In 2011, thanks to Alex Sanchez, Lainie Sakakura, Michael Dansicker, and Nikole Vallins, I made my NYC debut in “Where’s Charley?” at City Center. It was such an amazing experience for me. Singing a Frank Loesser score with the best legit musical theatre singers in New York. Watching the Rob McClure’s star being born. Working with John Doyle. Dancing a pas de deux center stage with Emily Dupree to close out Act 1 with an amazing orchestra playing onstage with us. So magical. And one of my favorite memories of the gig isn’t an onstage memory, but on offstage one. Rebecca Luker. Her and I developed a sort of a ritual. And it happened organically. It started in the rehearsal room and then it made its way into the theatre. “Where’s Charley?” has a sort of a dream sequence in it. It’s called “Pernambuco”. Charley, dressed in drags, starts to tell a ridiculous story that he’s making up about his trip to Pernambuco, and thus the scene fades out and the dream sequence fades in. Rebecca Luker’s exit and my entrance were in the exact same spot, downstage right. And we were the only two that used it in that moment. “Pernambuco” begins with a slow, laid back calypso sound. That was the music that was playing as she exited. I had a little bit of time after the start of the number before I entered. And I always get the vibe going offstage before I go on. So, naturally, before I enter the scene, I’m doing a little calypso dance for myself to get in the zone. =] Well, Rebecca Luker picked up on my vibe, and she started to dance with me after she got off stage! She would make her dignified exit into the wings and when she was far out of the sight lines, she started hip shaking with me. Doing exactly what I was doing and following my lead! And after a few bars of dancing together I would calypso my way to my entrance and she would boogie on out towards her dressing room. On with the show. =] That moment was so special to me. It still is. Rebecca Luker is a star! And here she is noticing me? Not just noticing me, but engaging with me, playing with me. It was a moment that made me feel truly send by an artist that I deeply admired and respected. https://instagr.am/p/CJKNW2tjUC0/