THEIR FAVORITE THINGS: If/Then Star James Snyder Shares His Theatregoing Experiences

"I was already a huge fan of his Curly in Oklahoma!, and, of course, how can you beat Wolverine? As someone I looked up to and was hoping to emulate, he commanded the audience, and his obvious joy for the stage could be felt from the cheap seats where I sat. This was also the first show I saw by myself, having just flown in for one of my first NY auditions. It was a reaffirming experience. I left saying, 'I want to do that.'"

"Idina Menzel - Hey, remember that time Idina sold out Radio City Music Hall? Me, too. She is so fantastic with keeping her concerts intimate, and considering RCMH fits almost 6,000, that is quite a feat. She is such a pro and to see her do her thing with something other than If/Then and do it soooo well, I couldn't have been prouder. Plus, most of our cast was there, so it felt like a family affair."

"My great friend and college roommate Bryce Ryness (who was nothing short of brilliant as Woof) had a ticket for me. It was supposed to pour rain that day, and I was anticipating a tragic holding of the show; luckily, the only thing that held was the rain. . . until. . .As the lights dimmed on the final image of Jonathan Groff and an American Flag, the hard beat of rain approached quickly from behind the audience – in a rush of rain and emotions, the bows began and continued in the mud of the Delacorte Theater. It was the most magical opening I have ever experienced."

"This LA theater company, based at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theater, has won nearly every LA theater award possible. The first show I saw was Comedy of Aerosmith; per usual, they take an amazing mix of a classical text ( Comedy of Errors) and add a crazy mix of songs from a contemporary music artist (Aerosmith). This show had everything I love about theater, Shakespeare, rock music, tons of comedy, improv, acrobatic movement and a shameless drive to entertain the hell out of an audience. I was fresh out of college, and after seeing the show felt compelled to write the director/star Matt Walker a letter. They, like so many great West Coast acting companies, are proof LA theater is alive, vibrant and relevant."