Guest Attends the 62nd Annual Tony Awards

I have always been a huge fan of Broadway. Ever since I was a child, attending the Tony Awards has been a lifetime goal. This past week, I had the fortune of reaching this goal. Through a connection with a work colleague, I was able to volunteer at the ceremony as a Talent Escort. Once it was settled, I booked my flight to New York and reserved a room at Chelsea Pines Inn to have what would be the best weekend ever.

Tony Day started with a 9:15am call to go through the dress rehearsal. Since I was a first year escort, I was not actually assigned a celebrity, instead I was a "floater." This meant that I was just to hang out nearby and be utilized when needed. I found myself sitting in the front of Radio City Music Hall when Whoopi Goldberg walked out on stage to start her beginning bit and it was an unreal experience.

The people who were also volunteering where amazing. Everybody was very enthusiastic about theater and the arts and it was great to be around company who really understood and appreciated it all. I made some great friends early during the rehearsal. We helped out when needed and explored the areas around Radio City so we would be ready depending on what happened.

At one point during the rehearsal I found myself sitting a few seats away from Liza Minnelli and Glenn Close while the original cast of 'Rent' performed on stage. I don't think there are words in the English language to really surmise what this felt like. Some of the highlights of the rehearsal included Patti LuPone being a hardcore diva, Mary Louise Parker having issues being tall and the overly hilarious fake award winners' speeches. The rehearsal went smoothly though and we had a break from one to five. I spent this time napping and changing into my suit, not really sure what to expect from the evening.

The award show went splendidly. Being a floater, I stood in the back of the theater and watched the whole show. Whoopi did a great job bringing together all aspects of Broadway and really providing a well-done comedic element to the show. There were performances by the eight nominated 'Best Musical' shows and then five others. The opening by 'The Lion King' made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and set a great precedent for the show. It was almost symbolic showcasing a song that talks about life cycles and how Broadway really stands the tests of time.

All in all, the experience was amazing. Seeing the best of Broadway in a historical theater surrounded by people who understood and appreciated the art was mind blowing. I definitely made it a point to figure out how to do this every year, and I can't wait to see what the 63rd Annual Tony Awards will bring.