Message Board Celebrity Of The Day (Part I) - papalovesmambo- Page 109

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:32pm

mmmm - first actual ON Broadway show was "I Do I Do" with Gordon MacRae and Carol Lawrence. Obviously I loved it! The next year my best friend and I came to NY to celebrate being 18. We saw the original cast of "Hair". You can't begin to understand how wonderful it was. We were the right age, seeing the right show, at the right time. I posted something on here a long time ago about that show. Dancing with the cast under the stage 'snow' and then walking outside to a real snow fall. Walking arm in arm with total strangers, singing "Let the Sunshine In". It's the most wonderful memory and it's indelibly etched in my memory. I may forget where I left my teeth some day - but I'll never forget that night!

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:36pm

Oh - thank you, Sing a Song, DG, EVERYONE! You've just made this the most wonderful day! (AND I GET TO WATCH GREG JBARA ON HIS DRESSING ROOM CAM. I'M HAPPY!)

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:38pm

Glad you're having a wonderful day, Mamie.

You deserve the spotlight EVERY day!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:40pm

continues to be amazed with the amazement that is Mamie

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:42pm

Oh no no no no no no no! You can only fully appreciate something as wonderful as this when it comes rarely in your life. And believe me - I appreciate this more than I can say!

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:45pm

"I may forget where I left my teeth some day - but I'll never forget that night!"

In deference to the fact that it is your special day, I will resist the EXTREME urge to make that a sig quote

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:46pm

Ahh Mamie! What a great choice! Always sends very sweet PMs when I'm having a rough time and is really fun to hang out w/ despite our age difference(but I swear, like I always say that does not mean that you are that old...) So happy I got to meet you!

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:47pm

Awe shucks - g'on!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:47pm

Mamie....people have so much to learn from you. That is why you are the Queen..today and everyday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:48pm

I couldn't agree more!

In fact, my friends will tell you I was singing her praises earlier.

I'm delighted that everyone else is getting to know the beauty in our midst.

[wexy]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:49pm

Congrats on your celebrityhood and a wonderful compassionate story.

[Craig]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:49pm

Again (and this is not ego I promise) but I feel so blessed to read everyone's responses to questions being asked of our daily celebrities. I had little to no idea how amazing this thread could/would become when I started it. What was originally thought of as a cute way to cheer on various members of our community has truly turned into a special part of the site to read on a regular basis. So thank you one and all for reading, posting, etc.

If I may put on my moderator/senior editor hat on for a moment - many times threads and names become blurred beyond recognition just because we have thousands of posters and so so many threads that pop up daily. Sure there are certain personalities that are more prominent (not always in the good way ) but I have enjoyed so much learning more about the posters I knew nothing about and more about the ones I thought I did.

Mamie - you are truly inspirational to not only yourself - but so many others just today alone!

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:51pm

A perfect opportunity to say THANK YOU CRAIG!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:51pm

And may I thank you, Craig for having started this thread in the first place? An island of positivity in the OT board...

*applause*

[gettinhep]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:53pm

*stands and cheers loudly*

[Craig]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:54pm

Thanks.. let's focus on Mamie LOL

Oh.. and if you haven't told your PM buddies about this thread - encourage them to visit!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:57pm

I am positively happy to congratulate Mamie!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:12pm

Okay, not so much a question but a request...I've heard some wonderful stories from you in person, Mamie, and I think you should share some of them here. Tell everyone about the book that you ensured would pass into good, caring, theatre loving hands That story gave me a tear in my eye!

I did read through the thread but I have inadvertently skimmed and missed it, but also tell of your experience in working in theatre and DC and such.

And to lighten the mood, one of my personal favs--the story about complaining over a certain autograph

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:26pm

Mamie, I have to head out for the evening... but wanted to leave you with my thanks for sharing all of your wonderful and inspiring stories!

Enjoy your night of glory, and I'll try to get back online later to share in the evening festivities.

XO

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:32pm

Mamie, I have adored you and your posts for as long as I can remember. You truly are a valuable member of this community.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:48pm

Thanks WRQ.

Oh - the book. Well, I've been collecting books since me mum taught me to read (at the old age of 4). When I matured to the age of 6, I started collecting autographs. I still do. Still later came a love for the theatre and all live performing arts. And thus comes THE BOOK.

Some years ago I met a woman who was recently widowed and was selling off some of her husband's posessions. Included was a book that had belonged to his first wife. (She had died a few years before they met.) The first wife grew up in London and was a teenager there during the war. And she was a total theatre fanatic. She went to every play she possibly could and then she would wait after the show at the stage door and get the actors to sign her programs. (Isn't that strange behavor?) She regularly attended the plays put on by the Bristol Old Vic Repertory Company. They had moved into a new theatre when their original theatre was bombed out. A gentleman (who's name escapes me now) wrote a book about the origins of the company and about their theatre. The book was full of photographs taken during the plays produced the previous season. This girl's aunt knew about her love of theatre and bought the book for her. The girl had attended most of those plays pictured in the book and she attached her programs - with their autographs - into the back of the book.
She then took the book with her when she went to the theatre and gathered more autographs.

So this lovely book ended up having three wonderful old programs attached to the back. These were tiny little 4 page programs, about 3x5 inches (paper was being rationed during the war). They were wonderful to look at and each contained instructions to the audience about how to act if the bombs should start to fall! One program (Peer Gynt) was signed by it's star - Ralph Richardson. Two others were signed by Lawrence Olivier. She then got Ralph Richardson to sign the title page. She came back later, with a pencil, and got Sybil Thorndyke, Margaret Leighton, and Michael Warre to sign it. At least 3 of these people eventually ended up being awarded by the Queen but none were "Sirs" or "Dames" then.

Anyone who loves theatre can understand why this book was such a treasure to me. I'm trying to simplify my life by getting rid of a lot of things but I just never knew what to do with it. When I tried to describe it to my family, I'd see glazed over expressions when I started talking. Finally I decided - someone who was a professional actor themselves, someone who loved the art so much that they made it their life's work just might be the right one to give it to. So, when Mr. Jbara invited me to come visit backstage and he gave me the personal tour, I gave him the book. I told him that it was his to do with as he wanted. But I did ask that if he didn't want it, could he please try to find someone who would appreciate it and give it to them. Well, he was thrilled! So much so that he went home that afternoon and told his wife all about it. She came back to the theatre that night and he introduced us. She said he was completely won over by the book. I can't tell you how happy I was to finally get it into a pair of appreciative hands!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:51pm

Mamie, what a fabulous story and experience!! Since we live in the same city, it would be an honor to meet up with you one of these days.

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:53pm

I feel like a wide-eyed child sitting at the knee of a great storyteller - and all I can think is, "Tell us MORE, MORE, MORE!"

[theatrebabe]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 5:00pm

Congrats Mamie!! I have always enjoyed your posts and avatars. Enjoy your day!

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 5:09pm

I'd love to Dottie. I'm usually in town on Wednesdays (I played hookie today - must be fate!) and odd Saturdays when I usher at the Shakespeare Theatre.

I don't think I have anymore stories, DG. I guess it's a good thing this lovely day is ending soon! (Well, it is here on the East coast.)

Oh yes - the 'complaint' about an autograph is just silly. The day I went to the theatre and met Greg, I had a Playbill with me that I had gotten on my first visit to DRS. I wasn't able to see the whole show that day but I held onto my Playbill with it's lovely color cover. I had gotten Joanna Gleason's autograph on that Playbill which made it VERY unique. Joanna is a sweetheart but she isn't comfortable doing the stage door thing so getting her autograph is usually tough! Anyway, I brought it with me the day I went back but I was so excited about meeting Greg and getting the tour that I forgot to get any autographs. I went back that evening and was standing at the stage door, waiting for the cast to come out so I could ask Greg to sign it. I was talking to the woman standing next to me and I told her that I had decided to keep the Playbill 'unique' by only having my favorite couple - Greg and Joanna - sign it. I had no more than gotten these words out of my mouth when the door swung open and John Lithgow came out. He walked right over to me, took the Playbill out of my hand and signed it and gave it back. I just turned back to this woman and said "....on the other hand, maybe I'll try to get everyone to sign it". She said something about how sorry she was that my plans had just been fouled up. I said 'do you know how ridiculous this is? We're standing here complaining about the fact that I just got John Lithgow's autograph!'. It was really funny and I'm completely delighted that he did it. After a few minutes Sherie, Greg, and Sara came out. With WRQ's encouragement I got all of them to sign it. Now if I could just get hold of Norbert.....