The Serendipity of Spontaneity

“You know The Bible tells you God's the one that made you
So get out on the dance floor and shake what He gave you!”

-- “Rhythm In Me,” Altar Boyz

Ravi Roth, who plays Abraham in Altar Boyz, and Lindsay Hemphill outside the New Worlds Stage Theater

By nature, I’ve never been a spontaneous person. Most times, I’m too practical, and I tend to shy away from risk taking. Once in a while, I throw caution to the wind and genuinely roll with the punches. Such was the case this weekend.

A few weeks back, Lindsay learned that an old friend of hers from music camp, Ravi Roth, was starring in the off-Broadway musical, Altar Boyz. Her first instinct was to try to get up to NY from Virginia to see him and celebrate his accomplishment. I offered my spare bedroom and to join her, as I’m a native New Yorker with knowledge of and comfort with Manhattan. (It should also be mentioned that I had some selfish motives, wanting to experience musical theater from a true insider and possibly getting to meet Neil Haskell of SYTYCD fame!) She reconnected with Ravi, and in the process, found out that his run was coming to an end shortly. Other plans prevented this from becoming a reality, so with much disappointment, we abandoned the idea.

Then, this week, Lindsay finds out that Ravi’s run in the show had been extended until September 2nd! Our plans for Lindsay to visit me next weekend were falling apart because I have to work next Sunday. Labor Day had already been ruled out because of other plans that I had made. A small window of opportunity existed, and I arranged my plans to open up as much of this weekend as I could. Lindsay coordinated with Ravi, and in the blink of an eye, the itinerary was set. Lindsay would drive up early on Sunday morning and we’d travel into Manhattan in time to catch the 7pm performance.

We arrived in midtown around 5:30pm, and immediately purchased our tickets, discounted thanks to Ravi. We settled in at a Starbucks to kill some time. After some texts between Lindsay and Ravi, he and two other castmates greeted us there. Lindsay was sufficiently excited to see her old friend, and I was sufficiently star-struck. I truly admire those with the talent and courage to perform, and even though I like to think I’m cool, calm, and collected, I couldn’t seem to control the butterflies when I’m around “famous” people. I must have seemed like a dork! As surreal as that experience was, it was truly only the tip of the iceberg!

Lindsay and I made our way over to the theater just before showtime and settled into our seats (which were incredible, I might add). Ten minutes later, the house lights went down, and the show began. For the next 90 minutes, I couldn’t stop smiling. The show is a HILARIOUS take on a fictional Christian pop music boy band – satirizing the formulaic make-up of boy bands, pop culture proselytizing, and the dichotomy between religion and fame. Intelligently written, fantastically staged, and amazingly performed, Lindsay and I enjoyed as close to a perfect theater experience as is possible, made even more memorable because of Lindsay’s personal connection with Ravi. She was beaming with awe and pride, and I felt lucky just to be there.

Naturally, we waited by the stage door for Ravi and the cast to come out. In that time, I purchased the CD and we raved about how good the show was. Finally, the cast came out, and Ravi introduced us to the rest of the cast. Lindsay and I did the fan thing, getting autographs and photos. I was humbled at how personable and gracious the actors were, which I believe was more than just because Ravi and Lindsay are old friends. I came to learn that they are mostly young, struggling actors who are making the most of the opportunity and enjoying the attention. (I will interject that Neil is just as HOT in person as on TV, though I imagined him taller than he actually is!)

(l to r) Mauricio Perez (Juan), Michael Kadin Craig (Matthew), Neil Haskell (Luke), Lindsay Hemphill, Ravi Roth (Abraham), Travis Nesbitt (Mark), and ME

Already, the experience was more than I imagined, but it didn’t end there. After the crowd dispersed, Lindsay, Ravi, and I settled in at the New Worlds Stage bar for some cocktails, and we were soon joined by another of Lindsay and Ravi’s music camp friends – Michael Heights, the production manager for The Lion King on Broadway. Ravi’s best friend, Erin Willis, also met up with us. Erin is a theater actress who just came off the national tour of My Fair Lady. Most of the Altar Boyz cast and crew mingled in the bar with us, and conversation flowed naturally. Lindsay, Ravi, and Michael caught up on old times, and we all got to know each other some, culminating in a round of shots (how else!).

When the bar shut down at 11pm, Lindsay and I were invited to someone’s birthday bash at the Dream Hotel on West 55th Street. We soon learned that we were partying with NYC theater elite, including producer Adam Epstein and the Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Sienna Boggess. After a few drinks there, the mood took us to a different party at another bar back on 47th Street. Among the guests (so I was told) included half the cast of Spring Awakening. We enjoyed a final round of drinks there before calling it a night at 1:30am. We said our goodbyes, and Lindsay and I were off, indulging in one of NY’s famed street cart “dirty water dogs” before getting in the car to make our way back to Pennsylvania.

Lindsay and I, out on the town in Manhattan.

Lindsay and I reveled in the absurdity of it all. I can’t speak for Lindsay, but I felt like I did back in college, standing on the periphery watching the uninhibited indulgence of the acting majors and partaking in the camaraderie and insanity. I willingly left that lifestyle behind me when I moved away from Boston three and a half years ago, and even at that point, I had outgrown that scene. I felt old but surprisingly young and carefree. It was equally refreshing and intoxicating to revisit that part of my life. For one night, I wove in and out of the Manhattan theater scene, all because we took hold of a fleeting opportunity and acted purely on impulse. Our spontaneity was certainly rewarded, and it will be an experience that I don’t soon forget!