“I wish…”
“Oh — if life were full of movements, every now and then a bad one. But if life were only moments, then you'd never know you had one.”
During my Juilliard years, I had a work-study with the Alumni Department. Part of my responsibilities included working at special alumni events at designated Theater, Dance and Music Department performances. One ordinary evening at a dance event, I stood at the registration table lined with name tags prepared for the alumni who registered for the event.
”Any moment, big or small, is a moment, after all.”
Unfortunately (but fortunately), the table was near the entrance of the Peter J. Sharp Theater. Many people walked to the table first thinking that we were the box office and requested to pick-up their tickets. I spent most of the evening directing people to the actual box office.
”Bit by bit, putting it together…”
Then an older gentleman walked up to the table and hastily asked for his ticket. With a quick glance, I saw that the man was wearing baggy khakis and a large brown sweater. I did not think that he was a dance alumnus but nevertheless I reached for the list of attendees and asked for his name.
“May I have your name, sir?”
“Stephen Sondheim”
”So many possibilities…”
If I reacted, I don’t remember. In a split second, I had to make a decision.
”Anything you do, let it come from you.”
A) freak out
B) share with him my personal Sondheim journey, including listing my favorites songs, favorite musical and favorite lines from my favorite musical
C) break out into song
D) just be cool
E) burst into tears
”Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.”
All I could say was,
“I’m sorry, Mr. Sondheim but your ticket is not here.”
And then I directed him over to the box office.
“Best to take the moment present as a present for the moment…”
I have replayed this moment at least a thousand times in my head since this event in 2005. Did I imagine all that? Was it a dream?
… and 16 years later, I am still not sure what I could have said to Stephen Sondheim.
I could have said…
…that I grew up with watching musicals and loved his music.
…that I played in the pit in college for Into the Woods, which is my (probably) my favorite Sondheim musical.
…that I worked for the local community theater during my undergraduate years where I played several musicals. When they gave me Sweeney Todd, it was the first time I thought, “wow, finally a score that is a challenge to play” and it made me love the piece even more.
“Let the moment go. . . . Don't forget it for a moment, though.