Nick Jonas Fans Gush About His 'Awesome' How to Succeed Opening Night

On January 24, pop sensation Nick Jonas became Broadway’s newest J. Pierrepont Finch in the hit revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Hours before the show, fans began lining up outside the stage door to get a glimpse of the newly minted Broadway star—and Broadway.com joined them after the curtain call to get the scoop on why they love the youngest Jonas brother.

“We left [the show] early so we could meet Nick,” 16-year-old Rachel Cooper told Broadway.com. “I thought he was amazing. I was screaming and jumping.” Cooper and her family flew from Houston, Texas, to see Jonas’ opening night, a Christmas present from her parents, who are also “Jo-natics.” Was it worth the trip? “The dancing and the singing and everything was beautiful,” said Rachel's 13-year-old sister, Hailey. “I loved the way [Nick] was smiling. It was awesome.” But How to Succeed did include some unfortunate moments: “He kissed two different girls and it killed me,” Hailey said. “I’m like, why can’t I be [Rosemary]?” That's why nabbing a prime stage door spot was worth missing the end of the show. “I might try to kiss Nick on the lips,” Hailey confided. 

Best friends Antoinette Ponzo, Laura Russo and Rebecca Hoffman, all 16 and from Long Island, played it cool in three-inch stilettos. The teens attended How to Succeed with their parents, who allowed the girls to see Jonas' debut despite having a trigonometry midterm the next morning. “We’ve been seeing Nick Jonas concerts together since like, sixth grade,” said Ponzo, adding, “If I was 12 I’d probably freak out and cry, but now I’m mature.” If they got the chance to meet Nick at the stage door, the girls agreed they’d shake his hand and not be “teenies.” “I'll just tell him that he's amazing,” Russo said. “But I can't even think about it! I'll probably start shaking.”

When it comes to Nick fan-dom, it's hard to beat Taylor DePrimo of Staten Island, who confessed that she has met Nick Jonas in person 33 times. “And I don't even know how many times I've seen him in concert,” said DePrimo, who took the ferry to support the pop superstar. “Plenty of times.” What makes her keep coming back to meet Broadway's newest star? “His smile. It's just beautiful. He makes me so happy.”