Because I have been a Muppet performer for more than a decade, I received my AFTRA card in 1993, when I started working on Sesame Street, and I earned my SAG card when I was cast in The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. But, I always felt like I wasn't really an actor without an Equity card. But my career was headed in a different direction, and though I was frustrated with my inability to get stage work, I chalked it up to fate.
One day in early 2002, I got a call from Ed Christie, who was the head of the Muppet Workshop at the time. The Workshop was building the puppets for the upcoming Encores! production of Carnival and he asked if I would be interested in being one of the puppeteers. How could I turn down the chance to play City Center and share a stage with Brian Stokes Mitchell? Naturally, I said yes.
Of course, the whole thing was a little bittersweet since I didn't get to sing a single note of the show and nobody saw my face until the curtain call (and yes, I did full makeup for it). But I got to work with an incredible cast, crew and director – and I finally got that Equity card I'd been longing for. The Equity representative informed me that I was under no obligation to join, but I ignored her and handed over my check, which was a little more than half of my Encores! salary, but worth every penny. With that Equity card rounding out the triumvirate in my wallet, I finally felt like an actor. And it all came from my not speaking or singing or even being seen!
