When “Hamilton” came to The Paramount Theatre, the Girl Scouts came, too. (Jennifer Bardsley)

When “Hamilton” came to The Paramount Theatre, the Girl Scouts came, too. (Jennifer Bardsley)

Hamilton Community Day introduced live theater to Girl Scouts

Thanks to Girl Scouts, we’ve made golden memories our hearts will sing about for years.

This was it. I was in the room where it happened. It was Aug. 28, and my daughter and I were sitting in orchestra seats at The Paramount Theatre in Seattle waiting for “Hamilton” to start. It felt like we were the last Americans who still hadn’t seen it live, but that was about to change, thanks to Girl Scouts and Hamilton Community Day.

Our tickets should have been hundreds of dollars each, but they were discounted, not just for the Girl Scouts in attendance, but for others as well. According to the program, “Hamilton Community Day aims to serve historically excluded communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, queer, trans and LGBTQIA2+, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent, Transient, those experiencing homelessness, low income and/or women.”

For me, entering my ninth — and final — year of volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, this felt like one last hurrah. This wasn’t a troop sponsored activity, but half of my troop was in attendance with their moms. They’d started out as Daisies learning to strike matches, pitch tents and peel carrots. Now they were third year Cadettes attending a traveling Broadway show and about to enter eighth grade. The girls had grown into young women right before my eyes.

The house lights turned off and the room flooded with music. The performers blew me away with their talent. I’d heard criticism that they weren’t as good as their Broadway counterparts, and I have no way of knowing since I haven’t seen “Hamilton” in New York, but based on their own merit, the touring cast was phenomenal. Seeing the performance on stage was a hundred times richer than listening to the music at home. The dancing, costumes and little bits of humor thrown in added layers I had missed, even while watching “Hamilton” on Disney+.

Girl Scouts meeting in person is better, too. That year we met online in 2020-2021 was hard, even though my co-leader Karen and I did our best to make it meaningful. We had always intended to keep leading all the way through Ambassadors, or until the girls decided they were done, whichever came first. Now we have our answer based on the girls’ choice. After a string of fun activities this fall, we will say goodbye.

But sitting there in the audience on that August night, I reflected upon how Girl Scouting is never really over. The skills our troop learned will stick with them forever. Karen and I gave our girls memories that will last a lifetime.

Someday, years from now, they might lead troops of their own. Or maybe they’ll be the woman who walks by a booth sale and purchases a whole case of Thin Mints. Perhaps one day in the distant future they’ll be peeling carrots and listening to the radio while they cook dinner. “The Room Where it Happened” will come on and they’ll think of watching “Hamilton” in Seattle with their friends. Thanks to Girl Scouts, we’ve made golden memories our hearts will sing about for years.

Hamilton Community Day is past, but the production runs until Sept. 11. Find out more at seattle.broadway.com.

Jennifer Bardsley publishes books under her own name and the pseudonym Louise Cypress. Find her online on Instagram @jenniferbardsleyauthor, on Twitter @jennbardsley or on Facebook as Jennifer Bardsley Author. Email her at teachingmybabytoread@gmail.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.