After the awards, everyone went down to the huge ballroom, where the party was being held. 

There was a press line, with photographs and interviews. Kasey weaved through the crowd searching for Jace, still holding her award.

"Congratulations, Kase," Jace said when she finally found him. "I'm proud." He seemed tired.

"Thanks," Kasey told him, giving him a hug. "How are you doing?"

"I'm thrilled that we won best musical," Jace answered. "I know it's hard when we're both in shows that are competing for virtually every award out there, but I'm proud of the team and the cast. We worked hard, and I think it showed tonight. I'm a little disappointed I didn't win anything personally."

"It's not because they don't like you," Kasey reminded him. 

"I know, Kasey, but it's hard. When you give everything for your craft and aren't appreciated as much by the audience, it's rough."

"They love you, Jace," Kasey insisted. "If everyone could win an award, I'm sure they would want it to happen."

"It's just difficult, that's all. But I'm glad that you won, and Jess, too."

"Have you talked to her recently?"

"We've texted here and there, but not really, no. We're both busy, and we don't keep in touch as much as the principal actors from Tangled do. Tangled was a lot more divided, more like principals and then the rest of the cast."

"Well, I probably should get back to my cast, but I'm proud of the way you handled everything," Kasey said, hugging Jace before she darted her way back through the crowds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cast went down the interview line. A lot of them seemed to target the 'rivalry' between Frozen and Spongebob. Kasey wasn't sure if they could quite call it a rivalry, but there were definitely tensions between the two casts.

"Do you think that Frozen should have won best musical?" one interviewer asked Kasey and Jess.

Kasey exchanged glances with Jess. "I think Spongebob's win was well-deserved. Obviously we would have loved it if Frozen had won, but the reality is, there are so many amazing shows out there. An award can be given to one show at a time, and this time, it wasn't ours," she said diplomatically. "I'm confident that whatever happened was fair and earned."

"You two were both ensemblists in two extremely popular shows- Hamilton and Tangled. Compare your careers then to now."

"Oh, gosh," Jess breathed. "I've never thought about this before. Definitely the atmosphere is different. You don't realize how many people are watching you. Not necessarily onstage, but in life, too. Your every move is scrutinized, especially with a show like Frozen. Suddenly, a lot of people are looking to you for what to do. The cast members, the crew members, the audience- it's definitely a heightened sense of responsibility. For sure."

Kasey paused for a moment to process before answering. "Everything Jess said is very true. I feel like with ensemble, your job is to fit in, to blend, to gel with your fellow ensemblists. You're like, the cake to the icing, if that makes sense. With a leading actor or actress, you're the one who primarily tells the story. You're the voice on the cast recording, you're the characters that end up bringing the story through to the very end."

They continued down the line, snapping pictures, answering questions, and competing in the games that the reporters came up with.

"I have a fun little activity for you," one of the reporters said. "I'm going to name a show, and you're going to tell me the actor that first pops into your head."

"Okay," Kasey said, tilting her head to the side in concentration. "Interesting game, I like the concept."

"Here we go. Hamilton."

"Carleigh," Kasey answered. "Bettiol."

"Anastasia."

"Um, Christy Altomare."

"Mary Poppins."

"Julie Andrews?"

"Dear Evan Hansen."

"Laura," Kasey said quickly. "Um, Laura Dreyfuss, specifically."

"Wicked." 

"Kent Huntington, he was in the production I did," Kasey laughed. "Or Idina, if you wanted someone that people would recognize."

"Spongebob."

"Jace Reynolds."

"Here's one, Frozen."

"Sebastian Carter," Kasey said, trying not to smile. "Only because I literally just saw him pass by."

"Your time's up. Thanks for playing," the reporter said. "And congratulations on your award!"

After many more pictures, and countless interviews, the entire Frozen cast gathered for a group picture. The actors posed with their awards, and those who didn't have awards just grouped around those who did.

They did a serious picture and then a funny picture, where Kasey gave Emma a piggy-back ride.

The smaller girls went home after that. The press section of the party was over, and the actors were left to mingle with the various people that were still there. Kasey met some of the Spongebob cast.

Sebastian sneaked up on Kasey and scared her while she was talking to Laura, making her jump about a foot in the air.

"I saw, but I didn't want to ruin it," Laura laughed when Kasey gave her a reproachful look. 

"You're so annoying," Kasey complained to Sebastian.

"But that's part of my charm."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Sebastian," Kasey said, rolling her eyes.