I saw Wicked for the first time when I was 16 years old. The tour came through OKC & after falling in love with the soundtrack, we drove down & let the magic of Oz sweep us away. Just over a month ago, I sat down in center of the 4th row at the Gershwin, seeing Wicked for the who-knowsth time... except this time, it was different. This time, after 18 months of darkened theater streets & empty chairs... that curtain rose again. Amidst unending & deafening cheers & applause, our @ginnaclaire came down in that bubble & said the words we had all been waiting to hear: “It’s good to see me... isn’t it?” Oh, how it was. Palpable, communal hope beat in 2,000 hearts... the energy that filled 2,000 seats was like nothing I’ve seen before in all my life. And it was so, SO good to see. Over the past 18 months, I watched @ginnaclaire & her company members live through a nightmare - an overnight obliteration of their industry - & return stronger, braver, & kinder than ever before. I watched my best friend pivot with purpose during those 18 months.. becoming a teacher, a business-owner, & (perhaps the most impressive) a brand new MAMA.. & then return to the stage as a working mama, to fearlessly lead her fellow company members in the hope of all that is to come.. for each other & for all of us, in all our stories. Because that’s what theater does, right? Stories wind their way into our hearts, pricking & inspiring & encouraging the tender pieces of ourselves we hold close - our maybes, our secrets, our hopes. For truly, “We have been through a frightening time. And there will be other times, and other things that frighten us. But if you’ll let me, I’d like to try to help. I’d like to try to be - Glinda the Good.” Today is Wicked’s 18th birthday & just as all art can shape us, touch us, & move us... so Wicked has. So proud of you, my Glinda Claire.. onstage & off. Broadway is back. You’ve all led with courage, lighting the way.. letting us watch hope rise. What a night. What a ride. What a gift. (And, of course, you don’t have to ask.. I’ll gladly be your stand-in “Elphie + all other parts” for 1 AM line runs any day... because that’s just what makes me so nice 💗😉.)