This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:06] Al Malafronte: Hello and welcome to the Break a Bat Podcast where baseball meets Broadway, an attempt to show that my two favorite mediums don't have to live in such separate worlds and maybe even break some stigmas.

[0:18] Al Malafronte: We're happy to have you with us. Now let's play ball.

[0:24] Al Malafronte: Hello and welcome to episode 25 of Break a Bat. I'm your host, Al Malafronte, coming at you from the Broadway Podcast Network Studios. I mentioned the episode number because even for me, it's fairly amazing that we're at the quarter-century mark with this show since joining the VPN family.

[0:42] Al Malafronte: It's been nothing but a thrill for me. And we actually just celebrated the one-year anniversary of our Chapman on Broadway Instagram page. Back when we were doing the original version of this show in my apartment last spring. So never could have imagined the life this thing is taking on, and I'm excited about everything we have in store going forward.

[0:59] Al Malafronte: So, like I said, nothing but a thrill for me and the Break a Bat team as a whole. And speaking of that team, joining me in studio tonight is someone who's been a big part of the team, and I think some of the Bat Heads have gotten to know him the past few months. Our producer and aspiring baseball expert, Mr. Alan Seales.

[1:16] Alan Seales: Aspiring.

[1:19] Al Malafronte: I tried so hard to do the shooty hoops and the throwy balls. Now, Alan, the last time you were here, I thought we made a lot of progress with Kate Rockwell and Katzman here. We, you know, you learned who holds the record for fastest fastball in Major League history. You learned, you know, how many games Aroldis Chapman saved in one day to tie the major league record.

[1:38] Alan Seales: Yeah, there's lots of trivia that I can take away from my life or into my life now.

[1:43] Al Malafronte: I think we're onto something as far as your baseball IQ goes. And you know, if we can't make you a full-on baseball expert, at the very least, you can be an Aroldis Chapman expert like me and Katzman.

[1:53] Alan Seales: Well, I just followed your Instagram and I get all the Photoshopped Chapman images I ever need out of that.

[1:59] Al Malafronte: So that's all you need to know to see him in the cast of Moulin Rouge and Jagged Little Pill and so on and so forth. Okay. Well, aside from me playing the role of baseball educator to you, I will say one of the cooler parts about this whole thing with the VPN is that you and I have become pretty good friends off the air. And while I haven't gotten you over to Yankee Stadium yet, we did have a good time at the Majestic Theater last week.

[2:23] Alan Seales: We did. I enjoyed seeing Phantom of the Opera. It's been like multiple decades since I saw it last.

[2:30] Al Malafronte: How much did you remember like going into it?

[2:33] Alan Seales: I didn't remember any of the scenes because I saw it when I was a tiny, tiny kid, and then listened to my mom playing the soundtrack over and over and over again, so I know the songs, but all the interstitials, you know, the scene work, I was like, it was like seeing a new show.

[2:52] Alan Seales: I didn't remember any of it. It was unbelievable. And you know, with very big thanks to my buddy Michael Borowski over at the Publicity Office, Alan and I were granted the privilege to see Phantom last week, and it was definitely a wonderful time. And a huge reason for that is someone else is joining us in the studio tonight, as we've talked about her for the past few minutes, as if she's not in the room.

[3:14] Meghan Picerno: It's called acting.

[3:16] Al Malafronte: Yes, yes. In the midst of an exciting rookie year here on Broadway, since taking on the lead role of Christine in Phantom, our guest today is in the midst of a really exciting first year here on Broadway. And certainly no rookie in the performing world, she's an accomplished opera singer and definitely no stranger to the Andrew Lloyd Webber franchise.

[3:35] Al Malafronte: She actually originated the role of Christine in the North American premiere of Love Never Dies, which is Phantom's sequel for the folks at home who didn't know that. And she then went on to perform Phantom of the Opera all over the world in its touring production before coming here to Broadway. So since October she's been killing it over at the Majestic Theater six times a week.

[3:54] Alan Seales: Yeah.

[3:54] Al Malafronte: Okay. Oh, sometimes more.

[3:56] Alan Seales: Okay.

[3:57] Al Malafronte: But usually six. Six plus times a week. And we're super excited to welcome her to the Batter's Box tonight. So with that being said, if you'll please turn your attention to home plate just beyond the marquee. Now batting, Meghan Picerno.

[4:09] Meghan Picerno: That's my theme song.

[4:16] Al Malafronte: What's your walk-up song? You gotta pick one here.

[4:17] Meghan Picerno: I guess, well, should we stay on brand I suppose like da oh that would be dramatic. I would love to hear that played in Yankee Stadium. Can we please figure out how to make that happen?

[4:29] Al Malafronte: Well technically Mark DeSherry kind of had a show tune if you consider like Rock of Ages music to be show tunes like he had I Wanna Rock in there.

[4:37] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I mean like come on that that opening overture is pretty awesome. That would be badass.

[4:43] Al Malafronte: Yeah. So all right so home plate I'm here. How's Broadway life treating you?

[4:50] Meghan Picerno: It's awesome. Like I love it. I just it's going so fast actually I can't believe that it's well one it's 2020 so we're in the future so you know that's coming. But it's awesome. I love everybody that I work with. I mean working alongside the greats I mean Ben and John who play Raoul and the Phantom, you know they inspire me every day and the cast too, you know I mean there's so much tradition and there are so many legends everywhere.

[5:19] Meghan Picerno: We're just walking around the building. And you just soak it all up like a sponge. It's amazing. Now, I had mentioned in the intro, you have the background in opera singing.

[5:29] Al Malafronte: Yes.

[5:29] Meghan Picerno: Has the Broadway life been a big adjustment?

[5:32] Meghan Picerno: Um, it's definitely a different adjustment, but it's not just Broadway, it's music theater in general. Like they're very different animals. In the sense of even excuse me, how often you perform. Like in the opera world, you would have two days off in between shows, generally speaking, but we don't use microphones. But here you do. But it's what I'm realizing quickly is it doesn't really matter if you have one because you still sing full out no matter what. They're just playing with levels.

[5:57] Meghan Picerno: Like you can't just like be like so um, it's I have to say, and I love everyone in my opera singing world, but there's a glamour to Broadway, and there is a nitty-gritty. People work so hard. I have such a respect for every single person that is in a show, touring or Broadway, whatever it may be. I mean, there's it just goes. And people will be like, oh, I just broke my arm. It's okay, I'll be fine, let's keep going. I mean, they can't really do that, but like, you know what I mean? Like there's that attitude of like can do, will do, whatever we need to, let's get this done. And it's amazing.

[6:36] Meghan Picerno: And also, you know, I mean, watching people every day do ballet, do whatever it may be. I mean, like it's it blows my mind. I mean, how talented everyone is, and everyone's here for one cause, and that's to do the show and tell a story and share it with everyone from literally around the world. It's amazing.

[6:58] Al Malafronte: Now, what was like the biggest adjustment that you had to make? You know, because I guess that your theatrical career started on the road with the Love Never Dies tour.

[7:10] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, I mean, kind of. So actually it started a little bit right before that, with Candide. And that's a show that's kind of like is it an opera? Is it an operetta? Is it a music theater piece? It's kind of all of the above. And that's where I met Hal Prince. And that's the first time I ever did a two-show day. And I was like, I'm sorry, what do you mean? Like, uh, we're gonna what? And I was like, you were gonna do more than one? Like, right now, I remember just being like, this is madness, or like we had a dress rehearsal preview, which I didn't know what that meant before our opening night. And I was like, this I've never heard of such a thing. What is this? And like, lo and behold, you figure it out and you do it.

[7:50] Meghan Picerno: So that was definitely one of the biggest adjustments was just being like, you can do it, and you will. So that's where actually it started. And that was cool. I kind of felt like I was sort of in like Harry Potter, like all the different houses came together because it was like the actors from Broadway came. Because you had like Chip Zine, Greg Edelman, Linda Lavin, I mean Jay Armstrong Johnson, these were like the people I worked with constantly. Hal, Pat Birch, I mean, they became quickly my mentors. And then opera people that I knew, and then the dancers, and we were all just like in awe of each other on like what we could all do.

[8:25] Meghan Picerno: But that's like really where my professional music theater career started, because Hal was like, well, kiddo, would you ever want to do Broadway? And I was like, I'm gonna be honest, it wasn't really on my radar, but yeah, sounds great. And then in like two weeks later, oh well, he was like, have you ever seen Phantom? And I said very embarrassingly, no, not live. I'd only seen the movie. And so three years ago is the first time I ever saw Phantom live, and when I say theme song, I'll never forget when I sat in that in his seats, and the chandelier goes up, and I'm just like, what is this? It's a rock concert. I was like, this is awesome. So I fell in love with it immediately.

[9:11] Meghan Picerno: And shortly after I met with Andrew Lloyd Webber and was cast that afternoon in Love Never Dies. And that was the beginning. Boom, baby, we're going.

[9:22] Al Malafronte: So there you go. Casually meets with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alan. Do you hear this? And he gets a job on the spot. Did you have to sing?

[9:30] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, I said so. It was funny because Hal was like, you know, there's a show that's coming to America for the first time called Love Never Dies. And I really think that you should sing for Tara Rubin casting. And I did. And then the next time I sang was for Andrew himself, and then like a team of people, which is also very unlike an opera audition. In opera, it's very few people in the room. Like Candide was also very Broadway-esque. There were like 12 people in the room. I'm like, I don't even know like how this is an audience. Like, great.

[9:59] Meghan Picerno: But yeah, so in my audition for Andrew, like, of course, and this is the thing too, like coming from the opera world, I am learning on the job about Broadway because it's not something I was raised on, actually. So it was probably for the best. Ignorance is bliss. I didn't know everyone in the room. So I obviously know who Andrew is, but also coming from the opera world, I was like a living composer. This is the coolest thing. I have so many questions. Like, so my audition ended up being more of like a coaching, and he was so cool and so funny. And he like got up from his chair immediately and like came up, and yeah, it ended up being more of like a voice lesson than anything else, like a coaching.

[10:42] Meghan Picerno: And he was like, do you have anything from the other one meeting Phantom? And I was like, no, I'm so sorry. I don't know that music yet. And then yeah, just sang a whole bunch. And I didn't really think anything of it except that I had a blast and I loved every single person in the room. And then yeah, literally hours later, I got a call saying, hey, so would you want to do Love Never Dies? And I was like, yeah. So yeah, there you go.

[11:07] Al Malafronte: Now, you had mentioned that you weren't necessarily raised on Broadway, and you're a Chicago girl, right?

[11:12] Meghan Picerno: I am a Chicago girl, yeah.

[11:14] Al Malafronte: And so, you know, they have a pretty rich history of performing there as well.

[11:19] Meghan Picerno: Oh, yeah.

[11:19] Al Malafronte: Both on the theatrical side and the music side in general. And you know, given your last name, I take it like mine. You come from a very fun Italian family that very much embraced the arts. Is that accurate?

[11:32] Meghan Picerno: Um, yes, yes. I mean, we're more of a science math family. But yeah, like I mean, there was always music playing in my house constantly, like, but mostly classical music or jazz, you know. I mean, look, Frankie is obviously going when we're making pasta, like, we're literally that cliché family that like, you know, like Dean Martin's going while we're making meatballs, like it's legitimately happening. And embrace it, it's great. So yeah, yeah.

[12:01] Alan Seales: So they did the same in North Carolina, right?

[12:05] Al Malafronte: Oh, to play Frank Martin and Frank Sinatra. You guys used to listen to that, right?

[12:09] Meghan Picerno: I came from, well, you guys. My family came from a show tunes background. So like West Side Story, Music Man, Singing in the Rain, Family.

[12:19] Alan Seales: That's opera.

[12:20] Meghan Picerno: That's what my family listened to. My dad didn't listen to anything, I was on my mom, but yeah, so we didn't like other people listen to country, we listened to show tunes, and then I got messed up somewhere in the middle.

[12:32] Al Malafronte: Nice. Now, did you make a lot of trips up or did you ever make any trips up to New York as a kid?

[12:37] Meghan Picerno: Um, no, actually never. My first time, well, my parents moved to New Jersey for a brief moment, and that's how I fell in love with New York. I'll never forget like the train coming in. I got off, and I was like, Mom, put your phone in your map away. We are New Yorkers now. And like totally got lost. But I was like determined. I was like, and I remember I got off the train, and I swear I was like, oh, oh, no yeah, this is where I'm supposed to be. Like, of course, because Chicago and I love Chicago. But it's so funny, I remember telling one of my teachers, I was like, you know, I just don't feel like I fit here. As in, like, I don't feel like I'm meant to be here. And I love Chicago, and they're like, well, you never know. And then as soon as I got off, I was off the train, I was like, oh, because I'm supposed to be here.

[13:24] Meghan Picerno: And that's the beginning of my love affair with New York City, baby. The love-hate that we all have for this beautiful, amazing city. So yeah, that was the first time ever. But my first time ever seeing a Broadway show was on tour. And this is actually a pretty crazy cool story. Like I said, I wasn't really raised on show tunes. And I had the only musical I ever saw my entire life growing up was Les. But, and I was I was very young, I came to find out a couple years ago that that exact show that I saw, the one show I saw my whole life until like in my 20s, was the conductor was my conductor on Love Never Dies, and the music director was my conductor on the world tour of Phantoms. So if that wasn't the universe like planting a seed without me even knowing, how insane is that though?

[14:22] Meghan Picerno: Like that's pretty insane. What a way to come full circle like that. That's incredible. Literally. Did you ever give the acting thing a go as a kid? Or was it strictly singing?

[14:32] Meghan Picerno: Oh, yeah. I mean, like, I was always uh I was in like a musical, the musical in high school. Um, and I was in all state. Like I that was my first operetta, like I was cast in it. Again, like I didn't really know anything about it. And I I was actually a classical pianist. I mean, so that was my journey, and then I like loved jazz, so I was in the jazz band, and then I became too cool for that, which I'm like, Meghan, where were your parents telling you you needed to continue to do that? Um, but yeah, so I I played piano, but and I was in a musical every year. Uh, my first musical ever, actually, uh, I was Marion in The Music Man as a freshman in high school.

[15:12] Al Malafronte: Wow.

[15:12] Meghan Picerno: I was Harold Hill in eighth grade.

[15:14] Al Malafronte: Oh, well, there you go. It could have been ships in the night, baby.

[15:16] Meghan Picerno: Sorry. So yeah. Now, I guess you had uh you stayed in Illinois for undergrad and then you moved to Manhattan for your master's degree. Um, and at that point, the intention is always to pursue the opera thing folgo.

[15:32] Meghan Picerno: Yeah. And I I even um, so I studied abroad in Vienna too, and that like solidified that I wanted to do opera, but also it kind of came out of left field. See what I did there. Uh and um my parents were well, I guess more right field because they were like, uh, what? And I was like, Yes, I'm going to sing opera, and I'm going to go where Mozart lived. I'm going to Vienna. Like, I didn't speak German or anything, and then, but I went. And I loved it. And that really also that kind of just started my extreme love for travel too and languages and just meeting people from different cultures and everything.

[16:13] Meghan Picerno: So and then yes, I came to Manhattan. And Manhattan School music was my first choice. That's where I wanted to go. And that's where I went.

[16:22] Al Malafronte: And um, yeah. Yeah. Why opera?

[16:25] Meghan Picerno: I don't know. I mean, that's the thing that's so funny. I think part of it, I'll never forget with my high school class. Uh, we were, I was a junior or a senior in my French class, and we went to see uh Romeo and Juliet and Carmen uh at Chicago Lyric.

[16:41] Meghan Picerno: And I was the only one in my class that was like, this is the coolest thing ever. I was like, first of all, they're singing on their backs, how are they doing this? Second of all, it's the most beautiful music I've ever heard in my life. Third of all, it's just there's so much passion, and also it's in French, and and like the rest of my classes, like and I'm like, this is the best thing ever, best day ever. And so that was like the beginning of me being like, wait a minute, what is this art form? I don't really know what it is.

[17:06] Meghan Picerno: Um, even though a lot of us do know what it is, it's in like commercials and stuff, and you don't even realize you're being exposed to it. And um, yeah, I started taking voice lessons, and yeah, that was that was the start. Not really romantic. But like all of my life, kind of just like suddenly the lightning bolt strikes, and you're like, must do it right now.

[17:28] Meghan Picerno: Right now, that's how it goes, and you go.

[17:30] Al Malafronte: So you say you're like a very impulsive like that, you just kind of followed.

[17:33] Meghan Picerno: Yes, for better or for worse. Just dive right in.

[17:36] Al Malafronte: So, yeah. That's pretty amazing. What year did you come to New York?

[17:43] Meghan Picerno: Oh my gosh. Well, I don't know. Well, I'm 28 forever, so cheers.

[17:48] Al Malafronte: Okay.

[17:49] Meghan Picerno: 29 forever. Well, you know, I don't know. It depends on the date. Could it be one, you know? Um, I don't know, actually. I don't know what year I came here, but it's been a minute.

[17:58] Al Malafronte: Okay.

[17:59] Meghan Picerno: A New York minute, if you will. I was trying to piece together whether or not you had the chance to go to the old Yankee Stadium, which had closed in 2008.

[18:06] Meghan Picerno: No, I actually no that I can tell you. No. I have been to the new one, though.

[18:09] Al Malafronte: You have been to the new.

[18:10] Meghan Picerno: I have been to the new one. And see, now I am a Cubs fan, which I personally don't think conflicts with me being a Yankees fan.

[18:16] Al Malafronte: Oh, so you're oh yeah, American.

[18:18] Meghan Picerno: Because they are different leagues.

[18:19] Al Malafronte: Exactly. So like I feel okay with that. You know the Cubs come to New York this summer, right?

[18:26] Meghan Picerno: Hopefully this will be one of the first summers I'm ever here. So I should say that they come to Yankee Stadium this summer. They because they play the Mets every year, obviously.

[18:34] Al Malafronte: But yeah. I was curious if you had a chance to go to the old Yankee Stadium because one thing I always want to know from people is listen, I've biggest baseball fan around. I've never been to Wrigley Field.

[18:44] Meghan Picerno: Pretty bad, right?

[18:46] Al Malafronte: How is this possible?

[18:48] Meghan Picerno: I very bad. Listen, I mean, if I'm gonna do it, I want to go and the Yankees are there. And that happens like once every six years. Or just go anyway. Like it's a whole culture. Wrigleyville is so I mean, they just built it up and like Chicago fans are hardcore, man.

[19:02] Meghan Picerno: Like I was singing opera in Virginia when they won. And I got a call from my brother, and he's like, There's riots right now. People are so excited. Like I was the only one that was like, this is the best day. Like, I mean, we're pretty hardcore. Because even if they lose constantly, we will be there supporting every year hoping. It will happen. And then it did.

[19:25] Meghan Picerno: But Wrigley, oh my God. I mean, Wrigley Field is really beautiful. I mean, and there's just so much history, you know. I don't know. It's it's like the it's like the phantom of the opera of of baseball fields.

[19:38] Al Malafronte: It's like so tradition and gorgeous, and like, do you know what I mean?

[19:43] Meghan Picerno: You gotta go.

[19:44] Al Malafronte: How old is it?

[19:45] Meghan Picerno: I don't know. 1914.

[19:46] Al Malafronte: There we go.

[19:47] Meghan Picerno: There's only one older, it's Fenway Park.

[19:49] Al Malafronte: Really?

[19:49] Meghan Picerno: Yeah. I screwed that up on an episode recently, actually.

[19:53] Al Malafronte: So that's Kennedy Coggle's like, oh, what's the oldest major league city?

[19:55] Meghan Picerno: I'm just like, oh, Wrigley Field. It's like afterward, I'm like, oh damn, it's no, it's not. It's it's Fenway Park. But yeah, Wrigley's been around forever. It's beautiful.

[20:03] Al Malafronte: Did you and your fam go to a lot of games growing up?

[20:06] Meghan Picerno: Actually, yeah. So, like, what's funny is like I've been to like a bunch of sports games, but only one musical. And yet here I am on Broadway. There's hope for everyone.

[20:17] Al Malafronte: So I've questioned about like the the sports aspect because sports, you have to condition your body. You have to get used to something. And so, like the whole famous thing, one of the famous things about Phantom is the high notes that Christine sings.

[20:29] Meghan Picerno: Yes.

[20:30] Al Malafronte: And it's a high E6, right?

[20:32] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, okay. So that's super, super high. And it like, is that second nature easy now to do that? Or do you it is that conditioning?

[20:43] Meghan Picerno: Fairness, in fairness. I am from the opera world that, and I my voice type, how they categorize us, I'm considered a coloratora. This means that just anatomically, my inside here, like I'm like a piccolo.

[20:58] Meghan Picerno: But there's another, there are many shades of color touras. I'm also what you call a dramatic coloratora, meaning that I have a more velvety sound, a bigger sound that develops like a wine as you get older. So I there's like a mosquito coloratora that's like that, which by the way, that is higher than an E6, I guarantee you.

[21:15] Meghan Picerno: So I can literally wake up and be like, and I'm like, oh my God, if it's not there, you're like, my life is over. But it's fine. But like, so for me, um, my voice naturally actually resonates very loudly up there.

[21:28] Al Malafronte: Really?

[21:28] Meghan Picerno: Yes. However, ha ha, whatever. Uh, you do it every day. One, two. Um, Andrew Lloyd Weber's music is obviously gorgeous. And to do it any type of justice, you must train because it's very challenging to sing because it's quite uh uh it's there's a lot of low and there's a lot of high.

[21:51] Meghan Picerno: It doesn't really rest in one place. And so that is what's so challenging. Me piping out an E6, okay, fine. But it's what did I just do before that? And what comes after that? That's what's so hard.

[22:02] Meghan Picerno: In the opera world, if I'm singing E6s, which by the way, for anyone that doesn't know what an E6 is, so that's like an error by the shortstop in the baseball world, by the way. They call it an E6. But go on.

[22:11] Al Malafronte: Oh, there you go. See, I learned something. Thank you for that. I'll I'll pack that away for Latra.

[22:16] Meghan Picerno: Um, but the thing is, so it's basically when you look at a piano, if you were to look like C, C, C, C, and that's how like you're gonna know how high it is. So E6 is pretty high. I mean, an F is what Queen of the Night sings, so it's a little bit higher. It's a half step higher.

[22:30] Meghan Picerno: Um, but um, but if I were to sing, usually up in that register, um, I would stay up there. So your voice is conditioning to stay up there. Andrew's music is like blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It's all over.

[22:44] Meghan Picerno: So it's it's involves a lot of training. I don't talk during the day. Like I am mute, which is difficult, I'm sure, for everyone around in this room to understand how that would be possible.

[23:00] Meghan Picerno: If you haven't bottled up all day, no, literally, I'm just like, ah, like look at my plants, like you know, you want to talk. So it is extremely challenging. And thank goodness I have a classical background because I don't know how I would have been able to go straight from Love Never Dies to Phantom of the Opera on World Tour to this.

[23:21] Meghan Picerno: And even then, it's hard. It is hard. And it's beautiful. And like Andrew is, I personally think one of his greatest strength is his ability to tell a story.

[23:31] Meghan Picerno: So me as a musician, I find it my responsibility to be as vocally as healthy as possible so that I can put all the colors needed in order to tell that story because he really knows there's a reason that Phantom is so epic and the longest running Broadway show. It touches everyone.

[23:48] Meghan Picerno: And to be able to do that every night, like you gotta take care of yourself. Gotta train like an athlete, because that's what we are.

[23:55] Al Malafronte: Was there ever anything that you picked up from the ballpark that you've applied to your performing career, whether it be you know the discipline aspect or you know, physical aspect, anything really.

[24:05] Meghan Picerno: Oh, um, for sure, both of those then. I mean, physically, every person that's performing is an athlete. I mean, we again every day, like what we do to our bodies, you know. I mean, the dancers, even if you're not a dancer, I mean, my costumes weigh 35 pounds back heavy.

[24:22] Meghan Picerno: I mean, you have to That's the wedding dress. That's the wedding dress.

[24:26] Al Malafronte: Oh, you listen.

[24:27] Meghan Picerno: Yeah. Exactly. I mean, you know, the physicality that you're doing of climbing ladders, running up and down stairs, um, you know, while singing, singing in itself is a sport.

[24:37] Meghan Picerno: Um, and and indeed, it's extremely disciplined. I mean, if I was able to go out and party and smoke a billion cigarettes great guess what I can't I would be done for like a month so um it's extremely disciplined in order to do what we do um I live like a monk and a nun all in one um and and yeah you know like what I eat um just like uh someone that's training I mean uh for tennis or baseball I mean like I need a certain amount of protein because I have a big burst of energy that's coming every night sometimes twice on Saturdays you know like sure so yeah it's very much sports and and theater are actually extremely related like the the discipline and the sacrifice it's massive and the touring aspect of it too I mean everything about it is so congruent to each other.

[25:35] Al Malafronte: Now you mentioned the touring actually one thing I did want to touch on um your situation's pretty unique because um you're kind of you know going from a sequel to a prequel having done Love Never Dies first um did you have to do anything different to get into this version of Christine for uh Phantom of the Opera?

[25:54] Meghan Picerno: Uh yeah actually I did um so I believe I'm the only person ever to have done the older version first of Christine and then Benjamin Button backwards.

[26:06] Meghan Picerno: And um, so I had a big talk with Hal actually about it and he's like all right kiddo you gotta remember she didn't know everything that she knew when she was older.

[26:18] Meghan Picerno: I mean, and we also had a big discussion about like, you know, obviously, like the future can't influence the past. However, there is a however, um, when you know where she ends up, there must be those seeds that were there, always there. They just eventually blossomed.

[26:37] Meghan Picerno: Um, and I mean, Love Never Dies was not written uh when Phantom was originally, but you can't deny that it's not there now. So not everyone becomes a famous opera diva, not everyone becomes a mother.

[26:49] Meghan Picerno: So, like living her truth in her future for a year and a half, and also having a backstory of 10 years and then going backwards in time to where it all began, actually, as an actor is a really amazing uh opportunity because it's a full 360.

[27:05] Meghan Picerno: And actually for me personally, um, what I find most challenging is the beginning of Phantom when she has all this trust and some naivete and everything, because like she doesn't have the strength yet.

[27:19] Meghan Picerno: She's developing it even throughout the show of Phantom of the Opera itself. So for me, uh what I find most difficult is indeed finding like letting myself uh be controlled by men.

[27:32] Meghan Picerno: Like she willingly gives her power up, you know. Like, I don't think she's like transfixed like a zombie, like, oh no, I personally think, and like Seth, who's our director, is incredible about this, like really empowering Christine.

[27:44] Meghan Picerno: Um, it is a period piece, you can't deny that. But indeed, like in 2020, uh, I can't be fully Meghan Paterno as I am now on stage. It wouldn't work.

[27:56] Meghan Picerno: But this Christine now, I do believe is very strong, as strong as she can be. But at the beginning, she can't have that strength at first. Otherwise, there's nowhere to go.

[28:05] Meghan Picerno: And that I find pretty like crushing every night. Like it's really uh, you know, because I mean, even myself personally, uh, I've given my power over to a man in 2020. And like, you know, or like, you know, like when you go on your first date for Tinder or Bumble and you're like, this is gonna be great. It's gonna be great. And then like you're like, this sucks.

[28:25] Meghan Picerno: Like, what happened here? Like, I mean, you know, like I feel like we all have some kind of experience in that realm on a less melodramatic scale. So, like, I've I've really not I've gone off topic.

[28:37] Meghan Picerno: But uh real man, real man.

[28:39] Al Malafronte: Um, but uh we do that a lot on this show. I mean, we it's pretty common.

[28:45] Meghan Picerno: But yeah, anyway, no, it's really amazing to have had the amazing opportunity to do both. Um yeah, yeah, who knows? Who knows? Maybe one day I'll go back. I don't know. Like, you never know. Like, and now that I've lived her younger version, it's really exciting because I feel like I fully understand her psyche now. Like I really get her, I really understand her. And I really love her, actually. Um, I have a lot of compassion for her. So now, with that love and compassion. Now, Alan, do you know how Love Never Dies ends?

[29:16] Alan Seales: No, I don't. I've never seen it.

[29:17] Meghan Picerno: All right, I'm not, I mean, I hate to spoil it for the folks at home, but it's not actively touring as we speak, right? Um, it's about two again. Uh well, I'm gonna spoil it anyway. You have a lot of love and compassion for Christine. Christine dies at the end of Love Never Dies. Um, love does die. Yeah, love does die. Okay, well, love continues, but she does not. Now we get, you know, given that love and compassion that you have for that character, I mean, what are your thoughts on the way that they chose to end it? Because I know that a lot of fans with like the PH ones. Like what do they call them? Fanatics with the PH? Is there like slash? Um I just know fans, PH fans, PH fans, okay. Uh, they kind of had mixed feelings about that.

So, you know, having you know this deep understanding of the character like you do right now, you know, what are your thoughts on that? Um, I don't know. That's a difficult question, to be honest. Um I think it's tragically beautiful how it ends, honestly. And again, coming from the opera world, it's very operatic. Pretty standard for what you do. I mean, I mean, I've died in most of the things I've played in. I'm either like a fairy and funny, or I die. It's kind of like one of the two. So um it's great that I don't die every day here. Um, but I think it, yeah, it's tragically beautiful. I mean, they do have a son together, so um, the love lives on in that way. But um I think there's something to be said too that what I find so interesting in that she does pick the Phantom.

And um, which to me, she's always done. To me, again, this is my personal field. Um, at the end of Phantom, she does pick the Phantom, but she they cannot be together. That's why she goes back. Like, again, that's for me. I'm also team Phantom. Say what you will. I guess I like the bad boy. Um, I am not Team Raoul. Um, sorry, John, you are so handsome, but apparently misfigured face is my deal. So um, but he does pick the Phantom. Um, well, she picks herself, but she can't. Um, but so then Love Never Dies. It does happen that way, and they just can't be together. They just can't. For good this time.

[31:28] Alan Seales: So as alarms go out as the fire, fire trucks go back. There's not much I can contribute to that. I've never seen it. I uh Love Never Dies. I sounds like a Bond movie.

[31:39] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, yeah. It's true. It's pretty epic, actually. The music is gorgeous. Oh my god. So beautiful. Yeah, I heard some of the soundtrack. And yeah, if it's about to start touring again, I wonder if uh we'll get a chance. That'd be an interesting one. But uh before we get back to Broadway, we're gonna take a short break. When we come back, it's time for the seventh inning stretch.

[32:03] Al Malafronte: Oh. Stay tuned. Now you sounded surprised, you know, before the break about this whole little seventh inning stretch thing. Are you aware of what you know what we do at Break A Bat as far as the seventh inning stretch?

[32:19] Meghan Picerno: No, I don't.

[32:21] Al Malafronte: Now, Alan, you know, as a, you know, I'm I guess I'm the one who originated this segment, but you know, what are your impressions of this part of the show?

[32:29] Alan Seales: I think it is what brings your fan base together.

[32:33] Al Malafronte: Oh. Thank you. I hope so. Okay. Your Broadway lovers and and your baseball lovers come together in that awkward dance like West Side Story.

[32:43] Alan Seales: Yes, when we throw a game show into the middle of an interview. I like it. Can I have water for this uh seventh inning stretch?

[32:50] Al Malafronte: Yes, yes, let's get her some fluids. This is a big part of the game, actually.

[32:53] Alan Seales: Yeah, that's right. The game is tied right now. I'm getting ready. Meghan wants to go into the cage, get some extra swings before she uh you know has to head off.

[33:01] Meghan Picerno: Do I need my rally cap on? Or like what are we talking here?

[33:03] Al Malafronte: I mean, you I you know what? You don't hate the Yankees. I do have a Yankee hat prop here for the folks at home who didn't know that. We have a 2014 All-Star Game uh hat that Derek Jeter looks like the one G to War.

[33:16] Meghan Picerno: There we go. So Alan mentioned earlier that this is a segment that you know brings our you know fan bases together. We have a lot of baseball fans, a lot of Broadway fans, and then fans of both, of course. Um, this is also a chance to bring you into what we call the winner's circle.

[33:31] Al Malafronte: I like the circle.

[33:32] Meghan Picerno: You like the circle? I mean, by the name alone, I'm a fan. The circle of treasure.

[33:38] Al Malafronte: Yes. So the winner circle, you know, you know what's funny? We don't do this segment on every show. We do it when we can, obviously. Um basically it's the chance um, you know, for you to answer some trivia questions about both baseball and Broadway. God help me both. And if you get enough of them right, you win a prize and join the circle. We've had a couple of winners in the past. We had uh Kate Rockwell won, Robin won, uh, Amanda Jane Cooper won. Anyone else win? We didn't do it with Michael Pos. We didn't do it with Amanda. I think okay, so it's a pretty small circle. So this is like your chance to like, you know, maybe it's like a Matt Rushmore at this point. There might only be like three people up there, right? So this is your chance.

[34:17] Meghan Picerno: Can I phone a friend?

[34:21] Al Malafronte: Um you want to be a lifeline, Mike? You want to be a lifeline?

[34:28] Alan Seales: Oh, you're the oh you're gonna phone phone Britney who's on her computer.

[34:32] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, Brittany loves to be the lifeline in this game.

[34:37] Al Malafronte: All right, I'm ready. Let's see, let's see. I'll do it with a smile.

[34:44] Alan Seales: All right. You're obviously very well versed in the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Which of the following shows is not a part of his Broadway catalog? School of Rock, Aida, Starlight Express, and The Woman in White.

[35:00] Meghan Picerno: I don't think Starlight Express ever came to Broadway.

[35:03] Alan Seales: I believe it did.

[35:05] Meghan Picerno: It did? Oh no. Oh no. Wait, let's get a fact check.

[35:10] Alan Seales: In fairness, I would never be in that. I cannot roller skate.

[35:13] Meghan Picerno: It was on Broadway, right?

[35:14] Alan Seales: It was on Broadway.

[35:15] Meghan Picerno: You're 0 for one. You're batting average zero right now.

[35:18] Alan Seales: Let's see if good ones. The answer is Aida. It was that was uh Tim Rice and um and Elton John.

[35:25] Meghan Picerno: Oh. Um but I know Andrew Lloyd worked a lot with Tim Rice.

[35:29] Alan Seales: Exactly. So I can see why that would have been misleading. All right, so apparently I've got all the baseball questions. What do you call baseball's grand event that celebrates its most elite players every July?

[35:44] Meghan Picerno: The World Series?

[35:45] Alan Seales: I have no idea.

[35:46] Meghan Picerno: July. Wait a second. You remember when the Cubs won the World Series? They won definitely when it was cold. Um I don't know. Oh, oh, oh, wait, wait, wait. All-star. All-star? All-stars?

[35:56] Alan Seales: Yeah. We'll take it. That is correct. Ding ding ding.

[36:00] Meghan Picerno: Oh.

[36:01] Alan Seales: The answer is the All-Star Game. And just a note, you know, the face of the baseball and Broadway community and former Cub and current New York Yankee, Ralph Shatman has made six of them. So yeah. Just a fun fact about that about it.

[36:13] Meghan Picerno: Okay. So glad I got the baseball one, bro.

[36:18] Alan Seales: She's one for two. She's batting 500.

[36:20] Meghan Picerno: Yep.

[36:20] Alan Seales: All right. All right. Now that's called statistics. There have been a number of different versions of Phantom, both on stage and screen. Who is not in the Christine lineage? Jane Seymour, Terry Polo, and Renee Fleming.

[36:38] Meghan Picerno: Which of those three is not in the Christine lineage? Renee Fleming.

[36:41] Alan Seales: That is correct.

[36:42] Meghan Picerno: I know I used to work for her.

[36:43] Alan Seales: Oh.

[36:45] Meghan Picerno: Wow.

[36:47] Alan Seales: You worked for her?

[36:48] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, when I was in grad school.

[36:49] Alan Seales: Oh, that's so cool.

[36:50] Meghan Picerno: I was her assistant.

[36:51] Alan Seales: Yeah.

[36:51] Meghan Picerno: Wow.

[36:56] Al Malafronte: Chris Bryant won the 2016 National League MVP Award. Alan's a big fan of Chris Bryant's.

[37:02] Meghan Picerno: Oh, me too.

[37:03] Al Malafronte: Prior to this, the last Chicago Cubs to win the award exactly 18 years prior was.

[37:09] Meghan Picerno: Nope.

[37:10] Al Malafronte: So wait a second. Come on. Cubs fan. Let's do some math. Your math and science family. This will apply here. 18 years before 2016 was 1998. What's going on in 1998 in the Chicago baseball world?

[37:27] Meghan Picerno: I don't know.

[37:29] Al Malafronte: I don't know.

[37:30] Meghan Picerno: Sammy Sosa.

[37:33] Al Malafronte: Yeah, okay.

[37:41] Alan Seales: I feel like the circle of trust may not be. Mike, would you have been a good lifeline fan? Would you have known that?

[37:46] Alan Seales: No.

[37:47] Al Malafronte: Okay. All right. Well. Here's a good one. I think I think you could get this one. Okay. You mentioned that you played Mary and the Librarian in high school.

[38:00] Meghan Picerno: Yes.

[38:01] Al Malafronte: Who played the character in the film adaptation?

[38:04] Meghan Picerno: Oh, wait, wait, wait. Um, Shirley Jones.

[38:08] Al Malafronte: That is correct. Ding ding ding.

[38:10] Meghan Picerno: All right. Okay. All right. Now still what wait, what's she's two for five?

[38:16] Alan Seales: She is three for five.

[38:18] Meghan Picerno: Three for five. I got one baseball one. I don't have a writing utensil.

[38:23] Al Malafronte: You know, we got uh, so yeah, we got the uh the All-Star Game right, we got Renee Fleming right, we got Shirley Jones and Shirley Jones right. All right, now here's your chance to bring it home. And again, I think that as Alan said, this is the part of the uh the show that brings the segment together. And um, with that being said, um, I'm gonna let Alan take this last question.

[38:41] Alan Seales: Oh, all right. Now, your clue on this one. We may have to the alluded to the answer earlier. You're a Cubs fan. In the middle of the 2016 season, the Chicago Cubs acquired a certain all-star closer from the New York Yankees to carry them to their first world championship in 108 years.

[39:00] Meghan Picerno: Okay, I knew the 108 years thing and the world championship thing. Al might have just literally Chris Bryant.

[39:09] Al Malafronte: No. He didn't even finish the question.

[39:15] Meghan Picerno: What's his name?

[39:17] Alan Seales: Chapman.

[39:21] Meghan Picerno: Yes! She wins. Wow, we didn't even need the lifeline.

[39:28] Al Malafronte: That's amazing. Well, I was looking at him for positive support. There was a lot of positive support coming from the couch. Did Mike mouth that one and we didn't even know? She got wow, I'm very impressed.

[39:39] Meghan Picerno: Thank you. Thank you. I listen sometimes.

[39:43] Al Malafronte: She can be taught. Well. The rain in Spain.

[39:48] Meghan Picerno: Umgratulations.

[39:49] Al Malafronte: Thank you. Thank you. I feel very good right now. I would like to welcome you to the winner circle. We usually give this out to our guests, even if they don't win. That's one thing that one of the Instagram followers pointed out to me. Like, why don't you penalize the guests that don't get it? You like rip off part of it. Whatever, but mine sparkles more because it is a winner. This is a I know. I should I should like sign the back of the like winner on the back or something like that. Winner. This is your Chapman on Broadway. Break A Bat t-shirt.

[40:19] Meghan Picerno: Well, thank you. We're running low on the count, so I hope a uh a small true, yeah. Yes. And um wear it proudly.

[40:24] Meghan Picerno: I will wear this tomorrow during our two doshed.

[40:28] Al Malafronte: Oh. We got some theater slang here. I like it. That means two shows.

[40:33] Meghan Picerno: In a day.

[40:34] Al Malafronte: I thought it might have. I know, I know. Just in case you were wondering.

[40:37] Meghan Picerno: Well, thank you. I like the back here. That's a nice feature. It's a broken bat with the theater.

[40:45] Al Malafronte: Yeah, you got the theater mask.

[40:48] Meghan Picerno: Thank you.

[40:48] Al Malafronte: You're very welcome. Thank you. Welcome to the winner circle. What do you remember about your Broadway debut?

[40:54] Meghan Picerno: I don't. People ask me that, but I just remember, well, I remember for my bow in midst jumping. I'm like, am I jumping right now? And then I was like, I'm totally jumping up and down right now. And then I was like, oh my God, Meghan, you only make one Broadway debut and you have decided to hop. And I was like, so that just happened. No, you know, it's funny because even though I did the New York version, that's what's on the world tour right now. I mean, we just opened the new world tour. Um, it's not exactly like the Broadway version in the sense of like, I mean, even the stage is bigger. I mean, the smoke, I mean everything. So I just remember being like, I have to run this down the stairs, and then I have to go left, and then I have to like it was just like moment to moment to moment.

And it was like the adrenaline was through the roof because you were just thinking about, and it was my first time doing it full on was my Broadway debut here. So that's the thing too. Like you're literally just it is very much like a sports event. Like, cause I used to I used to play sports. So like it's like you're in the zone. So, like, to be honest, I couldn't even tell you because I was so in the zone. And then afterward it happened, I remember I had uh a friend, he got me this beautiful gold gown, and I was gonna wear this gorgeous gold gown to my own party for my Broadway debut. And I was so tired that I was like, I can't wear this. And so I just wore this like sweater dress because I was like, I I'm so tired right now. Like, but it was magic, and yeah, I don't remember much. Um yeah, the hopping though. I remember mid-hop. That's about it. Yeah. It was awesome.

[42:32] Al Malafronte: You're you know, you're in the midst of an exciting rookie year as I mentioned in the uh intro. Did they do like any sort of like rookie hazing when you get to Broadway, like they did in baseball until they kind of outlawed that?

[42:43] Meghan Picerno: No, no. I mean, to be honest, I gotta tell you, like, I this is my first time um not only making my Broadway debut, but replacing basically. So, like, I've always started a show. So even on the world tour, we rehearsed it together and open. I've never come into a show while it's been running, let alone one running for 32 years. And so um, I was a little like, how's that gonna go?

[43:06] Meghan Picerno: And to be honest, everyone's really great, like super supportive. They all know what it's like to come into the show, and it's been nothing but I mean, we're all team players. I mean, it really is a team sport, you know. I mean, it doesn't matter what you are, everyone has a piece of the puzzle, and it has to happen or it doesn't run. So everyone's just been really great. So, no, no hazing, luckily. So um, I'm good to go. So, yeah, and my alternate Aaron LaCroix, I mean, this is an interesting thing about um Christine because it's such a gigantic thing. Um, the principal has uh an alternate who goes on twice a week so that the principal can rest. Um, because you need it. Like it's six times a week, it's a lot.

Like vocally, Christina's on stage for two plus hours, she doesn't stop. And so um that relationship, you know, can be a little hairy or it can be wonderful. And my alternate here, Erin LaCroix, is an angel. I mean, she's not only so pro and reliable, but she's also just a lovely human. And like, you know, it's wonderful to have it's really like hashtag team Christine, it's truly a team. And um you need it, you know, like I I rely on her, like, and and she's brilliant, and I just love that. So yeah.

[44:28] Al Malafronte: So not the first time. And you know, you talk about it being a team effort, and since you have such a uh tremendous role, both on the stage, is that a greater responsibility off the stage as well to you know, kind of uh, you know, to rally up the team, I guess, you know, given the position that you're in.

[44:44] Meghan Picerno: I mean, yes and no, it's very different when you're on the road, on the road for sure. Absolutely. You're together all the time. And and here's here is the thing: the responsibilities of when you're a principal, um, there's extra responsibility, you know. I mean, um, like press events and you know, being the face of a show in a very particular kind of way. Um, it's it's much more than just on stage. But indeed, I mean, when you are a leading lady or a leading man, and this is something Hal really ingrained in me, he's like, whoever is in that star dressing room, they really set the tone for everyone else. And it is so true. And I've always, always thought of that, you know. I mean, if you have someone that is this poisonous egomaniac, you know what?

The rest of the cast follows suit. If you have an incredible person in that in those dressing rooms, I mean, Ben, my leading man Ben Crawford is a perfect example of an incredible leading man. You know, he's chill, he does his job, he's amazing. I mean, he's fun, he's nice, he's responsible. He's pro. That's exactly the kind of leading man you want. And like as a leading lady, I aspire to be as such as well. Like, you know, respectful of your peers, respectful of everyone, you know. I mean, be a diva on stage and not off, you know. I mean, truly, like everyone, we wouldn't be able to do what we do without all the crew, you know. I mean, we wouldn't be able to do what we do without the orchestra, without the audience.

So, like, I, yeah, check your ego at the door, because really that's not why you're doing this. And if it is, you'll break. But you know what I mean? So truly, that's another responsibility when you are a principal and you're a leading lady or a leading man. Um, you you really uh I think it's your responsibility to be a leader and a good one.

[46:39] Al Malafronte: So yeah. Heck yeah, thank you for being honest, you know, with that answer. Yeah. Because you don't you don't have that many people who will uh acknowledge that that does very much exist in baseball and Broadway, and we've seen it bring teams down, like you said.

[46:51] Meghan Picerno: Totally. Exactly. It really makes a difference, you know. I mean, like, well, Chicago, like, yeah, pick pick, okay, Sammy Sosa, I know who that is. No, that's not he's not a great example. I was just gonna say Michael Jordan, perfect example. I mean, like, truly, like, you know, someone that inspires people, that you know, like when you're around them, you're like, yes, you know, like that's the kind of person, and like everyone's human, you're not gonna have a perfect day every day. But like, you know, yeah, bring it. Awesome.

[47:24] Al Malafronte: Yeah. So let me ask you this then: all this Broadway experience now, you think you're here to stay, or is the opera world gonna steal you back one day?

[47:31] Meghan Picerno: Oh, you know, look, I mean, the cool thing about the day and age that we live in is that I can cross over into multiple medias. Um, I mean, TV, opera. Now, like it's not like you're in a hole, like a tiny little cube. Like, you know, I mean, you if you can do it, you will be able to. So let's see. I mean, I love opera, it speaks to a completely different side of my soul. I love Broadway. So I don't know. Like, I'm excited to see exactly where it goes. I'm not sure. This wasn't on my radar three years ago. So if you would have told me, like, by the way, I'd be like, okay. So you never know.

[48:10] Al Malafronte: Yeah, we'll see. We're excited too.

[48:12] Meghan Picerno: Yeah. Uh so you know what? I we do have time for one last game, Alan, and this is another fun one. Um Meghan, this is the ninth inning now. There's two outs, the bottom of the ninth. Okay. Chapman's on the mound, throwing 105 miles an hour. You gotta think quick. All right, our buddy Chapman, yes.

[48:27] Al Malafronte: Yes. We ask you a question, you say the first thing that comes to your head. Alan, why don't you lead off this one?

[48:34] Meghan Picerno: She's gonna do it. You can't help her on this one, Mike. This is all Meghan alone in the batter's box right now.

[48:40] Al Malafronte: First thing that comes to my head. All right, I'm ready. Favorite New York City meal, pizza.

[48:44] Meghan Picerno: Oh, wait a second, though. This is important. Oh, but Chicago pizza is better.

[48:48] Al Malafronte: Okay.

[48:48] Meghan Picerno: Sorry. Not sorry.

[48:49] Al Malafronte: I haven't had real disagree.

[48:51] Meghan Picerno: I disagree.

[48:52] Al Malafronte: I disagree.

[48:53] Meghan Picerno: No, deep dish.

[48:54] Al Malafronte: No. Let's do a vote. Mike and Britt, what do you guys vote?

[48:58] Meghan Picerno: There are not enough Chicagoans. Nope, you guys don't even know.

[49:00] Al Malafronte: Oh, New York's got you're four to one right now.

[49:03] Meghan Picerno: I don't care. I will stand proud and tall.

[49:07] Al Malafronte: Best Chicago sports memory.

[49:11] Meghan Picerno: Hmm. Probably one of the times at Wrigley Field, honestly. It's so great. Like, you know, like you're sitting there and like, oh, actually, one of them, it just happened. I randomly was home from tour. Um, I was home for one week in between uh Kuala Lumpur and Tel Aviv this year, and I I wasn't supposed to be. And I I flew to Chicago, and we all went as a family to see the Cubs. The gate they won. And like, it was just an awesome, like, totally different experience that I've had for like years. So that's definitely on the books. Yeah. Love it.

[49:42] Al Malafronte: Yeah. All right. Uh favorite Chicago Cubs, past or present besides Chapman.

[49:49] Meghan Picerno: Sammy Sosa.

[49:56] Al Malafronte: All right. It's been like a cycle of five different Cubs names that have come up tonight.

[50:05] Meghan Picerno: That's right, baby.

[50:07] Al Malafronte: Most embarrassing on stage moment.

[50:09] Meghan Picerno: Oh God, there's so many. Um, oh my God. There's so many. Um, um, look, occasionally when the memory slips and you speak tongues, that's always a good one. You're like, I okay, okay. There was it's rare. Oh God, knock on wood. I shouldn't even say it before I go to the show tonight. But once I I remember uh I there's a there's a part where I'm like, it's really emotional, and I'm like, Rahul I've been there. And literally, I literally went, da-da-dee-d-d-da-da-da. But I did it with such conviction that like I I fell back into the words again. But like for like two bars, I was just going, da-da. I was like scatting Phantom of the Opera. I remember the conductor was like, I did were though the word and I was like, no, no, no, no. That was da-da-d-d-d-da-da-da-da.

And then I continued on. And I remember John just looking at me like with wide eyes, like, what the hell? But I said that da-da-d-e-d-da-d-d-da with such subtext. Let me tell you. Like, baby. No, that that's not the most embarrassing. I'm sure there's way more, but I have a nice heap.

[51:21] Al Malafronte: Oh, my turn. Oh, who would play you in a movie about your life?

[51:25] Meghan Picerno: Oh. Oh my god. Uh, oh god. And uh I I literally don't know. Someone kind of quirky, um, fun, cute. Um Anna Kendrick.

[51:42] Al Malafronte: No.

[51:43] Meghan Picerno: Kristen Bell.

[51:44] Al Malafronte: Oh, I love Kristen Bell.

[51:47] Meghan Picerno: Um, actually, uh what's her name? In Lala Land.

[51:51] Al Malafronte: Emma Star.

[51:51] Meghan Picerno: I like Emma Stone too. I could see that.

[51:53] Al Malafronte: Yeah. Okay. I would take that. She's smart.

[51:56] Meghan Picerno: Your desert island album.

[51:59] Al Malafronte: Like music?

[52:00] Meghan Picerno: Mm-hmm. Oh, um God, if anyone, if anyone knows me, coming to my dressing room is a crapshoot. Like, it's all over. Honestly, probably like a mix of things. Cause like I'm literally wearing like a Nirvana shirt, but like the first thing that came to mind was like Rach Moninoff. So say there you go. I don't know.

[52:20] Al Malafronte: All right. So two show day, you're stressed out. It's after midnight, you're going home. What are you grabbing to eat before you hit the couch?

[52:29] Meghan Picerno: Pizza.

[52:31] Al Malafronte: New York pizza.

[52:32] Meghan Picerno: New York. It comes back to a slice.

[52:34] Al Malafronte: It does come back to a slice.

[52:37] Meghan Picerno: Your Broadway dream role.

[52:39] Al Malafronte: I'm definitely living one of them for sure.

[52:41] Meghan Picerno: And I'll get back to you when I this is definitely on the list. I mean, like, she's epic. How can this not be one? You know.

[52:51] Al Malafronte: I wonder if you could do like Glinda needs opera training in Wicked, right?

[52:59] Meghan Picerno: Am I way off base here?

[53:00] Al Malafronte: You are not off base.

[53:01] Meghan Picerno: You're not off base. Like, is it would you do Glinda?

[53:03] Al Malafronte: Glinda would be really fun. We actually just saw a bunch of us from Phantom just went to see Wicked, actually. And it was amazing. I loved the story. I I absolutely love. I mean, it was great. So I don't know. Who knows? I mean, putting that out there.

[53:19] Al Malafronte: Yeah, who knows? Who knows?

[53:20] Meghan Picerno: All right. So your favorite Andrew Lloyd Weber musical not affiliated with Phantom.

[53:25] Meghan Picerno: Ooh. Oh, I really like Jesus Christ Superstar for sure. It's also something I could never sing. Um, there's so many, you know, okay, off topic real quick. But like, so I sang at his birthday celebration in London a couple years ago. And one thing that blew me away was we were all like so many people from all his different shows were singing. And I was like, he literally, you cannot fit him in a box. And that's what's the best thing about his music is that it's so different. Everything is like Joseph or Katz or Starlight Express. Or like, you know what I mean? Like, uh, I don't know. I really, oh, I do love Jesus Christ Superstar. Like, that's pretty. Actually, I love School of Rock too. That's awesome. See what I mean? We could just keep going. I don't know. I don't know.

[54:11] Al Malafronte: Fair. Okay. All right, we're gonna wrap with this one. We wrap every show with this one. Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you, and what was it?

[54:24] Meghan Picerno: Um best piece of advice. Ah, you know, um, my teacher in undergrad, he once told me he was from Texas. And he's like, gal, you know, make sure that you're always uncomfortable because that's when you're gonna grow the most. And he is right. As soon as you start getting comfy. But then there's another one that I don't remember who told me this, but dreams are just plans that haven't come into reality yet. I like that one too.

[55:00] Al Malafronte: I like that.

[55:01] Meghan Picerno: I like that.

[55:02] Al Malafronte: Yeah. Awesome. What do you feel about deja vu? Do you have do you get deja vu?

[55:07] Meghan Picerno: All the time. I'm a Scorpio, so I really believe in like, oh my gosh, like this has happened before. Like, I totally like I'm I'm a gut person. So, like, yeah, I believe all of that stuff.

[55:17] Al Malafronte: Oh, all right. I was gonna think like when I am deja vu, it's very rare, but it's something that I felt I dreamed about years ago that's actually now happening.

[55:26] Meghan Picerno: Yeah, like it feels right, right?

[55:28] Al Malafronte: Yeah, yeah. This that's exactly how I'm feeling now. Like it feels right. In this moment doing this podcast.

[55:33] Meghan Picerno: Totally feels right.

[55:35] Al Malafronte: Talking about Chapman.

[55:38] Meghan Picerno: And Sammy Sosa.

[55:40] Al Malafronte: And Andrew Lake Webber.

[55:41] Meghan Picerno: Exactly. The greats. Pretty good theme that we have going for sure. Anyway, uh, Meghan, you've been great. Where can everyone find you on social media?

[55:49] Meghan Picerno: Uh, just my name at Meghan Paterno and Instagram. That's important though. Megan with a G H.

[55:54] Al Malafronte: Yes, G H.

[55:56] Meghan Picerno: Irish and Italian. Now very nice.

[55:57] Al Malafronte: Yes. What a mix.

[56:00] Meghan Picerno: Yeah. Uh well, wonderful. Well, listen, you've been great. I am excited to see what's in your future. And, you know, if you haven't gotten to see Meghan and Phantom yet, I definitely suggest getting over to the Majestic Theater because it's uh it's a great one.

[56:11] Meghan Picerno: Thank you so much.

[56:12] Al Malafronte: Thanks for having me, guys.

[56:13] Meghan Picerno: You got it.

[56:15] Al Malafronte: You can do our outro music if you want.

[56:19] Al Malafronte: Uh from the Broadway Podcast Network, this is Al Malafronte signing off with Alan Seales.

[56:25] Al Malafronte: Yo!

[56:27] Alan Seales: Again with the noises. This is the first time he's back. The same thing happened last time we did recorded together.

[56:32] Al Malafronte: Uh anyway, and with Meghan Picerno.

[56:34] Alan Seales: I didn't expect you to come back.

[56:37] Al Malafronte: And Al Malafrante, we are signing off on Break a Bat. Uh, we will see you next time. Bye-bye.

[56:46] Al Malafronte: Thanks for listening to Break a Bat. This is produced by the fine folks at the Broadway Podcast Network. Visit and subscribe at BPN.fm slash breakabat. You can find me online at break underscore a underscore bat underscore podcast. And you can also find the Broadway Podcast Network on Instagram at Broadway Podcast Network. It's been so great having you here with us today, and we'll see you next time.