Datebook: Actress Elaine Stritch was as thrilling — and just as difficult — in real life as she was onstage and onscreen. The longtime Broadway star, who because famous in her final years to a new generation with her role as Colleen Donaghy on “30 Rock,” could be a force of nature, says her former assistant Rick Borutta, who worked for Stritch from 1999 to 2003. She was at times unpredictable, volatile and brilliant, which made for good viewing, but stressful employment.
2 comments:
I love this article, not because it has interesting stories about Elaine Stritch, because it does, but because almost every other sentence is just a summary of one of her achievements. Instead of saying "he was Elaine Stritch's assistant", they say he's the assistant of the "once famous for her performance in Sondheim's classic Company". Like why is the entire article just bragging about her achievements. Anyways, I absolutely love that this guy turned his bad experiences with a celebrity into a career, because I think that's a really solid way to go about life. It's really interesting to me that we live in a society where famous people are such a big deal that someone else can become famous simply by talking about them. So weird. Elaine Stritch is a very talented actress, so it is a shame that she is such a difficultly to deal with. We always hope that the people we look up to have a good personality and kindness in their heart. I guess you win some and you lose some.
I really think we need to gather all of the assistants for some of the Braodway titans and we need to write a book about there experinces. Well I know everyone will have a different experience as all people are different, it does seem to be a common trend of treating your assitants badly. Working in two offices I have seen good and bad behavior. Sometimes its human error and sometimes they are just being a dick. I made a joke once that the devil wears prada is actually documentary. I have considered being an assistant at one point as this is a great way to meet so many indursty folk so quicky. If I were to go into producing this is the best way to start as you will learn so much. The downside is that you are usually on call all the time and are not getting paid that well.
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