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[0:39] David Alpert: Welcome to E-Ticket to Broadway, where Broadway meets Main Street.

[0:39] David Alpert: Here's your host, my pal, David Alpert.

[0:39] David Alpert: Uh-huh.

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[0:39] David Alpert: The only podcast that asks Broadway stars how they really feel about the It's a Small World attraction.

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[1:18] David Alpert: Speaking of our wonderful guests, this episode's VIP may have the most Broadway credits of any of our guests so far.

[1:26] David Alpert: She's been seen on Broadway in Sweet Charity, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tarzan, Guys and Dolls, Finian's Rainbow, Anything Goes, Hugh Jackman back on Broadway, and Catch Me If You Can, and she toured the country in The Lion King.

[1:42] David Alpert: Please welcome my friend Kearran Giovanni.

[1:53] Kearran Giovanni: Kearran, thank you for joining me on E-Ticket to Broadway.

[1:56] David Alpert: It was such a joy to see that you followed our Instagram account when I asked you if you were a big old Disney fan, you answered, quote, so big, end quote. Have you always been a big old Disney fan?

[2:08] Kearran Giovanni: Um, I think movie-wise, yes. I grew up in the 80s, of course, during the time of you know, all the Disney movies. The Little Mermaid was my favorite as a kid. Um, and I watched them over and over and over again. And as far as actually going to the parks, I had two older brothers that are a little bit older than me, I'd say five, seven years older. And so by the time I came along, they had already gone to Disney, and my parents were like, we're not going again, it's too expensive. And as soon as I was old enough to kind of go on my own, um, I worked a show in Florida years ago, and I got to go to Disney World for the first time. Um, I was in college, and that's kind of where I found my people. I walk in and I'm like, ah, it feels good.

[2:54] David Alpert: So, I mean, go back in time when you saw The Little Mermaid, was that just the most incredible thing you had ever seen?

[3:01] Kearran Giovanni: Absolutely. I mean, the thing about Disney movies is they know no bounds, they know no race, they know no color, no this, no that. It's just you put yourself in the world, and all you see is this girl who wants to fall in love and live on the surface, and the music is just, I mean, I could watch it today and it still gives me the same feeling. So, yeah.

[3:24] David Alpert: You have appeared in so many Broadway shows as a triple threat. As a kid, did you find yourself singing and dancing to these movies and these soundtracks?

[3:32] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, please. I mean, I'm sure I annoyed my brothers at some point. Uh, Beauty and the Beast, I mean, pretending to be Belle and running down, you know, through neighborhoods thinking, oh yeah, totally. I mean, I think at one point I'm oh 100%. I used a rollerblade with my Discman thing on as Belle. So yes, I would say, yeah.

[3:53] David Alpert: I would love to see the Beauty and the Beast like roller derby production starring you as Belle.

[3:59] Kearran Giovanni: I'm game. I'm totally, I know I think we're ready for it. Straight to Wardrobe. 100%.

[4:04] David Alpert: What about other Disney movies that you saw as a kid besides Little Mermaid? Was it like The Lion King you mentioned, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, or even the classics like Snow White, Cinderella, Peter Pan?

[4:14] Kearran Giovanni: I 100%. I mean I think I saw all of them. There was, you know, we were lucky enough to have that collection, you know, the Dumbos, um, Aladdin came later, obviously, the Snow Whites. I did. I grew up, um, and I know it's not like cool anymore, but I grew up loving the princess story and I still do. There's something just magical about it. Um, you don't ask questions, you just enjoy it. And yeah, I did. I grew up with all of those. Actually my favorite now and my kids have seen it is Aristocats, which I just think is like the most underrated movie ever. It literally brings me like I'm like in tears laughing at it. I just love it. I mean, Marie is making a huge comeback in the parks these days. It's crazy.

[5:00] David Alpert: I know there's a whole like um line for your dog and your cat and I bought my dog a little scarf. I mean like I love it.

[5:05] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah, I'm glad. Do you have any favorite characters from watching these Disney movies?

[5:12] David Alpert: Oh gosh, it's so hard to choose.

[5:16] Kearran Giovanni: I'm like, hmm, let me look down at my pins. Um, you know what's so funny is I really loved um Merida. And I know that it's like not a, you know, super talked-about movie. I think it's because maybe the music wasn't sung, you know, it's just played. But I just loved that character, and I have girls, and I just find her, you know, so strong and so powerful, and I really loved, I loved her. I love Tinkerbell. I know she's just floating around, but I just find her just so magical and her little pixie dust. I love it. I mean, I don't know, it's so hard to choose.

[5:55] David Alpert: Is it so? I mean, for me, I'm just like, it's Dopey.

[5:58] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, I love that. I love that. I love that you love a redheaded Disney character.

[6:05] David Alpert: That's really special.

[6:07] Kearran Giovanni: It's all goes back to you, basically.

[6:09] David Alpert: It's all, yeah, you were like, I love Ariel and Merida and David Alpert.

[6:14] Kearran Giovanni: I'm kind of a Disney character.

[6:25] David Alpert: You mentioned it, but when we started this call, you shared with me an incredible pin collection. I had no idea they look so cool. How many do you think you have?

[6:34] Kearran Giovanni: Oh gosh. Um, I, you know, I'm gonna say probably this isn't all of them. I just brought down like a couple bags from upstairs. I'm gonna say I probably have about a hundred and twenty all together.

[6:45] David Alpert: And do you trade them or you hold on to them tightly?

[6:48] Kearran Giovanni: No, I don't trade them. I, you know, I just listen, I'm all about taking, but I don't know. But I don't know if there's anyone that I would really part with because they're not just um, you know, I'm not one of those people that collects for value or says, oh, this one's probably gonna be worth this or that. They're all like memories of either me going, you know, by myself or me going with my kids or events or whatever it may be. And so they're just too special. Like, yeah, they're too special. My husband and I ran the Disney races, which I'm so upset that Disneyland doesn't have them anymore, but for whatever reason, they stopped a couple years ago.

[7:30] Kearran Giovanni: Um, so I have a whole bunch of the Run Disney ones that are, you know, special.

[7:34] David Alpert: Yeah. What's funny is uh Carrie Butler, your co-star from Catch Me If You Can also is a huge Disney pin collector, and we talked about that. And same thing when we did this podcast, she shared me the folders and it's something that I personally have not gotten into because I think it'd be a slippery slope.

[7:51] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, it's yeah, especially when you go to like events where they have ones that are just like, oh, this is only gonna be here, you know. Even um this summer I was in Italy and I found a Disney store. There's one in Venice.

[8:06] Kearran Giovanni: Random. I mean, it's tiny little thing, but they had pins like behind the case. And I was like, oh, you mean this limited edition Maleficent box set? I'll take that. Sure. You know, I'm looking at it right now, it's beautiful.

[8:18] David Alpert: Thank you.

[8:20] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah, she's pretty. Right. So yeah, so you know, like I said, memories. They're all little little memories, you know. I do own a few. I think they're all Dopey ones, even though I did find a really cool like ticket book from Disneyland Pin, which I loved. Um, but I love that you collect them. Do your daughters also get into them?

[8:37] Kearran Giovanni: They do, yeah. They don't have as many, but they all have their lanyards and we go, you know, um, load them up. I mean, it's funny when I first started, well, actually, I started a little bit before then, but when I really got into it was around Frozen, because my kids were really little at the time, and Frozen was, I mean, do you remember the like just explosion? It was, you know, the dresses and the jewelry and the crowns. And so I have a ton of Frozen ones because I was a little bit of a hoarder about it. I went a little cuckoo, as moms do. Um, so yeah, I have a I do have a lot of Frozen ones. But you know what, again, it's like a memory in time of, you know, something that was really special to your family for a really long time.

[9:22] David Alpert: Yeah, it's frozen in time.

[9:25] Kearran Giovanni: Your punny.

[9:40] David Alpert: You're from Louisiana and spent your childhood in Texas, and you shared that you didn't get to go to Disney Parks as soon as your brothers did. Do you remember what that first trip to the park was like for you?

[9:52] Kearran Giovanni: So, yes. Um, I was in college and I was doing a show in Florida, and again, we had a cast member in our show that worked at Disney as well. And so she offered to walk us into the parks, and it was so it was interesting to go to Disney World for the first time as an adult and not go as a kid, but not a fully formed adult. I was probably, you know, 19.

[10:18] David Alpert: So you had never gone as a kid. This was it.

[10:19] Kearran Giovanni: This was it. And so they let me loose in the park for four days. And I mean, it was everything. Disney World is like, I mean, it took four days just to see part of it. It's so big, it's so massive. Um, I tried to do everything. I tried to go around the world. I tried, you know, it was just, I like I said, I knew that I would A be back, B that I wanted to take my family there one day. It just it felt right. I mean I just I get so I get like teary-eyed when I first walk in and you look around and everyone is so happy. Everyone's so happy. I mean it is a reason why it is the happiest place on earth.

[11:03] Kearran Giovanni: So yeah I did. I I mean I loved every single little bit of it down to the restaurants and taking the boat you know from the hotel back and it it was just everything. It was everything and I vowed to spend many you know holidays and things there. I actually spent my 30th birthday we flew back to Disney World my whole family we spent 10 days nine nights and that was my that was my birthday present to myself with everybody it was magical.

[11:29] David Alpert: What about attractions that you went on that you loved um I I have to say I'm a little old school in the interaction world I mean honestly that was so long ago I'm like what did I ride?

[11:42] Kearran Giovanni: I have no idea. I was in it; it was a blur of Disney and Mickey Mouse. I would say the monorail is like one of my favorites. It's still thrilling, you know? It's not like super, you know, old school where you feel like, "Oh, this is boring," but it has enough thrill. It still feels kind of, you know, old and vintage and beautiful, and it's a joy when you get to ride it because it does close sometimes. You know, because she's old; she needs some TLC. I love Space Mountain. I mean, I would say Space Mountain is my favorite. And so that was Walt Disney World. What about your first trip to Disneyland?

[12:25] Kearran Giovanni: So I moved to California 10 years ago, and it was the first thing we did when we got here. So we moved to LA, settled into our house, went to Disneyland. And the great thing about Disneyland, especially if you have little kids, is that it is so accessible. It's so, you know, you can really dive deep. You can do every ride and have some time for a show at night. And yeah, so we did Disney and we did California Adventure. And I mean, for my kids, like riding the teacups, like seeing them ride the teacups for the very first time is just, you know, and I think back in the day they had an entire, like a Tinkerbell, all the fairies had a land, and you could go and meet all the fairies, and you could still go meet all the princesses, and they would dress up.

It's just, I mean, I have a uniform; I wear the same Disney hat. I wear my Disney shirt. I usually have a Little Mermaid shirt that I wear, same shorts. I have some Run Disney tennis shoes that I got that have Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on them, and they're bright yellow, so you can't miss me. And I got my fanny pack. I mean, I'm like, it's a thing.

[13:42] David Alpert: Yeah, of course. I mean, like this is the right podcast for you. We're all just nodding our heads. Yes, of course. Yes, of course. Yes, I do a Disney adults-only trip every year that we all go for either a whole day or a day and a night through, like at the hotel, and it's just all adults, and we ride rides, and we don't have to listen to any children. I mean, like speaking of that, is there anything when you bring your kids to the parks that you were like, "I really don't want to do this, but I'll do it for my kids?" Is there anything like that?

[14:09] Kearran Giovanni: No, it's actually the opposite. It's more that like I'm like, "Come on, we can do one more." And they're like, "Mom, like, we're so tired. Can we just?" And I'm like, "You guys are just here in embarrassment." No, I'm kidding. No, I mean, I really, we try to like, like I said, we try to really squeeze it all in. And I am a power walker, so yeah, I try to squeeze it all in. I try to do, if I can, I'll do one park and then do the next park the other day. But also, I usually park hop, and you know, I have my favorite restaurants and my itinerary and everything worked out.

[14:47] David Alpert: So in those itineraries, what are like five must-do things? Whether it's, "I must go on this ride, I must eat here," I must. What are some of those?

[14:55] Kearran Giovanni: So I always start at Disneyland. My must are Star Wars, Matterhorn, Big Thunder. Those are like, you have to. I mean, I know it's cheesy, and my kids laugh at it, but I love the Jungle Cruise so much. Of course. So yeah, Jungle Cruise, and then, you know, we try to get all the new stuff too. Obviously, Star Wars land is amazing, and we've been lucky to get on that ride, or both of the rides, actually, a couple of times, which is so cool. So yeah, those are my things over there. And then we head over normally to Carthay Circle in California Adventure to have lunch because I really like a sit-down situation, and I like to have real glasses and then like have non-plastic cutlery. I know that makes sound like, I don't know, that's very bougie, but I know I'm so bougie at Disney.

But I do. I'm like, if I'm gonna like shluff around all day and like, you know, I want a proper, you know, food situation. So that's like a must, like absolutely have to. Then there's a Dole Whip situation on the pier. Then there's, used to be Hollywood Tower of Terror, now is the Avenger, you know, drop thing. Then it's Incredicoaster and swings and Goofy Sky School. We basically like, we round our way around.

[16:26] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah, we do it. I mean, and now the shows are back, so yeah, I mean, we don't mess around. We don't mess around. I'm so proud of it. I'm so proud. Everyone's nodding; they're like, "Yes, yes, yes." I can see it. Kearran, you have appeared in not one but two Disney musicals, The Lion King and Tarzan. Do you have any songs from those shows that you just absolutely love?

[16:26] Kearran Giovanni: I would say Tarzan, I love "Son of Man." I just think it's, yeah, I mean, I know everyone would say, you know, "You'll Be in My Heart," but "Son of Man" is just so much fun, and yeah, and it's strong and powerful. So yeah, I love "Son of Man." And I mean, The Lion King, everything. I mean, the funny thing about doing The Lion King was, you know, it's been on for so long that when I took a trip to New York when I was, gosh, maybe 13, maybe 14, with my mom, and we saw The Lion King, as you know, I was a kid, right? It was like the coolest, hottest ticket in town. And I still remember watching this scene. I think it's in the second act. I should know this. I did so many shows, but they pulled, you know, right?

They pull this cloth through a little circle, and it looks like the water is drying on the Pride Lands. And my mind was blown. So when I graduated college, it was the first call that I got to go in for, and I was like, "This is it. Like, I'm gonna get this job, and my mom's gonna get to come, like, full circle and see me in this show." And I mean, it's mind-blowing. It's especially at the time, and you know, not that I'm old, but that was a while ago. And it's like being in a rock concert. I mean, like looking out into an audience, especially like a kid's show and an adult show, and seeing everyone's faces watch it for the first time as, you know, people are walking down the aisle singing or the birds are flying above, is like, I mean, people would be weeping. It's just so magical, that show.

[18:36] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, sorry, song. Oh God, I don't know. It's a great, no, that's great. Did you play specific animals in the show?

[18:45] Kearran Giovanni: So funny you should ask that. I mean, clearly, you would have played a specific animal. So it was my, yeah, it was my first show out of college, and they were like, "Oh, you can sing and dance. Great. We have this track on the first national. Would you be willing to go?" And I was like, "Okay." You know, when you're 21 and you're fresh, like off the boat to New York, I was like, "Yeah, of course." And what they didn't tell me is that I would be doing a dancer track for the first half, a singer track for the second half, and I would cover every single female specialty and lead in the show. So I covered 22 parts, which like, I don't even know what I was thinking of. It was crazy. So yeah, so I actually covered Nala, Shenzi, Sarabi.

I covered every female and got to go on, luckily, for all of them. I covered all the puppet specialties that you see, the little things running around in the background and little weasels. And yeah, I was lucky enough to do some of the really amazingly beautiful dance in the beginning, you know, be gazelle and grassheads, and then kind of take a break for the second act and just sing my way through. So yeah, I did a lot. You could literally perform the entire show in your living room.

[19:59] Kearran Giovanni: I mean, basically, I was like, "Who would you like me to be today?" And then I left. I actually, I was leaving to go back to start a show in New York, and they were like, "Can you stay for like three more months?" Because they, not to be like, whatever, but they actually had to split that part into two people; it's not one person anymore. I'm like, "Oh, really?" Yeah.

[20:18] David Alpert: Oh.

[20:18] Kearran Giovanni: But it was a blast. I mean, it was a blast.

[20:22] David Alpert: That's great. Are there other Disney musicals that you really want to be a part of?

[20:28] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, you know, besides Beauty and the Beast and the roller derby edition. Beauty and the Beast, duh. Oh God, I would love to be Belle. I would really love it if they did a staged version of Maleficent. I just think that could be like so cool. I mean, you know, could you see her like flying through the air and those, you know, the wings on stage? Just the beauty of that could be so cool. I could be Maleficent.

[21:01] David Alpert: Yeah.

[21:02] Kearran Giovanni: You could wear your pins from Italy.

[21:05] David Alpert: Totally go with the show, of course. If you were to get a job at the parks, which job would you most want?

[21:12] Kearran Giovanni: Well, that's funny you should ask because if you ask my kids what I'm gonna do when I retire, I am gonna work at Disney and have all my grandkids come in for free. So I actually think I would be. So my girlfriend that works at one of the parks is the girl that delivers the mail. She's like the mail woman for Disney, and she works at California Adventure, and she basically finds kids throughout the day, and she writes them letters from Tarzan or from Tinkerbell, and then she finds them later in the park, and she delivers the mail from the Disney characters to these little kids, and their faces when they get, you know, Ariel has sent them a postcard, and they do a little show in the Main Street area. I would do that and, yeah, just make people happy.

[22:00] David Alpert: That's great.

[22:01] Kearran Giovanni: It's a pretty cool job.

[22:02] David Alpert: That's sweet.

[22:03] Kearran Giovanni: I know. I thought you were gonna say Autopia Attraction.

[22:06] David Alpert: That's what I did.

[22:07] Kearran Giovanni: In 2005, I worked in the Autopia.

[22:10] David Alpert: I didn't know that.

[22:12] Kearran Giovanni: I know, it's my claim to fame and guest control. I was there for the 50th.

[22:15] David Alpert: Oh my God, oh my God, so lucky.

[22:18] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, Philly. We'll be right back.

[22:22] David Alpert: Oh, what's the bad commercial?

[22:41] David Alpert: Time for Fast Pass Answers.

[22:44] David Alpert: I'm gonna put 30 seconds on the clock after I ask the first question for you to answer as many as you can. Are you ready?

[22:49] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah.

[22:50] David Alpert: No, yes. Hold your pins for good luck. Here we go. Ready? Name any Disney princess.

[22:59] Kearran Giovanni: Ariel.

[23:00] David Alpert: Favorite snack in the parks?

[23:01] Kearran Giovanni: Popcorn.

[23:02] David Alpert: Name a song from Guys and Dolls.

[23:05] Kearran Giovanni: Um, oh God.

[23:07] Kearran Giovanni: Oh god, that's horrible. Um, um God, what is she saying? What is the girl saying? I don't know. Pass. Luck be a lady. Name a ride in Fantasyland. Oh, um, um the rocket. The the yes. Name a character from Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty. Favorite Disney movie. Um Aristocrats. Oh, you came in. Yes, Aristocats. Woof! That was very that was scary, I know. This is kind of scary. It is. I'm an actor, you know, so unless I know the answers or someone's getting. I don't know. Popcorn. That's your favorite. Well, it's just like a random. Yeah, I'm not a big snacker, to be honest. I'm I'm uh, you know, so if I'm gonna get it, the girls usually get popcorn, and then you know, not the regular popcorn, the one that you can get in Fantasyland, the different color one that's sweet popcorn, all different kinds of chemicals in it.

That's my favorite. What about do you collect any of the popcorn buckets? I don't, I don't need anything else to collect. I know, I know. You're on that. Okay, so tell me, I said a ride in Fantasyland. You mentioned the rockets. Oh no. What is the wait? Am I am I? That might be Tomorrowland. Confused. Maybe. Tomorrowland. I'm thinking when I walk in. No, Fantasyland. Oh god, I have no idea. I don't know. I mean, so that's like the Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio, Mr. Toad. Those are the rides I don't. That very quiet moment was our guest saying she doesn't like those rides. No, I didn't say I don't like them. What did you say? I said I those aren't really the ones that I ride. Oh I kind of skipped that section.

Listen, people I know because it's like it's an unpopular opinion because some people go just to ride those rides. Like they are like diehard about this ride, so I wouldn't want to offend anyone. However, that is not usually my stoppable section. That is fair. I mean, like Disneyland, there's something for everyone and something for not, you know, and then things that people don't like, and that's totally cool. Sorry. It's okay. I like the lot guys. Okay. But a shout out to the Aristocats again. Right? That's my favorite. Hold on, you're thinking ears. It's trivia time. Oh boy. Here's our trivia. Disneyland in California is a feast for the eyes with incredible design and artistry in many different styles.

And the skyline of the park features many tall structures with four different mountains. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain. Of these four, which is the tallest. So the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Big Thunder, or Splash Mountain. Which one's the tallest, do you think? Oh, I'm gonna say Matterhorn. You are correct. Yeah! Matterhorn at 147 feet tall. Second place is Space Mountain at 118, Big Thunder at 104, and Splash at 87. Interesting. And in comparison, what's so funny is the castle at Disneyland, 77 feet tall. Huh. Well, it's funny because when you walk in, you actually, if you look, can you just look right past the castle, Matterhorn is like.

Yeah, you can see it. Yeah, you can see it from the five freeway. Yes, you can. Which I love. No, I'm getting close. In my research, too, it's so interesting that the castle is 77 feet tall and the flagpole in Town Square is 65. Interesting. The castle's not that much bigger than the flagpole. It seems maybe it's because it's like the moat around it and it's kind of popped up. I don't know. It seems so much bigger to me. Yeah. Who knew? Well, you did very well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Kearran, you have such an incredibly impressive resume performing in both new productions and revivals of Broadway musicals. So in this game, Kearran's Disney World, I'm going to ask you a question that ties your Broadway resume with the wonderful world of Disney.

Are you ready? Yes. Okay, here we go. For Kearran's Disney World number one. Tarzan on Broadway opened on May 10th, 2006, and you appeared in the ensemble and covered Kala. Tarzan Rocks was a stage show that opened in 1999 at the Theater in the Wild at which park at Walt Disney World. Animal Kingdom. Did you see it? Yes. When I went yeah, I absolutely loved it. They run like roller skates, right? I think that's right. Yeah, you loved it. Yeah. I love a good roller skate. You're like, Tarzan Rocks is great, but what about Beauty and the Beast Rocks? On Rollers Kate. Okay. Can I roller skate? Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay, good. Good. Good. When you were in rehearsals for the Broadway production, you were like, what if I roller skate in this moment?

What if I jump from an inflatable wall with a bungee cord? Is that a good idea? Yeah. Yes, yes, yes. What was it like being in Tarzan on Broadway? Was that so much fun? It was a blast. It was a blast. I mean, we got to wear like, you know, leotards and bungee cords and whatever. And some people, you know, it was like a five-month process to start it, but also every single day that we went to rehearsal, Phil Collins came with us on the bus and played the bongos for us while we rehearsed. So I mean, like, there are moments like that that you just like you can't. It's like a once in a lifetime kind of thing. It was very cool. That's cool. Yeah. Okay, number two. For this Broadway production that you appeared in, the title character had previously been seen playing Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast in Australia in 1996.

What is the name of this show on your resume? What? I know this one's tricky. The title character of this show that you were in on Broadway appeared as Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast in Australia in 1996. What was the name of the show? Oh, title character. Um This is a tricky one. No. What other title? Hold on. Hold on, let me look around. No. No. She's looking at the show posters in her outfit. The only one that's title is Tarzan. Right? Well, this might have been your most recent Broadway credit. And the name of the show was Hugh Jackman back on Broadway. Oh my god, Hugh Jackman. And the title character is Hugh Jackman. And he played Gaston. I love Hugh Jackman. That was a stretch.

That was a real stretch. I had no idea that he was Gaston. Honestly. I didn't know that. I know in Australia. Also a Disney lover. Yeah. Yes. I should get him on the podcast. I'm right. I'm just saying, I'm sure he's got some free time in there. I know, I know, I know. Everyone loves Disney. It doesn't care. It's like, you know why though? Because Disney is not like classist. It's not. It doesn't care. Doesn't care if you have $5 in the park or a million dollars or whatever. And it's like accessible to everyone. That's why everybody loves it. Number three, the Sherman Brothers wrote the music for many Disney projects from Mary Poppins in the Jungle Book to the theme songs for the Disney Parks's attractions, It's a Small World, The Enchanted Tiki Room, and The Carousel of Progress.

Which of your Broadway shows do they also write the music to? She looks at her posters. Nope, it's not that one. Not that one. Uh did they write Anything Goes? No. That was Cole Porter, no. No. Uh yeah, no, no. I have no idea. I'm looking at my posters. I don't, I'm not, I don't have all my posters up. Um, I have no idea. What did they what did they write? It's a little musical that also starred Dick Van Dyke. Chitty Bang Bang? Yes. Wow! I didn't know that. Isn't that horrible? That was my first Broadway show. Yeah. And what's funny is like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, not Disney, but I was gonna say But certainly sounds Disney because it's the Sherman Brothers. Yes. Number four, you joined the company of the Broadway Revival of Sweet Charity in 2005, performing such hits as There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This, Baby Dream Your Dream, and Big Spender.

Speaking of Big Spender, how much does it cost to visit one theme park at Walt Disney World for one day in 2022? In Walt Disney World? Yes. Oh, um, one park? Yes. Oh gosh. Okay. I only know the Disneyland prices. Um, I'm gonna guess and say it is a hundred and ten dollars. It's one hundred and nine dollars. Oh yeah! Wow, you would have killed it on prices right. I it's so funny because yes, I have a really good um eye for prices like groceries and stuff. My husband's always like, how do you know how much that costs? You definitely need to go on prices right. Yeah, I mean I do know that the regular park here is like 90 to 95, and then if you want to add a park onto it, it's an extra $60. Like, yeah.

Big spender. It's you know, it's pricey. The minute you walk in the joint. The minute you walked in the joint. I could see you are a man of distinction, a real big spender. What if Mickey Mouse sang Big Spender? Oh, I don't want him to sing Big Spender. I know that would be a good one. He's too sweet. He's too sweet, you're right. Okay, number five, the Tony Award-winning revival of Anything Goes welcomed the one and only Kearran Giovanni to its company who sailed on that ocean liner bound from New York to London. Speaking of ocean liners, the Disney Cruise Line has five different ships. Can you name any of them? The Dream. Yes. Disney Magic. Yes. There's a new one that just started going out.

I just saw like a window. I mean, that's you already I guess that's for one. You've already named two. I am very sad because right when we moved to LA, my husband's parents' 50th wedding anniversary was that year, and their gift to everyone was to go on a nine-day Disney cruise. All expenses paid. And I got my dream job of being on a TV series, and I couldn't go. And my husband took my two very small kids by himself on a nine-day Disney cruise. And I was very, very jealous. But yes. I do want to try. I want to try. Like, I don't want to cruise for like two weeks, but I would love to do like they have the ones that leave out of LA. And you can go on like a three or four-day one for Halloween, and I would totally be down for that. Number six, Tale of the Lion King will be returning to the Disneyland Resort in 2022. This time at the Fantasyland Theater after premiering in 2019 at Disney California Adventure.

[34:42] David Alpert: The Broadway musical version of The Lion King, for which you appeared on the national tour, opened in 1997 and won how many Tony Awards?

[34:51] Kearran Giovanni: Nine.

[34:53] David Alpert: Six.

[34:54] Kearran Giovanni: Six.

[34:55] David Alpert: I overshot.

[34:57] Kearran Giovanni: They were probably nominated for at least nine.

[34:59] David Alpert: But they won for best musical, director, scenic design, costume design, lighting design, and choreography.

[35:04] Kearran Giovanni: Wow.

[35:05] David Alpert: That's I mean, it's still pretty spectacular.

[35:08] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah.

[35:09] David Alpert: Okay. Number seven, the incredibly long-running and critically successful 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls.

[35:19] Kearran Giovanni: Where we met.

[35:22] David Alpert: Featured an amazing dancer at the end of Act One when Skye and Sarah go to Havana.

[35:26] Kearran Giovanni: And that was you.

[35:28] David Alpert: That was me. In 2019, there was a Havana night at Disney Springs in Orlando with live music, salsa dancing, and signature cocktails.

[35:39] Kearran Giovanni: In Disney Springs, there are 25 shows and attractions, 64 places to eat, and just how many places to shop?

[35:49] David Alpert: Two.

[35:54] Kearran Giovanni: You said just as if it was gonna be really small.

[35:59] David Alpert: You were like, and just how many?

[36:01] Kearran Giovanni: Like I was like, oh, it's gotta be low.

[36:03] David Alpert: You were like, I only go to two of them.

[36:05] Kearran Giovanni: Never even been there.

[36:07] David Alpert: The pin trading store.

[36:09] Kearran Giovanni: That's the only one that matters.

[36:11] David Alpert: Oh my goodness.

[36:12] Kearran Giovanni: Really challenging. I was like, how do I connect Guys and Dolls to Disney?

[36:15] David Alpert: I mean, it was a stretch, but good job.

[36:18] Kearran Giovanni: It's a skill.

[36:19] David Alpert: It's a real stretch. May Disney Springs stay open longer than our production of Guys and Dolls.

[36:24] Kearran Giovanni: Oh my god, that was something else, wasn't it? Okay, also on your resume, the Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can, which opened at the Neil Simon Theater in 2011. The opening number was titled Life in Living Color. Can you finish this lyric from that number?

[36:39] Kearran Giovanni: I've got the world at my command, and I'll be your one man blank.

[36:45] David Alpert: I've got the world and I've come in, and I'll be your one man.

[36:49] Kearran Giovanni: Something banned?

[36:50] David Alpert: No.

[36:52] Kearran Giovanni: Um. I'm gonna give you a hint.

[36:55] David Alpert: It's our favorite place to go.

[36:58] Kearran Giovanni: Disneyland?

[36:59] David Alpert: Yes.

[37:01] Kearran Giovanni: Wow. I was really paying attention during that musical.

[37:07] David Alpert: I remember when I saw it and they sang that. I was like, oh my god, they sing Disneyland.

[37:11] Kearran Giovanni: Disneyland.

[37:11] David Alpert: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Totally. Aw, that was a really fun show.

[37:15] Kearran Giovanni: Number nine. Leprechauns? A pot of gold? A character named Woody. This all sounds very Disney, but it's actually referring to the musical Finian's Rainbow, which was revived on Broadway in 2009 with you in the company. At Disneyland, there is a tree in Adventureland, and at the base of that tree is a little leprechaun house.

[37:35] David Alpert: I'm not kidding. The sign for which e-ticket attraction is attached to the same tree that is home to a little leprechaun?

[37:48] Kearran Giovanni: The only tree I can think about is the no, that's not it. I'm thinking of the Tarzan tree house.

[37:53] David Alpert: That doesn't have a leprechaun.

[37:54] Kearran Giovanni: You're close. You're really close to this tree. But basically at the bottom of the tree is a little leprechaun house, and at the top of the tree holds the sign for this attraction. What attraction is that?

[38:09] Kearran Giovanni: Oh man. So you're at the Tarzan tree house.

[38:12] David Alpert: I'm at the Tarzan tree, I can see.

[38:14] Kearran Giovanni: Now turn around and face Adventureland and walk in towards Adventureland, and it's right on your right-hand side.

[38:21] David Alpert: What is that?

[38:22] Kearran Giovanni: Wait, is there a frog?

[38:23] David Alpert: No, a leprechaun.

[38:25] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, okay. No, that's the meals. Um if you've gone to the Jungle Cruise, you've gone too far. Back up. It's on your right-hand side. What is in between there?

[38:34] David Alpert: Jungle Cruise is there. Tarzan tree house. What is in the center?

[38:39] Kearran Giovanni: Um, oh man. You know this.

[38:42] David Alpert: I know! I'm like, I can see the walkway. I can see the wait time for Jungle Cruise. What's back there?

[38:48] Kearran Giovanni: Um, um, um. It's where you look into the eyes of Mara.

[38:56] David Alpert: The Indiana Jones Adventure.

[38:57] Kearran Giovanni: Indiana Jones! I'm like, what's right there? Aw shoot. Have you seen the Leprechaun House?

[39:03] David Alpert: No.

[39:03] Kearran Giovanni: I've never even noticed that.

[39:04] David Alpert: It's really cool. It's based on the little golden book, but next time you go there, check it out.

[39:08] Kearran Giovanni: Sing a little Finian's Rainbow.

[39:11] David Alpert: Okay. There's actually good music from Finian's Rainbow, sadly.

[39:15] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah. It's not seen by very many people, but here's your bonus question.

[39:22] David Alpert: Okay, good. I need it. When we did Guys and Dolls together, our fabulous Tony-nominated set designer later designed the set for a musical at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure. And this musical opened in 2016 and was based on which Disney movie?

[39:39] Kearran Giovanni: Wait, our set designer.

[39:41] David Alpert: From Guys and Dolls, Robert Brill.

[39:44] Kearran Giovanni: Uh-huh. He designed the set for a musical at the Hyperion Theater in California Adventure. And the musical that he designed at California Adventure opened in 2016 and was based on which Disney movie?

[39:55] David Alpert: Frozen.

[39:56] Kearran Giovanni: It is Frozen.

[39:57] David Alpert: Yes.

[39:58] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, good. I got at least I got the bonus.

[40:01] David Alpert: You did very well. Well, congratulations on your incredible Broadway resume and how much it intersects with Disney.

[40:07] Kearran Giovanni: Thank you for playing.

[40:09] David Alpert: Thank you. It's time for some tough choices. Let's play Tweedledee or Tweedledum.

[40:18] Kearran Giovanni: This is everyone's favorite.

[40:20] David Alpert: Here's Tweedledee or Tweedledum. I will give you two options. Let me know which one you prefer. So Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Disney California Adventure, or Animal Kingdom.

[40:24] Kearran Giovanni: Animal Kingdom.

[40:32] David Alpert: But you it seems like you really struggled on that.

[40:34] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah, I did. That's a hard one. I haven't been to Animal Kingdom in so long, but and I love California Adventure. So I don't know. Do you have a favorite ride in California Adventure?

[40:44] David Alpert: Incredicoaster.

[40:45] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah.

[40:46] David Alpert: Yeah. Sorry. The Incredicoaster is amazing.

[40:49] Kearran Giovanni: It's amazing. It's so good. Every time I'm like, oh no, I'm surprised. Every time.

[40:53] David Alpert: Do you prefer to sit in the front or the back?

[40:56] Kearran Giovanni: I prefer the front, and I prefer to load from the right-hand entrance, not the left.

[41:02] David Alpert: Yes. Yes. I know. I yep. Everyone's nodding. Yes, yes, yes.

[41:07] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah. And do you also always get a cookie afterwards?

[41:11] David Alpert: No, after that, I've gotten too old. I'm gonna vomit.

[41:15] Kearran Giovanni: No, but after you like ride the ride, then when you're like, I know it's a bullshit.

[41:19] David Alpert: Oh, should I do that? Okay, that's okay. I have things on my list now.

[41:22] Kearran Giovanni: Oh yeah. Well then, like when you're on the ride and you smell the cookie, you're like, I'm gonna get a cookie after this.

[41:26] David Alpert: Yeah, I know. No, I should.

[41:28] Kearran Giovanni: Okay. Speaking of Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Space Mountain, or the Incredicoaster.

[41:35] David Alpert: Oh.

[41:36] Kearran Giovanni: I'm still gonna say Incredicoaster.

[41:38] David Alpert: Yep.

[41:39] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah. What about other mountains? Do you love you said you love Splash Mountain? What about the Matterhorn?

[41:44] David Alpert: Those are all good ones.

[41:45] Kearran Giovanni: I love it. I love that. I love all the mountains.

[41:48] David Alpert: I'll take them.

[41:49] Kearran Giovanni: All the mountains.

[41:49] David Alpert: All the mountains.

[41:51] Kearran Giovanni: Tweedledee or Tweedledum, watching a parade down Main Street or watching fireworks over the castle.

[41:57] David Alpert: Oh man.

[41:59] Kearran Giovanni: Okay, I'm gonna say fireworks over the castle.

[42:03] David Alpert: Yeah, you agree.

[42:04] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah. I do, but then when I was just there, literally last week as I record this, I missed the parades so badly. I didn't realize how much I missed them until Christmas, and I brought 10 girls.

[42:17] David Alpert: That was a lot.

[42:18] Kearran Giovanni: Um, all my daughter and all her friends. And we watched the parade go by, and then it started snowing on Main Street, and it was like, I mean, come on. Everyone had hot cocoa. It was so magical.

[42:30] David Alpert: So, yes, I don't know. But I do love the fireworks. I think because like the fireworks are so cool, but if you don't have a good spot, it can affect your viewing. But with the parade, because there's so many front row seats, sometimes I do like that.

[42:43] Kearran Giovanni: Yeah. It's that's a hard one. It's a toss-up. It's all good.

[42:48] David Alpert: Okay, Tweedledee or Tweedledum, it's a small world, or the Jungle Cruise.

[42:48] Kearran Giovanni: Jungle Cruise.

[42:55] David Alpert: Is there even a question?

[42:57] Kearran Giovanni: I that's what I mean though. Some people are obsessed with it's a small world. And for some reason, I guess the first time I saw it, I was a little like, eh.

[43:07] David Alpert: I'm sorry. Everyone's gonna hate me.

[43:09] Kearran Giovanni: They're like turning off the podcast. Um I it seems it's like a little bit like kind of skeevy to me a little bit. A little bit, just a little bit. Sorry, sorry. Don't get mad. I'm just saying the idea of world peace. The Jungle Cruise is so has so many puns, which I love puns, and I love that movie, by the way. Um, so yeah, definitely Jungle Cruise for me.

[43:32] David Alpert: Final Tweedledee or Tweedledum, and I think I know what you're gonna say. Churros or Dole Whip?

[43:39] Kearran Giovanni: Oh, don't know. Not gonna lie. I'm gonna go churro.

[43:44] David Alpert: Oh, but earlier it's a Dole Whip moment, so I thought you were gonna just go on.

[43:48] Kearran Giovanni: I have a Dole Whip situation that happens. It's like a thing. However, the churros are like they're so good.

[43:56] David Alpert: You love it.

[43:57] Kearran Giovanni: So good. I do. Sometimes I indulge in those. Yes. The stuffed ones are delicious. They just have no, they just have like a strawberry one that they like stuffed and they rolled it in some sort of like strawberry situation. And I'm telling you, just like just don't hate on it. Just give it a try. But anyway, they're all delicious. I love them all.

[44:31] David Alpert: If you could describe the feelings you get when you look down Main Street and see the castle, what would you say?

[44:38] Kearran Giovanni: Oh I feel forever young. I feel warm. I feel oh gosh. I mean, I just feel like a joy that is infectious.

[44:57] David Alpert: Yeah.

[44:57] Kearran Giovanni: And carries me through the week too. If I go, I just love it. It's that Disney magic.

[45:03] David Alpert: It is. It's true. And Kearran, what's the first thing you're going to do the next time you go to a Disney park?

[45:10] Kearran Giovanni: Well, I'm gonna go look for that tree that you told me about with the pot of gold that I've clearly never seen before. Um I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna do that. I mean, I it's listen, I I've got a list. I've got an adventure awaiting. I think I'll probably go in a week or two just to check it out again.

[45:31] David Alpert: Well, I will definitely join you. I will give you a little claim. And I will meet you at the Incredicoaster and we will get cookies.

[45:38] Kearran Giovanni: It'll be delightful.

[45:40] David Alpert: Yeah, yeah. Kearran, thank you for joining me on E-Ticket to Broadway for sharing your love of The Aristocats and Merida, Tinkerbell, the Monorail, all the mountains. You are a magical Disney guest.

[45:51] Kearran Giovanni: So thank you so much.

[45:52] David Alpert: Thank you for having me. This was so fun.

[45:54] Kearran Giovanni: Of course.

[45:55] David Alpert: And we'll see you at the parks.

[45:56] Kearran Giovanni: Alright.