By Kimberly Gasuras

Rhonda Rowland’s dream of being part of the live studio audience at a taping of the popular game show, The Price Is Right, finally came true in July during a visit with her son.

“My grandmother watched the Price Is Right every day while drinking a cup of coffee. I remember that during the commercials she would powder her nose with her Covergirl makeup. She loved the show and I would watch it with her. At 7-years-old, it became my dream to make it into the studio audience for a live taping,” Rowland said.

Rowland, a Crawford County resident and long-time Wynford School Board of Education member, and her family went to Glendale, California, this summer to visit her son, Trent, who is an aspiring actor and performs the role of Elvis Presley in the Million Dollar Quartet.

“Trent knew I had always wanted to go to the Price Is Right and told me to research the information and secure tickets for us,” Rowland said.

Rowland managed to snag the last two general admission tickets after going back to the show’s website multiple times since the show was on hiatus until July 14, the day Rowland and her family were arriving in California.

“The two tickets I got were for July 19,” said Rowland.

Rowland had her brother, well-known comedian and cartoonist Earl Musick, design shirts for her and her son to wear to the show.

“We arrived at the studio super early, before daylight, to get a place in line, which was huge. There were security guards walking around talking to people and checking our feet. You were not allowed to wear sandals or flip-flops, which we knew from my research. Some people were permitted to run down the street to a K-Mart to purchase different shoes so they could still be considered for admittance into the studio,” Rowland said.

Rowland said they had to give their driver’s license to security to be permitted inside the building to use the restroom.

“Only 350 people are permitted inside for each taping and priority ticket holders are allowed inside the next area first. I was so excited just to be there and then we were allowed into the next area where there were different stations,” Rowland said. “We had made it and I was ecstatic.”

At the first station, she and Trent completed paperwork while at the second station; they were given the yellow “price tag” nametags to wear.

“At the third station, there was two showcase stands like the ones you see on TV. They checked our driver’s licenses and then we went to the fourth station to get our photo taken in front of the giant wheel,” said Rowland.

At the fifth station, they were organized into groups of 25 and a casting director came around to talk with each person.

“He asked me which game I like the best and was surprised when I told him I liked the Lucky Seven game. He said most people don’t like it because it is harder to win,” said Rowland.

At the last station, Rowland and her son had to give their cell phones to management to lock up until the end of the taping.

“We were starving by then. This whole process took about eight hours so we were excited that there were food trucks. We ate while watching an episode of the show on four huge TV’s,” said Rowland.

There was a 10-minute last call to use the restroom and then the mother and son were shown to their seats.

“I was so excited. We made it. My dream had come true of being in the audience for the Price Is Right,” said Rowland.

George Gray, the man everyone hears say, “Come on down,” during the show, gave instructions to the 350 people who made it inside.

“He told us that nine people had already been chosen to be picked out for the show but if we did not show enough enthusiasm, there were alternates too,” said Rowland.

Rowland is a manager at Ohio Mutual Insurance Group.

“We are having a viewing party tomorrow,” said Rowland.

The episode of the Price Is Right in which Rowland and Trent made it into the studio for taping airs on CBS from 11 to 12 p.m. on Friday.

“Look for me in the audience,” said Rowland.

Reporter’s note: This is Part One of Rhonda’s story. Check back tomorrow after the episode airs to read the rest of the story!!