I WILL BE ATTENDING THE 69th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL AS A SEAT-FILLER!

My friend and fellow theatre intern, Matt, sitting with a group of people at a monthly TIN meeting.

How?! Some of you might be asking. Well, let me tell you… 

I am a member of the Theatre Intern Network, which is part of The American Theatre Wing, which runs the Tony Awards. I attended monthly meetings, and volunteered at several different events (including being the second cameraman at World Theatre Day). So, I made it onto the list of seat-fillers selected from the Theatre Intern Network.

But how did you join the Theatre Intern Network?!

I first learned about TIN when I was interning at TADA! Youth Theatre last summer. It turns out, if you intern at any theatre in NYC and pay the $10 membership dues, you can join TIN. Just show up to one of the monthly meetings with your $10 and you’re all set!

Wait, what is TADA? How did you get an internship there?

TADA! is a wonderful youth theatre in Chelsea, NYC. During the summer they offer week-long theatre camps to kids ages 6-14. I served as an education intern, meaning I helped out with the camps and even got to choreograph a dance number! I learned about TADA! through a lovely, talented woman named Worth and her wonderful mother, Tina. Worth worked as a teaching artist at TADA! for several years and was very helpful when I was preparing for my interview.

But how did you meet Worth? 

Worth and I met through her mother, Tina, who owns and runs Young Actors Theatre in Florida (the same one that Tony Hale attended). I was a member of YAT for five years (8th grade through senior year of high school). During those years, I performed in tons of shows, took dance classes, was a member of Broadway Bound, a singing and dancing troupe that performs around the city, and was a camp counselor and teaching assistant.

Why Young Actors Theatre?

I learned about YAT through my friend PJ who was in the same choir as me. After attending his performance in Godspell at YAT, I knew that I had to join. Musical theatre was the thing for me and I couldn’t wait to get started.

And now I get to attend the most prestigious award show for the Broadway community in New York City. All because a friend invited me to his performance ten years ago.

The 2015 Tony Awards — hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming — will be broadcast on Sunday, June 7, 2015 (8-11 PM ET/PT time delay) on CBS, live from Radio City Music Hall in NYC. For information, photos, videos, and more, go to TonyAwards.com.