A Lesson: Just Keep Trying ...

[mrdreamjeans]

I just got a wonderful piece of news over the phone! After 14 years on the road as Monsieur Firmin in the Music Box Company of "The Phantom of the Opera", my friend and former co-worker, David Cryer, is going to take over the role on Broadway!! Many people know David as the father of Jon (Two and a Half Men) or former husband of Gretchen (writer of "Im Getting My Act Together"), but I know him as a caring, loyal friend of 28 years, a Broadway leading man of the late 60s and 70s, the second Juan Peron on Broadway, an occasional tour roommate, a loving husband to Britt, doting father of six and grandfather of four ... at last count.

David has played Monsieur Firmin for a decade and a half, never missing a show to illness, only taking one week's vacation a year. He's put his three middle children through college during his years on "Phantom" and his youngest is studying at Washington University in St Louis. It will be a big change for David and Britt. They will actually be seeing each other daily for the forseeable future. David's joy came across in his message ... He is thrilled to return to Broadway after 20 years away (and at the age of 70)!

It's a lesson to learn ... never, never give up on a dream ...

Congratulations, David!!!

Comments

[bonkishnurtaz.livejournal.com]

That's great news; congratulations to your friend! ;-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

He's very deserving of this opportunity and affirmation for his loyalty. David's been "Dad" to several cycles of actors in "Phantom" and is one of the good guys.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

So what's YOUR dream role? I don't think I've ever seen you write/talk about it. A steady gig in a favorite musical Las Vegas? Taking over a Broadway role? I'm curious to find out what you'd like to do if given any opportunity you wished ...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

If I was given the opportunity, I would choose to originate a role on Broadway in a successful new musical. I'd like to do character work in several Sondheim musicals including The Beadle in "Sweeny Todd" ... I'd like to plan "Alan" in Maltby & Shire's musical "Baby", to play the Padre for an extended run or tour of "Man of La Mancha"; I'd like to play Annas in "Jesus Christ Superstar" again, the Governor in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", play Bazzard in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" ... most of all, I'd like to star in "Les Miserables" as Jean Valjean. I'd also like to do a cabaret act and have several of my original songs recorded by other performers.

That oughta take me to 70 ... *grin* Thanks for answering, it made me think:)

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping YOU won't have to wait 30 more years (*cough*) for YOUR dream to come true.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Yep! I have only one friend who is still doing roles on television at the age 80:)

Course - his big break came when he was near 70... *grin*

Thanks for the *cough*:)

HUGS!

[sohipithurts.livejournal.com]

I love a good bit of news. And I love his son in "Two And A Half Men". That show is one of my guilty pleasure. Now you're next in line for a Broadway gig.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Jon is very good on that series. I watch it sometimes on my night off.

As to your final sentence ... "From your mouth to God's ear" as the saying goes:)

As I mentioned, it is unfinished business for me till I get one ...

Big Hugs!

Never give up on a dream

[mightyrunt.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to David. I saw him in 1776 and Chess - a show I adored even though it was misdirected for Bwy. Despite my particular fondness for seeing Bwy disasters (favorites = Rockabye Hamlet, Legs Diamond and Dance of the Vampires) I did manage to miss Come Summer. Tell me - will he be going into the show in time to perform the record breaking performance on 1/9/2006? I hope so. That would be true icing on the cake.

Never give up. I guess so. In the early 90's I passed an extremely difficult professional exam but NYS would not recognize the auditing work I did to grant me the actual CPA license. So that meant I had to switch jobs. At the time I was well over 50 but I wanted that license so bad I said let's go for it. I went from an environment that had no computers to one that was totally computerized with coworkers over me half my age. Two of which made my life totally miserable for two years. In the end I was finally fired. It was a shock even though I was long expecting it to happen. I was ready to give up and simply become a bookkeeper and leave it at that.
But I still wanted to be the winner. I wanted to be the one to get the brass ring. I wanted that license. It represented a degree of success that all my life up till then I was never able to attain. It was my late friend Annie who pushed. She told me I've come this far and not to throw in the towel. Well a month later I was hired by another firm and in February of 2000 I was able to add CPA to the end of my name.


So here I am now at the tender age of 60 at another crossroads. Again I'm thinking of a career change to the next level. I'm still wavering to start the ball rolling. I'm too old, too gay, too short and so forth even though in the back of my mind I really want to. Hearing that John was able to achieve his success at 70 is the kind of example I need.

Thanks Neil

Bob

Re: Never give up on a dream

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It's nice that you know so much about David's career. I remember working with him in "Desert Song" in 1977. He was the leading man and I was doing my first show for Theater Under the Stars in Houston. I was 23. David was 40. (I thought he was ancient:)

David met his wife Britt while doing that show. She was our choreographer. Here we are 28 years later.

I'm delighted that you kept after your goals. I believe we should never give up on completing a goal just because of age. Four years ago, my mother said to me, "Neil, Why don't you go to law school and become an entertainment lawyer like you planned when you graduated with your history degree?" I replied, "I don't think so. I'd be 50 by the time I got my law degree." Her reply .... "You'll be 50 anyway" ....

There's all different kinds of success to achieve ... success in career ... success in being a loving friend ... success in being a contributing member of society. We are NEVER too old to dream or to realize one ... everything is possible if we believe it to be....

Hugs!

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

It couldn't happen to a nicer man. Yay!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

He's certainly been nice to both of us! When we were together and you weren't on the road with me, he was always the first to ask how you were and when your next visit was. It always meant a lot to me that he made no distinctions in relationships. He just wanted us to be happy. YAY indeed!

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

David's going to take over in January, right? Sometime after the big "We Passed Cats" celebration? My Friend Tim Jerome is in that role (unless he's the *other* manager) and he'll be leaving after the big hoopla to go do Tarzan, which (believe it or not) is already in rehearsal!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I don't know those details, but David wouldn't announce it in his letter unless it was happening soon. Amazing that "Phantom" will pass "Cats" with all of those lives:)

ps ... I sent John and you a card yesterday from DC. Be on the look out ... :)

HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I can use advice ... right now, it feels like life will end as I know it after "Evita". I've got the gig in Seattle, but am getting caught up in the details of getting there and back .. Do I drive or fly? Where will I stay that I can afford? I've been hired as a local, so housing is up to me, not the theater. It's a bit scary ... after the two shows today, it's only six weeks and the tour closes. Part of me is very ready ... the part of me who likes to be employed is not:)

We fly to Providence tomorrow afternoon. I should be in my hotel in the early evening. If that's not good for you, during the day on Tuesday is fine too. I'm not sure when your holiday break ends and new semester begins...

I've missed reading your posts and communicating with you.

HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Give me a holler! I look forward to it! Remember, that I will be in Providence and two hours ahead of you. I think my sound check is at 5pm. However, if I miss you, please leave a message and I'll call you back as soon as possible! HUGS!