give my regards to broadway (and jake gyllenhaal)

a better title for this post would probably be gratuitous photos of celebrities but whatever. i clearly have no shame.

moving to new york in january was perfect timing, because several of my favorite actors were on broadway and i was lucky enough to see them. i saw jake gyllenhaal and ruth wilson in their new play constellations, and they were both amazing. the show is kind of like sliding doors meets the last five years; it's about a couple and the course of their relationship, but it explores a variety of parallel scenes and possibilities. the play really showcased their acting talent because the set was very minimal and neither of them ever left the stage. they were constantly jumping from scene to scene and would have to switch to a different conversation and emotional state in a split second. i read that they do 65 scenes in 68 minutes! conceptually, it was really interesting, and i would've loved it anyway because both ruth and jake are such excellent actors. i only paid $27 for my ticket and my seat was in the fifth row, so it doesn't get better than that. i met jake after the show and i am officially in love with him. i thought i was before, but then his face was like a foot away from mine looking into my eyes, so now it's official.

i also met my favorite actress (and style icon) (and all-around girl crush) emma stone. she was in the musical cabaret, and her run was completely sold out so i couldn't get a ticket, but i did get to meet her after the show one night. she is so funny and beautiful and sweet. now whenever someone doesn't think i'm funny, i will take solace in the fact that i made emma stone and her bodyguard laugh.

for my birthday, my dad took me to see bradley cooper in the elephant man. thanks, mom and dad! best present ever. the show was phenomenal—probably the best thing i've ever seen on broadway. the play is based on the real "elephant man," joseph merrick. the story follows merrick as he befriends a doctor who rescued him from his life as a circus side show. he was a very intelligent and extraordinary person, and became quite beloved by the british nobility. the play is really beautiful, and leaves you in awe of bradley's talent because no makeup or prosthetics are used to portray merrick's deformity. it was suggested only by the way he physically manipulated his body, which was even more impressive because he did it for two hours straight. it actually reminded me a lot of eddie redmayne's performance in the theory of everything. meeting bradley after the show was very exciting. a huge crowd of people waited for him and he was so nice and signed autographs for everyone. i also think he has the bluest eyes in the world.

then while lauren was just in town, we got last-minute tickets to see idina menzel in if/then during its final week on broadway. i was expecting to love idina but feel kind of indifferent about the show, but i was so wrong because we completely loved it. and it totally had another sliding doors kind of premise. the story follows a woman named elizabeth and—starting with one very small decision—it plays out two different possible paths for her life. idina was unbelievable and this song gave me chills. lauren and i were very emotional by the end. i am so glad we went!

i love new york. the arts and culture scene here is amazing and really accessible. it was so cool to see my favorite people act in person. now i just need beyoncé to appear in a broadway revival of dreamgirls or something. can someone call her people and make that happen?