if you read the whole thing let me know so I can virtually hug you :) Also, I cried 5 times while writing this part alone sorry not sorry -Katie

The show was amazing. It was like a dream come true. The tour ensemble with the Broadway leads. I wasn't sure if I was dreaming. I turned to Alyssa during Carrying the Banner and whispered almost inaudibly, "pinch me I'm dreaming." She did and the pinch hurt, so it was definitely real.

There were so many little things in the show that I remember. I don't remember Santa Fe very well or the way the choreography looked for Carrying the Banner, but I remember little things. The way Jeremy Jordan smiled a genuine smile during Santa Fe Prologue right at the audience. The fact that Ben and Josh were onstage together once again. Ben and Josh throughout the whole show were really only separated when one of them had lines, but besides that all their choreography was right next to each other, all their blocking. It made my heart smile to see them onstage together. I remember that I laughed during Seize the Day when Ben Fankhauser was singing to Ben Cook because I thought it was Benception. I remember Andrew Keenan-Bolger making me cry during Letter From The Refuge. I remember the Guzman twins doing their little cartwheel thing and I started cheering. Michael Dameski still did the paper turn at the end of Seize the Day and when Josh comes flying in I started crying because I love him. Then I feel bad, but I laughed again during Crutchie's arrest because Josh gets wheeled offstage in the cart with his butt completely in the air. Kara and Jeremy smiled at each other genuinely during Something to Believe In and again during Once and For All. Once and For All made me start crying... again. It's my favorite number in the show. After the number ended, I hopped up from my seat and started a standing ovation.

After each big number the house lights would come on so they could get video of audience reactions. There had already been two standing ovations, one after Seize the Day and one after Santa Fe (making getting a pape super easy.) After I stood, I was alone for a really long awkward second, but I was joined by the rest of the audience soon enough. I hope the cast knows I started that.

There was only one thing in the whole show that made me mad. Now, before I say it I'm going to express that I'm no longer mad about it, but I was in the moment. There were a lot of little casting changes from a normal tour production to this one. For example, Beth went on a nun and Bowery Beauty along with Kaitlyn instead of Meredith and Aisha. (Meredith was still a nun, but Aisha was not). I was okay with it because Beth is amazing. The cast change that made me and Alyssa really angry was in Brooklyn's Here. I understand re-adjusting the cities that the newsies were from to allow more in the number as well as even out the newsies from each neighborhood. (With that being said, Josh and Chaz were not from Brooklyn they were from Flushing I think...) The only typical Brooklyn Newsie that wasn't reassigned was Zas. I understood that so I wasn't mad.

However, what made me mad was when Sniper says, "so's da Bronx" it wasn't Kaitlyn saying it. It was Daniel Switzer. I understand why this choice was made, so then when the movie rolls around people don't see Kaitlyn and start thinking, "a girl? that's a girl! How the hell? Is that even legal?" And I love Daniel Switzer I just think Kaitlyn is so incredible and my role model that when she wasn't Sniper it felt like a stab. I'm over it now, but for that night I was pretty mad about it.

The show ended. I cried. I couldn't see the curtain call because of the standing ovation plus I'm a shorty. Then after Curtain Call, Andrew Keenan Bolger stepped forward, and gave some instructions. We were informed of this before the show and had received our papers during Intermission and given instructions, but I still screwed it all up. For a really cool shot, we were supposed to crumble our paper three times as they counted then throw it at the top row of the risers, just like the cast does at the end of Seize the Day. Well they counted down from three and I crumbled as he counted instead of after he counted then when everyone else was crumbling, mine went flying through the air. I threw too early. How embarrassing. I'm hoping they cut mine out of the footage because it was not my intention to ruin the shot, I just got too excited.

Then my sister and I made eye contact from across the middle section and I grabbed Alyssa and made a run for the stagedoor.

This stagedoor was unlike any stagedoor I had ever done in my life. Not because of the people I met, but because of the complete and utter lack of organization. All the fansies just sort of sat outside the gate like puppies in a large clump. Alyssa and I, being the geniuses we are, got out of the claustrophobic clump and scooted back out of the line.

Where we stood for a short amount of time was right next to someone we'd been looking for all day. Alyssa double checked to make sure it was actually him and gave me a thumbs up. I walked up behind him and asked, "excuse me Kevin Massey. Can we get a picture with you?"

Kevin Massey turned around and pointed at himself like 'me, Kevin Massey?'. He took a picture with us and said with a laugh, "famous by association."

Alyssa and I were offended that he thought we only recognized him as Kara's husband, "no! We love you! You're so fantastic in Gentleman's Guide."

"And Bonnie and Clyde!" Alyssa added.

"Well thank you guys," he smiled. I thanked him for the picture and later on my mom told me that after that she overheard him saying that he wasn't even at his own stagedoor and people recognized him. It warmed my heart.

Then we worked our back to the line. The truck was parked separating the sidewalk and the street. The sidewalk was clogged with people and before we abandoned standing on the sidewalk we had a very interesting conversation with some middle-aged ladies. They were very nice to us and asked if we liked the show then asked, "who's your favorite newsie?"

I replied .7 seconds after the question was asked, "Joshua Burrage."

Alyssa replied immediately after me, "Jeremy Jordan."

My sister replied, "Sky."

The ladies laughed at my sister's answer and my sister looked confused, one lady explained, "That was a good answer. I'm Sky's mom." My sister took a step back and was surprised. My sister had been talking about Sky all day and no she was talking to his mom.

Seizing the advantage of Sky's mom talking to us, I asked, "so is Sky's name Sky like on his birth certificate or is it short for something?"

"Well his name is Skylar, but that was back before a bunch of girls were named Skylar, so he's just Sky. He's more of a Sky anyway."

I agreed then I got the gut feeling to move spots in line one more time. Best decision so far. We moved to the end of the sidewalk right next to the street twenty feet in front of the truck. Almost touching the fence that divided traffic and the "stagedoor". When we got to our new spot, Andrew Keenan-Bolger was right there taking pictures greeting Fansies.

I had Andrew sign my newspaper and CD then we took a picture and I hugged him. Contrary to popular belief, Andrew Keenan-Bolger was actually super awkward and probably hates me because I forced him to take a picture with me earlier but I didn't care.

(WHY IS THIS PICTURE SO BIG???? IDK BUT WHATEVER. also pictures will be collages now so I don't exceed the picture limit.)

Then I met Chaz.

Chaz Wolcott is a gift to humanity. He recognized us from line and the first thing he said was, "you guys got in!" We smiled and nodded, "I'm so glad you guys got in." We took our pictures and got our hugs then I let him continue on his way (DON'T FEAR I TALK TO CHAZ AGAIN).

(C H A Z F A C E)

Then I met a newsie that almost got missed a second time. I stopped him and asked him to sign my stuff. Iain Young does not deserve to be ignored. Please join the Iain Young support and love club because I adore him.

(If there were Newsie awards Iain would 187% win best dressed just saying.)

Then there was the man, the myth, the legend himself. The one and only, gravity defying, flipping amazing Jordan Samuels.

Jordan Samuels and I are not really friends. If someone told me that out of the whole cast only one of them hated me, I'd bet it was Jordan Samuels. I don't blame him. Last time we met I told him he was "flipping amazing" (Burrage level pun am I right?). He's terrific every single time I see him and whenever he does his flips I get really excited.

During trivia they were actually awarding a pair of Spec's glasses and I wanted them so bad (didn't win) because maybe if I put them on I could flip like Jordan Samuels. I honestly love Jordan Samuels so much and he deserves more love and him and Morgan are my OTP.

(Aha, a superhero!!!!)

Next I met JP again because him and Jordy were walking together but we didn't get a picture (hah got one earlier).

Then I met the Guzman twins. I sadly only got a picture with David, but I talked to Jacob still. Originally I wanted a picture with both twins, but I'm just thankful I got to meet them. They are so incredibly talented and nice. I'm still not over meeting them.

My sister actually took the picture Jacob posted of his family on his Instagram. The Guzman's are terrific and I wish I had a good story, but I don't.

He was so cool. I can't believe I met a Hamilton cast member. Short-term life goal.

Then I got to meet, for the fourth or fifth time in my life, Andy Richardson. I adore Andy so much, he makes me smile so much and he is my cinnamon roll and my main cheese. Andy Richardson is a 10/10 would recommend to everyone who wants a tight hug that makes your heart warm.

Getting to see Andy do the flips was surreal. He's so incredible. Andy makes my heart warm and he's my favorite Crutchie (and I've seen AKB...)

I LOVE ANDY.

(Look at that hug. Tell me that hug doesn't make you smile. He's so strong so he gives the best hugs like ever.)

Then I saw one of my favorite people walking by. I stopped her and I was the only one that did. "Meredith!" I called.

She turned, "hi sweetheart!" then wrapped me up in a tight hug. I got to see Meredith's last show ever and I feel blessed. She always steals the scenes for me, even back in May when I saw her the first time. I totally made a fool of myself in front of her, but it doesn't matter because she was nice to me nonetheless. I honestly believe Meredith is one of the greatest performers in the show and if I could I would have her adopt me.

(She's so beautiful, and I just love her so much!)

Then I got to meet my role model again. I called Kaitlyn over and she was so excited to meet us. I gave her a super tight hug and I just hope that someday I can meet her again because she honestly just inspires me so much. Kaitlyn is beautiful, sweet, talented and an amazing role model. I would love to take her dance classes, but I live in California and next time I go to New York, I'll probably be too old to take her class. That makes me cry because I love Kaitlyn so much and this is first paragraph so far that I've cried writing. Anyone who knows me, knows just how much Kaitlyn means to me. Every time I've met her, I've loved her more and more. Well all I can do is dream that we can be friends.

(Her dance school follows me on Instagram so I guess I have that.)

(here I am in the various states of fangirling.)

Kaitlyn: Thank you for everything.

Then I jumped in line at the perfect time to meet the one and only Jeremy Jordan. He is spectacular. We had a really good conversation.

Jer Jor: did you like the show?

Katie: Loved it. It was a dream come true.

Jer Jor: A dream come true?

Katie: Dreams come true!

Jer Jor: Yeah they do! (HE SAID THAT ENTHUSIASTICALLY NOT SARCASTICALLY)

BUT Jeremy Jordan is a giant toe and wouldn't take a picture with anyone, so all I have is this screenshot. Jeremy Jordan is actually super nice. Nicer than he appears, but I was mad he wouldn't take a picture with me. Whatever Mr. Famous.

I would also like to say that Alyssa nearly passed out after this moment. I actually have a pretty awesome screenshot of her freaking out.

After Jeremy Jordan abandoned the fansies, yet claimed he loves us all. I turned around and Jack Sippel was leaving. I yelled, "Jack, can we take a picture with you?"

He smiled brightly and joined us. Jack was easily the nicest person we talked to that night. He asked if we liked the show and then asked if we were in the line. I nodded and said we waited for 7 hours. His jaw dropped and he just stared at us. We laughed and informed him that it was worth it. Then we asked for a picture, and he replied, "Absolutely!"

He was so sweet then I asked if I could hug him and he gave me one of the tightest hugs out of anyone I met that night.

I honestly believe that Jack Sippel was my second or third person I met that day. He talked to us long enough for him to become one of my favorites and since no one else recognized him he gave us his full undivided attention, I appreciated that.

Jack Sippel is my new cinnamon roll and I love him. The end.

(Cinnamon Roll <3)

Then we turned around and Benonce was there. "Benonce!" I called him because I have no regrets. We had a nice conversation and I gave him a hug. Hearing him sing "Poor Guys Head is Spinning" made me start crying. I cried a lot I realize.

Well Ben Fankhauser was really really really nice and so so so talented. His voice is like an angel's kiss (and I know what that feels like). Seeing him perform was crazy cool. Thankful for Ben Fank forever.

(My head is spinning in this picture. lol sorry for the bad joke)

Nick Masson was next and he was really nice to me and his outfit looked straight out of the 70s. We both looked at different cameras at different times, but we got some goofy candids. Anyway, Nick always makes me laugh onstage and he's so talented and his eyes are gorgeous in person. It's always fun meeting Nick. He's like a cool skater boy. Like in all honesty, if he went to my high school he would be that boy that all the girls liked because he was the cute skater boy.

So with Sky being next I'm going to tell my sister's story because mine is nothing special. He just gave me a hug and didn't skip me.

So remember how I said my sister met Sky's mom? Yeah well that benefited her so much. When Sky got close, Mrs. Flaherty grabbed my sister's arm and took her to Sky because of that my sister didn't get to meet Jeremy Jordan, but she doesn't care. My sister and Sky talked and she had one of the best interactions with Sky to date. Sky talked to her so intently and gave her like three hugs, she didn't have to hug him first. When he took a picture with her he had the most genuine smile and more joy in his eyes than I had ever seen in a fansie photo with Sky. I was so excited for her that I thought I'd share.

She now has a framed picture of her and Sky in her room. Sky is my sister's favorite and I'm so proud that she got to meet him and is now a fully fledged fansie.

(But here's me and Sky.)

I'm already tearing up writing this one. So throughout the stagedoor I would see Josh moving down the line towards my direction, and we had already talked like four times at this point, but I was most excited to talk to him now. My mom told me that whenever I would talk to someone she would see Josh look up and glance at me. It made my heart warm when she told me that. My mom thinks it's because he wanted to talk to me. I wouldn't have believed my mom, but I caught him looking for me too.

He walked near me and was stopped by an editor from BroadwayWorld.com and I waited patiently. He finished his conversation and turned around. I was standing off to the left of where he was out. Josh walked straight to me and his smile lit up. "Hi!" he said first when he saw me. His smile from ear to ear. A genuine real life smile, not one of those fake ones. I know the difference, trust me, and I'm not exaggerating because I have video proof. If you don't trust me, message me and I'll send you the video.

"Hi!" I answered in my dorky and annoying speaking voice as he signed my stuff in his gold sharpie.

He smiled even bigger when he heard my voice and saw my face again. I didn't think it could get any bigger, but it did. "Did you like the show?" he asked me.

"I did!" I replied with my annoying voice, "it was awesome."

"Oh thank you," he smiled. Then he stopped signing and I just stared at him.

"Hi!" I repeated (OH MY GOSH IM SO STUPID AND DORKY).

"Hi!" he said again and pulled me into a hug. I hugged him tightly and he hugged me as tightly if not tighter. I was hoping that maybe if I hugged him tight enough I could be absorbed into his chest and he could take me on tour with him like a fansie tumor.

"You're my favorite," I said into our first hug.

"Oh thank you!" He rested his head on mine (I'm small). He continually rotated his head on top of mine and I just held tightly. He didn't loosen his arms at all.

My mom laughed, "yeah she's not letting you go."

I shook my head into his chest, "nope I'm not letting you go."

"Oh no," he laughed and in the video you can seem him smiling and in all honesty not caring. He thanked me and my family and let me detach myself. He still kept an arm around my shoulder blade as he let go and looked at me. I looked up at him and hugged him again, like a dork. Our arms struggled to get around each other completely. As I saw in the video and the pictures below he was still beaming and smiling ear-to-ear. I inhaled deeply during the second hug, savoring the moment: he smelled so good.

After we let go, I thanked him, "thank you for letting me be in your selfie all my friends were freaking out about it."

"Yeah, I need to tag you in it too," (he did not tag me in it) he said.

"You should tag me in it," I dorkily replied. He then talked to my sister for a second, but ultimately he came back to me.

He looked at me kindly and said, "so good seeing you again." Then he stared at me for a few seconds. Scanning my face. I wanted to throw my arms around him and hug him again. Then he talked to Alyssa. He turned from Alyssa straight back to me and must have read my mind because he wrapped his arms around me again. I didn't initiate this third hug at all, it was all Josh. During the third hug, I had a brilliant idea. When he let me go, I asked for a kiss on the cheek.

He nodded and time turned into molasses. In my peripheral vision I saw his face getting closer to mine, but it felt like it was moving super slowly when in actuality he was moving at normal person speed. I closed my eyes and felt his soft lips touch my face. The feeling made a smile hit my face and he kissed me hard enough that my head moved due to the force. It felt exactly like I had always written about it in my fanfiction.

The five second touching of his lips to my cheek felt like an eternity and he let go with a big "mwah." It was over. It was the best. I didn't even let him get that far from me before I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him one last time. His arms were tight around my back and although it was the shortest of our hugs, it was my favorite. I had to stand on my tip-toes to reach him and it was perfect. Like a dream come true.

"Thank you again," he said and I finally let him leave me and he waved and blew him a kiss. He had a smug smile on his face. I should've talked to him longer. Should've hugged him one more time. Should've asked him a million and one questions, but I had to let him go. It was the worst moment of my night. I knew in that instant just how much I was going to miss him and how thankful I was that he got to be a part of my life. I hope that someday we'll meet again, and Josh if you read this, which I doubt you will, thank you for everything, I love you and I can't wait to meet you again someday.

For a few seconds after our final meeting I was screaming, but quickly the screaming turned to crying and before I knew it, I was sobbing in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard. Ask Alyssa or my sister.

I love Josh more than words can express and I'm sobbing thinking about him and rewriting this story.

(Josh and my interaction in photographic evidence. He's so great. I'll miss him forever. I also lowkey ship us but that's just me.)

I regained my composure to talk to Julian DeGuzman for the first time in my life. He's one of the biggest inspirations in my life and finally talking to Julian was overwhelming. Every morning his tweets help me get out of bed and inspire me to do my best. He has been indirectly influencing me for months now and he didn't even know. I didn't get to meet him last time, so I gave his letter to Nico to give to him. I asked if he got it, and he thanked me for the sweet note and knew who I was. It was awesome. He later commented on my Instagram post telling me it was a pleasure to meet me when really the pleasure was all mine. I'm thankful for everything Julian does for me and undoubtedly many other fansies around the world.

He's so kind and so so so talented.

Julian DeGuzman is one of my favorite people of all time and it means the world to me that I met him, finally.

The final person I met was the one and only Ben Tyler Cook. There was actually a point where him and Ben were walking back to the stagedoor when I was one of the last people there. Out of sheer desperation, I yelled, "Ben, I didn't take a picture with you!"

He and Josh turned around, I waved at Josh and touched my cheek again then Ben said, "we'll be right back. I just need to grab something!"

Uh huh sure.

They did come back though and I asked Ben for a picture and a hug. Then as he was signing Alyssa's shirt I asked, "are you sure you're not a robot?"

"I'm pretty sure," he replied smiling.

"Sure?" I asked giving him a look.

"You know maybe I am a robot," he caved.

"That's all I needed to know!" I laughed and he smiled.

He moved on to another fansie that stayed as long as we had and I waved at Josh one more time for good measure, "bye Josh." I whispered to myself because  he didn't see me. I had never felt more Eponine.

(Low quality pictures. High quality robot.)

Alyssa and I walked away from the stagedoor arm in arm thankful for the whole day. We walked by Chaz and talked to him one last time before we crossed the street. "Hey Chaz," I said, he smiled at me, "so we noticed that before the show you changed your shirt 5 or so times. Why is that?"

Chaz laughed, "yeah. Well one was a rehearsal shirt and then I got a new shirt and I had to wear it and then I had to look nice and now I'm in a suit." We laughed at his explanation, and he continued, "I'm so glad you guys got tickets."

"Jeff Calhoun told us we had a good chance," I shrugged.

"Really? From what I heard no one in line was going to be able to get in," Chaz explained as we crossed the street together, having this conversation.

"Really?" I said alarmed.

"Yeah the fire marshal said we could let an additional 300 people in. You can thank the LA fire department," Chaz chuckled.

"Thank you fire department," I laughed.

He waved and smiled, "bye guys!"

"By Chaz, thank you for everything!" I waved.

"You guys are awesome! Bye," he turned and left.

This is where Alyssa and I had to part ways. We hugged and said our goodbyes. Then she headed her direction and I headed mine.

My sister and I gushed about the day and fangirled together.

Now I'm going to get sappy. I'll never forget this day, I'll never ever forget it. It was the best theatrical experience of my life, and I've seen Idina Menzel in If/Then.

I'm truly thankful for Newsies and everything it has done for me. It pulled me out of a depression and inspires me everyday. Heck I love the show so much I run a fan account and write a fanfiction! Every cast member has affected me in some way and I can never repay them. There has never been a show or group of people that have influenced me more. I'll carry the memories in my heart for my entire life. I hope that someday when they revive Newsies I can be apart of it and affect people they way this cast and this show has affected me.

Thank you for everything Newsies. You hold a special place in my heart and I'll never ever ever forget you. Newsies forever. <3

Forever and ever and ever thankful,

Katie.