Miss Webb and I discussed this casting situation at great length. She was quick to point out the obvious choice.

I have a great Nina story that "Pirate Steve" told me the other day.
(Pirate Steve is my... I mean Hattie's go go discovery).

So I guess Steve was in "Rent" and Nina Simone came to see one of the performances. After the show they were getting dressed etc. when over the intercom came a message from the front office that Nina Simone loved the show and wanted to meet them. Of course they all started giggling and carrying on like a bunch of stupid queens. Then came over the intercom, "I HEAR YOU BITCHES! I SAID GET UP HERE. NOW!" She ended up taking them all out to dinner.

That's great! I wonder if she thought about doing a song from Rent before she died? She did a song or two from Hair...I think it would totally be appropriate!

And Kevin would be fabulous as Nina.

There is a new Nina remix CD called Remixed And Reimagined, such a p;easant surprise when I perused the racks at Borders the other day.