Everyone who has ever seen a Broadway show has their own special story. It’s about having that ticket ripped (or scanned, now), entering the theatre, sitting down and checking the Playbill, and ... being changed forever.
For the past several months, we've been collecting and sharing Broadway stories as part of our "What's Your Broadway Story?" contest. The contest, with a prize of a $500 American Express gift card, is coming to an end on December 31, 2016. There is still time to enter, however, by visiting us here and telling us how Broadway changed your life.
Below, read a sample essay and review the official contest rules.
DARE TO FOLLOW YOUR HEART
“Summer of 2015 was my first time ever visiting and experiencing New York City. Growing up in a small town in Alaska, I came with a long to-do list and an ultra-glamorous and grandiose expectation of the city for the short three days I had to experience it. Over the three days, my family and I went to the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Central Park, Times Square, the Empire State Building, the new One World Trade Center and—lastly—a performance of Wicked on Broadway.
Out of all of these incredible experiences, Wicked was by far the one experience that changed my life forever. The actors, music, vocals, dancing, costumes, storyline and bright lights all captivated me. The perfection of the performance and the talent of the actors was a clear example of having a dream and persevering to achieve it. I witnessed the wonder of having a passion and chasing a dream, and the excitement that could be mine if I dared to follow my heart and put in the time. Flashing forward to five months later, I found myself packing up my life in two large suitcases with a one-way ticket to NYC. Although being an actress on Broadway was never a dream of mine, the dedication and talent of the actors showed me that any dream can come true in NYC, and that incredible life change can happen in a New York Minute. I am thankful for my travels to New York and to Broadway for reminding me that life can be an adventure—if you only dare to follow your heart. “
BROADWAY ESSAY CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Spotlight on Broadway Essay Contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (and Washington, D.C.) who are at least fifteen (15) years old at the time of entry. Contest starts August 20, 2016, at 12 a.m. ET, and ends December 31, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Read the official rules here. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by Broadway Inbound, Inc., 520 8th Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018