It's the day of the show y'all! Opening Night at Bandstand on Broadway! Here we go!
Look at all the love we're getting from our broadway family! Other Broadway shows send us their congratulations for our big day! What an awesome community to be a part of!
Our dressing room looks like Christmas morning! My dressing roommates, Mary Callanan & Erica Mansfield & I are ready to go down to the stage for the gypsy robe ceremony!
My dear friend of 21 years and fellow gypsy, Erica Mansfield and I before the ceremony. Sharing the broadway stage yet again with this beauty!
The turn out for the ceremony is huge! Friend & gypsy robe recipient Katie Webber and baby Olivia come to join in this historic tradition.
As well as Hamilton gypsy robe recipient and friend Betsy Struxness.
Ten incredible talents make their Broadway debuts tonight! Congrats guys!
And the gypsy robe is awarded to Kevin Worley! He has done 8 Broadway shows in the ensemble & 2 as a principle. Congrats Kevin! Thats Laura Osnes, Beth Leavel & Corey Cott giving Kevin some gypsy robe love.
Then the recipient must run around the circle 3 times so that everyone can touch and bless the robe for a successful run!
Kevin & I did the Chorus Line revival together on Broadway back in 2007! 10 years later we get to share the stage again!
At 40 minutes to curtain, the Donny Nova Band tunes and most of the cast comes down to warm up to their jam session. Here the DNB sport their new opening night gifts from Geoff Packard.
Then right before half hour call we have a tradition to dedicate our performance to a veteran someone in the cast has in their lives. It's a very special time before every show to connect with eachother and remember how important the story we're telling truly is. Tonight we dedicated the show to the 45 million Americans who have served in the military and fought for our freedom since it's inception in 1775.
The view outside our dressing room window. The crowd starts to form outside the Jacobs Theatre. Our audience seems to be just as excited as we are!
Max Clayton takes a peak outside to see all the excitement happening as we prepare.
Then it's time to get ready for the show! At 10 minutes to places the fabulous Mark Capalbo helps me into my first chracter, Flora. Mark will help me with all 7 of my wig changes in the show and some of them are super fast!
I inevitably forget my hat when I go to get my wig on every day, so my amazing dresser, Pinky, brings my pink hat to the wig room for me. Thanks Pinks!
There she is folks! Now to get into costume!
Flora & Josie (Erica Mansfield) are ready for the top of the show! Let's do this! It's Opening Night!
The show is off and Jo & Mo (Morgan Marcell) are ready for the Blues Wisp Scene!
Another of my characters is Gurty. Ready to tear up the dance floor in our big swing number, "You Deserve It".
Our show flies by as we really don't have much down time. Before we know it, it's done! Time for a champagne toast with my dressing roommates to celebrate.
Mark helps me get my hair ready for the big party! Thanks Mark!
Some makeup touch ups with my glamour goddess Erica Mansfield.
Bandstand beauties Jaime Verazin, Andrea Dotto & Morgan Marcell also get all glam for the festivities.
A sensible cupcake for dinner since there wasn't time to eat before the show! It's a busy day guys!!
And there we go! All set to head to the party!
But first a quick pic with friends Mark Stuart, Erica Mansfield, Michael Cecchini, and Ryan VanDenBoom before we head out.
Back in 1995 I came to NYC for the first time on a trip with my high school. We stayed here at the Edison Hotel. That trip changed my life and made me dream of one day being on Broadway. Now here I am, 22 years later, in my 7th Broadway show & I get to celebrate Opening Night at the Edison Hotel Ballroom. Dreams do come true. :-)
Red Carpet ready with the gorgeous Erica Mansfield.
The beautiful Edison Ballroom.
My incredibly handsome date, my husband, Greg. I'm such a lucky lady.
The one and only, Andy Blankenbuehler who directed and choreographed our beautiful show.
Friend & drummer at Come From Away, Larry Lelli came to celebrate with us.
Our gifted costume designer Paloma Young. Thank you for making me feel so fabulous up on that stage!
The exquisite Tracy Aron also came to celebrate with us. Tracy was our lead producer for The People In The Picture on Broadway, also choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler. So great to see you Tracy!
Bandstand's ridiculously talented swing & my dear friend Mindy Wallace. What a beauty.
Broadway heartthrob Max Clayton & I dancing the night away in the Edison Ballroom.
My other beautiful date, Emily Fletcher. We've been friends for 20 years! Thank you for always being by my side Em!
Becca Peterson & I at the after party at Dutch Fred's.
The night ends with finally getting some dinner! What else but New York City Pizza!
Thanks for following my unforgettable journey through Opening Night of Bandstand on Broadway! Come see Bandstand!
