Each month for a year Prudential is gifting free tickets to theatre fans from across the U.S. with the Prudential Marquee Moments Broadway Ticket Giveaway, presented by Playbill. For the chance to win, entrants are answering the prompt, "Tell us about a time you seized the moment and—after asking yourself, ‘Now what?’—changed your life for the better?" in a short essay or video. Read a few of last month's most stirring responses below.
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Elaine Bonifacic: "In 1986, I was a 19 year old college kid riding the Boston T. A good-looking guy asked me for directions to Faneuil Hall. My friends and I were going that way to meet friends at a bar, so I explained it would be easy to show him the way. We chatted easily. I learned that like myself he was from New York, and born in Manhattan. He and his friend had never been to Boston, were lost and grateful for the directions. When we arrived at Faneuil Hall, he asked if they could hang out with us. I seized the moment and said yes, and my life changed for the better….Our first official date was three weeks later when I returned to NY after my semester ended. He lived in Queens and I lived In Westchester so we met in front of the lions at the New York Public Library. We discovered we were both born in Manhattan on May 26 at St. Vincent’s. We are married, have 3 kids, and are expecting our first grandchild.. I'm grateful I said yes!"
Brandon Heir: "The screeching of tires, the deafening crash—a moment frozen in time. I found myself trapped inside the twisted wreckage of my car, a victim of a violent collision with a massive semi-truck. As the paramedics worked diligently to free me from the wreckage, a profound realization washed over me: life is too short to waste on mediocrity. The accident became my wake-up call, a jolt that shattered my complacency. I had always played it safe, content with the routine of day-to-day existence. But the twisted metal and shattered glass showed me the fragility of life, urging me to grasp it with both hands and squeeze every ounce of passion from its depths. In the months that followed, I embarked on a journey of rediscovery. I began to explore my deepest desires and dreams, and a long-buried passion surfaced—the thrill of speed and the exhilaration of racing. It was then that I decided to pursue my newfound aspiration of becoming a professional race car driver."
Yury McKenna: "When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming a mathematician. I grew up in Columbia in a family where everyone worked to try to make ends meet. I started to save up every penny to send myself to America. After a long 5 years of saving, I was able to go. Once I became a citizen alongside my family, I thought to myself “Wow, we made it." I then went to pursue my dream. It wasn’t easy to "defy gravity," but I did it. I got my degree and I became a mathematician who loves Broadway. The characters portrayed on the stage connect to me on a personal level and help me navigate my emotions. Seeing myself represented not only in characteristics, but in the diversity of each and every show. I am a proud Broadway lover who knows if you seize the day, there will be some bumps on the way, but you reach your destination, and you can be in the room where it happens."
John K. McElroy II: "In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, I realized how precious life was and how short it could be. I decided to propose to my partner. We woke up sick with COVID on Christmas morning, and I decided nothing was stopping me. So, in our quarantine bubble, I got down on one knee and asked him to be my husband. I didn't want to wait one more second to ask. We are happily married and have had a home renovation, a puppy, and are now seeking options for a baby. I can't imagine my life any other way. I had to seize the moment and just jump!"
Angie Shaw: "9 years ago I made the decision to start travel nursing. It was scary to start something unknown- new hospitals, cities, knowing no one. But has been the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve grown as a nurse, and more importantly, as a human."
Shefali Soni: "When I was 45 years old, my mom passed away during the pandemic. She was 74. At the time, we had a 10 year old daughter, and within a few months after she passed away, I also lost my job. I went through depression, barely slept, gained 25 lbs, stopped taking care of myself, and kept thinking, "now what?" However, I found solace in gardening and enjoyed working on my garden. My mother loved her plants, and that was a good memory I had of her. After her death, I realized there was something bigger I needed to do in my life, but had no idea what. As my garden turned around, I found a job at a non-profit organization. My mother was an inspiring force in my life and had a great sense of humor. When she was around, there was lots of laughter. After she died, I realized how important that laughter was, even though it was brief, and it helped me and those around her deal with her loss."
