#ciaran sheehan

I arrived at the venue early because my dad (who I somehow dragged along) and I are huge comic book nerds and wanted to check out a local comic store before the show. So we’re taking a shortcut through this dark alleyway next to the theatre to get to the comic store, and who do we walk by but CIARAN SHEEHAN. I froze like a deer in headlights. But he was on his phone and I was shy and a tad starstruck, and so I let him pass by. I kicked myself afterwards. Little did I know what was to come.

We get into the theatre and start to look at the merchandise. I see a mask signed by the four guys and Kaley (!!) and knew I needed to have it. We talked to the woman running the merchandise stand and I casually mention that I’m just a little obsessed with Phantom and tonight is basically a dream come true for me. She says, “I could get your mask personalized for you and you could pick it up at intermission.” I DIED. DEAD. I tried to maintain my cool but I am losing. My. Mind. Again, little did I know what was to come.

The first act of the show was incredible, as expected. John Cudia (one of my favorite Phantoms!!) sang Til I Hear You Sing and I wept. He put a hand up to cover half of his face at the line “I’ll always feel no more than halfway real” and I wept more. All of the guys were incredible. The lights come up for intermission and we book it down to the lobby to get my mask. It has my name on it. Kaley has drawn cute little stars on it. I have ascended from this astral plane. And then the merchandise stand woman says it: “I talked to some people. Since you’re such a big fan of the show, you’re going to get to go the afterparty and meet them all and take pictures with them.”

...WHAT. I am in shock. I am in tears. I thank her profusely and try not to have a heart attack as I go to sit back down for act 2.

Act 2 was even better. Kaley came out for a Phantom medley and I wept. Again. They closed the show with Music of the Night, and I noticed all four of them were subtly doing some hand/arm motions from the actual blocking. It felt like they didn’t even realize they were doing it. Very cool and also not emotional for me At All. 

And then. The after-show. I’m only slightly panicking. What do I say to these people? Hi, you shaped my life and I love you? I spoke to Brent Barrett first, who was incredibly kind. And then Kaley!! I had to tell her she was one of my favorite Christines and I was so incredibly excited to be meeting her. She was so gracious and kind. I mention I’ve seen Phantom on tour and she asks if I saw Julia (Udine, I presume.) “No, I saw...” I blank. THE Kaley Ann Voorhees is asking me a Phantom-related question and I have suddenly forgotten everything I know. Eventually I remembered Emma Grimsley and Derrick Davis after what was probably only two seconds but felt like a lifetime. We take a group photo. I thank them all again and stand off to the side, looking at my picture and trying not to lose my mind. I didn’t get the chance to talk to the other three guys, namely John Cudia, and I’m trying not to be bummed by this. 

AS IF SENSING THIS SOMEHOW, John Cudia suddenly turns right to me and comes up to talk to me. I somehow manage to get out how much of a fan of his I am, and he asks if I would like a photo of just us two!! 

The afterparty was mainly richer people who were sponsors of the show, and my dad and I feel a tad out of place and mostly people-watch at a table by ourselves. I’m feeling like we should probably just go when JOHN CUDIA once again appears and sits down to talk to us again. He remembered me from downstairs and said it was nice to see me again!! He asks if I do theatre myself, and I tell him I have absolutely no talent and but just really love theatre. He tells us a really sweet story about his daughters starting to get into theatre, and then thanks us again for coming. 

And that was it! What I thought was just going to be a concert turned into one of the greatest nights ever. Photos below (though I have blurred out my face).

The mask! How will I display it? I don’t know. 

Me next to Christine!! Love Brent Barrett peeping over my head.