BWW Exclusive: How [title of show] Became Part of It All

They might have started as nine people's favorite thing, but in the thirteen years since [title of show]'s debut off-Broadway, far more fans have joined the party.

The beloved fan favorite and critically acclaimed musical will once again be heard on Broadway in a reunion concert tonight, March 11, 2019 at 7:30 pm at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 W 44th Street, NYC). This one-night only reunion will star original cast members Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff and Jeff Bowen along with musical director Larry Pressgrove. All proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund.

How did the show become such a cult classic? Hunter, Jeff, Susan, Heidi and Michael sat down with Broadway World's Richard Ridge last week for an exclusive interview looking back on how they made the beloved, original musical.

"I mean, we just wanted to write a show that we wanted to see... and find a way to get characters and people in that musical theater genre, in commercial Broadway, that I believed in, and characters I liked," explains Bell. "There's a contemporary feel still, but this whole social media and meta aspect of performing and seeing backstage now when you know all the different platforms. I think we were kind of at the beginning of all of that."

Bell and Bowen not only starred in, but also wrote the musical. "We've seen many productions of this throughout the planet," says Bowen. "It's so interesting to climb back in it and then remember how much of it was actually built on us. We've sort of seen so many people embody it. We're like, "Oh, look at that play!" and I kind of forget was autobiographical. I say the lines and it's like, oh, this happened to me and so did this and this did too!"

Michael Berresse, who is currently starring in The Cher Show on Broadway, is doing double duty, returning as director for the big night. "I think the biggest thing I've noticed in this process is our perspective has changed. Not just about what we did, what we accomplished, but also once you've gone on the ride of life and gone out into the world and done some more things and to come back to this," says Berresse.

"To be able to make, with your best friends, a story about creative self expression... that's very personal to us. That was an amazing adventure all by itself. The fact that it got all the way to Broadway with all of us still talking to each other and that it was exactly the show that we wanted and that it was on Broadway. Now I look back at that and I'm like, that is a theatrical fairy tale."

Heidi Blickenstaff, who since starring in [title of show] has gone on to appear in The Little Mermaid, Something Rotten!, and most recently, Freaky Friday, got emotional when reminiscing about closing night.

"After 'Nine People's Favorite Thing', we were standing on the lip of the stage and just looking out, and the audience was packed. And the wave of energy and sound that came at us, and it rolled on and on and on, and it was absolutely profound. And I wish that every single human being could feel that, could feel that kind of acceptance and love and inclusiveness. It was just like this crazy, energetic moment that I will never forget as long as I live."

"You know, there are so many people that I've met over the past ten years who say, 'Aw, I never ... got to see that!'" says Blackwell. "Guess what? Last chance!"

[title of show] has a book by Tony-nominee Hunter Bell with music & lyrics by Jeff Bowen. The original production opened on July 17, 2008 at the Lyceum Theatre and was directed and choreographed by Michael Berresse. It was originally produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Roy Miller, Laura Camien, Kris Stewart and Vineyard Theatre.

Tickets will range from $75-$150 for regular seats and $250-$500 for premium seating. Membership to The Actors Fund starts at $25. To become a member, visit actorsfund.org/titleofshowmembership or call 212.221.7300 x271.

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services.