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[0:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hello, survivors. Welcome to Survival Jobs: A Podcast in collaboration with Broadway Worlds and the Broadway Podcast Network. My name is Samantha Tuozzolo, and this is my amazing co-host, Jason A. Coombs. We're here for episode 106. Wow. Hi, Jason.

[0:22] Jason A. Coombs: That's wild.

[0:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: That is wild. 106. That's incredible. You know, time flies when you're having fun.

[0:29] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[0:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's so funny. We just wrapped our recording the episode you guys are gonna hear today, and we were chatting about, you know, when we started this thing, and you know, where we're at now, and I always have to step out of my body a little bit when we say these things because it is. We're so busy, both of us with survival jobs, with other artistic things that we're doing with this show, with life, and sometimes you really gotta take a step out and look in to see what you've done. And it's really amazing, and I'm proud of us, and I can't wait to see what's next.

[1:06] Jason A. Coombs: Well, like what the show is gonna keep transforming to the next 106. Wow.

[1:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: We'll be in season like 48. We'll be in like the senior citizen home, like recording, like writing the press offices from the senior center. Like, excuse me. For the revival of Kimberly Akimbo in like 2065.

[1:28] Jason A. Coombs: I don't know that math. I can't do that math that quick.

[1:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: And that was our guest today, too. You guys, you'll see. Hey Jason, what's your temperature check in form of a play or a musical?

[1:40] Jason A. Coombs: I know I've done this before, but you know, the way the world is, it's giving Ragtime, it's giving Little Brother, it's giving Burn It All Down because this is insane.

[1:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: But it is insane.

[1:52] Jason A. Coombs: It's so sad. But we're trying to be optimistic. We're trying to just, at least I'm just trying to be the person and be the energy that I want in the world. So I'm trying to be positive and hopeful, and yeah, but it's hard, it's hard. We're living in some tumultuous, scary, unfortunately.

[2:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I'll keep it brief. How about you?

[2:27] Jason A. Coombs: Well, Ragtime is coming to the City Center. I know we have to go. And their girl from The Wiz, and her name is slipping my mind, is replacing, I believe, the Joy who—what? I'm stuttering, but you know, so yeah. So everyone stay tuned. Maybe we'll go live from City Center with Ragtime.

[2:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Not even gonna—I don't even bother.

[2:51] Jason A. Coombs: I do love some Ragtime.

[2:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: I know. Me, you, and Joaquin gotta go.

[2:56] Jason A. Coombs: Oh yeah, we did manifest Ragtime with Jackim on his episode.

[3:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, Jackim Hart, check it out, people. My temperature check is, you know, in Dear Evan Hansen, where it's like so opposite of yours, kind of, where Evan like writes the—okay, this is gonna not—okay. I'm feeling like optimistic about my life right now, my personal life, not like things surrounding me, but like I've just come out of like a very dark hole of like death and my layoff, and I feel like I'm almost back to my—I'm like no longer a shell of myself. Do you know what I mean?

[3:34] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[3:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm starting to feel like Samantha Tuozzolo again. And you know when Evan in Dear Evan Hansen, when Evan lies and like writes these letters and he's starting to like get friends and like attention, and he's feeling like, oh my god, like I had a life. I have that feeling. I'm not lying or writing fake letters or making shit up like he did, I'm sure. But it's just that feeling of like hope, I think, you know, and when he starts like getting attention and dating Zoe.

[4:07] Jason A. Coombs: Uh, so that's where I'm at.

[4:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Step out, step out of the sun when you keep getting burned. Step out, step out of the sun if you keep getting burned.

[4:18] Jason A. Coombs: Ooh, was that on key?

[4:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Probably not.

[4:22] Jason A. Coombs: Good job. Audition for the revival.

[4:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, so we're gonna talk about this Tony book, right?

[4:32] Jason A. Coombs: I seem to know I don't have a lot of things. Our friend Isla sent us this book back in Tony season. It's called The Tony Awards by Eila Mell with a foreword by, drumroll please, Audra McDonald, who is going to be obviously starring in Gypsy this season. This book is so amazing. Jason and I were just taking a look through it before we started recording, and it's just any Broadway lover's dream to read this book. For example, let me just flip to a random page and read a little something.

[5:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: Donna Murphy. Donna Murphy says on page 125, "We're talking about my childhood dream of a life in the theater not only coming true, but being celebrated by esteemed peers and colleagues. I will never forget my experiences performing and being honored at the Tony Awards." And it goes on and on. And guys, I straight up did just randomly open a page and read that, and like hello, Donna Murphy, and like photos and Tony Award history and quotes.

[5:41] Jason A. Coombs: No, it has like all the winners of every year.

[5:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Acceptance speech quotes.

[5:46] Jason A. Coombs: Sorry, cut you off.

[5:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's okay. No, it's true. It's amazing. It's a really awesome book. And by the way, Jason, this is a good guideline for us for our trivia games.

[5:55] Jason A. Coombs: It really is. We could just use this book versus Googling.

[6:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh, you know, best musical history at the Tony Awards. That's what I did for this week's episode. So it's actually, it's really great, you guys. Definitely check it out. As we are, you know, it's never too early to start Tony buzz. And I know already Tony buzz is going around for this season. I believe even last episode I was like, give Nicole the Tony. So like, yeah, it's never too early to talk Tonys.

[6:25] Jason A. Coombs: So I just love all the pictures. It's like, I mean, of course, you want to read the book for the actual text, right?

[6:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Right.

[6:32] Jason A. Coombs: Right. There's just so much history. Like, there's a picture of Madonna at the 1988 Tony Awards. I was like, wait, what? Madonna was at the Tony Awards, you know? Like, it's just so cool to have the history all together in one nice big, beautiful—how many pages is this?

[6:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: A lot.

[6:49] Jason A. Coombs: This is a heavy book. 300-page book. It's like a nice, beautiful coffee table book. You know, you have it at your house. You know, you invite your friends over, your fellow theater nerds and gays, and you guys look over the Tony Award—

[7:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: My screen's blurry. You hold it up, but I think it's so wonderful.

[7:04] Jason A. Coombs: Theater nerds and gays. I love that. That's the bold quote of this episode.

[7:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: The theater nerds and gays.

[7:11] Jason A. Coombs: Yes. Shout out to Ayala. She's such a wonderful person. Thank you for doing what you do, girl.

[7:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: And thank you for our book.

[7:19] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. And it did, you know, Jason and I going back to what we were just talking about, being really busy and overwhelmed, and this and that and this, like, we got these books a while ago, and it sort of just, you know, we just had the headspace to really dive into it. So sometimes we just need to take our time, and we appreciate this book. And we love the Tonys, and we love Broadway.

[7:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: We do love the Tonys, and we do love Broadway. Jason, so this past weekend you saw Water for Elephants.

[7:52] Jason A. Coombs: I'm so happy I saw that. I keep saying this. I think we said it before the mic, before we turned the mics on. And we said during the episode, like, where were we when we had Izzy on? And it was so great. She's so wonderful. And she literally like kills that role. Like, she's so talented. She is iconic and so wonderful. And the show was great. Like, it's such a beautiful show. It's so earnest. It's so animated. It gave me life. It was so beautiful to see. And like, I don't know, the circusness of it, right? It was like seeing the circusness. It was seeing the circus, and you're seeing these beautiful puppets that they're so well crafted that you like you see an animal, you know, your mind just goes there. I think that's so wonderful. And to see like the tricks and the acts and the performances, and everyone, everyone was living.

[8:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, and it was so cool because I knew Sean was gonna be our guest. So I was like, I had to make sure I find him in the play in the playbill.

[8:49] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, and I was like, okay, where is he? I found him in the ensemble, and I was like watching him the whole time, you know, because I'm like, oh, I want to see the person we're gonna be talking to.

[8:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, um, so cool. And I hope you will go see that show. It has an end date of December 8th, so you have like what, seven, seven, eight weeks to go out there and see it. Sorry, go ahead.

[8:58] Jason A. Coombs: I fucking black—no, I was just saying yeah, seven weeks. Yeah, and it's definitely—you will not be disappointed. Like, they literally do circus tricks over the audience, Samantha. Like, I was like me and my friend Elaine were just like looking up, and wow, it was fantastic.

[9:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love when two forms of art come together, right? Like theater and circus work, right? Don't always go hand in hand—acrobatics.

[9:27] Jason A. Coombs: Um, so that's really—

[9:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Clowning.

[9:27] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, I mean, I don't want to—I haven't seen it yet, which to your point, where were we? Last season was jam-packed. We were trying to do it all, and we couldn't, so we did everything we could. I'm so glad that we got to talk to Izzy and now today's episode with Sean, which you guys—wow, this episode is Sean Stack. He'll give you his favorite breakfast in addition to sharing so much wisdom about his journey. He told us about a trip he took with Julia Murney to Mexico after they closed Between the Lines, which we had Julia on the show many episodes ago, and she talked about Between the Lines, which they're literally besties. They're besties, and that's another reason why I love this show so much is, you know, it all comes back, right?

[10:31] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[10:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: And also there were a lot of similarities with Sean's story to Leanna Ray Conception, who we had as our like hi hiatus finale, whatever, like two was our last episode, mid-season hiatus. She was in Maryland. They have a lot of similarities, and so it's really beautiful, the world of theater and collaboration and friendship and stories and art and arts and art.

[11:00] Jason A. Coombs: So in conclusion, enjoy this episode with Sean Stack, and then go get your tickets to Water for Elephants right after, right after, and make sure you eat breakfast.

[11:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, every day, and you guys will see why. Sean's—make the Sean Stack, tell us how it is.

[11:16] Jason A. Coombs: Enjoy, enjoy Sean.

[11:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Welcome to Survival Jobs: The Podcast. Thank you for being on our show today.

[11:28] Sean Stack: Thanks for having me.

[11:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Of course, I was just saying, oh my god, I just got to see Water for Elephants this past weekend, and I was literally blown away, crying. I was scared because there's so much like acrobatics over the audience.

[11:42] Sean Stack: It is a tour de force.

[11:44] Jason A. Coombs: I love—yeah, literally.

[11:46] Sean Stack: Yeah, I remember the audience. Literally, I was like, oh my gosh.

[11:49] Jason A. Coombs: I'm like, how did I miss this, Samantha? I was asking you.

[11:51] Sean Stack: Jason, you got scared.

[11:54] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, there was someone flying over the audience, Samantha.

[11:57] Sean Stack: Spoiler, sorry, y'all. It's incredible. You have to see it.

[12:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wait, sorry. For full transparency. Hello, Sean, welcome.

[12:08] Sean Stack: We were chatting about like where were we? Like, we were very involved in the all last season, and then I gave multiple choice. I was like busy, tired, depressed, take your choice. But I am gonna try to get over there.

[12:21] Jason A. Coombs: But didn't Spider-Man or something have people flying out all over the audience and people like got hurt also and falling off?

[12:29] Sean Stack: Well, this is not that.

[12:30] Jason A. Coombs: This is not saying so. Praise be to Water for Elephants for slaying the game.

[12:35] Sean Stack: Slaying the flying acrobatics game. I mean, these girls are trained. They're so good at what they do.

[12:42] Sean Stack: Yeah, it's so—I mean, I don't do any of that in the show, and every time I see it, I'm like clutching my pearls. It is so—yeah, it's wild.

[12:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: You gotta have the pearls.

[12:53] Sean Stack: Yeah, gorgeous though. Gorgeous. I mean, yeah, I'm so glad you got to see it. It's an amazing show. It's a really show, so unique. I feel very lucky to be a part of it.

[13:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, so—and it's your Broadway debut. Congratulations.

[13:07] Sean Stack: Yeah, yeah, my Broadway debut. Thank you.

[13:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. So before Water for Elephants, we're gonna go back a little bit. Do you have a memorable survival job you want to share with us?

[13:17] Sean Stack: I read on your Instagram, like math tutor, but I wasn't trying—that was like inside joke or something. I don't know. Tell us.

[13:22] Sean Stack: Yeah, no, it's actually not. I am—okay. So when I first moved to New York, I got hired as a high school algebra teacher, which you can do in New York because private schools don't require a teaching certificate, a teaching degree.

[13:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh wow.

[13:43] Sean Stack: And when I—I was living in Miami, Florida, which is where I'm from, over the pandemic before I had moved to the city. And my mom, who was a high school counselor before she retired, she hooked me up with a friend of hers who owned like a tutoring company. So then I started doing that when I was living back in Miami. And then I got really into it, and then I moved to the city, and it's like, okay, like I didn't want to be an actor, but like that's obviously hard, and I need to pay my bills, and so I'm like, what am I gonna do? And then I started applying to teaching jobs, and then I got this job at a private high school teaching algebra, and um short-lived but memorable.

[14:30] Sean Stack: Yeah, um, like so much respect for in-classroom teachers. It is—that is a hard job. And but I really liked it, and I like math, it's exciting and it's fun, and it feels like a puzzle. And I really like working with kids, and so it ended up being like a fun thing that I got to do for a little bit. And the reason I left that job was because I got a acting job doing a musical called Between the Lines, which was at the Tony Kiser at Second Stage a couple years ago.

[15:05] Sean Stack: Yes, let's think Julia Murney in that.

[15:08] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, Julia, my girl.

[15:10] Sean Stack: Julia, we had Julia on the show chatting about that um production, so it all comes back. Julia Murney and I kind of became best friends on that show, and when the show closed, uh, I was like, hey Julia, like we need to go on a trip. So then Julia Murney and I went around Mexico for three weeks.

[15:45] Jason A. Coombs: Wait, what?

[15:46] Sean Stack: No, literally, yeah. Just me and Julia, and you know, in the moment it's like, oh, this is so fun. But reflecting back on it, it's like, I can't believe I did that. I can't believe I convinced Julia Murney at 24 years old to uh travel around Mexico. And it was the greatest month of my life. Like amazing.

[16:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's iconic. I have so many questions.

[16:08] Sean Stack: Please ask away.

[16:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean the Mexico questions for off-camera.

[16:13] Sean Stack: Okay, yeah.

[16:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah.

[16:15] Sean Stack: Also, math?

[16:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm so bad. I failed algebra.

[16:19] Sean Stack: Honestly. Mr. Stack. I just like I think I only passed math in college because I was on the poster for the play. I was on the poster for Three Sisters, and I think the math teacher felt bad for me. I got a straight up C.

[16:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. No, I'm bad at math. Like, not good. So props to you. You're like one of the first like artistic people that we've chatted with that's like good at math. So congratulations.

[16:46] Sean Stack: Uh thanks. He's like, what I'm gonna respond to that. Maybe it's like I don't feel like um Yeah. I don't know. I mean, it's like it's been good at math, but I think I'm maybe only kind of good at math. I think maybe I'm good at like memorizing, and maybe I'm good at talking to 10-year-olds and making them feel heard.

[17:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Yeah. That's a big part of it.

[17:09] Sean Stack: Yeah. And like fast forward now, I uh so whatever. So I did the show, and then uh I still was working with some people, uh, some like families that I had met in uh in Brooklyn, which is where I live. And then that sort of snowballed into like getting connected with this amazing person who uh runs this like small boutique tutoring company in Brooklyn. And now I run this like the test prep division of that. So I kind of have two careers right now like I'm obviously working on Broadway and Water for Elephants and that's uh a big part that's a huge part of my life and then when I'm not in midtown at the Imperial Theater uh I'm I am yeah running this the the test prep division of this small little tutoring company that is so amazing you we've we've had we've had other guests on the show who are on Broadway shout out Leanna Ray Conception who are also doing their survival jobs while they're on Broadway and I think it for me it's so admirable because you know you've reached this point in your career where you're like oh my god I'm on Broadway like the ultimate dream but the reality of an artist's life is that you know there's there's a closed date sometimes and then we don't know where the next Broadway show is so that's amazing congratulations we love that you love math and congratulations on the math tutoring um still in the theme of survival jobs so you love the math teaching it was really enjoyable do you have a survival job from your past that maybe was like a horror story since we're in spooky season like yeah I well I worked my senior year of college I worked at this um amazing restaurant that I've closed uh shout out Mooney's in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

And um, I was so bad at that job. I like would drop plates of food. I like remember this one time this uh customer ordered like some beer, and I didn't realize that like the foam doesn't just like you know go away, like you have to like pour the foam out when you when you're getting pouring beer from a tap. And so and so I give her this like glass, and it's like beer, foam, and she's like she stares at it, and then she's so nice, and like I have no idea what I'm doing, clearly. And then she just looks at me and she's like, Thank you, and then goes on with her meal. So uh I was horrible at that. Um not the beer foam. People in the service industry also just they work so hard, so much respect. Um yeah, trying to think uh what else. Yeah, I was the host at Westville.

[20:15] Sean Stack: I love Westville. Oh my god, sorry to keep comparing your episode to past, but Liana, who also had a survival job while she was on Broadway, also was gonna be a manager at Westville. You guys should meet so many parallels.

[20:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: We know Westville.

[20:30] Sean Stack: Yeah, I love the marketplace at Westville. Shout out literally kale salad plays, like it's so good.

[20:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: So good.

[20:37] Sean Stack: Um it was under the Viacom building that what it was the Westville um in Tribeca, and uh people like famous, famous people would would come in all the time. And uh like I would hear about really famous actors' auditions when I would seat people. Um like one time somebody like was talking about Justin Bieber, who had been in the building, and like, you know, uh apparently that was like an unfortunate day. I don't know. Um no.

[21:11] Jason A. Coombs: So Bieber.

[21:14] Sean Stack: I guess. I guess. Uh okay. So let's transition uh to your bio for Water for Elephants. You made it a point to shout out all the teachers who inspired you. And you said your mom was a counselor as well. Um can you share how how education and teachers helped your journey to Broadway?

[21:36] Sean Stack: Oh yeah. I mean, I feel like I'm standing on the shoulders of so many people who uh gave me wisdom and time and attention, and uh they mean I've been blessed to have had so many wonderful teachers, masters of the craft, uh caring, loving, nurturing individuals. Um whether or not they taught me theater or acting or singing or whatever is besides the point. Uh and you know, getting to Broadway is obviously a huge deal, and uh that's amazing, and I know that's a testament to you know my work and whatever, and at the same time, uh it's also a testament to yeah, the value of the lessons that I've learned. And I I think teachers just get overlooked a lot. I think about specific lessons, specific days, memories, personalities all the time.

Uh I mean, I'm just right before we got on, I was just texting with a teacher that I had in college. Because I I think about her and I think about the things that she taught. Shout out. Robin, Robin Christine McNair. Love, love you, love you, love you. Shout out, Robin. I mean, yeah, just uh a genius. And because I had to do like a British accent in a in an audition the other day, and it's like, you know, she she she gave me the skills to do that. But beyond that, like beyond the actual lessons that I learned, beyond like, oh, you should you should do this and say it like this. Um just like being being res being paid attention to as a kid, as a youth, is so important. I feel like most of the time when people uh don't succeed or do well or perform well or whatever when you're young, it's it's not because they're not capable, it's because someone's not really looking at them and seeing them.

And I think conversely, people who do make it or become successful were paid attention to. Um, and so the the people who dedicate their lives to teaching, I think are some of the most generous individuals that that we have alive.

[24:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I love that. Thank you.

[24:04] Sean Stack: Thank you for sharing.

[24:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Go ahead, see how exactly.

[24:09] Sean Stack: Just thank you for sharing that because exactly all the themes you said, teachers are overlooked. They're such an important part of sculpting us and and inspiring us. I know that you know we all have that story, so shout out to teachers, shout out to Robin. Maybe Robin can make it a part of the kids' assignments to listen to this podcast.

[24:26] Sean Stack: Oh, yeah. Just getting kinda.

[24:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um I will send it to her.

[24:34] Sean Stack: Yeah. Um, so we chatted a little bit about your Broadway debut in Water for Elephants. You were in Between the Lines prior. Water for Elephants was nominated for Best Musical Last Tonies, uh, which is huge. And that's amazing that that is your Broadway debut. So can you tell us a little bit about your journey to Water for Elephants, your audition process, and do you remember where you were when you got the call that you were gonna be on Broadway?

[25:02] Sean Stack: Yeah, so uh got the audition for Water for Elephants for the out of town tryout, which was in Atlanta at the Alliance Theater. One of the most amazing theatrical institutions in the country. Yes, love the Alliance Theater, love everybody that works there. Um they they treat they treat their their guests so well, and whoever's running the show there really knows what they're doing. Um so I got the audition in the beginning of 2023, and I was going through a terrible breakup, like heartbroken.

[25:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh no.

[25:34] Sean Stack: And I was in this, like I had I had like taken this like weekend like solo trip up to Boston just to be like I'm a free soul. And uh whatever. Uh so um Water for Elephants cited me. And uh yeah, got the audition, was so uh intrigued, but also had no idea what to expect. Saw that Jessica Stone was directing, had seen Kimberly Akimbo, and was really uh you know jazzed by the idea of working with her. But of course, like audition auditions don't really mean anything because we we do so many and we get so we get so few jobs. So then I come back to the city, I go to the audition. It's great. I'm like the last person there that day. Um really vibed with them in the room, I thought. And uh then two more days of auditions happen, they go really well, and then the day after that, I get an email from our choreographer's associate saying, like, hey, can you come to the pre-pro for Water for Elephants?

But I hadn't even heard from my agents yet, and I was so confused. And so I'm like, Yeah, sure, I'll I'll come to the pre-pro. And then uh I go to the pre-pro for the first day, and everyone's super tight lip, nobody's really like saying whether or not like I had gotten the job or what and then at the end of the day, this is at Ripley Greer. Like, I run into Jessica Stone, our director by the bathroom. She's like, by the way, you have the job, you have the job. Like it's just there's there's like a there's like a uh chain of command, and like it's like really the theater that's supposed to tell you, and we're not really supposed to tell you, but just so you know, like you have the job. She's like, by the way.

[27:27] Sean Stack: Yeah, yeah. And thank God she did, because that made the rest of the week so much easier. And I didn't actually get the call from my agent for another like five days because that's I guess when they got the official word. Uh so and that was you know, really exciting. But at the time it was for the out of town, and I didn't really know what it was going to shape up to be. Um little did I know it would end up here. Uh and you know, I I do the pre-pro, I have a little bit of a break before the actual rehearsals start. I'd been cast as the understudy for Jacob. Jacob is the central character in the show, and uh as an in the ensemble, and so. And so we do the we do the Atlanta rehearsal process, we're here, then we go down there.

It feels like summer camp because the you know, I know some people haven't seen the show, but basically half the cast is made up of actors, half the cast is made up of these circus artists who are so special and unique and wild. And they brought up, I think, the the the inner children and all of us. And so when you put 25 of those people like in like a hotel, like fun happens. Like we had the best time, and we were there for a couple months, and uh, you know, there's whispers of like, okay, like this theater is interested, and you know, we think it might open around here or whatever, but of course, like I'm not, I I don't get access to so to those conversations, and then uh Water for Elephants in Atlanta closes.

I'm I you know, survival jobs. My school semester starts in September, so I have like a month off, and I'm like, you know what, I'm gonna go to Berlin. So then I plan this trip to Berlin. And oh Julia. Without Julia, sadly. She couldn't make it. But we're still gonna go to Greece in 2012. Oh wow.

[29:48] Sean Stack: Um so well, it hasn't been planned, but like I'm manifesting it.

[29:52] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, yes, yes, man.

[29:54] Sean Stack: And uh, yeah, and then so I'm there and I'm like I don't know eating like a press it one day.

[29:59] Sean Stack: And then my agent calls me and he's like do we have an offer and I'm like um yeah and that's when I found out about Broadway.

[30:09] Sean Stack: And I'm still uh in the broader run uh one of the covers for Jacob and I'm in the show uh dancing my little duty off every night.

[30:18] Jason A. Coombs: You are you are by the way what an amazing place to find out you're gonna make your Broadway debut.

[30:24] Sean Stack: Just chilling in Berlin. Yeah I remember that same night I like went out dancing and um that was like it was this you know this like dark room and I'm like where everyone's like having a good time and it really like dawned on me in that moment like wow my dream is like actually coming true.

[30:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god I and like on the phone it didn't really feel real um but you're right it was a great place to process that news yeah I mean as artists we all dream about the about a future career in the arts and you grew up in Miami you said was Broadway always like your dream yes yes it was um it was and then as time went on I think as time went on I think as uh the the pathways to maybe get to Broadway became clearer in the sense of like I understood the work that it would take to get there.

[31:26] Sean Stack: Oh yeah um it started to feel maybe a little further away because like I realized oh my god, like this is gonna take so much, and it's also gonna take a lot of luck.

[31:38] Sean Stack: Uh so yeah, I mean, but it's but it was always there.

[31:44] Sean Stack: And then when the pandemic happened, um it was kind of unclear what what what the industry was gonna look like and if I was gonna be a part of it, if any of us were gonna be a part of it.

[31:57] Sean Stack: And then thanks to some really bizarre and lucky uh moments of like synchronicity and one person seeing me and seeing seeing something in me and then bringing me into one room, which then led to another thing and then led to another thing, uh, I got here.

[32:13] Sean Stack: Um I think the idea of Broadway as a kid, though, was always really important to me.

[32:18] Sean Stack: Like this this place that existed in you know, a city where um where people work hard, where uh like differences by and large accepted and valued, and where artistry is like celebrated and explored.

[32:38] Sean Stack: That was really important to me, I think, as a kid, as a young theater kid.

[32:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Of course, I love that.

[32:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: And can you share like the most unexpected part about being on Broadway that like us us mere what you what do you say, muggles them?

[32:53] Sean Stack: Don't know.

[32:59] Sean Stack: It's just so much work.

[33:01] Sean Stack: It is so hard.

[33:03] Sean Stack: I have so much respect for I mean, shout out specifically to ensemble numbers and every show.

[33:11] Sean Stack: I mean, working so hard, carrying their shows.

[33:18] Sean Stack: I mean, I knew it was gonna be hard, like I I guess, but doing it every day because that's not just the show.

[33:25] Sean Stack: It's like the show ends, and then you gotta go to bed, and then you wake up and then you gotta like take care of your body and you gotta eat well, and then you gotta warm up, and then you gotta and so uh you kind of like devote your whole life to it um to to make it successful and to make it happen.

[33:43] Sean Stack: So yeah, it's a lot of work.

[33:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, you you mentioned um you know waking up and having to eat well and take care of your body, you know.

[33:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: This show is it's a lot of work, just like you said, and you said you're dancing your booty off, you know, eight times a week, and then you never know when you're gonna be have to go on.

[34:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: So can you share something that you practice to take care of yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, to be able to have the balance of life as well as literally giving your all on stage eight times a week?

[34:15] Sean Stack: Yeah, sleep is the most important thing.

[34:19] Sean Stack: Yeah, uh, I really value and prioritize my sleep.

[34:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: You'd be getting those eight hours.

[34:25] Sean Stack: I I get the eight hours, sometimes nine.

[34:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, Sean.

[34:31] Sean Stack: Uh yeah, yeah.

[34:34] Sean Stack: So sleep prioritizing sleep.

[34:37] Sean Stack: And then honestly, I think the way that I start my day is the way that the rest of my day or like how I start my day sets up the rest of my day.

[34:45] Sean Stack: So if I start my day in silence with a big cup of coffee and a big breakfast, I'm good.

[34:54] Sean Stack: Anytime that I like try to rush into it, uh and I skip those things, it's gonna be a disaster.

[35:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: What's your go-to breakfast?

[35:04] Sean Stack: So recently I've been doing this might sound so gross.

[35:08] Sean Stack: I've been doing an everything bagel with peanut butter and bananas.

[35:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: That sounds there's something about the like the sweet and the salty, the salty and like the everything with the garlic and the onion.

[35:23] Sean Stack: I don't know, it works really well.

[35:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Not gross at all.

[35:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love that.

[35:27] Sean Stack: Shout out, we'll call it the Sean.

[35:29] Jason A. Coombs: Guys, right.

[35:30] Sean Stack: The Sean stack eating if you start eating the Sean Stack for breakfast.

[35:33] Sean Stack: My god, the Sean stack.

[35:35] Sean Stack: I've been really into overnight oats, you guys.

[35:38] Sean Stack: Okay, in case anyone wants to know what I've been into.

[35:40] Sean Stack: The overnight's o the overnight oats are amazing.

[35:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: What do you put to get it?

[35:44] Sean Stack: I don't make them.

[35:45] Sean Stack: I don't want you to think I'm over here making my overnight oats.

[35:48] Sean Stack: I purchase them pre-made.

[35:49] Sean Stack: There's a semi tea.

[35:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, well, there are already brands.

[35:53] Sean Stack: One is called Brecky and one is called Mush, and I also love the Trader Joe's brand.

[35:57] Sean Stack: Um, if any three of those want to sponsor us, we're available.

[36:00] Sean Stack: Um we like it's called Mush.

[36:02] Sean Stack: Mush, M-U-S-H-Whole Foods.

[36:05] Sean Stack: It's anywhere.

[36:05] Sean Stack: But the Brecki B-R-E-E-K-I-E.

[36:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: I with respect to the mush, I love the Brecki.

[36:14] Sean Stack: Does it have like chia seeds in it and stuff?

[36:16] Sean Stack: Yes, the Brecki has like chia seeds, flax seeds.

[36:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Great today.

[36:20] Sean Stack: I had one that was like vanilla and cinnamon, had some nuts.

[36:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh wow.

[36:24] Sean Stack: Great.

[36:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Guys, breakfast the most important meal of the day.

[36:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Make sure you get your brecky.

[36:29] Sean Stack: It really is.

[36:31] Sean Stack: Yeah.

[36:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[36:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Sean, what's your sign?

[36:34] Sean Stack: I'm a Scorpio.

[36:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, okay.

[36:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: The birthday's coming.

[36:38] Sean Stack: Great.

[36:38] Sean Stack: The birthday is coming, November 3rd.

[36:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: The birthday's coming.

[36:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's really soon.

[36:44] Sean Stack: Yes.

[36:45] Sean Stack: Yes.

[36:46] Sean Stack: Thank you for letting us talk about breakfast.

[36:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: I had to like have an ADD moment.

[36:50] Sean Stack: I really didn't.

[36:51] Sean Stack: I really did.

[36:52] Sean Stack: I haven't had one yet, and I needed it.

[36:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, food talking about food is like almost as good as eating the food.

[36:58] Sean Stack: Like food is everything.

[36:59] Sean Stack: And you know, breakfast is the most important meal.

[37:02] Sean Stack: My mom always skips breakfast, and I'm like, Mom, you need to eat breakfast.

[37:05] Sean Stack: She's like, I'm not hungry in the morning, but you have to force yourself.

[37:09] Jason A. Coombs: Jason, you have to force yourself.

[37:10] Jason A. Coombs: It gets your metabolism going, it gets the brain going, it gets the energy going.

[37:15] Sean Stack: And Jay, I'll send you the link to the brecky because it's quick, it's easy.

[37:18] Sean Stack: You just pop it and you just eat it and it's done.

[37:21] Sean Stack: Maybe you measure banana in there, maybe get an everything bagel seasoning.

[37:24] Sean Stack: Like Sean, the Sean stack, mix it in.

[37:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: We'll like combine the two breakfasts.

[37:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, so you don't think it's weird?

[37:30] Sean Stack: The like everything seasoning with the sweetness of the banana and the peanut butter.

[37:34] Sean Stack: That's not weird.

[37:35] Jason A. Coombs: I don't, you know, because here's something weird that I do.

[37:37] Jason A. Coombs: I put honey mustard on my egg sandwiches, and people think that that's gross, but it's also the same idea of like of like the sweetness with the like savory.

[37:47] Sean Stack: Something try it.

[37:50] Jason A. Coombs: Just a little bit of honey mustard.

[37:52] Jason A. Coombs: And sometimes this might sound gross.

[37:54] Jason A. Coombs: Sometimes I mix honey mustard and hot sauce on the egg sandwich.

[37:58] Jason A. Coombs: Something about it, you guys.

[38:00] Sean Stack: The sweet, the salty, the savory, the hot.

[38:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow.

[38:04] Jason A. Coombs: It's a judgment free zone.

[38:06] Sean Stack: Thank you.

[38:07] Jason A. Coombs: How do we feel about ketchup in the in the Jason?

[38:12] Sean Stack: I okay.

[38:13] Jason A. Coombs: Go ahead, Jay.

[38:14] Jason A. Coombs: What's your take on ketchup?

[38:15] Sean Stack: I'm not a big ketchup person.

[38:16] Jason A. Coombs: I'm I'm a dip.

[38:17] Jason A. Coombs: I love dips though.

[38:18] Jason A. Coombs: Samantha, you know that.

[38:19] Jason A. Coombs: I love chipotle.

[38:21] Jason A. Coombs: We love honey mustard, but ketchup is so boring.

[38:26] Sean Stack: I gotta say, I'm an I sorry, Sean.

[38:28] Jason A. Coombs: I'm a no on the ketchup.

[38:30] Sean Stack: Me neither.

[38:31] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, good.

[38:33] Jason A. Coombs: Wow, so unanimous three no's for ketchup.

[38:36] Sean Stack: Yeah.

[38:36] Jason A. Coombs: Some people are really about ketch-it though.

[38:38] Sean Stack: Like really about ketchup.

[38:40] Sean Stack: I specifically hate the way ketchup smells.

[38:43] Jason A. Coombs: And now I'm gonna go on mute to get back to the regular program because I my ADD is fully has taken off.

[38:50] Jason A. Coombs: So Jason, bring us back.

[38:52] Jason A. Coombs: I will say I might have to do the the plain bagel with the with the peanut butter and the banana.

[38:58] Jason A. Coombs: I might have to do that.

[38:59] Sean Stack: Like I said, it's a judgment-free zone here on Survival Jobs a podcast.

[39:02] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you.

[39:03] Sean Stack: Thanks.

[39:04] Sean Stack: If you try everything, let me know.

[39:06] Sean Stack: I will.

[39:06] Sean Stack: I will I'll try a Sean Stack and I'll definitely let you know.

[39:10] Jason A. Coombs: But okay, so back on on brand on topic.

[39:14] Jason A. Coombs: Sean, you've done theater.

[39:16] Jason A. Coombs: You've done TV with the hit show Aquafina is Nora from Queens.

[39:21] Jason A. Coombs: And you were also, I read that you were an Oscar nominated short film, My Year of Dicks.

[39:26] Sean Stack: Yeah.

[39:27] Sean Stack: That's iconic.

[39:28] Jason A. Coombs: Um we're big manifestors on this show.

[39:31] Jason A. Coombs: Do you have like a dream role or collaboration or project?

[39:34] Jason A. Coombs: I know you're also a writer.

[39:36] Jason A. Coombs: Something you want to manifest with us today.

[39:42] Sean Stack: Other than Greece with Julia Murney.

[39:44] Sean Stack: Yeah, yeah.

[39:47] Sean Stack: Thank you for saying that because that was gonna be my first thought.

[39:53] Sean Stack: Unless you're inviting us, unless you're inviting us too.

[39:56] Sean Stack: Oh, yeah.

[39:56] Sean Stack: I mean, yes.

[39:58] Sean Stack: Absolutely.

[39:59] Sean Stack: It's gonna be part of the 2027 season.

[40:04] Sean Stack: Like weirdly, or maybe not really, I don't know.

[40:08] Sean Stack: I don't have a dream role.

[40:13] Sean Stack: Not because I don't think about it, and not because I haven't uh landed on something, but because uh it because I'm not really sure what uh let me rephrase this.

[40:38] Sean Stack: I'm who knows what their industry's gonna look like in the future.

[40:47] Sean Stack: And there are things that are happening right now that are really, really exciting.

[40:50] Sean Stack: I'm thinking of O'Mary, I'm thinking of Larger Elephants, like commercial theater really, really expanding in a in places that are like so thrilling and exciting.

[41:06] Sean Stack: And uh I think I'm really excited and interested in sort of like waiting to see what the landscape looks like, and then maybe trying to slot myself in there as I can, as it's appropriate.

[41:26] Sean Stack: Um I love new works.

[41:30] Sean Stack: I love love new works.

[41:32] Sean Stack: If I can stay working on new things for a while, I will be the happiest person ever.

[41:38] Sean Stack: There's something so thrilling and exhilarating about being uh part of the first group.

[41:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, exactly.

[41:47] Sean Stack: That's so wonderful.

[41:49] Sean Stack: Um specifically works that push push boundaries that are sort of genre defying.

[41:56] Sean Stack: Uh I think about like Sam Pickleting, Sam Pinkleton, who directs uh O'Mary, he's uh I've never met him or worked with him, but like deeply deeply admire him, him and his work.

[42:09] Sean Stack: Uh uh I'm thinking of I'm thinking of Jamie Harris.

[42:16] Sean Stack: I'm thinking of these people who are like really kind of testing what New York theater can do and can be, really also thinking about the off Broadway theater scene and how exciting uh that work is.

[42:28] Sean Stack: Uh this is such such an indirect answer to your question.

[42:32] Sean Stack: So I apologize.

[42:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, I love it.

[42:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: No, it's it's beautiful.

[42:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're an artist.

[42:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're an artist, and and you're you're forging your path.

[42:40] Sean Stack: It's beautiful.

[42:42] Sean Stack: Yeah, thanks.

[42:44] Sean Stack: Um would love to just be in those rooms.

[42:49] Sean Stack: If not as an actor, then as an observer, um, as a participant.

[42:56] Sean Stack: I maybe I'm just perceiving this, and it's indicative of like a bias of mine, but I feel like I'm I know a bunch of young people who are uh who work in musical theater and also in plays, and also work with uh screen projects who are really, really interested in uh experimentation.

[43:23] Sean Stack: And that's really really thrilling to me.

[43:26] Sean Stack: And I hope that there's more of that moving forward.

[43:28] Sean Stack: I mean, the idea of Sunset Boulevard right now being on Broadway in the way that it's being done is so wonderful and so cool.

[43:38] Sean Stack: And the fact that it's selling out every night is so gratifying as like as a as a like a curious person in 2024.

[43:49] Sean Stack: It's so cool that there's like a market for that right now.

[43:52] Sean Stack: Yeah.

[43:53] Sean Stack: Um and I'm just like, I'm I'm so curious to see what it's gonna be like in five years, and I just want to be a part of that.

[43:59] Sean Stack: So I guess that's what my manifestation would be is to like uh is to keep up with the times.

[44:06] Jason A. Coombs: That's awesome.

[44:07] Jason A. Coombs: And we can't wait to see you in five years doing doing the cool experimental new works.

[44:14] Jason A. Coombs: Sean, thank you so much for coming on today and sharing everything with us.

[44:17] Jason A. Coombs: This was amazing.

[44:18] Sean Stack: It was great chatting with you.

[44:19] Jason A. Coombs: We have a couple more questions and then we're gonna play a quick round of trivia.

[44:24] Jason A. Coombs: Um but I do always love to bring it back to survival jobs, you know, the reason we're here.

[44:29] Jason A. Coombs: Um why do you think it's important for somebody who wants a career in the arts, important or not important, to have the survival job journey before, during and after uh that career as an artist.

[44:49] Sean Stack: I think you learn really good lessons when you try to make it work as an adult, especially in New York, wherever you are. And those lessons don't come your way just by working as an actor or working in theater or film or whatever. You can only get that perspective from hustling and yeah, working in a survival job. I think in a weird way, it comes full circle because what I learned just trying to like make my way and pay my bills benefits me or serves me, I guess, as an actor, that life experience, and that's really invaluable. We're all we all contain multitudes, like oh yes, as much as we all appreciate and love theater, and that's a big part of our lives. There's so many other sides to us, and in randomly starting education work, I realized oh, I actually love like helping 10-year-olds understand fractions.

Like there's something actually deeply satisfying and exciting about that, and it goes beyond just a way to like pay rent. It's actually like something that gives me a lot of joy and that I love doing, and I'm so glad that I happened to figure that out because if I don't get another acting job for another five years, I actually think I'd be really happy teaching 10-year-olds how to add fractions in the meantime.

[46:40] Jason A. Coombs: Oh cool. Maybe you can teach me how to add fractions as well. Because I am I have no idea.

[46:45] Sean Stack: Gladly, yeah. I think you keep the bottom number the same, right? Or something, and then the top number changes.

[46:52] Jason A. Coombs: I don't I don't I'm not participating in math.

[46:55] Sean Stack: The denominators have to be the same to have...

[46:55] Jason A. Coombs: Oh yes, thank you. I knew a little bit. I literally I literally failed algebra in high school. I had to go to summer school, uh, Sean. Don't judge me.

[47:06] Sean Stack: Oh and uh thank you for saying all that because uh I had the new tutor just saying.

[47:12] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my gosh, right? Okay, just a few years off. Do the kids call you Mr. Stack?

[47:17] Sean Stack: No.

[47:19] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, no, I have them call me Sean.

[47:22] Sean Stack: Oh, okay. That's the other thing too, is like I want to be a cool math teacher.

[47:26] Jason A. Coombs: You are. We are already can tell.

[47:30] Sean Stack: Thank you for sharing all that because it is so important to, and this theme has come up a ton on our show. It's so important to have other interests that fulfill you. Maybe not as much, but fulfill you in a way that makes you feel excited every day. Because if you put all your eggs in the acting basket or all your eggs in the oh my god, I have to be on Broadway to like have worth or reach this certain level as an artist to have worth or to feel happy, then it's just gonna not gonna the journey's not gonna be it, you know. So that is such an important theme, and something I always love to drill into our listeners that like yes, we're artists, and yes, we have these passions, but life is so big, and what's part of being an artist is life. So thanks.

[48:17] Jason A. Coombs: Love that. I keep trying to get sometimes when you do the peace sign, Sean, the balloons the bubble.

[48:24] Sean Stack: Yes.

[48:25] Jason A. Coombs: Yes. There it is. There it is. Yes. Happy episode 106.

[48:31] Sean Stack: Thank you.

[48:32] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, 106. Well, it's a good number. Yeah, Sean, our last question before the really fun game, which hope we've been you know been gassing it up. Hopefully it is fun for you. Um, but bringing it back to Water for Elephants. What do you hope audiences walk away from after seeing the show? Especially during this time where it's tumultuous and wild and we're living through so much. Um what has been your biggest takeaway from this production and story?

[49:04] Sean Stack: For me, it comes back to the sincerity of the show. Water for Elephants is so unpretentious. This isn't like me speaking about like other shows. I'm not I'm not really thinking of with any of anything in my specifically. But it's it's uh it's so earnest, and like that means so much to people these days, I think, and it means so much to me as a person who does it every night because shit's crazy right now. Like, sorry, like it's crazy right now. And uh I think the simplicity of the story, the humanity really, really goes a long way. It has a huge impact on people.

[50:07] Jason A. Coombs: Uh yeah, yeah. The also the it's it's a good night at the theater. Like it's a it's a it's it is a deeply satisfying night at the theater. And I I think like it uh because of how wild the world is right now, and because of everything that's going on, especially just even in our country, with the election coming up and and you know, and also everything else abroad, like I think the yeah, the humanity of watching this group of people just like really do superhuman things on stage for two and a half hours or sing what beautifully, you know, to to fall into this like trance like wonderfully hypnotic folk music. It's it's such a nice break and reprieve from the chaos, and uh it it it's so meaningful to people.

[51:16] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, thank you so much for that. So, in conclusion, listeners, get your tickets to Water for Elephants ASAP. We close December 8th. So that's a good like almost two months to have.

[51:31] Sean Stack: Seven weeks.

[51:31] Jason A. Coombs: Seven weeks. Yeah, you can do a lot in seven weeks, people including and myself included. I will be there.

[51:39] Sean Stack: Yes, thank you promise. You will not be pleased to let me know when you come.

[51:42] Jason A. Coombs: I will. I will definitely let you know. Sean, again, thank you so much for sharing space with us and all of your wisdom and your journey. It's it was such a great episode, and Jason and I are so grateful that you joined us. Um before we let you go, since Water for Elephants was nominated for best musical in the Tony 2024 season. We thought we'd throw some Tony Award, Best Musical Trivia your way to see how well you know what came before your nomination.

[52:15] Sean Stack: If you need to find a friend or you need to ask you, what did I get into? I did before we record it, and to our faithful listeners, they know I am known to cheat. Um, so if you are really stumped, just look at me. Typically, I will just give you the answer, but maybe not today. Maybe today I'll play it right.

[52:31] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, right. 100 106 episodes. Uh yeah, the teacher, I don't condone cheating except when it's really helpful.

[52:39] Sean Stack: Just to okay, so I'm not gonna cheat today. You're on your own.

[52:44] Jason A. Coombs: You're on your own now.

[52:48] Sean Stack: Yeah, yeah.

[52:48] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, you learn a lesson. Just add the denominators.

[52:52] Sean Stack: No, don't add the not add the dun. You gotta add the new is an enumerators a top number? That's what you have to do.

[52:59] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, you gotta you have to make sure that the denominators are the same.

[53:02] Sean Stack: Are the same, yeah.

[53:02] Jason A. Coombs: And then I remember numerators.

[53:05] Sean Stack: Right, exactly. Jeez Louise. Jay, you want to kick it off?

[53:09] Jason A. Coombs: I'm just so happy I never have to take a math class again. It just gives me so much anxiety.

[53:13] Sean Stack: Never say never. You never know what's gonna come around.

[53:16] Jason A. Coombs: Okay. All right, I'm gonna have to call Sean. Sean Stack. 1-800 Sean Stack.

[53:24] Jason A. Coombs: Anyway, first question is a true or a true or false. In 2001, 2001, excuse me, Spring Awakening won the Tony Award for best musical. True or false.

[53:35] Sean Stack: I'm gonna say false.

[53:37] Jason A. Coombs: Ding ding ding. False. They actually won in 2007.

[53:43] Sean Stack: Right, right, right, right, right. 2001 seems a little early. Okay, cool.

[53:46] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, yeah. You're off to a good start. Off to a great start.

[53:50] Jason A. Coombs: Number two, this is multiple choice. In 2010, a musical that was inspired by actual events about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break won the Tony Award for Best Musical. What is this musical? A. Crazy Boys.

[54:08] Sean Stack: Oh perfect.

[54:09] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, we have also a question. About the multiple choice. That's two points, right? Sam?

[54:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Two points. We do give two points if people get it without the multiple choice, and you did.

[54:17] Sean Stack: Okay, cool, cool, cool. Congratulations. Two for two.

[54:19] Jason A. Coombs: Two guys, two for two, zero cheating. Question number three. This beloved Disney movie, then turned Broadway Musical, won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1988, and is still running today. Name that musical.

[54:36] Sean Stack: It's not multiple choice. So I'm sorry.

[54:40] Jason A. Coombs: Well, if it's still running today, then it's The Lion King.

[54:44] Sean Stack: It is. Congrats. Ding ding ding. Guys, we're still having cheated.

[54:50] Jason A. Coombs: Number four, multiple choice. Which you might not need. Currently, a revival on Broadway. This musical won the Tony for Best Musical in 1995. The story of an aging silent film star who refuses to accept that her stardom has ended. She hires a young screenwriter to help her set up her movie comeback. What is this musical? A. Sunset Boulevard. B. Death Becomes Her. C. Gypsy.

[55:18] Sean Stack: It is Sunset Boulevard, right?

[55:20] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. I was like, that's not the story of Gypsy. But also I've never seen Gypsy. But I will be.

[55:27] Sean Stack: You can, yeah.

[55:29] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. Yeah. It's very soon. Wow. Four for four. Okay, cool.

[55:33] Jason A. Coombs: And here's your bonus. Okay. This is the bonus. In 2004, Wicked. Oh, this is I'm sorry, true or false. In 2004, Wicked did not win the Tony Award for Best Musical.

[55:47] Sean Stack: No, it didn't. It was Avenue Q.

[55:49] Jason A. Coombs: Correct. Right. It was a shock and upset because people just knew it was going to be Wicked, and then it wasn't.

[55:56] Sean Stack: Right. Now it's about to be a hit musical.

[55:59] Jason A. Coombs: Do you know something fun that I don't really know if it was a shock or an upset? I just wrote that in the doc because it was a shock and an upset to me.

[56:08] Sean Stack: Oh, I think it was. I remember those days.

[56:10] Jason A. Coombs: It was, right? Yeah, Wicked was like the front runner. I feel like everyone thought. And here's an and a little fun fact for everyone is that that year was the first year that musicals campaigned for best musical. You know like Avenue Q was like knocking on doors and sending gifts to Tony voters and stuff and that had never happened before and ever since then there like the parties have started and the things have started for the like the campaigning of it all. Um and I think can they invite us I know we're not voters but can you sometimes I sneak into those parties you know me I'm like hi I snuck into the Tony after party last year it was at the Carlisle I did yeah I was there as well maybe we saw each other I also was at the Water for Elephants viewing party yes yes awesome you saw me I'm just kidding I'm like you saw I mean I probably probably did that was a beautiful party it was a beautiful space but after that party I snuck into the Carlisle it was sweet shout out to jazz at Lincoln Center.

[57:08] Sean Stack: Oh yeah it's fun it's a fun time when you go to the shout out to the Carlisle.

[57:08] Jason A. Coombs: Sean, Sean, Sean congrats you got like 900 score on that game just means it up he did not see people if you're just listening I promise I did not mouth he's a teacher he's a teacher can't cheat the teacher we do not condone cheating so he won ding ding ding your prize is you get an invite to the season four launch of Survival Jobs: A Podcast sometime in 2025.

[57:35] Sean Stack: Amazing no clue when can't wait to be there can't wait to have you before we go can you let our listeners know where they can follow you and keep up with anything that's going on on.

[57:46] Sean Stack: I don't know why my pitch went up. That's okay. I'm at Miami Sunshine Boy. Yes. On Instagram. And that's about it. I will be better about posting, because I rarely do, but I probably should.

[58:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Awesome. I like that name. Miami Sunshine Boy.

[58:07] Sean Stack: Yeah, right.

[58:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: And if y'all are tuning in because you are a Sean fan and a Water for Elephants fan and you don't follow us yet, check us out at Survival Jobs Pod on Instagram and TikTok on Facebook at Survival Jobs A Podcast. I swear we're only keeping Facebook alive for my mom. She's our only follower on Facebook. Shoot us an email at survivaljobspod at gmail.com. Follow my boy Jason at Jason A. Coombs. And I am at Sammy Toots.

[58:41] Sean Stack: Ah! I love when I get the balloons.

[58:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love when I get the balloons.

[58:45] Sean Stack: Does not like it.

[58:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you, Sean. Everyone, go see Water for Elephants. You have until December 8th at the Imperial Theater. You don't want to miss it.

[58:55] Sean Stack: Please don't miss it.

[58:57] Jason A. Coombs: Bye.

[58:59] Sean Stack: Bye.

[59:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh. All right, survivors. Thank you so much for tuning in to our episode. Please like, subscribe, follow, leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode. And if you enjoy Samantha and I as your hosts. And if you don't like us, if you don't like the show, you hated it and want to leave one star. The show is not called Survival Jobs. It's called the Joe Rogan Podcast. So leave that one star there. Love y'all.

[59:31] Jason A. Coombs: That was funny, Jason.