Who: Melissa and Emily Orlowski
Stopped: Outside the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on 43rd Street

You’ve just come out of the theatre, were you buying tickets for Beautiful The Carole King Musical?
Melissa: We tried to but they’re dark tonight, so we’re trying to talk Dad into seeing Matilda. You can never see enough shows!

Are you from New York?
Melissa: No, my daughter is here doing a theatre workshop. We live in Burlington, New Jersey.

What kind of workshop are you doing?
Emily: I’m doing iTheatrics’ summer program of Hans Christian Andersen Jr. The show is about a boy who gets to study at the royal academy.
Melissa: It’s the story of how he, the author, falls in love with her character—she plays the Princess—and how that inspired him to write The Little Mermaid.

How long does the workshop last?
Emily: Only one week. Tomorrow’s my last class.
Melissa: There’s going to be a final performance at the 52nd Street Project. I’m really looking forward to it!

Emily, what have you learned from the workshop so far?
Emily: I’ve learned to always be your character and smile during your performance because you don’t know who’s watching. I've also made new friends who I’m going to miss.

What does performing mean to you?
Emily: I can just be myself.

Will you pursue a career in it?
Emily: I would really like to!

Mom, how do you support her love of theatre?
Melissa: I take her to her voice lessons, her acting and theatre classes, to New York to do workshops—she’s also done one with Darren Criss and an audition prep class with agents. She loves it, so I’ll keep doing it for her.

So what have shows have you been able to see while in New York?
Emily: An American in Paris, Something Rotten!, and last night, The Lion King.
Melissa: I also saw Waitress while she was in class.

Melissa, why do you love theatre so much?
Melissa: There’s nothing more exhilarating than seeing people perform live, and I love the atmosphere. It’s amazing to me.