SUNRISE TO SUNSET

[mrdreamjeans]

It astonishes me how quickly the ’80’s have become 4 decades ago. Yesterday, it suddenly clicked it’s been 40 years ago this year that I joined the National Tour of “Fiddler on the Roof” in San Francisco. Though employment only lasted four months after I was hired as a replacement, “Fiddler” holds a treasured place in my heart.

In 1981, I left the National Tour of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” during its sit-down run in Las Vegas. I had been nursing a knee injury, wearing two knee braces every performance; after two years of whooping and clog dancing in cities across the country, in Vegas, the injury worsened; it was especially painful dancing two shows a night at 8pm and midnight, six days a week on it. I made the decision to leave in order to avoid knee surgery. It was a terrifying decision! I loved doing the show ... working with the actors in the cast, almost all Houstonians, many who were long time friends, but my health had to come first. So, three weeks into the Vegas run, I left the tour. (The show played over a year at the Desert Inn, now long gone.)

Fortunately right after I left “Whorehouse” I was cast in a musical at The Alley Theatre in Houston, “The Red Bluegrass Western Flyer Show”. The production didn’t require as much dancing and I had the opportunity to understudy Arlen, the male lead. It remains my one and only credit at The Alley; but, I got to work for the legendary Nina Vance and with the wonderful stalwart of The Alley’s acting company actress Bettye Fitzpatrick.

After, TRBWFS closed, I was at loose ends. I decided to take a vacation in San Francisco, to fly out for an audition for a local musical. A couple days into my vacation, I dropped by the stagedoor of The Orpheum Theater. During the run of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” in San Francisco at that theater, I’d become friends with the doorman, Leo. To my delight, Leo was on duty that afternoon, working the run of “Fiddler on the Roof”. To my surprise, Leo told me auditions were being held for replacements at that very moment and then asked me if I would like to meet the Production Stage Manager. I answered, Hell, yes!

Leo introduced me to the PSM Jim Bronson. I told Jim a bit about my background. He asked me if I wanted to sing for him right then and there. It was a moment that changed my life. I actually had a headshot, resume and music with me. It all happened so fast, I didn’t have time to overthink the audition or get anxious. I remember singing “All Good Gifts” from Godspell for the audition (a very odd choice for “Fiddler”), but it was the sheet music I had with me. Immediately after, Jim said, “Don’t ever sing that song for an audition again, but you sounded great!” LOL! He asked if I could start right away. I said yes and began rehearsals three hours later; I went into the show three days later. I didn’t go home to Houston for four months.

After runs in San Diego (where I turned 28, celebrating with cast members on the beach in La Jolla) and Los Angeles, the tour ended when the star Herschel Bernardi abruptly decided to close the show. Yet, it remains a wonderful experience. By working those few months in the Fiddler national tour, I met Herschel, Fyvush Finkel, Paul Lipson and several other wonderful people who were positive influences in my life. I’ve reconnected with a few castmates via Facebook in the past couple of years.

Two months after “Fiddler” closed in 1982, I moved to New York City for the first time and a new chapter of my life began. I arrived in New York with two national tour credits, $10,000 in savings and a dream ... My horse and truck remained back in Texas.

How can that be 40 years ago? I got my Equity card in 1980! There are days when that momentous change in my life is as vivid as if it happened yesterday. In my head and heart, I’m still 28. At 68, the dreams remain unchanged. Sunrise to Sunset.

Comments

[disneydream06]

It astonishes me how quickly the ’80’s have become 4 decades ago.
WOW, it's painful when you put it that way. :o :o :o
Hugs, Jon

[mrdreamjeans]

It was painful putting it into writing.

[disneydream06]

LOL...............

[mrdreamjeans]

But, it's a truth that's not going to change.

[disneydream06]

Well, we can always do like Bonespur and just lie about it. LOL.....

[mrdreamjeans]

Bonespur would lie about his mother ...

[disneydream06]

Probably already has. :o

[mrdreamjeans]

I'm certain he has!

[bill_schubert]

Lovely story.

By comparison, I got my equity card in 1976 but didn't have courage or fortitude in sufficient quantity to shop around with what talent I did have and so migrated back to North Carolina after two years in NYC. In 1980 I joined the Navy and, after OCS, became an officer on Frigates and Cruisers and lots of other ships touring the world, saving some people, and generally having fun with sonar, guns and missiles.

Opposite directions around the same time frame.

[mrdreamjeans]

Thank you, Bill!! By 1985, I was back in Texas writing for a weekly newspaper and juggling duties there with performing in musicals in Houston. Plus, add in a 100+ round trip drive between the two. You made that move to NYC at a much younger age than I did.

Any thoughts I might have had about serving in Navy (as my dad before me) were tempered by my increasing certainty I was gay. I could be out in the theater in ways I could not have been anywhere else in 1976 or 1980. I graduated from Texas A&M in 1976.