Just as the curtain falls, I leap from my maroon velvet seat and dash out to the stage door, eager to get autographs and make memories. Captivated in my own little world, wrapped in a blanket of fuzzy excitement, I vaguely overhear the conversations of others as they interact with the company of yet another fantastic show. Bits and pieces of conversation go in and out, and I catch a phrase here and there as each of the conversations seem to flow effortlessly into one single stream of voices and interactions, faintly hazy in my rosy and adrenaline-altered memory.
“GREAT show tonight! You are so wonderful. Would you mind signing my playbill?”
“Of course! Glad you enjoyed it!”
“Where are you coming from tonight, folks?”
“Sal Tlayka Siti!!! My favorite song is definitely Sal Tlayka Siti!”
“Yeah. I’m pretty good at what I do.”
“What a fantastic performance. I can’t believe you’re so short in real life, though.”
“Thank you, thanks for coming tonight! What’s your favorite book?”
“Do you read? I think this show really underscores the importance of children reading.”
“I think this one’s Annaleigh Ashford! No, wait, that’s not her. Wait, wait– never mind. No, it IS her! Is it? Annaleigh? Is that you?”
“No, Dad. That’s Billy Porter.”
“Can I get a picture of you?”
“MOTHER! Hold my playbill!”
“The Book of Mormon makes religion FUN!”
“Thanks for a great show tonight!”
“There’s one I’ve never heard before.”
“Are you an understudy?”
“No, I’m Billy Porter.”
“I SAW YOU AT SCHMACKARY’S THIS ONE TIME AND ASDFFGHJKL I CRIED.”
“COME HERE LET ME LOVE YOU!!!!”
“I would pay good money to see some Crutchie’s Dream Ballet right now.”
“Thanks, I’ve seen this show like 50 times, no joke.”
“YOU’RE MY FAVORITE”
“Hey! What about Ben Fankhauser?”
“I like your longboard!”
“I had no idea you could sing like that!”
“You’re a real life Disney Princess.”
“MOM, I JUST MET SANTINO FONTANA. I CAN DIE HAPPY.”
“Take a picture with the nice actress singer lady!”
“Dad, she wasn’t even in the show.”
“There goes the lawyer man!”
“I ran into Jeremy Jordan on the subway once. It was the best moment of my life!”
“New Ryan is actually really good.”
“Do you enjoy it? Being Irish?”
“That was my favorite part of the show.”
“Go home, people. Nawwbody else is comin’ out tonight, folks.”
And with that, the incoherent ballet of stagedoor sensory overload comes to a close, as I hobble away from the theater, full of adrenaline and exciting new memories.