My Own Personal Fiyero - A Joe Moses Love Story

After finally being released from a dress rehearsal, all I wanted to do was collapse in bed and never get up. Don't get me wrong, I love performing, and playing Elphaba has always been my dream. But when directors go crazy and decide to have 6 hour dress rehearsals, it's not so much fun. Walking home with my best friend Lauren, head of stage crew, I remember my sweatshirt. I left it in the theatre.

"Go ahead without me," I tell her, "I'll meet you at home."

I turn back towards the theatre and am so grateful that we haven't gotten too far. As much as I love living in New York City, sometimes all the walking is killer.

As I reach the door to the theatre, I hear a piano. I am trying to recognize the tune through the door when I hear the voice. It's quiet, shy, and maybe a tad bit off-key, but still beautiful. I open the door as slowly as I can so as not to disturb whomever the voice belongs to, and I am eternally grateful when it opens without its usual squeaking.

I can't help but look up at the man at the piano, and when I catch his face I am instantly frozen in place. No. It can't be. But it is. The man singing is Joe Moses. I stay as still as possible so as not to make my presence known. He is singing a strange, slow version of "As Long As You're Mine", a personal favorite of mine.

Maybe I'm brainless,
Maybe I'm wise,
But you've got me seeing
Through different eyes.
Somehow I've fallen
Under your spell
And somehow I'm feeling
It's up that I fell.


I smile to myself and think that he really should sing more often. As he continues I can't help but to sing Elphaba's part quietly to myself.

Every moment
As long as your mine
I'll wake up my body
And make up for lost time
Say there's no future
For us as a pair
And though I may know
I don't care

It takes a minute before I realize that the music stopped and Joe Moses is now staring at me from the piano bench.

"Oh...uh...I'm sorry, I just..." I stammer. "Come on," I think, "Say something intelligent!"

"I just forgot my jacket, and...that was amazing. You're really good!" I rush.

I think he blushes a bit, but he ducks his head too fast for me to see clearly. "Um...thanks. But I'm really not that good. I have a bunch of friends who are way better." He says.

"That's not true!" I say before I can stop myself.

Joe look sat me in surprise. "You...know who I am?" he asks.

"Yes, and the other StarKids are not better than you! They've just...had more practice. You're amazing!"

He smiles, and this time I know I see a blush there. "Thanks for that," he says, "I guess it's just hard being compared to everyone else all the time. But actually, I saw your rehearsal. If anyone here is amazing it's you."

Oh wow. Here we go again with the incoherence. "Thanks. That means a lot coming from you." I smile and pick up my jacket. "Well, this is what I came back for, so...I guess I'll see you around?"

He nods and waves as I turn back toward the door. I've taken three steps when he speaks again. "Wait! I was wondering if...maybe you'd like to help me with my singing?"

Okay, maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Joe Moses just asked me to help him with his singing. To which the answer might be something like YES YES YES A MILLION TIMES YES! But instead I try to keep calm, so I smile and say "I'd love to."