I want to thank the League of Professional Theatre Women, co-presidents, executive committee and the board of directors and the membership for this special award.
The road to parity is paved with wonderful inspirational memories of the amazing women who have supported me on my journey.
Beginning with my mother who for over six decades was my best friend. So often she reminded me that 'beauty is as beauty does'.
Sister Marie Charles, my eighth grade teacher told my mother. "Mrs. Henry, Mari Lyn will either be famous or infamous…. The vote is still out on her prediction.
Dr. Ruth McKenzie, my drama lit professor at San Jose State who encouraged me to apply for a scholarship at the Catholic University of America. I didn't get it but I was accepted to the grad program.
At the university I was introduced to Father Gilbert V. Hartke, who considered all of us his 'kids'…It was because of him, I was cast to play a role in Good Morning Miss Dove opposite Helen Hayes who became a lasting influence and role model. Helen had a crush on Father and was particularly inspired when we were offstage in a circle of prayer about loving what we were doing and sharing that love with our audience.
It was through him that sixteen of us were sponsored by the State Department for a six week tour beginning in Israel of Ah Wilderness!, being invited to the White House by Lady Bird to perform short scenes in the East Room. And attending a reception hosted by Golda Meir at her home in Jerusalem.
Maxine Marx, my boss in the casting department of an ad agency, the daughter of Chico Marx. There was never a dull moment.
After nine years my dear friend from Catholic U. days who worked at ABC arranged for me to be interviewed for a new position as inhouse casting director for the soaps. Another woman who believed I could succeed.
But there was also an extensive collaboration lasting 25 years with co-author Lynne Rogers. Together we produced five editions of a book with the objective of helping actors find jobs.
Helen Hayes believed "the most marvelous life training course I can think of is the theater."
I can also identify with her belief that 'if you rest, you rust. My bones may creak a little but mercifully rust hasn't set in yet.
And finally, this inspirational quote from George Bernard Shaw which she embraced and is meaningful for all of us here tonight.
"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder the work, the more I live. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and that as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.
Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as I can, before handing it on to future generations."
Thank you for this honor and congratulations to all of these amazing awardees and presenters here for their contributions to the theatre.
And to all the women who stage the world!
