Dreaming, wide awake…

This past weekend I had the opportunity to see a dear friend of mine make his Broadway debut at the age of 45. Now over the last 20 years he has proven himself to be a highly accomplished actor. He has major regional theatre credits including having originated roles in many new plays by playwrights you know. He has done extensive work on television and film and has an MFA in Acting from one of the top programs in the country. It is almost laughable how many times he has been replaced or ‘passed over’ by a more recognizable ‘name’ actor. I have seen his work a number of times and I will say that he is the most gifted actor I have ever seen in person. He has built a career and a life around an utmost respect for the work and the joy of the craft. What was fantastic about watching him take his inaugural Broadway bow was that he did not allow it to validate him in any way. He has made his living as an actor in NY for as long as he has been here and that is what he set out to do. I think even he may have been surprised with what hit him in his final moment on that stage – the gratitude and reverence for the work, the humble respect for his audience, the gravity and history of the space and the legacy he at long last became a part of – and it was extraordinary to witness. You may not recognize his name or his face but his career and the grace with which he has built it are what I aspire to. Even if he is never a ‘recognizable’ actor, this man is a star to me.