My Impromptu Broadway Debut

Taking a Bow

Friday May 18th, 10:35 PM - New York City - Majestic Theatre

After what most definitely seemed like the longest 2 hours and 35 minutes of my life, the show came to an end. Things went incredibly well, and no huge mistakes were made beyond a few flubbed lines and a missing prop or two!

As the curtain call begins and my fellow cast mates enter the stage once more to the sounds of massive applause and cheering, I take a few seconds to orient myself and regain my bearings. Somehow, the shock still hasn't fully set in, but I just spontaneously covered for one of the biggest and most sought-after roles on Broadway, and I survived!

Before I get too lost in my thoughts, I am given a slight nudge to signal me that I am next to take my bow, and I start making my way towards the stage.

While I have been taking a bow each night for a while now in this show, I have never taken a bow as a lead role - just as an ensemble member. 

Imagine my surprise as I rush back onto the stage and the crowd erupts into the loudest and most enthusiastic cheers I have ever heard. Everything suddenly hits me in this moment, and combined with the applause and cheers, I burst into a flood of the happiest tears.

Xander bows after me, and we come together as a company and bow once more for our amazing audience. But, Xander has one more thing planned, and begins to make an impromptu speech.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! If I could just have one more moment of your time, I'd like to recognize something rather remarkable that happened on this stage tonight. Due to very complicated circumstances, the person who usually plays Christine was unable to make it in time for tonight's show, and all our understudies were unable to be here tonight as well. In their place, the amazing Emily Baker stepped up and took on the role tonight with minimal rehearsal and absolutely crushed it! This incredibly talented young woman is the only reason we were able to put the show on for you all this evening, and we are so glad that you were able to share this night with her! Thank you, again, for being such a wonderful group of people, and have a wonderful night!"

All through his speech, I was completely sobbing and shaking uncontrollably, since the shock of the night was finally hitting me. I couldn't believe what had just occurred, and nothing felt quite real.

The orchestra began to play the ending music as the curtain came down while the audience continued applauding and cheering.

I did it!