"Now it's your turn to be Mary Ann Singleton..."

After learning I was working with Laura Linney, I debated whether or not I would tell her my story of me, Tales of the City (the book, not this blog), and how it holds an important place in my life. I went through rehearsals not telling her anything and pretty much just being in the background. The fact that her publicist was there as well also meant that I didn't get much personal time with her.

Sunday came and she was also accompanied by a nice gentleman. Her publicist's assistant left her on the red carpet in my more than capable hands and I still debated whether or not to say anything. I kept my cool and my distance. I only went down to see her every other commercial break, took her and her friend to the bathroom backstage, gave her some water. I was the cordial talent escort that I always am for the entire evening. Even backstage as she was prepping herself and going over her script I just stood there and held her purse full of make up. I was about to offer her some water when she put on the first coat of her lipstick or lip gloss or something. It made her look stunning.

The only hiccup came when she went off the wrong side of the stage and wound up on the opposite side away from me. I ran around the back of the stage behind the black curtain (or cyclorama as it is called in theatre parlance) and found her taking pictures with the producers of Henry IV holding the prop Tony Award. I took her back around under the stage and to her seat. She opted not to go back to the gift room as they take pictures of the people receiving their gifts and then use them as publicity for their company. Personally I find it a little tacky and so did she so it was back to her seat at the next commercial break.

But still no story.

At the end of the show, she opted to take the car home rather than go to the party but she was convinced by a friend she met to go to the party for a little while and I took her down the street passing Frank Langella along the way trying to work his cell phone.

Then I decided to tell her (and now you) my story...

When I first moved to NYC, a friend gave me a box with a card taped to it and said that I wasn't allowed to open it until I got to NYC and moved into my apartment. The box was rather heavy so I had no idea what was inside and kinda thought it was some objet d'arte (or however you spell it) for the new apartment.

After I moved in and a day after I was kinda settled, I opened up the card and all it said inside wasm "Now it's your turn to be Mary Ann Singleton." Inside were the two omnibus editions of Armisted Maupin's Tales of the City. I sat down that night and read them both from cover to cover. It flooded me with hope for the new opportunities ahead of me just like Mary Ann Singleton faced when she decided it was time to leave Cleveland, branch out on her own, and move to San Francisco.

The possibilities are still endless.

And I'm still Mary Ann Singleton.