From the Way Back Machine... The Cherry Lane Theatre held a celebration for 15 years (?) of its Mentor Program - which has produced emerging playwrights, some of whom have gone on to Broadway success & beyond. Having been chosen as a mentee in 2012 & being honored with a full production of my one-woman musical comedy, "Relative Pitch," I was invited to this celebration.
Ruby Dee was an American actress. She was married to Ossie Davis, with whom she frequently performed until his death in 2005. She received numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Obie Award, and a Drama Desk Award, as well as a nomination for an Academy Award.
Why was she at this celebration? Turns out, Ms. Dee starred in The Cherry Lane's first Mentor production, "Saint Lucy's Eyes." She played a wise, but complicated character, known simply as "Grandma" who performs back-alley abortions in 1968 Memphis. The playwright was Bridgette A. Wimberley who went on to greater success.
I approached Ms. Dee at the party. "May I have a photo with you?" I asked her after telling her how much I admired her. She said yes. When I noticed she wasn't looking into the camera, I whispered, "can you look up a bit?" And she did...straight into Heaven.
