After I got out of Northwestern in 1979, I ended up doing summer stock at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, New Jersey. They did big musicals – Fiddler, Brigadoon, Little Abner – and we put on 14 shows in 15 weeks. The actors worked seven days a week, non-stop. The only time we had off was on Sunday morning. The pay was $27 per week, plus room and board. It was a great experience, but I knew that I had to get my Equity card somehow. My father owned a jewelry store in Princeton, where I used to help out in his store for the holidays. In December 1980, I came into New York with a customer’s Christmas gifts in a knapsack filled with $120K worth of jewels. Performing Arts Repertory Theatre, a theatre for young audiences company, which became TheatreWorks, was having auditions for a tour of Daniel Boone; I couldn't get into the Equity auditions. The next day, on my way to Penn Station, I went to the non-Equity call, lugging my knapsack full of jewels. Actors were lined up down the stairs and onto the sidewalk. I got in and auditioned and they immediately offered me the second lead, Chief Blackfish. But the tour was leaving in 10 days. "Do you want the job?" they asked. Stunned, I said I'd think about it, and 14 seconds later, I said, "Of course I want the job," knowing that I would get my Equity card.
Oh my gosh! I started rehearsals on and left town 10 days later. I went on the road with seven cast members, a stage manager, scenery, costumes and luggage, all packed into a big van we called the "white whale." We toured 36 states in just under six months. I worked really hard, but I got a paycheck, per diem and health insurance. I worked so hard for that card.
