly the "impossible" musical is winning awards and we are making acceptance speeches in front of big rooms full of celebrities.

December 1998
Part 1 - Previews

January - May 1999
Part 2 - We're up and running!
Part 3 - STILL running!
Part 4 - Mini-tour of Ohio
Part 5 - We win awards!
Part 6 - We won the GLAAD awards!
Part 7 - May - June & LA Closing

BOOK TWO -- Dystopia No More
Touring and singing and spreading the word.

June - September, October 1990
Part 1 - June - Los Angeles/San Francisco
Part 2 - June/July - Los Angeles/Omaha/Denver
Part 3 - June-August - Los Angeles, Atlanta, Columbus, Boston
Part 4 - September - Los Angeles

BOOK THREE -- Gullible's Travels
Meeting Jerry Falwell. Driving around Pennsylvania. Then, horribly, two stunning deaths in the family.

October 1999 - January 2000
Part 1 - October- Los Angeles
Part 2 - November- Los Angeles/Lynchburg/St. Louis
Part 3 - November- Los Angeles/Orlando/Pennsylvania
Part 4 - December - New Orleans/Home
Part 5 - January 2000 - Home
  INDEX OF PICTURES

BOOK FOUR -- Does God Read E-Mail?
We begin with a burial and a memorial. Then life has to go on.

February -  June 2000
Part 1 - February - Los Angeles/Rochester/Alfred NY
Part 2 - March - Los Angeles/Las Vegas/Laguna Beach/Chicago
Part 3 - April-May - Santa Barbara, Washington DC/Los Angeles
Part 4 - June - Los Angeles/San Francisco
  INDEX OF PICTURES
 

BOOK FIVE -- The Glass Closet
A summer of rest and then back on the road.

July - December 2000
Part 1 - July - Los Angeles/Manhattan NY
Part 2 - August, September - Los Angeles/Olympia WA/San Francisco
Part 3 - October - Stanford University/Davis, CA/Los Angeles
Part 4 - October-November - Los Angeles/New York. BIG STAGED READING
Part 5 - November - Los Angeles/New York/Michigan/New Jersey
Part 6 - December - Los Angeles/Syracuse/Rochester/Denver/Ft. Collins
Part 7 - December - Los Angeles/Visit to doctor
  INDEX OF PICTURES

BOOK SIX -- 2001: A Specious Oddity
More deaths in the family. Emotional tour dates.

January - April 2001
Part 1 - January - Los Angeles. Stan Freeman dies.
Part 2 - February. El Lay/Orlando/North Carolina/Indiana/Texas.
Part 3 - March - Stanford University/Davis CA/Los Angeles.
Part 4 - March - L.A. Lucky O'Learys. Grandma dies. Stan Freeman memorial.
Part 5 - March-April - L.A../Shippensburg/Ripon/Orlando. Sardi's pic. LADCC.

BOOK SEVEN -- Into The Belly Of The Beast
Steve tries to help Jimmy at work. (Steve fails).

April - July 2001
Part 1 - April-May - Los Angeles, Stanford University. Working El Portal.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

BOOK EIGHT -- Modern Mutuality
Learning the power of connectedness and mutuality.

July - October 2001
Part 1 - The start of TLS Cincinnati
Part 2 - Further adventures in Cincinnati
Part 3 - Closing in Cincinnati
Part 4 - Hospital concert in Columbus
Part 5 - Lunch with Fred Ebb, Talk Or Walk! taping
Part 6 - September 11, 2001
Part 7 - Visiting TLS-SF rehearsal
Part 8 - UC Irvine, Kathleen Freeman memorial, Talk Or Walk airs
Part 9 - Henderson KY, confronting "Fred Phelps" preacher

BOOK NINE -- LIFE DURING WARTIME
A new production of TLS opens in Rochester and I go from being composer to actor, reconnecting with people of faith.

Late October 2001 - March 2002.
Part 1 - TLS San Francisco opens
Part 2 - November 1, Diamond Jubilee (Rip Taylor)
Part 3 - Fall Tour Part 1. LA, DC, New Jersey, Virginia
Part 4 - Fall Tour Part 2. LA, Virginia, Florida. New Years Day
Part 5 - January 2, Shubert wrecking ball party
Part 6 - The beginning of TLS ROCHESTER
Part 7 - Opening night. Reviews. Niagara Falls.
Part 8 - Visting 3rd Presb.; Ginger the Dog; Jesus Action Figure; Driving in snow.
Part 9 - Odds & Ends in Rochester; Buddy CDs
Part 10 - Car crash
Part 11 - Closing in Rochester; the Cabarets

BOOK TEN -- INFERNAL OPTIMIST
Back in Rochester! Mom and dad visit! A new CD gets recorded. A new musical is being written.

March 2002 - July 2002.
Part 1 - Tour of Hollywood Blvd.
Part 2 - Scary celebrities!
Part 3 - May 2002. Mom and dad visit Rochester.
Part 4 - Lucy the cat in Rochester.
Part 5 - Back home. Laguna date accepted.
Part 6 - Fat Chance opens. 70 Girls closes. Frustration with music.
Part 7 - Visiting George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam. Paul McCartney Fest.
Part 8 - Pittsburgh, San Francisco & El Lay
Part 9 - Delivering CD to manufacturer. Visiting Laguna.
Part 10 - God Help! benefit in Beverly Hills. Rehearsing at Lex.
 

VOLUME 3
 

BOOK ONE -- BEYOND THE LIGHT
Rebirth (again). A new show is born in Laguna.

August 2002 - October 2002
Part 1 - The time before.
Part 2 - Laguna Staged reading of THE BIG VOICE: God or Merman?
Part 3 - Jim shoots Bram and Alice.
Part 4 - Steve visits TLS-Dallas.
Part 5 - Opening of Lex Theatre workshop of TBV.
Part 6 - Celebrity Celebrity.
Part 7 - Lex Workshop closing night. Emails from attendees.
Part 8 - The Making of the Original Cast Album.
Part 9 - LA City College. First view of Zephyr Marquee.
Part 10 - Opening night at the Zephyr.

BOOK TWO -- I MARRIED ETHEL MERMAN
The Big Voice runs in Los Angeles to great critical acclaim, awards and award nominations.

October 2002 - January 2003
Part 1 - First review of TBV; Return to Henderson, KY
Part 2 - First awards to TBV.
Part 3 - Occidental College.
Part 4 - Nursing Jim.
Part 5 - Closing night, Los Angeles.
Part 6 - Rochester posponed due to snow.
Part 7 - Enjoying lots of sunshine.
Part 8 - House of a Thousand Fabrics!
Part 9 - A Last Hollywood Picturefest.

BOOK THREE -- THEATRE CAMP!
The Big Voice begins its journey on the road.

January 2003 - March 2003.
Part 1 - We arrive in Rochester. Snow!
Part 2 - Tech Day.
Part 3 - The flood conspiracy. Recording new voiceover.
Part 4 - Opening night! (Steve's most embarrassing moment).
Part 5 - The Time Before (again). Second weekend.
Part 6 - The New York "Audition." Feedback, Mailbag & Reviews.
Part 7 - I am the preacher! (Lake Ave. Baptist Sunday morning).
Part 8 - NY photo album.
Part 9 - Home is where the cats are.
Part 10 - LADCC Awards ceremony.

BOOK FOUR -- Houston Texas
The Big Voice goes south!

March - April 2003.
Part 1 - The Scoping! PFLAG award.
Part 2 - The bowel diagnosis. Meeting Nicole. Arriving in Houston.
Part 3 - The Meteor Lounge.
Part 4 - Opening night picture album.
Part 5 - Chronicle raves/Hanging with my Bro.
Part 6 - A Day Off? U of H / TV & Radio interviews.
Part 7 - Speaking for Belaire Gay Straight Alliance.
Part 8 - Singing at First Unitarian Universalist Church.
Part 9 - Steve Saves the Space Program.
Part 10 - Last Weekend.
Epilogue - Easter Dinner. Bunnies!!

BOOK FIVE -- Climbing
Rochester, Dallas & Los Angeles.

April - August 2003.
Part 1 - The Caulk Gun Test. GLAAD Media Awards.
Part 2 - Marilyn Laskey's Theatrical Legacy.
Part 3 - Cesar & Ruben. Amy Coleman in Rochester.
Part 4 - The Lilac Festival in Rochester.
Part 5 - Honeymoon at the Lake.
Part 6 - A Castle In New York.
Part 7 - Covenant United Methodist Church / Lake Ave. Baptist
Part 8 - The Chatterbox Club.
Part 9 - A Night on Main Street.
Part 10 - First Day in Dallas.
Part 11 - Opening night! The rave review in Dallas Morning News.
Part 12 - An unusual wedding ceremony in Dallas.
Part 13 - Closing in Dallas.
Part 14 - OutFest 2003!
Part 15 - Playwright Class.

BOOK SIX -- The Stillness
September - December 2003.

Part 1 - New York staged readings. Jackie Mason!
Part 2 - Both Amon and Dori die.
Part 3 - Carl Bean House. Joyful Lamentation is planned.
Part 4 - The Jasons get hitched!
Part 5 - October 2004. Steve turns 50.
Part 6 - Singing at Carl Bean House. Visit to San Francisco.
Part 7 - Ovation nominations.
Part 8 - Lily Tomlin! Ovation ceremony!
Part 9 - Planning ahead. Ship pics.
Part 10 - A Joyful Lamentation concert.

BOOK SEVEN -- THE QUEST
December 2003 - February 2004.
A little flame is lit in Indianapolis.

Part 1 - New World Singing is born. Cozumel Mexico.
Part 2 - Panama Canal Photo album.
Part 3 - Weinie Dogs & Pizza.
Part 4 - New Year Eve 2003.
Part 5 - First week, Indianapolis.
Part 6 - Performance pictures.
Part 7 - Backstage photos.
Part 8 - More Indianapolis.
Part 9 - Indianapolis.
Part 10 - Kobacker House, Columbus Ohio.
Part 11 - Indianapolis Speedway, Anderson University.
Part 12 - Indiana University, Bloomington IN.
Part 13 - Making the record.
Part 14 - Sold-out closing weekend.
Part 15 - Visiting L.A. Gay Men's Chorus
Part 16 - Reactions from students and readers.

BOOK EIGHT -- A CHICAGO STORY
March 2004.

Part 1 - A Chicago Story begins.
Part 2 - Getting to know Chicago. Greg Burley memoriam.
Part 3 - Opening weekend.
Part 4 - A Force Named Sue. First reviews.
Part 5 - Meeting Ann Gerber.
Part 6 - Becoming family.
Part 7 - A Day At The Races.
Part 8 - Rehearsing TLS.
Part 9 - The Chicago TLS Reading.
Part 10 - Closing night.

BOOK NINE -- INCUBATION PERIOD
April 2004 - May 2004

Part 1 - Home in L.A.
Part 1a - A memory of Chicago. The lake.
Part 2 - MCC-LA
Part 3 - Reconnecting with Dave Woeckener.
Part 4 - Meeting Kitty, Marge, Charlotte...
Part 5 - Singing with GMCLA & Magic Castle.
Part 6 - Going to Austin.
Part 7 - Bastrop Texas.
Part 8 - Streak the Dog on the boat!
Part 9 - Sue in L.A.!
Part 10 - Singing for San Francisco Thrive Group.
Part 11 - Dr. Ruchi, Dr. Tony, Damon Intrabartolo.

BOOK TEN -- MORE LIGHT
June 2004 - July 2004

Part 1 - Opening night in Omaha.
Part 2 - Opening weekend.
Part 3 - TLS-Omaha reunion.
Part 4 - The sad story of Frankie Pane's.
Part 5 - North Side Christian Church.
Part 6 - Big Voice - Omaha Picture Book.
Part 7 - Omaha Gay Pride Parade.
Part 8 - Last Day in Omaha / UU Church.
Part 9 - Unitarian Universalist General Assembly.
Part 10 - Outfest 2004!
 

VOLUME 4

BOOK ONE -- LOVE / REASON / FAITH
July 2004 - August 2004

Part 1 - Arriving in Chicago.
Part 2 - Music rehearsal/tech.
Part 3 - Opening of "Africa" workshop in Chicago.
Part 4 - Riding with the horses.
Part 5 - Home. Covered in cats.
Part 6 - New York. "Africa" opens. Visiting NYMF.
Part 7 - Manhattan picturebook.
Part 8 - Seeing The Belt; Ethel rings out on Broadway.
Part 9 - Norwich, Connecticut.
Part 10 - "Africa" closes.

BOOK TWO -- Musical Insurgency
September 2004 - December 2004

Part 1 - Visiting Palm Springs.
Part 2 - New York opening.
Part 3 - Going back to Brooklyn.
Part 4 - The Stars Come Out.
Part 5 - Closing Party.
Part 6 - Million Dollar Birthday
Part 7 - Palm Springs
Part 8 - Tom Cruise
Part 9 - The Coolest Man on Earth
Part 10 - Steve meets his match. Cruise to Caribbean.
Part 11 - Concert at San Luis Obispo.
Part 12 - Seeing Dr. Powers. Wilshire pictures.
Part 13 - Sara Haze, CT Scan, World of the Song.
Part 14 - Betty Barker, visiting Ernie and Michael.

BOOK THREE -- Uncommon Ground
December 2004 - June 2005

Part 1 - Piper Laurie, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta.
Part 2 - Stanford University School of Medical Ethics.
Part 3 - Sydney Australia.
Part 4 - Koalas.
Part 5 - Avery Schrieber Theatre.
Part 6 - Neal Austin, Thursday Island.
Part 7 - Oscar night on the ship.
Part 8 - Tommy Tune, Brunei, eye doctor.
Part 9 - Recording in Oakland.
Part 10 - Hong Kong.
Part 11 - The Big Voice in NoHo.
Part 12 - Crossing the Atlantic.
Part 13 - Lisbon.
Part 14 - Barcelona.

BOOK FOUR -- Reconciliation Express
June 2005 - September 2005

Part 1 - Bishop Jim.
Part 2 - Portofino Italy.
Part 3 - Staged reading in Hollywood.
Part 4 - Firenze Italia.
Part 5 - Rome.
Part 6 - More Rome.
Part 7 - NoHo Big Voice photo album.
Part 8 - Eye Surgery.
Part 9 - Videoblog & OutFest.
Part 10 - Big Voice re-review, new photos, In Memory of My Googly Eye, Franco.

BOOK FIVE -- THE BETTER THAN EXPECTED TOUR
September 2005 -

Part 1 -- Trip to NY. Meeting celebrities.
Part 2 -- Doing our show in NY.
Part 3 -- Rochester, NY. Nominations!
Part 4 -- Niagara Falls.
Part 5 -- Working with Alexandra.
Part 6 -- Ovation luncheon. Meeting Chuck.
Part 7 -- American Composer's Forum.
Part 8 -- Ovation Awards! Getting the award from Jerry Herman.
Part 9 -- Parasailing in Mexico.
Part 10 --
 
 

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