Emmy winner Tina Fey has made her Broadway debut this season writing the book to the musical adaptation of Mean Girls. Her friend and former Saturday Night Live collaborator (and now late-night host) Jimmy Fallon orchestrated an opportunity for Fey to surprise her fans at the August Wilson Theatre, where Mean Girls officially opened April 8.

As fans turned to an enlarged Mean Girls Playbill to thank her for her influence, Fey popped out from behind the display to reactions of shock and—often times—tears.

Fey has been an inspiration to many, including her own daughters. While talking to Fallon on The Tonight Show, she even showed the iMovie Alice and Penelope made at home—watch in the clip below.

“I felt like it was my wedding. My whole family was there and my best friend from high school ... everyone who was so meaningful to me,” says Fey of Mean Girls' opening night. “I sat between Martin Short and Andrea Martin which are like comedy idols of mine. I could tell by the way they were laughing at certain jokes I was like, ‘Oh they’ve never seen the movie.’”

Fey capped off her visit by introducing a performance by Barrett Wilbert Weed, who plays Janis, singing “I’d Rather Be Me” from the musical: