The toast I would give if I weren’t going to BlogHer’11

On Thursday I leave for the BlogHer conference where I’m speaking and hosting a Listen To Your Mother Open Mic Salon. My only regret is that I cannot join a celebration in Grand Lake, Colorado honoring The brand new state-of-the-art Rocky Mountain Repertory Theater where I met my husband 15 years ago, and the couple that helped make it happen. Here is the toast I would like to have given:

“Chastity” from Anything Goes, RMR 1996

A college senior at my first Statewide Auditions, I wore my new red “professional actress” dress with a pleather binder full of headshots tucked under my right arm.  I digested my callback sheet with a mix of dismay and relief. My initial response—dismay—came from the shock that the entire world was not awaiting the ingenue Ann Krinsky I had become. O, the ego of the college theater queen who has played one too many leading ladies. A sobering wave of relief quickly followed—that any checkmarks appeared at all.

I approached the designated classroom first on my list for callbacks and noted some photos of what looked to me like a set from Dirty Dancing—a beautiful mountain vista, rustic log-cabins, and lots of good legs. I quickly scanned the boys and found at least one cute one, so that was encouraging. Filling out my audition form, I noticed that this theater—The Rocky Mountain Repertory— planned to do Fiddler On The Roof that summer. JACK. POT. Having excelled in the thespian diaspora at the University of Wisconsin, I saw myself finally making theatrical Aliya by getting to play the Jewess I actually was. No more worrying about the lights making my schnoz look too schnozzy, I was ready to grapevine my way to Anatevka, Colorado.

Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce photo

 I can’t remember if I paused for a quick peptalk or a neckroll, but I put on my Hodel-you-want-to-hire-face and went into my callback.

You know in old westerns how someone walks in the door, the music stops, and everyone turns? It was nothing like that. I walked in the door and this adorable couple—Judy and Skelly as I would learn to call them—held hands on stage doing a little soft-shoe number while my potential Jewish husband piano player accompanied them. Turns out Michael, then musical director now artistic director, wasn’t Jewish (although he could sing a mean Kol Nidre when hired), nor potential husband material…for me or my gender anyhow. Instead of everyone studying me as I entered the room, I felt like an invited guest to Judy, Skelly, and Michael’s home full of friendly, musical theater-y, not super tall people.

So, I sang and ac-TED! Little did I know that I would not only win the prize role of Hodel, but that Far From The Home I Love I actually would find a husband (a significant feat considering the platinum Carol Channing wig I had to wear every third night–see above), and I would find the love and friendship of The Warrens for many years to come.

As part of the RMR Road Crew who helped bring the sets and costumes from Wisconsin to Grand Lake, I learned that Judy and Skelly met at the RMR some years before—her a raven haired Jewish dancer, him a red-headed non-Jewish actor. [INSERT FORESHADOWING HERE]. I also got to meet the Warren children. I fell in love with little Livie. She was 7 or 8 at the time, precocious and adorable. I remember her huge smile, her big brown eyes, and her using the word “inadvertently” while chastising Skelly for a perceived breach of cabin fire code involving curtains and a radiator. Sold! I wanted a girl just like her. I didn’t get to know Josh and Jake as well because they spent their days riding bikes and becoming teenagers and not ogling the college-aged actresses much at all. Every Friday we held hands and sang blessings and ate pork-chop Shabbat dinners. And wouldn’t you know I found my own red-headed non Jew to bring along?

It amazes me that fifteen years have passed. I’m overwhelmed at the calibur of performers and level of excellence the RMR has attained under Judy, Skelly, and Michael’s care. It positively baffles me that Ben and I have been married 12 years, and have 4 and 7 year-old sons because I walked into an audition room, Ben made a video of himself drumming, and Judy, Skelly and Michael saw fit to hire both of us.

What doesn’t surprise me at all is the happiness that Judy and Skelly continue to share between one another and with their family. I’m not sure I’ve encountered another couple where love is so abundant and evident—not just at the theater but in their home and in their grown children (and grandson Max I’ve had the pleasure to meet) and especially in their laughter.

Thank you Judy and Skelly—for hiring me for the best summer of my life, for sharing your love and hospitality so generously, and for giving me a marriage to aspire to. Mazel Tov on the gorgeous new theater, Kol Ha Kavod (all the honor) for this theatrical legacy you helped create. We love you guys. We miss you. Happy anticipatory Birthdays!

Judy, Skelly, Josh, Olivia & Jake, Closing Night “Fiddler On The Roof” 1996