Message Board Celebrity Of The Day (Part II) - Shameless- Page 23

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 11:38am

Congratulations Patonus and enjoy your day!

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 11:43am

Methinks Anji would have something to say about that

I watch The Feud at lunch and I always find myself making fun of the contestants. "Good answer! Good answer!"

[katygrace84]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 11:45am

Mr. Patronus, sir, I would like to know what silly thing (beating someone at Trivial Pursuit, perfecting a recipe, etc.) you are most proud of.

[wexy]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 11:49am

Congrats Patronus :)

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 12:18pm

Patronus was on my short list when it came time for me to choose a CotD. I'm glad to see his day has come. Congratulations!

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 1:08pm

I've been waiting for this! Much congratulations.

[Stagedoor2]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 1:37pm

Congrats Patronus -- enjoy your day in the spotlight!

Posted: 2/23/06 at 1:44pm

Now this is a Celebrity of the Day I can get on board with! Congratulations Mr. P!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 1:48pm

Claire did this for me, and I pass the buck to you.




Bono says congratulations, Stephen!

My questions...since you gave me such good ones......I ought to throw it right back at you!


1. Longest you've gone without changing your underwear.

2. What is a surprising dream/goal/fantasy of yours?

3. What behavior or little quirks make you tick?

4. What's been the best and worst part of BWW Idol so far?

5. You've got Bono's undivided attention for 20 minutes. There's an acoustic guitar, a mechanical bull and a couch. (You don't HAVE to use them, I'm just saying the opportunities are there.) What do you do?

Updated On: 2/23/06 at 01:48 PM

[DG]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 1:54pm

"Now this is a Celebrity of the Day I can get on board with!"

*sigh*

I think they all are, in their own unique way.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 1:56pm

What travel plans do you wish to carry out?

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 2:02pm

Wooooot, Emcee Norbie is back!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 3:26pm

"What travel plans do you wish to carry out?"

I know the answer to this one, "Actually making it on the plane, and if I get there, actually making it to a show I have tickets to."

I kid. I kid the Celebrity.

[Patronus]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 3:54pm

All right, I have pulled pieces of this from previous writings about it, but this sums up both the "How I Became a Rent Fan" and the "How did I meet Anji" questions:

I am on my lunch break and will answer all the others I can to get caught up. Sorry for being such a boring MBCotD thus far. I promise - we'll party tonight!

In 1996, my music and drama teacher from high school who was also a very good friend took me to New York for the first time to see my favorite show at the time, Les Miserables. Back then, I was listening almost exclusively to more "traditional" musicals. Les Miz, Phantom etc. I wasn't so much into the rock operas.

On a Wednesday evening in December of 1996, my theatre dream was going to come true. I was going to see Les Miserables. There was only one small obstacle before I could see Marius, Eponine and the gang. I had to sit through a show that afternoon that my friend wanted to see. This new show that made some noise and did well at the Tony awards. Rent.

I have to admit that I didn't really care if I saw it or if I didn't, but it was important to Ken, so I decided to go.

Three years earlier Ken had a bone marrow transplant and was doing fairly well after his treatment from leukemia. The "No Day But Today” message applied to him very clearly. I enjoyed the show, but I didn't immediately fall in love with it.

In fact, it wasn't until about 4 hours after we got out of Rent, where I was sitting in Les Miz thinking about Collins, Angel and Mimi's pants (I was 17, after all) before I realized that it had more of an impact on me than I originally thought.

I bought the CD and it went into heavy rotation for the next few months.

Fast forward to April of 1997...

We were going back to New York in April with some friends and one of the things that we wanted to see was Rent for a 2nd time.

Just before the trip, Ken went to the doctor for some routine tests regarding his transplant and he was told that he shouldn't fly because the cabin pressure would cause problems with his immune system.

So...we went to NY without him.

Literally an hour before we went to the show I called to check on Ken and let him know that we were heading to the theatre and I found out he has been admitted to the hospital and wasn't doing very well.

That night Rent touched me in a way that I can't explain in words. The message hit home in every conceivable way. Angel's death as the "light" of the group really tore me up because Ken was a similar light for our group and as cheesy as it sounds, I formed a bond with the show that April night and I will never forget that particular show no matter how many times I see it.

One week later when I was back home in Georgia, Ken's condition worsened and his body rejected the bone marrow transplant and he died. Rent automatically became my support group and helped me get through this experience.

It had found a huge place in my life.

Now...fast forward to December of 1997.

By this time I had formed many relationships with people online who had a similar passion for the show as I did.

When the Benny tour opened with Neil Patrick Harris and Wilson Cruz I knew that i had to see that company so I planned a trip to Los Angeles.

I didn't have a ton of money so I arranged to stay with one of the "LA Rentheads" who I had talked to a lot. The person was Anji. She was picking me up at the airport and I first saw her coming down an escalator as I was waiting at baggage claim. I swear that the moment was only a few seconds, but in my head it was a lifetime. I can honestly say that every memory I have that precedes that moment is tinted with a different hue than every moment since then. I believe it was the first time I felt "complete." It was like one of those really cavity-inducing movie moments where something just clicked and it felt right. We hit it off very well and I dare say it was love at first site. (Hell, isn't that the formula of most musicals?)

We spent the most amazing week together hanging out and seeing Rent, but both of us were a bit saddened because in the back of our minds we knew that this wonderful week was drawing closer and closer to an end.

When my plane finally left on Dec 23, 1997 from LAX airport, both myself and Anji were absolutely devastated and in love.

I spent the next week at home in Georgia an absolute wreck and decided that I was a hypocrite if I didn't live true to the message that I constantly walked around singing - "No Day But Today".

So, on Dec 29, 1997, the one year anniversary of when I first saw the show with Ken, I was on a Greyhound bus bound for Los Angeles with all of my belongings to come live with the Anji.

She and I are happily married and have been for 5 years. We have lived together from that day and she is my best friend. We both feel that we were brought together because of the message of the show.

For all of us back in late 90s, it wasn't just about the show. It was about the friendships that were formed as a result of the experience of "the rent line." A group of people who didn't always feel that they fit in individually, but worked as cohesive unit that have one love in common.

I realize this story is a bit "fairy tale" and "cheesy" but it's real and true. I have lost a great friend and gained a wonderful companion and all the time Rent was playing somewhere in the background.

[DG]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 3:57pm

Patronus - that was wonderful - thank you.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 3:58pm

That is a beautiful story.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:00pm

Congrats, Patronus!

I will have to think up some brain-taxing questions for you later in the day, but for now, enjoy some (virtual, and therefore calorie-free) cake!

Hope you're enjoying your day!

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:01pm

WOOHOO!

Mazel Tov, Patronus!

[Patronus]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:13pm

Thanks DG and Kerrie. Later on, when I am here for the night - I'll rant about why I now feel distanced from the show.

beacon1 asked:
Questions:
1. What will be on your epitaph?

"Here lies Stephen. I am surprised he actually made it."

2. What last three books did you read--and would you recommend any of them?

- "Without You" by Anthony Rapp (I cautiously recommend it if you are a Rent fan)
- "Sondheim: A Life" by Meryle Secrest (It's a slow read because I am studying him, but I'd recommend it.
- "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown (It's a decent way to waste a couple of hours. Why not?)

3. What is your favorite sandwich filling?

My ideal sandwich is low fat turkey with lettuce, pickles, mustard and tomatoes. Simple, but good.

4. Where do you go for spiritual refreshment?

Disneyland. As someone who describes their religion/spiritual side as a journey that is still in progress - one of my favorite ways to remind myself that there must be some higher power is to see children at play and happy. Of course, that is not the snot nosed spoiled brats, but I mean the kids who are generally thrilled and excited to be there. It gives me hope and I think that is a key to any spiritual life or belief.

5. Have you ever worked on your genealogy?

Not really. I have never met my birth father and while I am okay with that, I have no interest in knowing his side of things. At this stage of my life and more focused on where I am going instead of where I came from. Someday perhaps I'll look into it.

Kitzy asked
1. What is your favorite Audrey Hepburn movie and why?

Roman Holiday. I love the fact that it was before she was larger than life Audrey Hepburn. She was a virtual unknown in the film just as she was in her career then.

2. If Anji gave you a free pass, who would your choice be and why?

Angelina. Jolie. Why? Have you seen her? That woman is the visual personification of sex.

3. What would you like to be remembered for?

Above all else, being a generous and compassionate person.

4. If you could be any tree, what tree would you be?

The tree outside Angelina Jolie's window.

Or a dogwood tree.


cautiesus1522 asked
1. What show has had the most impact on you personally and why?

Rent. See above a few posts.

2. If you could pick one Broadway show that every young person (16-24) in America had to see what would it be and why?

I can't really answer that. There are a lot of shows I enjoy, but if young people were forced to see something it wouldn't be as much of an experience as it would be an assignment.

I fully believe that we find 99% of the things and people that matter most in our lives when we aren't looking for them or being told to see them.


3. Who is the one guy you would change your sexual orientation for (you know there is one!)?

Hmmm, probably Johnny Depp - though I do fear that he probably smells like cigarette smoke which would turn me off a bit. I also have to say that Ace Young on American Idol is pretty damned dreamy.

4. If you could change only one policy in American politics what would it be?

Probably term limits. As a democracy, I hate the fact that we aren't allowed as voters and citizens to say "You know what? I like that person as President and I want him for 12 years instead of 8. I'd like to have enough confidence in Congress and the American Citizens to realize if a situation was becoming too much of a dictatorship to realize that change is needed.

Updated On: 2/23/06 at 04:13 PM

[Patronus]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:16pm

Thanks BS!

Okay, now I have to get back to work. I should be back around 8:40 EST. Hopefully they'll be lots of fun questions waiting for me in additions to the ones I still haven't answered.

I am have a lot of fun with this and it's forcing me to think about myself a bit here. Again, I am humbled and honored by this. Thank you everyone!

[KelRel]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:19pm

Patronus, that was amazing. I am so glad that you and Anji found each other. I wish you both nothing but happiness.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:38pm

If you hadn't already been in my Top 5 posters on bww...you would be there now.

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:41pm

chita33 sends you a big hug and congratulations!

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:44pm

In the spirit of all that is pompus and overblown, I bring you a questionare which has been answered by many a celebrity here at the Actor's Studio. Created by Bernard Pivot, they are probably the most important questions ever posed by humanity.

1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off?
5. What is your favorite curse word?
6. What sound or noise do you love?
7. What sound or noise do you hate?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 2/23/06 at 4:49pm

Patronus not only is that a wonderful story, which I don't think I will ever tire of reading, I'm also always impressed by your eloquence. You are so good at putting your thoughts into words, not just with the Rent story, but with all of your answers.

Also, "Here lies Stephen. I am surprised he actually made it." is laugh out loud funny.