This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Eva: Hey, everyone. In keeping with the theme that 2022 is certainly feeling a lot like 2020, we're releasing another favorite episode with Mike Faist. We originally released this on December 8th, 2020. Mike was supposed to be prepping for the release of West Side Story at that time, and in this interview, he discusses his experience with the film's legendary director, Steven Spielberg, incredible choreographer Justin Peck, and his incomparable co-stars and Jets family. Now, the movie's out in theaters a year later than expected, and wowing audiences and critics alike, as well as having a hefty start to the awards season. Faist plays Riff, and boy, is he sensational. Please enjoy our conversation.

Hello, everyone, and welcome to this episode of My First Show. Oh, my guest, where do I start? A heartthrob, an incredibly talented individual, one of the purest and biggest hearts on Broadway and in Hollywood, a dear, dear pal, and someone I am so excited to be talking to for the next hour, Mike Faist. Welcome, Mike.

[1:35] Mike Faist: Hi, Eva. How's it going? Thank you for having me. How cool is this? Congratulations.

[1:43] Eva: Well, it turns out that when you're a Broadway producer and Broadway closes, you have some time on your hands.

[1:49] Mike Faist: Sure.

[1:54] Eva: Sure, sure, yeah. Yeah, we all have to kind of try and wear new hats at the moment, don't we?

[2:00] Mike Faist: Yeah. Yes, yes. And I love a good bowler hat, so the one I chose was the Fosse-inspired podcast.

[2:10] Eva: Very good. Very good, very good, very good. I've listened to a couple of your episodes, and I just think it's wonderful what you're doing. I don't know, super fun. I mean, you know, I'm such a huge fan of yours, and I just think you're wonderful. And so when you asked me to be on the show, it's just, oh, yeah, of course. No problem. Of course.

[2:31] Mike Faist: I appreciate that. You know, it's really just a moment to just to look back and think about, especially when the world's so dark right now, to think about yesterday and how beautiful it was to be who we were as kids and in our formative years and draw that line. So, you know, it's line drawing time, and I'm thrilled to draw yours. You know, you came into my mind, you come into my mind a lot, I will say, especially when I'm listening to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack. But you came into it most recently because I had a meal with both my mom and your godmother a few weeks ago, and, you know, she let me know how you're doing. And as I start every episode and every conversation these days, how are you doing?

[3:26] Mike Faist: That's an interesting question, isn't it?

[3:31] Mike Faist: Well, I mean, it's, well, it's so crazy, you know, how the two of us are connected, because we were connected, of course, in our industry and through Dear Evan Hansen, and that's really how we met. And then we kind of found out through that, that, oh, we have this other connection randomly through our families, you know, and our people who, you know, matter a lot to us in our lives. And, you know, and so it's kind of like this really cool thing. How am I doing?

[4:03] Mike Faist: Safe space.

[4:04] Mike Faist: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I'm, you know, I'm very fortunate. It's, I mean, everyone, everyone's been having a crazy time and trying to wrap their mind around what any of this is, or what we're supposed to do about it. And it's kind of this strange in-between place of waiting sometimes, you know, it kind of feels like we're just kind of on pause and sitting and waiting. And then at the same time, we're, I don't know, we're trying to take advantage of the moment a little bit. Maybe do things, try new hats on, or, you know, do things that never really occurred to us before. Yeah, I don't know, you know, I mean, for me personally, it's the pause has been nice to kind of step away from our industry in a little bit and just kind of be a person.

[5:04] Eva: Yeah, which we forget about.

[5:06] Mike Faist: Totally, totally, you know, so I've taken advantage of it as much as I could. I've done a bunch of driving around the country, actually, and just, yeah, I've been camping and just seeing different parts of this country. And just been, I don't know, sitting down and just seeing the different areas and different people and what people are, how examining like how people are reacting right now, because of all of this. And it's fascinating. I mean, it's, I don't know, it's, it's super fascinating. I have, it's kind of like I'm doing my own little, John Steinbeck travels with Charlie a little bit. I like just packed the car and I have my dog and we're just like going around and seeing this country in this lens right now.

[6:07] Eva: And what has been the most surprising thing that you've witnessed?

[6:12] Mike Faist: You know, I think I didn't really fully realize just how vast and broad this country really is. I mean, if you really think about it, it's kind of a miracle that this is a single country. It's so crazy, because, you know, like the, the, I don't know, I like I stopped. And there's a, there's a place in New Mexico called Pie Town, New Mexico. And literally Pie Town, New Mexico only consists of like two general stores that sit right next to each other that sell pies. Like that's it, you know, and it's a really, really, really small town. And I think it's just off like old Route 66. So it used to be, I think, much more popular kind of quick place to stop for drivers that needed a restroom break and wanted a cup of coffee and a slice of pie.

And, you know, I was talking to one of the shop owners and seeing how they were doing. They're like, yeah, it's not great. It's not great. You know, but you know, they're doing their best. And I think overall, everyone's kind of just being positive and just making do and, I don't know, just doing what they can to keep on keeping on. You know, but I mean, the people it's, I don't know, it just I never, I never really understood, I guess, just the vastness of everything and how different every little section of this country is, you know, and the people in Pie Town, New Mexico need different things than, you know, the Hasidim in Williamsburg. And like, you know, it's, we just don't realize that we don't. I don't know. I don't know. It's just been interesting.

[8:10] Eva: Yeah, I mean, one of the things that I think this pandemic has taught us is that we are more connected than we ever knew and ever faced. And, frankly, more similar than we ever knew and ever faced. And that adventure that you've been going on is kind of the perfect microcosm for what the world is going through is, you know, I had no idea about this. So it's fascinating to hear. But it's making me think that you are, you are going through different cities in different states, and you're realizing that there are so many differences, yet so much connecting us all because we are still one America, we're one Earth. Yeah, we're one civilization. And absolutely. So much divides us, but we're actually all more alike, then, then, then we realize, I think, yeah, the Borat movie sort of tells you that story. I don't know if you've seen the new movie.

[9:16] Mike Faist: No, I have not yet. I have not yet. But it's it is. And it's really like, it's truly a miracle. It's a miracle that this is a United States of America. It's really like, it's, it's kind of unfathomable that like it operates at all. Well, as we talk about this one America, let's let's turn back to little Mike Faist, who grew up in Ohio, if we want to talk about like, the state that sort of is a referendum on the country and all it can be. Tell us about your upbringing and tell us about the first show you ever saw.

[9:51] Mike Faist: Well, um, I mean, I had a I had a great upbringing. I was adopted from birth to my mother and my father who raised me and my older sister who is about eight or eight to nine years, depending on where we are in the year, you know, older than me. And then, and then there was my godmother, and her children that I also grew up with as well. And that was kind of like, that was our tribe. Those were the people that we grew up with. And, you know, they, they always, I don't know, we all really loved each other a lot. And we supported each other a lot. And of course, like, family dynamics are weird. And you know, everyone's like, you know, nothing's perfect, and what have you. But I always, I grew up watching old MGM films.

And, you know, I kind of fell in love with Gene Kelly. And I just remember pestering my mom to get me into dance classes, you know, at like a young age. And I feel like I can't really remember exactly maybe what the first live show I ever saw was. But I do think that my first Broadway show in New York was, I think, maybe Fosse. Yeah, interesting, right? And I think, like, I remember going back home one time and looking through old playbills. And I saw Chris Catelli's photo in that. And later on, like, realized, and for people that don't know who Chris Catelli is, Chris is an amazing choreographer, director in the Broadway community. And he choreographed Newsies, which was my first Broadway show. You know, and that was really cool to, I don't know, see that interconnected tissue, kind of. But yeah, I think Fosse was maybe my first Broadway show. Man, it was a blast, too. It's a good first.

[12:10] Eva: Yeah, well, you know, it's super fun. And, you know, it's just, you know, these awesome, awesome numbers and celebrating this artist's life and whatnot. So yeah, yeah, yeah. That's really the first one I can remember.

[12:22] Mike Faist: Yeah. No, I have a couple questions about that. So first off, you are not the first guest of my first show to pull out a Broadway playbill years later of their first show they ever saw and realize they have worked with someone in it.

[12:36] Eva: Yeah, yeah. How do you think that makes the person that was in the playbill feel?

[12:43] Mike Faist: Well, Barrett Wilbert-Weed had that same experience with Cary Butler when she realized on our show that her first show was Beauty and the Beast, which she then starred with Cary Butler in Mean Girls with. So that was hilarious. And I love this idea about you and Gattelli having that connection. We are big Gattelli fans around here.

[13:07] Mike Faist: Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's wonderful, truly. He's the best. But I'm so fascinated that your first Broadway show was a dance-based show, because we know you best, I should say, as brooding...

[13:24] Eva: That's what I was about to say. I forgot literally what I was about to say. Brooding actor.

[13:32] Mike Faist: Brooding, beautiful, soulful actor, because you do it so well. And I think everyone who either knows you personally or is guessing about you from hearing you right now is like, he's a very joyful dude. So talk to me about your love of dance and classic musical theater and that world of MGM and how the roles you play are actually often the opposite of that.

[14:01] Mike Faist: I know. It's really interesting. I don't know what that's about. It really is interesting. I think there's just, as a kid, there was just such an amazing escapism, especially within those older MGM films. They're so, I don't know, they're magical. And I think those films, they were live. They were doing it. It's not like how movies are made today. And even later, I'm maybe not even going that far back, but then looking at movies like Indiana Jones.

[15:40] Mike Faist: Like in children's theater and things, that's the most, I think that's the most popular kind of maybe availability for younger people. And the most like interesting, I think, for younger people to musical theater, because there is all of those elements of, you know, song, dance, and acting as well. And then, I think, um, I don't know, I think it was really when I moved to New York, and I started studying the conservatory program and meeting my teachers and my peers. And I started to really become interested in humans. And like, especially, especially humans that are deeply, deeply, deeply flawed. And what makes them human, kind of like why they are the way that they are. And I don't know, there's just something.

There's something that draws me to that. Yeah. And that was, I think that was really, I don't know, that was the thing that really attracted me most to Dear Evan Hansen, too, is because, you know, I think it was very easy for people to just say, Oh, so Connor is a bully, because, you know, we all fall in love with Evan Hansen and Ben's character so easily. And that's in part because of Ben and his performance. And that's in part because of Steven and his writing, and obviously, Benj and Justin and their music and just everything about that character. And it's very easy as an audience member to just say, Oh, that kid's the bully, that kid's getting picked on, you know. And then you kind of, what I loved about Dear Evan Hansen is that we show that, like, it's not that, it's not, that's not the, that's not the whole story.

You know, and not everybody, not everybody gets that. But maybe they feel that on like a subconscious level, or they're able to, I don't know, feel something. But I just, I don't know, I think for me, what's so interesting is to just like, to just pose a question to an audience. Yeah. You know, and also not, not shove any sort of message down their throat, but simply just like, ask a question. Yeah. You know, it's important to me. Yeah. That's what good storytelling is.

[18:11] Eva: What was the first show you were in?

[18:12] Mike Faist: Hmm. I think, I think the first show I was in was Wizard of Oz. And I played one of the, the Munchkin Guild guys, the Lollipop Guild, that's what it is. You know, I was, I was doing, you know, wore like, goatee and a mustache at like, eight years old and had crazy bushy eyebrows and rosy cheeks. And I was like, you know, this crazy, I don't know, Benjamin Button, tiny man, you know, it was like, you know, and yeah, that was, that was one of my, I think that was my first show was being Munchkin in the Lollipop Guild.

[18:55] Eva: Do you remember which solo line you had?

[18:59] Mike Faist: No, couldn't tell you. Do they, do they have solo lines? I don't even, oh my goodness. Yeah, they would step forward and they would sing, not all of them, not all the Lollipop Guild, but some of the Lollipop Guild would step forward and, and if I'm remembering correctly, it's been a while. Well, then I, if that's the case, then I probably didn't have one. So I, you know, it's okay.

[19:27] Eva: You did okay.

[19:29] Mike Faist: I did all right. I blended in really well. Yeah. I think that was, I think that was probably my first show was maybe like eight or eight, nine or 10 years old doing Wizard of Oz.

[19:43] Eva: And where, was that a community theater or school?

[19:45] Mike Faist: Yeah, yeah. It was children's theater, community children's theater in Ohio, in Ohio, in Columbus.

[19:52] Eva: Ah, nice, nice, nice. And so what, so what was your first professional show then?

[20:01] Mike Faist: So I moved to New York at 17 and I was going to a conservatory program. And then I dropped out of that conservatory program and was just doing odd jobs. And I wasn't really auditioning. I was kind of too terrified to audition and put myself out there. And it was a friend of mine that kind of dragged me kicking and screaming to an audition. And it was funny enough, White Christmas at a dinner, dinner theater in Ohio, back in Ohio.

[20:41] Eva: Oh my God, you're coming to New York to go back to Ohio?

[20:44] Mike Faist: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was, I did that holiday season. I did White Christmas as an ensemble member in a, at a dinner theater in Ohio. And I lived in the back of a McDonald's parking lot and I got paid like 200 bucks a week. And then I was collecting like food stamps at the same time. And that's what I did. That was my first gig.

[21:13] Eva: Wow. Wow. Non-equity, I'm imagining.

[21:20] Mike Faist: No, no, no. No way. No way.

[21:27] Eva: And that was the start of kind of your Gene Kelly, MGM fascination?

[21:33] Mike Faist: Yeah. I mean, well, it was, I think, I don't know, I like stepped away from dancing for such a long time. And then there was these little things that were making me dance again. And then after that, I did a series of three different shows in New Hampshire at a small theater there.

[21:46] Eva: Which theater?

[21:48] Mike Faist: It was the Palace Theater in New Hampshire.

[21:51] Eva: In Concord, New Hampshire?

[21:53] Mike Faist: Manchester.

[21:54] Eva: Manchester, New Hampshire. I am from near there. So I went to a lot of those theaters.

[21:58] Mike Faist: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah. So this was in Manchester and it was, I don't know, it was a series of three different shows. Two were 42nd Street and Hairspray. And then the third one was this show called The Four Piano Men, which was like this dance song medley of, who was it? Stevie Wonder, Queen, Billy Joel and Elton John of just like all their hits. And so like it was what? Two hours of just straight dance your face off to awesome rock music. Yeah. And that's kind of, I got, I was like dancing for a while and I was just in the ensemble. And for a while I was just thinking, well, this is my way in, you know, I'm a okay enough dancer where they're getting me into, I'm getting ensemble jobs. And then after New Hampshire, I booked Newsies where I, that's what I was doing. I was in the ensemble of that. But yeah.

[23:05] Eva: And so that was kind of like my way in was through dance.

[23:08] Mike Faist: Yeah. Which is kind of exciting. And I guess predestined that your major movie arrival is going to be in the film of West Side Story, which is the dance musical of our generation, of all generations, frankly, of American musical theatres generation. So like booking that, did that just blow your mind?

[23:38] Mike Faist: Yeah. I mean, it was, I don't know, it was kind of crazy because I just, I was doing a, I was doing a play. So I was done with Dear Evan Hansen. And now I was doing another Steven Levenson play actually off Broadway at second stage called Days of Rage. And that was a play about basically the weather underground, the weatherman underground during the 1960s. And the, you know, there's a couple, yes, more brooding, more brooding. This is more satirical, which I appreciate. But yeah, I remember, I remember we were in production for that. And I just remember my agent calling me and being like, Hey, so they want you to come in and they want you to dance with all the guys. And I had like submitted a tape prior, I don't know, four months before that or something like that.

And I just remember being like, oh crap, because I hadn't danced. I hadn't danced at that point now in like eight years. And I was like, oh my god, you know, it's gonna be all these amazing dancers, and then me, and I'm just going to make a fool out of myself. This is gonna not end well. And so I remember even asking, like, is there a way we can like not have to dance? They're like, no, you gotta dance, man. It's West Side. And so I'm an actor who moves. That's really how I felt. But I remember it was, I went in to the audition. And the choreographer for West Side is Justin Peck, who's-

[25:37] Eva: No big deal.

[25:39] Mike Faist: No big deal. Oh my gosh, he's wonderful. I mean, I know, I didn't know who he was, you know, I thought, you know, the choreographer, he's close to my age. And we kind of have very similar body types. We're both tall and kind of all arms and legs. And so I started, like, seeing him move and seeing what the movement was. And I honestly, I think I lucked out because Justin and I are similar body types, the way he choreographs and what his movement is. I felt like, oh, I can do this. I can not only I can do this, but I can do it, I think, well.

[26:19] Eva: You can embody the movement in the way it's meant to be.

[26:22] Mike Faist: I think so. I really, I benefited by having Justin as the choreographer. Not only is he brilliant as that, and he was also extremely willing to listen to me and hear pushback from me in moments and pose a lot of questions and do what I wanted to do. And so I think that's what I learned from him. He was also, him and his partner, Patricia, are just the two kindest people ever. And they were extremely patient with me, not only as from a creative point of view, but from, oh, you know, teaching me the movements and getting me comfortable with it. Yeah, I totally lucked out with that. And, you know, I would never, I would never ever say I'm an amazing dancer. I don't think that at all. I really don't. And I don't think that that's the case in this either. But I know that those boys, man, they're just incredible. And not only are they incredible dancers, but they're amazing storytellers and just amazing, amazing artists.

[27:39] Eva: I mean, I imagine like everyone listening to this podcast, you grew up and loved the original West Side Story film. So how much pressure and, and struggle did you have recreating that film every day in throughout that process, knowing that you were going to be the next hundred years version of Riff, the way, I'm blanking on that actor's name, but I can see his face perfectly.

[28:10] Mike Faist: Russ Tamblyn.

[28:11] Eva: Russ Tamblyn created that for all the generations before us.

[28:17] Mike Faist: Yeah, yeah. You know, I just, I just, I couldn't think about that. I remember, this was our first day of rehearsal. I remember I grabbed all of the jets and I took them out and we went to grab a beer. And, you know, we got, I don't know, tacos and just a bunch of food. And we just sat down and I remember kind of like, really, we, you know, we're all just messing around and hanging out. And then I just remember like stopping and I told everyone and I said to them, Hey, you know, listen, this is, this is our version. Like, this is our chance to, we have, like, we have to take ownership of this. And because it's us at the end of the day, now it's us. So it's our version and it's your version and what you want to do. And kind of from that day, those boys immediately

[30:19] Mike Faist: And they're codependent. And they're, you know, it's, it's unhealthy. And it's but it's, it's everything that they know. And it's all filled with love and fear. And that's where we lived. We lived that for that year, for the entirety of that year. That's where we lived. And I don't know that it was it was immersed. Yeah, everything is everything I kind of hoped to do as an actor. Yeah, I mean, not to be too poetic, but you danced on a razor's edge, it sounds. Doing that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, learned you, you know, in the future life, you could be a gang leader. Yeah, who knows? Yeah, I don't know. I never, I guess, to really answer that question. I never, I let go of any pressure to have to be any sort of way.

And I just remember being, this is who I think this person is, this is what I think he's thinking. And this is it, you know, and this is this is everything that I want to do. And, you know, I'm just gonna run with that. Yeah. And, you know, trust that the powers that be are going to point me in the right direction too. And, and they did, you know, we just they just let me run wild.

[31:56] Eva Price: I'm not gonna ask you what it's like to work with Steven Spielberg, the legend, because everyone else I'm sure has asked you that question. Yeah, but how is it? Just something surprising or some like, is there a story from set? I mean, come on. It's Steven. And I told you, we can swear here. It's Steven Spielberg.

[32:22] Mike Faist: I know, it really is. It really is. I mean, here's the thing about Steven. And it, Steven is, I said, I said this, when we were doing at the towards the tail end of our shooting, we were doing these little EPK interview things. And, I mean, here's a guy who, who is he is Steven Spielberg. And he is kind of like King Midas, anything he touches turns to gold. And he has everything. He has everything. And none of that matters. He is like this person who is filled with joy and love. And he just loves what he does. And he loves what he's working on. And he treats it with the utmost care, and love and respect. And there's no agenda. There's nothing. It's just, it's just the pureness of doing the thing.

And that was it. And that was contagious, and infectious. And I mean, truly, like West Side, we were in a cult. We all got we all drank the juice, and we got converted. And we had a crazy experience. And then we had to like, leave that world. And here we are in a pandemic. And wait an extra freaking year to have it come out and live it. I know.

[34:01] Mike Faist: Yeah, I mean, but Steven, Steven is I mean, Steven. Yes, he's a he's a master storyteller. And yes, he's an amazing director. And as you know, he's, he's shaped this industry. And yes, he's done all of these things. But at the end of the day, Steven's just a guy who loves what he does. Steven's just a guy who's like trying to pursue art, and art that makes him happy and art that wants that there are stories that he wants to tell. It's really simple. Yeah, it's really, really simple. And, you know, I think, for a lot of people, especially people that are trying to, I don't know, get their foot in the door and start and make things happen for them. You know, that that feeling like never, I don't think it ever goes away.

I think that's like always this constant of, well, what's next? And like, how can I move forward? And what do we have to do? And I think, for this person, here's this guy who has an abundance of everything. There's this art in letting go of having to feel the need to do something. And just paying attention to what feels good, what feels right. And I think he's mastered that. And I mean, it's really, I don't know, it was just, it was an amazing thing to just observe him do that and just be him.

[35:30] Mike Faist: It's dream time. If you could be in any show, anywhere, at any time, what would it be?

[35:38] Eva Price: Oh, man. If I could be in any show, anytime, anywhere, what would it be? I don't know, man. Maybe, maybe, maybe it would be like, I don't know, Sunday in the Park with George is pretty amazing. If I were to like, do that. So you know, if I could, as George, replace the beautiful Mandy Patinkin. And now it's a bit, you know, like, no, I don't know. That's such a crazy thing to ask. I think it's more just like, it's just about chasing whatever that feeling is, like whatever we talked about prior to this. So let's create it. Let's create it right now. It's Sunday. It's with who, it's where. Let's make it happen. Yeah, sure. But you know, I don't know. It's hard to say it's this one specific thing.

Because I don't know what that looks like until it just comes across. You know, and that's kind of always been the case. There's never really been for me a single, like, oh, a dream role or anything like that. There's never been that. It's just like this. I don't know. It's this unobtainable. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's this, it's this thing. It's this thing that I can't quite put my finger on. And it's this, this feeling.

[37:15] Mike Faist: Well, I'm gonna, when people ask, I'm gonna say your dream role is George Sorrento. Sunday in the Park with George. A Broadway revival, a West End revival. Let's throw you over to London.

[37:25] Mike Faist: Oh, that'd be nice. That'd be nice. That would be nice. Yeah. I don't know who your Bernadette is. But we'll think about it.

[37:34] Eva Price: We'll think about it. Absolutely.

[37:38] Mike Faist: That's great. I think, frankly, it could be, it could be Barrett Wilbert-Weed. She would be really great in that role, I think.

[37:45] Eva Price: Oh, boy.

[37:47] Mike Faist: I'm a huge, huge fan of hers. Yeah.

[37:50] Eva Price: Me too. Me too.

[37:51] Mike Faist: We were doing, we were doing Dear Evan Hansen in DC while she was doing Cabaret there as well. And she was playing Sally Bowles. And I unfortunately never got to see her do it. But I mean, she's, I just think she's an amazing, amazing actor performer.

[38:09] Eva Price: Yeah, no, me too. And that, that production and that performance of Sally is like, I didn't see it either. But it's historically beloved. And it's something I've heard about for years from lots of fans.

[38:22] Mike Faist: I would, I would, I would think so. I would think so. She's wonderful, truly.

[38:26] Eva Price: Yeah, no, I totally agree. We may have to revisit this, since you are talking to a Broadway producer who loves all five musicals and loves you and Barrett. So let's just put a pin. Put a pin.

[38:40] Mike Faist: All right, there you go. There you go.

[38:42] Eva Price: We may have to revisit this idea. All right.

[38:46] Eva Price: We're at a section of the show that we don't tell our guests. But since you've listened, and you're a longtime listener, first time caller, you might know about it. It's our musicals with themes, lightning round, where I name a classic musical, and you name the emotional theme that instinctually comes to you. And we put 30 seconds on the clock, and there's no wrong answer. And we just see where this free association game takes us. And you know, I, I in my head think, how matched up are we?

[39:23] Mike Faist: Okay, I'm nervous.

[39:25] Eva Price: Don't be nervous. Ready?

[39:29] Mike Faist: Yes.

[39:30] Eva Price: Go. South Pacific.

[39:33] Mike Faist: Oh, an emotional feeling. Oh, I don't know.

[39:38] Eva Price: Jesus Christ superstar.

[39:40] Mike Faist: Rock star.

[39:42] Eva Price: Funny girl.

[39:44] Mike Faist: Laughter.

[39:45] Eva Price: Assassins.

[39:49] Mike Faist: Greed.

[39:50] Eva Price: Oliver.

[39:52] Mike Faist: Poor.

[39:53] Eva Price: Man of La Mancha.

[39:55] Mike Faist: Dream.

[39:56] Eva Price: La Cajafal.

[39:58] Mike Faist: Oh, fun.

[40:01] Eva Price: Gypsy.

[40:04] Mike Faist: Yearning.

[40:05] Eva Price: White Christmas.

[40:08] Mike Faist: Joy.

[40:09] Eva Price: Good. You did well.

[40:11] Mike Faist: Was that good?

[40:11] Eva Price: Yes, that was good.

[40:14] Mike Faist: Is that what you're supposed to? Is that what you're supposed to do? Is that what you said?

[40:18] Eva Price: There's no wrong answer.

[40:19] Mike Faist: There's no wrong answer. It's what, it's what that title says to you. What, what then your responses and you gave an array. You gave emotional responses. You gave aesthetic responses. You gave nostalgic responses. We got it all.

[40:46] Mike Faist: We got it all here.

[40:50] Mike Faist: God, I adore you so much. And I adored this time.

[40:56] Eva Price: Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.

[40:59] Mike Faist: My pleasure. I'm just so glad. Listen, this time off has been so challenging and horrible. There's very little silver lining, but I'm glad to hear that through your experiences, both before the pandemic and now during, has found some light in your world for you.

[41:21] Mike Faist: Yeah, yeah. No, thanks. Yeah. I'm fortunate. I really, yeah, I think that there is something to be said about having to kind of force yourself to sit down and just be. It's hard. Change is hard.

[41:39] Eva Price: Yeah. But it's not, that doesn't mean it's not necessary or needed.

[41:44] Mike Faist: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I can't wait to, to everything that's next for you, including Homicide Story.

[41:51] Eva Price: And IU. And IU. Thank you.

[41:56] Mike Faist: When you're a jet, you're a jet all the way from your first cigarette to your last dying day.

[42:02] Mike Faist: My First Show is produced by Josh Altman, MEP, Dori Berenstein, and Alan Seals, and is part of the Broadway Podcast Network. 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.

[42:33] Mike Faist: Now I know Tony like I know me, and I guarantee you can count him in. Let's get cracking. Where are you going to find Bernardo?

[42:39] Mike Faist: It ain't safe to go in and be on territory. To be at the dance tonight at the gym.

[42:42] Eva Price: Yeah, but the gym's neutral territory. Hey, rab, I'm going to make nice with him. I'm only going to challenge him. Great, daddy-o.

[42:48] Mike Faist: So listen, everybody dress up sweet and sharp. Meet Tony and me at the dance at the tent. And walk tall.

[42:54] Eva Price: We always walk tall. We're jets.

[42:56] Mike Faist: The greatest.

[42:57] Mike Faist: When you're a jet, you're the top cat in town. You're a gold medal kid with a heavyweight crown. When you're a jet, you're the swing and a sting. Little boy, you're a man. Little man, you're a king. The jets are in gear. Our cylinders are clicking. The shots are clear. Because every Puerto Rican's a lousy chicken. Here come the jets like a bat. How the hell someone gets in our way? Someone don't feel so well. Here come the jets. Little world's left us. I'd better go underground. Better run, better hide. We're drawing the line. So keep your noses hidden. We're hanging a sign. The visitor's forbidden. And we ain't kidding. Here come the jets, yeah. And we're gonna beat every last bugging gang on the whole bugging street. On the whole bugging, ever-loving street.