Royal Albert Hall, London — 1973.
Following a performance, our cast had the extraordinary honor of being received by Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II. As a 19-year-old kid from Connecticut, I learned a life lesson that evening: Whether you're meeting royalty or a road worker, everyone appreciates a warm, genuine smile and an authentic interest in who they are. More than 50 years later, that lesson has stayed with me and continues to shape how I connect with people today.

Bruce Erley · Cast 73B

During our year (1983-84), we performed at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, at Radio City Music Hall with the Rockettes, and before the King and Queen of Belgium.

But the moments I remember most weren’t on the big stages. They were riding horses with my host father at sunrise in Carrizozo, New Mexico. Singing “Ode to Joy” a cappella with the cast, deep inside Carlsbad Caverns, in total darkness. Running at dusk with a castmate along a snowy country road in Belgium. And then there was the cast director. I married her.

Scott Johnson · Cast 83D

This cast photo, taken in Peña de Bernal, México, is one of my favorites because it happens to be one of the first photos of the entirety of cast A’23. you may see a bunch of kids at the beginning of their UWP journey, but when I look at this photo, I see some of my best friends before I even knew who they’d be. We spent this day exploring local shops, meeting the town’s people, and easing into the beginning of what would become the most exhausting, exhilarating, and wonderful 3 months of our lives. on this day, some of us sipped Coca-Cola out of glass bottles and walked through the hilly streets listening to handmade metal windchimes while others were getting chased by shouting locals on four-wheelers - and those are the kinds of stories that have stuck with us ever since.

Ray Van Vleck · Cast A23

This was our end-of-year farewell banquet. We were crying so hard as we said goodbye to our besties. At this point, about half of our small group would go on to Jordan for three more weeks—a first for UWP! My bestie Tammy, pictured here, wasn’t part of that group, so we were saying goodbye after the most AMAZING year!

Jill Teas · Cast 88A

This is host pickup somewhere in Italy - the host families were given codes, and we had to find our family based on some clues provided in our allocation packet. The mystery and nerves at every host pickup are something I will never forget!

Eric Lentz · Cast 86E

My host in Leige Belgium was an accomplished artist with a shop on the Main Street there. After dinner one night she took me to her shop and said,”I like you and want to send a gift to your mother. Take anything you like for her… I selected the watercolor below which she rolled up and put in a travel tube. My mom framed it and hung it by her favorite chair for 50 years. When she passed on my sister sent it to me. It now hangs in a perfect spot in my dining room.

Linda Ross · Cast 71B

Along with other members of Cast A which was led by the Colwell Brothers and starred Linda Blackmore and Wardell Woodward, among others, we toured Italy in 1968 and met with Pope Pail VI.

There were two songs that we sang doing our shows which thrilled Italian audiences, Up With People and What Color Is God’s Skin?

Joseph Green Bishop · Cast 68A