Just as Cory Sigler was gaining momentum on a promising acting career, the curtain closed on that particular dream. But then he discovered a new role he could play in the theater.
The Finleyville native was living his passion of acting professionally in places like the Byham Theater and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in Pittsburgh. "Through those connections I got gigs in New York and Ohio and I went all over to do stuff," Sigler said.
But it wasn't meant to last. Sigler started getting sick. He first noticed it in April 1998 when he was playing the lead in "Anything Goes" for McKeesport Little Theater.
His right leg was twitching during the show. "I thought it was nerves, but I was never nervous before," he said.
A year later, Sigler was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects the central nervous system. Myelin, a fatty tissue surrounding the nerve fibers, protects the nerves and helps conduct electrical impulses. MS causes the myelin to become damaged in multiple areas, leaving scar tissues.
Not much is known about the cause of MS or how it will progress within an individual.
Sigler was limping by age 23. Two years later, he needed a walker.
"I refused to use a wheelchair, but after many falls, injuries and hospital stays, it was a must to safely get around," said Sigler, now 28.
"Unfortunately in the acting world if you're not perfect, you're not good," said Sigler, who still misses acting.
As he wrestled with the reality of his physical limitations, Sigler saw an advertisement for a director for "Little Shop of Horrors" at Duquesne University in 2001.
"I went to the interview just to see if I could get it," Sigler said. "I was scared because I didn't know what I was doing."
He got the job and embarked on a "big learning experience."
"It was stressful, but it was a good kind of stress," said Sigler, adding he had fun and the show sold out each night.
The success of this show gave Sigler the confidence to go on interviews for other productions. In the fall of 2002, Sigler took on the role of director for a murder-mystery dinner, which was being held as a fund-raiser.
That show led Sigler to start his own murder-mystery dinner theater, McCaffery Mysteries. The company provides entertainment in a performance where actors mingle with the crowd, encourage participation and give the audience an opportunity to solve the crime.
Shows are routinely held at The Green Room, next to The Funny Bone Comedy Club at Station Square on Pittsburgh's South Side and Gaetano's Restaurant on Banksville Road in Pittsburgh.
Sigler, who is the sole proprietor and artistic director, said he pays royalties for the plays which he obtains through local writers and the Internet. The show usually changes monthly, but private parties can request a specific play.
McCaffery Mysteries is performing "A Formula for Murder" 7:30 p.m. Friday at The Green Room. According to the Web site at www.mccafferymysteries.com, "A Formula for Murder" is the story of the Toulong family, a powerful family in the ketchup industry. "They've got a secret that someone would love to squeeze out of them" and it's up to the audience to discover the truth.
Prior to some shows, Sigler's brother, Matt, performs a magic show beginning at 7 p.m.
"Audition for Murder" will be performed 7:30 p.m. April 2 and "A Funeral for a Gangster" will be performed 7:30 p.m. May 21 and 28. All these shows will be at Gaetano's. (Visit www.mccafferymysteries.com for a complete calendar.)
Most of the actors are professionals Sigler acted with or met in the years before he formed the murder-mystery dinner theater.
Tonilyn Longo, who regularly performs in the mysteries, met Sigler in 1997 when they were both acting in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" at Stage 62 in Carnegie.
Longo has had to take a break from the shows while pursuing a master's degree in theater at Villanova University but she will be back for more after graduation.
Longo said Sigler's courage serves as an inspiration to her. "He found a really interesting way of turning his interest in theater into something very positive when he took on the role of director," she said. "It worked out really well for him."
She admires Sigler for his passion for the arts and for not giving up. "His ability to create this company ... shows his dedication to the theater," she said. "He's just so full of energy and so much talent ... He has absolutely no limitations at all."
Longo, a native of Carnegie, enjoys murder-mystery dinner theater shows. "It's excellent training in the world of improvisation because you don't always know what to expect," she said.
She believes Sigler has made a big name for himself. "Pittsburgh doesn't have too much going on in the murder-mystery dinner theater business," she said.
Sigler hopes to expand the business in the years to come to offer more shows and eventually own his own building to do the shows. That would be the ultimate dream for Sigler who got started in drama at Ringgold High School.
"My freshman year, I took drama as something I thought would be an easy A. I was wrong. That's kinda how I got the bug," said Sigler, who played the lead role in "The Pirates of Penzance" during his senior year.
"I always wanted to be the center of attention," Sigler admitted. "For people who act, being on stage is definitely a high."
Sigler never got nervous acting on stage, even when performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City at age 16, but being on the sidelines is a different story.
"I don't get nervous when I am directing -- just when the show is running and I can't do anything about it," said Sigler.
Sigler said he still struggles with fatigue while working, but about a year ago a special pump was surgically implanted into his abdomen to administer a muscle-relaxing medication directly into his spinal fluid. Sigler said it has improved his life. He also started taking intravenous immunoglobulins once a month to slow down the progression of the disease.
"Before I had that surgery I pretty much couldn't do anything for myself. I couldn't dress myself. I could bathe myself, but it took me an awful long time," he said. "I can do a lot more. I have a lot more stamina."
"I haven't gotten worse in the past year and a half to two years," Sigler said.
This spring, Sigler is planning to reach another milestone. He'll spend three weeks at Byrant's Driving Institute in Johnstown learning how to use hand controls so that he can drive once again. Because of the limited mobility in his legs, Sigler has not driven for three years.
"I'm very proud of myself," Sigler said. "And I hope that others who have a problem similar to mine would read my story and not give up their dreams."
