Rebel Without A Clue - A Way-Off Broadway Memoir
Product Code:
9780997747119
ISBN13:
9780997747119
Condition:
New
$10.65
Blending a candid confessional with a sense of humor, -Rebel Without A Clue - A Way-Off Broadway Memoir- illustrates how, with persistence, patience and pluck, I became an expert on survival. My memoir describes my turbulent, often farcical, journey in a desperate search for a career in the theater. After suffering countless heartbreaking disappointments, I discovered the bright lights of Broadway became littered with burned-out bulbs, and the drama, on stage and off, made a not-so-funny second act. Never giving up, my story also reveals how I managed to carry on with some semblance of dignity and achieve a few surprising triumphs along the way - most important, a marriage of 51 years, three remarkable children and a wonderful grandson. In 27 crisp chapters, a spirited road map unfolds of the zigzag route I wandered, confident my big theatrical break loomed over the next speed bump or just around a hidden corner. Although I was clueless of my rebellion at the time, looking back, I realize my contrariness started at a young age. My parents and older sister and brother were born in what was then Czechoslovakia, near the Russian border. My father hoped to move the family to the United States, but because of quotas he diverted us to Canada where I was born in 1938. We moved to the United States when I was two. The acting bug hit me early, so I became a theater major at Rutgers University, the University of Miami and in the graduate program at Catholic University. I even earned the -Best Actor's Award- while at Miami, so my ego got an unrealistic boost to forge ahead. Could my name on a Broadway marquee be far away? In a laughable way, major decisions about my future happened in a haphazard clueless manner. If not for the urging of a friend I would never have attended college. Another time, an accidental visit with a Reserve Officer's Training Corp (ROTC) recruiter at Miami led to a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Later an Army Captain asked if I would mind serving out my military two-year obligation in South Korea. While I had hoped for a plush assignment in Europe producing USO shows, my quick thinking made me realize I'd never get to the Far East on my own. So, with a rebellious shrug of my shoulders, I acquiesced and let Uncle Sam serve as my tour guide. To my surprise, this uncharted course also revealed some improbable discoveries. When acting roles didn't materialize, and desperate for a paying job, I learned I had an innate flair as a copywriter. This writing skill would serve me well in future jobs, in particular, as a freelance writer. Not every experience had an upside. My lack of awareness put me in serious jeopardy when I almost landed in jail for not having a Green Card since I was a Canadian citizen. On paper, my theater resume looked impressive: actor, writer, director, producer, stage manager, set and costume designer, lighting technician, publicity and marketing manager, as well as goffer - -go fur coffee and other sundries.- Yet all these theater experiences never amounted to less than a footnote in show business playbill. There's a theater expression -Once and actor, always a waiter.- While I never held a waiter's job, to support my family I stumbled onto a number of careers. Often the adlibbing skills I learned as a performer helped me -audition- for a job. I worked as a copywriter, product and packaging designer, advertising executive, sales professional, business owner, freelance writer and artist, even a night-shift gas station attendant while looking for more lucrative employment. While many of these jobs had a decent pay and promising career path, when tempted by a theater job, I'd quit and chase another illusive rainbow. For those who struggle to forge ahead against overwhelming obstacles and need a boost in self-worth, my -Rebel- may provide the jump-start to find the courage to press on and succeed in their personal quest for happiness. Or, it could be just fun to read.
| Author: Steve Hrehovcik |
| Publisher: Steve Hrehovcik |
| Publication Date: Mar 03, 2017 |
| Number of Pages: 220 pages |
| Language: English |
| Binding: Paperback |
| ISBN-10: 0997747110 |
| ISBN-13: 9780997747119 |
Rebel Without A Clue - A Way-Off Broadway Memoir
$10.65
Blending a candid confessional with a sense of humor, -Rebel Without A Clue - A Way-Off Broadway Memoir- illustrates how, with persistence, patience and pluck, I became an expert on survival. My memoir describes my turbulent, often farcical, journey in a desperate search for a career in the theater. After suffering countless heartbreaking disappointments, I discovered the bright lights of Broadway became littered with burned-out bulbs, and the drama, on stage and off, made a not-so-funny second act. Never giving up, my story also reveals how I managed to carry on with some semblance of dignity and achieve a few surprising triumphs along the way - most important, a marriage of 51 years, three remarkable children and a wonderful grandson. In 27 crisp chapters, a spirited road map unfolds of the zigzag route I wandered, confident my big theatrical break loomed over the next speed bump or just around a hidden corner. Although I was clueless of my rebellion at the time, looking back, I realize my contrariness started at a young age. My parents and older sister and brother were born in what was then Czechoslovakia, near the Russian border. My father hoped to move the family to the United States, but because of quotas he diverted us to Canada where I was born in 1938. We moved to the United States when I was two. The acting bug hit me early, so I became a theater major at Rutgers University, the University of Miami and in the graduate program at Catholic University. I even earned the -Best Actor's Award- while at Miami, so my ego got an unrealistic boost to forge ahead. Could my name on a Broadway marquee be far away? In a laughable way, major decisions about my future happened in a haphazard clueless manner. If not for the urging of a friend I would never have attended college. Another time, an accidental visit with a Reserve Officer's Training Corp (ROTC) recruiter at Miami led to a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Later an Army Captain asked if I would mind serving out my military two-year obligation in South Korea. While I had hoped for a plush assignment in Europe producing USO shows, my quick thinking made me realize I'd never get to the Far East on my own. So, with a rebellious shrug of my shoulders, I acquiesced and let Uncle Sam serve as my tour guide. To my surprise, this uncharted course also revealed some improbable discoveries. When acting roles didn't materialize, and desperate for a paying job, I learned I had an innate flair as a copywriter. This writing skill would serve me well in future jobs, in particular, as a freelance writer. Not every experience had an upside. My lack of awareness put me in serious jeopardy when I almost landed in jail for not having a Green Card since I was a Canadian citizen. On paper, my theater resume looked impressive: actor, writer, director, producer, stage manager, set and costume designer, lighting technician, publicity and marketing manager, as well as goffer - -go fur coffee and other sundries.- Yet all these theater experiences never amounted to less than a footnote in show business playbill. There's a theater expression -Once and actor, always a waiter.- While I never held a waiter's job, to support my family I stumbled onto a number of careers. Often the adlibbing skills I learned as a performer helped me -audition- for a job. I worked as a copywriter, product and packaging designer, advertising executive, sales professional, business owner, freelance writer and artist, even a night-shift gas station attendant while looking for more lucrative employment. While many of these jobs had a decent pay and promising career path, when tempted by a theater job, I'd quit and chase another illusive rainbow. For those who struggle to forge ahead against overwhelming obstacles and need a boost in self-worth, my -Rebel- may provide the jump-start to find the courage to press on and succeed in their personal quest for happiness. Or, it could be just fun to read.
| Author: Steve Hrehovcik |
| Publisher: Steve Hrehovcik |
| Publication Date: Mar 03, 2017 |
| Number of Pages: 220 pages |
| Language: English |
| Binding: Paperback |
| ISBN-10: 0997747110 |
| ISBN-13: 9780997747119 |
