a dream that you wish | kasey winslow |

Chapter 78

"And now to the leading actresses. These powerful ladies lead their shows with strength, heart, and talent every night, carrying the show to new heights each time they step onto the stage. They are dynamic, engaging, and bring a new sense of awe to the theatre. Without them, the show would be much different. Here are your nominees for Best Leading Actress in a Musical."

Kasey and Jess looked at each other, clasping hands as the names were read out loud.

"Jessica Clarke, fromDisney's Frozen."

"Lilli Cooper, from Spongebob."

 "Katrina Lenk, from A Band's Visit."

"Hailey Kilgore, from Once on This Island."

"And Kasey Winslow, from Disney's Frozen."

Kasey held her breath, her heart feeling like it was about to beat out of her chest. Part of her thought that Jess deserved the Tony for her fantastic performance as Elsa. She'd made the character her own. No one even compared her to Idina Menzel anymore. That was how good she'd been.

The other part of her desperately hoped that she would hear her own name, not for herself, but for all the people that had gotten her to this point.

"And the Tony goes to..."

The presenter fumbled with the envelope as the entire cast held their breath. 

"Kasey Winslow, Frozen!"

Kasey exhaled, burying her face in her hands. She felt Jess wrap her in a hug, and heard the loud cheering from her cast members. 

"I'm so proud," Jess whispered, as Kasey finally stood up. She gave a hug to Jace before stepping into the aisle.

Her heart was still pounding, and if she let herself think, Kasey was sure she'd start crying.

The walk to the stage seemed like an eternity as Kasey passed what seemed like an endless sea of faces, some familiar, others not. She even saw Lin standing up, beaming, near the front rows. 

Then she was stepping onto the stage, mechanically accepting the award, her hands shaking a little. She walked up to the microphone and inhaled.

"Wow. I never, ever thought that I'd be up here, in front of all of you," she said, finally letting herself really take her first real glance the massive audience. "This. This is I dreamed about what I was five, and to be here tonight is the biggest honor I could ever receive in my life. Thank you. I would not be here without many, many people."

Kasey glanced up at the lights shining down on her, taking a deep breath before looking back into the audience. 

 "To my lovely, talented, unbelievable Frozen cast members, I cannot thank you enough for the chance to learn and grow, sing, dance, and laugh alongside each and every one of you. I did this for you, because you deserve so much," Kasey continued. She heard her voice shake and willed it not to, knowing if she let her emotions out now, she would never get through the speech.

"I think we all know that family is what really makes us powerful. My parents, my brother, and my foster parents all shaped me into the person I am today. My cast also has become like family. I would trust them with anything. And there are two more people that deserve so, so much gratitude.I cannot thank them enough for choosing me as their family, when they already had such amazing ones themselves," Kasey said. She took a second to compose herself before continuing. 

"Jace, and Carleigh, both of you mean the absolute world to me, and I am confident that I would not be standing here onstage without either of you. You are both such brilliant lights in my life. Thank you. Dreams really do come true."

She finally let tears run down her face as she finished, relieved that her speech was over.

Kasey walked backstage, still shaking a little. It was so surreal. The moment had seemed to last forever. Now that she was offstage, she could finally take a breath and register what happened, what the award meant, and what she'd said in her speech.

Dreams really do come true. 

She never would have thought that years ago, when she was a little girl, and the doctor was telling her that her entire family had been killed. She didn't believe that when she was a struggling college exchange student, lost in the craziness of being British in America.

She hadn't started believing it until Hamilton, and even then, she'd never put that much stock into her own talent and performance as an ensemblist.

But now, as a Tony Award winning leading actress, all the years spent dancing, singing, crying, and sweating all seemed to be washed away. 

Kasey did it- she'd stood on the Radio City Music Hall stage and given a Tony acceptance speech, and that's when it finally hit her.

This is where she really belonged.