Many of my dialect and voice coaching jobs take place in New York City. My current job is on a production of Sweeney Todd. Rehearsals are in a well-known theater in the Times Square area. Yesterday was my first day on the job and I ended up being there for the better part of a day. When I went out to grab some lunch, I noticed some baseball fans milling outside a midtown hotel (which shall remain nameless). Silly me, my first thought was that Derek Jeter might be inside, even though some of those milling around had on Red Sox caps and I knew the Red Sox were in town because I had just watched a game on TV the night before. A game where Tim Wakefield pitched beautifully. I kept walking but heard some loud voices behind me and turned around to see Jacoby Ellsbury get into a cab…I was very excited. I immediately called my husband and left a message: “Guess who I just saw! Jacoby Ellsbury! Wow!, etc.”
I then turned the corner looking for a place to grab a sandwich. I decided on Starbucks and walked in. After a few minutes looking at the slim pickings for a vegetarian, I finally chose a sandwich and stood at the cash register. While I was paying for my lunch, I heard a deep voice behind me (as a voice coach, I am always hyper aware of vocal quality – probably too much). Anyway, I liked this voice – deep with a lot of resonance. I turned around and who was in line behind me? Tim Wakefield! I turned back to the cashier and chatted with her while an inner dialogue in my head screamed “Say something! Or maybe I should leave him alone? But I have to at least speak to him.” I turned back to him and said “Hello Tim Wakefield, and that’s all I going to say so I won’t bother you.” He smiled and nodded and, I think, said “Thank you.” I turned away and then turned back to him and said “We’re big fans.” I suppose it was sort of lame, but I was starstruck. I then went to a table and sat and watched while about three other people in this Starbucks said something to him. His wife was patiently waiting for him. I imagine its hard for these guys to go around NYC or Boston without being stopped all the time. You know what’s next. Phone call to husband: “You are never going to guess who I met in Starbucks…Tim Wakefield! etc. etc.”
I leave Starbucks and walk back to the theater and who comes out of the hotel and walks right by me? Theo Epstein – young, amazing, and cute General Manager of the Red Sox. One more call to husband with “Guess who I just saw…”
We are major Red Sox fans and these encounters made my day, actually, my month! With all my years in theater, I’ve worked with a lot of well-known, even famous people. But this? All I can say is “Wow!”
