Student Blog: My Love Letter To Broadway

I feel the usual pre-performance nerves kick in. I’ve been practicing this one song for weeks. I give myself an internal pep talk, and give the pianist a small nod to communicate that I am ready. Sondheim's words pour out of my mouth as my small 8 year old voice fills the Black Box theater. 

“I know things now 

Many valuable things 

That I hadn’t known before..” 

My young and innocent ADHD brain takes us on a journey. I find myself back in my mom’s Acura belting the end of “Defying Gravity” as I daydream about the day when I finally get the opportunity to meet my idol, Idina Menzel. A couple of minor voice cracks later I hear my audience (my mom) give me a round of applause. Since I was young, I have been known to be a loud and outspoken child, but most of all I loved to dream. Dancing wasn’t something I was good at, but boy did I love to act and sing. When I would dance, I was told that I needed bigger arms and more energy, but my comedic timing while acting out my song made up for it. 

Broadway inspires, creates, and touches the hearts of many dreamers like myself. An outlet fueled with stories filled with great emotion and completed with a roar of gratitude. To some you are a pin on the map. A collection of streets lined in the greatest city in the world. To others you are a personal bubble. A community welcoming people of different backgrounds to showcase what they have worked and dreamed for all of their life. Never dull, and never quiet. Musicals are a world in which I wish I lived in. Stories unfold in song and dance as the plot develops. Always keeping us on our toes anticipating each beat. My head is filled with my favorite lyrics and lines that play over and over. 

I’ve suffered from anxiety since I was in elementary school. Big crowds and loud noises were some of my triggers. At such a young age, these feelings were incredibly confusing, and I wouldn’t allow myself to experience certain things no matter how much it drew my attention. Because of my preset triggers, going to Broadway shows was something that made me incredibly anxious, but as I got older something in me changed; it became my safe space. I opened the envelope that my mom handed me and I pulled out three Book Of Mormon tickets. I had been obsessed with Andrew Rannells' Tony Award performance of “I Believe” for months, and I had been begging to see this hilarious show live. (A couple of weeks prior, I brought the sheet music to my acting class and insisted on singing the song in the original key, even though I considered myself to be a soprano). I put on my gray long-sleeve and my ripped denim jeans, and was ready to go on the train. We arrived at the Eugene O’Neill theater with smiles on our face, and left with tears in our eyes from the laughter that filled the theater. Before seeing this show live, I used to get stuck in my mind and worry during each and every other show, but during this one, I let my worries go and I let myself have fun. I was finally able to become immersed in the Broadway experience, instead of in my own thoughts. This experience changed my perspective of the way theater should be viewed. 

There is nothing more magical than live theater. The way a scene changes, the light cues or the audience reacts can affect the story. Live theater is always fresh. Broadway illustrates history and real world situations that people in the audience can find themselves dealing with. This creates a safe space as awareness is reflected off of the struggles of our favorite characters. Broadway, it is hard to put words, I am incredibly thankful  for you. You’ve given me community and opportunities that are irreplaceable.  I am eager and prepared to work while my dreams continue to come true. Thanks to the characters, the actors, the stage hands and everyone in this incredible community who has inspired me and encouraged me to follow my dreams. 

This one is for the dreamers!