Broadway Musical Fans See Show 13 Times, Travel From Europe

A New York Times writer recently realized she'd seen the same Broadway show 13 times in less than a year, and she's far from alone.

"Operation Mincemeat," a quirky musical about a real World War II spy mission, has created an unexpected phenomenon. Nearly 150 devoted fans recently gathered at New York's Golden Theater on just a few days' notice, with some traveling from London and Switzerland.

The show tells the true story of British intelligence officers who dressed a corpse as a spy and planted fake invasion plans to fool the Germans. Five actors play 87 different characters in a fast-paced performance that blends British comedy, vaudeville, and Monty Python-style humor.

What started as a single press preview viewing turned into something the journalist couldn't quite explain. She took her sons on separate trips when they needed cheering up. She found herself buying tickets without consciously deciding to go. She even brought a friend's 8-year-old child multiple times after discovering they were both secret repeat viewers.

The community of superfans, calling themselves "Mincefluencers," has formed genuine connections over their shared love of the show. They've created a culture of joy around something that simply makes them happy, without needing to justify or analyze why.

A theater reporter offered a simple explanation when he learned about the ninth viewing. "You're a fan," he said kindly. "This is what it is to be a fan."

Why This Inspires

This story shows how art still has the power to create unexpected moments of pure joy in our busy lives. In a world where we often feel too sophisticated or too busy for simple enthusiasm, these fans chose delight over cynicism.

The journalist, who writes about culture professionally and prides herself on not being "susceptible to fandom's berserk fringes," discovered something wonderful. Sometimes the most rational response to finding something that brings genuine happiness is to embrace it completely.

These fans aren't following a global pop star or a massive franchise. They're celebrating a small show with unknown actors that simply resonates with them. They've built a community around shared enthusiasm, traveling thousands of miles just to experience that joy together.

Their dedication reminds us that it's okay to love something unreasonably, to make time for what makes us happy, and to find our people in unexpected places.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is stop explaining ourselves and just show up for what brings us alive.