a dream that you wish | kasey winslow |

Chapter 24

Kasey finally returned home after getting her new phone. She'd transferred her pictures, videos, and contacts to the new phone. It even fit inside the case that Carleigh had gotten her for Christmas. 

She quickly texted all her contacts with her new number, and then checked Instagram.

Even though she'd turned off commenting and direct messaging, the fans could still tag her in posts. Some of them were sympathetic, but some were still angry.

She saw that Jace had posted something on Instagram, which was getting a lot of comments. 

@JCReynolds: This is a post that I never thought I would have to make.

Tangled's last show is tomorrow. 

This cast, this theatre, these people, this music, has all been a dream to perform. I never thought that I would join the ranks of a Disney prince, let alone in Tangled on Broadway.

There are so many people that deserve recognition for the effort and love that they've put into this show, and so many people who deserve thanks for their amazing support and generosity. We originated these roles, the music, the costumes, the choreography. For four years I've been involved with this show. I'll miss it so, so much. 

I cannot ever accept the fact that this show is ending tomorrow. There are so many reasons why we should stay on Broadway. I wish that it could go on to become the longest running show on Broadway.

But here we are. I regret that this run could not have been longer.

So thank you. Thank you to the fans, thank you to the tech, thank you to everyone who has seen the show, listened to it on Spotify, everything.

I want to thank several people specifically for coming along on this journey with me, being my best friends, and loving who I am. Araella, you will forever be Rapunzel to me. Kaitlyn, you deserved that Tony for creating such an original Pascal. To my family, thank you for tolerating all the Disney. Kasey, I'm sorry about our differences right now, but I won't ever forget what we've been through together.

This is it, Tangled. Standing here, everything looks different. Now I'm here- and suddenly I see. 

Kasey blinked away the tear that was starting to form in her eye. 

It was extremely sad that Tangled was closing so soon. She'd seen it three times- once alone, and twice with Jace. It was amazing, and he was right. It didn't deserve to be shut out by Frozen. 

She was tempted to go to the final show. Just to see Jace in it one last time, and make up with him. They shouldn't be arguing. Her life felt so empty without Jace.

But she knew that part of Jace was still extremely bitter about Frozen. She could tell from his post, before he thanked her. He had said that he couldn't accept the fact that Tangled was closing. 

Kasey sighed before turning off her phone and putting it on her nightstand.

~~~~~~~~~

The next day, Frozen had two shows.

The first one went alright. There were a few mess-ups. One of the little girls, Lily, tripped over her dress, and one of the ensemblists stumbled over a prop. Someone's violin string snapped in the pit orchestra, which made everyone jump. Everyone managed to pull themselves together before anything drastic happened onstage, though. 

Kasey had a hard time focusing in the second show. 

Part of it was because she was tired, and needed sleep. The whole social media thing was stressing her out.

The other part was because of Tangled's last show, and Jace would be taking his final bow. She knew how much being Flynn Rider meant to him. It was why he was so angry at her and Frozen in the first place- it was because he loved Tangled so much. He didn't want to give it up.

And Kasey understood that. 

It still didn't make anything that he said to her easier to stomach. He'd been downright cruel and stubborn towards her.

She knew he just needed time, even if he didn't understand that. 

As she took her bow in Frozen, she knew that not far away, Tangled's run had just ended, the cast had taken their final bows. It was over for them. 

Later that night, she saw the videos from the Tangled's closing. 

The screams when the cast appeared for the final bow were louder than Kasey's final bow in Hamilton had been. The volume only got louder when Jace, the only remaining original cast member, stepped forward.

"I want to thank you all for making this amazing dream come true for all of us. It's been unbelievable to stand on this stage for more than two years and be able to share the story of Rapunzel with you all. I know that many of you are sad that this is coming to an end, and we are, too. We hope that one day, you'll all come back for a revival, if it ever happens. I love this show. It's been my life for years now, and part of me doesn't ever want to say goodbye to this show, the people, and the music."

"To the fans, we can never thank you enough for all of the love and support that you've given us over the past four years. The journey never would have been possible without you guys. We love you and know that this is not the end."

"Thank you, so, so much for letting us bring this fairy tale to life. I know that many more wonderful stories will be shared through the actors and actresses on this stage, and this theatre will become the home to amazing stories as well."

"And thank you for allowing me to be your Flynn Rider. It's been an unbelievable experience that none of us will forget. This is truly where I'm meant to be."

The the pit orchestra started playing, and Jace stepped backward into the line of cast members to take one final bow.

Kasey wished that Tangled hadn't been in the Lunt-Fontanne. If it had been in any other theatre, maybe it would have kept running. She wanted Jace to still be in Tangled. She wanted the show to keep running.

She wished it could have happened differently.