This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:08] 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.

[0:20] Al Malafronte: We're happy to have you with us. Now let's play ball.

[0:25] Al Malafronte: Hello and welcome to Break a Bat. I'm your host, Al Malafronte, coming at you from the remote batter's box with one of Broadway's resident funny girls.

[0:27] Al Malafronte: She's Break a Bat's first guest to have won an Olivier Award for her performance in Zorro on the West End. She also starred in Matilda, the Musical on Broadway for nearly three years. And she is also the very first guest I've brought here that can probably call themselves Broadway's biggest fan of a certain team that just happens to be arch rivals with my New York Yankees.

[0:58] Al Malafronte: So if you'll please turn your attention to home plate. Just be on the marquee. Now batting, Lesli Margherita.

[1:03] Lesli Margherita: Leslie, welcome to the batter's box.

[1:08] Lesli Margherita: I'm so excited. I like I literally am so excited to be here.

[1:12] Lesli Margherita: It's the batter's box. The crowd would be going wild for you right now.

[1:19] Al Malafronte: Well, I don't know. We'll see. We just got news today that we're gonna have a baseball season. How stoked are you?

[1:25] Lesli Margherita: I know, so stoked. I mean, obviously it's gonna be very different, but huge, huge, huge, huge news. Totally stoked. Um, you know, I've obviously missed baseball, but kind of all sports seem to be making a small comeback. But yeah, it's really exciting. I know we'll have something different to watch on TV, you know.

[1:44] Lesli Margherita: For I've been I've maxed out everything on Netflix. I just bought a subscription to Disney Plus finally because it was like I'm out of sport.

[1:52] Al Malafronte: You won't regret it.

[1:53] Lesli Margherita: It's good, huh?

[1:54] Al Malafronte: You won't regret it. It's really good.

[1:55] Lesli Margherita: Yeah. Yeah. There's even a sports section on Disney Plus that you can watch their sports movies.

[2:02] Lesli Margherita: I just kind of wanted to watch like, you know, animated films in the Parent Trap.

[2:05] Al Malafronte: No, you're fine. You're Disney Plus has it all. You're fine. Has it all.

[2:09] Al Malafronte: Which part of California are you in right now?

[2:11] Lesli Margherita: Uh, Los Angeles. I am in LA.

[2:17] Lesli Margherita: I grew up in Northern California. And then I went to UCLA and was kind of always a California girl until I moved to New York to do Matilda. Um, I mean, I was in London for a couple of years, but then I moved to New York and thought it was just gonna be a year, and it's now been almost seven.

[2:34] Lesli Margherita: So I go back and forth. Um, my husband lives in LA full time and I just kind of go back and forth. So I'm back here for the foreseeable future. Cause you know, who knows? But it's nice to be home.

[2:50] Al Malafronte: You're used to the nomad life, and I feel like there's a level of uncertainty that comes with that, right?

[2:55] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, I was I mean, I feel like most actors were prepared for this whole quarantine thing because I'm so used to not working for long periods of time. So um, not this long, but um yeah, I think we're pretty great at figuring out stuff to do and have other projects and stuff that we can work on. So yeah, I'm used I'm used to the nomad life and I'm used to the downtime.

[3:13] Al Malafronte: And you were smack in the middle of emoji land, right? You were getting close to the end of the run, but like when this began.

[3:24] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, we had um actually just a week left. Um well, uh uh officially we had a week left. We were gonna extend, but um, so yeah, it went down like super fast. That afternoon we heard like Moulin Rouge went down, and then another show, and we're like, oh, it's happening.

[3:43] Lesli Margherita: So um, yeah, all our stuff is still there. My stuff's in the dressing room, the sets are still up, the costumes are there. It's really weird. Um, but who knows? I mean, you know, when and and I won't even say if, but when this all ends, we may be able to go back in. Um, because we're a small theater, and I feel like those might be the first ones to come back anyway. So we'll see.

[4:06] Al Malafronte: Yeah, crazy.

[4:07] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, kind of in like that controlled environment that we anticipate with this reopening. I feel like a show like that is like I hate to say it to be the perfect show to guinea pig, you know what I mean?

[4:16] Lesli Margherita: Oh, totally. And it's about a virus and then a reset. So I mean, literally that final night we're singing virus, and the audience is cracking up, and we are too, because we're like, this is it it can't be any more perfect. Um, yeah, a virus and a reset. So it's the perfect show to come back.

[4:36] Al Malafronte: Yeah, hopefully people aren't too sensitive. If anything, I think they'll just be grateful enough to be back at the theater that they'll just roll with the whole virus term, right?

[4:43] Lesli Margherita: They will. I mean, yeah, people were laughing so hard before. I think they will. I hope they will.

[4:49] Al Malafronte: Now let me ask you, Lesli, you grew up in California. How'd you become a Red Sox fan?

[4:53] Lesli Margherita: So my father grew up in Boston, and he was a massive Red Sox fan. So when I was little, I had no choice. Although I loved the A's, the Oakland A's. He would take me to see the A's because obviously they played the Red Sox. So I loved the A's as a kid, but then as I got older and watched all the games with him, I just became a Red Sox fan because I have so many relatives in Boston and um love the city and I love that fandom.

[5:24] Lesli Margherita: And growing up in that kind of fandom was awesome. Um I'm Italian. It was like, you know, it was like a I don't know. I just I loved it so much and and have just always been a Red Sox fan. And and so by proxy, I have never liked the Yankees. And so I end up in New York where I have a Red Sox credit card. Like it's you know, it's the design is Red Sox.

[5:51] Lesli Margherita: And so anytime I use it in New York, all I get is like a ma'am, we we don't take that card here. So sorry. You know, it's the crap that I get more on my hat or whatever I'm wearing. Um and my Red Sox, I have so much stuff, but it's all like rhinestoned.

[6:09] Lesli Margherita: Some Broadway flair to the face totally. It's totally blinged out. When I was a teenager, I think it was Alyssa Milano came out with like a female um MLB line of clothes called Touch, and it was all blinged out. And of course, that's like me. So all of my Red Sox stuff is blinged out. So it's you see it coming from a mile away in New York.

[6:34] Al Malafronte: You ever wear that to Yankee Stadium? How'd that go over?

[6:37] Lesli Margherita: Well, of course I do, and on the train too. Like it's crazy. You see all the Yankee fans, and I'm like, do it's such a great rivalry though, you know. Like it's so there's I I there is deep respect there on uh from both sides. Um it's it's such a great rivalry, it's so fun.

[7:00] Al Malafronte: Now let me ask you, were you in New York in 2004?

[7:03] Lesli Margherita: No, LA.

[7:04] Al Malafronte: I know, but I was in New York doing a workshop for one of the games. Um and then uh so I was I was in LA when when it happened, but yeah.

[7:18] Al Malafronte: So you were out you were in New York for one of the games that the Yankees probably won, like the first two in New York, then game three was in Boston, and then all hell broke loose.

[7:26] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, yeah. It was crazy. It was amazing. It's like, you know what it's funny, just he, you know, the rivalry is amazing. I just I don't know if you've noticed, I feel like the game has changed so much, and especially since Boston won. The players don't hate each other as much anymore.

[7:39] Lesli Margherita: It was so different back then, right?

[7:41] Al Malafronte: It really was. It you know, that moment. I was really uh so happy that my father saw that, and like that moment was so huge for die hard Red Sox fans that once it was over, it was kind of in a weird way disappointing.

[8:02] Lesli Margherita: You were like, well, there's no curse, you know, like it was a weird weird thing. Um, but it was so exciting and and so fun, and um, but yeah, it did definitely change.

[8:14] Al Malafronte: It did for sure. Who are some of your guys? Are you like a No Ma girl? You're a Pedro girl.

[8:20] Lesli Margherita: I love from them. I mean, I love that that that whole team. And I was a massive Johnny Damon girl. I was, and then he became a traitor.

[8:31] Lesli Margherita: And a friend of the show for because I know, I know you showed me that picture, and I still love we still love Johnny Damon, but I was like, oh, that was like the like just in my heart, but I loved No Ma.

[8:43] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, it was so great. But I did, I you know, I did watch Yankees games when Johnny Damon went. Just, just, you know. Cause I had to. You gotta, you gotta kind of support still. He's so damn cool.

[8:59] Al Malafronte: Did you see Fever Pitch by any chance?

[9:01] Lesli Margherita: Of course. Yeah, of course.

[9:04] Al Malafronte: There was a thing in the paper recently about how he's never been able to live down that like moment where I think he was in the on deck circle, and they're like, Johnny Damon, you got the sweetest ass in the league. Like it's like part of his legacy now.

[9:16] Lesli Margherita: That's sort of Jimmy Fellow. That's not a bad legacy.

[9:20] Lesli Margherita: I take it. It's not a bad bad legacy.

[9:25] Al Malafronte: You got the sweet assassin podcasting. You got the sweet assassin broad.

[9:31] Lesli Margherita: I take it.

[9:32] Lesli Margherita: Oh, absolutely. It's crazy though. It's like, you know, the Red Sox have won a whole bunch since he left amazingly. Like he won one with the Yankees, but they've won three ever since. It's like it now they've kind of got the upper hand on us.

[9:44] Al Malafronte: Yeah, yeah. Well, not lately, but well, I know. Well, it was crazy. They won that World Series 2018, and now it's like two years later, it's almost a completely different team out there.

[9:56] Lesli Margherita: Cora's gone, obviously.

[9:57] Al Malafronte: No, I know it. That was that I know totally. It's a total, it's a map, it's a huge different team. Um, yeah, I mean, it last last season was just sad, sad.

[10:13] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, a year after you win another champion. I just said, just sad.

[10:19] Al Malafronte: It was, yeah. It was. You know, it's the hangover effect.

[10:22] Lesli Margherita: It kind of is, I'm sure. Kind of is. And uh, yeah, I'm I'm kind of anxious to see how it all shakes down. Pun intended this year. Um with all of that kind of uh uh stuff happening on the other side as well. Um on the business side of it, uh the Alex Cora stuff and you know, other teams kind of uh getting uh involved.

[10:48] Lesli Margherita: So not that I like that part of the game, but not that I like the the dirty part of it, you know.

[10:54] Al Malafronte: Yeah, it's a business.

[10:55] Lesli Margherita: It's it's a business.

[10:56] Al Malafronte: It's a business.

[10:57] Lesli Margherita: So yeah, I'm excited though. Let me ask you, once you make it on Broadway, does it like do you get the sense that it's a business? Like, you know, at first I'm sure it's you know, just like you're so thrilled to be there, you've worked so hard. But like then, you know, does that that business aspect of it, you know, start to weigh on you a little bit and you realize that like, oh shit, like this is not all about me as an artist. There's producers, there's money, there's high stakes.

[11:21] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, it's Moneyball. It is literally it is. It's just with Broadway celebs, you know. It's just um, you know, hopefully, I mean, I don't, I still love what I do and realize that the business part of it is just part of it. Um, but it you really do realize how much your talent doesn't always come into play, that it is it is show business.

[11:50] Lesli Margherita: Um and it's the same thing with sports. It's it's you know, stacking your team and and budgets and who's worth more. And it's it's crazy um how similar it is. Um, but it is you know, it is a business, and that's that's the end all be all. And you just have to deal with it.

[12:12] Lesli Margherita: Otherwise, you uh you have no choice but to deal with it. You can fight against it, but what are you gonna do? You know, you just have to find the joy in in the performance and let the other stuff just happen.

[12:24] Al Malafronte: Control the things you can control. That's about it. And I imagine players have to do the same thing. Do you feel like you're at an advantage because you're really, really funny?

[12:34] Lesli Margherita: No.

[12:37] Al Malafronte: Some people have to fake it. I'm curious about this.

[12:41] Lesli Margherita: No, you know what's weird though is because I'm like woo funny or whatever. Um, people don't think that I like they think I have such a uh thick skin. So I'll always get things said to me, even business wise, that they think won't offend me. And I'm like, just because I'm I'm funny doesn't mean I don't have like feelings, which is crazy.

[13:07] Lesli Margherita: And it's always like the business side of producers are whatever saying stuff to me. I'm like, why would you tell me this? Why would you, you know? But uh, but no, I don't, it's not easier because I'm no, it's not funny. People are often the most sad.

[13:21] Al Malafronte: You're not a clown.

[13:22] Lesli Margherita: I didn't say you were a clown.

[13:24] Al Malafronte: Amy Poehler is funny. I don't think of Amy Poehler as a clown.

[13:27] Lesli Margherita: I'll think of it as a clown.

[13:31] Lesli Margherita: Thank you. I'm glad I'm not a clown. Although I'm sure I'm sure I've been called bad before you're like the ultimate creative to me. And I you know it's so funny. I mean, I you and I were talking a little bit before the interview.

[13:46] Lesli Margherita: Um, I can relate to you in so many ways because I mean, we were both Muppet kids.

[13:51] Al Malafronte: Oh yeah.

[13:51] Lesli Margherita: Well, I mean, come on, that was the best. It's still the Muppets taught me everything I know about being funny and everything I know about timing.

[13:59] Lesli Margherita: The Muppets have the best timing of anyone I know. Any fur or person, anyone I know, like the best timing. And I know that as a kid growing up, that's where I learned any kind of comic timing was from the Muppets. I still, they're it's my favorite. Miss Piggy is my favorite.

[14:19] Lesli Margherita: Frank Oz girl, all right.

[14:21] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, Frank, yeah, totally. I mean, and obviously Yoda, I'm a massive Star Wars fan too. So yes, yes, Frank Oz fan. Yeah. It's like it is the first introduction to comedy though. And I think it's just crazy because you know, it was like in a time, you know, the original Muppet show, it was like the spirit of anarchy running rampant that you just they don't, they're not gonna let you do that for family entertainment now. No, and then you know, I was talking to somebody when uh Disney, when the Muppets were sold to Disney, I was really worried about that. That that sense of of like you said, like anarchy was gonna be taken away. And they've actually done a pretty good job of I mean, obviously it's gone through a regime change.

Um, but they're still funny, they're still irreverent. Um, you know, it's like Looney Tunes I loved as a kid as well, and stuff that just kids don't get, but you watch it now and you're like, what? You know, it just goes and the Muppets are always like that too. There's stuff that you play back now, even on Sesame Street. There's stuff that because I mean, this is embarrassing, but I still watch Sesame Street, but there's stuff that is absolutely made for adults that are watching it. It's hysterical. They're great. You know, Sesame Street got me in trouble in fifth grade.

[15:35] Al Malafronte: Why?

[15:36] Lesli Margherita: So they did this like uh student of the month award thing. And if you're student of the month, like for your class, they would like take like a week out of like the following month, where like the student of the month for like each class. Let's say they lined up like everyone in the fifth grade. Um, and you would like get to alternate reading like the morning announcements. And I'm not saying like I was a class clown, but I was like a very creative kid. Right. So, like, you know, you go into the principal's office, they you know, uh, I'm not gonna use her name, but you know, the principal, you know, starts off the morning or whatever, uh you know, then they hand the mic around, and I'm the first person that they give the mic to to do the morning announcements.

And I come on. Hi, oh, this is Kermithee Frog from Sesame Street News here from Guggenheim Elementary School, where there will be an assembly at 12 o'clock for all third graders. They take the microphone away from me, they revoke the award. Uh apparently like at the playground, like the kindergartners thought Kermit the Frog was on campus. Like it led to all kinds of chaos.

[16:41] Al Malafronte: Yeah, this is like this did not fly.

[16:44] Lesli Margherita: Such a good Kermit. I would have loved that.

[16:46] Al Malafronte: What that's terrible.

[16:50] Lesli Margherita: Emotionally scarring. That was my academic achievement, too. I was watching too much Jim Henson and uh not doing enough math homework.

[17:01] Al Malafronte: Oh, but you have a really good Kermit, so you know.

[17:05] Lesli Margherita: Well, thank you. I I'm just said that Steve Whitmire doesn't get to do it anymore, which is terrible.

[17:11] Al Malafronte: Have you heard the new one?

[17:13] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, yeah, that says it all.

[17:17] Al Malafronte: It just doesn't matter.

[17:18] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, it just doesn't. It's just not, it's not. Um, it's just not, yeah. The new stuff is hard to watch. But it's interesting though, because like I'm I wonder if you've ever felt the same way on Broadway. Like Frank Oz has said, like, the issue with the Muppets is that they or the Disney Muppets is that they they don't trust the people working beneath the Muppets sometimes, and you still have Dave Goles there who did Gonzo and with Jim, you know, when Jim was still alive. You know Steve had been there forever and they let him go. On Broadway, do you have a lot of say like you know in developing your characters the way that you know your inspirations the Muppets did it depends.

[17:59] Lesli Margherita: I mean I have based many a role on Miss Piggy um really a hundred percent a hundred percent um many a role on Miss Piggy and her various personas. I mean you do to an extent you do get a say it it you really do get more of a say if you're building a show from the ground up ground ground up like I did with Zorro I started that when there was only like an act that was written and and you follow it through for years until a show becomes a show um then you can really put your stamp on it but if you're coming to a role that it's like Matilda where a show's already been written or whatever you get some freedom but you still have the confines of what the the creative team wants you to do. So I was very welcome to bring my Miss Piggy isms to it and then they would pick and choose which ones I could use and and and shape it within you know certain things.

I'm not sure but there was a haya that I kept and they and I remember the uh director was like I'm not sure the Hayao works I'm like listen it's a new do you remember the moment show when she would karate chop Kermit with that like so you are fired piggy you are fired. And she cried, like yeah. It's brilliant comedy. It's great. Yeah. And I thought there was that was very much my character in Matilda as well. And so I was doing like a one-a-dance move, and it was like that was my homage to her in that show.

[19:41] Al Malafronte: It's funny because you know, you have a background in performing in the West End. And I will say there's a sophistication with the British sense of humor, but maybe because the Muppet Show was produced there, that I mean, obviously, people loved what you did in Zorro. So, you know, overall, like, do you think that audiences, you know, did they take to you as well on the West E as they have on Broadway, or you know, do you see a difference, you know, when you're out there performing?

[20:02] Lesli Margherita: I mean, yeah, I uh it's not that different. And the thing is, people think the Brits are so reserved, and they are, but those audiences were crazy. Um that show, you know, my character was more serious, like had this like dramatic death, and but they went with everything that I did. And I'm I do remember though, we we did a tour before we did the West End, and the creative team came to me and they said, Listen, we're not sure that the audience is gonna get what you're doing, and it devastated me. They were like, maybe we have to, you know, not tone things down, but make it a little more Brit friendly. And I was like, I refused, and I was devastated thinking that that they weren't gonna get it, but I trusted because the audiences on tour were getting it, and I was like, the West End, like the London audiences I know are gonna be just like everyone that we've been touring.

Um, and thankfully they totally got with it. Um you know, they just have it, it's a different way of of performing. I think we're a little more free, and and um uh you know, I I think after they realized that my performance was working, they allowed some other freedoms of other of actors to try things. And um they really the the British audiences aren't that different. It's just I think a conceit that people think that they are. But they love theater. They I mean, uh, you know, uh the Matilda team had seen me do Zoro, which is how they knew about me. So then when Matilda was happening on Broadway, um, that's how I got an audition. So I was like, okay, so I did something right over there, and and now I get to to do their show here.

But yeah, it was a blast. And uh I just I was just over there before all of this happened. The world fell apart um doing a Zoro concert, and the audiences again were like crazy and wild and like stomping their feet and everything. And I was really made me want to go back and perform there again very soon, hopefully.

[22:13] Al Malafronte: In the grand scheme of things, did you like the West End experience more than Broadway? Can you really compare them?

[22:19] Lesli Margherita: It's tough, but I'm always curious about this. I mean, you really you really can't. I mean, Broadway's Broadway. And so I had dreamed about that since I was little. Um and being on the West End was amazing, but I did that before I had a Broadway debut. So I still was like, oh, Broadway, Broadway. And I remember like the my Broadway debut just bawling. And so that was more special to me. I think the West End was kind of like, I still can't believe I'm here. This is crazy. Um, but the the Broadway, I think, and I think they feel that way too. I think West End people always want to do Broadway because that's the you know, that's kind of the end all be all. So I they're both incredibly special, but my Broadway debut was very special. But I like both. I loved both. They're just different.

[23:12] Al Malafronte: I've always found uh what you've been able to do on Broadway in really a short period of time pretty amazing. I mean, you're considered a queen in this industry. That I mean, then the nickname is is apropos in many ways, and I think it's even more impressive and ballsy that you've besowed it upon yourself. And the fact that it stuck is awesome.

[23:31] Lesli Margherita: And you know, though that was totally an accident. I my message, why I call myself queen is not because I think I'm queen, it's because I tell people rule your kingdom, give yourself a title because other people are gonna try and give you a label and you may not like it. So call yourself queen, king, whatever. And then because all you can do is rule yourself, your little kingdom, control what you can. And that's where that came from. And that's like all of my cabaret shows and messages to young people is all about that is owning who you are. And so the queen thing, I've I've had that for my whole life. That was always like I rule was my thing as a kid in the 80s, was like, I rule, Lesli rules. And so that's where the queen thing came from. And then it just kind of grew and it just stuck. But it it it comes from a place of of uh empowerment, and it just stuck, which is great.

[24:31] Al Malafronte: I think it's awesome. But I hate I do like I hate when people are like, oh, oh, so you think you're really, really great. I'm like, no, that's nothing to do with it. It's motivation. Motivational.

[24:45] Al Malafronte: Now uh it's so cool. You have so many different phantoms, Lesli, that uh I thought that you and I could play a little game tonight. You know, a little mid-interview game show.

[24:51] Lesli Margherita: Okay, okay.

[24:54] Al Malafronte: I can be like Guy Smiley here. Think of that because you still watch that for me. So this segment is called Seventh Inning Stretch. And uh, you know, it's your chance to maybe become the queen of the baseball and Broadway community if uh you get enough trivia questions right about terrible trivia, okay.

[25:13] Lesli Margherita: Well, what about this one? What if I told you they're about baseball, Broadway, and possibly the Muppets, and you know, you get enough of them right, you join the winner's circle, and you get a little prize.

[25:24] Al Malafronte: Okay, I'll try. I really am horrible with trivia.

[25:27] Lesli Margherita: I don't know.

[25:29] Al Malafronte: I bet let's see how you do, Les. The Muppet Show featured a number of guest stars with ties to the Broadway world. Which of the following Tony Award winners hosted the Muppet Show? Is it A James Earl Jones, B Madeline Kahn, or C, Jackie Galeeson?

[25:47] Lesli Margherita: This is really hard because both James Earl Jones and Madeline Kahn were on Sesame Street. I'm gonna go with Madeline Kahn.

[25:58] Al Malafronte: Ding ding ding. She's one for one, much like a Johnny Damon, she leads off the game with a nice knock to right field. Lesli Margherita is on base.

[26:09] Lesli Margherita: So good.

[26:10] Al Malafronte: Okay, good, good, good. Good call with the Sesame Street thing. I remember with Grover.

[26:16] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Grover. Singing.

[26:20] Al Malafronte: All right. How about this one? A little baseball uh oh boy, okay. Before Miguel Cabrera won the triple crown in 2012. The last player to do so did so while playing for the Boston Red Sox in 1967 during part of his Hall of Fame career. Okay. Who was that player?

[26:38] Lesli Margherita: Oh come on, you're not even gonna give me a uh uh uh uh um hang on uh I I I'm in the ballpark with the um uh come in cominski come back come out come up wait no no wait no wait wait wait um uh hang on hang on it's on the tip of my tongue wait it's the wait say it again it's the triple the triple crown oh uh yeah uh Carl cut that's why Carl uh you're Stromsky Wow you got it I went yeah I think that's what I was like blanking blank I was like it's kind of yes yeah that was awesome all right here's the next one this is very like my heart is beating okay I mean come on this is the winner's circle here okay two for two two for two all right how about this you get this one right you win the prize okay I don't know what the prize is but okay I'm really curious if you'll accept it, but this question is the Muppets have performed a number of Broadway show tunes over the years, particularly on the Muppet Show.

Yes. Which of the following Broadway show tunes was not performed on the Muppet Show? Is it A Razzle Dazzle from Chicago? B, consider yourself from Oliver. C, Summer Nights from Greece, or D, the Lonely Goat Heard from the Sound of Music.

[28:28] Lesli Margherita: I want to say summer nights. I don't think any of them. I don't remember any of them. I'm gonna give you a few clues on some uh guest stars here.

[28:43] Al Malafronte: Okay.

[28:45] Lesli Margherita: I mean, Julianne's host of Joel Gray hosting.

[28:51] Al Malafronte: Yeah, I'm no, no, I feel like I feel like some okay, wait, what was the other one?

[29:00] Lesli Margherita: Lindley Goat herd.

[29:02] Al Malafronte: Razzle Dazzle, consider yourself summer nights.

[29:07] Lesli Margherita: I don't know about Razzle Dazzle.

[29:11] Al Malafronte: You you have to hey, listen, you have four options. One of them was not performed in the Muppet Show.

[29:16] Lesli Margherita: All right, I'm gonna go with Oh God.

[29:25] Al Malafronte: I'm going with I'm going with consider yourself.

[29:29] Lesli Margherita: The answer is summer nights.

[29:31] Al Malafronte: Consider yourself was performed to Milton Burl and Charlie McCarthy.

[29:35] Lesli Margherita: I was right. My first instinct. Why didn't I trust my gut?

[29:39] Al Malafronte: That's all right. It's all right. Listen, you're two for three. I'm gonna give you one last question. I think you're gonna get it because I know you're an 80s kid.

[29:46] Lesli Margherita: Okay.

[29:47] Al Malafronte: Who was the Hall of Fame Boston Red Sox third baseman that had an obsession with chicken and beer that ended up winning a World Series for the 1996 Yankees?

[30:02] Lesli Margherita: Chicken and beer, chicken and beer. Hall of Famer, mustache, batting titles. Played third base.

[30:10] Al Malafronte: Uh uh. Hang on, hang on.

[30:22] Lesli Margherita: Oh man. I can't. I don't know. I give up. I'm gonna kick it.

[30:29] Al Malafronte: The answer is Wade Boggs.

[30:31] Lesli Margherita: Come on! Do you remember you remember him, right?

[30:35] Al Malafronte: Of course. Yeah.

[30:36] Lesli Margherita: Yeah. See, told you I'm terrible at trivia. Terrible. Terrible.

[30:40] Al Malafronte: All right. I've got the last one for you, and I think you're gonna get it.

[30:45] Lesli Margherita: Okay, okay. I'll try that one.

[30:47] Al Malafronte: Okay. Which esteemed Muppet performer directed the little shop of horrors movie?

[30:54] Lesli Margherita: Frank Oz.

[30:55] Al Malafronte: Ding ding ding. She takes it home and joins the winner's circle.

[31:00] Lesli Margherita: Leslie, congratulations. I'm very proud of you.

[31:04] Al Malafronte: He started off hot. You know, you you know, you had trouble with the pitching change there. And you are going to win this uh official trophy.

[31:15] Lesli Margherita: It's a break a bat, long-sleeve t-shirt. It's the Chapman on Broadway brand, so it's not a Yankee brand.

[31:21] Al Malafronte: I like that though.

[31:23] Lesli Margherita: I love that.

[31:25] Al Malafronte: I'm happy to welcome it. I'm actually very excited about that.

[31:28] Lesli Margherita: Very excited about that.

[31:29] Al Malafronte: Well, I'm gonna brave the elements and go to the post office later this week and send it out to you.

[31:35] Lesli Margherita: Don't don't on my account. I mean, don't get sick, you know.

[31:42] Al Malafronte: Oh my goodness. Alabask, do you think you're gonna come back to New York soon or like what's the uh what's the plan here?

[31:47] Lesli Margherita: Stay out and away for a little while.

[31:49] Al Malafronte: Yeah, I mean, I was kind of always gonna come out here for the summer because the summer there's not you know much happening. Um I have a couple things that I was shooting as well that uh got cut short that I have to finish shooting out there.

[32:03] Lesli Margherita: So um maybe like August, I think is maybe when stuff will start going back and and shooting um feeder-wise, I don't know, couldn't tell you when that'll all come back.

[32:16] Al Malafronte: But um, yeah, I think by but you know, before the summer I'll be here in LA at least.

[32:23] Lesli Margherita: You know, as I said before, you know, you've made such a big impact on Broadway. Is there like a dream role that you really want to do, either that has been created and would be revived or like something that you could originate?

[32:35] Lesli Margherita: I mean, there's a there's a couple. I um I used to say Evita all the time. I would love to do like a revival of guys and dolls. I would love to do Adelaide in that. Um there's a bunch. I mean, I would love to do spam a lot if that was ever revived. Um, but hopefully there's some new stuff that maybe I'll get to originate something super cool. Um, you know, I've gotten to do some awesome workshops of things that hopefully will come to fruition, but we'll see.

[33:09] Al Malafronte: I mean, and number one, I would really love for Zorro to happen. Um in the States because it just hasn't. So and there's some talk about it until all of this happened, but you know, we'll see.

[33:20] Lesli Margherita: Yeah. You'd be the first one they have to call.

[33:23] Al Malafronte: That would be awesome.

[33:26] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, it would be fun. It would be great. When they do open back up, do you think that this January thing's realistic? And if so, do you think it's gonna be all the shows, a few shows? Like what do you expect?

[33:36] Lesli Margherita: Well, I really I honestly have no idea. Um, you know, I think I uh film and TV is so much easier to control because of shooting environments and theater, they're talking about you know, distancing the audience, but then what about us? The you're you know, you've got actors spitting in each other's faces and uh so you know, crew members, and so I think it's gonna be difficult. I think um I would love January to be that. I think, you know, I think I think we won't come back until there's a vaccine, honestly. Um, and hopefully that'll be at the end of the year. Um I really I don't know. I really don't know. It it's scary, it's scary and sad. Um I do think smaller shows, smaller theaters will probably open first, like off Broadway stuff. But again, that's just guesswork.

[34:28] Al Malafronte: Yeah, I have no idea how they come back with that without a vaccine. It's insane. It like happens so fast. I remember talking to my husband. I was in New York, I'm like, uh, it's not that big of a deal. It's fine. And then like a week later, it was like yeah, it's crazy. Crazy.

[34:46] Lesli Margherita: But yeah, I I 2021, I'm hoping. 2020 is a wash. I saw this meme the other day about like if 2020 was a car, it's just this like car that's been paid uh taped together and like all this broken glass. It's like it's like when's the other shoe gonna drop, like every week, and it's just something new. And I'm really interested in in w what's gonna happen with sports. I mean, already, you know, some of the teams are like NHL and stuff are are practicing with you know six or eight man squads, and some of them have already tested positive. It's it's it's nuts. Like the NBA agency, they're gonna wear those rings that takes your temperature, and like it it's you know, it crazy stuff happening. But um, yeah, I I I'm interested to see how that all works out for sports.

[35:37] Al Malafronte: But I'm glad they're gonna be a good one. NBA is gonna be a funny one because they're encouraging players to like not lick their fingers and lick the ball. It's like when are they encouraging them to do this?

[35:50] Lesli Margherita: Like, I've never seen someone be like, uh never.

[35:56] Al Malafronte: Yeah.

[35:58] Lesli Margherita: I mean, baseball, I've seen it, but basketball.

[36:02] Al Malafronte: Yeah, for to grip the ball, that's right. Now I do want to get a couple more stories out of you, Lesli. So I feel like this is a good time to uh bring about this last segment that we call fastball derby. You know, I'll ask you a question and you say the first thing that comes to mind. How does that sound like that's good?

[36:18] Lesli Margherita: Okay, okay.

[36:21] Al Malafronte: Okay. Favorite New York City meal.

[36:28] Lesli Margherita: Like a restaurant or a pasta. I mean, it's it's pasta, but it doesn't like like a certain restaurant.

[36:38] Al Malafronte: It doesn't have to, you know, there's no rules in this game.

[36:41] Lesli Margherita: Oh, oh god. Well, then I'm gonna go with with Penny vodka for sure.

[36:44] Al Malafronte: Yeah, like a good one.

[36:46] Lesli Margherita: Yeah.

[36:47] Al Malafronte: You and I are both Italian, so we could spot a good one.

[36:50] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[36:51] Al Malafronte: Yeah.

[36:53] Lesli Margherita: Most embarrassing on stage moment.

[36:57] Al Malafronte: How much time you got?

[36:59] Lesli Margherita: Uh most embarrassing in London. I get killed laying dead center stage, and there's a giant rat that ran across the stage and across my body, and I woke up screaming from the dead. Ah, and then had to die again.

[37:21] Al Malafronte: I wish someone was illegally filming that.

[37:24] Lesli Margherita: Me too. I have asked around. Nobody was. I'm like, of all the bootlegs you people have. You nobody asked that. Um, that was a that was a good one. And anytime I fall on stage is always embarrassing. And but my thing is I will then laugh. I'm once I go on stage laughing, I can't stop. So if I fall or crack, it's something that I do, then I'll I'm gone the rest of the song because I'm laughing so hard at myself. But it's always a bit embarrassing. I’ve fallen when there's been no one else on stage.

[38:03] Al Malafronte: In taps.

[38:03] Lesli Margherita: James and C actually. I was in tap shoes and I just went by myself on stage.

[38:09] Al Malafronte: Times.

[38:11] Lesli Margherita: You make a week crack up.

[38:14] Al Malafronte: All-time favorite night at the stadium.

[38:18] Lesli Margherita: Oh Fenway. I was at at Fenway with my dad. Uh it was the first time I had ever gone to Fenway. And just walking into that stadium is just from I mean, from the minute you get it into the stadium, you just go, Oh my god, I'm here it's so that that was my favorite favorite night.

[38:42] Al Malafronte: First time I was at family your desert island song oh want to be starting something Michael Jackson Favorite Muppet song Rainbow Connection Classic so many though but yeah that's a favorite favorite late night snack two show day you get home it's after midnight what's Lesli grabbing before she hits the couch oh well it takes some prep but craft mac and cheese with the squeezy cheese like the pre-made you're Italian Lucy what do you do craft mac cheese that powder oh oh it's the best oh it's the best it's the best otherwise uh otherwise I'm um snack is usually wine that's a good one can't top that proudest moment of your career um I think my Broadway debut I think it was the first preview of Matilda and that was like my actual debut I think that was yeah that one and lastly what's the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you there's so much I think um just not to give up, just not giving up.

[40:21] Lesli Margherita: I think was the best piece of advice. Um that and not everybody's gonna like you. Who cares? They don't have to. I think that was really good advice, especially in this business, which is subjective and um unlike sports, you know. I mean, everyone's gonna have an opinion and everyone not everyone's gonna like you, and that's okay. They don't have to. That was really good advice. Yeah, I should follow that one more.

[40:54] Al Malafronte: Who told you that?

[40:56] Lesli Margherita: Um my dad.

[40:59] Al Malafronte: My dad did, yeah.

[41:01] Lesli Margherita: Long time ago. I feel like when I was a teenager. I remember I just I think I got a bad review or something when I was a teenager, and I got really upset, and he was like, not everyone's gonna like you. Don't matter.

[41:13] Al Malafronte: Yeah.

[41:15] Lesli Margherita: Um, this was awesome, Lesli. I can't thank you enough for joining us in the battery.

[41:20] Al Malafronte: Oh my god, I love it. I love it. Could talk about Broadway and baseball for forever and the Muppets. You're gonna come back and visit us when we're in studio.

[41:29] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, I would love that.

[41:31] Al Malafronte: Yeah, for sure. We can talk about the the season.

[41:35] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, that would be actually awesome.

[41:37] Al Malafronte: That'd be super fun. Oh, we should watch a Red Sox Yankees game.

[41:43] Lesli Margherita: Very down for that.

[41:45] Al Malafronte: Yeah. We can make that happen. Hopefully, we'll be allowed, like, you know, to have more than 15 people in like a bar area. We'll make it like a big outing out of it.

[41:52] Lesli Margherita: Yeah, I'll just scream at you in a microphone.

[41:55] Al Malafronte: Are you gonna wear your rice rhinestones though? Because that's my only thing.

[41:57] Lesli Margherita: I will. I absolutely can. I mean, it's like a rhinestone bee hat. There's a rhinestone shirt. It's that's the whole thing.

[42:06] Al Malafronte: Awesome, Lesli. Uh, we cannot thank you enough again, Lesli, for joining us in the batter's box tonight. This is Al Malafronte signing off for the Broadway podcast Network. We'll see you next time.

[42:20] 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 podcasts. 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.

[42:50] Al Malafronte: See you next time.