3. CHRONICLE January 20, 2000
eveningsout
Dale Sandish comes to Titanic after cruising other ships
by Kaizaad Kotwal
Let's be honest. In some circles, size does matter. For them bigger is better. It's all about smooth riding. The dreamboat's pistons were pumping hard. The in and out motion, in and out, lubricated by the hot steam of burning embers. As the tip sliced through the cool wetness of the dark void, the white foam spurted forth in waves. The large rocks were getting in the way. And when she finally went down, history would forever be changed. The story of Titanic was, is and will always be huge.
The building of the Titanic and its sinking on the maiden voyage were phenomenal events that would come to epitomize the dominant trends of the twentieth century— the human obsession with technology getting, bigger, better, faster and our indomitable spirit for exploration. The Titanic has also spun off a large and varied number of cottage industries from replica models and a plethora of books, to future diving tours, to the wreckage of the behemoth.
Perhaps the largest Titanic-related phenomenon, bigger than even the sinking, was the James Cameron film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. But even before the film had hit pay dirt at the box office, the musical version of Titanic had premiered on Broadway on its way to a five-Tony-Award bonanza. Titanic won awards for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Orchestrations, and Best Sets in 1997 and the touring version is sailing across America with far greater success than the ship itself.
The Titanic was a dream ship in every sense of the word. At one level it was a dream of technological inventions and mechanical prowess. At another it was about the ex-
Q. Afraid of the Dentist? A. (216)226-3800 It's normal!! We can help! We're absolutely dedicated to providing your dental care as comfortably as is modernly possible. We welcome cowards.
Q. Afraid of the Cost?
A. (216)226-3800 Our various payment options take the fear out of dental expense. We welcome most insurances and gladly accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover. We also have interest-free financing packages available.
Q. Afraid to take the Time? A. (216)226-3800 Our early morning, evening and Saturday office hours will take the worry out of interfering with your busy schedule.
COMFORT DENTAL
GROUP
Lower Than Average Fees!
David M. Raiffe, DDS & Associates (216)226-3800
15901 Hilliard Rd. Lakewood, Ohio (Comer of Hilliard & Madison)
tremes of human hubris. And at the third level, literally and metaphorically, the poor immigrants in steerage, sailing to the land of plenty, were dreaming of a better life for themselves and their future progeny.
Most of the characters in the musical are based on real passengers who sailed the ship, and the play has no connection to the film's cast of overwrought characters. Dale Sandish, who spoke to me by phone from Cleveland, where Titanic has docked for two weeks (until January 30), plays one of the dreamers on board the legendary ship.
Sandish plays Harold Bride, the second officer and wireless operator.
"Harold is a great part,” Sandish said. “I love him because he is a perfectionist and dedicated to the then-new technology of the Marconi wireless. He is extremely fastidious in sending these messages and he is incredibly compassionate, but has no time for romance probably because of some tragic episode in the past."
I asked Sandish about how much of Harold he saw in himself.
"I am a Virgo and hence a perfectionist,” he explained, "and yes, I have had many tragic romantic episodes."
Sandish didn't want to go into the gory details, but said, "It's difficult to have a relationship when one is on the road."
However, Sandish has been seeing someone for the last several months and he is delighted. Sandish, who is 38, met 23-yearold Michael while Titanic was in Boston.
"We met at a gym and we went out a few times and the sparks were definitely there. We have been able to keep it going by communicating daily with my cell phone bills being outrageous," he said.
Sandish had auditioned for the Broadway
real estate-of-the-art
Technology. It'll never replace sensitive, personalized real estate service. But it sure helps speed communication and enhance the process of home search or sale.
The Internet...direct mail marketing... sophisticated pricing analysis. They've become tools of our trade, and Realty One
is a national leader in using them to our clients' best advantage. I'll be happy to escort you through the confusing maze of technical details that can complicate the simplest transaction.
Call me today or e-mail me at Jalauro@aol.com with any real estate questions you may have.
company of Titanic, and the casting people remembered him so that when the tour launched, they called him to take the part of Harold Bride.
In fact, Sandish was on another ship's maiden voyage when his agent called to give him the good news about Titanic. He was the lead singer on the first cruise of a new Royal Caribbean ship in the Mediterranean. He spent six months on that ship, based out of Barcelona, Spain, touring to all the exotic spots around the Mediterranean rim.
"I have never been one to hide," he said. I asked if being Catholic and gay had ever posed a problem to which he quipped, "not when all the priests are gay."
"I never thought I was going to be in hell,"
JOAN MARCUS
Dale Sandish, left, and Marcus Chait in Titanic.
Sandish seems to have an affinity for the ocean and ships. After receiving his theatrical training at Niagara University in western New York, Sandish packed his bags and moved to New York City. He started by checking coats and parking cars at a celebrity haunt called the River Cafe under the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn Heights.
"I remember taking coats from James Brolin, Liza Minnelli, Rod Stewart, Phyllis Diller and others," Sandish said, “and it was amazing for someone who had just moved to the big city."
Great as it was, Sandish was lucky to be pulled away to do an industrial show in Acapulco for three and a half weeks for the Control Data Corporation.
"We would do our gigs in the morning and by eleven in the morning I was by the pool with a rum and Coke,” Sandish reminisced, "and I thought to myself: If this is the way it's going to be for my career, I will be very happy."
Sandish's career hasn't always taken him to exotic locales.
"Sometimes it's been Des Moines, but it's all been pretty good and I have been lucky," he said.
Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Sandish was raised in Cleveland until he was eight and then the family moved to Buffalo, New York. Raised Catholic, Sandish said that he is "recovering and not practicing." He is also recovering and not practicing his old habit of drinking and light drug use, something made easier by being on the road a lot.
"I got sober seven years ago," he confessed, "and when I went to my first A.A. meeting and made contact with a higher power, it was incredible. I finally understood what I had been searching for in my teens and twenties."
Being gay and coming out has never been a big issue for Sandish.
GAY PEOPLE'S
·
he said more seriously, "because I knew God wanted me to be happy and that the only way was to be open and be myself."
"It is discouraging when I think how the Catholic church distorts things but I also know that it can be a great institution for fellowship and it has worked well for my mom and dad," he said.
Sandish came out to his mom when he was 22.
"She had a cinematic episode for about five minutes where she fell on the bed and sobbed and then she came and told me "Don't tell your dad, it will kill him"."
Five years later his dad came to a show in New York and told his son, "I love you," and indicated that he knew. "I know my parents had a harder time with my alcoholism than my homosexuality," Sandish said.
Today, Sandish seems very happy, in particular with his relationship with Michael. Sandish says that while he doesn't want to follow the heterosexual model to bliss, he says that he "would like to be in a long-term relationship and have a nice house in suburban Connecticut.
"I wouldn't mind that a bit,” he said.
For now, Sandish plans to stay with the Titanic tour for another eight months after which he wants to promote his demo and career as a singer and songwriter. Sandish said that "the show has gorgeous music which is very symphonic and there are great voices on stage."
Titanic will be docking in Columbus at the Ohio Theatre, February 1 to 6. Show times are Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For more information call 614-224-7654, extension 221. ♡
Chronicle
26 Issues for $30.00 or 52 Issues for $60.00
If you'd like to receive the Chronicle first class mail, $43.00 for 26 Issues or $86.00 for 52 Issues Enclosed is my check for $
Name
for
Issues
Exam, Cavity-Detecting, X-rays, and
Cosmetic Consultation
$5
Reg. $68.00
(cannot be combined with other offers)
1
Realty
One
食用
John Lauro, ABR
NO SLOGAN.....JUST SERVICE
Office: (216) 991-8400 Voice Mail: (216) 999-2056 e-mail: Jalauro@aol.com
1999, Realty One
Address City Phone ( Mastercard Name on card
State
Zip
}
Visa
Check or Money Order Enclosed
Card #
Exp. Date:
MasterCard
If paying by Mastercard or Visa,
fax this form to 216-631-1052
VISA
or call 216-631-8646, toll free, 800-426-5947. Send filled-out form with payment to: Gay People's Chronicle, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland, Ohio 44101
-