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In June 2013, Paul C. Vogt was on stage at the Ambassador Theatre playing Amos in a production of Chicago. This June, Vogt was playing the same role in the same production. Nothing unusual about that. In the history of the long-running revival of the Kander and Ebb musical, many performers have left and then returned to the show, often playing the same role at several instances over the years.
The difference with Vogt is that between those two stage assignments he was diagnosed with, fought and recovered from cancer.
鈥淚t was driving me nuts not being about to work,鈥� said Vogt 鈥� who has also acted on Broadway as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray 鈥� about the period in between the two Chicagos. 鈥淚 said to my agent, 鈥楥an I do voiceovers?鈥� I really wanted to work. I never went out. It was seven months altogether. I didn鈥檛 go to a restaurant. I didn鈥檛 go to a movie.鈥�
Vogt suspected something was wrong in September 2013. Following a nose and ear infection, he neck began to swell and he underwent a biopsy. 鈥淭hey found out I had Hodgkin's lymphoma.鈥�
From then on, his life changed rapidly. Following Columbus Day weekend, he was set up with an appointment with the UCLA oncology department. On Thursday, he told the producers about his situation. On Friday, he gave his last show. On Saturday, he flew out to Los Angeles. And on Monday, he was in the hospital being examined. He started chemotherapy a week later.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 really tell the cast, because I didn鈥檛 want it to be a big cry-fest,鈥� he said, adding that a notice was posted explaining that he had departed for medical reasons. 鈥淎nd then I was gone.鈥�
What followed was eight rounds of chemotherapy, each consisting of five-day periods in which he was fed by a 24-hour drip. Between each session was a two-week period in which to rest. Ironically, it was the rest periods, rather than the treatments, that were the hardest. 鈥淲hen you go home for two weeks is when it hit,鈥� he explained.
鈥淚 feel very lucky, because I never had a superbad reaction,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚 was tired. I鈥檇 get a little nauseous and that鈥檚 probably the worst of it.鈥�
Throughout the ordeal, Vogt had few worries as far as the expense of his cancer treatment was concerned. His savings were cleaned out but the health insurance he received through Actors鈥� Equity did the rest.
鈥淪o far, it鈥檚 been fairly manageable,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been lucky. It鈥檚 wiped my assets down, but, so far, I haven鈥檛 been denied anything.鈥�
In time, the cancer receded. When he felt well enough to work, it was the producers of Chicago who first reached out. 鈥淟uckily they asked me to come back,鈥� said Vogt. 鈥淚t just timed out well. My legs are still weak. I鈥檝e been going to physical therapy. You get some nerve damage in your toes and your fingers, and that鈥檚 from the chemo.鈥�
Playing Amos again was a blessing. While a critical supporting role in the show, with a standout number in 鈥淢r. Cellophane,鈥� Amos is not on stage as much as the other lead characters and doesn鈥檛 participate in any of the strenuous dance numbers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not physically taxing,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just where I want to be. But each show I feel I鈥檓 giving more and more. My balance is a little off, but with the physical therapy it鈥檚 coming back. I鈥檓 a little slow going up the stairs, but even that is getting better every day.鈥�
He laughed, and then quipped: 鈥淓very day is physical therapy, going up to the dressing room!鈥�
Vogt now feels ready to audition for radio and television work. In the meantime, he鈥檚 focusing on the work at hand. And this time, he means to work his contract with Chicago out, uninterrupted by cancer.
鈥淚鈥檓 planning on not getting it again!鈥� he joked.
