In the summer of 1967 a couple of months before my 6th birthday I went to stay with my grandparents. My Grandfather had fallen from a roof and broke his back and was bedridden and my Grandmother needed help. My parents both worked and my Uncle lived 500 miles away. I was big enough to do things like mow the lawn (with a push mower, not a power mower), take out the trash, feed the dog, vacuum, dust and put the laundry in the washing machine. Grandma and I were doing pretty good....and then....tragedy, my Grandmother fell ill and became bedridden. Now here I was, 5 years old and I am trying to take care of two very sick people. My Mom came over every night and made a couple of meals so we would have something to eat. My Father came and put wheels on the step stool so I could put the clean laundry on the clothes line and then take it down again when it was dry. My life was difficult at this time, but I was never aware of it. I was just doing my duty, as family always does for one another.
As my Grandmother began to get better, and I was relieved of some of the load, we would entertain each other by sitting at the Organ. Grandma would play and I would sing. Grandma told me what a beautiful soprano voice I had and that it made her proud of me. That made me warm inside. Wow, I can make someone happy just by singing. What a wonderful feeling that is.
Grandpa was finally on the mend and life was getting better all the time. Four days before my 6th birthday, Grandma saw a notice in the paper. It said "Young actors wanted to tour in a revival of Annie Get your Gun. No experience needed, but singing will be part of the audition." Grandma asked me if I wanted to try out for this. I asked her what it was about. She told me the story of Annie Oakley. I couldn't imagine what kind of part I would be playing, but I said, "yes, I want to do it".
We went to the auditorium where the auditions were being held. There were so many kids! Boys and girls from age 5 to 10. I was a little scared when I saw all those other kids. They took us into the auditorium in groups of about 12. We would go up in the front of the Producers and they would talk to us and asked us to read little bits of poetry to them. I did quite well as Grandma had taught me to read when I was 4. If you did well enough in front of them they had you go up on stage and sing. Grandma had taught me a little piece to do for the casting director. It was called "I love you truly, Truly dear". You may remember this piece as it's a golden oldie and was used a couple of years later in "Chitty, Chitty, bang bang". I sang my piece and stood there. The Producers and the casting director whispered together for a moment and they told me to please wait. An assistant came and took me over to the side of the auditorium where a few other children, about 8, I think, were gathered.
We sat there and watched as kid after kid went first before the producers and then up on the stage. The casting director would say, "Thanks, next", most of the time, but every once in a while we would get a new member of our little group of "please, wait's". We sat there for the longest time and finally there were no other kids left in the lobby and our little group numbered about 25. They had all the parents come in and Grandma came and found me and asked me what had happened so far. I told her they wanted me to wait, but I didn't know anything else.
Then things started to happen quickly. They brought all of us up on stage and then they would ask different ones of us to step forward and to stand next to a different kid. Some kids were told, "you can go" at this point. Then those of us left were placed next to someone different. When they got down to 10 of us, they taught us just the chorus of "Doin' What Comes Naturally". We sang it together. We sang it alone. We sang it in different groups. Finally, they told us "Thank You, you can go home. If we are going to use you, we will call you".
I knew they needed 3 girls and a boy. I knew that there were only 2 boys and 5 girls left. Every time the phone rang, I jumped. Grandma would rush whoever was on the phone right off. Then, on my 6th birthday, the "call" came. Grandma was told to congratulate me and tell me I would be playing Lil' Jake. I was so excited. Grandpa was doing much better and Grandma would be able to get me to rehearsals and shows and travel with me. My life was about to change!
That show led to a commercial, a little tiny bit of film work and lots and lots of Theatre shows. Some musical and some not. Over the last 41 years, I appeared in more than 100 productions. I have had a long and wonderful career. Have I gotten rich? Hell no, but I have loved every minute that I have been on stage!
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