This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hello, my name is Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo. And I'm Jason A. Coombs. And we are here at the Maybe Happy Ending Opening Night Gala.

[0:11] Jason A. Coombs: We're going to be talking to some of the stars and some of the creatives of the show. I can't wait. The show is so beautiful. It's surrounding robots who fall in love. No spoilers. But Jason, if you were a robot, a helper bot, like this show, what would your helper bot name be?

[0:27] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, probably like J-squared something beep beep meep.

[0:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Beep beep meep is good. It's good. It's really good. I love that.

[0:37] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, let's do that. Let's just coin that.

[0:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: Beep beep meep.

[0:40] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[0:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Mine would be like Tootsie Zippy something. Tootsie Zippy Bot.

[0:48] Jason A. Coombs: Tootsie Zippy Bot.

[0:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Tootsie Zippy Bot.

[0:50] Jason A. Coombs: Tootsie Zippy Bot.

[0:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, yes, I like it.

[0:53] Jason A. Coombs: Cheers to that.

[0:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers to that.

[0:55] Jason A. Coombs: Awesome. What about the other question, Samantha? If you could have a special helper robot power, what would it be?

[1:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Maybe to like see into the future.

[1:05] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, like Raven Baxter from That's So Raven?

[1:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes! Exactly.

[1:09] Jason A. Coombs: You can gaze into the future.

[1:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay.

[1:12] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you for knowing that. I could not even pull that out of my brain if I even tried.

[1:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, come on. Raven's an idol.

[1:16] Jason A. Coombs: She sure is. Okay, what's your special helper robot power?

[1:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: I think it would be, oh, that's a good one. Seeing the future is a good one.

[1:24] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you. You can steal it. You can also say that.

[1:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: No, I would say like, you know, being able to like teleport to different places. Like if my person wanted to go to like Egypt to see the pyramids, we would just be like, take my hand, and we'd go to Egypt.

[1:39] Jason A. Coombs: And we would go to Egypt. Oh my God, that would be so fun, especially if you were in love with robots, our best friends with your robot.

[1:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[1:46] Jason A. Coombs: I don't know. Anyway, we can't wait to chat with everyone in the cast and the creative team and all the guests coming to support this amazing show.

[1:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Let's do it. Let's do it. Cheers again, me. Cheers again, me!

[1:57] Jason A. Coombs: There you go.

[1:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Awesome. So we are a podcast network on Broadway Podcast Network. Would you mind introducing yourself because they can't see your beautiful, handsome face?

[2:05] Christopher James Tamayo: Oh, great. Hi, I'm Christopher James Tamayo. I am a standby for Gil Brantley and Oliver.

[2:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: Chris, this show is so beautiful and so special and unique to Broadway. Can you talk a little bit about what it's been like to be part of such a beautiful production?

[2:20] Christopher James Tamayo: This show has been so special in particular because of its size. It's a cast of eight people, so we've gotten to know each other like pretty well. But I feel like that lends itself to a sort of emotional intimacy that I don't think every Broadway show has. And for me, it's just I felt so at home here. And like we're working with such superstars, but like I'm working with my classmate from college, Helen Shen, which is so surreal. You go blue, you know, but like it's so comforting and familiar in that way. And especially with a musical that touches, you know, hits so close to home and really touches the heart. You know, it's just a great environment to be a part of.

[2:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that. Congratulations. It's opening night. What are you looking forward to the most tonight?

[3:01] Christopher James Tamayo: Oh, I'm really hoping there's some good food tonight. You know, I feel like that's always that's always the vibe. But also just to have the energy in the house of like opening. I remember when we started previews and that energy was electric. But I'm hoping tonight it's like more of the same, if not a little more.

[3:17] Jason A. Coombs: We always need a party with good food, right?

[3:19] Christopher James Tamayo: Yeah, we love a snack. We love a snack.

[3:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: We really do. So, you know, obviously the show is about robots and helper bots. Now, say Chris is a robot. What is your robot super special skill?

[3:27] Christopher James Tamayo: Oh, OK. What would it be? It would be. This is so useless. It would be reciting every line from any Pixar movie anywhere.

[3:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Not useless. Not useless. The children will love it. It's a great party trick. Great party trick.

[3:47] Christopher James Tamayo: The children will listen. You know what I mean? What would be your robot name to go along with your trick, your helper trick?

[3:53] Christopher James Tamayo: Maybe Rex. You know, I like Rex from Toy Story. I just feel like that's a fun name.

[4:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that. And lastly, before we let you go, you have a ton of people to talk to. In one word, let us know why everybody should come see Maybe Happy Ending.

[4:10] Christopher James Tamayo: One word.

[4:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: One word.

[4:14] Christopher James Tamayo: Warmth.

[4:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, I don't know.

[4:17] Jason A. Coombs: I love that. Congratulations.

[4:19] Christopher James Tamayo: Thanks for chatting with us.

[4:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you, guys. Kill it tonight.

[4:22] Christopher James Tamayo: Thank you. Nice to see you again.

[4:25] Christopher James Tamayo: Samantha, nice to meet you. Go ahead, Jay. Kick it off, Jay.

[4:29] Jason A. Coombs: Hey, so would you mind introducing yourself? Because we are a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Not everyone can see your beautiful face.

[4:35] Dez Duron: Lovely. My name is Dez Duron. I'm playing Gil Brantley in Maybe Happy Ending.

[4:41] Jason A. Coombs: Dez, I saw the show on Tuesday. It is breathtakingly beautiful, so warm, so touching. Can you talk a little bit about what it's been like being a part of a production that's so just heartfelt?

[4:53] Dez Duron: It's incredible. I mean, just from like the first reading, we're all crying. And then just getting to come in and create what it is now has been so special for me. And then now to perform it and experience the audience experiencing it, the gasps when different turns and different surprises happen, it's just magical. It's theater. It's everything you want theater to be.

[5:14] Jason A. Coombs: I love that for you. I sign off on all that. It's such a beautiful show. Get your tickets, people.

[5:18] Dez Duron: Yes. So I am a big The Voice fan. I remember you from being on Team Christina.

[5:24] Dez Duron: No way. Come on.

[5:25] Jason A. Coombs: Of course. Hello. How do you think you've grown? We go way back then.

[5:30] Dez Duron: We go way back. How do you think you've grown from performing Let There Be Love with Christina, right, on stage, to now as a performer?

[5:38] Dez Duron: I think I've gotten comfortable with my voice and what I want to sound like, what I want to do. I think I got pulled a lot of different directions on that show, with good reason. I think they were trying to figure out where I fit. And I think shows like this that allowed me just to be myself and embrace the way that I sing naturally has helped me kind of embrace my own voice as well.

[5:57] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. I always wanted to be like a gospel tenor. I wanted to be Luke James.

[6:01] Dez Duron: But I'm not Luke James.

[6:05] Jason A. Coombs: You're like a crooner.

[6:06] Dez Duron: Yeah, I'm a crooner. And I like that now. And I'm thankful for Maybe Happy Ending for helping me embrace that over the last five years.

[6:12] Jason A. Coombs: Can you tell us what the biggest difference is from singing on The Voice stage to on a Broadway stage?

[6:19] Dez Duron: The support and the community. I think this is probably the biggest thing I've done since The Voice. And I feel like I should feel so nervous. But I feel so supported and ready because of the community around me. Michael Arden and these writers have written such beautiful things. And all I have to do is come out and do my job. I think it's similar in that all I have to do is come out and do my job because you're working with the best of the best, similar as The Voice. But just the support. I love my castmates. I want all of us to do well and perform this story in a way that people understand it and love it. And I think that takes the focus off me, which then allows me to just relax and give my best.

[6:57] Jason A. Coombs: So it's opening night. What are you looking forward to the most for your first Broadway opening night?

[7:03] Dez Duron: I have no idea. It's my first one, so I don't really know what's coming. Buckle up, Seth. So I'm just like riding the wave. I'm already so happy. And I'm sure it only gets better from here.

[7:14] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you guys for interviewing me. It's the first of many. Is your mom here?

[7:18] Dez Duron: My mom's here.

[7:19] Jason A. Coombs: Yes! Iconic!

[7:20] Dez Duron: I told you, I'm a fan.

[7:26] Jason A. Coombs: We wave. Okay, before we let you go, we know you have a ton of people to talk to. Obviously the show is about these helper bots who fall in love. If you were a helper bot, or any kind of robot, what would your special power be?

[7:33] Dez Duron: My special power. I think I'd want my special power to be that I could just sing any song, like anybody.

[7:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, like Impression? You just pick a song and I can just do the impression.

[7:51] Dez Duron: Oh, iconic. I'm a robot jukebox.

[7:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, we love that. From Whitney to Aerosmith.

[8:00] Dez Duron: A shout out to Aerosmith. That would be unbelievable. And last question. What would your robot name be?

[8:04] Dez Duron: Gil Brantley, I guess.

[8:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: We need to robotify it, though.

[8:12] Dez Duron: I don't know. Gil Brantley 2.0.

[8:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: Zot Zot.

[8:19] Jason A. Coombs: Love that, Dez. Congratulations. Kill it tonight. We're rooting for you.

[8:23] Dez Duron: Thank you, guys. So, we're a podcast. Surrounding Jobs is a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Can you just say your name for our audience who can't see your beautiful face?

[8:30] Hannah Kevitz: Hi, I'm Hannah Kevitz. I'm a standby for Claire.

[8:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: And, Hannah, you're coming from Back to the Future. Am I wrong? Congratulations. Just bouncing around from Broadway shows. How are you feeling on opening night, having just come from opening another Broadway show last season?

[8:50] Hannah Kevitz: It's such a gift. I had a mentor tell me that, like, it's such an honor to get to open a Broadway show. And this being my second one, I literally can't stop pinching myself or crying because, like, I'm so overwhelmed with, like, gratitude to be where I'm at and to get to work on these shows that I've loved and I love to this day. It feels unreal, honestly.

[9:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: I just got chills from you saying that. So it's, like, so true. Like, Broadway is such a magical gift.

[9:18] Hannah Kevitz: It's magic.

[9:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's magic. So this is your second Broadway opening night.

[9:23] Hannah Kevitz: Yeah.

[9:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: How do you feel?

[9:26] Hannah Kevitz: Literally overwhelmed. I thought I would be, like, more composed this time, but I'm not. It's exciting. It's like the flashing lights and the people and meeting so many people and, like, celebrating this thing that you've worked so hard at doing. It just is such, like, an overwhelming, awesome, like, you know that ending scene in, like, all these movies where it's, like, the final, like, triumph? It feels like that.

[9:48] Jason A. Coombs: And, like, you're going.

[9:49] Hannah Kevitz: Exactly. Exactly. You're here for it.

[9:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're here for it. We're, like, and we did it. And so it just feels so triumphant.

[9:56] Hannah Kevitz: Yeah. And I just can't contain my emotions the second time around. Maybe the third time I'll get it together.

[10:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: No, you never have to. Broadway is such a gift, and it's you living out your dreams. I saw this show on Tuesday. The show is so beautiful.

[10:06] Hannah Kevitz: It's magic.

[10:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Literally, or maybe Wednesday I saw it, like, after the election, and I was, like, ah!

[10:14] Hannah Kevitz: Yeah, what a time to see it. What is it like to be a part of such a heartwarming, heartfelt show just about, I was going to say about human connection, but there are robots, but, you know, just, like, connection in general.

[10:25] Hannah Kevitz: Yeah. I mean, when I first read the script on my couch, I was, like, I don't care if I'm, like, the third tree to the left. Like, I want to be in the show. It feels, like, it felt magic on the page, and then, like, it's gotten even more magical as we've gotten it on stage and seen our amazing direction by Michael Arden and seen our amazing, like, writers, like, working with the script and the music every day. It's just been such a gift to be in the room and to watch that happen.

[10:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. So we did touch on that this show is about robots.

[11:01] Hannah Kevitz: It is.

[11:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: So if you were a robot, if Hannah went into robot form, what would your special skill or power be?

[11:06] Hannah Kevitz: I really think, I like cooking now. So I think if I was a robot, I would be, like, you know what I mean? For the listeners at home, I was chopping my hands as if I had robot hands. Like, the meal prep would be, like, done in a blink. It would be done. And the dishes, too.

[11:27] Jason A. Coombs: So quick.

[11:28] Hannah Kevitz: And I don't have a dishwasher, and it's, like, literally the saddest thing in my whole life. Hate it.

[11:32] Jason A. Coombs: And what would your name be? Your robot name.

[11:34] Hannah Kevitz: Help a robot name. Oh, that's a great question. Okay. Okay. Ugh. Um. My gut instinct is something like Bebop.

[11:48] Jason A. Coombs: Bebop?

[11:50] Hannah Kevitz: Hey, girl.

[11:51] Jason A. Coombs: Hey, na-ba-ba-dop.

[11:54] Hannah Kevitz: Well, when I get nervous, I scat. So I'm like, Bebop, ba-do-ba-do-ba-ba-bow.

[11:59] Jason A. Coombs: You can scat while you're chopping.

[12:00] Hannah Kevitz: Exactly. It's so fun. And that would be my programming, I think.

[12:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. Well, thank you for chatting with us. Congratulations. You, like, made us melt giving our pod.

[12:09] Hannah Kevitz: Thank you so much. It means a lot. And you look so amazing, too.

[12:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: You guys look so amazing.

[12:13] Jason A. Coombs: Listen, we just put on a little jacket.

[12:14] Hannah Kevitz: Thank you so much. We do the best we can.

[12:16] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you. Enjoy the night.

[12:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. So we are a podcast called Survival Jobs, a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network.

[12:23] Stephen Huynh: Fantastic. Can you introduce yourself for those who can't see your beautiful face?

[12:26] Stephen Huynh: Yes. Hey, everybody. If you can hear me, I'm Stephen Huynh. I'm here with Maybe Happy Ending. And I am a standby for Oliver and for James.

[12:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Stephen, congratulations. This show is so beautiful.

[12:36] Stephen Huynh: Thank you so much. I mean, I'm saying the same thing to everybody. I'm like, this show is so beautiful, blah, blah, blah. But I cannot stop talking about the connection.

[12:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: And just, like, it was so heartwarming. So what has it been like for you to be a part of a show that's a little bit unique for Broadway?

[12:52] Stephen Huynh: Yeah, it is so, I like to call it, like, Broadway's Pixar gem for this season. There's something so, like, Disney Pixar about it. It's so magical. It's so human and heartfelt. And people are surprised because it's about robots, right? And it has been such a gift and an honor to be a part of this process, watching the show be built from the ground up in, like, rehearsal and then in tech and previews and to also be a part of that conversation and, you know, exploring these things with the cast and the company. It has been really awesome.

[13:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: So cool. I love that. So this is opening night.

[13:32] Stephen Huynh: Yes.

[13:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: What are you most excited about?

[13:35] Stephen Huynh: We're here on the purple carpet.

[13:36] Jason A. Coombs: The purple carpet.

[13:37] Stephen Huynh: There's lights, there's cameras, there's paparazzi. I'm the on-brand.

[13:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. It is, it's so magical to be here. And, like, that's a word that I've been using all night and, like, the whole process. But I'm most excited to, like, to finally be open now that the show's set in stone and for audiences to flock to the theater and experience the show and leave being reminded of the beautiful things in life and just the human nature of enjoying and stopping and taking everything as it is and not taking a moment for granted.

[14:15] Jason A. Coombs: For sure. It's such a beautiful show. And so everybody who's listening, please flock. Get tickets today. Please take Stephen's word and please flock. And so, you know, we chatted about the show is about robots. If Stephen were a robot, if you were a robot, what would your special robot superpower or special skill be?

[14:35] Dez Duron: One of my favorite things to do is Olympic weightlifting. And so like, if I were a robot, I think I would just be doing manual labor. Like, it's kind of weird to say, but like, you know, that's why we need them. You know, like machines. My robot would kind of be like a forklift, I guess. Yeah. What would that robot name be? Oh my god. The Super Steve. Super Steve! That's it. Yeah. Come through Super Steve. Absolutely. Before we let you go, we know there's a ton of people to chat with. Tell everybody why they need to come see Maybe Happy Ending in one word. Or like, what they'll walk away from it with in one word. That's a little bit easier to answer. Yeah. Humanity. And wow, do we need that right now? Do we need? Cheers to that. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Have a great time tonight and the rest of the run, man. It's gonna be awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you for chatting with us. You look fantastic.

[15:42] Marcus Choi: Cool. So thank you for being here. We are a podcast. So Rabble Rabble's a podcast on the Broadway podcast. Yes, love podcasts. So for those who can't see your beautiful face, can you introduce yourself to our audience? Hi everybody. My name is Marcus Choi and I play James and Junseo and a couple other people in the show. Basically just the humans. Marcus, I just saw the show on Tuesday. It is so good. You are so fantastic in this. At first, I was like, that's not the same person. I was like, no, it totally is. You're so good. Can you talk a little bit about what it's been like to be a part of such a show about connection and like feelings, no matter you're a robot or a human? Sure. This process has been so unique for me.

Michael Arden and our amazing production stage manager, Justin Scribner, just set the tone from day one and just created an environment of love and inclusiveness and joy and like vulnerability. And so I just feel like that just set the tone for us to share our art with each other and not to feel any kind of hesitation or insecurity. And it was just such a safe space. And I truly believe that that services the piece so much. And so when we got to the theater and the work was done, you know, tech is a grueling process. It's a beast, right? Yeah. And so I feel, especially with the amount of tech in our show. Oh my God, the sets, the lights, it's wild and it's a character all of itself. It's a feat.

It totally is. Yeah. That's our sixth cast member, aside from Hwaboon. 100%. But yeah, I don't feel like there was ever a moment where anybody had any kind of tempers flaring or was upset at anything. It's just been such a joy from the start.

[17:33] Helen J. Shen: Well, we're here at opening night. There's a purple carpet, there's lights, camera paparazzi. What are you most excited about tonight? And are you nervous? Uh, I'm not nervous. Just excited. Maybe it's a little nerves, but I feel like nervousness is your body's response to something that you love to do. Yes. So I'm choosing to call that excitement, but I'm most excited for the party. And you deserve to celebrate for all of your hard work and your amazing performance. Now, I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but you were in Wicked on Broadway. I was. Okay. I'm not wrong. Tell us what you are feeling about this movie coming out, having have been in the show. Yeah. So I got a chance to see it a couple of weeks ago.

The movie? Yeah. So Wicked had a screening for the original cast members and the current cast. And I was fortunate enough to be in the original company. And so we saw it like two weeks ago and it was, it's incredible. You guys go see it. You will laugh. You'll cry. You'll probably sing along. It's like the girls knocked it out of the park. The choreography is incredible. The direction, the design, like all the performances, everybody knocked it out of the park. You will not be disappointed. What John Chu did was he really paid attention to the roadmap of what the musical is. And so I think he truly paid homage to that and wanted to stay true to the show. And so they just basically elaborated everything and just made it otherworldly.

So they knocked it out of the park. We just had to slip in a Wicked question. November 22nd. Yes. Go. Go see it. Go see it. And then after you see the Wicked movie, come see maybe Happy Ending. So can you let us know, the show is about robots who fall in love. If you were a robot, what would your special robot skill or power be? Oh, my special skill or power as a robot would be to eat and not get full. Oh, I love that. Or gain weight. I was going to say, or gain weight was like also added to the list. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I could taste everything. Yeah. Enjoy everything. And just be fit. Yeah. OK. And then what would your robot name be to go along with that? Oh, goodness. That's a hard one, right? Yeah. Devour. I don't know. Cheers to Devour. Happy opening. Thanks for chatting with us. Thanks so much. Have a great time tonight. Live it up.

[20:18] Darren Criss: Thank you. So my name is Jason. This is Samantha. And we have a podcast called Survival Jobs, a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Would you mind saying your name to those who can't see your beautiful face? I'm Helen J. Shen and I play Claire in Maybe Happy Ending. Helen, I am gagged. Your performance knocked me out. I was weeping, weeping, weeping. Like I walked out of the theater like hiding. Like, please, nobody look at me. It's really a sniffly last 10 minutes. That's a sniffly? It's a sniffly last 30 minutes. Totally. So can you talk a little... Oh, by the way, happy Broadway debut. Thank you so much. Major to be making your Broadway debut in this show. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Just that? How does it feel to be making your Broadway debut in a show that is such about feeling and connection? And it's a little bit different than anything we've ever seen on Broadway. This is the biggest drink. This is the biggest pinch me moment of my life. Like I... First, every element, moving in, the move-in day, the first wave rehearsals, the Zitz probe, like every stage has been such a pinch me moment that this one is the biggest one. And it just feels really wonderful to get to celebrate all the hard work that we've done. And we've built a beautiful show and I can't wait to share it with people. This is opening night, your very first one. There's a purple carpet, there's lights, camera, paparazzi.

I know. What are you most excited about tonight? And are you nervous at all? Oh, I'm really nervous. I am an anxious person, but you know what? I'm really excited to do the show because it's the most fun to do and to get to share with people. People have been loving it and like really resonating with the characters and the music and the book. So just being in a theater, doing the show with this group of people will be so special tonight.

[22:06] Michael Arden: I loved this show, people. I will scream it until I'm blue in the face. Tell everyone you can. Shout it from the rooftop. Shout it from the rooftops, people. Talk to us a little bit. We got a little birdie telling us that this dress you're wearing tonight is very special to you. And so please give us the tea. The tea is, I was looking in my mom's closet, just, you know, perusing, seeing what I can take. I see this glorious dress months ago. And this is a dress that my mom got 25 years. It's older than I am. And she got it for a special occasion. She's been saving it for I don't know what occasion. And I said, Mom, I have to wear this. She's never worn it. Well, she wore it for one event, but never again.

And I put it on and I was like, Mom, I don't think you understand. I need to wear this for my Broadway debut opening night. There's only one thing that I can do this for. And I didn't tailor it at all. It fits me like a glove. It's insane. It's like a dream. It's like a shoe fits. I mean, you don't have to give it back. Exactly. Exactly. Oh, man. So we love this show. I can't talk about it enough. Obviously, it's about robots who are falling in love. If you were a robot, what would your special power or skill be? I think I feel like I'd be like a robotic personal shopper for somebody. I need one of those. Yeah, I don't know what that entails. That's just what popped into my brain. And I feel like I could do well with that.

And here's a hard question. Okay. What would your name be? Your robot name be as the personal robot shopper? Helper shopper, shopper, shopper, shopper, shopper, shopper, shopper, shopper, but not my best work, but we'll take it. We'll take it. We'll take it. Congratulations. I feel like, you know, we're like talking to you before you shop to start shopper bot. There it is. There it is. We got it, people. But I genuinely do feel like this is the calm before the Helen storm. You're going to be a huge star. Congratulations. You already are. But you know, everybody learned her name. Thank you for being here. This is the best day of my life. Oh, good. We love the nails. But we have strict instructions.

So we're gonna do this in like two seconds. Geez, I hope we're so much stuff to do between now and when you guys watch the show. It's crazy. All right, let's go. So we're gonna do quick. Yeah. So we are a podcast on a Broadway podcast network. Introducing yourself with your name. So who can't see your beautiful face knows who you are. Oh, it's probably for the best. But Hello, my name is Darren Criss. And I'm currently working as an actor in a musical called maybe happy ending at the Belasco theater. Now open as of tonight. Hello, starring in it. And can you tell us what your robot name would be if you weren't Darren Criss? Well, in this show, his name is Oliver. And he's a model three helper bot.

I don't know what my my name would be. I'm sure other people would have their own ID or something. I don't know. I think it would be up to my makers and owners. Oh, that's a good answer. We haven't gotten that I'm in the service industry. That's what I say. I'm here to serve as a story and to service a greater, greater good that has like, I'm just a small part of like a more important machine. So I would likewise say that if I was a robot, whoever I've been servicing, I'd let them decide whatever my name is. You know what? That's great. Can you tell us what a story or your favorite part about the creation process of this? This production is such a beautiful, heartfelt show. So I wonder if there's like a particular moment that sticks out to an original show to Yeah, I mean, you nailed it.

I mean, that's that's kind of the most exciting thing. If you look down 40 West, we're currently on the what what we in the industry like to call the east side of Broadway. Yeah. On the opposite side of Broadway. He said if you exactly if you're looking down West 44th, you will notice there's a bunch of popular revivals, and familiar properties. And this and by no means am I poo pooing that I love I love so many of them. And I'm so happy for the way that they can resonate with audiences well after they've come out, you know, originally, whether the revivals or original movies or books. However, we are in a rarefied space where this is a show that has no previous sort of connection to which is a bit of an obstacle.

But however, I think our biggest obstacle is our biggest asset, because people come in completely unencumbered by expectation or comparison. And so I feel that every night, when people truly don't know what's a gonna happen, be what the songs are gonna sound like. They're not like, Oh, I can't wait to see how they do this. Yeah, I don't know anything. And so their, their gain, if I'm using an amp reference, yeah, it's like at like 12, it goes to 11. Right. So it's like, they can experience something at a degree that they didn't even know they didn't know. And I get to feel that and watch that every night from the stage. And that's an extraordinary thing that rarely gets to happen. So that's a small, small piece of what has made this such an extraordinary singular experience for me.

I'm constantly in a dream state. And I'm so grateful. I could just cry every second of the day. And I do. We're so excited for you. Congratulations. Thank you guys. Thank you so much. Nails, shoes, everything. It's opening night. Yeah. Thank you for chatting.

[27:20] Michael Arden: So I'm Jason. And this is Samantha. And we have a podcast called the survival job as a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Would you mind introducing yourself for those who can't see your beautiful face? Hi, my name is Michael Arden. And I'm the director of Maybe Happy Ending. And I'm happy to be on this podcast. I'm Tony Award winner, Michael Arden. That's not usually how I introduce myself. That's why I had to interject just so we all could recognize that because before we talk about Maybe Happy Ending, I have to talk about parade. My God, what an amazing parade fans here. So I mean, that does tie in. So how does it feel from coming from such an amazing production, directing parade, you're so involved in the Broadway community to coming to such another beautiful, heart wrenching show.

You're just making us cry time and time again, Michael. Well, I think like we want to cry. We want to go to the theater to like be shuffled. Our deck needs to be shuffled. You know, it's it's amazing to get to work on like a show that I had revered for so long, such as Parade and kind of re-imagine that to going to this that like, the imagination is everything and getting to form it, you know, and think, oh, what would Hal have done in this situation? Hal Prince or, or, you know, what would Michael Bennett have dreamed up and to work with Dane Laffrey, my longtime design partner on this has been really cool and scary. You know, it's like, how are we going to tell a story that is lasting and that and that hopefully people keep the images in their mind with the story and music and they're inextricable from each other.

So that's been a really fun challenge and a joy. And to get to do it with Darren Criss, my dear friend and Helen Jay Shin and Des Duran and Marcus Choi, it's it's a dream come true. Congratulations. I mean, the show is so

[29:10] Darren Criss: In the end, I kinda feel like you found home a little bit in that travel. I'm loving your energy tonight. I was gonna ask you, do you ever get nervous? I mean, you've done this so many times, these opening nights, do you still get nervous? What are you looking forward to the most on these opening nights? Just tonight, celebrating Will Aronson and Hugh Park, hopefully, you know, Aronson Flaherty, hopefully a new Lerner and Lowe. These writers who I have, the first time I heard their music and read their work, I was just blown away, and now they're on Broadway. To be a part of that is like everything I ever dreamed of. I mean, they're so well-deserved to be on Broadway. Like I said, I was like heaving when I left this production. It's so beautiful.

[30:27] Jason A. Coombs: We know you have a ton to do to get ready for the show tonight, but before we let you go, if you were a robot, if Michael was a robot, what would your superpower skill be?

[30:33] Darren Criss: Sorry, I'm seeing some friends over here. My superpower skill if I were a robot would probably be directions, like GPS. I'm really good at knowing where I am in space. My husband, Andy, gets lost going out of our apartment.

[30:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's like me. I can always tell which is east, west, south, north, like kind of wherever I am. It's a weird skill, so I think that would be my superpower.

[31:06] Darren Criss: And then the final question before you go, because this was the hardest one, what would be your name, your robot name for the direction guy, the direction bot?

[31:14] Darren Criss: Well, I'd have to go with Hal.

[31:18] Jason A. Coombs: Makes sense!

[31:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: There you go. Well, cheers to opening night. Congratulations! Michael, before you go, I just have to tell you, I'm still stuck on Vera Pop Opera from when I was a teenager. That's how I know Michael Arden. I played that cast recording back-to-back, so thank you again. Happy opening. Kill it tonight.

[31:37] Dane Laffrey: So I'm Jason, this is Samantha, and we have a podcast.

[31:40] Jason A. Coombs: You too!

[31:41] Dane Laffrey: We have a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network called Survival Jobs. Would you mind introducing yourself for everyone who can't see your beautiful face?

[31:45] Dane Laffrey: My name is Dane Laffrey and I'm the set designer for Maybe Happy Ending.

[31:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, like set designer doesn't even begin to cover what this show is with this set. My god, it is the sixth character in the show. I just saw the show and I was watching like, how is this happening? It's so amazing. Can you talk a little bit about your process? Because this was not just a simple sketch, right? There's a lot of moving parts. Literally, literally.

[32:11] Dane Laffrey: I mean, it's been a very long road. It was quite different in Atlanta than it is on Broadway. I think it's a better version here, but it just needed to move a little bit differently. But the goal has always been a couple of things. It's sort of like, really make the audience question how much agency these characters have in the world and build a machine around them that they don't necessarily, you know, have a great deal of control over. And I think that's an important kind of tension and undertone for the piece. And the other, I think, is to really like, focus the eye. It's to really move you around through the story in an incredibly cinematic way.

[32:48] Dane Laffrey: Which we've often thought is a little ironic, because unlike so many things, this isn't an adaptation of a movie that kind of demands that or wants that. But it felt very much like the way that this story could unfold in the most dynamic way possible.

[33:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah. Congratulations. It is breathtakingly beautiful and like, does something to the mind where you're like, what human could think of this and have that much attention to detail? And now I know him.

[33:12] Dane Laffrey: Now you know him.

[33:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: Now I know him. So your job is done.

[33:13] Dane Laffrey: So, right. You don't have to do anything more for the scenic design.

[33:19] Dane Laffrey: That is basically true. Yeah.

[33:20] Jason A. Coombs: So you guys are partying hard tonight. What are you looking forward to the most on a Broadway opening night?

[33:25] Dane Laffrey: You know what? It's this, this has been a long road to get this show here. We had to like, COVID really like, you know, took the wind out of our sails, given that it's always just been, we've been on this for a really long time. And, you know, Michael and I have done many others since, but this has been the one that we've really been like, when can we get this thing into town?

[33:42] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. Like when can, so tonight's really, really exciting for us.

[33:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're going to party hard, right?

[33:46] Dane Laffrey: I mean, I don't know. We'll see what happens.

[33:49] Jason A. Coombs: See what happens. Minute by minute. Okay. Before we let you go, I know you've chatted with so many people. If you were a robot, what would your robot superpower be or super skill be?

[34:00] Dane Laffrey: Oh, probably organization.

[34:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh yeah. Yeah. And then part two, what would your name be of this organizer robot?

[34:06] Dane Laffrey: Oh, who knows?

[34:08] Dane Laffrey: It's a hard, it's a hard one.

[34:09] Dane Laffrey: It's a hard one.

[34:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[34:11] Dane Laffrey: Maybe that's the organizer.

[34:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Maybe. I'll take it. I feel like you don't get to choose.

[34:17] Dane Laffrey: You know what I mean?

[34:18] Jason A. Coombs: That's what Darren said.

[34:19] Dane Laffrey: There you go.

[34:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah. Well, congratulations. Thank you for chatting with us. Happy opening night.

[34:23] Dane Laffrey: Of course. My pleasure. Thank you.

[34:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: So just so people know, we are a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network, and they can't see your beautiful face. So can you introduce yourself for us?

[34:32] Casey Likes: Hi, I'm Casey Likes. I play Marty McFly in Back to the Future on Broadway, and I'm at Happy Ending, maybe Happy Ending's musical opening.

[34:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. Casey, what do you know about this show? What are you most excited for tonight?

[34:44] Casey Likes: I am very excited for my friends in the cast that I know, and I'm very excited to see what Michael Arden has done with the direction of what I hear is state of the art. Just very excited. Have you seen it?

[34:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. Do you have tissues? I hope you can go get some from the bathroom and put them in your pocket because you're going to be ruined.

[35:04] Casey Likes: Oh, Lord. Okay. Well, I'm ready.

[35:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: You better get ready.

[35:07] Casey Likes: You're going to get ready. Yeah.

[35:08] Casey Likes: I've heard it's like for the Hadestown girlies, like the ones who get that really depressing, really well thought out style of musical.

[35:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: I haven't heard that yet, but I can see it. I'm here for it.

[35:23] Casey Likes: I'm here too. I hear the music's nothing like it, but it's just the feels.

[35:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's the feels, right? Whoever want to feel and like, yeah.

[35:29] Casey Likes: The feels are definitely there. Thank you for telling that.

[35:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, of course. Of course. We needed that in our life.

[35:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I know you've been very politically engaged on your social media.

[35:36] Casey Likes: Of course.

[35:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: And this week has been a week.

[35:40] Casey Likes: A week.

[35:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Why is theater so important in times like this when we are all grieving as a community?

[35:46] Casey Likes: Well, we have to be able to say how we feel in a way that can really... That's what's really amazing about theater is that it's a way to say something and convince people of something so deeply and emotionally. Like, I think about the musical Spring Awakening and I think about how prevalent that musical is about to become in our society. And I think about how there are pieces that should be written and should be performed in this next four years that are really going to be important to engaging our culture with politics.

[36:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love that. Thank you. Wow, that just took me to a whole new level. Thank you for sharing that. I've been thinking about that answer a lot recently, so thanks for asking.

[36:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, just to make it a little lighter. So the show, no spoilers, is about robots. Don't know if you know that, but it is. If you were a robot, if Casey was a robot, what would your special superpower be or super skill?

[36:44] Casey Likes: Um, that is a good question. I think my special skill, hopefully, would be to be in a million places at once and be able to so quickly go to a million places at once and not run out of energy.

[36:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, that's what I say. You've got to teleport, right?

[37:02] Casey Likes: You know, it's great.

[37:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: So second part of that question, what would be your robot name, then?

[37:07] Casey Likes: That's the harder part. Uh, Mart.E.

[37:14] Casey Likes: So it's Marty, but Mart.E. That's what it is.

[37:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that. Tying it all in. Go see Back to the Future, people.

[37:21] Casey Likes: Before we close, January 5th.

[37:22] Casey Likes: Yeah, you have two months to get your behinds in seats, get some joy in your lives, because we need joy.

[37:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: We need it.

[37:29] Casey Likes: Yeah. Thank you for being here.

[37:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers.

[37:31] Casey Likes: I love cheersing since we have the three.

[37:34] Jason A. Coombs: So we are a podcast, so would you mind introducing yourself so they can't see your beautiful faces?

[37:39] Clint Ramos: So, thank you.

[37:40] Clint Ramos: Yeah, I'm Clint Ramos.

[37:42] Jason A. Coombs: And you did what on the show?

[37:45] Clint Ramos: And I designed the costumes for the show.

[37:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, I mean, clearly, you've got some taste.

[37:50] Arielle Jacobs: My name is Arielle Jacobs. I am from Broadway's Here Lies Love, Aladdin, Wicked in the Heights, and...

[37:58] Arielle Jacobs: Many things.

[38:00] Clint Ramos: She's like, wait, I'm forgetting one.

[38:02] Arielle Jacobs: Many things. I mean, what a blessing to lose count of your Broadway shows.

[38:07] Clint Ramos: Right.

[38:07] Arielle Jacobs: By the way, just a moment for Here Lies Love. You were fantastic in that.

[38:11] Clint Ramos: Wasn't she? I mean, come on, people. Can we give it another shot?

[38:15] Arielle Jacobs: Bring it back.

[38:16] Clint Ramos: Bring it back.

[38:16] Arielle Jacobs: It was so good, and you were so great. So thank you for that.

[38:20] Clint Ramos: And congratulations on the costumes. I mean, this show is just stunning in every aspect. Can you tell us a little bit about where you drew your inspiration from?

[38:30] Arielle Jacobs: Oh, I've been with the show for a bit now. I mean, the inspiration really is Korean culture, and I don't know. It's an imagined world, so I think it's really about fantasy.

[38:44] Clint Ramos: Yeah.

[38:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[38:46] Clint Ramos: So we have a fun question, because the show is about helper robots, right? If either of you could be a helper robot, what would be your special skill?

[38:55] Arielle Jacobs: Definitely not cleaning.

[38:58] Clint Ramos: Same, girl, same, same, same, same.

[39:00] Arielle Jacobs: You start.

[39:03] Clint Ramos: I guess my special skill might be organizing bookcases.

[39:09] Arielle Jacobs: You know what? That is a good skill. I have a bookcase that is absolutely chaotic, so when your helper robot comes to life, bring her over.

[39:17] Arielle Jacobs: It would be cleaning for me.

[39:18] Clint Ramos: Amazing.

[39:19] Arielle Jacobs: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[39:19] Clint Ramos: You're a good team.

[39:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: OK, and what are their names? What's the cleaner bot's name?

[39:22] Clint Ramos: Ed.

[39:25] Arielle Jacobs: Yeah, just Ed.

[39:29] Arielle Jacobs: I guess mine might be, she cleans books, so she might be Brigitte.

[39:35] Clint Ramos: Love that, Brigitte. Thank you so much for being here. Congratulations.

[39:38] Arielle Jacobs: Yeah, have fun tonight. Happy opening.

[39:41] Clint Ramos: Thanks.

[39:42] Jason A. Coombs: We have a podcast called Survival Jobs, a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Would you mind introducing yourself for those who can't see your handsome face?

[39:50] Jason Robert Brown: I'm Jason Robert Brown, and I don't believe this is an actual podcast, but that's good.

[39:55] Jason Robert Brown: We'll just keep pretending like it is.

[39:56] Jason A. Coombs: This is, this is, this is.

[39:58] Jason Robert Brown: Jason, congratulations. You just came off of a huge concert at Carnegie Hall.

[40:02] Jason Robert Brown: I did, thank you. How was it? Give us, give us some feedback. How'd it go?

[40:05] Jason Robert Brown: It was, it was super awesome. It felt like I had spent, you know, 35 years of my career building up to this extraordinary evening with these wonderful artists. And it was, it was really, I mean, everything I say would sound like a cliché. It was all of that. It was that dream come true. It was a beautiful night.

[40:22] Jason A. Coombs: Amazing. Well, congratulations.

[40:24] Jason Robert Brown: Oh, I love that. So I know that you're super politically engaged, and we all know what happened.

[40:29] Jason Robert Brown: Not as of now.

[40:30] Jason Robert Brown: Well, yikes. I was going to say, how does theater help us in times like this when we're feeling a little hopeless, some of us?

[40:38] Jason Robert Brown: You know, it's, I think it's perfectly natural to feel hopeless, and it's perfectly natural to just, we have to take care of each other now. And I think the first Trump, the first administration, we spent a whole lot of time, like, panicking about it and screaming and marching, all of which was good and was a good idea. I'm exhausted.

[41:01] Jason Robert Brown: And so what I'm planning to do now, in addition to whatever screaming and fighting and marching I end up doing, is just taking care of my people and getting on with the work that I have to do, because that fucker is going to be dead one day, and we're going to keep going. And that's what I'm hanging on to.

[41:15] Jason Robert Brown: And the sooner, the better, honestly. But it's not just about him. It's about this community having values that matter to me and my family having values that matter to me and not getting caught up in a world that has values that don't.

[41:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you. And also your music is so healing to so many of us. So thank you for your gift. Speaking of your music, we're on the upcoming of the last five years. How are we feeling? I know it's like a hot ticket. Everybody cannot wait.

[41:44] Jason Robert Brown: I'm among the people. I can't wait. I don't know anything more than you do. I just I'm very excited. I think we were having understudy auditions. It's like it's all actually happening.

[41:57] Jason Robert Brown: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which is just sort of cool. And it will be in a theater right around the block. And then I'll have the last five years on Broadway after 25 years, which is really wild.

[42:05] Jason A. Coombs: Let's cheers to that.

[42:06] Jason Robert Brown: Let's cheers to that.

[42:07] Jason A. Coombs: Cheers to that. Jamie is not over, you guys.

[42:11] Jason Robert Brown: Last question. Nobody can read the room. This show is about helper robots in it. If you could be a helper robot, what would your superpower be? For example, I would be able I would choose to be able to sing the songs for New World, all the songs from the opening to the closing. Because that's my fate on key and be able to belt it because that's my favorite show. But what would yours be?

[42:34] Jason Robert Brown: If I were a helper bot, yeah, I would be here to help. But wait, I'm going to get in trouble for pretty much anything I say. So I'm just walking my way through this.

[42:52] Jason Robert Brown: I'm wow, I used to be so good at this shit. And now it's hard. I'm really I'm out of practice. I don't like people, so I'm bad at this.

[43:01] Jason Robert Brown: It's an opening night. I just it's so good. You just want to have fun tonight. If I if I were going to be a helper bot, I would help me come up with answers to the question of boom. There it is. Fictional podcast people.

[43:13] Jason A. Coombs: You have to be on our podcast. We have one. It is real.

[43:16] Jason Robert Brown: OK, I'll come on.

[43:18] Jason Robert Brown: I'll come on your podcast.

[43:20] Jason Robert Brown: I'll get right. OK. With these with these great microphones that I'm talking into.

[43:26] Jason A. Coombs: All right. Have a great night.

[43:28] Jason Robert Brown: Thank you so much.

[43:29] Jason Robert Brown: Thanks for chatting with us.

[43:30] Jason Robert Brown: So good to meet you.

[43:31] Jason Robert Brown: So wonderful. Thank you.

[43:33] Jason Robert Brown: Thank you so much.

[43:34] Telly Leung: So we are a podcast, like we said, on the Broadway Podcast Network, which might introducing yourself for those who can't see your beautiful face?

[43:39] Telly Leung: Sure. Hi, I'm Telly Leung. I'm sometimes I sing, dance and act for a living.

[43:45] Dez Duron: I'm so excited to be here. Yeah, opening of Maybe Happy Ending. Telly fresh off of your run at Algonquin Playhouse. Yeah, with our girl Crystal. Everybody could have seen Crystal Joy Brown was my best friend's wedding people. Yes, we did the musical version of My Best Friend's Wedding to Julia Roberts for me from 1997. Crystal Joy Brown got to play my best friend in it. She was the Julia Roberts part and I got to play the Rupert Everett part which was delicious and so fun and so we had never met before doing that show and all of a sudden we met on that show and became fast friends. It's such a wonderful support system and I wish I hope that show is a life because I hope everybody gets to see Crystal Joy Brown do such a star turn.

She never leaves the stage. And she is carrying the show. And she is such a superstar and such a wonderful leading lady. And you know, I get to come on and sing a couple of songs with her and choose some scenery, but she's like carrying the show. And she's amazing in it. So keeping fingers crossed that one day we'll be in an opening night of My Best Friend's Wedding just like this.

[44:44] Jason A. Coombs: We'll be here and we'll be interviewing you on the carpet.

[44:46] Dez Duron: We'll be right back. Sally, I know you also have a life as a host. I was with you at the New York Game Ends.

[44:53] Sally: Oh, yes, of course.

[44:54] Dez Duron: Yes, yes. What advice do you have for fellow hosts or podcasters on how to keep it alive and keep the energy up when you're tired or exhausted?

[45:01] Sally: First of all, I don't need to give any advice to y'all because y'all do this so brilliantly on the red carpet.

[45:07] Dez Duron: Thank you.

[45:08] Sally: Not when I like take a moment of peace. Yeah, but like, I have to just say just be yourself. You know, and I and I always think that like, there's a little part of us that's been in this business for so long. And sometimes we get a little bitter and jaded about it. Yeah. But when you're on the carpet, and when you're working events like this, or you're hosting, it's time for that fanboy or that fangirl or that fan person to come out and like be excited. Because that's what everybody wants. And just know that you are you get to be there. Yeah. So just be grateful for being here because there's so many people that are that are listening to this podcast right now that don't get the privilege and the luxury of being in New York City for an opening night like this and we get to be excited for them.

So I would say if anybody wants to be a host, just find that fan person inside you remember what it was like to be a young theater fan and like, just be yourself and be excited. Oh, cheers to the microphone. Happy opening.

[45:54] Dez Duron: It's been my bit tonight. I've been cheers.

[45:57] Sally: I'm stealing. Yeah. Final question. Yeah, sure. You know, the show is about helper robots. Yes. Spoiler no spoiler. If you could be a helper robot, what would be your special power?

[46:06] Dez Duron: Oh my gosh. So I will say this that I travel a lot for work. Okay, as an entertainer. And so and the thing that I don't like to do is pack. So I would have my helper robot come and go and think about all the things that I'm gonna like, wish I packed tomorrow and you AI robot help me help me think of all the things that I could not think of because I'm only one little brain. It's a good one. Okay, what's this robots name?

[46:30] Dez Duron: Oh, this robots name? I don't know. My husband is named Jimmy. And so he always thinks of all the things that I don't think of. He's a really great partner in that way. So maybe I'd name him like, Jim, something like something that feels like, you know, Jimmy 2.0. Jimmy 2.0. I don't know how Jimmy would feel about that. But yeah, that's that sounds right. Shout out to Jimmy.

[46:49] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you, Jimmy. He's here. He avoids the carpet like the plague.

[46:54] Dez Duron: Yeah, he's a little shy. Like I can't. Thanks for chatting.

[46:58] Dez Duron: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

[47:01] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, have fun tonight.

[47:04] Jason A. Coombs: My name is Jason. I couldn't find my mark.

[47:09] Jason A. Coombs: And then we have a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Would you mind introducing yourself those who can't see your beautiful face and your amazing glasses?

[47:16] Ingrid Michaelson: Oh, thank you. I am Ingrid Michaelson.

[47:20] Jason A. Coombs: Ingrid, congratulations on your Grammy nomination for the Nova. I mean, if anybody listened to our podcast last season, all I did was cry every episode. I could make a whole field like my favorite show of the season like I will cry tickets to closing so well deserved. Thank God you're getting your flowers. I will gush about the notebook people for hours and hours. So we are big fan. Okay, so congratulations. How did you feel when you found out about the nomination?

[47:45] Ingrid Michaelson: I was prepared to not get anything because that was sort of the theme of the year. And so I actually set my alarm. I stayed up really late and I was like, I want to sleep through it because I don't want to watch it in real time and just feel that disappointment. So I set my alarm for 11 thinking that everything was going to be announced at 10:45. And I woke up and there was nothing on my phone. I'm like, well, I guess I didn't get anything. And my manager was like, No, it was the pre show. It hasn't even started yet. I was like, I missed it. But then they said the notebook so I feel very happy for our show. And for everybody involved in it, the cast, the amazing singers, everybody that helped to produce the band. It's just like, it's just really lovely to get that nod, you know.

[48:39] Jason A. Coombs: So we're we're in a time. We're in a time. And we don't have to go into it. We don't want to start crying on the red carpet. But how does theater help us in moments like this when we're feeling a little hopeless when I'm feeling a little hopeless? Give me some advice Ingrid.

[48:52] Ingrid Michaelson: I think that's what art does best is that it's a really gorgeous, hopefully enlightening form of distraction. And, you know, I've had a lot of loss in my life. And there's a lot of I really had to curse. Yes, there's a lot of shit that's really fucked up right now. And I think action and distraction are two things that kind of helped me get through to the next moment. And theater is just a delicious distraction. And it's and when it's I saw this show a couple weeks ago in previews. Yes. And it's so stunning. From every angle. I mean, visually, it's just like a feast for the senses. And it lets you sit in a space with, I don't know, 1100 other strangers and just have a sort of communal response to other humans on in front of you. You know, it's theater is just so it's an exchange. Yeah, it's it's a beautiful. It's a beautiful, beautiful art form. And it gives us a respite from our from from our hamster wheel spinning mind.

[50:14] Jason A. Coombs: Well, cheers to that.

[50:17] Ingrid Michaelson: Yeah, cheers. Thank you for chatting with us. Congrats again.

[50:23] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you so much. I love your ink. You know, you share. So we fit for here we are. My name is Jason. So Samantha. So we have a podcast called Survival Jobs on the Broadway Podcast Network. Why are we then you doing video?

[50:35] Ingrid Michaelson: Yeah, we do. We need the social media.

[50:37] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, we got to get the listener somehow. I see. So can you introduce yourselves really quickly?

[50:41] Neil Patrick Harris: Hi, I'm Neil Patrick Harris.

[50:43] David Burtka: And I'm David Burtka.

[50:44] Neil Patrick Harris: And we're here at the Broadway Podcast Network. What up, yo? Opening night of Maybe Happy Ending. So what do you guys know about the show? What are you most excited about tonight?

[50:49] David Burtka: All I know is that our good friend Michael Arden directed it.

[50:55] Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, there's two Michigan alums. I'm a Wolverine. And it's about a robot.

[51:07] David Burtka: I know very little except we we deeply adore Michael Arden.

[51:12] Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah.

[51:13] David Burtka: And not only as a human and as a friend, but also as a creator, like what he does, what he puts his hands on. We've seen from Parade, all the way through Lost Boys, his forthcoming musical that we're just like massive fans of. So we're here to support him. We love Darren.

[51:31] Neil Patrick Harris: He's also someone not getting a massage at the end. Like what happens at the end?

[51:35] David Burtka: Oh, that's what maybe happy ending.

[51:37] Neil Patrick Harris: Maybe. Maybe.

[51:39] David Burtka: I always wonder.

[51:41] Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah. Well, you're just gonna have to wait and see. Do we all get them?

[51:45] David Burtka: Maybe.

[51:47] Neil Patrick Harris: Just let's tell everybody that that happens. Just sell some tickets.

[51:51] Jason A. Coombs: Really quick question. We're in a time after the election. We're all probably feeling a little hopeless. How do we how does theater help us cope and have hope when things are looking bleak?

[52:02] Neil Patrick Harris: Well, I think it's an escape. Like we're allowed to go somewhere and be taken somewhere completely different, whether it's a comedy or a drama. Hopefully, it's a comedy because we all sort of need to laugh right now.

[52:13] David Burtka: Yes.

[52:14] Neil Patrick Harris: Or a dark comedy like Neal's show, Shit Meets Fan right now.

[52:18] David Burtka: My cabaret is happening next week too.

[52:22] Neil Patrick Harris: David Berdka, warily he rolls along.

[52:28] David Burtka: I don't know. I don't find it. I don't find it hopeless. I feel like circumstances abound in a democratic society where things happen and you have to sort of pivot, right? If it just happened the way you want it all the time, then complacency reigns. So when things don't happen the way they're supposed to, you have to reassess. You have to think about what makes things important to you and to people that are important to you and then be more forward thinking about your future actions.

[53:04] Neil Patrick Harris: I also think this is the time where artists like batten down the hatches and let's get work. Like when things are in turmoil and things don't go people's way, that's when real art happens.

[53:14] David Burtka: Hashtag Shakespeare.

[53:15] Neil Patrick Harris: Mic drop. Cheers to that.

[53:17] David Burtka: Mic drop. Cheers to that.

[53:18] Jason A. Coombs: And real quick, before you guys go, if you were a robot, what would your robot names be?

[53:21] Neil Patrick Harris: Oh, wow.

[53:26] David Burtka: I'd have like a different sound.

[53:28] Neil Patrick Harris: And you would do this.

[53:29] David Burtka: I yeah, it would be like a sound. Something like that.

[53:33] Neil Patrick Harris: Good.

[53:34] David Burtka: Yeah, I wouldn't have a real name.

[53:36] Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah, just the sound.

[53:39] David Burtka: Big Dick 9000.

[53:41] Neil Patrick Harris: Yes.

[53:41] David Burtka: Oh, wow. I'd like to rent that, rent that bot out.

[53:45] Neil Patrick Harris: And hopefully, hopefully it matches your actual robot.

[53:49] David Burtka: Because his name would be Richard.

[53:51] Neil Patrick Harris: Yeah.

[53:51] David Burtka: I didn't mean that in an awkward way.

[53:53] Neil Patrick Harris: Yes. Come on, Samantha, get your mind together.

[53:55] David Burtka: He's like, if I'm a robot, I have to be bringing home the package.

[54:00] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you so much. You both so much. Have a great time tonight.

[54:06] Hailey Kilgore: So we are a podcast called Survivor Jobs, a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Would you mind introducing yourself for those who can't see your beautiful face?

[54:13] Hailey Kilgore: Hi, everybody. My name is Haley Kilgore.

[54:16] Jason A. Coombs: Haley, we're here opening night of Maybe Happy Ending. What do you know about the show? What are you most excited about? Tell us.

[54:21] Hailey Kilgore: Yeah, yeah. I mean, I worked with Michael Arden when I did the Broadway revival of Once on this Island in 2017. And I've adored him ever since. And this show is so beautiful. And he's been so passionate about not only the show, but all of the people that are involved with the show, and the development of the story. So I'm just really excited to see like the final finished frozen product.

[54:42] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, buckle up, girl. It is so good.

[54:45] Hailey Kilgore: Yes. And Darren Criss.

[54:47] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, icon. So this show is about helper robots. A little little spoiler. Yeah. If you could be a helper bot, what would your special talent be?

[54:55] Hailey Kilgore: Oh, if I was a helper bot? Yeah. Just like, I don't know, like making people feel safe.

[55:05] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you.

[55:07] Hailey Kilgore: And what what is that helper bots name? Oh, can I just call it like, can I just call it a Haley bot?

[55:11] Jason A. Coombs: We got a Haley bot.

[55:17] Hailey Kilgore: All right. Thank you so much. It was so great chatting with you.

[55:22] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, cool. So yes, we are a podcast on the Broadway podcast network. So would you mind introducing yourselves because they can't see your beautiful faces.

[55:31] Alex Fink: I'm Alex Fink.

[55:32] Joe Carroll: And I'm Joe Carroll.

[55:34] Jason A. Coombs: Happy opening night. Welcome to the Maybe Happy Ending Purple Carpet. What do you guys know about the show? What are you most excited about tonight?

[55:39] Alex Fink: Oh my gosh. What's most exciting to me is also that I don't really know what the show is about. I just know the blurb that I've read and it's so rare that you get to go in totally blind.

[55:45] Joe Carroll: An original show. It's not a book. It's not a movie. I've been buzzing about it all day. And let me tell you, it's the best way to go in. I went in the same and buckle up. Bring a tissue.

[56:03] Alex Fink: 100% I went to college. We both went to college with Darren. Been friends for a long time. So we're just we're mega fans of his whatever he does, we follow. So we're just thrilled to be here. Amazing. Amazing.

[56:14] Joe Carroll: So like this is opening night. I'm sure you're not you're not new to the opening nights. What do you like we look forward to on the red carpet or at the party or actually seeing the show? What's your favorite thing about the night?

[56:23] Alex Fink: Oh, I think it's just you know, this is any opening is such a labor of love from so many people. Yeah, on stage backstage. From a PR perspective. It's just it's such producers. It's a huge team effort. And this is a night where the community just gets to celebrate what they've made. And that always just feels really, really joyful, whether you've actually contributed to that, or you just get to witness it.

[56:47] Joe Carroll: And even what has happened as we've walked the carpet is seeing friends. And we all you know, are in our own little hole working and then you get to see people at shows at opening nights at the party and then you have a drink and just commiserate and talk and be together and celebrate.

[57:02] Alex Fink: Yeah, we love that we need some celebrating right now. So not to But there are there are some robot themes happening in the show. If you guys are robots, what would your superpower be or super skill?

[57:09] Joe Carroll: Super skill. If I was a robot, I think that I would be the chef.

[57:24] Alex Fink: Oh, we got a robot chef, I will validate that 100%. I'm the beneficiary of his superpower. A lot of the time. I think mine would be like the speed queen. Like the speed clean putter queen. Okay, like if you set a timer and give me 15 minutes to get rid of all the piles in the house, like it is organized spick and span.

[57:46] Joe Carroll: I love to put your name to the speed queen hover queen. I don't even know what I said. What I said is the speed queen. I don't need clean.

[57:56] Alex Fink: Hutter queen. Yes. What would your what would your robot name be?

[58:00] Joe Carroll: I guess just something chef related.

[58:07] Joe Carroll: Yeah. Chef Joe 2.0.

[58:08] Alex Fink: Love it.

[58:11] Jason A. Coombs: Have a great time tonight.

[58:15] Alex Fink: We love the Broadway podcast.

[58:17] Joe Carroll: We love Alan.

[58:18] Alex Fink: We love the Broadway podcast.

[58:50] Jason A. Coombs: We're here at the Maybe Happy Ending Opening Night. What are you guys most excited about tonight?

[58:54] Unknown speaker: I don't know anything about this. And so, I'm thrilled for just a new musical.

[59:00] Unknown speaker: New original musicals. This art form is going to die in the vines if we don't have them. So, I'm happy to support.

[59:04] Unknown speaker: Yeah, something's going to be, not an IP, it's not a book. It's all original.

[59:08] Unknown speaker: I love it. I love not knowing what it is.

[59:10] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, yeah. What do you look forward to most about these opening nights? Because both of you are no stranger to opening nights. We've seen you a couple times as well. What's the most exciting part besides seeing a wonderful show?

[59:20] Unknown speaker: It's seeing the community. And everyone looking cute.

[59:22] Unknown speaker: Yeah, yeah.

[59:24] Unknown speaker: It's reminding we're a part of something bigger than ourselves, ultimately, is the thing I love the most.

[59:28] Unknown speaker: Yeah, of course.

[59:30] Jason A. Coombs: So, not to give any spoilers away, but we are dealing with some robots in this show. If you guys were robots, what would your special skill or special power be?

[59:37] Unknown speaker: Uh-oh. I have so many skills as it is as a human.

[59:44] Unknown speaker: Martina has so many skills she doesn't need added.

[59:47] Unknown speaker: Can I read minds as a robot?

[59:49] Unknown speaker: Ooh.

[59:51] Jason A. Coombs: That's a good one. We haven't heard that one yet.

[59:53] Unknown speaker: How far can you show me talking? Call Elon and see what's up.

[59:56] Unknown speaker: Oh, yeah, yeah.

[59:58] Unknown speaker: I'd like to be able to hit a perfect serving every time as a robot.

[1:00:02] Unknown speaker: Oh.

[1:00:03] Unknown speaker: If I can just find the right mechanics.

[1:00:04] Jason A. Coombs: Tennis?

[1:00:05] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:00:06] Unknown speaker: Oh, I see. I was like, a perfect what? Like, serving what?

[1:00:10] Unknown speaker: That's right, yes. I'd like to serve you dinner properly.

[1:00:13] Jason A. Coombs: What would your robot names be?

[1:00:15] Unknown speaker: Oh, MX4000.

[1:00:18] Unknown speaker: MX4000.

[1:00:20] Unknown speaker: Like MX. Like M with an X.

[1:00:22] Unknown speaker: XXX. I don't know.

[1:00:24] Unknown speaker: Yeah, yeah.

[1:00:26] Unknown speaker: Yeah, I don't know.

[1:00:28] Unknown speaker: Contithor.

[1:00:29] Unknown speaker: Contithor, my goodness.

[1:00:31] Unknown speaker: Contithor 2.0.

[1:00:33] Unknown speaker: Oh, yeah. That works. That works.

[1:00:35] Unknown speaker: Oh, God. We did this earlier and mine was a mess.

[1:00:38] Unknown speaker: You have a second chance with us now.

[1:00:40] Unknown speaker: Thank you. Go first. Go first.

[1:00:42] Unknown speaker: My skill would be to teleport anywhere because I love to travel. Just get there in a second.

[1:00:46] Unknown speaker: And I think my name was like J2.0, JC2.0, something weird.

[1:00:51] Unknown speaker: Yeah, you got to add some numbers in there somewhere.

[1:00:54] Unknown speaker: I'm really bad at science and math. I don't know. My last name is Toots. Toots alone.

[1:00:57] Unknown speaker: Toots alone. I thought it was like Tootsbot.

[1:01:00] Unknown speaker: Great last name.

[1:01:01] Unknown speaker: Tootsbot. Thank you.

[1:01:02] Unknown speaker: Everybody calls me Toots. You're welcome to as well.

[1:01:04] Unknown speaker: You're welcome to as well.

[1:01:05] Unknown speaker: I don't remember what I said.

[1:01:06] Unknown speaker: I'll never call you anything else again.

[1:01:07] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:01:08] Unknown speaker: Toots it is.

[1:01:09] Unknown speaker: There we go.

[1:01:11] Unknown speaker: My robot's name is Toots and that's all I got.

[1:01:13] Unknown speaker: That's all I got.

[1:01:14] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you so much for being on.

[1:01:15] Unknown speaker: Thank you. Enjoy the show.

[1:01:17] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, enjoy the show tonight.

[1:01:18] Jason A. Coombs: My name is Jason. This is Samantha.

[1:01:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi.

[1:01:21] Jason A. Coombs: We have a podcast called Survival Jobs. It's a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network. Can you introduce yourself for those who can't see your beautiful face?

[1:01:27] George Reeve: Hey, I am George Reeve. I'm the video designer of Maybe Happy Ending, the new musical on Broadway.

[1:01:33] Jason A. Coombs: George, I mean, congratulations. The video is such a big aspect of this show. Can you tell us a little bit about the process and how your inspiration came to you?

[1:01:43] George Reeve: So the whole show celebrates technology in the future in this glorious, simple, beautiful, but elegant way. And I really hope and I like to think that the video design follows that trend in a sense that, as you know, we have a lot of video. There's video everywhere. But we use it in a way that is, we slowly touch people. We slowly go, oh, here's a little bit, here's a little bit, here's a little bit. And then we go, bam. And then we go, oh, wait, actually, no, but we'll pull back. Pull it back. Because that is what technology does. It currently rules our lives. You wake up in the morning and you go on your phone. First thing I do, unfortunately. But it's really hard to break. And then you go to bed and it touches you.

So the fact that there's these entities that potentially know everything about you. One of the massive things with the design was how do we show this without it feeling like The Matrix or being just too on the nose. And I really feel like we've landed in this kind of beautiful harmony of art and life. The video, what I love to think is the video does these massive moments of being like, here we are. To bring it back to a four-piece, there's four people on stage at the Belasco in a massive show. That's so rare. So rare and so beautiful and amazing. Congratulations. The work you have given us in this show is so stunning.

[1:03:11] George Reeve: Thank you.

[1:03:12] Jason A. Coombs: And to bring it back to the show, if you could be a helper robot of some sort, what would your special skill be?

[1:03:18] George Reeve: Jeez. Yeah, it's a hard one, right? My special skill would probably be cleaning up files.

[1:03:26] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, okay. Files.

[1:03:28] George Reeve: In a way of like, I have thousands of the same picture. And I know there are apps that will fix that. But I want to know that they're the right ones. I need that. I need that. I have so many photos of it. Or cleaning my whole room.

[1:03:42] Jason A. Coombs: Yes.

[1:03:43] George Reeve: Okay, and what's that bot's name?

[1:03:45] George Reeve: The bot's name would be... I kind of want to be really simple and be like Bob.

[1:03:51] Jason A. Coombs: Bob the Bot!

[1:03:52] George Reeve: Yeah.

[1:03:53] Jason A. Coombs: Sorry, I just got so excited.

[1:03:55] George Reeve: There is merch in that.

[1:03:56] Jason A. Coombs: There is merch in that. There you go.

[1:03:58] George Reeve: All right, well make sure nobody steals it.

[1:04:00] Jason A. Coombs: Cheers to Bob.

[1:04:01] George Reeve: Thank you.

[1:04:02] Jason A. Coombs: Cheers to Bob. Congratulations.

[1:04:04] George Reeve: Thank you so much. We're so excited for you. Happy opening. Broadway debut.

[1:04:08] George Reeve: Yes, congratulations.

[1:04:10] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you.

[1:04:12] George Reeve: We love to talk to you.

[1:04:13] Jason A. Coombs: Me too. Thank you. As you know, we are a podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network.

[1:04:17] George Reeve: Yes.

[1:04:18] Jason A. Coombs: Can you introduce yourself for those who can't see your beautiful face?

[1:04:20] Laura Benanti: Oh my gosh. My name is Laura Benanti.

[1:04:22] Jason A. Coombs: Laura Benanti, icon of theater, film, all the things. And you just kind of, not just, got off of your one-woman show.

[1:04:29] Laura Benanti: Yes, I wrote a comedy show called Laura Benanti, Nobody Cares. And you can listen to it on Audible. And then there's some other exciting stuff coming soon with it.

[1:04:39] Jason A. Coombs: I'm excited. Give us some tea.

[1:04:41] Laura Benanti: Guys, I can't. I'm so sorry.

[1:04:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: She can't, people.

[1:04:44] Laura Benanti: But you heard it here first, kind of.

[1:04:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Kind of.

[1:04:47] Laura Benanti: Tune in.

[1:04:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Tune in to who knows.

[1:04:49] Jason A. Coombs: So you're no stranger to opening nights.

[1:04:51] Laura Benanti: I'm not.

[1:04:52] Jason A. Coombs: What's your favorite part about coming to a Broadway opening?

[1:04:54] Laura Benanti: Oh man, that's a great question. I think having the whole community sort of come together. It's people that you've, for me, I've known since I was 18 years old.

[1:05:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, your peeps are cool.

[1:05:05] Laura Benanti: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I feel like especially right now, just seeing people that I love and have similar values with feels really healing.

[1:05:13] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[1:05:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: I was going to ask you about that, kind of indirectly. How do we keep the hope?

[1:05:18] Laura Benanti: Honestly, I don't know. I mean, someone's going to have to tell me because I just feel tired.

[1:05:25] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[1:05:26] Laura Benanti: But we'll keep making art, right?

[1:05:28] Laura Benanti: Yeah, we'll keep making art. We'll figure it out. You know, we've been in similar situations. We've done it before and we'll do it again.

[1:05:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: I know, one woman comedy shows.

[1:05:37] Laura Benanti: One woman comedy shows.

[1:05:38] Laura Benanti: Heal the world, one woman comedy show at a time. And stay tuned for the teasing things that we don't know yet. That'll heal you too.

[1:05:42] Jason A. Coombs: Last question. This show is about helper robots. Great. Not to give anything away. No spoilers. If you could be a helper robot and have a special skill, what would Laura's skill be?

[1:05:46] Laura Benanti: My skill would be to help young women feel their own power.

[1:06:06] Jason A. Coombs: I love that.

[1:06:07] Laura Benanti: Help them, like, dig into it and figure out a way for it to empower them to move forward with kindness and empathy and strength and also maybe self-defense.

[1:06:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's so beautiful.

[1:06:20] Laura Benanti: And definitely self-defense. What's that robot's name, if you had to name that bot?

[1:06:26] Jason A. Coombs: Name that bot.

[1:06:28] Laura Benanti: Name that bot.

[1:06:29] Jason A. Coombs: Name that bot.

[1:06:30] Laura Benanti: I don't know. Like, I don't know.

[1:06:32] Laura Benanti: I don't know. I'm tired.

[1:06:34] Jason A. Coombs: The name is hard.

[1:06:35] Laura Benanti: I couldn't do it either.

[1:06:36] Jason A. Coombs: Shirley.

[1:06:37] Laura Benanti: I love it.

[1:06:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: We love Shirley.

[1:06:39] Laura Benanti: The Shirley 5.0.

[1:06:40] Jason A. Coombs: Listen, I couldn't find a name either, and I made up the question.

[1:06:43] Laura Benanti: You know what? It's fine.

[1:06:44] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you. Enjoy the show.

[1:06:46] Laura Benanti: It's a great show.

[1:06:48] Jason A. Coombs: Good seeing you.

[1:06:49] Laura Benanti: So nice to talk.

[1:06:50] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, thank you.

[1:06:51] Jason A. Coombs: Fantastic. Welcome to the Broadway Podcast Network Cardboard Carpet. Maybe Happy Ending opening night.

[1:06:54] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:06:55] Jason A. Coombs: We're a podcast network. A lot of people are just listening, so can you please introduce yourself to the listeners?

[1:06:58] Andrew Barthelman: I'm Andrew Barthelman, and I'm Maybe Happy Ending's number one fan.

[1:07:01] Jason A. Coombs: And, Andrew, tell us what you're doing right now, because you were just finished up.

[1:07:03] Andrew Barthelman: I just finished up A Little Shop of Horrors.

[1:07:06] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you. That's what I meant to say. Sorry. How was your time in Little Shop?

[1:07:10] Andrew Barthelman: It was amazing. I haven't been on stage for that kind of long term, that kind of role, in five years since I was 17.

[1:07:17] Jason A. Coombs: Wow.

[1:07:18] Andrew Barthelman: Wow.

[1:07:19] Andrew Barthelman: So it was a blast, and the group there is just phenomenal, and the show is obviously pretty close to perfect.

[1:07:24] Jason A. Coombs: So funny we're the same age.

[1:07:26] Andrew Barthelman: Yeah, it's hilarious.

[1:07:27] Jason A. Coombs: All of us.

[1:07:28] Andrew Barthelman: So fun.

[1:07:29] Jason A. Coombs: So fun. What draws you back to theater?

[1:07:31] Andrew Barthelman: Ooh, it's the immediacy, being with an audience, the relationship with... What audiences don't realize is that they're the variable. You know, we're the variable in their lives, in that they bought a ticket and they're coming here tonight, but they're the variable for us, the performers. And that's what makes a night like this so exciting, is that all of these people are so psyched to be here and see the show that they've never seen before, don't know what it's about, don't know what it sounds like. That's a special night at musical theater.

[1:07:57] Jason A. Coombs: We love.

[1:07:58] Andrew Barthelman: So you said you were a fan, so I don't think I'm giving any spoilers away of the show.

[1:08:02] Andrew Barthelman: Yeah, no, none. The show is about robots.

[1:08:03] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, my God. If you were a robot, a helper bot, a robot, what would your special skill or superpower be?

[1:08:11] Andrew Barthelman: I sometimes wonder whether I am a helper bot.

[1:08:14] Jason A. Coombs: Right now?

[1:08:15] Andrew Barthelman: Yeah.

[1:08:16] Jason A. Coombs: Guys, found the first one.

[1:08:17] Andrew Barthelman: I think I might be, because I'm very good with computers and I'm very bad at walking around, being a person in the world.

[1:08:25] Jason A. Coombs: There you go.

[1:08:28] Andrew Barthelman: So what I would do is I would be as helpful to the making of art and the getting to know of one another as possible. That's what I'd want. That would be my special skill.

[1:08:37] Jason A. Coombs: Love that. What would your robot name be? Or is it just your name because you said you feel like one?

[1:08:42] Andrew Barthelman: Yeah, I think Andrew feels to me like a strong helper bot name because I am a strong helper bot.

[1:08:49] Jason A. Coombs: What if it was The Andrew?

[1:08:50] Andrew Barthelman: The Andrew.

[1:08:51] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[1:08:52] Andrew Barthelman: The Andrew.

[1:08:53] Jason A. Coombs: Helper Bot 2.

[1:08:54] Andrew Barthelman: I think I'm an early model.

[1:08:55] Jason A. Coombs: Let's cheers to The Andrew Helper Bot 2.

[1:08:57] Andrew Barthelman: Thank you so much.

[1:08:58] Jason A. Coombs: Cheers, everybody.

[1:08:59] Andrew Barthelman: Cheers. Have a great time tonight.

[1:09:01] Jason A. Coombs: So nice to meet you.

[1:09:02] Andrew Barthelman: We'll take it.

[1:09:03] Jason A. Coombs: All right, y'all. We just wrapped the opening night of Purple Carpet.

[1:09:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hello.

[1:09:09] Jason A. Coombs: Maybe Happy Ending.

[1:09:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[1:09:12] Jason A. Coombs: How do you feel?

[1:09:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: I feel happy.

[1:09:14] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, my God. I feel not maybe happy, actually happy.

[1:09:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: That was so much fun.

[1:09:19] Jason A. Coombs: And we got to chat with so many people who are coming to the show, who are so excited about the show.

[1:09:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Everyone's so excited.

[1:09:25] Jason A. Coombs: So excited. And, you know, chatting with the cast and the crew and the creatives, it was just this show is so special and so beautiful.

[1:09:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[1:09:34] Jason A. Coombs: Jason, it's just such a beautiful show. And the excitement is there. And I love doing interviews with you. And I love the Broadway Podcast Network. And I love Maybe Happy Ending. And that's where I'm at, people.

[1:09:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's where I'm at, too. Shout out.

[1:09:46] Jason A. Coombs: Shout out to Des.

[1:09:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Shout out to Des.

[1:09:48] Jason A. Coombs: And the whole cast.

[1:09:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: To the whole cast.

[1:09:50] Jason A. Coombs: Who looked amazing.

[1:09:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Everybody looked amazing, including us.

[1:09:53] Jason A. Coombs: Cheers to us.

[1:09:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers to us.

[1:09:55] Jason A. Coombs: Who's like us.

[1:09:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: All of us.

[1:09:57] Jason A. Coombs: Damn few, Jason.

[1:09:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, there you go.

[1:09:59] Jason A. Coombs: Damn few.

[1:10:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love you.

[1:10:01] Jason A. Coombs: Love you.

[1:10:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love you.

[1:10:03] Jason A. Coombs: Love you.

[1:10:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Go see Maybe Happy Ending, people.

[1:10:08] Jason A. Coombs: Sorry, I just got unhinged at the end.

[1:10:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: What?

[1:10:11] Jason A. Coombs: I just got totally unhinged.

[1:10:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, yeah.