The Playwright and the Pussycat
Posted at 5:18 AM on December 26, 2008
by Dale Connelly
(11 Comments)
Two iconic show business figures passed this week - playwright Harold Pinter and entertainer Eartha Kitt. I don't know if they ever met, but both were willing to be unconventional in a world that prefers the safe and predictable, and each received their share of celebrity and scorn.
It's interesting to hear about crucial moments in the lives of accomplished people; a seemingly small event that sends them in an unexpected lifelong direction. For Eartha Kitt it was taking a friend's dare to audition for the Katherine Dunham Dance Company.
That led to travel, which led to Paris and work and Orson Welles, who saw her and was impressed enough to offer her a role on stage. In the blink of an eye, she was singing "Santa Baby" and playing Catwoman on TV.
Harold Pinter was an actor until he told his friend, Henry Woolf, about "an odd image" he'd seen of one man cooking and serving breakfast to another, and Woolf asked him to write it as a play for a group of drama students. Ten minutes later, a career is born. Add a few years, and here's your Nobel Prize, buddy.
Sometimes all it takes is a tiny push from one of your pals.
Anyone have a similar experience, where a friend encouraged you to do something and it had long term (positive) ramifications?
Comments (11)
Dear Dale, you are encouraging me to climb upon my soapbox on encouragement. :) I've been "preaching the message" for years on how giving, accepting and owning encouragement can be life-changing. It's been a joy to help a couple of people in music circles step out of the box and actually do what they dreamed of.
As for me, I was in college, interested in radio and the student run station at the time didn't have a news department. My advisor said "why don't you start one?". Believe it or not, I did. By the time I graduated, it was up and running.
Now as I am doing a radio show for baby boomers these days on a volunteer low power FM station in Nashville, I always sign off my show with "be an encourager...be encouraged."
Good Morning Dale and fellow RH Listeners:
Wendy, that is a very cool story ... good for you. While my life doesn't include anything that bold, I did start karate at the age of 49 with my two boys and found something I truly love doing.
It's hard work and has opened a whole new world for me. I'm 51 now and hope to achieve my brown belt in March. My sisters are amazed at me for doing this, as are many people I share it with. I compete in tournaments and place fairly well, as well as have a lot of fun with my boys and the other karate folks I meet.
While it wasn't something anyone else encouraged me to do, others encourage me to continue with it. Thanks for the opportunity to share ...
Joanne
While in high school, my schedule got so busy that I considered quitting high school band. My director encouraged me to weigh my decision carefully. I decided to stay in the band and keep playing. I went on to college and was in the University of MN marching band (first year women were allowed into the band!). I met my husband in that marching band. After college we continued playing in a community band that travels internationally (even played in the Sydney Opera House). We've seen places all over the world, met people and made lifelong friends because of playing music. We also play in the community theater pit orchestra and at church. It's something we really enjoy doing. I encourage anyone who happens to mention it to me they used to play or would like to learn to play that it could take them to places they never dreamed of going!
Thanks, Dale, for the wonderful music and show. I thoroughly enjoy it.
5 years ago, my cousin died at a young age. (55).
In the parking lot after the funeral, I discussed with my sisters how life can pass so quickly, and dreams can change overnight. I told them that I had been thinking of learning to play the harp. They encouraged me to pursue it, although it sounded expensive and there was not a teacher for 100 miles. I now own 3 harps, and play therapeutically at the bedside of my hospice patients. I am 51 and thank my sisters for their encouragement and support. It has changed everything about how I listen to, and hear music.
Well... Dale, Jim Ed and Mike had quite a bit to do with music in my life, too.
Hello Dale, I have an encouraging story... while I spent the bulk of my time from ages 20-40 raising 5 kids, my husband encouraged me to return to college during those years (I worked as a waitress evenings and weekends) to complete my unfinished degree AND to change my focus to Art which is my real passion. I finished my last course for my undergrad degree the week Gus, our fifth child was born. I have had some great art teaching jobs during the last 12 years. He has encouraged me also to draw pictures.
With our oldest now 30 yrs and the youngest 15, we are all thankful that I have something to focus on besides them.
Dale -- a song about the excise man and an offering from Ladysmith Black Mombozo both. Thank you for broadening the playlist in this way. It's great to have the full repertoire back!
Music encourages me, and I like to use it to encourage others. Typically a song from The Morning Show, or these days RH, has been just the right expression at the right time. Recently a friend welcomed home her wayward son, and I gifted her the iTune Home by Bonnie Raitt after hearing it here. She said she cried.
Hi Dale,
Happy Day after! I'll have to go back to listen to your Christmas Day show and visitors, as I, too, was at work yesterday morning. At St. Stephen's in Minneapolis, we host an all-day drop-in center for folks who are poor and homeless--giving them a place to be all day when so many other places are closed.
One of the great victories of the day was that we successfully served breakfast to over 200 people WITHOUT the fire department showing up. (Thanksgiving day, too!). Exhaust hoods cooperated and all was well.
Today, St. Stephen's feast day, features a fundraising party this evening to support St. Stephen's Human Services. I'm in my own kitchen cooking for that, so little risk of fire dept. visits. Any fitting music for such a day and endeavor?
All the best,
Mike
i've got an encouragement story--
when i was a junior at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, i wound up one day sitting at a cafe table with a young woman i discovered was editor of the school newspaper. i told her i'd often wanted to try writing an article for the paper but had been too afraid---she quickly said, "Do it anyway!" next thing i knew, i had an assignment...a year and a half later, i became editor of the school paper myself, and have been an editor and writer ever since. Thanks, Stephanie Kruse, for starting me on my career---and i use the "do it anyway" mantra to help encourage myself to try new things still.
Nothing earth shattering, but practically everything I enjoy in life is a result of a little push that put me outstide of my normal comfort zone. My wife, job, hobbies, and sports. I certainly believe in the age old saying, "nothing ventured, nothing gained".
Thanks for these great stories.
My "push" came from a boss (and friend) Marilyn Heltzer, back when she was in charge of music programming at MPR and needed someone to substitute for Garrison Keillor while he had a week off from his Prairie Home Morning Show.
Why she asked me to do it is a mystery. She may have noticed that Tom Keith and I got along well and had worked together doing some amusing little bits for the news department. She may have noticed that I wasn't working too hard and appeared to have a bit of extra time. She certainly noticed that I was already on the payroll, meaning she wouldn't have to come up with any extra money.
Whatever the reason, because Marilyn had the confidence to ask me, I had the confidence to say yes, even though I was completely terrified.
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