Student Blog: Once Upon A Seven Times

This past summer, I saw ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME seven times! Yes, that does mean I went to see it six 'one more times', and I wouldn't trade a single trip for anything.

I first saw the show on opening night, then immediately left for a three week vacation. There was a month's break between my first two trips, before I saw the show weekly for trips 2-5, an impromtu trip for a debut (6), and finally, closing night (7). 

I didn't get bored, the show wasn't repetitive, and I cherish every single minute. Each trip was so unique and so special, between the covers that went on, the friends and family that came with me, and the memories I made. But what can really be so magical about seeing the same show over and over?

The audience.

On August 2, I attended the matinee performance for Salisha Thomas Weiss' debut as Cinderella, the lead role. The seats were full of friends and family and fans who scored last minute tickets, who screamed their heads off when Salisha entered, and who jumped up and down during bows. The audience was electric, and the energy in the room was absolutely incredible. Even on stage, Justin Guarini as Prince Charming couldn't stop grinning at his scene partner. 

The people.

I've seen the show with many friends and family, and one of my favorite trips was the show I attended with CreativelyBroadway. We'd been chatting about the show online for weeks, fangirling and hyping it up even before my first trip to the show. We finally got to meet in person, and unexpectedly ended up seeing ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME on the same night. We got to sit together for the second half, and it was so meaningful to see the show with someone who's been hearing me excitedly chatter about it for weeks. 

The cast.

They were all incredible, of course. They gave it their all on stage each night, shining and singing and looking stunning performing that insane choreography. But it's the little things I'll remember -- Briga Heelan spotting me in the front row and smiling at me; Matt Allen mouthing 'thank you' during the first standing ovation of the closing performance; Ryah Nixon waving every single time she saw me during the Megamix. Little messages, whether online or at the stage door. Random meetings at BroadwayCon, and outside the theater, and even at other Broadway shows! 

The memories.

I traveled 360 miles to see the show for its closing performance. I arrived at the theater five hours before the show began, armed with a travel backpack and lots of tissues. I got to reunite with so many friends and fans I'd met through the show; I got to hug Briga Heelan and wish her an incredible final performance; and thanks to an incredibly lovely producer, I got to sit center orchestra for the show itself. But while the show was amazing and every single person in the audience was cheering their hearts out, that wasn't the stand out of the night.

I'm going to remember the people -- the cast member's mother who brought me backstage; the friends who went looking for me during intermission; the fans with the buttons and bracelets and all the memorabilia; the producers and writers and casting directors who made a point to reach out and say hello. 

ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME ends with the Little Girl in the show being told to "tell me a story". I think one of the most incredible gifts I've gotten from ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME is my story. A story of a summer that I never expected. A story of a summer that I will remember forever. 

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