For a quarter century, Carl Waisanen has been one of the most well-known faces and voices at Actors’ Playhouse, where he served as stage manager.
Unfortunately, his career in the theater came to an abrupt halt when Waisanen suffered a stroke that left him wheelchair bound and unable to work.
Christy McCouch, former company manager at Actors’ Playhouse, began the GoFundMe campaign in January 2021 soon after Waisanen’s stroke. With that fund they raised $10,000, which helped cover his medical costs. McCouch also rallied the Actors’ Playhouse community to help Waisanen’s wife, musician Andrea Gilbert, with grocery shopping and anything else she may need, including visiting Carl.
(Photo by George Schiavone)
Carl keeping time before a performance of "West Side Story,"
Once the funds for the medical expenses were exhausted, Waisanen still needed funds for a wheelchair-equipped van.
THE NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION
Hearing the call to help Waisanen and Gilbert, actor Brian Golub, who has performed in six productions at Actors’ Playhouse, was compelled to act.
“I met Carl because he was the stage manager for all the productions I had done at Actors’ Playhouse, up until the last one, ‘Caroline, or Change,’” said Golub. “I also know Andrea, Carl’s wife, who is a clarinet player and played in the pit for some of the productions I was in.
“Carl has been helping us crazy actors for years now, he’s been such a staple of that theater and he’s basically artistic director David Arisco’s right hand man,” Golub said.
Golub, who is also a massage therapist and works in reiki and holistic health, has always reached out to help people in need. He started an additional GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for a much-needed van and other services. And in just a few months, he managed to raise $15,000.
(Photo by Alberto Romeu.)
Carl and David Arisco (far right) with the cast and crew of "The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge."
“I did some research and found that the van they need costs about $35,000 so I set the fundraising goal at $50,000,” Golub said. “I am currently working with a few companies to find the most reasonable deal on the van.”
Waisanen is homebound in a hospital bed and requires a wheelchair to get around, relies on his wife, who takes him out for walks so he can get some fresh air, but if they need to go any farther, transportation is required.
“Carl is very isolated from his theater community,” said Golub.
“Without transportation, everything is so difficult,” said Gilbert, who called the new GoFundMe campaign a “very nice concrete goal.”
(Photo by Alberto Romeu)
Carl Waisanen
INSURANCE WOES
Waisanen has endured a long, hard journey so far and there is still a tough road ahead.
In 2021, he was taken off the ventilator and had a tracheotomy that never properly healed, and which doctors were afraid of closing, Then, upon returning home in February 2022, the insurance issues began.
“Insurance was not covering everything, so we had to turn to COBRA which is extremely expensive,” Gilbert said. “Also, we could only do telehealth, no in-person visits because I had no way of getting him to the appointments.”
Finally, Waisanen got Medicare.
“His wonderful doctor that does house visits only takes regular Medicare, but of course, Carl still has to see a specialist and they don’t do home visits,” said Gilbert.
Medicare also provided home visits by a nurse. During one of her visits, she told Gilbert about a program in Broward County that provided transportation so Waisanen could be seen by the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist.
“It is so much better than not having any program and that’s how we were able to get his surgery scheduled to close his tracheotomy,” said Gilbert, with an air of hope in her voice.
AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER
(Photo by Alberto Romeu)
Carl (center) with the cast of "1776" at Actors' Playhouse.
Last November, the Carbonell Awards, the organization that recognizes excellence in South Florida Theater, honored Carl Waisanen with the Bill Hindman Award, which is given to a performing artist who has made significant, long-term contributions to the region’s cultural life and for onstage career achievement.
Gilbert holds out hope that her husband will one day return to his career in theater, where he is beloved.
Waisanen is an Actors’ Equity Association member who has served as production stage manager for 130 productions throughout 25 years at Actors’ Playhouse and also had memorable performances in productions of “1776,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Underpants,” “Funny Girl,” “Havana Bourgeois,” and “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge.” Waisanen’s memorable roles include Mushnik in “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Judge Turpin” in “Sweeney Todd,” Friar Lawrence in “Romeo and Juliet,” and Sir Toby in “Twelfth Night.”
“Carl was always available, always there for the actors, the union, and our company,” said David Arisco, artistic director at Actors’ Playhouse. “It is a tough job, but Carl was the best at it. What moves me most about this campaign is seeing the actors, crew, and staff who worked alongside Carl rallying to make his life easier and his future brighter. It is a beautiful testament to the best part of people – coming together to make a difference. Carl truly deserves this.”
And Waisanen himself agreed, “It’s family,” he said.
To contribute to the GoFundMe campaign for Carl Waisanen, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/8uaku-help-carl-gain-mobility-and-joy-with-a-new-van