What one person learned from Gene Kelly
She was an aspiring actress fed up with the theater, but the famous dancer gave her a new perspective.
from the March 29, 2007 edition
Page 2 of 3
The vintners weren't happy about the loan. Good wine was wasted as they emptied the cask. But the promise of free tickets made up for the deep-purple stain in the grass.
Unfortunately, when I finally made it back to the theater, every ticket for every performance was sold. "A record breaker," the box-office ladies said. "Over 16,000!"
I made an apologetic phone call to the vintners. They still loaned us the prop, but I'd broken my promise to them, and I felt terrible.
That was the proverbial straw that started me thinking about packing my bags. I knew I had to finish the Gene Kelly run, but after that, I decided I would head home. Whatever it takes to survive in the professional theater, I knew I didn't have it. And I decided I never wanted to get it.
On opening night, Mr. Kelly had a 10-minute wait before his entrance, and he walked over to where I was standing in the wings.
"Could you please help me?" he asked. "I have a problem seeing when I come off stage, and I'm on and off so many times. Would it be too much trouble to meet me where I exit and then take me to where I enter again?"
"Of course, sir," I said. "Whatever you need."
And that's how I got to know one of the best-loved dancers of our time.
Every evening about an hour before curtain, Mr. Kelly came into the wings to warm up. There was one other apprentice working the show, and we always made sure our chores were finished so we could secretly watch him.
He caught us doing it early in the run and asked us if we'd like a tap lesson. He taught us one of his own combinations and then said, "I'll check you at intermission. If you've got this one down, I'll teach you another."
RSS feed
