HELLO!
In 2019, Hamilton was scheduled to play at the Peace Center in Greenville, SC. Demand for tickets was sky-high, so sales were handled through an online lottery system. On that fateful September day in 2018, my mother and I canceled our plans, and I literally sat at the dining room table refreshing my computer all day, hoping to score two of those much-coveted tickets.
Alas—by the end of the day, I was among the first to be told there were no more tickets available. Drat!
Fast forward a few months. We moved to the Greenville area, where I had just started a new job. During the week, I stayed at an Airbnb, and my hostess casually mentioned she had seen Hamilton at the Peace Center six times.
Wait. What?! Six times? How was that even possible?
It turned out she was a volunteer usher. My very next words: “Sign me up!”
By August 2019, I began my “career” as a volunteer usher. My very first show was Dear Evan Hansen—and I got to see it three times! It hadn’t even been on my radar, but suddenly, when the cost of a ticket was no longer an obstacle, there wasn’t a Broadway show I didn’t want to see.
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Stories have always been my passion. I love them all—books, movies, storytellers, puppet shows, television, and yes, even a few commercials. Plays had been a mystery to me, though; I hadn’t seen enough to form an opinion. But now, suddenly, Broadway’s best were coming straight to me, live and in person.
The first Broadway ticket I ever bought in Greenville was for Come From Away in April 2019. Honestly, I had no idea what it was about—I just knew Kevin Carolan was in it. He played Governor Roosevelt in Newsies, and I wanted to see a real-life Newsie on stage. From the first thump of the drum to the very last note, I was enchanted, entranced, and completely captivated. I left with a cracked phone screen, a handful of autographs, and a burning desire for more of… whatever this was.
There is nothing quite like watching a story come alive in three dimensions, right before your eyes. It’s magical. And getting to meet the actors who make that magic? Beyond words.
Six seasons later, I’m still a volunteer usher, still in awe, and still pinching myself that this has become my life. I’ve met so many actors (some more than once!), created countless handmade gifts, and yes—met more than a few Newsies along the way.
That’s why I started this blog. To remember. To celebrate. To share the joy, the stories, the pictures, the autographs, and the memories before they slip away.
So please—read, enjoy, and leave a comment or two. Share your own stage door moments, your favorite shows, or the actor who made your night unforgettable.
I’d love to hear from you. And until then—break a leg!