Oh, you’ve never heard of it before? Well that’s because this year is only the second annual convention… but don’t worry, it’s a big deal. BroadwayCon the biggest gathering of theatre nerds from around the world and I never fit in more than when the girl next to me is dressed like Christine Daae from Phantom, the guy next to me is Roger from Rent and we’re all standing in front a giant main stage belting out our Tony Award Winning favorites in a 3,000+ person sing-a-long.

1. Check In

Sure it may seem hectic right at 9:00am on the first day, (that’s why you wait until at least 12:00, or so… Unless of course you’re dying to attend the first of many main stage event). Even when you go and it's hectic all the ones and everything is worth it when you get to the front, show your ticket and then receive your badge. I feel like there’s just something special about getting a badge that you can personalize yourself.

2. The swag bag

Do you think Broadwaycon forgot about you? Of course not! Right at check-in you receive a complimentary swag bag with some wicked cool things. For BroadwayCon 2016 it was: sharpies from Dear Evan Hansen, Stickers, a “BroadwayCon Premiere” Playbill, A ribbon (or two) for your badge, and a few more broadway inspired things from the sponsors of the con.

3. The opening ceremony

An opening number fit for every theatre kid on the planet! Complete with cameos from broadway stars and who could forget, unforgettable musical numbers customary to the event!

4. The MainStage events

From BroadwayCon Feud to the panels, they always make sure to plan with the theatre kid’s best interest at heart. I can only imagine what the 2017 con has in store, 2016 mainstage included: a Fun Home Panel, a Hamilton Panel, a Fiddler Panel, BroadwayCon Feud, BroadwayCon Blizzard Party Line, panels for Hamilton, Fun Home, Fiddler on the Roof and who could forget the Mega sing-a-longs? And of course for the late night partier in all of us, the Cabaret.

5. The Meet & Greets (Autographs/Photobooths)

Ever wish you could thank Anthony Rapp for his awesomeness or stand next to Jonathan Groff because he’s completely gorgeous?! BroadwayCon is your chance for that! Through a raffle system you can choose which actors you’d like to meet from the guest list and you’re thrown into a lottery with all of the other attendees. While I didn’t think it was a smart way to do things, it seemed to work just fine for the 2016 Con, (even though yours truly didn’t get to meet Jonathan Groff, who was a very high demand M&G). The raffle does it’s best to accommodate as many people as possible.

6. Meeting people just like you.

Big conventions are nerve-wracking and sometimes they're even scary but broadwaycon wasn't that at all. Not for me anyway, it gave me a place where I felt like I truly belonged and that all of the people around me understood me and why I spontaneously break out in song. (Okay you caught me, this is me and my friend Ty, who I love dearly.)

7. Master Classes & Workshops

These are your chances to work and learn at the feet of the Broadway masters. Through an audition process, of course, average people like you and me are able to have our shot at working with people like Jenn Colella and Anthony Rapp (just to name a few). A digital application gets filled out and a video of yourself for your trade (dancing acting, singing).

8. The Merchandise!

What's a convention without merchandise? From hoodies, to hats, to t-shirts broadwaycon has everything you could imagine in their marketplace. Not only is there merch tailored to broadwaycon itself but there's also, playbills, Broadway art, contests, old school t-shirts, everything!

9. COSPLAY!

Now the whole cosplay aspect of the convention is completely up to the attendee. For those who don’t exactly know what cosplay is, it’s when you dress up like a character you enjoy. For example, at Broadwaycon 2016; there were people who dressed as Elphaba, Tracy from Hairspray, and The Schuyler Sisters. The cosplay can be as simple or as intricate as one would like. Costumes are not something that Broadway people take lightly, especially when they’ve been involved in theatre for years.

10. Broadway STARS!

Broadway stars are just walking around the convention floor going from event to event, workshop to workshop, panel to panel. They’re everywhere! (Especially if you hang around until after their photo booth/autograph session is done, you might get lucky like I did with Jenn Colella!)

11. The getaway to the "greatest city in the world!"

New York City, center of the universe! No matter what you’re doing the week before or even the week of Broadwaycon, you drop everything and you leave reality for one, two, or even the full weekend of broadway fun. New York City is a place where so many people feel like they’ve been found and they just feel so at home. New York is a wonderful place and what better location to host the biggest gathering of Broadway stars and fans?

12. The closing ceremony.

Even though it’s the end, you know that you had one of the best experiences that you could’ve ever asked for in the best city. You’ve met new friends and you got to tell your favorite stars how much they meant to you. Anthony Rapp worked really hard to jam pack the weekend, and you leaving with a smile and crying happy tears means he succeeded.

2016 was a lot of fun but I can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for us, just a few short days now!