A Little Push

BY KATIE KREISLER, TUFTS STUDENT 1993-1997, ACTOR, LOS ANGELES, CA
Tony and I always had a "nice" relationship during my time at Tufts. He cast all of my best friends, always chatted awkwardly with me at functions, and he was a hell of a speech teacher. I will never forget the word "calliope." While Tony was always kind to me and appreciative of my humor, he never seemed that interested in me as an actor. I was always blown away by the productions he did, especially at how he had pushed my friends to go places in their performances that they had never been before. I always felt as if, while I was funny and entertaining, I wasn't a "real" actor to Tony, so therefore, I must not be a "real" actor. But, during my senior year at Tufts, I received the best advice I might have ever gotten from anybody.

I was in Tony's office, looking for a book or something, and he looked up at me and said, "Katie, what are your plans for next year?" I stared at him blankly, surprised that he was addressing me without Amy or J.C. in the room. "Um, I don't know, go back to NYC and try and contact my old agent." A woman who had sent me on commercial auditions when I was 12 was, in my mind, surely going to lead me to a very successful career in theatre, t.v., and film. Tony returned my blank stare and then asked me to sit down. He looked me squarely in the eyes and said, "You know, Katie, I know we have never worked together, but I have always been completely impressed by your talent, you are one of a kind. Have you ever thought about graduate schools?" "What for?" I asked, thinking only knights and dames went to these schools. "For acting training... they would be lucky to have you," Tony replied.

And then, my life changed.

It is amazing to read over all these entries, Tony gave so many of us a little push in the right direction, and we were off and running. What an amazing gift he had. I will ALWAYS be grateful to him for my push, even if he never cast me in all three of his shows that I auditioned for. Tony, you are greatly missed and greatly appreciated. Much love.