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[0:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hello, Survivors! Welcome to Survival Jobs, a podcast in collaboration with Broadway World and the Broadway Podcast Network. My name is Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo and I'm here on this rainy day with my beautiful, amazing, beautiful, I love that I just called you beautiful, co-host Jason A. Coombs. Jason, happy maybe happy ending week. We've had a big week filled with this beautiful musical.

[0:32] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, I am so happy that we both got to see this beautiful musical. But first, Samantha, I really want to just talk about something really quick before we dive in.

[0:41] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Tell me.

[0:42] Jason A. Coombs: I am an actor sometimes.

[0:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: You sure are.

[0:46] Jason A. Coombs: Sometimes, right? But I shot this really amazing film in 2023. I think it was summer of 2023. And I have like, you know, a small part. There's no small parts.

[1:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you.

[1:01] Jason A. Coombs: Right?

[1:02] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: For us.

[1:03] Jason A. Coombs: But a supporting part in this film called Regarding Us, which is currently in theaters playing in New York City this week until today. I feel bad. I should have like shouted it out before. But it's playing until today, Thursday, when this is released in Cinema Village East, I believe. And you can see this is a really amazing film. It's written and directed by David Beck and Jennifer Bobby, starring Abigail Hawke and Catherine Curtin and Alexander Gray. And it's about this trans woman who is a teacher at a Catholic school who gets fired when they find out that she's a trans woman. So it's a very timely story. It's very beautiful. The script was so amazing. I was just so happy to be a small part of it.

[1:45] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: What's your part? What's your part? What's your name?

[1:48] Jason A. Coombs: My name is Mr. Aguilar.

[1:50] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Mr. Aguilar. I love it.

[1:53] Jason A. Coombs: I hope that's right. Oh my gosh, it was so long ago. No, that's totally wrong. It's Mr. Aquino.

[2:00] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Mr. Aquino. Jason, that's amazing. Congratulations. It really is such an accomplishment. Just like you said, no small parts.

[2:11] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, no, it's such a beautiful film. And I played the woman played by Alexandra Gray, the teacher who's fired. She meets this little girl who like changes her life for the better. And I played the little girl's teacher in her school. So I got to play a little teacher.

[2:25] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: A little teacher.

[2:26] Jason A. Coombs: Mr. Aquino, yeah.

[2:27] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Mr. Aquino, not Mr. Aguilar.

[2:28] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, totally. I was like, that's totally wrong.

[2:30] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Well, we have—

[2:31] Jason A. Coombs: It was so long ago. It was a year and a half ago. Isn't that wild?

[2:33] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That is crazy. But such an accomplishment. Just think about to us in college, if you were to look and tell yourself that you would have a film that you were in playing in a New York City theater, like that's huge. No matter if you have one line or 100. So congratulations. Jay, maybe you have, maybe you are called your character, Mr. Aguilar, because we have Aguilar on the mind with today's guest.

[2:58] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my gosh, that's probably why.

[3:01] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: With today's guest.

[3:02] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, with Dez, King Dez.

[3:03] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Dez. Oh my God, you guys. Oh my God. Sorry.

[3:07] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my God, you guys.

[3:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you. So we both got to see Maybe Happy Ending this week and we chatted with Dez Duron, who is playing Gil—

[3:15] Jason A. Coombs: Gil? Gil Bradley?

[3:16] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Gil Brad—

[3:17] Jason A. Coombs: Did I get that right?

[3:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Gil Bradley or Gil Brantley? I think it's Brantley.

[3:24] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my God. I'm so bad with the last names today.

[3:26] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: I think so. We're going to look and we're going to fact check it so nobody comes to us. But you guys, I am lucky enough to have Gil Brantley. We were both wrong.

[3:36] Jason A. Coombs: We were both wrong.

[3:37] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Gil Brantley. This musical is so beautiful. And wow, it really pulls at the heartstrings and everybody is doing a 100 out of 100 job. So you guys need to go see this. And Dez Duron is Jason's boy for a long time. Jason's been a Dez fan for a while. So it was so cool that we were able to chat with him. Jay what? Sorry.

[4:02] Jason A. Coombs: I was gonna say 'cause Dez was on The Voice, which I was a big fan of The Voice. Because of course, I'm a big Christina fan. And Dez was on Team Christina.

[4:11] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It's true.

[4:11] Jason A. Coombs: And this was back when he said what he said 12 years ago, and I blew my mind. I was like, holy crap, it was 12 years ago. It's so wild. But yeah, he's Team Christina. So I was there, I was voting for him. I was like, I gotta help Team Christina win. And he's so talented. His voice is like butter. I went to the show yesterday with my friend Sierra, one of my best friends, excuse me. And she was just like, Oh my gosh, his voice. And I was like, I know. It's like, it's like butter, right? It's so soothing. I love him. He's so fantastic. He's a great performer. I want to thank you for connecting the dots there. Because I first mentioned that maybe you said Aguilar because Aguilar was on The Mind and I never tied it.

I never tied it. So thank you for tying it. Because Dez was on Christina Aguilar's team, you guys on The Voice. So that is why I said that. Yeah, his voice is effortless. And my god, this show is so special. Oh, the reviews, y'all. The reviews are so right. It is a beautiful, inspiring, special, important and necessary piece of theater that I hope everyone sees right away. Please get your ass to the Belasco, 44th, in between 6th and 7th? Yes. All right. Get over there.

[5:42] Jason A. Coombs: In 7th. So yes, go see Dez shine. Hello? The whole cast. Oh, the whole cast. Darren Criss was so funny and so heartwarming. And Hannah, I mean, oh my gosh, I can't. I just, I have so many feelings that show. I went on a roller coaster ride of emotions and I still haven't really processed it. But I'm so thankful for a theater like that. I'm so thankful for original, honest, beautiful, personal connections, like just really intimate. Oh my gosh. It was intimate but big at the same time because that production value, that set, unreal, unreal. It's a must see. It's a must see. I'm just so happy. Helen, who's playing opposite Darren, is just really coming in hot. When we interviewed, for those of you who don't know, we were lucky enough to cover the opening night carpet for Maybe Happy Ending.

And I said to her, I said, I feel like this is a moment that we are going to be able to say we knew her when. Because she is so special and so talented. I think the word for the talent in this show is effortless. Everybody seems so effortlessly in their roles. And that's a testament to themselves. But also let's give a shout out to Michael Arden. And we will have a big one fest to Michael Arden in this episode, you guys. It's an all creative team. To really, to make something so special like that. I just, I can't praise it enough. And I just, I'm so happy that we have theater like that still. I love the big shows. I love the revivals, y'all. But to see something so original, it's necessary, number one.

And it's just important. And it just makes you feel good to see like, we talk about artists with an A. Can we say theater with a capital T? Just like, we want to see new stuff, y'all. We want to see new creatives and new ideas and new stories. And how amazing that this original new musical is being so well received. Because a lot of times, they're not hitting, unfortunately, the way they need to be hitting to run. At the end of the day, it's a business. So just like Jason said, people, go to the Velasco.

[8:04] Jason A. Coombs: Can I say one more thing off topic? I had this crazy idea. And I know it's probably because we live in a capitalist country. But how come shows that make their money back 20 times their money back for that play for years upon years, they should give some of that money to smaller shows so they can survive too. Wouldn't that be nice? That we can have, I don't know.

[8:27] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Like a pot?

[8:29] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[8:29] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: A pot that people can sell.

[8:30] Jason A. Coombs: Maybe there is something like that. I don't know. But the other day, I was just thinking, I'm like, if this show's been around since the 90s, they've made so much money. And I know shows cost a lot. But can we help out the newer shows? I don't know. But maybe that's just me being an idealist.

[8:46] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. I don't know. I'm not educated enough on the business of Broadway to comment. But wouldn't it be nice?

[8:54] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Someone tell us if maybe that happens.

[8:56] Jason A. Coombs: DM us and let us know, guys. Let us know.

[8:59] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: If not, then let's make the pot happen.

[9:00] Jason A. Coombs: Let's make the pot. Let's make the pot. Enjoy this episode with Des. Oh, Jason, and he has a single coming out or a came out. I think it's a Christmas show.

[9:09] Jason A. Coombs: His single came out earlier this year.

[9:11] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[9:12] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. So go on Spotify or Apple. I mean, it's all free to stream these days. So go listen.

[9:18] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Listen to the original music too. Dez wrote and produced that song with a co-producer and co-writer.

[9:24] Jason A. Coombs: And go see Maybe Happy Ending.

[9:26] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Go see Maybe Happy Ending.

[9:33] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Hello, Dez. Welcome to Survival Jobs, a podcast.

[9:36] Dez Duron: Hi. I'm so excited.

[9:38] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes. We got to talk to you a couple of weeks ago on the red carpet of Maybe Happy Ending.

[9:44] Dez Duron: Yes.

[9:44] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: But as you know, we are huge fans. I go way back, Dez, to The Voice years.

[9:50] Dez Duron: No way.

[9:50] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: When you were on Team Christina. Yes, I was rooting for you.

[9:52] Dez Duron: It's true.

[9:53] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Dez, I have to tell you this. I was doing your iTunes downloads for your songs to make sure you made it to—I saw Feeling Good.

[10:00] Dez Duron: Are you serious?

[10:02] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yes. Hardcore, hardcore.

[10:03] Dez Duron: Thank you so much.

[10:05] Jason A. Coombs: Jason is a Dez stan.

[10:07] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: When Maybe Happy Ending was announced, he was like, we have to get Dez on the show. And I was like, fun. Let's do it. I'm so honored. Thank you so much. That's crazy.

[10:16] Dez Duron: Of course.

[10:17] Jason A. Coombs: Been a long road. We've been in—we're old friends.

[10:20] Dez Duron: 12 years.

[10:22] Jason A. Coombs: Hey.

[10:22] Dez Duron: 12 years us doing this together.

[10:25] Jason A. Coombs: That's so funny. Dez is like, I never want to talk to you again.

[10:30] Dez Duron: No.

[10:30] Jason A. Coombs: Like 12 years too long.

[10:32] Dez Duron: Yeah.

[10:32] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It's the holidays, Dez. Do you have any traditions?

[10:36] Dez Duron: Tis the season.

[10:42] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Tis the season, baby.

[10:43] Dez Duron: Yeah, I do. I guess they'll all be different this year because they all kind of have to do with going home. So this will be my first year not being home for Christmas ever. I'm from Shreveport, Louisiana. And so kind of all my holiday traditions revolve around things my mom did. None of them are personal traditions. I have a lot of friends that have personal things that they're like, when I do this, it's Christmas. For me, it's waking up Christmas morning, my mom makes French toast every year. And that's the thing. You know what I mean? That's kind of it. But this year, I don't know what I'm going to do. We'll see. It's kind of exciting.

[11:23] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Christmas in the city. Yeah, Christmas in the city is so beautiful and special. So I'm sure you'll get a new tradition brewing.

[11:31] Dez Duron: I hope so. I've actually never even been here. I think I have something covering my camera. Wow, there we go. I'm really good at this stuff. I've never been here during Christmas season, because usually I'm like kind of doing Christmas shows in various parts of the country. And it is wild. It is crazy.

[11:52] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Crazy. You can't walk anywhere because tourists are just flooding the streets.

[11:56] Dez Duron: Yeah, especially down here. Like I've especially never been in this area during Christmas. It is wild. I've never like walking down the street and then I couldn't move for like 10 seconds.

[12:09] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Horrible.

[12:09] Dez Duron: I literally can't go anywhere.

[12:11] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Yeah, especially like I'm a pretty late person and I'm working on it. But especially I'm running late and I cannot walk through the theater district because it's just clusters of people taking their time, which how beautiful as they should.

[12:26] Dez Duron: We're very glad they're here. You know what I mean?

[12:30] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: It is crazy.

[12:32] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Well, we hope they're all here to go see Maybe Happy Ending. By the way, you know, we did see you at the opening. The show is so special and stunning and beautiful, and we're going to talk so much about it. But before we talk about all the things, The Voice, all of the things, Maybe Happy Ending, I also have to have a moment of ADD. And I need your mom's French toast recipe because last Christmas morning, sorry to like take it back. But last morning, I tried to make a French toast. We always do a breakfast. And I effed it up so bad it went in the garbage. Nobody even ate it.

[13:07] Dez Duron: Oh, my goodness.

[13:08] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: That is sad.

[13:10] Dez Duron: So I need the recipe. If you could ping your mom and slide it into our—

[13:15] Dez Duron: I will. I'll get it to you. I mean, one quick note is just like tons of butter, just like so much butter. It's like you're going to be sick. You know what I mean? That's just one helpful tip.

[13:20] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Thank you so much.

[13:29] Dez Duron: Until she sends you the rest.

[13:30] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: Until we get the rest. So I'll start stocking up on the butter.

[13:36] Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo: So before you were slaying away Maybe Happy Ending, crushing it on Team Christina, doing all of the songs and all of the things, do you have a survival job from your past while you were working towards being an artist that you want to share with us?

[13:51] Dez Duron: It's crazy you said that because none of my survival jobs happened before that. They actually were relatively recent. I got pretty lucky. The first time I didn't make it on The Voice, I landed this random American Eagle modeling job. It was their first time they wanted to hire real people. And this lady saw me on The Voice and called me and was like, send us a picture of her hair. And I was like, okay.

[14:20] Dez Duron: And then I was like in their Live Your Life ads and I like paid my bills till the next time I did The Voice, like crazy. Um, and then my first like survival job was actually like when I moved to New York, because after The Voice, I went home and I lived at home. So I had like no bills with my parents.

[14:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: And you were getting the French toast on the reg.

[14:40] Dez Duron: I was getting the French toast on the reg. You know, and, um, yeah. And then like, you get these corporate gigs after you do these TV shows. So like, they pay very well for very little work. Um, I'm giving you guys way too much information. But anyways, when I moved to New York, um, I moved to New York on a whim. I came up here for just a weekend to sing in, uh, Laura Michelle Kelly's 54 Below Show, her duet partner dropped out. She called me. I flew up. I brought just like a little carry on. And then she asked me to stay for two more weeks. I stayed for two more weeks, like on a friend's couch. And then like, I met a friend who had a wedding band who was like, just stay a little longer and see if you like this.

And so I did that. But the wedding band, I ended up moving here and just lived out of that bag for three months and like bought a suit at H&M to sing in for these weddings. And then the wedding band was paying me so little. I like could not live. So I was also like catering during the week.

[15:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Really?

[15:40] Dez Duron: Yeah. So I do catering jobs and then I'd go do weddings. Which if you're a wedding singer, that band is making so much money. Do not let them tell you that they can't pay you. Anyways, I was just going to say they took me for a ride for years. No, anyways. Yeah, it was bad. Uh, but I was catering. Yeah, they are. They're so expensive. Then you like find out. Yeah. Anyways, I was catering and then, um, my last survival job, I was in Nashville actually. Um, and I kind of just, weddings were so slow cause it was post pandemic. And then, um, I honestly kind of wanted somewhere, something to do with my time. I was new to Nashville and like, didn't know what to do with myself. Um, and I was like a personal assistant for this, like, uh, venture capitalist.

And I did like everything you can imagine. Like I kept his schedule and I was terrible at all of it. And he's like a family friend. And when he hired me, I was like, I just want to warn you. I don't know how to do anything. And so I was like learning on the go. Like I was his gardener. I was like cleaning his garage, like washing my trash cans, cleaning out his fountain once a month. Like it was, I learned so much. Um, it was crazy. And then he would like sometimes mess with me. Like he sent me on a wild goose chase for like wiper fluid, which I guess like doesn't exist.

[17:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's not, that might not be it.

[17:07] Dez Duron: Yeah. So like, I guess that's like a joke.

[17:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: For a car?

[17:10] Dez Duron: Yeah. For a car. It's like a joke you do and you like send people and they go to like different things, but it was like a lot of fun. And I learned a lot from him about like how to treat people. And I, one thing I really learned from him is he knew what he liked and he kept it in the house. Like everything he liked, like his cranberry juice and you know what I'm saying? Like, and so like, that's like a big thing in life. I feel like, like knowing what brings you joy and then like keeping it around, you know? So, uh, that was my other survival job. It was, it was wild.

[17:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: To be clear.

[17:47] Dez Duron: He, to be clear, I just want to clear something up. He fully pranked you, sending you for the washer fluid.

[17:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Fully.

[17:52] Dez Duron: I was going to like car shops and I guess all the car shops are kind of in on it. It's like a normal thing people do. So they'll be like, Oh, we're out. We're out. And like, this is so mean. I didn't go to too many before he called. I went to like one before he finally called me. He was like, come back to the house. You have work to do. That doesn't exist.

[18:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Was it like April fool's day or was he just like having a silly day?

[18:14] Dez Duron: Well, he was like a prankster, like a big time prankster. And I also really liked that too. Like there's little things you can do to like inject joy into your life. And I think that's like one of them. Uh, and it never went like too far. Like, uh, it was really funny, but yeah, that was probably my last survival job. And I was so grateful for that job. It gave me something to do from nine to five in a place that I didn't have a lot of community, but I had a lot of time. And then it also like helped me pay the bills at a time when like live music was like non-existent. Um, and I got to do a lot of things I've never done. I'd never planted a plant, planted so many damn plants. Sorry, leave that out.

[19:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're a plant king now.

[19:57] Dez Duron: Yes. I can garden now, folks.

[20:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: What was your favorite thing you planted?

[20:03] Dez Duron: Like, what was your most prideful plant?

[20:06] Oh, prideful plant. Thank you. We planted, I don't know the names of anything. I've, I act like I was a good employee, but the truth is it was just like, do this. And all I heard was the, like, the exact thing, like I wasn't learning. Um, and we had these, these beautiful, like my first day we were digging all these holes into this garden and we were planting these like little things. And they turned out to be like beautiful plants. I was like, that's me.

[20:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that.

[20:40] Dez Duron: Yeah. But now he's one of my best friends in the world. He partnered with me in music and it's an incredible piano player. So anytime I go to his house, like we, uh, we have a jam session. He actually came to the show like a couple of weeks ago. Oh, he's a great guy. I've known him my whole life.

[20:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Fantastic.

[20:57] Dez Duron: Yeah. Well, you touched on this a little bit before, but can you talk a little bit about, cause you auditioned for The Voice twice, the first time you didn't make it for some weird reason. I don't understand why, but, uh, the second time you did, can you maybe share a little bit about the growth between the first time and the second time, and you're like the original Troy Bolton because you were like a football player, right? And you were like, I gotta sing.

[21:18] Dez Duron: Yeah. I mean, singing is all I've ever wanted to do. Um, it was never, unlike Troy Bolton, it was never like a pull between the two. I always wanted to sing, but I grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. My dad was a football coach and that's kind of just what you did. Like you played football. And, um, so I did and it went well and I got to go to college for it. Um, and I was in college when I kind of had a bunch of random opportunities happen, like, uh, a producer, uh, that summer had kind of flown me out to LA and had plans to do some stuff, but the deal was bad. So I said no. And then I ended up like meeting all these people through that. And I got a call from one of them. I was like, there's this new show called The Voice.

Um, cause it was only going to be the second season. And so I was in football camp and, uh, I remember they were like, we want you to fly out tomorrow morning at 6am and you'll sing for these, the casting directors. It's the last city. And, um, so I just went into my football coach that night and was like, Hey, um, I'm going to leave tomorrow morning and fly to LA. Like I wasn't starting, you know what I mean? So I wasn't leaving anyone hanging. So I just went to him. I was like, Hey, I'm not going to be here tomorrow. Like I'm flying to LA. I'm going to go audition for this thing. And so I flew over there.

[22:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[22:37] Dez Duron: I was like, I'm out. So that night I like watched the whole, uh, season, first season of The Voice, which was pretty short, I think it was like eight episodes. Um, and I flew to LA and there was like this lady, these two, like one was going to be my agent and one was going to be my manager and they were like, Oh, we gotta, we gotta fix you up. Like, you are a mess. I was kind of like this call it, like I had hair down in my shoulders and I was like very like messy college bro, I guess. Uh, um, that's a lifetime. Uh, but, uh, they chopped my hair off and gave me like a pompadour and like bought me clothes and then like sent me in. Um, and I flew back, didn't know if I made it. And then I got a call and they were like, you made it to, uh, the next round.

So I kind of like had three days of like the most stress ever. Like, am I really about to like leave school and like go? And I had a meeting with my Dean and she just said, Hey, if you don't do this, like you're going to think about it forever. And she was like, you can always come back. We'll be here. Um, so I flew, I dropped out, uh, or I took a semester off and I dropped out and moved to LA and moved right into like doing the voice. And it was a crazy, crazy experience.

[23:57] Dez Duron: Um, and I, at the time I still wanted to do like the crooning thing. That's what I've always wanted to do. But the producers kind of like, I think they saw like the pompadour and like I was a young kid and they were like, no, you're like pop, like you're doing pop, which I can do. But I, at the time, and, uh, so I sang a Backstreet Boys song, which was fine. And I was fine about my performance. I'm not ashamed of how I sang, but, uh, I didn't get any chairs, which was like sucked, may I just say, like the worst three seconds is when your song's over, you know, you have no more notes, but the chairs still haven't turned around yet. And like, you're just sitting there and you're like, I just had this like instinct to like run, like run off the stage before they can see me.

You know what I mean? And so then they turned around and it was like, everybody was nice. It was funny. Like none of them had a reason they didn't turn around. And like, even Adam was like, they didn't air this, but Adam was like, I wish I could give you like a note, but I don't have anything. Like, I don't know why we didn't turn around. And so it was kind of like, okay. And so I just stayed in LA and I was like, I'm gonna stay one more semester, learn as much as I can about the music industry. And then I'll go back to school. And so I was there and I was singing so much and trying to write so much and trying to just like figure this thing out. And I got a call from the voice again and they were like, Hey, would you be down to audition again? And honestly, I just hung up the phone and told no one.

[24:34] Dez Duron: Well, no, I just was like, yeah, I'll think about it. Hang up. Didn't tell anyone. I'm not doing that. Heck no. Oh, and then I got a call from my agent. She was like, Hey, I really think you should do it. Like, I think you can redeem yourself. Like blah, blah, blah. And I kind of just like, the truth is I was just, I didn't want to be the kid who didn't get chairs twice.

[24:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, I thought you were like, F you. I'm not doing this again.

[25:01] Dez Duron: Um, and I really, really honestly, on the bottom of my heart thought. If I don't get chairs twice, I will never be a singer. Like I will never have a career ever. Like it's over. Cause like the whole point of the voice is like to prove like you have a good voice. It's not about any other thing about you. Right. And so for me, it was like, Oh, this is proving that like my voice isn't, which is so silly, like, cause it's all preference and all these things. But I just kind of put that pressure on myself. So then it went into like work mode. And I actually picked my song like a month before I even went into audition. Like I picked Sarah smile and I was like, I'm going to work this thing to the ground to where I could sing this thing with pneumonia and, uh, I knew everyone I was going to do, I put, I put specific things in there for Christina.

Um, like I knew when she was gonna turn around. Um, I, I, I mean, I felt in my heart, like she's going to like this, like I studied things she did and was like, okay, she was my goal. And I felt like I could get Christina to turn around.

[26:07] Dez Duron: Um, so when Blake turned around first and actually threw me off, I did not think Blake would turn around for me in a million years and he turned around so soon. You can actually like hear my voice. Kind of like, I kind of like missed the note. He turned around and I'm like, Oh my God. Uh, it was the most relieving thing in the world. I can't even explain like the, it was like this load fell off me. And then this like joy came from my feet, like to my head. Like it was like, Oh my God, I get to sing. Oh my goodness. I get to maybe have a career in this. Like my life isn't over. Like it was very, and then Christina turned around and then CeeLo turned around and I was like, this is, and I was such a fan of CeeLo at the time.

His Lady Killer album was out with, you know, uh, Forget You. Oh, so many good songs on that album. And his voice is one of my all time faves. So it actually like, I started like having to like try and decide. And I kind of chose Christina because I just felt like we were like, we liked similar things. I liked her vocalizations. And at the time I was doing like, I was trying to do like a lot of riffs and stuff, so I was like, yeah, that's who I want to be with. I feel like Blake, like, I never know who he's going to pick.

[27:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[27:36] Dez Duron: He's a lot of different things. So I was like, this is too much. And I just felt like me and Christina might get along. And we did chemistry. I feel like, yeah, we did. I, I love her, man. I, we, we don't talk since the show, but she was so kind to me on the show and so good to me and taught me so much and was just really welcoming and warm and I can't thank her enough.

[28:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. I really enjoyed it. What would you say is your biggest lesson that you took away from, from being on her team or something she, some advice she gave you or some, something she instilled in you from that experience?

[28:13] Dez Duron: Yeah, I think I, a big thing I admired about her is that whatever Christina's singing, it's Christina's version of it. You know what I mean? She's not trying to fit into whatever genre she's going to. It's like, oh, that's Christina Aguilera singing that. And I, I think I'm learning even still how to do that. As someone who likes an array of styles of music, it's like, okay, who am I?

[29:10] Dez Duron: It just feels like the whole world's watching and you don't want whatever. And I think I just learned like no matter what, like a third of the world's gonna hate you. Like that's just like, and maybe two-thirds, you know, you just gotta like be yourself and focus on the people who like you. Like, yeah, I think I went searching for negative comments online. Like I wanted to see like, you know, I think I had like a weird relationship with that. I mean, you're locked in your room, you know, I mean, yeah, but you're in a hotel room for like, yeah, yeah, in Burbank for like three months, you know. Burbank's great, but we were across from the airport. Like there was, there's like a strip mall. And so I think you just like get bored and you start like going, let's see what people are saying.

But I think I just learned like even like I think opening night, I was so manic with you guys. I feel like when y'all interviewed me and I was just like, but I think I'm just like, oh, I just released myself to like, yeah, whatever I want and be myself. 'Cause I mean, someone's gonna have a problem with it and someone's gonna like it, so totally to it. So I think those are the things I kind of learned from her.

[30:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you for sharing that. I think that's a really important lesson for everyone, Jason and I included, like doing this, you know, just to be yourself because somebody's gonna love you and somebody's gonna talk shit and that's just the way, that's just has nothing to do with you. They don't know you.

[30:38] Dez Duron: All projection and how they feel about themselves. Like even just looking back specific like articles that were written and like people, things people said about me, I'm like nothing to do with me. And I even try to take that advice with like when I, Samantha, I'm always like, oh, but something doesn't go our way. I'm like, oh, that person hates us. I remind myself, I did nothing to do with us at the end of the day. It's like, you know, hey, yeah, so thank you for sharing. Thank you for just going down that memory with us.

[31:14] Dez Duron: Oh, totally. Yeah, in a fan. I love to hear all those good. She's awesome, man. And I will say she sings her face off and I don't mean just when she's doing runs. She would just do little simple lines and they'd be low in her register and it's like, whoa, like how do you put so much force and like character into every note? Yeah, so I'm just like a fan. And even just showmanship stuff, like she would kind of like help me on things like you need to hold this moment. Don't sing, just breathe in, let everything happen. And then it's like, so it's just like cool, taught me how to bring the drama and stuff and her whole team was like, her team was the movement coaching team, Jerry, Grace, Water, Water. Yeah, and Paul Marenti and they were like my buddies. Like we were homies. So I just learned so much about performing from them, about building performance, you know, starting slow and then letting it build. I'm eternally grateful for that time.

[32:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, Dez, next time Christina goes on tour, let's go.

[32:23] Dez Duron: I'll go see her. Let's go. Yeah.

[32:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: I've seen her like eight times. But anyway, have you? Yeah. Yeah, it does. We got to talk more after. I'm a, yeah.

[32:34] Dez Duron: Okay, I don't want to take up too much of your... Let's get back to your show, Dez, your Broadway debut. I know it's been a while coming. Can you share a little bit about how this project came to you?

[32:41] Dez Duron: Yeah, it means that you're getting, you're making your Broadway debut in such a special show. That's the reviews out of this world. And I know you don't like to read stuff, but everyone's loving it, Dez.

[33:00] Dez Duron: Yeah, it's been a dream, man. I, yeah, I've been with this show for five years. So December 7th was our first rehearsal in Atlanta in 2019. So we opened on my 30th birthday, January 29th. I'm in Atlanta. It was my first day, January 29th. Yeah.

[33:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: No wonder I feel that. Okay, and I'm a Libra and Libras are a company within creation.

[33:36] Dez Duron: We love Libras.

[33:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: Anything.

[33:42] Dez Duron: But yes, Libras are my favorite.

[33:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you.

[33:48] Dez Duron: And say I'm connected to the astrology here too, you guys. Heck yes, the stars are in our favor.

[33:54] Dez Duron: Oh, yes. I got this audition. I was here in New York and I was auditioning for things and I had gotten close on some things as it goes, you know, same story, single song and dance. When I got this audition, I will say I was very like, I put a lot of pressure on myself again. And it was like another one of those moments where it's just like they wanted a crooner and bring in Sinatra stuff. And I was just like, Des, if you don't get this part, you should probably just go home. No, you know what I mean? Like you should probably just like pack it up. Like this part is you and like if you can't get this, then like that's probably just a good sign that this is not for you, which is again so silly.

Like I'm learning not to do that to myself. But anyways, easier said than done, you know, it's totally. So I went in, I'm singing my songs and I just expected it to be like, that's so silly. I again, I expect, but I expected it would be like I sing two Sinatra songs. They're like, oh yeah, get out. We've heard enough, you know, but it was like this very like workshoppy like thing where they're like, can you say it softer? Can you give it a little more? You know to me, maybe like a little. And it was like I sang like six songs the first round and we're like at one point, we're like singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and they want it like as breathy as possible. And I'm just like, wow, I was just like, oh God, like I like they're not, I'm not getting what they want.

So I left and I got a callback and I was so surprised and I came in for round two and it was like similar thing like Debra Abramson, who's like my favorite person ever. She's our MD, she or director of music I guess, she John Yoon's R&B. She was just like on the piano like, no, sing it a little more, you know to me. And finally, I just remember I just like looked at him. I was like, hey, this is so silly, but I just wanted this part bad. So I just looked at everybody and said, hey, I'm not understanding what y'all want at all. I was like, I sing this kind of music. I was like, if you can give me a crooner to sing like I can make that noise for you. Like is it Chet? Is it Dean? Is it Frank? Is it Mel?

Who do you want me to sound like? Like 'cause I might not sound exactly like him, but I can give you like, yeah, and if you let me work on it, I can do it. I just know I can give you the sound you want.

[36:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's amazing and so important and a lot of people wouldn't have the balls to do that in an audition because they would feel nervous. So thanks for sharing.

[36:34] Dez Duron: I was just so frustrated because I just didn't know. I just felt, I just felt honestly a little bit probably like entitlement and like nerves, like yeah, I'm a mix of like fear and like because I had put so that pressure on myself. So I just finally was just like, hey y'all can explain it to me. I can do it. I just know I can. And so they were like, it's not Chet. It's not this. So then they like gave me one last song and Michael was like, I want you to pretend you're in the studio. I want you to just, it to be the most tender moment, the mic's right there. Because I probably was just like blasting their faces off to like, 'cause I'm just like Broadway, you know what I mean? Yeah, and so he was like, I want you singing the song like, let's do the way you look tonight.

And so I was singing that. And he was like, okay, that's all we need. And I remember I was so irritated 'cause I was just like, I didn't get it. Like this sucks. Like this is mine and I didn't freaking get it. I like rolled my eyes and like left. Like I don't know if they saw it, but I've literally was like, there's like walked out and I'm never like this. I'm never like this. I have like the quiet like walking, thank you so much, you know to me, like that's my demeanor. But for some reason, I just was so, I think I just wanted it so bad. Like I could like taste it and I didn't even know what the show was about, but I just like, you need a crooner. This is who I am. Like this is what I do. Like please.

[38:04] Dez Duron: Oh yeah, and so it was like, I think it was like a few days later and then they called me and told me I got it. Kevin, my agent called and told me I got it. I was like elated and then it just kept getting better. Like when I heard the music, they sent me the music and I was like, this is nuts. Like this was so good. It's so good. Oh my gosh. And then so I got to Atlanta and Michael was like, hey, we wrote a new song for your character, like just for this version. Like because before in Korea, it was three people. So it's the two leads and then the guy who plays James plays Gil as well. So he's working. I think the drummer. Can y'all hear the drums? Sorry, it's okay.

[39:06] Dez Duron: Very faint. It's Broadway, baby.

[39:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, our band's incredible, our orchestra.

[39:10] Dez Duron: Not bad, yes the lingo. So I, they played me this song, Sentimental Person, and I was in heaven. Like that's my favorite song. I just remember just like feeling like whoa, like if they would have written this 70 years ago, like Sinatra would have been like down their throat to like, yeah, yeah, give him that song, you know. And so to be like, I guess the first person to do it, to sing that song on stage is like such an honor. It's really cool.

[39:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: That is amazing. Yeah. Anyway, that was a long story.

[39:42] Dez Duron: Oh no, we love the long stories. You're, we're in story time. We love it.

[39:51] Dez Duron: So we definitely just touched on like how beautiful this music is. This show is so special. We touched about these reviews being literal home runs. The show is so beautiful. I literally was heaving. I did not, I had no idea what I was walking into and I was heaving. What is the plant's name? Harpoon?

[40:01] Dez Duron: I feel a boon. Yeah, wabun. I feel so personally connected to this. It's so wild because it's like, it's always been like a joke within our company that he's like a person and like we feel connected to him. But then like the general public to like also pick that up and be, yes. I just got chills. Yeah about it. So, so tell us why you think as being such an intimate part of this show, why you think this story in this production is resonating so well with audiences.

[40:34] Dez Duron: That's a great question. I mean, first of all, I remember that every first table read from Atlanta to here has been Tears City. Like we get done and like when we did it here, we got done and our stage manager, Justin Scribner, like was crying so hard he could barely say like 10-minute break. Yeah, so like it's been an amazing story to be attached to because I think it just makes you think about life so much. Like even still, like there are little lines and lyrics that like will just hit me so hard out of nowhere and be like, whoa, I didn't even connect that, you know, like that is crazy. But I think it's just a really honest, sweet kind piece that allows you to evaluate and look at life the way it is with all its beauty and cruelty, yeah, and joy and pain.

But it does it in such a way that's not like overbearing, you know, and you know, the writers talk about they wanted to write something earnest and honest and not sarcastic. And the other writer was like, well, you can't do that. Like that doesn't work on stage. And then he said, well, we could if they weren't human. And so it's like a beautiful story like where we're able to say things that we all feel and experience things we all feel, but it doesn't feel like too on the nose because it's the first time that they are experiencing it. And there's just so many, I think it also touches on so many like human experiences like whether it's relationship with your family or your relationship with belonging or with desire and dreams and love and loss.

And I think, yeah, it's a love story, but it's also just like the human experience on every level. I think even just taking adventures and taking chances and like how scary that is. And yeah, I think that's kind of why it touches me at least and I think anybody who's had.

[43:00] Dez Duron: A relationship can relate to this story. Like, what would you do to, would you want to like erase that memory? Or would you want to like, I don't want to give too many spoilers. But yeah, like, I'm gonna cry right now. My eyes are wet. But I think it sneaks up on you. So you're like, what is this musical about? You know, robots. So you're kind of sitting there kind of like, not guarded, not ready for it to really touch you in such a deep way. And it is so emotionally deep. Yeah, but I'm grateful it does it in a kind way. Like, I don't, I've never left there feeling anxious. I feel kind of refreshed every time that I allow it to touch me. Like, it's like, yeah, like, I need to think about that.

I needed to like, yes. Yeah, it's like therapy almost. Yes, exactly. That is like such a great way to say it. Because you don't leave feeling like, emotionally drained. You feel right. Whatever you just said, you feel awake. Like, I feel yeah. Oh my god, you're feeling like full and like tapped into emotion. And that is what theater is about people. Yes. Let's just all shout out Michael Arden for being a fucking perfect director. Can we talk about Michael Arden? Yes, please. I was gonna be my next question. What has been the best part of working with Michael Arden and Darren Criss, like all these really incredible theater makers, artists with a capital A. Capital A. Capital A. Artists and Arden.

It's been unbelievable. Unbelievable. I can't believe this is my first equity contract. This is my first everything and to be able to do with Michael Arden and just this incredible crew like it's been such a good just the vibe is unbelievable here, may I just say and I mean, I think everything trickles down from leadership and what Michael Arden creates as far as even in just in the room is such a feeling of camaraderie and trust and care. And we'd circle up every day and just like talk about things that had nothing to do with the show. And like, how's everybody doing? And it just creates this very like caring atmosphere. I'm not being in the show, like I'm in the show, like kind of sporadically.

So I get to like, I got to watch him do his thing. Yeah, it's my favorite. It's my favorite thing in the whole experience. One, he's just brilliant as far as what he creates out of thin air. Like, how do you come up with that? You know what I mean? And then also just the two plus two equals four part of it where like, oh, you have to get here. So what do you need to do to get here? Like, that's been amazing to watch him do. And then I usually ask him questions about like, he's just very emotionally intelligent. And like, very good at making you feel like you can do this. And kind of freeing you in a way like just bringing out the best in people, and then making the room feel good. And I think as someone who like, I love people.

I love the interactions with people. I found those very fascinating. I think that's kind of the questions I usually ask Michael. I'm like, how do you do this? Like, how do you make sure? How do you work this? Like, how do you make sure everybody feels good in the room at the same time while doing this huge risk of a job? Like, this job is so massive, taking on an original piece of work with no prior intellectual, yeah, no prior IP to build on. Like, he's doing like a huge thing. And I would think that the room would be very tense, and stressed. And it would feel like we're doing something impossible. But it always felt calm and exciting. And we're the luckiest people on earth. And so I was okay today.

I'm like crying again. Even like the last day of tech, like it was like, we're squeezing so much in. Yeah. But it still felt like, this is so awesome. We get to do this. This is great. It's going to be like, I felt so at ease. And I was telling somebody like, this is the coolest thing I've ever done. So it should be the most nervous I've ever been. Like, you know what I mean? But it was the least nervous I've ever been. I felt so safe and supported and informed and capable. Because and it has nothing to do with me. It has to do with the team and Michael and Justin Scribner and the writers and Debra. Your fellow actors. Yes, dude. And that's the other thing. The other thing is like, when you have someone as brilliant as Michael, it's like if he tells me to do something, I have no doubt that it's what I should be doing.

And that's such a peace giving thing when it's like, yeah, oh, like, if he asked me to like, hop off the top unit of that apartment, I'd be like, yeah, that makes sense. You know what I mean? Like, that's how much trust I have with him. I think it gives you a lot of peace to be like, I trust this guy's taste. And like, I think he's a genius. So yeah, I'm doing the right thing by doing what he asked me to do. And then on top of that, I think this crew is like, unbelievable. Like, Darren is so talented and so into the work. And like, I learned so much as an actor watching him. I'm just like, he'd pick up stuff and be like, what's my relationship to this? You know what I mean? Like, I'm like, I'm just reading the lines, man.

And so it was just cool to see a guy like get so into this work, and he loves it. And he's also so kind. And I think when you're like a star of that magnitude, like there is a lot of pressure on you because you're kind of like, not control the room, but like, there's space there to like, make the room what you want. And I've been around. I mean, we all have, we've been around stars. And I mean, if you're in New York long enough, you're gonna be in the same room as somebody. Yeah. And what I love about Darren is like, he is a star. Like, he can run a room. Like, he can, I've never seen anything like it. He's the one of those charismatic people I've ever been around. But he's not a star in that he like, sucks all the energy out of the room.

It's a very like, generous presence. It's very like, inviting and like, lifts the whole hang, rather than like, I am the sun and now there's no oxygen in the room. You know what I mean? It's very like, right. It's like, no, it's like, it's light. It's joyful. And I'm just really impressed with him. Like, even when he met my family, my whole family was just like, whoa, like, that's a really nice guy. Like, and just like, look, human. Yes. Look everybody in the eye. Like, and I just, it's even like, challenging as like a, as a man, as a fellow man, just be like, whoa, like, this dude is so busy, but still so thoughtful. So charismatic, but still so generous with the space and with the, you know, who gets the attention.

I just was like, man, like, I think I'm learning a lot just as a human and as an actor from him not to like, whoa, I just like, talked way too much about him. If he sees this, he's gonna like, so weirdo. Yeah, he's, he's awesome. And then Helen is like, oh my gosh, I just gay gasped. How good is she? Oh, she's unbelievable. And she's like, so sweet. And so just like present. And we have so much fun backstage, even just from like the very beginning, I knew it was going to be a good time. But yeah, better than I ever like thought, like, I, she's so and then Marcus is like, just the most generous, like, he's like the vet, like original cast of Broadway. I mean, original cast of Broadway. Hey, that's iconic if he's the original cast of all Broadway guys.

Yeah, you didn't know that? Do your research. Original cast of Wicked on Broadway. And like, just so kind, and like, helps me out so much. Like, here's what you're gonna do. And like, here's what you're supposed to do. And like, make sure you do this. Yeah, when this comes up, make sure like, every time like I always, if something new is coming, like, I don't even sometimes I didn't even have to ask him like he just come up and be like, Hey, I know you're new. This is what's gonna happen. And I'm like, oh my gosh, like, so kind. And, you know, he's got his bar downstairs. He's always invited for after show hangs. And then our standbys are unbelievable as well. Like just there across the hall.

So like, we're buddies. We're hanging all the time. And it's just been a great crew. I'm going into way too much detail. But no, we love that. That was such a love letter to this. You know, and it's always so important to hear the good stuff because I feel like a lot of time in the entertainment industry, you're clouded with the negativity. So that sort of ties into the next question is, you know, this is your first Broadway show and your first time with equity. All these firsts, what's been the most rewarding part for you of being a part of the whole Broadway community? Oh, man, I think Broadway is just like a such it's like everything I like as far as like my personality. I love community.

I love doing with people. Yeah. I love music and singing. So like, that's fun, too. Yeah, I love consistency. Like, I love, like the fact I get to do this every day is like, so dope. And so giving to my heart. Yeah, Broadway is like beyond anything I could have ever dreamed it would be. And obviously, it's my first thing. I don't know if it's like this crew specifically, or if this is what it's like, if this is what it's like, then I want to do this again. But I love getting to come here and see everybody every day, the crew, everybody, it's, it's my favorite part of the day, period. I don't know what that says about my life. But I is my favorite part of the day is coming to work and walking in the door and just saying hi to everybody and connecting and getting dressed and doing this unbelievable show that I love so much.

So important. And how iconic is it as this is like, we were saying before, it's an original show, right? So like, no one has played this role before you, right on Broadway. So it's gonna be you're gonna be the template for when, you know, schools do in the future and community theaters and tours, like you're, they're gonna be listening to your voice as the template to do this. And how awesome it is that we have an original show on Broadway, right? It's not a it's not a revival. It's not like based on a movie or book, which is nothing wrong with those shows, right? I have something that's unique, and genuine, and just new. Yeah, I'm gonna be honest, as I'm going tonight, I haven't seen it yet.

And I've been staying away from the from our show tonight. I'm coming at seven o'clock. I'll be there tonight. You better come back and say hi. Oh, I would love to. Please, please, please, please. Um, but I'm like, I'm just so excited to go into something I've never seen before. I don't know any of the music. I don't know any of the story, you know, besides about being helper robot. So this is so exciting to me. As I'm so excited to have that experience. So thank you. Thank you. Oh, I'm so excited. You're coming. This is awesome. I would say that's one of the best parts of the show is at the end, not to give away anything, but I'm on stage at the end, but I'm hidden. And there's this part in the show where there's a huge gasp.

And like, there's a turn, there's a twist. And it and the gasps are my favorite. It's like, Whoa, we're really telling a new story. Like these really don't know anything that's happening. So yeah. Oh, no. So you haven't seen it. So I said some things probably they gave things away. He's, you know, he's been briefed a bit. I've been briefed. I've been briefed. And I've been trying to like not pay too much attention. You know, they're opening. So he got he got filled on. So but even if you know, that's those little things, Jason, it's still gonna I know right away. I was crying. I can't wait. I love it. Also really quick. You got a shout out. I know we've taken so much of your time and we got to wrap up.

But you just released a single this year. Let's just call it love. Right? Yeah. How exciting is that? Congratulations. I hope everyone goes to Spotify or Apple wherever you listen to your music listens to it after this episode. But do you have anything? Do you have anything else you want to like manifest as far as you know, music or more Broadway or I don't know if you want to go back to TV? Do you want to film like what's what I what's in jazz's dream world? I mean, my number one dream is to put out music and that's my number one that's always kind of been my heart. I'm still writing a lot of music. I kind of put out let's just call it love because I I just kind of was like, I have to put out some original that I've written. I have to do it like and so I called a friend and we just like co produced it. And yeah, I just kind of wanted to

[57:49] Dez Duron: Oh, that would be crazy.

[58:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Could you please offer up some advice for any of our listeners who might be feeling stuck, bringing it back to survival jobs, feeling stuck in their survival job, but want so badly to have that life as an artist full time, making a living off of it? You know, survival jobs can be defeating as we all know. It definitely can. I think one, be careful about what you let define you. Your survival job isn't like who you are, your job isn't who you are. An interesting thing happened to me when I was on this show, there were seasons of my life in the past where I was like, very, and I'm gonna, this is gonna make sense. But there were seasons of my life, I was very tempted to let myself be happy and to let myself take myself seriously as an artist.

But I would never allow myself because I wasn't like where I wanted to be in life. Like maybe I was like gardening during the day and then I'm going home and singing. So like, I was tempted to be like, I'm a singer, like, I'm a real, I'm an artist, you know, but like, I was like, no, then another voice would be kind of like, no, you're not. Or like, I'm happy. I like my life, even though it's not exactly what I want to be. And another voice would be like, well, you shouldn't be, you know, you shouldn't be content. Yeah. And I thought, when I booked Broadway, I thought that would just like all go away. But that voice is still there. You know what I mean? It's like, that voice doesn't go away.

That voice that tempts you to be discontented and to be sad and to be hard on yourself or to not take yourself seriously, like not rehearse. Like, why are you rehearsing so much? Like, this isn't even a big show you're doing. You know what I mean? It's not even equity. You know what I mean? Like, there's always those temptations. And I think it taught me that that's just me. Like, it has nothing to do with the reality of my situation. And I could have taken those opportunities and been really happy and just like, allowed myself to be happy with the season that I'm in knowing that it's gonna get better and change if I keep working. And I could have like, let myself take myself very seriously.

You know what I mean? And like, I think wherever you are right now in your life, you are allowed to be really happy. And you are allowed to take yourself very seriously as an actor, as a singer, as a dancer. Your job doesn't define you. And I think throw yourself completely into that because those voices are always going to be there. That's just like, human nature and reality. But I think like, if you just decide like, no, I'm happy with myself. And yeah, sure, I'm not exactly where I want to be. But that's not who I am. I don't know. I don't know if that makes a lot of sense. But that's kind of what I'm working through right now.

[1:01:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Stop. You're so inspiring. Oh, my God. Why am I crying today? This is not my norm, Dez. I swear I don't cry on every episode.

[1:01:17] Dez Duron: I love it. I love crying.

[1:01:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Is that Aquarius and Libra connection?

[1:01:26] Dez Duron: Exactly.

[1:01:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: The tears are not falling. They're just wet. I don't want people to call me a liar.

[1:01:32] Dez Duron: Stop. Stop it. I was. This is amazing. You're amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this space with us. Or should we say we are all holding space?

[1:01:42] Dez Duron: Holding space. Oh, we're holding space.

[1:01:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: We all hold the space together. Hold space for the end. You are an icon and everybody needs to go see Maybe Happy Ending. Jason, you want to take us through our fun little game activity before we wrap this up?

[1:01:59] Jason A. Coombs: Yes. So before you go, Dez, we're going to play a quick game called Rapid Fire Fun. We're going to ask you a quick question and you have up to five seconds to give a quick answer.

[1:02:13] Dez Duron: Oh, shoot. OK. Yeah. I'm so bad at this.

[1:02:17] Jason A. Coombs: You know, you're going to be great. You got it. OK, number one. Sure. Ready. What is your go to karaoke song?

[1:02:24] Dez Duron: Friends in Low Places.

[1:02:29] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, OK. Favorite musical of all time.

[1:02:29] Dez Duron: Hippin'.

[1:02:36] Jason A. Coombs: If you could do that with any artist, living or dead, which three would you choose?

[1:02:36] Dez Duron: Frank Sinatra. Whitney Houston.

[1:02:42] Jason A. Coombs: Jason loves Whitney.

[1:02:42] Dez Duron: Whitney Houston. She's not an artist. Audrey Hepburn. I just would really like to meet her. I like her.

[1:02:49] Jason A. Coombs: What a queen.

[1:02:53] Dez Duron: Yeah, I really like her. Great. Great. Your first concert you attended ever?

[1:03:01] Dez Duron: I grew up in church, so I had like a lot of people come through and sing. The first like big concert I remember going to was Michael Bolton and Wynonna Judd opened for him. I was like not feeling Michael Bolton at all because all the women were screaming so loud and I was so young and I was like, this is miserable.

[1:03:21] Jason A. Coombs: How old were you?

[1:03:21] Dez Duron: I had to have been like eight, maybe young. I was very young. But then he started singing the Hercules song. Go the Distance. Oh, my God. You know, he was the artist that sang it during the credits. I think I knew that. Yes. I didn't know that. I didn't know anything. I'm like a kid and I was like, this is the best day of my life.

[1:03:48] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. I love this man more than I love my brother. I'm just kidding.

[1:03:48] Dez Duron: Yeah. Okay. Next one is your best way to relax after a show?

[1:03:54] Dez Duron: Best way to relax after a show? Ideally, food and friends. But if not, if I'm going to be alone, then I'll probably just go home and like go on TV maybe. I don't know. Let's be honest. I just go home and sit on the couch and watch Reels. Swipe in. Swipe all night.

[1:04:19] Jason A. Coombs: You're not the only one.

[1:04:19] Dez Duron: Yeah. Gosh, so much doom scrolling. Okay. Favorite concert you've attended?

[1:04:26] Dez Duron: Oh, gosh. Best person you've seen?

[1:04:30] Dez Duron: That's so hard. You can name a couple. Probably like Beyonce or Bruno Mars. Boom. Those two probably are like my favorites. I also loved Michael Buble. It was like unbelievable. Shout out Michael Buble.

[1:04:46] Jason A. Coombs: Yes. Okay. Early riser or Night Owl?

[1:04:46] Dez Duron: Night Owl.

[1:04:55] Jason A. Coombs: Night Owl. Yes. Same. Unfortunately, I wish I was. It's getting so bad, y'all.

[1:05:05] Dez Duron: Me too. Yeah. I'm like 3 a.m. right now. It's awful. It's really bad. Not doing anything. Not doing anything. Just scrolling, watching TV.

[1:05:12] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. You work hard, though. Eight shows a week is a lot of work.

[1:05:21] Dez Duron: Yes. Yes. Yes, yes. I mean, I'm in the shortest show on Broadway in the easiest track. Yeah. So, I was telling my mom, I was like, I'm acting like I'm playing like Fanny Bryce in Funny Girl. I'm not. I could have a life outside this show.

[1:05:35] Jason A. Coombs: Hey, I need to just pause from the game and share something with you. My therapist shared with me about the work I do. Just because it's easy for you does not mean it's easy for everyone. So, because it's just where you should be does not mean you should belittle it by saying it's the easiest track on Broadway because, boy, I could not sing on key if my heart depended on it.

[1:05:55] Dez Duron: I received that. I received that. Thank you. Thank you. And shout out to my therapist named Joanne.

[1:05:59] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, let's pick the game back up. What's your favorite? What's your last song you played on your playlist?

[1:06:07] Dez Duron: I Like You, You're Nice, Blossom Period.

[1:06:16] Jason A. Coombs: Love. Have you heard that?

[1:06:16] Dez Duron: I haven't.

[1:06:22] Dez Duron: Oh my gosh. I think I will. Listen to that song. Also, June Kavlin, who's like a singer in New York covered it and she does like a longer kind of like prettier. I mean like she's more of a like Blossom has like a very unique voice. June's like a singer singer and so she does like a really good version of that as well.

[1:06:39] Jason A. Coombs: Anyways, continue. What's your favorite Guilty Pleasure TV show?

[1:06:51] Dez Duron: I don't watch a lot of Guilty Pleasure TV. But I did watch Love Island for a season and I really, I loved it. It is. UK version though. UK version. They're like more respectful over there. It's like, you know what I mean?

[1:06:59] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[1:07:06] Dez Duron: Or maybe it is just the accent. Like these people are, they're kind to one another.

[1:07:13] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. Try next the Love is Blind UK.

[1:07:13] Dez Duron: Excellent. Love is Blind UK. Oh, I did watch Love is Blind.

[1:07:19] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, it's good. US. I've watched a few seasons of that. It's good.

[1:07:23] Dez Duron: Okay, three more quick ones and we promise we'll let you go.

[1:07:23] Dez Duron: No, you're good. Favorite Xtina song?

[1:07:33] Dez Duron: Favorite Xtina song? I know it's hard.

[1:07:39] Dez Duron: That is so hard. Trying to go through the songs. Maybe Ain't No Other Man.

[1:07:47] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, that's a good one. That's a good one. That's a funky one.

[1:07:53] Dez Duron: Yeah, that's a funky one. If you were to dabble in another art form, what would it be?

[1:07:59] Dez Duron: Dance. I wish I was a dancer. See, what I love about singing is its expression. That's my favorite thing. I think as a kid, I was like kind of like an emotional kid. And that's why I like singing loudly is so it's such a release. Like when you let yourself feel what you're singing like.

[1:08:16] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[1:08:16] Dez Duron: And what I love about I like hearing people sing unironically bad. Not like with a mic in their hand necessarily. But like, if I have a friend who can't sing, but they'll just like, let it out.

[1:08:27] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[1:08:31] Dez Duron: It brings me a lot of joy because that's like the center of what it is to me. And like, what I love about it is just that it's expression and release. And when I watch dancers, I'm like, that's a level of expression and release that like, I don't know I can reach just through singing. Like, I will just wonder what that feels like when a singer is like in the zone. Yeah. And like, feeling a song like, oh, when you watch that, you're like, what would that feel like to like feel that come out of your like, fingers and your arms? Like, ah, yeah, dancing. We love.

[1:09:15] Dez Duron: Probably Pippin. Yes. Or if we're gonna like gender swap. This is so random. But I just love the songs. Dolly and Hello Dolly. Yes. Dolly will never go away. I love that. Amazing.

[1:09:35] Dez Duron: Yeah. And last one, we made it through. If you could perform any role in any musical, what role would that be?

[1:09:35] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, just for fun. You know what I mean? Thank you for engaging with us and doing that. Sorry, yeah, no miscast is what they do. You could do like a swap songs.

[1:09:50] Dez Duron: Yeah, exactly. You got to do one benefit this year.

[1:09:56] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, summer. Perfect. Hello, who's ever planning miscast as wants to do Dolly big deal. Or if it's only one song, I want to do a cinema Italiano from now. You know, there you go. Really any girl song. I like all the girls song that just wants to be a Broadway female lead. The girls have the best songs. They do. I mean, come on. Look at Wicked. Hello. Look at Wicked. Hello. Or look at the notebook. Before we close out this interview, can we take a moment of silence for the notebook, which is closing this Sunday, the 15th. I love that show. Thank you for engaging with me. I love the notebook. Dez, I love maybe happy ending also. And you. Thank you so much for joining us. Before we let you go. Can you drop your Instagram handle or any social media handles you have for any followers that are listening that don't follow you yet and want to keep up with you?

[1:10:39] Dez Duron: Yes, my Instagram is at Desderon d e z d u r o n. And then I think my TikTok is at Desderon music. And that's kind of all I'm on right now. But follow him people. And if you are listening today, because you are a Dez fan, obviously, and you don't follow us yet, follow us at Survival Jobs pod on Instagram and TikTok on Facebook at Survival Jobs, a podcast. Shoot us an email at Survival Jobs pod at Gmail dot com. I am on Instagram at Sammy Toots and follow Jason. I never can point to him. Follow Jason at Jason A. Coombs. Go see maybe happy ending immediately. Today with me. Come tonight.

[1:11:25] Dez Duron: Come tonight.

[1:11:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Dez, you're the best. Thank you so much.

[1:11:32] Dez Duron: Thank you all so much. This was a blast.

[1:11:32] All: We stan.