What is your :))) happiest (((: Broadway memory...? — Page 2

Rent 10. An amazing night from start to finish.

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When my 9 year old daughter fell in love with Les Miserables (and musicals in general). I was worried she was bored, but at intermission she looked at me with a slightly dazed look and asked if she could see it again. I was so happy she understood the magic of live performances.

the last time i saw cats, about a month before it closed, my family arranged for rum tum tugger to dance with me. it was a total surprise. cats is my all-time favorite show and just to be able to have been a part of it, unexpectedly, was such a thrill. i got to go backstage after the show and it was such a magical night all around.

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Last Summer, Gypsy at City Center. It was my first time seeing a real live production of Gypsy. (I had seen the filmed versions)

Also when I "discovered" Follies at Encores!

Okay those aren't technically Broadway.

I guess my favorite Broadway memories are the couple of times I've taken friends to their first Broadway shows. Each time (I've been responsible for popping a few Broadway cherries) their faces lit up and they asked me to take them to more shows.

Updated On: 6/30/08 at 11:34 PM

Two stand out for me:

My first trip back to NYC in 18 years and the chance to see Spamalot. I'd long admired David Hyde Pierce in Frasier and, for personal reasons, have a lot of gratitude towards him. Seeing him in person on stage just yards from me was incredible. (And I've seen lots of West End shows, met quite a few famous people and am usually quite blase about it). But waiting o/s afterwards as DHP worked his way round the barrier and then talking to him about why his performances have meant so much to me, I was shaking like a leaf. So much so that the woman next to me put her arm round me and smiled, bless her. I've never had that reaction to any performer before or since. And he was so incredibly gracious (as I've since learned he always is).

That experience inspired me to go back to NYC again within two months - and I've been going back regularly ever since. I've had some amazing times and the second was only the day before yesterday (again DHP-related).

Being at the last performance of Curtains, being part of the incredible atmosphere, joining in with the ovations and applause for such a wonderful cast, shaking hands with and talking to John Kander - it's a memory I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

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Probably waiting in line 6 hours to get 5th row seats to see Shoshana, Megan, Ben, and Rue in Wicked because it was a nice bonding experience for me and my sister. I'm huge fans of all of them so that was a huge treat for me. Another is probably going with my high school theatre company to see Beauty and the Beast and being the only people in the mezzanine.

I've got a couple, both of which are Rent-related.

- Seeing Rent for the first time on Broadway, in June 2005 (when I was 24). I'd been wanting to go to NY since I was 18, so I could barely believe I was seeing my favourite show while on a trip I'd been waiting 6 years to take.

- The last time I won the Rent lotto, in June last month. I was the very last person to be called and it took ages: I wasn't called during the main drawing. There were 3 tickets left after drop-downs and drop-outs and I didn't get any of those either. Then the lotto guy announced there was 1 single ticket left and asked if any of the people still waiting wanted it. I put up my hand - and so did one other girl. So the lotto guy started calling out names again, and after about 5 names (who weren't there or didn't want a single ticket) he finally called mine. After all that, I felt like the luckiest girl on earth.

Plus, I think that was my last possible time to see Rent (due to its upcoming closure) so I was thrilled to see it from the lotto seats, and I got the amazing combination of Will Chase and Karmine Alers as Roger and Mimi.