Clear the Lane

I am sure that Stewart F. Lane is a gentleman and a scholar, a wonderfully smart producer and just an all around good guy.

I have never met or spoken to the man.

I have seen "his" work: he produced "Jay Johnson: The Two and Only" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie." He has also produced the Kevin Kline "Cyrano de Bergerac" and the Broadway transfer of "The 39 Steps" for Broadway.

I very much wish Mr Lane's publicity firm, 5W Public Relations in New York, would leave me the flock alone. I've asked them to go away. They don't listen.

Every, oh, five weeks or so, I get a press release suggesting a story idea about the Broadway climate or entertainment in general and offering Stewart F. Lane -- naturally -- as a source. The first contact was made over the publication of Lane's book "Let's Put on a Show." I passed on a feature. Then the pitches started coming.

I have explained to 5W Public Relations that I am the Los Angeles Daily News not the NY Daily News, that I don't write about Broadway, and that if I have a story for which Stewart F. Lane would be appropriate, I WILL CALL THEM. I have gone so far as to ask them to STOP contacting me. No good. they have to ring my e-bell with every new thought.

So here in this blog space is the ink that 5W Public Relations believes Mr Lane so desperately needs. "Let's put on a Show" is a How-To guide to staging a show at any level mixed with personal producer-ial anecdotes. If anybody out there checks it out, let me know.