Changing Lives

It's Frank DiLella with New York 1's On Stage

We're here for the opening night of Eleanor!

The Elanor Roosevelt Musical

Let's talk process

When I'm in character

I go insane

I stagger, I stammer, I sob

I make the audiences feel my pain

And if they don't leave depressed

Then I've not done my job

Each time I've found a role like Eleanor

The artist inside of me thrives

I put on my wig

And those prosthetic teeth

And know I'm changing lives

By the time I get tuberculosis in Act Two

Even the people who are dead inside

Will Shout

Bravo!

On Cue

The first review is in!

The New Jersey Star-Ledger

Don't tell me

Unless it's a rave or a mixed-positive

It says we're a hit!

OMG

We're a hit and I think we deserve it!

That's for sure

Also it means that this tour de force

Will not be forced to tour

To Eleanor!

May she run for eternity!

To Eleanor!

Here's to a show that's so inspiring

It's almost too much to sit through

And if we've won that might mean one more thing

That in ten years or so, we'll do Eleanor 2!

I can predict what the reviews will say

Before the next note has arrived

It's ground-breaking

Earth-Shaking

Life-affirming

Breath-taking

Gut-wrenching

Heart-aching

In two words it's

History-making

That's why every actor strives

For congratulation

And compensation

That comes from nightly

Changing Lives

It's just what we do