by Daniel Hines
Publisher
America’s Seniors/TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com

New York, New York...if you can make it there you can make it anywhere. That’s the reason that the Great White Way acts as a magnet for thousands of theater aspirants, each hoping to get the ‘break’ that will lead to stardom.

Most of these are youthful hopefuls. It’s difficult to imagine a 61-year-old retired chemistry teacher facing the daunting task of making a mark in The Big Apple.. But, in a scenario that could itself be the basis of a play, Albert Parker, who plays Mayor Shinn in the upcoming production of The Music Man at the Fabulous Fox starting May 13.

Parker, who is now 75 years old (although he looks much younger in pictures) had an early interest in performing, thanks to his Mother. She taught speech, stressing poetry reading. Albert started making appearances in her readings and presentations when he was only five years old.

Probably because of his Mother’s training, Parker has a rich, full voice, that in our interview did not smack of South Jersey.

"Oh yes, I have an accent," he says. "I am definitely South Jersey, but my Mother’s training has helped me disguise it."

While Parker had the seeds for performing planted at an early age, he really didn’t pursue it in younger years.

First, he was a chemist. Then he went into teaching, becoming a science teacher for 9th and 11th grade chemistry. But, he kept active in performing, finding a series of steady opportunities at regional theater groups.

The next stop was New York.

Wasn’t he scared? There are untold stories of heartbreak for so many who fail to make it, and it seems that the odds would be against a 61-year-old retired teacher.

"I was scared as Hell," Parker says. "Auditioning is tough, but I worked at it, having seven and eight auditions a week."

Perhaps it was his high energy, which he attributes to playing sports as a youth ("I played, not well, but I played," he recalls) and his high energy level that attracted attention. In any case, he quickly started landing roles, a patter that has continued for 14 years.

Now, Parker is bringing his perspective to the role of the Bombastic Mayor Shinn, whose life is plagued with Malapropisms, and who seems to bungle his way through life, including having a dominating wife, a lovely daughter who falls in love with the town ruffian, and who sparks a crisit of morality when he brings a pool table into River City.

"Some people tell me that I remind them of Paul Ford (who played the part in the movie with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones)," he muses. "Not so. I bring myself to this part.

"The play is just so much faster than the movie, which dragged. This is a high energy performance, with a large, wonderful cast that has received standing ovations for more than 400 performances." About that strange domestic relationship, Parker believes that Mrs. Shinn financed her husband’s mayoral campaign.

Parker credits many things with his zest for performing and life. This includes the cast of The Music Man.

"These young people are wonderful," he explains. "They keep things fresh, and if I sound youthful, it’s because I’ve always had young people around me, first as a teacher and now with the show."

Parker and his wife exemplify how successful aging is attained by doing what is important to you in life.

"My wife started as an actress," Parker says. "Now, she is working as a Head Start teacher, doing important social work." He says she has been "100 percent" behind his acting career and he describes her as "my best friend."

Other attributes of successful aging for Parker include having a sense of humor.

"I love it when people tell me that my role as Mayor Shinn is funny and makes them laugh," Parker says.

This will be Parker’s first appearance at The Fabulous Fox in St. Louis, although he has played at Fox theaters in other cities.

He is looking forward to this appearance because of his deep appreciation of theater history and the rich, ornate design of The Fabulous Fox.