Like many of you reading this, we've dreamed of being on the Broadway stage. Well, it's more of a fantasy (I'm certainly not talented enough to make it!), but over the years, we've been on a few, anyway. Back in the day, I made my "Broadway debut" in The Mystery of Edwin Drood when I was selected to assist in taking the vote for my seating section. I'll never forget it! Actress Tina Paul (as Miss Gwendolen Pynn) pulled me out of my aisle seat, introduced me to the Chairman (the legendary George Rose), and I tabulated the votes on a pad while she counted the votes. Our section picked the murderer that night by a large margin - The Princess Puffer (the also legendary Karen Morrow)! So after that happened, I was aching to get up on the stage. Over the years, Mike and I have had several opportunities to do just that. Here are our five favorite moments:
5. Twelfth Night (Belasco Theatre, 2013)
What an experience! Not only did we get to see Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry (among others) do first rate Shakespeare up close, but we got to watch the company prepare - make up and costumes. And what a thrill to be able to look out and see the stunning house - the recently revitalized - of the historic Belasco Theater!
4. Rocky: The Musical (Winter Garden Theatre, 2014)
We splurged on these seats (today they'd probably go for four times what we paid). We had premium center orchestra seats for all of act one and most of act two. Then, when it was time for Rocky to have his famous fight, the show stopped and they moved more than 100 of us from our seats and up onto the stage; it was a feat of organization and efficiency. Then, the boxing ring moved over where our seats were, and we were escorted to seats on bleachers that faced the ring and the rest of the audience. Boy, is the Winter Garden big! Seeing the fight, cheering like maniacs, and watching Andy Karl work was really amazing. My favorite part? Riding the bleachers as they moved around the stage. I felt like a Broadway star!
3. Spring Awakening (Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 2007)
After seeing the show several times, and wanting to see it one more time before Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff and John Gallagher, Jr. left, we decided to get onstage seating. What a fascinating point of view, and mingling with the actors who also sat there was very interesting. It was a fantastic experience. I found out Skylar Astin was a very sweaty performer, musical director Kimberly Grigsby did the whole show barefoot, and let's just say we saw up close parts of Jonathan and Lea that only their lovers must get to see.
2. Xanadu (Helen Hayes Theatre, 2007)
Famously, for us at least, we went to Xanadu just to say we saw it. It was sure to be a flop people were saying. Boy were we (and they) wrong! It was great, a big hit, and we went back several times. One of those times, we did on stage seating. What a blast! The lighting, the roller skating up close was a real hoot. I am glad that we saw it from the house first, though, as a lot of it was done in front of us with the cast having their backs to us. But what I will never forget is a moment where Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa were doing what they do best directly behind me. I turned my head to watch, and without missing a beat, Mary took my head in her hands and turned me forward, much to the delight of the audience and Ms. Hoffman. I was part of a laugh on Broadway!
1. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Circle in the Square Theatre, 2007)
Mike had the best onstage experience of all, though! He was selected to be a spelling bee contestant. And not only did he compete, he was the last audience member to be eliminated! He got to share the stage with no less than Jennifer Simard, James Monroe Iglehart and Josh Gad. He shares, "It was the most exciting moment of my Broadway career, but I have to admit it's a bit of a blur. Unlike our other onstage experiences, it's a little hard to follow the show itself from that perspective. I wouldn't trade the experience for the world, though!" I have to say that it was such a thrill to watch him do it. He was unflappable, and really a good sport. My favorite part was when he was eliminated and he made a beeline for our seats. What he didn't know was the cast was right behind him the whole way! He sat down and they were right there with him and they sang to him their goodbyes! After the show, they all came out and signed his juice box, which he still has. To a person, they were so nice, and made a point of saying how much they appreciated how he played along. Surely, he should have gotten an honorary Tony, right?
Do you have any onstage experiences? Share with us! Contact me at JKsTheatreScene on most social media platforms.
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