"We are born astride a grave - WaynesWorldStage.com

actors are signed to contracts. Normally this ruleis not enforced, but our deputy insisted that eachand every rule be enforced. Phillip was a goodactor and a good person, and from the union’spoint of view, he was just doing his job. PhilipBaker Hall may not be a name that you know,but you have seen him in countless movies. Hisstarring role in the film Hard Eight is a trulygreat performance. Anyway, we were not allowedto rehearse until two days before opening, whenMarcia signed her contract. Two days ofrehearsal for a full-scale musical production. Onopening night, Marcia went blank in the middleof her big musical number. After making herexit, she ran to the back of the theatre and begankicking the brick wall. She broke her foot. Nowthis is the incredible part. She could havedemanded to be taken to a hospital. We had nostandbys and we would have had to stop the showand give refunds. She insisted on continuing theperformance even though she must have been ingreat pain. For the rest of the run, she performedin a cast and used crutches.The biggest problem we faced thatsummer was caused by an entertainer namedSammy Davis, Jr. Windsor, Ontario was thehome of a very large nightclub called theElmwood Casino. I had worked out a packagedeal with the Elmwood that offered customers aplay at the theatre and then dinner and a floor118