Soon after World War II, I was at Yale Drama School as a first year student. I managed to get the part of the oldest daughter in Curt Goetz's It's A Gift – on Broadway, no less.
I was fired on the fifth day of rehearsal but then re-hired, and the show did go on (but closed after six weeks). Nevertheless, I was so pleased to be earning $250 a week that I felt rich by the time the final curtain came down. I received my Equity card when I was cast in this play, and as they say, the rest is history.
Editor’s Note: In 2001, then Equity President Patrick Quinn and Executive Director Alan Eisenberg petitioned the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards Committee to recognize Julie Harris’ accomplishments. In 2002, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to her at the Tony Awards ceremony
