This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:15] Eva: Hello and welcome to My First Show.

[0:18] Eva: Today's guest is a really singular individual. I don't even know what to call him. A personality, an actor, an influencer, a television star, a YouTube star, a man of the theater, a producer, um, and probably one of the brightest lights in my life, and probably yours because of his positivity and optimism that we all really need right now. That is Shine Bright Like a Frankie, Frankie Grande.

[0:51] Frankie Grande: That's the nicest intro ever. Oh my god, I'm like crying over here. I was like, I was like, oh, that's so beautiful. Thank you for having me on your show. I love you. I've missed you. How are you?

[1:04] Eva: Oh God. I'm uh I'm hanging in there. Um, you know, doing things like talking to my friends on a podcast that hopefully many people get to listen to actually makes me do better.

[1:18] Frankie Grande: Absolutely. Oh my god, absolutely. I think um as artists and as people uh in the theater anyway, like being creative right now is like our number one uh source of calm and serenity. It is at least for me, it's like, oh, this this at least makes makes me feel like I'm doing something that um can get me through, you know?

[1:36] Eva: Yeah. And and I guess that's sort of my first question for you, because you, I mean, I'm pretty social, but you are like the epitome of a social being.

[1:46] Frankie Grande: So true. I think I think strangers probably lift you and drive you, and you can't be around them or touch them or near them. And how how are you getting through this?

[1:57] Frankie Grande: You're a hundred percent correct. Um, I and that's all you know, it's also makes me feel um very ill equipped to deal with being in public situations in the pandemic because I am um a person with no boundaries. I'm a person who like lives to like, you know, um give hugs and like kiss babies and sign autographs, like whatever you want. Like, I'll do it. I feel like I'm always a person that loves to be like with people and like yes, you said strangers. So um it's so different for me to like see a person and instead of running towards them, be like, I have to run away from them. That's so weird, it's so counterintuitive to the way that I have been put onto this earth.

[2:38] Frankie Grande: Yeah, um, but I um how have I been coping? Actually, I started um a Twitch channel, and that actually really started that helped me because I get to like interact with um, you know, strangers and fans and and friends um as much as I want, which is really uh that's been kind of helpful to me, you know, like getting talked to them in the chat, see what they're talking about, and like just kind of being very conversational. It's kind of like a podcast, but where the people get to talk back to you the whole time.

[3:06] Eva: Is that where Dreamroll stemmed from? Your new digital series, or was that a different idea?

[3:13] Frankie Grande: No, Dreamroll was a different idea that was brought to me by Broadway on Demand. Um, yeah, by Scott Prysand. You know Scott.

[3:21] Eva: Yeah, yeah.

[3:21] Frankie Grande: Uh huh, yeah, Scott, who, you know, obviously produced Rock of Ages with uh Matt. Um yeah, and he was was working on this uh project, and he came to me and was like, Hey, do you want to host Dreamroll slash, you know, create it kind of you know, birth dream roll into this world? And I was like, Yes, of course, sure, it sounds great. And that's just been somebody that has been uh really fun because uh I like to see what other people I always think about what my dream role would be like all the time, but it is fun to like dive into the minds of like somebody else and see what they've always wanted to play um and what they would play if the world had no um societal or theatrical constraints um in in their lives, you know?

[4:07] Eva: I love that you are thinking about that right now at the same time, totally unrelated to the fact that I launched this podcast, which is like connected to that idea. What roles did we start with? What where did we begin in our early days of of theater and what and what is our dream role for the future? That's we're gonna get to that. That's actually the fourth question that we ask every guest on My First Show.

[4:32] Frankie Grande: So when I first watched your one of your episodes, I was like, again, Frankie and I on the same wavelength.

[4:39] Eva: Same page, same page.

[4:41] Frankie Grande: I love it. I love it.

[4:42] Eva: Me too. I mean, so just going back to Rock of Ages, which you mentioned, um unlike many of us, I think you were starring in a show on March 10th and 11th, and then weren't, right? So can you take us through that week and how it all felt?

[5:02] Frankie Grande: Yeah, it was um my goodness, it was so weird. So I have um uh several doctors in my life. My my father is a doctor. Um, and you know, through um just being a human being. Like I have like a really good doctor that I really, really rely on.

[5:21] Frankie Grande: Because you're not a robot, you need another.

[5:23] Frankie Grande: Exactly. I'm a I'm a I'm a ro I'm not a robot. I have a really great general prediction practitioner, and he's so so smart. And as soon as the pandemic came across, he sent me an email that was like, hello. And I was like, hi. And he was like, um, just to let you know, I don't think you should be going to work anymore. And I was like, what? Like, what are you talking about? And he was like, you know, because he understood the nature of my show. So Rock of Ages at the Bourbon Room in Hollywood was an interactive immersive show. So there were 200 people in a very small room, and I was going through the audience, touching audience members, sitting down at their tables, interacting. It wasn't like a Priscenium Broadway show where there was like there's the actors, and these are these are the audience members.

Plus, our dressing rooms were very tight quarters. Um, you know, it was like it was it was amazing. It was wonderful. I loved it. But um, you know, it was a little bit like Le Poisson Rouge doing cool intentions.

[6:25] Frankie Grande: Yes, exactly. It was very much like that. Um like, you know, like uh with a different setting because like this the space was built for Rock of Ages, but still there was that intimate setting. And um my doctor literally was like, I don't think you should be going to work. And I was like, what? I was like, and he was like, yeah, like this is gonna get really serious really soon. And so, you know, I literally said to uh Matt Weaver and to Scott, and I was like, listen, guys, my doctors won't be coming to work anymore. And they were like, really? And I was like, Yeah. And they were like, Oh, okay, well, why don't you just like take the week off and then we'll figure out uh what to go from there and just see what like see what your doctor's talking about. Like ever no one knew anything. Like my doctor is so smart and so ahead of the curve.

[7:12] Eva: Totally.

[7:13] Frankie Grande: Um, and so I uh took a week of like whatever medical leave if you will and before that week was over the show had closed yeah because like within it was information was coming so quickly so I was like I I let's say it was Monday that I was like I did my last show on uh I think it was what that Wednesday night um and then by the next Monday the show was closed so it was so nuts and um and your doctor was right because my doctor was right like like I don't know if you remember this I was talking to someone about this recently March 2nd was when Mayor de Blasio came out and said everyone please live your lives everyone go about your business everyone please continue acting normal and he was wrong to see.

[7:13] Eva: Yeah, I know and I I with Scott and Matt were so wonderful they were like oh my god please like do let's just do yeah like take your time like we want you in the show so like don't feel like you have to like leave or anything we'll do whatever and I was like great and then you know and then once the world medical community well I would say the world at large caught up to the elite medical community um the the show was closed.

[8:32] Frankie Grande: So we don't know. Again like I know you know uh live theatrical experiences will be the last to rebound um and I think of those live theatrical experiences, immersive will be the last of that to rebound.

[8:49] Frankie Grande: Right, right. Is it coming back? Do you know what the future of the show is I mean it's closed closed now.

[8:49] Eva: Yeah, yeah.

[8:50] Frankie Grande: I think I think it'll be you know, Broadway, immersive, and then um strip clubs in that order.

[9:01] Eva: Seriously, I think so too.

[9:03] Frankie Grande: I think so too. Man, if it if only strip clubs could uh open first, so much I'd I'd get right back, I'd be right back to being making my old page.

[9:13] Eva: Right back on that pole.

[9:14] Frankie Grande: Exactly. Especially since Rock of Ages is a strip club.

[9:19] Eva: So sad. And and what is every day like since? Is has it changed? Have you had a phase experience in these last six months where like month two felt like this, but month four was this?

[9:34] Frankie Grande: Yes, absolutely. Um, I think there was this like overwhelming surge of productivity in the beginning, um, which was amazing. You know, like I was like very much like everyone is scared, everyone is um feeling a certain type of way, and like when I um am faced with a challenge in my life, like I my first thing is like how do I make other people laugh? How do I be of service? How do I help? Um, and so I really that was my like big goal in the beginning. Um so it's almost like just thinking about it, like I'm just kind of thinking about like social media, and you can actually kind of see see on my social media how my months have gone. So, like it was like I was super creative in the beginning. I did bathroom talent show.

I was like creating these funny videos that that became viral and that people really were enjoying and stuff. Um, and then um once you know, the the with the murder of George Floyd, um, everything on my social switched to activism, you know. You know, like I've always been someone that's been unbelievably active, like always speaking up for the little guy. I always have a cause. Like that's always me. I always do charity work. Um, so you know, as soon as the call was put out by the black community, I was like, I am here, I am answering, like I'm standing with you. Let's go. Um and so then, you know, it was everything was about activism, Black Lives Matter, educating, giving people tools in order to be able to combat like hatred and meanwhile this is all happening during a pandemic, which was like that's crazy.

[11:05] Eva: I love all that and I love learning about you as do our audience and our listeners. So let's get into it. Um Frankie, what was the first show you ever saw?

[11:23] Frankie Grande: Wow, first show I ever saw was definitely *Little Shop*, *Little Shop*. You never stop the Told a Cup, Little Java, uh uh uh yeah for sure. Where? When who was um it was it was the off Broadway run. I was seven years old, I want to say um so I make God I don't remember who was in it. I have absolutely no idea. But I do remember the plant coming out at the end of the show. I remember being very close. My mom, my mom would always take me to Broadway shows when I was a kid we would go like every weekend. We would have like a we lived in New Jersey right on the opposite side of the GWB. So she would literally just like we would just drive right over and go see a show. And that she started this tradition around seven years old with me.

You know, she took me to my first concert was Billy Joel and Elton John. And then followed right by Madonna's girly show. And then somewhere in there was *Little Shop of Horrors*. So like it was like a very strong, like a lot of influences, a lot of me being like, I want to do all of that. Like, I want to do all of that. I think still to this day I remember that Elton John had a spotlight that was actually a Gobo with the Versace Medusa on it. And I lost my mind. I was like, that's the greatest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. My god, and then of course there was Madonna and then *Little Shop*. And I remember the plant coming out for like look out, here comes all tree too. And it would come out over the audience, and that was when I was when I was hooked.

I was like, wow, whatever this magic is, where like a gigantic magical plant can come to life and come out over the audience and like take me into its world. That's what I want to do. I want to be in part of that. I mean, seven years old for *Little Shop* is bold. That's a bold move.

[13:40] Frankie Grande: Yeah, my mom took me to *Child's Play* when I was seven years old. Like my mom raised me like an adult. I was she's a CEO of many businesses and you know, that um manufacture telecommunications for Navy, Coast Guard, and cruise ships. So I was a little seven-year-old boy in an Armani suit sitting next to each other, sitting next to my mother at meetings with admirals of the United States Navy. So, like, she didn't treat me like a kid, that's for sure.

[14:08] Eva: That's how you got your nautical skills.

[14:11] Frankie Grande: Exactly. That's why I know how to turn to the port and to the starboard. Um I think it's really amazing that your influential childhood memories are Madonna, Elton John, and musical theater and *Little Shop of Horrors*. Like that to me, like if someone was like, hi Eva, meet Frankie Grande. What do you think he watched when he was a child? I'd be like Madonna, Elton John, and *Little Shop of Horrors*.

[14:42] Frankie Grande: Yep, exactly. Exactly. I never really thought about it like that until this very podcast. And I was like, oh wow, no, that really does make a lot of sense. It really does.

[15:00] Frankie Grande: Um, coloring box when I was a kid. Like I got all the colors right up front. And it was pretty awesome. So what does that mean, treated like a child? You were given. Also given the opportunity to, you know, play, explore, have imaginary friends, um, you know, like run, like go through parks and um have uh play dates and also um go to Disney World and play video games. Like I wasn't really um there was nothing that I was not allowed to do because of my age, you know. Um, but that included all the kids stuff and all the adult stuff.

[15:39] Eva: Yeah.

[15:39] Frankie Grande: Like I just was allowed to see everything from such a young age, and I think it um for me, it helped me just kind of grow into a really, really well-rounded person. I mean, everything you described requires an imagination muscle to be flexed, and that's what it sounds like is you were given access to use and expand your imagination for pleasure and joy.

[16:08] Frankie Grande: Expand the pure imagination.

[16:11] Eva: Yeah.

[16:12] Frankie Grande: Exactly. Oh I love that. I love that. Um for show you were in what was it? *Bye Bye Birdie*.

[16:21] Frankie Grande: I was uh Conrad Birdie. Of course you were uh Carvers in fifth grade um in my gold lame suit with my um with the hedge the glamour shots that were taken at the Boca Raton Town Center Mall um to hang all over the stage um and my mom got me a dirt bike to drive on stage with like it was quite the spectacular production. So um how did a Jersey kid get cast in the Boca Raton Town Center production?

[16:59] Frankie Grande: Because I moved to Boca.

[17:01] Eva: Okay got it.

[17:01] Frankie Grande: I was like were you were you found through like like a nationwide casting call.

[17:08] Frankie Grande: Yes exactly they were like seeking Conrad Birdie um must be 10 years old and uh preferably of New York descent yeah no it was um I moved and I was 10 years old to Boca Raton um Pinecrest school is where I went and uh they had community uh you know they had um extracurricular theater program. Um, and I was like, well, I this might as well sign up for auditions. And my favorite, I love telling the story because uh when I was uh auditioning, you were like, what song will you be singing? I was like, I'll be singing. I was like, I'll be singing *Wind Beneath My Wings*, my Bette Midler. And it was like, okay. And I was like, I got to the part where I was like, you are the wind beneath my wings. And I remember the director going, okay, thank you so much. And I was like, Flu. And they were like, thank you so much. And I was like, Flu against the sky. Like I didn't stop. I did the whole song. You were like, um, we're ending on my downbeat.

[18:18] Frankie Grande: Yeah, I was like, no, I was. I was like, what are you talking about? I was like, I have to say the whole four-minute song because I had to do both bridges, because why not?

[18:22] Eva: Why not?

[18:31] Frankie Grande: You you don't you don't you don't do 16 bars of *Wind Beneath My Wings* when you're talking about it?

[18:36] Eva: No, absolutely not.

[18:37] Frankie Grande: I had to do the bridge. Duh. I love it. Was it the full production of *Bye Bye Birdie* or like a kid's junior version?

[18:46] Frankie Grande: Um, I'm pretty sure it was the full production.

[18:49] Eva: Nice.

[18:50] Frankie Grande: Yeah. Um, because it was uh whatever it was, it was all of middle school, so I guess it went to eighth grade.

[18:56] Eva: Wow.

[18:57] Frankie Grande: And you were only in fifth grade and you got the lead.

[19:00] Eva: Yeah, I got the lead, I know.

[19:01] Frankie Grande: It was a big deal.

[19:03] Eva: Whoa.

[19:03] Frankie Grande: It was a big deal. Um, I remember I sang everything in octave up, which was like terrifying. Like, I can't imagine. I was like, I was like, there are chicks, I'm just from some kissing, and I need to kiss me a few. Like, that's crazy. I can't even imagine. And you were the new kid. So you got the kid.

[19:24] Eva: Yeah.

[19:25] Frankie Grande: Oh my god. How many like 12 and a half pre-pubescent boys did you piss off by moving to town, getting the lead, and stealing Conrad from under them?

[19:38] Frankie Grande: You don't know this, but I played Mrs. Peterson when I was 13.

[19:45] Eva: Oh my god.

[19:48] Frankie Grande: We have to revive it.

[19:50] Eva: Let's go.

[19:51] Frankie Grande: We do. We do. She, in my version, she was very Jewish.

[19:56] Eva: I love that.

[19:57] Frankie Grande: And she flirted a lot with Conrad.

[20:00] Eva: It was inappropriate.

[20:01] Frankie Grande: Oh, I love that. No, it's not inappropriate. I think it's part of it. He's a sex magnet, he brings it out of everyone.

[20:09] Eva: Oh my god.

[20:10] Frankie Grande: Oh my god. I'm down to it. Maybe it was inappropriate because we were 13, but I don't. I think it's fine. Whatever. I think there were just too many gyrations that I was like, you know, gyrating with.

[20:22] Eva: I think that was what was inappropriate.

[20:24] Frankie Grande: I got it. Um I can't wait. Um footage, please.

[20:33] Frankie Grande: I love your your uh your false soprano.

[20:36] Frankie Grande: Yeah, it was like a c like a little choir boy, like a British choir boy playing Conrad Birdie.

[20:43] Eva: Right, right, right, right.

[20:44] Frankie Grande: So high.

[20:45] Eva: Why so high?

[20:46] Frankie Grande: Oh god, oh god. Um, all right, first professional show.

[20:52] Frankie Grande: Um I was Boots the Monkey in *Dora the Explorer Live*. Uh that was my first equity job, and it was a tour. And uh dude was Boots the Monkey in *Dora the Explorer Live*, *Dora's Pirate Adventure*. There had been several, so I was in that one. Um, and uh it was uh the most incredible experience ever because I was the lead in a touring show. Um and it didn't matter that it was a children's show because uh you still have a lead principal equity contract. So I had a principal equity contract, and I got the craziest dressing rooms and like the craziest treatment with like dressers and things. Like I was like, I I got I will I ever get back there, like will I ever get to that list? Like literally, I was like Dolly in *Hello Dolly* at like at like 20.

Right. So it was like 21 years old, right out of college. So it was so cool to have that star treatment at that age. Um, and also get to play Boots in such a fun show. It was such a fun show, and then also to be performing to sold-out audiences, and by sold out, I mean we played Radio City 12 shows to 6,000 screaming kids.

[22:16] Eva: Like Yeah, nuts.

[22:18] Frankie Grande: I was gonna say, I think that tour, all those tours, but specifically the early Dora tours played arenas. I mean, they played major, major venues, like the top venues in America.

[22:30] Frankie Grande: Yes, we did, and it was insane to be in some of those, like historic venues. Um, like I don't think we ever performed to under 3,000 people, which was crazy. It was like, oh no, we're not gonna go to that state space, it's too small.

[22:46] Frankie Grande: Meanwhile, it was like the winter garden. Like I was like, oh, yikes, okay. So you were 21. You were the lead of this giant conglomerate, and you know, and frankly, I don't care if you call it a kid show. It's a major brand. There's major money behind it in terms of its production value and its television history. It's a major brand in terms of audiences of all sorts of giant sizes paying real money for their tickets. The merch alone, I'm sure could have like financed the rest of my life. So what sort of pressure did you feel? What what sort of, you know, how was your confidence? I mean, you were you were a baby carrying that weight.

[23:35] Frankie Grande: Yeah, I was always super confident. Um, I think that was just a gift given to me by my grandfather to my mother to me. Um, and I so I didn't really feel too much pressure in terms of like I might fail. Um, and I was just so excited. I think that's what everyone always said to me. Like, even when I joined Mama Mia, uh, which was my next show on Broadway. I like everyone was always like, wow, he's just like so happy to be here. And I think that's what it was. I was just like so excited all the time. I think it was nauseating to some of the bitter jaded actors that had written in the show for a long time. And by I think, I mean, I know it was nauseating to them. Um, but I did never affected me. I was just always so happy to be doing it.

[24:24] Frankie Grande: And I remember my first show in San Antonio, Texas, as Boots the Monkey. My mom came. Um, she flew out to be with me. Um, and I just I loved it so much. Like it just I remember um the the the lights. I start so I start the show on my head in the headstand upside down, um, and then the curtain rises and it's just me on like this massive stage. So like even in Radio City, it was like just me upside down on the whole Radio City stage, um kicking my legs um in a headstand. And you know, like that's the kind of thing too. Like I you can't fall. Like you know what I'm saying? Like you have to do it.

[25:04] Frankie Grande: Well, you could, but you barely shouldn't. But you really shouldn't. Like the curtain should not go up, and it shouldn't just be your ass, you know, like staring at the audience because you fell. Right. So that was I think the most pressure was having to hold the headstand while the curtain was going up until the curtain was totally up, and then the music started, and then I can move on.

[25:25] Frankie Grande: Yeah. Um, but other than that, I was just fun. It was so much fun. Um, I would definitely do it again, except that my body would break. That was a heavily heavily tum heavy tumble tumbling track. Uh I don't I don't need to revisit that anytime soon. I'm I'm okay. I'm good. That's that's for 21-year-old Frankie.

[25:43] Eva: Exactly. We'll leave it there. How did you how did you get cast? What was the process?

[25:48] Frankie Grande: Um, I went to um a chorus call. I um I mean a principal call. Um, I for had um like uh no, actually I didn't book this through my agent. I didn't, I didn't really have anyone. I'm trying to remember now if I had a child agent. It's possible that I had a child agent. Um that I had got um I know that this is that um she was the one that gave me the call from Mama Mia, even though I went to an equity chorus call to book that.

[26:19] Frankie Grande: So I'm trying to think if it was an appointment or if it was something that I just went in. I would go to equity principal auditions a lot um in uh college because I just thought it was fun, like it was a cool thing to do.

[26:31] Eva: Yeah.

[26:31] Frankie Grande: So um I went to this equity principal audition for Dora. Um and then I got the call back and then I got the role. And I remember going back to college being like, should I take my equity card? Uh like right now, you know, and I sat down with the head of the theater department, and he was like, Well, Frankie, you're a biology major as well as a theater and dance major. And I was like, Yeah, and he was like, Are you gonna be, you know, wanting to do non-equity stuff, or are you just gonna want to go straight to Broadway?

[26:56] Frankie Grande: And I was like, Well, if I don't go straight to Broadway, I'm gonna go to med school. And he was like, Great, then take your card.

[27:07] Eva: Yeah.

[27:07] Frankie Grande: Like, and I was like, Okay, so I did.

[27:10] Eva: And so you didn't finish college?

[27:12] Frankie Grande: No, I did. It was actually my senior year when I booked it, yeah.

[27:15] Eva: Okay. And where were you for college?

[27:18] Frankie Grande: Um, Uhlenburg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

[27:21] Eva: Yes, I know it.

[27:23] Frankie Grande: Yes, it's a great school. Unbelievable theater program, unbelievable dance program, and unbelievable biology department. I I w I wish I could go back, to be honest.

[27:32] Eva: So is it safe to say that Dora was your sliding doors moment where I'd be talking to Dr. Frankie Grande right now if the job hadn't come in at that moment?

[27:44] Frankie Grande: I always say Mamma Mia was um because literally boots happened right the millisecond I graduated. Uh huh. Um, so I didn't get a chance to like go to New York and like hustle yet. Um so basically I didn't even move until after tour.

[28:02] Frankie Grande: So I had nine months after I graduated, I was on tour with Dora, and then I moved to New York. Um, and then the time that that's when I like hit the stopwatch. Yeah, it was like you have one year to get onto Broadway. Um from the time I moved to New York to the time I uh booked Mama Mia and I did it. I did it thank God.

[28:21] Frankie Grande: Because I would have I would have been an interest I I know I know a lot of doctors and I just have after I love school. I really do. I don't think I would have been as happy going to med school. Even though I definitely thought it was part of my calling for sure.

[28:39] Eva: But that that was on the docket. That was an actual idea that you wow.

[28:45] Frankie Grande: Uh-huh oh yeah I had my MCATs lined up like I was gonna take them I was complete I had all my pre-med classes done um so I all I had to do is take my M Cla cats and then go to school and apply. So it was like I was taking a year from when I graduated to get on Broadway and then I did and then I was like I guess I'm not going to med school my God and that was your own self-imposed year.

[29:10] Eva: You know no one said that to you like we'll only pay for med school if you get on broad you actually said I'm giving myself one year.

[29:17] Frankie Grande: Yeah yeah I mean I it was you know I have a very pr uh practical family you know and they're all um amazing they know they knew of my talent they were very supportive of my talent but they also never had a choice not to be because I was always so good at school.

[29:33] Frankie Grande: And that was the thing everyone's always like was was your mom like like su a stage mom or whatever. She was like no she was she just let me do whatever I wanted as long as I was coming home with straight A's you know like she was like, uh, you're she came to all my shows. She was the best cheerleader on the planet.

[29:50] Frankie Grande: Um, but like as long as I kept bringing home the A's, there was nothing that anyone could say to be like, you know what, you should probably stop with that theater stuff. Because then I'd be like, why? And they were like, actually, we have no reason.

[30:03] Frankie Grande: Right. Nothing to say to you because you have you have a 4.0 GPA and you're in more classes or courses than anyone else in your class. So uh I guess go ahead, keep going.

[30:16] Eva: You're like, I'm also a scientist, so I'm asking for proof that I can't do this, and you're not providing it.

[30:25] Frankie Grande: Exactly. So there was never really a conversation. It was always just kind of like, well, I guess you're gonna just do what you want, uh until it doesn't work.

[30:33] Frankie Grande: And basically it was like until one avenue stops leading somewhere, I will continue to go down all of them.

[30:40] Eva: Yeah, yeah.

[30:41] Frankie Grande: Oh my god, Dr. Grande.

[30:41] Eva: I yeah, right.

[30:42] Frankie Grande: I love it.

[30:43] Eva: I love it. You mentioned your grandfather a few minutes ago.

[30:46] Frankie Grande: You said the confidence that my grandfather had that went to my mother that went to me. What was he a performer? What what was what what where was his confidence manifested that made you see that and feel that?

[30:58] Frankie Grande: Well, grandpa kind of um was a self-made man, which was amazing. And uh, you know, he started with nothing and created kind of like you know, the grande empire, um, all by himself, uh, within a period of a few years of just unbelievable hard work in New York City.

[31:16] Frankie Grande: Um, and uh he was a businessman, which was you know amazing, then turned into he was a so salesman turned, businessman turned venture capitalist, um, and he did it all himself.

[31:28] Frankie Grande: Uh, but there was this as a level of confidence that it takes to do that, you know, to walk up to um some of the highest people in the business and and say, you know what, I'm the best person for this.

[31:38] Frankie Grande: Like I'm the best person for this job with no credentials to back it up. Um, and then have watching him like step into the own legacy that he created, um, and then passing it on to my mother.

[31:50] Frankie Grande: Um, and then who then passed it on to me in terms of our work ethic, our our desire to be um the best and our knowledge that we can be the best, you know, probably um before having achieved it, which I think is something that you can't teach.

[32:09] Frankie Grande: Like it's it for me, it just feels like it's in our blood, you know. Like we always showed up as if we had already achieved the thing that we were attempting to achieve.

[32:19] Eva: Does that make sense?

[32:20] Frankie Grande: Yeah, no, it makes a lot of sense. I mean, it's um I think it's an excellent leadership skill. I think it's what you'd find a lot of entrepreneurs and CEOs to, you know, whether they can identify that within themselves or not.

[32:34] Frankie Grande: I think they would all subscribe to that way of thinking and being. Um, because that is what you need to accomplish the unaccomplishable.

[32:46] Frankie Grande: Yeah. Exactly. It's like uh my mom always taught me like never like the only way to get to to someplace is to believe that you already belong there.

[32:58] Frankie Grande: And I think that that's how I've always lived my life, which is cool.

[33:01] Eva: Yeah, fake it till you make it.

[33:03] Frankie Grande: It's pretty much.

[33:04] Frankie Grande: Yeah, pretty much. Fake until you make it. It's like, no, it's like so you're not allowed back there. And it's like, no, I am. It's like it's like, oh, okay, you're right.

[33:13] Frankie Grande: Actually, you are. Like, thank you.

[33:15] Eva: Yeah. Is that how you got backstage to the Elton Drag concert at age seven?

[33:19] Frankie Grande: Is your like that's how I got that's how I got backstage everywhere when I was a kid. Everywhere. I would walk straight backstage of any theater.

[33:31] Frankie Grande: I remember doing it so clearly. Um to um in Annie Get Your Gun with Bernardette Peters. Yes. There was there was a stage. There was a door at the marquee on the right, which with one usher guarding.

[33:44] Frankie Grande: And I just walked straight through and he let me walk right by because I just had so much confidence. I just like literally was like, I was like, hello, opened the door, walked in, waited outside Bernardette Peter's dressing room until she came out.

[33:56] Frankie Grande: I can't speak to post-COVID times, but in pre-COVID times, listeners, that's the trick to getting backstage in a Broadway house. Just walk. Look like you belong.

[34:07] Frankie Grande: Yeah, it does look like you belong and walk. Like it's like literally like, don't I? I was like, yeah. Walk. And just greet the guard, greet the usher. Just be like, hey, good to see you. Open. Walk straight through. Right. You know, same thing with the VIP section in a club. You know, just go. It's like, yo, man, good to see you, man. I'm with the band. I'm with the band. Are you opening this or am I stepping over? Like, come on.

[34:37] Eva: Oh my god, I love that. Oh, your grandfather sounds amazing. Is he still with us?

[34:41] Frankie Grande: No, he passed away of cancer a few years back. I was actually, it's 2000 and uh, uh, sixteen when I was on Big Brother.

[34:51] Eva: 14, 15?

[34:52] Frankie Grande: Oh my god. What year is it? There's three days in a week: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Don't even talk to me about three years ago.

[35:00] Eva: 14.

[35:01] Frankie Grande: 14 is 14.

[35:02] Eva: Oh, okay, good. Oh my god. Um, well, wow, I'm glad you have that lineage and you are who you are. So we get to be in your life.

[35:10] Frankie Grande: Thank you.

[35:12] Eva: I'm happy you are in my life, too. Cool. Fourth question is a question you know quite well. It's dream time.

[35:19] Frankie Grande: Yeah.

[35:20] Eva: If you could be in any show, anywhere, at any time, even in history, what would it be?

[35:30] Frankie Grande: Well, I've never really opened the parameters like that whenever I get asked this question. So I feel like now I need to like continue with my scope. Like, you know, I think a dream role for me right now that I like desperately want to do is Hedwig. Like I have to play Hedwig somewhere at some point at some time. Um, I think that would be so fun and so amazing. Uh, let's see if it was any time. Um, okay, let's see. Can I say that my dream role is Alpha Bow?

[36:01] Eva: Yes.

[36:02] Frankie Grande: Okay, good. That's what I want. I mean, because I never really I've always like, what role could I actually play like tomorrow? But like if I could net like I want to actually play Alpha Bow one day. I want it in my key, and I want to like scream "Defying Gravity." You know what I'm saying? I think I would be so fun.

[36:17] Eva: Yeah, but I kind of believe your key is the key based on how we know you sing uh mezzo soprano.

[36:25] Frankie Grande: My chest goes to a C, and I think that belt goes to like a D or an E. So I would just need a slight adjustment. That's all. But yeah, I can belt a C on a real good day, so that's fine.

[36:40] Eva: We could we know it's maybe one step. Do me like one step, maybe a step and a half. It depends on if it's an E.

[36:46] Frankie Grande: If it's an E, we need to take it to C.

[36:48] Eva: That's it.

[36:49] Frankie Grande: That's it. I think it's an E.

[36:50] Eva: So two steps down.

[36:51] Frankie Grande: Perfect, ready to go. I love it. I love it. Steven O'Rimas, call me. Let's go.

[36:56] Eva: He's listening.

[36:56] Frankie Grande: Let's go. He's a big fan of...

[36:58] Eva: I love Steven so much.

[37:00] Frankie Grande: He loves the show. He's a huge fan of it. I don't think he's ever heard of it. But yeah, maybe he will. But I'll text it to him when it comes out, and then he'll hear it. And then we will be like, oh, you want to play Alpha Bow? No idea. I'm working on the arrangements right now to lower it by two steps.

[37:15] Eva: I love it. I love it. So those are our four questions, but we do have a surprise section.

[37:21] Frankie Grande: What?

[37:23] Eva: I know. I know. It is a lightning round.

[37:28] Frankie Grande: What?

[37:28] Eva: Uh-huh. And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna say the name of the lyric, and you are gonna tell me the name of the musical.

[37:35] Frankie Grande: Oh my god, this is so fun. Ready?

[37:39] Eva: Uh-huh. It only takes a moment for your eyes to meet, and then your heart.

[37:45] Frankie Grande: Hello, Dolly.

[37:46] Eva: Perfect. Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams.

[37:55] Frankie Grande: What is wrong with me? I can't think of the show that it's from. Come out of Merry Go Round.

[38:01] Eva: No.

[38:01] Frankie Grande: Oh, Carousel.

[38:03] Eva: Everybody loves a winner, so nobody loves me. Lady peaceful, lady happy. That's what I long to be.

[38:09] Frankie Grande: All the odds are in my favor, Cabaret.

[38:13] Eva: Somebody crowd me with love. Somebody force me to care.

[38:18] Frankie Grande: Somebody who's a little company?

[38:21] Eva: Yes. Well, someone tell me. When is it my turn? Don't I get a dream from?

[38:26] Frankie Grande: Dream myself.

[38:27] Eva: Starting now. It's gonna be my Gypsy.

[38:29] Frankie Grande: Exactly. You did great. That's it. You got every one of them.

[38:34] Frankie Grande: Oh my god. I got all of them. Wow, that's crazy. I love it. I love it. Frankie, you produced a couple Broadway shows. Will you tell me like how that happened and how you got into that and what that was like for you?

[38:49] Frankie Grande: Yes. And so when I was making the decision to leave Mamma Mia, because oh my God, I was in it for three years. And I mean, I know people stay in that show for eight, nine, thirteen years.

[39:21] Eva: What's next?

[39:22] Frankie Grande: Yeah, three years was a beautiful time to be in that show. So I left. And when I was doing that, I was just like assuming I was gonna book another Broadway show. Um, but I got sidetracked by my friend who was like, do you want to produce Hamlet with Jude Law? And I was like, yes, I do. Like, of course I do. Like, why wouldn't I want to do that? Um, and so I, you know, raised the money to become a partner on that show, and it was an amazing roller coaster. And then I did the same thing for La Bette, and La Bette was, you know, so Hamlet was a mega hit. Uh, La Bette was a mega wash, but critically unbelievably well received. Um, and then I did Born Yesterday, which was a mega flop. So I had my whole product, like I had my whole producer experience in three in like two and a half years, I would say.

And then I was like, great, I did that. I was like, cool. I have my I was a Broadway producer. I had my hit, my critically acclaimed Tony nominated magic, and then my flop. And I was like, wonderful, gotta go.

[40:24] Eva: You did your megas.

[40:25] Frankie Grande: You didn't know.

[40:26] Eva: Yeah, I got my megas, and I was like, that's good. We're out of there. Um, got it, got it. And do you feel like you want to return to that?

[40:35] Frankie Grande: Um, I think what I want to do now more is more producing in film and TV. So when you're producing in film and TV, you sometimes you're the writer. Sometimes you're, you know, if you're the executive producer of a television show, then you're very involved in the film.

[40:49] Eva: You created it, yeah.

[40:50] Frankie Grande: Yeah, so it's like that's the kind of thing that I want to be more involved in.

[40:54] Eva: It feels like it can really happen for you, Frankie, and it feels like a logical next step for you. So that actually makes a lot of sense to me. And um, I can't wait to watch your first film. Invite me to the premiere.

[41:11] Frankie Grande: Yay, oh my god, please. I will, you'll be there.

[41:15] Eva: I can't wait. Good, good. Well, this was so incredible. Um, I really loved hearing about your beginnings, and I love just being cheered up for an hour with you. So thank you for that.

[41:29] Frankie Grande: Thank you.

[41:29] Eva: And um, get through this stop on the roller coaster, whatever this next couple months is for you. Um, and then you'll be back at it with hugging strangers, which I can't wait to do too.

[41:44] Frankie Grande: Yeah, you're an utter delight, Frankie. Thank you for this today.

[41:47] Frankie Grande: And thank you. Keep shining bright, please.

[41:51] Frankie Grande: Thank you. You too. Shine bright like a Frankie, when people throw shade, shine brighter, go grinder, go home. Peace bye.

[41:57] Frankie Grande: Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three. Come with me, and you'll be in a world of pure imagination.

[42:10] Eva: Hey, hello, and you'll see My First Show is produced by Josh Altman, MEP, Dory Berenstein, and Alan Seals, and is part of the Broadway Podcast Network.

[42:22] Eva: This episode was edited by Derek Gunther. Special thanks to Leslie Papa and Whitney Holden Gore at Vivacity Media Group. For more info about the podcast, visit bpn.fm backslash my first show. Follow me on Instagram at Eva R Price.

[44:19] Frankie Grande: If you want a view, paradise simply look around and view it. Anything you want to do.

[44:31] Eva: What a change the world. There's nothing.

[44:55] Frankie Grande: To compare with your imagination. Living there. If you truly...