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PJMcK

(23,981 posts)

14. I've been fortunate to work with great talents

Thu May 1, 2025, 10:55 AM

May 2025

Last edited Thu May 1, 2025, 01:45 PM - Edit history (1)

While in graduate school, I interned with Leonard Bernstein.

The composers I’ve worked with include Stephen Sondheim, John Kander, John. Corigliano.

Harold Prince, Sam Mendes and Jerry Zaks are among the directors I’ve had the good fortune to work with.

I also worked with the Muppets for several projects.

One thing I’ve learned is that all of them (except the Muppets!) are human beings with all of the quirks we all have. They’re just people with a lot of talent.

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Tell us about your brush (or brushes) with greatness. [View all] milestogo May 2025 OP

My brushes with greatness PikaBlue May 2025 #1

I once passed within arm's length of Jackie O EYESORE 9001 May 2025 #2

In 1972 UpInArms May 2025 #3

Now THATS pretty cool...nt mitch96 May 2025 #17

Late one night in Berkeley years ago I drove into IHOP's parking lot and baseball great Reggie Jackson... brush May 2025 #4

Once bumped (literally) into EverHopeful May 2025 #5

I once played poker with Roger Ebert at his house in Michigan. greatauntoftriplets May 2025 #6

He used to teach a class in Chicago on how to watch a movie. milestogo May 2025 #9

He was a very generous man. greatauntoftriplets May 2025 #10

Shook hands with Wilt Chamberlain multigraincracker May 2025 #7

Every Iowa Caucus Season I met the Best of the Democratic Party and campaign staff. IA8IT May 2025 #8

I have lots and lots of caucus stories, including a fond memory of Elizabeth Edwards rurallib May 2025 #45

Great! I'll be watching IA8IT May 2025 #68

I saw Charles de Gaulle when I was 12 at Expo 67 in Montreal. catbyte May 2025 #11

Loved Frank Zappa.. very outspoken even with his peaches en regalia. He left too soon..nt mitch96 May 2025 #18

I met Edgar Bergan near our home on the prairie. Ptah May 2025 #12

Loving that old steam engine. Those things were a fixture in Western Kentucky tobacco farming yellowdogintexas May 2025 #16

Is it acceptable to respond twice? EverHopeful May 2025 #13

I've been fortunate to work with great talents PJMcK May 2025 #14

"I don't write for felt." 😒 blm May 2025 #28

Seconding that last paragraph. Famous people are just human beings, despite fame and talent, and the only one I ever highplainsdem May 2025 #32

"Greatness" levels are subjective, since I think these persons are/were great, but they are well known at least. yellowdogintexas May 2025 #15

My Aunt was in the off broadway scene way back when. She had Rip Torn (men in black)over for dinner one night. mitch96 May 2025 #19

Sorry about your unfortunate run in with Gene Shalit. Nittersing May 2025 #21

He was probably have a bad day and was in a rush. When we collided I was kinda shocked it was GENE SHALIT mitch96 May 2025 #23

Yes, he had a big bushy mustache that was real course... Omnipresent May 2025 #36

That mustache was undeniably his trademark!!...nt mitch96 May 2025 #40

Met Johnny Depp and Jake Gyllenhaal (not at the same time) Mad_Dem_X May 2025 #20

I love both of them. milestogo May 2025 #22

I probably would have fainted!😂😂😂 bamagal62 May 2025 #75

Nice Tie Bike dude May 2025 #24

Probably a good thing you didn't wear your cigar tie! mentalsolstice May 2025 #43

met mayor tom bradley of la and lorrene green once also met the original mcgarret of hawaii five o fame AllaN01Bear May 2025 #25

Once years ago snowybirdie May 2025 #26

I compiled a list some time back utopian May 2025 #27

My Todd Rundgen story Clouds Passing May 2025 #48

When I worked in downtown Chicago, I saw Jesse Jackson multiple times. greatauntoftriplets May 2025 #53

I once kissed MorbidButterflyTat May 2025 #29

I used to kiss Mad_Dem_X May 2025 #42

I watched a Stormy Daniels movie. Midnight Writer May 2025 #30

I ran into Richie Havens at a coffee shop in Vermont. peacefreak2.0 May 2025 #31

I sold my Senator a bottle of liquor LogDog75 May 2025 #33

I used to work at Washington National Airport, and so PoindexterOglethorpe May 2025 #34

My brother met Helen Hayes when he worked on the Barge (Erie) Canal in upstate NY wishstar May 2025 #46

Love that story! PoindexterOglethorpe May 2025 #50

I took the train/subway (?) from the airport into NYC in the 1970s jmbar2 May 2025 #35

They call those bamagal62 May 2025 #72

Interesting. jmbar2 May 2025 #73

Got a ride from Raymond Berry Bmoboy May 2025 #37

I was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Carburation Day in 1994. Xavier Breath May 2025 #38

I early 1966 I encountered the reigning American League MVP, Zoilo Versailles, in a barbershop. rsdsharp May 2025 #39

I've got tons of people I've met. LudwigPastorius May 2025 #41

Ramin Djwadi! Loved his score for "Person of Interest". John Williams! electric_blue68 May 2025 #67

Wow! bamagal62 May 2025 #76

All just in passing, though. LudwigPastorius May 2025 #79

I shook Dick Van Dyke's hand when I was 12. Emile May 2025 #44

Some first-hand... can we count second-hand if they're cool? Aimee in OKC May 2025 #47

Nice bunch. Molly Ivins! electric_blue68 May 2025 #65

Ooooo, I got a bunch... electric_blue68 May 2025 #49

My Wife and I shook hands with Maxim Vengarov, famed violin player. Turbineguy May 2025 #51

A Few ProfessorGAC May 2025 #52

I met and took a picture with John Lewis while shaking his hand in the ATL airport Bristlecone May 2025 #54

Yay, 4 John Lewis. Hahahahahaaa, Newwwt! electric_blue68 May 2025 #69

Forgot this one. greatauntoftriplets May 2025 #55

I took time off work to go to a book signing with Molly Ivans. She was and still is my great inspiration 🌺 Deuxcents May 2025 #56

She was a treasure BigMin28 May 2025 #61

2 famous and an infamous. CincyDem May 2025 #57

I have 3: (1) While in Little League in Austin, TX, I had my photo taken with Willy Mays. surfered May 2025 #58

I met Muhammad Ali. His daughter's job was about 3, 4 doors from my bookstore and he LoisB May 2025 #59

I lived next door to his home in Chicago. milestogo May 2025 #62

Wow. I probably would have attempted to crash it. LoisB May 2025 #70

I have a few. bamagal62 May 2025 #60

I had lunch with Melvin Calvin WestMichRad May 2025 #63

Greatness? Not exactly But I did flip of Trump from 10ft away. NYC 1980. I met Abbey Hoffmann the same year. Runningdawg May 2025 #64

I do Search and Rescue with Fema genxlib May 2025 #66

Had a few Behind the Aegis May 2025 #71

I forgot I had another. bamagal62 May 2025 #74

I sat in the 4th row in a tiny theater watching a live performance by Helen Hayes and Jimmy Stewart in Harvey. Biophilic May 2025 #77

I was taking the street car to downtown SF and Kamala Harris was standing outside of the station asking for votes kimbutgar May 2025 #78

I once walked past Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh in a hotel lobby. subterranean May 2025 #80

I lived in LA for several years in the 90s and ran into several celebrities. Basso8vb May 2025 #81

Lloyd Bridges, Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges... milestogo May 2025 #83

I met Joe Biden in New Hampshire CanonRay May 2025 #82

While in the Beverly Hills, Sneederbunk May 2025 #84

I had coffee with Barack Obama zanana1 May 2025 #85

I'm pretty sure I was with Barack and Michelle on their first date. milestogo May 2025 #86

I went to a James Wright Poetry Festival in Martins Ferry Oh Marthe48 May 2025 #87