I wasn’t that excited to see this show. I was tired and honestly a little annoyed that my nightly workload would be pushed back to cater to some musical fantasy. I have always had an odd relationship with seeing musicals, as opposed to being in them. As someone who has spent their whole life performing, watching others perform can be unnerving, especially when you have just decided you are done performing forever. These things were all fresh in my mind as I entered the familiar space of a proscenium theater. 

The air in The Empie smells like my childhood. The smell of a rubbery stage floor mixed with the sweat of passion and hard work. I immediately feel nostalgic. There is hustle and bustle as I get to my seat. Some friends have drama and I feel a little stressed at the thought of all the petty things I can’t control. I sit in silence avoiding conversation, as the lights go down and the show starts. 

My best friend is beside me and as soon as the first note is sung he grabs my hand in excitement. We don’t let go of each other’s hands until the final curtain. The show is stunning. Each person brings a new tone and a new perspective. The music flows through the space like honey through air. Every number is better than the last and I find myself sobbing more than once. I feel so connected to each story and see myself in each note. 

I remember how it felt to be the one up there, singing and dancing with friends who had melded into more of a family. I mourn the loss of that part of myself buy also rejoice in the magic which is being brought to the stage. This show gave me the otherworldly feeling of being and seeing and remembering all at once.

 After the show I met up with Emily and we talked about the way the show had reconnected us to our pasts in musical theatre. This conversation made me feel incredibly seen in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. I am very grateful for the feeling and experience this show gave to me.