the girl does what she wants to do

yesterday morning i tried again for gypsy tickets. i again rolled out of bed, threw on my gym shoes, brushed my teeth, and was out the door. i power walked down to south street seaport and found the tkts line to be, thanks to the holiday weekend, double what it normally is. but determined to fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing patti lupone perform (and slowly running out of time before the final curtain next weekend), i decided to stick it out.

just as i was getting in line, an older gentleman turned the corner and filed behind me. for the rest of the nearly two hour wait (in the snow) we got to know each other. we talked about our favorite shows, sang a few show tunes, heard about his life living in las vegas, and what it was like living in new york 35 years ago. he was here visiting his daughter, and tickets to a show was his christmas present from her.

when we finally got up to the counter, we secured tickets four rows apart. we said our goodbyes and promised to find each other at the theatre.

i arrived to the st. james to find my seat was excellent. and to say this is the role patti was born to play is an understatement. i wish there was a word to convey how talented she is. phenomenal will have to cut it. trying hard not to be that girl going to musical theatre by herself and getting all emotional during the curtain call was tough, as i remembered how patti’s performance in anything goes (which i only had the soundtrack to) inspired me when it was my turn to play reno sweeney. and now here i was, watching her belt her lungs out on broadway.

i hadn’t seen my new friend yet, but as i was exiting my row, i spotted him buttoning up his coat. i went over to say hello and he turned to his adult daughter and said: “this is my new bestest friend molly.” then he invited me to coffee with them.

we went around the corner to cafe un, deux, trois and had more delightful conversations about the show, all of the musicals i’ve seen (and going to some of them alone—-i was really trying hard not to come off as a loner), and life in general. afterwards we walked to the subway, the man said “thank you for going to the theatre with me,” and we parted ways.

i watched three actors perform their hearts out in roles that won them all tony awards, and i met two lovely, kind people over a love for theatre, and whom i will probably never see again. this is why i live in this city. the world is at your fingertips. and you never know what’s going to happen or who you’re going to meet in a day.