Rita Moreno Wins the Oscar

for "West Side Story"

While dreams are possible, who could dream that 10 years later I'd be sitting in her incredible apartment as she rehearsed a play I'd written with my sister Yolanda when I was 16 years old .  Also, Silvana was acting opposite her!  

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Bette Davis

Bette Davis actually comes to the Bronx on a promotional tour for "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane".  Can't believe I actually got to see her!

Used to have fantastic dreams about who else would show up, such as Rita Moreno, Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn coming to the P.A.L.

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William Hickey

Bill Hickey  wrote my letter of recommendation to the High School of Performing Arts.  I was accepted, but instead went to the High School of Music and Art for painting. "Mistake".  I quit after three weeks.

My favorite rememberance of Bill is him carrying on like a lunatic with mother at CBGB's, where we'd gone to celebrate after she and my grandmother had come to see my play "Bernie".

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Barbra Steisand

The best $2.50 I ever spent!

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Andy Warhol

Somehow I made an appointment to meet Andy Warhol at the "Factory".

It was very weird.

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Bruce J. Taub

A friend introduces me to the composer

Bruce J. Taub.

It would be the beginning of a long partnership.

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Joseph Papp

Gail Papp arranges for me to do a reading of "Simpson Street" for Joe at the Public.

Though he passes on it, we work on other projects in the future.

It was a terrible day when Joe died, for the people who knew him and for the theatre.

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Harold Prince

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The legendary Harold Prince comes to the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre to see "Simpson Street" with his wife Judy.

They want to do the film of it and invite people like the great Jose Quintero to see it.

The film didn't happen through no fault of theirs.  However, meeting Hal and Judy changed my life.  What extraordinary people with great kids and great hearts!   I will love them forever.

Chita Rivera

During a meeting with Lisa Mordente, another dream comes true when the one and only Chita Rivera comes out to meet me.

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Lisa Gunn

With Lisa Gunn making her Broadway Debut in "Annie".

She's destined to be a great star.

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