[Amy Sue]

Part 13: Acting Up
(mid 1980s)

I was disappointed that I had been making no progress toward my goal of acting. My first summer back home from college was spent working at the ice cream shop, and other distractions. And I had signed up for too many classes and other activities during my semesters at Florida to find time for performing. So, as my second summer back home from college began, I was determined to make time for auditioning. It did not go as well as I had hoped, but I did land a small part at a community theater. I was also back at the ice cream shop, but I was able to work my schedule around the show.

The play featured mostly older women struggling with their husband’s philandering. I played a young woman who was the focus of their hatred. Somewhat ironic when considering my last summer at home, although I don’t believe my affair was ever discovered. My part was a small one with only a few scenes. But it was fun for me. I got to feel pretty and desired while playing up my sexuality. I had several good lines in the final act where I appeared wearing a towel. And as you can imagine, I made something of this.

My character entered this scene in a cute tennis outfit, just back from a match with one of the husbands. (I loved my little tennis skirt, and this began my wearing tennis skirts often for many years.) But, in the scene, after announcing that I was off to have a shower, I had to exit stage left and return about 2 minutes later in a towel to finish the act. This was not exactly a quick change, but it was too much to make it to the dressing room and back. So, I would change into the towel just off stage in the wing. I had a hook, small light, and mirror where I would prepare. No one was around when I changed, except one young man, Tim, who had to be there in position to work the curtain at the end of the show, and for curtain calls.

Actors are generally pretty free and liberal. In the theater, it is common for the performers to change in front of each other. So, no one thought anything of it. But this young man was new to the theater. He was shy and reserved. I sensed the awkwardness during the first rehearsal when I made this change. He seemed to be making an effort to not look directly at me, but I could tell he was making the most of his peripheral vision, as was I.

I was not naked. I kept on my panties and bra, only pulling my arms from under the shoulder straps and tucking them in so I would appear to have nothing on under the towel. But I wondered if this boy had ever seen a girl in her underwear before. From the time I spent around Tim, I had come to believe he was most likely a virgin. And even though I knew he was trying to watch me undress, I also thought he was gay.

As the cast and crew grew friendly, spending a lot of time together at and away from the show, we began to learn about each other. Most knew I had to make a long drive out of town, which I dreaded because I had never done that alone before. For this, Tim gave me a mixtape that he made specifically for me. That is when I realized he was not gay. He had a crush on me. Others started to make comments to me. I remember a girlfriend from the cast told me that, “Tim has the hots for you.”

Through rehearsals I had been enjoying that Tim was discreetly watching me change into my towel. I was wanting to escalate it – thinking of going without my bra. This would be fun with Tim, but also thrilling to be on stage in this way under my towel. But now knowing how Tim feels, I worried it would be unkind to tease him too much.

After our first shows with an audience, I was feeling even sexier in my role. This grew my desire to take it further. My selfishness helped convince me that Tim would want to see more, even if I wasn’t interested in a relationship with him. So, for our first Sunday matinee, I exited the stage for my quick change and took off my top, skirt, and shoes. Then I glanced over at Tim who was obviously pretending to be occupied with his ropes, and I removed my bra.

Through rehearsals I had learned that I didn’t need to rush. I used to get into my towel quickly, but then I would have more than a minute to wait for my cue. So, now standing in only my panties, I fixed my lipstick in the mirror and delayed putting on my towel until I had no doubt Tim had seen me. This gave me a good thrill, but I was still surprised how much my blood was pumping after I wrapped my towel around me and took the stage. I had not had any trouble with the towel before, but now I was very aware that I was in this condition while in front of a few hundred people. I was nervous but loving it.

At the end of each show, I had the choice to change back into my clothes or stay in the towel for my curtain call (when we take our bows). Tim would still be in his place to work the curtain, but the wings by this point were filled with the rest of the cast getting into position for their curtain calls. I felt sexy taking my bow (I would actually curtsy), in my towel. I knew it could be more thrilling to change in the wings with more people watching. But so far, I always stayed in my towel until after the show and then I would carry my clothes back to the dressing room to change.

It was not a private dressing room, but we had curtains behind which to dress, so no one but Tim knew what I wore under my towel. That had apparently become something of a curiosity for the cast and crew. I learned this one night at a restaurant after the show. After having a few drinks, the lead male actor, who I thought very handsome, called across the table to me asking what I wore under that towel. The table fell silent as all eyes turned to me. I was not expecting the question but knew what everyone wanted to hear. I dramatically announced, “Absolutely nothing at all!”

They laughed, but then I noticed a few looks that suggested some really wanted to know. So, I said, “Just ask Tim.” We all looked to him. His face turned red, and his palms turned up. After more laughter the conversation moved on. But Tim and I locked eyes for a bit, and he grinned. I returned a cheeky smile.

For the next few performances, I went without the bra. Tim seemed to relax some, and I noticed him looking my way more. With only a few shows left, I wanted to take things even further. I had been thinking about also taking off my panties. But when the time came, I was too nervous. So, my next idea was to ‘misplace’ my towel. Before the show, I moved it from the hook and placed it on the other side of where Tim would be. During my quick change, I stripped down to my panties then feigned panic as I couldn’t find my towel. I saw it near Tim, scurried over, and whispered for him to hand it to me. He did as I stood in front of him quietly apologizing while fumbling with the towel.

After that show, I asked him if I had embarrassed him. He shook his head. I asked if he had ever seen a girl naked before. He nodded, but I didn’t believe him. He was clearly stunned and couldn’t even verbalize an answer. This really turned me on. I had many times felt desired by men. But I had never really been in a power position. With Tim, I felt like the older experienced one. I was young myself, but this made me feel like Mrs. Robinson. A truly new feeling, and I was loving it. He seemed so innocent and infatuated, and I was in control.

I asked him if I was as pretty as the other girls he had seen. Finally, he answered with words that I was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. I started to wonder if he was smarter and more experienced than I imagined, but I kept going with the fantasy I had created. If he had asked me out, I probably would have said no, but I was a little disappointed that he hadn’t tried.

Our last weekend of performances was the most fun. I made more of a show of changing, even doing a little burlesque style dance while putting on my towel. Tim was now watching me with fewer reservations. He would smile at me, and I would blow him a kiss before taking the stage. By now I was upset that he had not asked me out. I decided to go for it.

While changing during our last show, I was down to my panties when I walked over to Tim and whispered in his ear, “Can you keep a secret?”. Without waiting for an answer, I returned to my place and slid out of my panties. I turned to face Tim and gave him a moment to take it in. He was clearly pleased, but probably not as much as me. I curtsied to him before wrapping my towel around me. Then I skipped over and gave him a quick little kiss before taking the stage. I was so overloaded with endorphins while on stage with nothing between me and all of these people but this loosely fixed towel. My nerves encouraged me to keep a tight grip on the towel through the whole scene. It was not my best performance, but this one was more for me.

After the show, on my way to the dressing room, I was hoping to see the actor who had asked what I wore under my towel. But his curtain call was after mine, so I had to wait for him to pass. When he did, I opened my towel such that he could see only the side of my body, but enough to know I was really naked under the towel. I had a great time with this. Word spread, and by the cast party everybody was talking about my antics. These were fun people, and it was all lighthearted fun. This was the kind of thing for which I had been looking. I loved performing in the theater and getting away with my shenanigans. I really felt like this was where I belonged.

Tim never asked me out. I think he was too intimidated, or at least that is what I told myself. I know if he was more forward, I would have resisted. Human behavior is often quite strange – and I think particularly my own. But I have had such a good time exploring that.




The attached pictures include my headshot from that time, but are otherwise not from that show, just taken that year. I like to provide something of myself to help set the scene of the stories. Please forgive the terrible condition of the pictures. They were salvaged from the mess hurricane Charley made of my house in Orlando in 2004, when much of my collection was lost.