Q & A with RICK:
1) How did you hear about BEATLEMANIA auditions?
There was an
ad in the Boston Phoenix, seeking Beatle Look-Sound a Likes.
2) were you a big Beatle fan prior to auditioning?
Absolutely and
remain so
3) Had you been impersonating Ringo before
you heard about Beatlemania?
I was in a British Invasion Band called the Back Street Beat,
and yes we did some Beatles---but mostly the other groups(Searchers-Pacemakers-DC5-Animals-ETC)
4) Had you performed in live theater before?
In front of large audiences?
Not to that extent
5) What was your audition experience like? eg:
was the room full of Beatle impersonators, or was it just you and a music
director?
It
was myself and 500 other people.
6) How old were you when you were accepted into
the show?
24
7) Were you excited when you were told that you
were "IN"?
Of course------it was the realization of one of my life long goals!
8) What was your first experience on stage as
Ringo in front of an audience like?
Tell us that moment
right before you hit that first note on IWHYH!
Kind of
scary I had rehearsed for 6 months, but the curtain opens
up and
there are 2,000 people---businessmen up front, with a look on their
faces
like"Show me what You've got!
9) Was it the first for your other band members
as well? (What was the line up for your first BUNK?)
I was
originally in Bunk 6 put together in march 1978 Marshall Crenshaw, Bob
Miller, and John Redgate made up Bunk 6.
10) How many years were you with the show?
Two years.
11) Tell us about your TV appearances
There was an
amazing adrenaline rush before the Merv Griffin Show.
First
of all we went to the ED Sullivan theater in a limousine (Repeating
again
what the Beatles had done) and as I understood it, we had the same make
up
and sound
people from the original Sullivan show; that had done the Beatles.
Meeting Merv
Griffin before the taping, and just generally being in that
building (now
the home of David Letterman) was all very exciting.
We only played
two numbers "She Loves You" and "Help!"but it was a good
performance
for myself and the original cast members, Mitch, Joey, and Leslie.
12) If you had any, what was the most embarrassing
moment on stage during the show? Power outage? Flubbed lyrics?
Sneezes? Etc.
I was quite lucky in that
respect.
13) What was your favorite part of the show?
No one thing in particular.
14) What was your least favorite?
When it finished it's New York run.
15) Who did you enjoy working with the most?
All the guys were great people.
16) Did you tour with the show?
No.
17) Where did you enjoy performing the most? (What
City, country, theater, etc.)
I was strictly New York City.
18) Did you play vintage instruments and use vintage
equipment for the show?
I am not 100% sure of that--it
seemed to be.
19) Did you ever meet any of the Beatles?
No.
20) Do you still perform with other alumni?
Once in a while at parties
and such.
21) What have you been up to career and music-wise,
in your Post-Beatlemania years? Care to give us the ol' resume'?
I secured office
work in 1982, and moved up within the ranks there.(Universal Studios 17
Years)
I currently work as
an Office Services Manager in the Wall Street area.
22) All-in-all, looking back, how was the Beatlemania
experience for you?
It was
my Dream Job--------Thrilling and exciting!!
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