Brooklyn and Queens

Once upon a time (okay, last July), in a land far, far away (all right, Brooklyn), their lived a benevolent King and Queen, who were known to all as Jefferson and Julia Cook-Slink. Hearing from their e-heralds that their only niece, the fair-haired and well-read Princess Jessica Juliana of Novato, was desirous of visiting their Fair City, they opened up their loft apartment to the young Princess, her incorrigible father and her beautiful and kindly step-mother.

Now, the King and Queen were direct descendents of Thespis, the first Greek actor, so they proclaimed that Jessica and her traveling companions must see a musical entertainment on the Great White Way. Unfortunately, such an outing might have taxed the Royal Purse unduly, but Julia was wise in the ways of Discounted Tickets. She told an enchanting tale of mystical Pre-show Lotteries wherein eager theatre-goers could literally toss their names into a basket at the box office and thus cast their chances to fate for the opportunity to purchase two tickets to the next performance at an Insanely Low, Low Price. This they decided to do.

They spent the day seeing the sights on the Isle of Manhattan and arrived at the chosen venue scant minutes before the Lottery closed. There were four of them (since King Jefferson was off attending a Royal Ball in the guise of a handsome waiter) which meant that two of their names would have to be picked for all to see the evening’s show. Sixty or so citizens from near and far placed their names into the magical Lottery Basket; yet only eleven names would be favored.


Exotic Pashmina Scarves from Native Vendor


But the gods smiled on the Royal Party and both Jessica’s and Julia’s names were chosen. With tickets in hand, they sought sustenance to feed their hungry bellies and bought exotic Pashmina scarves from a sidewalk vendor in Times Square, with which to dress up their humble tourist trappings.

At the appointed hour, they returned to the theatre to see a performance of In the Heights, winner of the 2008 Antoinette Perry Award (which sounds ever so much better than “The Tony”). Jessica sat in the front row of the Orchestra with her father, close enough to literally pat the conductor on his curly-haired pate, if such an urge arose. The overture began and the show wove its tapestry of Latin music and dance. Everyone was enthralled by every aspect of the lively play set in Washington Heights, or Spanish Harlem as it is known to locals. Two hours never passed so quickly or with such joy.


Pat Shea, Rick Negron, me and Jessica


Fortunately, the evening was not over. Queen Julia, who knew many of her constituents on Broadway by name, was well-acquainted with a cast member, Rick Negron, and all were invited backstage after the performance. Moving past throngs of admirers at the Stage Door, all hoping for a glimpse of The Star, Julia and her party were welcomed by the guard at the door and found their way backstage.

Jessica's First Broadway Star

After paying their respects to their friend, Jessica got to meet Prince Corbin Bleu, the star of High School Musical, who had played the lead role of Usnavy in the show. He told her that he was glad his had been her first Broadway show. Her father embarrassed her (as he is wont to do) and then took their picture:

They were not alone on the stage, however. At least twenty other audience members were congratulating a particular actress in the show. This fair maiden, Alicia Tomasko, had joined the cast only two weeks earlier, as a member of the chorus. That is what her boyfriend had come to see the night before. After all, she was fresh out of acting school and this was her first Big Break. He saw her dance and sing in the first two numbers, but when the third scene began, she re-entered as Vanessa, one of the two female leads! The regular Vanessa had tried to go on, but couldn’t continue, so the new Alicia took her place, being expertly guided in her newly-adopted role by the rest of the cast.

Alicia Tomasko

Now, with just two performances under her belt, she was being congratulated by all her Friends and Family, who had arrived in all due haste to witness this true Broadway Miracle. Queen Julia claimed that she could sense a slight nervousness in Vanessa’s performance, but Jessica’s father (who is not unwise in ways of the stage) thought Alicia could have been playing the role for months.

A better first night on Broadway was not to be had for love or money and, as she stood on the set of In the Heights, Jessica wished to her father that she would like to do another play with him someday.

That is how they both came to audition and be cast in Pirates of Penzance, which opens this very night. And for Jessica’s father, the chance to share this glorious occasion with his one and only daughter is the real fairy tale come true. Break a leg, Sweetheart!