When I was 16 and had my driver’s license it became apparent that I could also take on the responsibility of having a job. Thankfully, I had the trust and encouragement from my parents to pursue a rather odd profession, that of a theatrical sound designer.
At 16 I had been running the sound board for my High School’s various plays, musicals, music recitals, and other odds and end productions for 2 years. It was an interest I sort of fell into during the first semester of my freshman year. Upon entry into high school I had the dream, as many of us do, that I would audition for the school play and wow the director into offering me the lead role. This was not to be…not even close for many reasons.
To start, exiting seniors are chosen as leads in plays and musical, sort of their final grand “hurrah” before heading out into the world. Second, my looks are not what anyone thinks of when you say, “Leading lady”. Short, curly haired, big busted Jewish girls are not what Cole Porter had in mind for Anything Goes. Now, we get to the true crux of why I was not chosen…my acting, my singing, and my dancing. As a child and even early adulthood I took private singing lessons and was also fairly active in gymnastics and dancing. It would be a stretch of the imagination to say that I was remarkable at either. I was mediocre, but I insisted on believing it was favoritism that led to my career in technical theater rather then being in the spotlight.
So when the callbacks were posted for the Fall play, it was with great disappointment that I did not see my name on the list. What I did see was a flyer requesting people for backstage help. My daydreams took flight once again. I would be backstage for opening night. The show’s young female lead would suddenly be gripped by stage fright at the last moment temporarily throwing the future of the show into chaos. Based on this irrational, I gladly signed up for backstage duty.
Long story short, 3 people were selected from the tech crew (as we were called) to work the sound board and the 2 spot lights (the lighting board was operated by a professional). I presume that the people the drama teacher chose were special in some way, perhaps more intelligent then the other people teching the show. Hindsight being 20/20, I now see that she just wanted the big burly young men to push the set pieces around and deal with props while the weaker sex was relegated to lights and sound. Harsh of me to surmise, yet wholly accurate.
This story is to be continued….
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I think, having been in high school theater with you, that it was more nepotism than favoritism (with the directors' daughters always in the shows, and whoever their best freidns were), and while I know some people think I was given roles out of favoritism (I having had a lead as a Sophomore instead of as a Senior) I like to think it was because I'm pretty f#@!ing good at singing. It's the only thing I'm really good at, so I choose to be proud.
I think you are an awesome actress as you proved in Hello, Dolly! and if they couldn't see it, it was because you didn't hang out with their daughters.
I'd like to add that looking back on my life, high school theater was the happiest I have ever been, and it is also the reason you and I became good friends, and we are, for some reason, still good friends, and I am thankful for that. You are one of the most precious people in my life.
I hope this doesn't detract from your memoire or its emotional impact.
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