Witch Melt

Lunch is called

Noah and I burst onto the Seattle streets dashing through pedestrians racing to the bank

Paychecks gripped tightly

we nervously wait in line

shifting foot to foot

till cash in hand

we slam it in our wallets and bolt back 

giddy with laughter and excitement

1994

The Wizard of Oz

The 5th Avenue Theatre

Ensemble

Turns out there wasn't much they could do with me

Not being a dancer and too tall for a munchkin

In the first act I sang "Ooooohs" offstage

Didn't care

I had a job and it paid

My only moment on stage was in The Merry Old Land of Oz

But when we got to blocking The Winkie part of the story

You know

Oh-Ee-Yah! Ee-Oh-Ah!

I thought, Now I get my chance

I could play a Winkie guard

Practically born to play the part

The director scanned the cast

"Okay, I need someone big and tall for this part," he muttered to his assistant

I made sure to pull my shoulders back and stand straight

He walked by slowly and paused in front of me

Placing his hand on my shoulder

"You," he said. "You'll do"

Yes!

"Apparently it costs something ridiculous for the hydraulics in this next part. Well, we just can't afford it soooooo," his voice lowered and he looked me in the eye

"I need you"
Yes!?

"I need you...to be the Witch Melt"

Confusion

He sighed, "I need you to crawl under the stage and when they throw the water on the witch!" (he imitated a throwing motion) "YOU will be under the stage unlocking and opening a hatch. Our witch, Mavis,(another flourish) will crawl onto your shoulders as you slowly sway back and forth while she screams and DISAPPEARS!"

He shouts to the cast

"So, I'm not going to be a Winkie then?"

"No, but you WILL be saving us $50,000 so I'd say it's a crucial part," he said with a chuckle

So, in my 5th Avenue debut

I sang in an off-stage mic

Performed in The Merry Old Land of Oz

and was the Witch Melt mechanism

BUT

a few things happened along the way that I'll never forget

One night I was invited to play cards after the show

It was late

I'd lost what little money I brought to the game

Character actor Michael Mulheren (The Cowardly Lion)

chewing on a cigar turned to me and said, "Kid. You're good looking. You can sing. Why not go to New York?"

I hadn't thought of such a thing 

Never entered my mind

New York?

"Really?" I asked but he just shrugged

Huh! New York 

Why...not...go...to New York?!

Next day during tech I found myself standing next to veteran actor Bob Fitch (Scarecrow) and told him about this new idea of going to The Big Apple

"Just make sure you get seen," he said. "I don't care if it's a cabaret or an off-broadway showcase or in someone's living room just FIND a way to get seen!"

He eyed me a moment then pulled a 50 cent piece from his pocket

It began to dance along his knuckles

Back and forth the coin moved before disappearing with a puff of breath

"and have a little trick in your pocket. Something that makes you memorable."

Bought a companion ticket with my buddy Coop to New York that week

Paid for by a check from the 5th Avenue

Though Winkie nor Witch Melt never made it to my resume 

I learned a thing or two doing that show