On the evening of October 15, 1997, something remarkable happened on the stage of Texas Tech University's Charles E. Maedgen, Jr. Theatre. The local evening news and other members of the Lubbock press corps were gathered to watch the final dress rehearsal of the School of Theatre & Dance's production of Guys & Dolls. The event was especially well-covered largely because the show's director, Seth Baumrin (then assistant professor of theatre and dance), had put word out that the evening's performance would include a special surprise ending. Although Cat Gray (BFA 1998), an uninformed senior theatre student playing the role of Adelaide, was impressed with the media's interest in the production, she in no way anticipated what would happen next.

Just as the performers finished the last note of the musical finale, Will Bigham (BA 1998), in the role of Benny South Street, suddenly claimed the light of center stage and shouted, “Stop the show! Adelaide, Nathan Detroit doesn't want to marry you--I do!” Bigham then dropped to one knee, presented Gray with a ring, and asked for her hand in marriage.

Gray was surprised by the proposal: “We had never talked about marriage. Ever. I had no idea. I was so shocked!” Fortunately for Bigham, Gray said “Yes!” and they were married in December of that same year.

Twenty-four years and four children later, Bigham and Gray are still going strong. They have built their lives and careers together in a remarkable feat of professional and personal collaboration. I was able to connect with them on a recent Zoom call from their home in Los Angeles to get a first-hand account of the roller-coaster ride they have been on for the past quarter century.

Bigham and Gray's adventure started shortly after college when they each secured a summer internship at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. Their employer was impressed with their work and eventually invited them to stay on as resident company members. The invitation included an opportunity to join the Actors' Equity Association that fortunately meant larger paychecks. They seized upon the chance to solidify their professional status and remained on board at the Barter for the next four years.

Not entirely fulfilled by a life in the theatre, Bigham's desire to try his talents in the world of film and television next brought them to Florida State University (FSU) College of Motion Picture Arts where he would pursue a Master of Fine Arts in film production. Meanwhile, Gray set about establishing and running a murder/mystery dinner theatre company. Even as she was pregnant with their oldest daughter, Gray took to the stage to perform original and established works for the company.

Two years later, with his degree in hand, Bigham decided he was ready for the big league. He flew off to Los Angeles and crashed on friends' couches for a few months before finding a little place in Glendale for the family. Bigham was offered an editing job by a fellow FSU alumnus, which led to more editing jobs and a range of other opportunities in the industry for both him and Gray. About this time, the couple also welcomed their second daughter to the family.

Then, something exciting happened.

Bigham landed an interview for a new reality show called On the Lot which pitted aspiring filmmakers against one another in the now-classic episodic elimination format. Bigham played up the idea that the show was the last shot for his family to make it in Hollywood. If he lost, they would be forced to move back to Texas. Gray admits that Bigham's angle for the interview was not entirely a put-on. The couple had been struggling financially at times, living paycheck-to-paycheck from the various acting and production jobs they were able to secure.

Bigham's strategy killed, and he was well-received by the casting directors. He was given an assignment to shoot a one-minute comedy with a budget of $2,000 or less. The resulting short film, Lucky Penny, was also well reviewed, and Bigham was selected from the initial 12,000 entrants to be one of 50 directors competing for the top prize. By the end of the season (spoiler alert!), Steven Spielberg shook Bigham's hand and informed him that he had won the competition.

The prize? A two-year contract with DreamWorks Pictures!

Although Bigham's tenure was complicated by the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike and the breakup of Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks, he still managed to successfully sell a script (to Paramount). In the end, Bigham remembers this period fondly and is grateful for the opportunity to learn about the business of producing and selling films in Hollywood.

After the On the Lot escapade, Bigham and Gray decided to put their experience to work by establishing their own production company, Shamrock Motion Pictures. In this new venture, the couple happily work closely together again and are enjoying the freedom of being their own bosses. Through Shamrock, Bigham and Gray have co-produced several projects, including the short film series, Seasons. Their other clients include, among others, The Pickleball Channel and the viral parenting comedy sensation, Kristina Kuzmic.

Beyond Shamrock, the couple continues to find work independently as well. Bigham recently directed the feature film, The A-List and is frequently brought onto productions as an editor, while Gray maintains a stage career, often performing and producing with the Actor's Co-op Theatre Company in Hollywood.

Bigham and Gray have been busy in more ways than one. With their girls now well into their teens, they recently welcomed two more children into the fold--this time boys. Why would they re-start the parenting process at this point in their lives?

“Well,” Gray explains, “Christmas was getting boring.”

To learn more about Shamrock Motion Pictures, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.