Madonna fan and Haynes and Boone partner volunteers to work on stage crew at Super Bowl halftime show

Haynes and Boone partner Purvi Patel (pictured) of Dallas has been a huge Madonna fan since 1984, when she was 9 years old. When Patel found out her musical idol would perform during halftime at Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, Patel did what most avid fans only dream of: She volunteered to work on the stage crew for the Super Bowl halftime show. “It is crazy, and I totally process that,” Patel says of her sojourn in Indianapolis. Since Jan. 23, Patel has been in Indianapolis, except for a quick day trip back to Dallas for a work matter. Each day, Patel, chairwoman of Haynes and Boone’s trademark practice group, works as a lawyer, but each evening, she volunteers at the Lucas Oil Stadium, learning her part in the halftime show. Patel says she is very lucky her show assignment is on the 25-yard-line, and she will be “pretty close” to the stage where Madonna will sing. She says she can’t talk in detail about her role, but “what I’m doing is going to be part of the show.” In addition to the game day show, Patel expects to see Madonna at some private rehearsals. “I can’t say how excited I am. I’m going to burst,” Patel says. Patel says she’s one of about 550 stage crew volunteers who were selected from about 3,000 who applied for the unpaid positions. Patel says she’s seen Madonna in concert 10 or 11 times since 2001, but this two-week trip to Indianapolis to see Madonna sing is by far the most costly. Patel says she views Madonna as the epitome of “girl power” and feminism and considers her a talented songwriter. “She’s 53 years old. She’s still creating and doing other things. . . . She’s so self-motivated,” Patel says of Madonna. Although Patel is at the Super Bowl only for Madonna, which team is her pick for the winner of the football contest between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots? Neither, Patel says, since she’s not a football fan.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

Comments

[Diana Menesis]

she's really an icon for femininity, and this is an act that proves her influence.

[Chris Molina]

Madonna is really an icon specially among women. I think I might check videos regarding this event. I would love to see their act.