Teri

For some reason tonight my thoughts go to Teri.  Teri designed the costumes on my first "big" show in New York, in Nov. of '98, the same month I had my first gay experience (in the East Village, with a Southern boy named Ryan....what a firecracker!!)... Never looked back.

Teri lived and worked in his brownstone in Brooklyn--three floors stuffed with costumes.   He was a one-man warehouse of different historical periods.  Who needs a time machine when you have someone like Teri?

He was small and Eurasian (Asian?) and his boyfriend smoked and had long black hair and wore a kimono.  He was always designing three shows at once.  Then he suddenly died.

I feel like interesting old shops in Manhattan are being replaced by WaMu's and Starbucks.  Teri (and his work) was the human equivalent of a curio cabinet--he'd always surprise you with something wonderful.  Anyone who works in theater knows how the right costume or accesory can bring a character to life.  Teri had that special knack.  We shall not see his like again.  I miss you Teri.