Actress Emily Wilhoit
'I now pronounce you husband and wife" -- words that I have heard before, when I married my husband on Isle of Palms four years ago, had just been said to me again, by my husband. And I, dressed in a delightfully gaudy white bridal gown with a 3-foot-tall hairpiece firmly in place, planted a long kiss on a fake-tanned, neck-tattooed guido named Tony.
Actually, it was Ryan Ahlert, playing my new husband in "Tony n' Tina's Wedding." And, yes, my husband, Josh, was playing the priest.
Moments like this don't happen in real life, but in the theater, roles shift all the time. The wonderful Susie Hallat, who a week before had been crooning off-key as a New York socialite popular for her horrid singing, was soon to be writhing around on the floor as Tony's grandmother. Jake Hennessey, who I had last seen as a meek, beaten down husband in "Awake and Sing!" was now the loudmouthed groomsman making out in the middle of the ceremony with one of my bridesmaids. And Keely Enright, who most days can be found holding the ship together at the Village Playhouse, was Loretta, the caterer's wife, barking out orders to the "guests" about how dinner would be served. In some cases, theater imitates life.
As the executive director of Theatre Charleston, I see these situations a lot. Charleston has a wealth of theatrical talent, and often these talented people find themselves doing very odd things. Like Sharon Graci kissing a pig for the promotional material for Pure Theatre's production of "HOGS," written by her husband, Rodney Rodgers. If Josh asked me to kiss a pig, it'd be a long time before I kissed him again. Or Cristy Landis spending December baking hundreds of cookies each night for her husband's production of "It's a Wonderful Life." Or Robbie Thomas, an accomplished actor long known for his off-stage jokes, becoming the responsible professional director of highly acclaimed productions at the Footlight Players. In some cases, theater propels us forward.
I never imagined I'd land in Charleston when I started my career. Like most actresses, I was destined for New York or L.A. But I met my husband here (in "A Christmas Carol") and fell in love with the people of this town. People who are also in love with the intricate process of telling a story, the feeling you get when a random stranger connects emotionally with you. They are the reason that I am happy here, the reason I work every day to promote the incredible shows that happen here all year long. My husband and I have been blessed to find a wonderful city teeming with theatrical professionals dedicated to furthering the craft. In my case, theater finds me home.
Next month, my husband and I will be performing at the Village Playhouse as husband and wife in "An Ideal Husband." Theater imitates life.
