<p>A few days ago, I was waiting in line for JERSEY BOYS standing room seats with friends and coaching colleagues to support our fellow coaching team member who is a swing in JERSEY BOYS and was going on that day as one of the Four Seasons. Because he had late notice of this particular time going on, he couldn't get the house seats set aside for actors, so the only way for his family and others to see him in the show that day was to get the standing room seats. We had to wait for several hours - but it was nice out, not too hot. Even so, about 1/2 hour before they actually started selling the standing room tix, a guy came up to us and others in the line and handed everyone just-bought (still cold) water bottles, said "thanks for waiting so long - I hope you get in," and walked quietly away. That's right, it was John Lloyd Young, the Tony winner who plays Frankie Valli - and the box office worker who was outside said JLY often does this, because "it wasn't very long ago that he was standing in the same lines." This was such a gracious and humble gesture - and I intend to tell all of my students about it, so that they will be the same way when THEY "make it big!" ;)</p>
<p>Coach, that IS a great story and does say something about this actor who has made it but hasn't lost touch with how he got there. My D saw Jersey Boys twice and loved it. She was in Times Square one day and one of the stars of Jersey Boys started talking to her(for some reason he asked if my D was in Tarzan...LOL...if only) and then another one of the stars of JB came by as well. My D has had several experiences in the past year when she has met various well known actors who have taken the time to talk or give back, particularly when they learn that she or her friends are theater students. </p>
<p>Your story reminds me of one such experience my D had this year that made me feel just like you do now with your story and I think I will share it because it really shows the character (no pun intended) of these accomplished actors...</p>
<p>My D went with her two college MT pals with whom she has done theater for years, to try to get tickets for the last night of Lennon the evening of the performance. My D has always been very into Lennon and his music and performs it. They couldn't get rush tickets and the show was sold out. They were disappointed and were going to try to get something else. They went around the block to a convenience store to use an ATM. At the ATM machine was Terrance Mann, one of the stars of Lennon. They recognized him of course, as they are theater kids after all. So, the kids were commenting how they were bummed out that they had just tried to get tickets for the last show and could not get them. Terrance, finding out that they were theater students, said, "come with me," and walked back to the theater and to the box office and obtained three tickets for them (some seats are set aside) and paid for them with HIS OWN CREDIT CARD!! They could hardly believe it. Then he got Julia Murney to come out to say hello to them. My D had met Julia at her theater camp (she is an alumna) and loves her. My D called me right up at that juncture as she couldn't believe what just had happened! "Mom, you'll never believe it, but...." :D</p>
<p>They had great seats and it was quite a night being the last performance and Yoko Ono was sitting nearby too. Then they went to the stagedoor to give Terrence a thank you gift and he gave them pairs of the Lennon glasses the actors wore in the show. This experience, one of a few she had this year of this nature, just really shows me that stars can be down to earth and really remember what it was like to not be a star and to be a theater student at an earlier time in their own development. Actually, my D's close pal with her that night (one of the three Terrance Mann gave tickets to) is cast to be on Broadway this year. The theater stars do pass on the magic of theater to those who both watch their performances and to those who are aspiring to get there one day themselves.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you had a great time at the show. I'd love to see it sometime. My D was at a Broadway show tonight too.</p>
<p>Since we were talking of Jersey Boys and how our young performers look up to these professional actors and maybe some day when they are in their shoes, they will pay it forward to the wannabes too....</p>
<p>My D just called to tell me her friend with whom she performed many shows with at camp over a six year period, was just cast as Bob Gaudio on the first National Tour of Jersey Boys. It is exciting. She has many friends from camp, mostly who are just a few years older than her but a few her own age too who have recently been cast on Broadway or National Tours (in significant and/or leading roles), as well as a couple off Broadway. When I think of all these kids who were in shows and cabaret troupe with her and what they are doing now, it is hard to believe THEY are the ones in these shows. Pretty cool. I always thought of people who do this at that level as so much older but now it is really my own kids' peers and castmates and camp friends.</p>