The Fairy Princess kinda went on hiatus for most of August, she had to get ‘back into the grind’ of New York – however she wanted to take a moment to share that she had a chance in her career to work with the luminous Marin Mazzie.
Just once.
It was not an extended run, or an intimate concert – it was the first workshop of the musical DAVE, written by Thomas Meehan, Nell Benjamin and Tom Kitt. It had a different director than the show that was just closed in D.C. at Arena Stage, it was somewhat of a different show. Ms. Mazzie played Ellen Mitchell, the First Lady, and TFP played a news pundit.
When TFP walked into rehearsal that first day of that first musical and saw Ms. Mazzie, her heart skipped a beat.
There were ‘more famous’, technically, people in the room. There were some in the room that are part of the television and film ‘firmament’, and good times were had by all – but Marin Mazzie was the voice that had been so intrinsic to TFP developing her own sound….and TFP went SILENT and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw her.
(Which, let’s face it, is very hard to make her do.)
Ms. Mazzie could not have been more gracious or kind. She joked around, she made everyone feel welcome around her, and she knew – as all great theater Diva’s know – that sometimes their power makes others feel intimidated. There are two ways to deal with that – and Ms. Mazzie chose the kinder way.
It was how she was.
That was a glorious week.
We had a great new show, and yet, all through rehearsal, on every break, if she would look over at Ms. Mazzie, all TFP could think about was this glorious sound, a sound that her heart had absorbed from the moment she first heard the notes. The richness, it was effortless.
Listen. Close your eyes. Majestic.
WHICH IS WHY ALL THE THEATERS SHOULD BE DIMMED FOR MS. MAZZIE – ALL OF THEM!
BROADWAY HAS 41 THEATERS and WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A DAMN KNOB THAT HAS TO BE TURNED DOWN FOR ONE MINUTE!
ONE MINUTE!
Three TONY Nominations in 6 years – and we cannot give her a MINUTE?
A tireless performer who, even with her illness, continued to fundraise and to sing, and to take to the stage, because she was a creature OF the stage?
The Broadway League cannot dim for one damn minute for the 41 theaters that are part of the League?
Why?
Honestly and sincerely, WHY?
For someone whose Cast Recordings and videos of performances, intimate and grand will live ad infinitum and inspire generations of young kids to try?
For someone who changed the way we listened and thought about acting through song?
Who was literally the definition of an Actor who Sings and a Singer who Acts?
The Broadway League cannot give her one minute?
When she gave a lifetime?
Ain’t that a kick in the head?
TFP is TIRED of the disrespect shown to Female performers – remember when there was a big fight to get everyone to#DimForJoanRivers? Recall that for Jan Maxwell, a five time TONY nominee, only two theaters dimmed the lights?
Oh yes, everyone LOVES or LURVS or YAAAAASSSess the Divas, but now is the time for respect.
Now is the time for actual homage.
Now is not the time to count theatrical lights and a dimming switch like they are priceless jewels.
Now is the time, oh Broadway League, to acknowledge that you could not do what YOU all do so well, without women like Marin Mazzie.
She did straight theater and musicals. She was gifted. She put butts in seats.
So weird cuz like, when Tony Soprano, Actor, James Gandolfini unexpectedly passed – there was no question the lights would be dimmed.
All of them.
James Gandolfini had a TONY nomination for his performance in GOD OF CARNAGE, and in 1995 appeared in “On the Waterfront” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1992.
They dimmed them all.
When men pass, great men, btw, great men of the theater – there is no actual question asked, naturally the lights dim for NEIL SIMON. Of course they should, OF COURSE THEY SHOULD!
They dimmed the lights for ROBIN WILLIAMS – on Broadway twice, once was a concert, no TONY nomination – and of COURSE they should. He was ROBBIN EFFIN WILLIAMS!
However you see it, right? The automatic ‘female tax’ that is applied when deciding these things?
Shall TFP tell you what she thinks of you?
For Performers who are considered part of theatrical history – the lights should be dimmed. We should not be ‘tallying up’ as to someone’s worthiness.
Well this one had that many awards, and over here, that person was on a television show.
It is ridiculous. Blah, blah, blah.
They are Actors. They lived and made an impact on people around them and their craft. They changed the world, for GOOD. They let light and magic in where it once was not, and they did it eight shows a week, sometimes five on a weekend.
Period.
Marin Mazzie was a theatrical legend, a wonderful person, with a loving and devoted Husband and Family.
Give her her GODDAMN MINUTE.
Or TFP is going to ouija board the crap outta Elaine Stritch, till she comes and berates you for trying to minimize the passing of one of the great voices of our time.
Rest in Power, Marin Mazzie.
Rest In Power.
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