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Grease on Broadway Forum -> Rydell High Forum -> Ashley's Opening Day Events With Her Family!
Post Info TOPIC: Ashley's Opening Day Events With Her Family!
Shadi Ladi


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Ashley's Opening Day Events With Her Family!
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Hi Everyone:

The email listed below was forwarded to me by a friend of Ashley's family.  I asked if I could post it on here, so that all the Ashley's fans could read it.  She said it would be fine.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading the email.  It kinda takes you backstage and fills you in on how exciting an opening night is for family and friends of a Broadway Star.  Sure wish I could have been in the audience.   The email was written by Ashley's mom.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!  Got a little teary reading it.  Have a great day!

"Hi everyone,

     It was an amazing day, I am so glad that we got to experience it as a family.  Meghan got in Monday morning so we had a couple of days all together. Ashley was remarkably calm and confident about her preparation for the show.  We had breakfast together at about 8:30AM and Ashley had to be at the theater at 10:00AM for a final fitting for her "sexy Sandy" costume.  Then she wanted to get some things for her dressing room so we met her at noon at Bed Bath and Beyond.  At 1:30 we had lunch at a great little Greek restaurant close to Columbus Circle. By the time we were finished it was time to head back to the theater, we wanted to see Ashley's dressing room and her picture outside in the front of the house.
To the right of the theater doors is the, "Grease" sign flanked by these huge pictures of Danny Zuko, Derek combing his hair on the left and "Sweet Sandy", Ashley on the right.  It is hard to describe my feelings.  I wanted to stop everyone who walked by to tell them "that's my daughter"  We entered the theater through the stage door and were introduced to everyone as we made our way to her dressing room.  The Stage manager hollered "we have flowers for you" as we passed his door.  Ashley's dressing room is nice and big this time for those of you who saw her dressing room at "Hairspray" it is twice the size.  She has a couch now so she can lay down and rest when she has two performances.  There were gifts and cards with "Break a Leg" and other encouraging sentiments for her success on her first night as Sandy. By this time her flowers had arrived and like a little kid at Christmas, she anxiously opened each card to see who sent them.  
     Well it's 4:00PM, time for us to head back to Ashley's apartment to get ready for the show.  We wanted to dress up, this was going to be a big night for Ashley, Ron even wore a jacket and tie! Time to head back to the theater for the show.  Our seats were fantastic, row 8 in the orchestra, center stage.
The music started and the opening number was great and there was a new girl at Rydell High and when she took the stage she got applause from the audience, so nice.  Of course we were the loudest cheerleaders.  In my opinion she was a great "Sweet Sandy" but an even better "Sexy Sandy".  The transformation was fantastic. As the finale was nearing, photographers ran down the isle close to the stage to take pictures.  With photographers clicking away the stage was full of dancing and singing for the finale.  At the end of the show the actors come out for their bows and of course Ashley and Derek came out last to thunderous applause and whistles, oh wait that was me!  
     It was a great experience and Ashley signed playbills and posed for pictures with fans and now it was time to head to a party in a limo with Ashley's driver Fandy.  Didn't we feel special.  The party was hosted by Derek's parents for the the cast, family and friends.  How nice was that.  Open bar, finger food and cake.  She had head shots of Derek and Ashley on the cake table.  The party was fantastic, there was a rooftop patio with tables set up so we could visit and chat outside. We took many many pictures which I will share when I get home.
     What a magical day from start to finish.  I wish with all my heart that all of you could have been there to share it with us.  Below there is a site you can click on the see some photos from the show."



-- Edited by Shadi Ladi at 17:54, 2008-07-23

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Kristen


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Shadi, thank you so much for sharing this!  What a joy to be able to read about Ashley's family's experience!  I am so happy for them!  I can just picture her mom there by theater and can feel her pride that she has in Ashley!  And I'm sure that it meant so much to Ashley to have her family there!  I'm so glad that they have had this wonderful chance to see their daughter/sister become the star of a Broadway show!  It's funny because I'm sure that in her lifetime, Ashley has given so many performances, and I'm sure her family has been at all of them and been proud of her every time!  But there is something about Broadway that is so incredibly special!  It's like now the country has the chance to see her shine, like her family always has.  I'm so grateful that Ashley has been able to share her talent with all of us, and I'm so thankful to her family and friends for helping her to reach this point.  And I thank Ashley because I'm sure that there have been tough patches along the road to where she is today.  Yet she withstood them, continued on, and made it through to the top.  She knew that she had a gift to share, and she kept going until she made it!  I can't wait to go to the show and see Ashley star as "Sandy!"  She was a fabulous Amber in "Hairspray," and I have no doubt that she is already incredible in her new role!  smile.gif

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Shadi Ladi


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Kristen wrote:

Shadi, thank you so much for sharing this!  What a joy to be able to read about Ashley's family's experience!  I am so happy for them!  I can just picture her mom there by theater and can feel her pride that she has in Ashley!  And I'm sure that it meant so much to Ashley to have her family there!  I'm so glad that they have had this wonderful chance to see their daughter/sister become the star of a Broadway show!  It's funny because I'm sure that in her lifetime, Ashley has given so many performances, and I'm sure her family has been at all of them and been proud of her every time!  But there is something about Broadway that is so incredibly special!  It's like now the country has the chance to see her shine, like her family always has.  I'm so grateful that Ashley has been able to share her talent with all of us, and I'm so thankful to her family and friends for helping her to reach this point.  And I thank Ashley because I'm sure that there have been tough patches along the road to where she is today.  Yet she withstood them, continued on, and made it through to the top.  She knew that she had a gift to share, and she kept going until she made it!  I can't wait to go to the show and see Ashley star as "Sandy!"  She was a fabulous Amber in "Hairspray," and I have no doubt that she is already incredible in her new role!  smile.gif


biggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrin



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AshleyFan


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Only one thing would have made the day more perfect. If Ashley's Grandma Kinney could have been there. There is something special about a grandmothers unconditional love and she was always a big part of their lives. No event or little bit of news was ever deemed unimportant or trivial. She would listen and comment with great enthusiasm. She always told me that the most important thing you can do for your children is to listen to them. It is easy to talk, not as easy to listen. She helped make Ashley who she is today.

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Shadi Ladi


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AshleyFan wrote:

Only one thing would have made the day more perfect. If Ashley's Grandma Kinney could have been there. There is something special about a grandmothers unconditional love and she was always a big part of their lives. No event or little bit of news was ever deemed unimportant or trivial. She would listen and comment with great enthusiasm. She always told me that the most important thing you can do for your children is to listen to them. It is easy to talk, not as easy to listen. She helped make Ashley who she is today.


I'm sure she saw her perform last night!  She was front row centre.  Even a better seat than her parents.....



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Kristen


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Awww! That clip of Ashley talking about her grandma made me cry during the "Grease" show! It was really very touching! But I'm sure like Shadi said, she was there watching over Ashley!

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MrE1111


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Very nice.

Now when are they gonna start posting?

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AshleyFan


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Who are you referring to Mr. E

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MrE1111


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Their folks.

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sparkle


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Shadi Ladi wrote:

AshleyFan wrote:

Only one thing would have made the day more perfect. If Ashley's Grandma Kinney could have been there. There is something special about a grandmothers unconditional love and she was always a big part of their lives. No event or little bit of news was ever deemed unimportant or trivial. She would listen and comment with great enthusiasm. She always told me that the most important thing you can do for your children is to listen to them. It is easy to talk, not as easy to listen. She helped make Ashley who she is today.


I'm sure she saw her perform last night!  She was front row centre.  Even a better seat than her parents.....




Ashley's grandmother, my mother, would have been in her element. Ashley's great-grandmother Clara loved movies. Her love was Ramon Navarro. So you see, this goes back a few generations. It's only fitting Ashley follow in their footsteps. How wonderful is this DNA thing. I absolutely love it.

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Kristen


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sparkle wrote:


Ashley's grandmother, my mother, would have been in her element. Ashley's great-grandmother Clara loved movies. Her love was Ramon Navarro. So you see, this goes back a few generations. It's only fitting Ashley follow in their footsteps. How wonderful is this DNA thing. I absolutely love it.

 



That's very sweet!  You have a very special family!   smile.gif



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StockardFan


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What a great e-mail!

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Wish I Knew It All


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StockardFan wrote:

What a great e-mail!


I have to agree.  That was a great email!  What a wonderful experience they must have had.  There aren't too many people on this earth that can say they have a daughter with a lead role on Broadway!smile



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Kristen


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Wish I Knew It All wrote:
I have to agree. That was a great email! What a wonderful experience they must have had. There aren't too many people on this earth that can say they have a daughter with a lead role on Broadway!smile

 



That's true!  I'm so glad that the Spencers are part of that elite group!   smile.gif 



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Shadi Ladi


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Kristen wrote:

Wish I Knew It All wrote:
I have to agree. That was a great email! What a wonderful experience they must have had. There aren't too many people on this earth that can say they have a daughter with a lead role on Broadway!smile




That's true!  I'm so glad that the Spencers are part of that elite group!   smile.gif 


I wonder if the Spencers and Keelings got to see more than one show?



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HairsprayFan1


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I adore Ashley and can nto wait to see her in Grease! When I went backstage with Niki I went up to her dressing room and as passed Ashley's..it was small! (Same size as Nikis) I regrest not taking pictures up in teh room but it was very tiny. All Niki had in hers was a counter desk to getready, a chair, then another chair and a closet with her wardrobe..and i can imagine ashley's was exactly the same. (i didnt see the entire inside, but i saw through the little opening in the door. haha.

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Kristen


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Welcome, HairsprayFan1! That's great that you were able to go backstage at "Hairspray!" It must have been a great experience!

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AshleyFan


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HairsprayFan1 wrote:

I adore Ashley and can nto wait to see her in Grease!

Welcome Hairsprayfan1, you will love Ashley and the rest of the cast in Grease. There are so many talented people in this show too.




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pinkfan


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Ashley had another visitor from home last weekend, can't wait to hear the review.

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Kristen


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pinkfan wrote:

Ashley had another visitor from home last weekend, can't wait to hear the review.


That's awesome!  It must be so great for her friends and family to be able to go and see her perform as "Sandy!"  I'm sure that everyone is so proud!  smile.gif  Plus, I'm sure that it means so much to Ashley to get to see her friends and family. I'm sure that it is hard to be away from them, and I bet that she enjoys every minute of their visits!  aww.gif  I hope that she continues to enjoy a lot more visits! smile.gif  And I can't wait to hear more reports! 

 



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