This week, I was reminded of my brush with Donna McKechnie. It was back in 99 or 2000, I think. I was still living in New York and had just had my brush with the dreaded C word. I didn’t think I would ever sing again. But, my friend Bob Cline called me up and told me he had signed me up for an audition and he would not be taking any excuses, I had to go. Bob is a casting agent and was casting for the Cleveland Playhouse’s production of A Little Night Music.
Years before, I had played Petra. I knew what she was about and was confident that I would be able to pull The Miller’s Son out of my head with ease. I hadn’t sung in about 6 months and was nervous as all get out! Auditions have never really been my friend. I find them difficult, at best. Not having done any singing at all for 6 months, was not making my nerves any better.
Anyway, I arrive early and sit on a folding chair in the
hallway outside the studio. I put down my bag, get out my headshot and make
sure my music is in order. It’s only then that I glance at the woman sitting
next to me. It’s Donna freakin McKechnie! She is there to audition for Desiree.
Let me say that again…Donna McKechnie was there to audition for Cleveland
freakin Playhouse’s production of Little Night Music.
All sorts of thoughts rushed through my head. Mainly…”Really!?! You win a Tony and you still have to audition?” “Really!?! Cleveland Playhouse thinks they are all that, that when a Tony winner would agree to grace your theatre, you have them audition?” “Really!?! If this only seems crazy to me and not to Donna McKechnie, do I want to still be doing this?” Cause if you win a Tony and you still have to schlep your crap to an audition for anything other than a Broadway show, why continue? Shouldn’t it get easier? Shouldn’t there be some reward for reaching the highest pinnacle in our business? Would not auditioning anymore be asking too much?
I sat there and watched her get up and go into that room and sing Send in the Clowns for them. 2 minutes later, out she came to get her stuff and go. I was stunned.
Oh, yeah I sang great. If it wasn’t for Bob forcing me to go in for something, I probably wouldn’t be singing to this day. He saved my life. Nothing less. But, the day definitely put things in perspective for me. We will always be asking for others acceptance and praise in this business. It never gets easier. But, if you don’t love it…if it doesn’t save your life to sing for 16 bars once a week with a captive audience sitting in front of you…don’t do it. Life is short. Rejection lasts only a moment. But, singing is like breathing to me. I have to do it, or I won’t survive.
