By Jennie Eisenhower

I graduated from Northwestern University and, after a summer stock contract at Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, Indiana, I moved straight to New York. I shared a one bedroom with my friend from school, the talented Mark Ledbetter. I took the bedroom and he slept on a pullout in the living room. How I got away with that arrangement for a full year, I still don’t know. Mark is a saint. I had been doing the wait-all-day-at-Equity thing for a couple of months when my agents at the time, Dulcina Eisen and Associates, called with an appointment for Gateway Playhouse’s “Godspell.” I went in and sang and then goofed around in some very wacky improv scenes and Gateway decided I was their gal. It was an Equity contract and with it I got into the union. I remember one of the most thrilling experiences after getting my card was being able to walk right into the Equity lounge and use the bathroom instead of having to go to the McDonalds! I am based in Philadelphia now, and I am very grateful to have my card and be a working actor – and to no longer have to share a one bedroom!