I was a member of The Group Theatre Workshop [now the Negro Ensemble Company], an acting school for teenagers located in Chelsea that was founded by Robert Hooks. At the time, Robert (Bobby in those days) was starring in Henry VIII for Joseph Papp and the New York Shakespeare Festival [now The Public Theater] in the mobile troupe, which toured New York City Parks.
Members of our workshop were hired by Papp to “open” the show. Hooks and Barbara Ann Teer created a piece for us based on a poem written by Gwendolyn Brooks called “We Real Cool.” While performing in this piece, someone saw me and invited me to audition for an Off-Broadway production of The Prodigal Son, written by Langston Hughes. I had never auditioned for a professional show, so Barbara Ann and Bobby coached me on what to expect. When I arrived at the theatre, I was awe-struck; there were so many actors I had seen before, but certainly never imagined I would be auditioning with. The gods were with me and I was hired by Vinnette Carroll – and was told I had to be a member of Actors' Equity Association to accept the role.
Money was very scarce in those days, so I had to borrow money in order to join the union. I will never forget standing at the union with my card in hand thinking, “I’m a professional actor now.” Equity is my parent union and I always keep my membership current because I can honestly say that I am proud to be a member of this union. Without this membership, my professional journey would not have included such people as Hughes or Frances Foster or Diana Sands or all the founding members of the Negro Ensemble Company and all the other professionals I have had the privilege to perform with all these many years. Thank you, Equity!
