Never Letting Go

Jillian here. 

I’ve made an important discovery. Being an NYC resident, I often enter Broadway ticket lotteries. I’ve managed to win three times now in past few months - always on a Tuesday or Wednesday. So if you want to win a lottery, try entering at the beginning of the week. 

Last Tuesday I won the Frozen on Broadway lottery. Full disclosure, I’ve only seen the movie once around the time when it first came out. I don’t really know the songs or characters though I have had the pleasure of hearing Idina Menzel sing “Let It Go” live. 

I ended up taking my friend’s 9 year old daughter to see the show. We sat in the very last row of the mezzanine. The show wasn’t sold out but very close. There were young children and older adult. Tourists and locals. People who spoke every language. Every type of person who could possibly be there.

When it was time for the show to start, a voice was projected into the theater reminding us all to turn our phones off (spoiler alert: not everyone did), not to talk during the performance (spoiler alert: some people did), and that photography and recording were not permitted during the performance (spoiler alert: one person did). Then the voice said something I had not heard at a Broadway show before. They welcomed the audience to the theater and gave a special welcome to the audience members who were experiencing their first Broadway show and how they hoped it would open up a new magical world for them. 

My first memorable Broadway show was the revival of 42nd Street. I was enthralled with the tap dancing, belting voices, and 1930s costumes. It open up a magical world for me that I never left and never plan to leave. Frozen The Musical is providing that magical experience for so many people of all ages, from all around the world. My little friend loved every moment of the show. She sang every song and waved her arms like Elsa. It didn’t matter that she was in the last row or the characters were played by different people. She loved seeing her favorite princesses come to life on stage and LOVED seeing Olaf played by a woman (shout out to Ryann Redmond).

Broadway truly is a magical world. It lets you be whoever you want. That's why I love theatre.