The summer after my freshman year at UCLA, I was hired to do chorus and play some small parts at Melodyland Theater in Anaheim, Calif. (It’s a church now.) A few months before, I had driven out there from UCLA – my car full of other theater hopefuls. We were all auditioning for a couple of chorus jobs that were available. The experience of that open call almost chased me right out of the business. But somehow, later on that spring, I had another chance to audition and was hired. That summer, I worked with Kathryn Grayson, Betsy Palmer and Noel Harrison. I actually slept in my car for part of it, but it was worth it. I was now a member of Actors’ Equity.
