This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi guys, it's me, Samantha Don Titslow here for the Broadway Podcast Network and Survival Jobs: A Podcast at the opening night of Smash on Broadway. We're gonna chat with all the cast, creatives, and VIP arrivals, and it's gonna be a smashing good time.

[0:26] McGee Maddox: My name is McGee Maddox and I'm in the ensemble.

[0:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations. So I've overheard you three times say this is your Broadway debut. How does it feel to be making your Broadway debut in such an iconic show that is so well known?

[0:38] McGee Maddox: Oh wow. Um, it's very exciting. Um, I never knew that Broadway debut was even a possibility for me years ago. I come from a very different performing background, so this is all new territory for me and yeah, just a lot of fun, and I'm really happy for the opportunity.

[0:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh well, congratulations. I saw the show last night and had the best time. I just left so happy. Um, so my podcast is called Survival Jobs before you were killing it on Broadway. Do you have a survival job that you did in the meantime?

[1:06] McGee Maddox: Yeah, I was delivering for Uber Eats.

[1:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. The most dangerous job in New York City.

[1:12] McGee Maddox: You think?

[1:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. A lot of people do leave at the door though, no?

[1:15] McGee Maddox: Are you kidding me? Oh, when you have to give it to the people.

[1:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Okay, great. Well, I hope you got some good tips.

[1:21] McGee Maddox: Um, yeah, wear a helmet.

[1:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wear a helmet. Oh, you rode a bike?

[1:24] McGee Maddox: Yeah.

[1:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, well, I guess right. Not a lot of people have cars. I always wonder, you know, when you have a big delivery, how do you carry it on the bike?

[1:32] McGee Maddox: Um, you use one of these like thermal backpacks.

[1:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cool. And then you always gotta make sure with the restaurant at the pickup that everything is sealed nicely and tightly, because I've gotten to like an apartment or a house, and like food has been everywhere because they don't know how to package it properly for the trip.

[1:51] McGee Maddox: Shit. Well, cheers to you for being on Broadway and not delivering on Uber Eats anymore. So, as you know, the cast members in this show, the characters in this show are often going out for post-show drinks. Where are you going out with the cast of Bombshell? What Broadway bar would you take everyone to for a drink?

[2:10] McGee Maddox: There is a dive right next door to the Imperial Theater Stage Door called O'Casey's. I know all of the bartenders. They give me half off because I'm there every night after the show.

[2:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: What's your go-to?

[2:22] McGee Maddox: What's my go-to? Um, probably a pint, lager.

[2:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: We'll see you at O'Casey's with a pint. Let's go. Maybe a shot of Jesus.

[2:30] McGee Maddox: And maybe a shot of JMO.

[2:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, happy opening. It was so nice chatting with you.

[2:34] McGee Maddox: Thanks for chatting with you.

[2:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi, happy opening night.

[2:37] Unknown speaker: Well, thank you. Happy opening that channel.

[2:38] Unknown speaker: Thank you so much. And thank you for your inspiration with the sunglasses. I put mine on. This is we're giving Marilyn.

[2:44] Unknown speaker: Yes, and can you feel how warm it is out?

[2:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's freezing. I took off my coat to get the outfit, but like I don't know how long it'll last.

[2:51] Unknown speaker: Hey, we're gonna keep it nice after the yeah.

[2:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: We're keeping it nice with these. So we are a podcast network. A lot of folks are just listening. Can you please introduce yourself and let us know what your role here is with Smash on Broadway?

[3:03] Merritt David Janes: Sure. I am Merritt David Janes, and I say on my Instagram, I am a multiple personality actor at Smash the Musical.

[3:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow, I love that so much. So Smash is so iconic and so well known by many, many people. What does it feel like to be part of such a production that people cannot wait to go see?

[3:21] Merritt David Janes: Well, I can tell that um the fans have long awaited this opening. They really have been a long wait, and I will tell you that it has that it will be worth the wait. You're gonna be very happy. Everybody has been really happy up to this point with uh with all of their own unique preview shows.

[3:39] Merritt David Janes: Boom. And now we've got the real deal. We've got the real deal. Set and we're bringing it tonight full speed.

[3:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that. I sign off on everything you say. I saw the show last night and had the best time ever. So as you know, the characters in the show like to get post-show cocktails. It seems like it's a knockoff Sardis in the show, but I'm not gonna say that. I don't know. So if you had to pick a bar to take the cast at Bombshell to in New York City, what is the bar you're picking?

[3:43] Merritt David Janes: The bar? Okay, wow. Where are you going for post-show cocktails? You know, you know what I always liked was Lily's.

[3:43] Merritt David Janes: Lily's Victorian.

[3:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, we love nice big open space always festive in there. I like Lily's.

[3:43] Merritt David Janes: Yeah, I do. I love to go there at Halloween and at the holiday time.

[3:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, perfect. It's always very seasonal.

[3:43] Merritt David Janes: It's so seasonal. Um, so my show on BP ed is called Survival Jobs. Before you were a literal Broadway star, do you have a survival job you can share with us that got you along in these streets of New York?

[3:43] Merritt David Janes: Well, I worked as an usher at the New World stages for three days before I got my first tour.

[4:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god, incredible. Three days, uh, that's lucky number three in New York. But after one summer from college, I worked at the post office and tough.

[4:45] Merritt David Janes: Yeah, it was it was like it would night shift work whoa 11 to 7:30 in the morning and you always did overtime so it's more like 11 to 9:30. Did you get good overtime?

[4:45] Merritt David Janes: I mean financially, yeah, I would it was it was good for back then for what it was okay but the thing it made me appreciate about everything else is just the daytime.

[5:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Just doing anything in the daytime because it was like it was like, I mean a ghost land.

[5:27] Merritt David Janes: Yeah.

[5:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Were you wearing the shades at night as well?

[5:29] Merritt David Janes: You better believe it.

[5:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Cheers to that.

[5:32] Merritt David Janes: Cheers.

[5:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Before I let you go, enjoy this beautiful opening night. In one word, can you tell us why people should come see Smash?

[5:38] Merritt David Janes: In one word? That's my thing. It's sensational.

[5:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's it. Happy opening. It was so good to talk to you.

[5:47] Merritt David Janes: So nice talking to you.

[5:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: And we'll see you out there.

[5:50] Merritt David Janes: We'll see you there. Cheers.

[5:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Happy opening. We're the Broadway Podcast Network, so a lot of folks are just listening. Can you please introduce yourself and let us know what your role here is with Smash?

[6:00] David Paul Kidder: Of course. I am David Paul Kidder, and I am in the ensemble of Smash.

[6:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers to you. Happy opening.

[6:07] David Paul Kidder: Thank you so much. Smash is so iconic. People are like waiting to come see it. Why is it important to you to be a part of such an iconic anticipated show?

[6:17] David Paul Kidder: It is unreal. It is a uh such a dream. Yeah. I am having a blast. I was watching Smash like the day it aired on TV. I watched, I was a huge fan of the show. I was like so excited that they made a TV show about making a Broadway musical.

[6:32] David Paul Kidder: So to be here like 13 years later.

[6:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Isn't that crazy?

[6:35] David Paul Kidder: That's crazy. That's crazy. It's something that I love to watch, and now to be part of the Broadway company of it is just unreal.

[6:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's so cool. Well, congratulations. The show is so much fun. I had the best time watching it. So, as you know, the cast members in the show, the show in the show with the cast members, they love to get post-show drinks. Where are you taking the cast of Bombshell after the show?

[6:57] David Paul Kidder: Oh my goodness. Well, I love going to Bond 45.

[6:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love it.

[6:58] David Paul Kidder: I love the pizza really is excellent. There are martinis are great, and I think right now there's a uh a smash um burger.

[7:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Smash teeny.

[7:09] David Paul Kidder: Oh, smash burger! And I think I think a martini as well. I think they have Smash Tini.

[7:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: I've always loved Bond 45. So they're right across the street. Easy to get to.

[7:17] David Paul Kidder: We'll see you at Bond 45.

[7:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: And we'll see you at Smash.

[7:21] David Paul Kidder: And we'll see you at Smash. So, real quick, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were a literal Broadway star. Oh my goodness. Do you have a survival job you can share with us?

[7:27] David Paul Kidder: Oh wow, I did so many things.

[7:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, I feel that.

[7:31] David Paul Kidder: So hard. Yeah, no, I catered, I bartended, I um was a fitness and dance teacher a lot.

[7:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: What?

[7:39] David Paul Kidder: Um, uh judge dance competition.

[7:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing.

[7:42] David Paul Kidder: Just like any and every odd job I can do that like was you know uh flexible for this this schedule of chasing the dream.

[7:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, well, you chased it and you got it, so congrats.

[7:53] David Paul Kidder: Thank you, Smash. And real quick, before we let you go, in one word, can you tell us why people should come see Smash?

[8:00] David Paul Kidder: Oh, in one word? I love to play the one word. In one word, well, there's so many words I could say. So I'm just gonna say Smash is everything.

[8:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Everything is the word people.

[8:11] David Paul Kidder: Everything. Happy opening.

[8:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much. Cheers, thank you so much.

[8:15] Unknown speaker: Hi, happy opening night!

[8:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: So we're a podcast. A lot of people are just listening. So can you please introduce yourself and let us know what your role here is with Smash?

[8:24] India Dream Hoskins: Yes, my name is India Dream Hoskins, and I'm a swing and the assistant dance captain.

[8:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing, congratulations. I saw the show last night. It is so phenomenal. It's opening night, it's so exciting. What are you most excited for for opening night?

[8:39] India Dream Hoskins: I think the thing that I'm most excited for is to be here with my mom and my grandma. They flew in all the way from Cincinnati, Ohio.

[8:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, I'm right here. Um, to have family and that support here means the world to me.

[8:52] India Dream Hoskins: That's amazing. And you know, Smash is so iconic, it's so well known, especially with theater kids. What does that mean to you to be in such a show that means so much to so many people?

[9:01] India Dream Hoskins: I think the thing um that means it means so much to me because I was just that like so little ago. I'm still in school currently. I go to Pace University. I graduate in May.

[9:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god.

[9:12] India Dream Hoskins: So the fact that I'm in this show just a few months ago, I was like working super duper hard and trying to go into hard dishes and everything like that, and then this cabin, um, I think that's what that's amazing.

[9:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, congratulations. So, as you know, the characters in the show are always getting post-show cocktails. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Where are you gonna take the cast of Bombshell?

[9:33] India Dream Hoskins: Where am I gonna take the cast of Bombshell? Bond 45.

[9:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, second Bond 45 of cheers to Bond 45.

[9:41] India Dream Hoskins: Yes.

[9:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, and in one word, let us know why people should come see Smash.

[9:47] India Dream Hoskins: Theater.

[9:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Theater.

[9:49] India Dream Hoskins: Theater.

[9:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's a good one. Come if you're a theater kid, if you're not a theater kid, come. Why not? Have a good time.

[9:55] India Dream Hoskins: Have a good time.

[9:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations. It was so great talking to you. Enjoy the night.

[9:59] India Dream Hoskins: Yes.

[10:00] Unknown speaker: My name is Shelly Denton, and I am a swing here at Smash.

[10:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Swing. That is a great job to have. And congratulations.

[10:05] Shelly Denton: Cheers to you.

[10:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you very much. Smash is so iconic. So many theater kids and fans of the show are so excited to see it. What does that mean to you to be a part of such a sought-after show?

[10:17] Shelly Denton: This is my Broadway debut. So finding out that I was gonna be in this particular show for my first time on Broadway was wild. Um, such an iconic creative team with Susan Stroman and Shaiman and Wittman. It's it's just like you can't really get better than that.

[10:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: I know.

[10:32] Shelly Denton: So to be in any position where fans who have already loved something so much are gonna watch and want more is as good as it gets.

[10:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Totally. I sign off on all of that. Um, so as you know, the characters in the show like to go out for post-show cocktails. Yes. Where are you gonna take the cast of Bombshell post-show?

[10:53] Shelly Denton: I love Dutch Freds.

[10:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love, me too. Love, love.

[10:57] Shelly Denton: Because they have my like a lavender cocktail, and I'm a lavender girly, so that's the place we will all be.

[11:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: We're going to Dutch Freds, but I do also want to let you know, Bia on 42nd and 10th has an excellent lavender cocktail at soul.

[11:11] Shelly Denton: And we love the lavender.

[11:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm a lavender girly too. I'm going, I'm going.

[11:17] Shelly Denton: Before you were making your Broadway debut in Smash. Can you share a quick survival job that you've had along with my nannying?

[11:23] Shelly Denton: Nannying, nannying, nannying. Childcare till the end of my days. I love kids, so it was a really great way to spend my time.

[11:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, great. It's nice when your survival job is something that you also enjoy.

[11:34] Shelly Denton: Because it's a journey. It's very hard out there. So to do something where and kids like to be theatrical, so I got to do a little bit of my job in there as well.

[11:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I had a good time.

[11:45] Shelly Denton: That's wonderful. Before we let you go, I know you have a long night ahead of you. And one word, can you tell us why people should come see Smash?

[11:53] Shelly Denton: Glorious.

[11:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Glorious.

[11:55] Shelly Denton: There it is.

[11:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers to you. Thank you so much. Happy opening.

[11:58] Shelly Denton: Happy Broadway day.

[11:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you. I appreciate it.

[12:00] Ian Liberto: My name is Ian Liberto, and I am the dance captain on Smash.

[12:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Ian, iconic. That's a huge role. The choreography is so good. I saw the show last night and was living my life.

[12:09] Ian Liberto: Yeah, you can't beat it.

[12:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Josh's work is amazing on the show.

[12:12] Ian Liberto: Yeah.

[12:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: So what does it mean for you to be a part of a show that is so well known, and so many people are so excited to come see it?

[12:20] Ian Liberto: I this is my seventh Broadway show.

[12:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers to you.

[12:24] Ian Liberto: Thank you. Yeah, thank you. It's it's something that I've always wanted to be a part of. But you know, having the chance to dance Josh's work for the first time is a really extraordinary experience.

[12:36] Ian Liberto: I love his movement so much, it feels so good on my body. Um, this is my second show with Stro. I adore being in the room with her. It's like an absolute dream team.

[12:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, um, right down to the music department, the producers, the crew. It's just like I cannot be more grateful to be a part of this production.

[12:53] Ian Liberto: And uh, you know, I've always I've never wanted anything out of my life other than to be a part of the Broadway community. And the fact that I'm still here 20 years later doing it, I I'm very grateful.

[13:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations. I just got chills. I'm not sure if it was because I felt your emotion or so cold.

[13:14] Unknown speaker: So you said show with strow, show with strow. It's pretty good. So, as you know, the characters in the show like to go out for post-show cocktails after Bombshell.

[13:22] Unknown speaker: Absolutely.

[13:22] Unknown speaker: So, where are you taking the cast of Bombshell post-show?

[13:26] Unknown speaker: Um, I will say we really the community is loving Hold Fast right now.

[13:31] Unknown speaker: Love.

[13:31] Unknown speaker: Don't know why it's become a place, but um we love Hold Fast. And you can't go around with Glasshouse Cavern.

[13:37] Unknown speaker: You can't.

[13:37] Unknown speaker: It's always you're always gonna see somebody at Glasses.

[13:40] Unknown speaker: Always, always. I will let's shout out Anthony the bartender at Hold Fast.

[13:43] Unknown speaker: Anthony Avino. We love it. We love he just texted me, actually. I love him. Um before we let you go, in one word, can you let us know why people should come see Smash?

[13:53] Unknown speaker: One word? That's my thing. Spectacle.

[13:57] Unknown speaker: Boom. Love it. Thank you so much for chatting with us. Have a great opening. Happy opening for the Broadway Podcast Network.

[14:04] Unknown speaker: A lot of people are only listening, so can you please introduce us?

[14:06] Libby Lloyd: Amazing. Let us know what your role here is on Smash.

[14:09] Libby Lloyd: Yes, uh, my name is Libby Lloyd. I am a swing for the ensemble, and I understudy Ivy Lynn and Karen.

[14:17] Unknown speaker: Oh my god, iconic. What is it like understudying both of those characters?

[14:21] Libby Lloyd: Because they're meaty characters.

[14:23] Libby Lloyd: They're meaty characters. It's a lot. It's a lot of material in my head. Truly. But it's also really fun. I like that they're different. It's really nice to be able to play the understudy when you are the understudy. You know, it's very meta.

[14:37] Libby Lloyd: Very meta. That's really good. Um and I mean Robin has created such an iconic role, like a true triple threat. And those don't come around that often. So it's really, really special.

[14:47] Unknown speaker: Well, congratulations. That's a huge undertaking.

[14:50] Libby Lloyd: Thank you. And we gotta shout out the understudies and swings because it's not an easy job. So cheers to you.

[14:54] Libby Lloyd: Thank you. Cheers. As you know, the characters in the show love to go out for a post-show cocktail.

[14:59] Unknown speaker: Oh yeah.

[14:59] Unknown speaker: Uh huh. After Bombshell. So where are you gonna take the cast of Bombshell in New York City and Hell's Kitchen in the theater district?

[15:06] Libby Lloyd: Yes, in the theater district. I feel like a fun go-to spot that's close is um Sir Henry. Have you been to Sir Henry?

[15:15] Unknown speaker: No, but I've heard about it.

[15:16] Libby Lloyd: I have a lot of people. Yeah, very cute. The food's good.

[15:20] Libby Lloyd: So I if the food is good, that's where you'll find me. Listen, because we need good post-show food. We need post-show fuel.

[15:26] Unknown speaker: We do, we so do. Yeah. Um, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs.

[15:30] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[15:30] Libby Lloyd: Or you were a Broadway star, killing it on Broadway. Do you have a survival job that you can share with us?

[15:35] Libby Lloyd: I do, yeah. I worked at the front desk at Equinox.

[15:39] Unknown speaker: Lit.

[15:40] Libby Lloyd: And you know what? I still work at Equinox.

[15:43] Libby Lloyd: While you're even while I'm doing it, yeah. So now I I teach group fitness now. Amazing. Um, but yeah, it's a good way to have a balance.

[15:50] Libby Lloyd: Yeah. You know, you know, not get too caught up in the theater job. It's gives me like, oh yeah, there's another life.

[15:56] Unknown speaker: For sure. We have a lot of people that come on our show that do have that multi-life of like I'm doing Broadway, but I'm also still doing this because that's part of it, and it's so admirable. So congrats to you.

[16:07] Libby Lloyd: Thank you. Um before we let you go, in one word, can you let us know why everybody should come see Smash?

[16:14] Libby Lloyd: It's fun. You are going to laugh your head off.

[16:17] Libby Lloyd: Laugh your head off. My husband is not a theater person, and he was like, This is the funniest thing I've ever seen. So fun.

[16:24] Unknown speaker: So there we go. Well, thank you so much. Congratulations to you.

[16:29] Jay Savage: Yes, I am Jay Savage and I'm in the ensemble of Smash.

[16:31] Unknown speaker: Jay, happy opening. Smash is so iconic. So many little theater kids are like so excited to see it. What does that meant for you to be a part of a show that is meaningful and so anticipated?

[16:43] Jay Savage: Oh my god. Well, for me, Smash is something I was scared of for a long time. Um when I was a kid. The TV show. I was so scared about it.

[16:51] Jay Savage: Um when it was coming out, you know. When did it come out again? No idea. I should know. I think I was in 1863. Good year for wine.

[17:01] Unknown speaker: Um and I I love wine.

[17:04] Jay Savage: Who doesn't? Well, I'm sure there's someone. Yeah. If if you don't like wine, it's okay. Stop listening to the thing. No, keep listening. There's other things to drink.

[17:11] Unknown speaker: Um anyways, we're off topic. Like seltzer water with bitters is a really good non-alcoholic option.

[17:17] Jay Savage: Correct. Stay hydrated, it's important.

[17:20] Unknown speaker: So important. So important. Um I was so scared of it because I was in high school, I think, and I I wanted to be doing this. Yeah, you know, and I was very nervous.

[17:29] Jay Savage: I didn't know what it was gonna be like to move here, and I didn't want to, and it was that in Glee. I was too scared to watch because I was afraid I was gonna look at it and be like, Oh, I can't do that. I can't do what they're doing.

[17:36] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[17:36] Jay Savage: And I'm so glad I waited because now um I didn't start watching Smash when we started rehearsal. And now it means so much more to me to be like, oh my god, they're doing that number. We just ran in rehearsal today. That's like that's so cool.

[17:49] Jay Savage: And I keep saying I've said it all day now, like it's the biggest gift John little Jonathan could have gun to himself is to wait. Because now it means it's so much more momentous to me.

[17:58] Unknown speaker: Wow, I love that. It's so special. It's also such a lesson about like being patient and just taking your time with your own journey.

[18:05] Jay Savage: And trusting in yourself, what you know you could do, what you're capable of, yeah, instead of like listen to the demons inside.

[18:11] Unknown speaker: Yeah, for sure. Because the demons are never never right.

[18:14] Jay Savage: The demons are wrong. F the demons.

[18:17] Unknown speaker: F them.

[18:17] Jay Savage: F them demons.

[18:19] Unknown speaker: Yeah. So as you know, we already talked about wine a little bit.

[18:22] Unknown speaker: Yes, we did. As you know, the cast within the show. Love to go out to post show cocktails. The 11 o'clock spa. So where are you taking the cast a Bombshell?

[18:31] Jay Savage: Oh my god. Around here after the show. I well, I I'm a big fan of Dolly Varden's because I live so close to it. You know, I I have dabbled with Dolly. I love a Dolly.

[18:39] Jay Savage: I love a Sir Henry's. Okay, that's our second Sir Henry's we've got. I heard So and So's just opened up. It's supposed to be a really fun theater bar. It's on 52nd, and I want to try it. I saw pictures of the interior and it looks stunning.

[18:52] Unknown speaker: Great.

[18:52] Jay Savage: So I have to try it. Alright, guys, so we'll all see you at So and So's. We'll all travel and try it out. I can't wait.

[18:57] Unknown speaker: We'll talk about Smash.

[18:58] Jay Savage: Yeah, we'll talk about Smash. Before you were killing it in Smash, before you were smashing it in Smash. My show on the network is called Survival Jobs. So do you have a quick survival job you can share with us?

[19:08] Jay Savage: Um so when I when I first went to New York, I was a server. Um and then I started doing a couple jobs in the in b um in between, you know, some regional stuff. I was temping and teaching dance, and then during uh the pandemic, you know, you had to find a survival job.

[19:23] Jay Savage: So I lived in a van and then I taught preschool in Yellowstone to the Rangers kids for eleven months. And let me tell you, I used my whole BFA for them kids. It was so fun. They were so great, but it it you know it it helped me survive, you know, monetarily, but also like soul they kept my soul alive and it was so much fun.

[19:41] Unknown speaker: I love when a survival job fills you and it's not so miserable.

[19:43] Jay Savage: Yeah, and then I worked at a climbing gym, which was so fun. Like rocking, yeah. I've done it, I'm pretty good at it.

[19:49] Unknown speaker: I believe it.

[19:49] Jay Savage: Yeah. It's always just pull push with your legs, don't pull with your hands.

[19:53] Unknown speaker: That's right. You need that strength.

[19:55] Unknown speaker: Or you will kill your um body. What's this called? Uh trisa?

[19:58] Jay Savage: No.

[20:01] Unknown speaker: 1064.

[20:02] Jay Savage: 1864.

[20:03] Unknown speaker: 1967.

[20:05] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[20:12] Unknown speaker: To laugh.

[20:13] Unknown speaker: To laugh.

[20:14] Unknown speaker: Boom. Cheers. We were so great to chat with. That was fun. Thank you so much. Happy opening.

[20:20] Connor McCorrey: Uh my name is Connor McCorrey, and I'm one of the swings in the production.

[20:22] Jacob Burns: I'm Jacobs Burns, I'm also one of the swings.

[20:25] Unknown speaker: Congratulations. Being a swing is not an easy task. How do you guys navigate, you know, learning all the tracks that you have?

[20:32] Connor McCorrey: You know, uh what really helps is doing it over and over again. I've now been a swing a couple times in a couple shows. Uh so you kinda like fall on your face, but then you get back up and you learn from those experiences.

[20:43] Connor McCorrey: And um honestly, what it the most you know, homework you can do early, earlier on really helps.

[20:49] Unknown speaker: Yeah. Um yeah, what about you?

[20:51] Jacob Burns: All of that, co-sign, and then also like leaning on your fellow castmates and swingmates. I think, you know, what's great about this team is we'll spend our dinner break on the stage playing a million different bars, running around, helping each other and sharing the information and we just make it work.

[21:04] Unknown speaker: That's so great. Um, well, congrats.

[21:06] Unknown speaker: Thank you. As you guys know, the cast members within the show of the show love to go out for post-show drinks. So where are you guys taking the cast of Bombshell post show for some cocktails and some late-night food?

[21:18] Connor McCorrey: Okay. Okay. No. I'm gonna have to say one of my favorites is Dutch Freds.

[21:23] Jacob Burns: Love.

[21:24] Connor McCorrey: That's our second Dutch Freds we got. Love it. Love the Freddy's. I mean, I okay, so honorable mention is Holdfast, of course. It's the Broadway wadding hole, but um shout out to Shane. Uh and to Anthony. I gotta go. See, after a show, I just want a hamburger.

[21:39] Jacob Burns: So lovely's old-fashioned hamburgers over on the right.

[21:42] Connor McCorrey: Yes, lovely is so good.

[21:44] Unknown speaker: So good. Well, cheers to that. Um, in one word, tell us why everybody should come see Smash.

[21:52] Brooks Ashmanskas: Laughter, Brooks.

[21:54] Unknown speaker: Done. Boom. Mic drop. Brooks is so good in this.

[21:58] Unknown speaker: Thank you. Happy opening.

[22:00] Unknown speaker: Cheers. Thank you, cheers. Congratulations.

[22:02] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Hi. Happy opening nice. So we're a podcast network. A lot of people are just listening.

[22:06] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Perfect. Can you please let us know your name and what your role is?

[22:09] Jacqueline B. Arnold: My name is Jacqueline B. Arnold. That is J-A-C-Q-U-E-L-I-N-E. B E as in boy, A-R-N-O-L-D, and I play Anita Molina Cooperman in Smash.

[22:22] Unknown speaker: You are so fabulous in this show. I saw it last night and I had the best time. How does it feel to be playing this role after being, you know, in the theater industry and like being actually a part of it to then portray something that maybe you don't do all the time?

[22:38] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Um it's actually really cool. Um to be able to be a black woman who's representing the most powerful position in theater is really, really freaking cool. And I'm an I'm honored to do such a thing, and hopefully one day that comes true.

[22:54] Unknown speaker: Listen, maybe maybe life will say it art. Hey, and then it's happened before. Let's do it.

[23:03] Jacqueline B. Arnold: So as you know, the characters in the show love to go out for a post-show cocktail after Bombshell. So where are you taking the cast of Bombshell post show?

[23:12] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Um actually I love a filthy martini, vodka martini. I want her filthy like Hudson River filthy.

[23:22] Unknown speaker: No, not Hudson River. Just the color, not the taste.

[23:26] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Um not the Yeah, kind of brown and green, you know what I mean? And I had one the other day at Quality Bistro. Have you gone there?

[23:36] Unknown speaker: I have not gone to the bistro, but I've gone to Quality Meats.

[23:39] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Okay, Quality Bistro is worth everything. And they do something called a caviar slider and a bump.

[23:48] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[23:50] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Caviar slider. It's like 21 dollars or something like that. 21 bucks you get a little slider on a crack. With a creme fresh. Delicious. And then a bump of champagne.

[23:59] Unknown speaker: I'm here for it.

[24:00] Jacqueline B. Arnold: It's so good. So we'll see you at the quality. We'll see you at quality. Filthy, filthy, filthy March.

[24:05] Unknown speaker: That's right. Before you were a Broadway star. Do you have a survival job you can share with us?

[24:09] Jacqueline B. Arnold: I had so many survival jobs. I here in the city, I wait at tables like most actors do. Um a small top-off place downtown did really well. It was more like a wine bar.

[24:20] Unknown speaker: I thought you said a small topless place. I was like, Where is that?

[24:23] Jacqueline B. Arnold: No. I don't know. I don't know that restaurant. And then I worked for a company called Soyfer and Haskin, which is a great company. They are um they do sample sales.

[24:37] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[24:37] Jacqueline B. Arnold: So they host larger brand sample sales. But the two people who started it were both Broadway performers, and so that's all they hire. Or only on 33rd and 8th Avenue. I feel like I had somebody else on the show that works there.

[24:51] Unknown speaker: Yeah, I can't remember.

[24:53] Jacqueline B. Arnold: They are so good to you. Oh, that's it. They buy you lunch every day. You know, it's it's just a really lovely place and a lovely little family that you create there.

[25:01] Unknown speaker: That's amazing. Well, thank you for sharing that.

[25:03] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Thank you. Uh, what's your what are you most excited about for opening night tonight?

[25:06] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Tonight. I'm just excited to get it open and the masses to see it. Yeah. And you know, I'm not a I I don't care. I I mean, I care about reviews, obviously, ultimately. I'm not sorry. I'm not searching them out, you know what I mean? And I just we all need this relief of getting it. It's like birthing a baby, you know. Get it out. Let that suckle walk. Gotta let it walk.

[25:30] Unknown speaker: Can you please just tell me about this piece you're wearing? It's so beautiful. Is it attached to your bun?

[25:37] Jacqueline B. Arnold: No, it actually would just come right off. See, it's a little bit more. How cool is that? Um, so it's a company, I believe she pronounces it urn. It's U, capital U, capital R Dash N. She's it's a French company. And it's all custom designed jewelry. She's real cool. It's so cool. And I think it's one girl, one woman. For the listeners, she just is looking fierce. We'll have to like insert a photo, but she is just before we let you go. I know you have such a long night ahead. In one word, can you let us know why people should come see Smash on Broadway?

[26:10] Jacqueline B. Arnold: Joy.

[26:11] Unknown speaker: Joy, you heard it here first, people.

[26:13] Unknown speaker: Cheers. People are just listening. So can you please introduce yourself? And let us know what your role here is in Smash on Broadway.

[26:20] Nicholas Matos: Hi, I'm Nicholas Matos, and here comes a curtain. Guys, it's cold out here and the wind is blowing.

[26:26] Nicholas Matos: I'm Nicholas Matos, and I'm playing Scott in Smash.

[26:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: Nicholas, you are so good in this production.

[26:33] Nicholas Matos: Thank you.

[26:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Scott is such an icon.

[26:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: Coming in with all of these like fancy people. How does it feel to be part of such an iconic production that so many fans of Smash have been anticipating all season?

[26:47] Nicholas Matos: It's like I wonder if I'll ever get something like this again in my life. It's been s it's it's just so many things have met, have had to happen to for me to get to this moment, and it's it's such a joy. I will say, it's funny because my character Scott is like new to the world of Broadway, and he's working among these Broadway legends, and that's exactly the same. Life imitating art, how cool is that? The levels of meta in this show are just there's layers and layers. But yeah, it's been amazing. I'm so excited. I'm proud, I'm grateful. It's the best.

[27:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, congratulations, you're phenomenal, and the show is excellent. So you have so much to be proud of. As you know, uh, the characters in the show love to go out for a post-show cocktail.

[27:30] Nicholas Matos: Oh, yes, they do.

[27:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: After the show. So, where would you take the cast a bombshell post show for a nice little nightcap?

[27:36] Nicholas Matos: You know where I would go? This bar called Art Bar.

[27:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: Art Bar in the West Village.

[27:41] Nicholas Matos: Love Art Bar. Shout out to Art Bar. I love the lounge in the back. They have a fireplace. It's a good one. I wish we had a fireplace right now.

[27:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: We need one.

[27:48] Nicholas Matos: We need one. Shout out to Art Bar. Um, so my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Do you have a survival job that you had on your journey to Broadway?

[27:57] Nicholas Matos: A survival job? Yeah, or did you just or were you just booked and blessed?

[28:00] Nicholas Matos: I'm a student. So.

[28:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: So he's booked and blessed people.

[28:04] Nicholas Matos: I've been studenting.

[28:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. He's been studenting and surviving.

[28:09] Nicholas Matos: Yeah.

[28:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh, I know you have so many people to chat with. So before we let you go, in one word, can you let us know why everybody should go see Smash?

[28:11] Nicholas Matos: One word.

[28:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[28:18] Nicholas Matos: Ooh, that's hard.

[28:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: I know it's challenging, but let me tell you, I love it.

[28:24] Nicholas Matos: I love the one-word game. Can I say can I say two words?

[28:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[28:28] Nicholas Matos: I will give you permission.

[28:30] Nicholas Matos: Big Broadway.

[28:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: Big Broadway, people.

[28:33] Nicholas Matos: Cheers.

[28:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: Huge Broadway.

[28:36] Nicholas Matos: We switched it.

[28:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're allowed to switch it. Cheers to you.

[28:38] Josh Beergas: My name is Josh Beergas. I'm the choreographer for Smash, the new musical on Broadway.

[28:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Josh, I was just telling the dance captain. I love this choreography so much.

[28:48] Josh Beergas: I was living my life last night watching this. How does it feel to be such a huge part of a show that is so iconic and so many people are waiting to see it?

[28:58] Josh Beergas: I mean, you know, it it's it's amazing. I love you know I love working with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. They when they write a song, they see the they see production numbers. Yeah. So it makes my job easier and fun. And um, and this cast has been just unbelievable. Uh Roberts is a force of nature. I like so grateful for every dance lesson she ever took.

[29:25] Nicholas Matos: Same.

[29:26] Josh Beergas: Same. Um it feels great.

[29:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, oh amazing. So, as you know, the characters in the show love to go out for post-show cocktails. So, where are you taking everybody after bombshell for a post-show cocktail?

[29:40] Josh Beergas: Oh gosh. Um uh post show cocktail. Well, I've I've been a little lazy lately, and Bon and Bond 45 is right across the street.

[29:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's like the third or fourth Bond 45 we've gotten.

[29:53] Josh Beergas: Yes.

[29:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: So iconic.

[29:55] Josh Beergas: It is very easy to get to get to. Um there's also the O Casey's right next door to the stage door. Listen, we don't go where you gotta you're tired, you're in tag, exactly. Like you gotta make it convenient.

[30:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Exactly. Um so my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were killing it as a Broadway choreographer and an artist. Do you have a survival job along your journey you can share with us?

[30:20] Josh Beergas: Um well I did I I I waited tables, I bust tables, I bartended. I bartended in a in a uh Mexican restaurant, which was was um it sounds great, but but you just come home smelling like tequila and salsa every night. And like deep fried chips. And and you just don't, and it took me years before I could have margarita or or salsa.

[30:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: I feel that. I worked in a Mexican restaurant as well, and it took me a long time to like enjoy an enchilada again.

[30:49] Josh Beergas: Yes.

[30:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um we know you have so many people to chat with, but before we let you go, can you tell us in one word why everybody should come see Smash?

[30:57] Josh Beergas: Oh, it's joyous.

[30:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's just so joyous.

[31:01] Nicholas Matos: Hi, happy opening.

[31:02] Josh Beergas: Hi, thank you. We're a podcast network, so a lot of folks are just listening. Can you let us know what your name is and what role you play here on Smash on Broadway?

[31:09] Bella Coppola: My name is Bella Coppola, and I play Chloe's Erbulian.

[31:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: You guys, Bella is such a star in this show, you need to run and see it right now. What does it meant to you to be playing Chloe?

[31:18] Bella Coppola: What an icon, what a queen. It is so fun getting to step into this character. It feels like it fits me like a glove, and to just get to embody someone who's confident and gets to have her moment feels really right. It feels really nice to get to tell that story.

[31:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, you are phenomenal. I will gush over you all day.

[31:36] Bella Coppola: Thank you.

[31:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: As you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for post-show cocktails.

[31:41] Bella Coppola: Yeah.

[31:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: So where would where would you take the cast around here? Where's the cast of bombshell going with Bella?

[31:47] Bella Coppola: You know what? I went to the Independent recently.

[31:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay.

[31:50] Bella Coppola: That was pretty good, and they have like a Broadway discount. If you're on Broadway, you get a discount.

[31:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: What about if you're the Broadway podcast network? Do you think we get a discount?

[31:56] Bella Coppola: Cool. We'll definitely give that a try. Um, so my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were a literal Broadway star queen, guys, she's so good. Do you have a survival job on your journey that you can share with us?

[32:12] Bella Coppola: Yes. So my first job in New York was Joe and the Juice. And I had to make, I was trained to make the tuna cado one day. And so they make you put the gloves on, but then you have to hand mix it.

[32:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: The tuna?

[32:26] Bella Coppola: Yes. And the tuna was getting into my gloves. No. I said no, I quit that night. No, I also just got skeeved out by like the consistency of what that was. I was like, can I have a spoon? They said no. They're like, so I quit hard no.

[32:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love the tuna.

[32:40] Bella Coppola: I love tuna too, but do you want it on your hands? No. No, no, absolutely no. We're saying hard no to that.

[32:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: So it's opening night. It's so much fun. This is not your first rodeo here on Broadway. So, what are what are you looking forward to the most for tonight?

[32:55] Bella Coppola: Um, it is my second Broadway show, but it's my first time around. Opening, right? So, all of this has just been so fun. My parents are here, they haven't seen it yet.

[33:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, how exciting!

[33:05] Bella Coppola: I'm very excited to share it with them.

[33:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's so great. I know you have so many people to talk to, but before we let you go, in one word, let us know why people should come see Smash.

[33:14] Bella Coppola: In one word, yes.

[33:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hilarious, hilarious.

[33:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers, Bella. You are so great in this show. Thank you for having me.

[33:22] Casey Garvin: Hello, everyone. My name is Casey Garvin. I played Charlie in Smash, the musical.

[33:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Casey, this show is so good and so much fun. You are so great in it.

[33:30] Casey Garvin: Thank you.

[33:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Smash is so well known and so many people are so excited to come see it. So what does that mean to you to be a part of such a production that's like so iconic?

[33:40] Casey Garvin: Yeah, you know, it's so special. I think um every day at the stage store, we get at least a handful of people who are just so excited that they got to see this awesome show. Um and they say, you know, I've been waiting over ten years for this and it did not disappoint, and it's so awesome to see these numbers on stage and and to be part of something like that. Yeah, uh, to continue that legacy and then also make it our own is so special and so unique and awesome.

[34:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: I sign off on that, guys. It does not disappoint. So as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for a post-show cocktail.

[34:11] Casey Garvin: Yeah.

[34:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: Where are you, Casey, taking the cast of Bombshell for a post-show cocktail?

[34:16] Casey Garvin: I think I'm gonna take the cast to the Dickens.

[34:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, I've never been, but I have it's right around the watch by it a couple of years. It's not too bougie. It's still nice. It's it's giving uh cute gay cocktail bar, which is one of my faves.

[34:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: We love a cute gay cocktail bar.

[34:31] Casey Garvin: The cocktails are delicious.

[34:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: We love a good affordable delicious cocktail. My n my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Yes. I know we've talked before, so maybe you find another survival job that you can share with us before you were killing it on Broadway.

[34:44] Casey Garvin: Yeah, for sure. I think it did I talk about dancing at Bar mitzvah's on this last time?

[34:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: I don't think so.

[34:49] Casey Garvin: I'm not sure if we're gonna be able to do it. I don't think so. I think I would have remembered. Yeah, when I was in high school, I uh my parents uh were having a little bit of financial trouble and I decided I'd wanted to help out, which I was auditioning for for Broadway shows and coming to the city for that. But in the meantime, before I booked a show, I was a uh kind of party prom not a party promoter, but like uh, you know, I got the party. I was a hype boy at Barba Ba mitzvah's.

[35:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: How fun is that?

[35:12] Casey Garvin: Just kind of dancing around, you know, it's hard to get 13 year olds who are like moody to like get up. So it's a tough one. It was a wild experience. But it was fun. I got to dance, and yeah, you're like you and six other people are socializing with these like teenagers. And I was like, all right, kids, let's let's dance it up. And you're like, oh god. Sometimes it's a miserable experience, and sometimes it was actually very fun.

[35:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, that's so fun. And then you still got to be artistic while doing it. So how cool is that? What are you looking forward to the most about opening night?

[35:40] Casey Garvin: Uh, you know, the party's always really fun. We love a party. Uh my husband and my best friend are coming. So, you know, getting to celebrate with awesome people in the industry, and lots of friends of mine will be here tonight as well.

[35:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, how exciting that we get a this amazing community of people.

[35:54] Casey Garvin: How exciting. Before we let you go, in one word. I don't know if you remember my one word shtick.

[35:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[35:59] Casey Garvin: Let us know why everybody should come see Smash on Broadway.

[36:02] Casey Garvin: Laughs.

[36:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Laughs!

[36:04] Casey Garvin: Lots of laughs.

[36:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Lots of laughs, people.

[36:07] Casey Garvin: Cheers.

[36:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cheers. Happy opening night.

[36:09] Casey Garvin: Thank you so much.

[36:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thanks for chatting with us.

[36:11] Christine Nielsen: Hi, happy opening night.

[36:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much.

[36:13] Christine Nielsen: You're welcome. We're a podcast network. A lot of people are listening. Okay. So can you let us know what your name is and what role you play here in Smash on Broadway?

[36:21] Christine Nielsen: I am Christian Nielsen. I play Susan Proctor, Marilyn Monroe's acting teacher.

[36:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: You are so great in this. I was crying laughing last night. Where did you find your inspiration for this really wild lady?

[36:36] Christine Nielsen: She's wild. You know, I went to drama school. Well, that and I've been to Middle Schools, and I would say, I can't name names, but I I have very specific. Some people that you could really pull real life from.

[36:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, what's the most fun about playing this part every night?

[36:52] Christine Nielsen: Well, it's it's a lot of fun to play ball with Brooks, because you know, he's my uh antagonist. Why not? He's so much fun. And uh it it's just great because it starts as sort of a passive aggressive and becomes more and more demonic.

[37:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[37:07] Christine Nielsen: As it really does. So it's a lot of fun to do that. Um Smash is so iconic. How how have you been feeling with the audiences being so excited to come see see the show?

[37:18] Christine Nielsen: I'll tell you how happy I was when we had our first audience. I mean, it's it's like so it's so great because it's such an important ingredient in telling a story.

[37:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[37:28] Christine Nielsen: Yeah. So I'd love it. Um, as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for a post-show cocktail. Where would you take the cast of Bombshell for a cocktail around here?

[37:37] Christine Nielsen: I'd probably take them to Orsa.

[37:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: I like that.

[37:40] Christine Nielsen: It's it's a little quiet, good lighting, very dark.

[37:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, we need good lighting.

[37:44] Christine Nielsen: And pizza, pizza.

[37:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: We need good lighting. Pizza cocktails. That's it. That's all we need.

[37:49] Christine Nielsen: Um before we let you go, in one word, let us know why everybody should come see Smash on Broadway.

[37:55] Christine Nielsen: Because you need to laugh.

[37:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: You need to laugh.

[37:58] Christine Nielsen: Well, cheers. You're amazing in this show. I had the best time watching it last night.

[38:03] Christine Nielsen: Oh, I'm so glad. Thank you so much. Enjoy opening night use her.

[38:07] Casey Garvin: Happy opening.

[38:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: We're a podcast network. A lot of people are just listening. So can you please introduce yourself and let us know what role you play here in Smash?

[38:15] Brooks Ashmanskas: Uh I play Nigel uh Davies, who is the director choreographer of the show.

[38:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: And uh Nigel has put through a lot of tests in this uh piece. Brooks, you are so incredible in the show. I'm smiling so big right now because I could not stop laughing last week.

[38:31] Brooks Ashmanskas: Oh, good, I'm glad. What's been the most fun part about playing this character for everyone?

[38:35] Brooks Ashmanskas: Well, that, you know, the relationship with the audience, you know, it's an all important to a comedy, and I enjoy it. I I really it's really gets me going to feel that sort of back and forth. Also, the people in this cast, I love that so talented. So it's I'm really lucky.

[38:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: For sure. So you're obviously not a stranger to the Broadway stage or opening nights.

[38:58] Brooks Ashmanskas: No.

[38:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: What's different about this for you that's keeping you inspired and keeping going after all these productions you've done?

[39:04] Brooks Ashmanskas: Yeah, uh you know, it's in a way it's very much the same. You know, it is. I mean, an opening nights are opening nights, and it's very exciting, and I am excited. You know, we're very excited to just get it out there and you know, have people see it and enjoy it, hopefully. But I think the difference is old age, you know. It's just like you get to be a certain age, and you're like, I just gotta figure out how to get these on. Get the pep in the steps. The socks on. That part. Well, bending down and like this stomach is real, you know, I'm not wearing a fat suit. So it's like it's uh uh pulled muscle every day.

[39:41] Brooks Ashmanskas: I get it. My knees are crinking in my old age, so you know, I get that.

[39:47] Brooks Ashmanskas: So, as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go get post-show cocktails.

[39:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Where are you? Where is Brooks taking the cast of Bombshell for a post-show cocktail?

[39:56] Brooks Ashmanskas: Oh, well that's uh you know, I actually need to do that. But um if they, you know, if they behave themselves.

[40:02] Brooks Ashmanskas: I don't know, I always love Joe Allen. I'm very old school.

[40:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love Joe Allen.

[40:05] Brooks Ashmanskas: I love Joe Allen as well. Un de Trois is fun.

[40:11] Brooks Ashmanskas: I still stand by that.

[40:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[40:12] Brooks Ashmanskas: Also, though Bar Central right above Joe Allen we love.

[40:16] Brooks Ashmanskas: That can be a little I mean I love it. It's great. It's quiet.

[40:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: But it can be loud.

[40:19] Brooks Ashmanskas: Oh, loud. Well, if it's packed people, it's one of those, and you have to be careful with your little voice.

[40:25] Brooks Ashmanskas: You have to preserve the voice. Because I could do eight shows a week.

[40:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: You sure do.

[40:30] Brooks Ashmanskas: But no, I love all those places. Awesome.

[40:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: So my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were a literal Broadway icon and star. Do you have a survival job from your journey that you can share with us?

[40:40] Brooks Ashmanskas: You know, the old I was very fortunate when I got to New York and that I got a jump. Booked and blessed. No, I mean it was like I uh the first like year or so that I was here, I uh worked at Carnegie Hall and sold tickets over the phone.

[40:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh Carnegie Charge.

[40:55] Brooks Ashmanskas: Carnegie Charge, Brooks speaking. I wasn't always the best customer server, you know, just not gr sometimes I would be impatient.

[41:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, sometimes people are mean, also hard to deal with, hard to do with take take.

[41:06] Brooks Ashmanskas: Literally. But it was a good job. That was that was fun people there too.

[41:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Awesome. Well, thank you for sharing that.

[41:11] Brooks Ashmanskas: Of course. We're gonna let you go, but before we do that, in one word, can you look at the camera and tell us why everybody should come see Smash on Broadway?

[41:19] Brooks Ashmanskas: Robin.

[41:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Robin.

[41:21] Brooks Ashmanskas: You know somebody else's answer was Brooks.

[41:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, that fool. Happy opening. It was so good chatting with you and cheers.

[41:29] Stephen O'Remus: Cheers. I'm Stephen O'Remus. I'm the music supervisor and vocal arranger on the show.

[41:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Steven, congratulations.

[41:37] Stephen O'Remus: Yeah.

[41:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations. This show is so incredible. You have obviously worked on a ton of shows, Wicked being one of them. What has made Smash so special for you?

[41:47] Stephen O'Remus: Well, I uh you know, just getting to work with Scott and Mark. Um, you know, Marc Shaiman has always been an idol of mine.

[41:54] Stephen O'Remus: Yeah, you know, and and you know, as an arranger, as a composer, he's just one of the one of the greatest in the business.

[42:01] Stephen O'Remus: And we've I've known them for so many years, and to get, you know, it was just such an honor to be here to help them bring this to the Broadway stage.

[42:10] Stephen O'Remus: You know, it's just been such a thrill. I mean, the show is so much fun and it sounds beautiful, so congratulations.

[42:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: As you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for post-show cocktails.

[42:21] Stephen O'Remus: Of course.

[42:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Where's Steven taking the cast of Bombshell for post-show cocktails?

[42:25] Stephen O'Remus: I mean, you know, we we like a Glasshouse moment.

[42:28] Brooks Ashmanskas: We do love a Glasshouse moment.

[42:30] Stephen O'Remus: We love a Resota Ball.

[42:31] Brooks Ashmanskas: Yeah, you know, I'm the Soda Balls.

[42:33] Stephen O'Remus: I mean shout out to the Resotaballs at Glasshouse.

[42:35] Brooks Ashmanskas: Totally. It's the best.

[42:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: So my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were literally crushing it on Broadway. Do you have a survival job along your journey that you can share with us?

[42:45] Stephen O'Remus: Yeah, well, I you know, I worked in a video store.

[42:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Blockbuster?

[42:49] Stephen O'Remus: No, it was like a mom and pop.

[42:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh.

[42:52] Stephen O'Remus: Like, you know, it was like you know, mom and pop, like had a little porno room in the back.

[42:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god!

[42:56] Stephen O'Remus: You know what I mean? Like, you know, like the set the private room that people could go pick out, like, you know, not so nice.

[43:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: They're pornos.

[43:04] Stephen O'Remus: Yeah. Essentially. So that was my survival job, you know, before I and then I and then I started like playing shows at dinner theaters and stuff.

[43:10] Brooks Ashmanskas: Oh friend.

[43:12] Stephen O'Remus: I used to love like a Friday night and go to Blockbuster and like pick, and it used to suck so bad when the movie you wanted was gone.

[43:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: You know, like just the the case was there, but the VHS was gone.

[43:22] Stephen O'Remus: Oh, totally. So I mean, you know, the kids today they have they don't have to be.

[43:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: They have no idea.

[43:26] Stephen O'Remus: They're just streaming everything and renting it for $3.99.

[43:29] Brooks Ashmanskas: Yes.

[43:30] Stephen O'Remus: F them.

[43:30] Brooks Ashmanskas: Fuck crazy.

[43:32] Stephen O'Remus: I know.

[43:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Before we let you go, in one word, yeah. Let us know why everybody should come see Smash.

[43:38] Stephen O'Remus: I mean fun.

[43:40] Brooks Ashmanskas: It's fun.

[43:41] Stephen O'Remus: Insane.

[43:42] Brooks Ashmanskas: Insane.

[43:43] Stephen O'Remus: I love it.

[43:44] Brooks Ashmanskas: Insanity, we love it.

[43:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thanks, Steven. It's so good to chat with you.

[43:47] Stephen O'Remus: Thank you.

[43:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi, happy opening.

[43:50] Jenny LaRoche: Thank you so much. We're the Broadway Podcast Network, so a lot of people are just listening. Can you please introduce yourself and let us know your role at Smash?

[43:58] Jenny LaRoche: I hi, my name is Jenny LaRoche. I am the associate choreographer here at Smash, and I was a part of the original television series, and I played the role of Sue.

[44:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Jenny, congratulations.

[44:10] Jenny LaRoche: This show is so amazing. The choreography is so clean and fun and put together.

[44:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: What is it meant for you to work on this show after having had Ben on the TV show?

[44:21] Jenny LaRoche: Oh my gosh, thank you so much for that. I was living my life at that Corey O last night. It makes me so happy.

[44:28] Jenny LaRoche: I love it. I'm so happy with like our product. And you know, 15 years later, it's been a full circle moment.

[44:34] Jenny LaRoche: You know, this was one of my first major auditions. And then I booked the role, and I was like, oh my gosh, you know, just like a giddy little school girl.

[44:42] Jenny LaRoche: And then to go from that, and now I'm here and I get to recreate the numbers for the stage, which is my original love, you know, on all of my peers, and it's been amazing, like working with Josh again.

[44:55] Jenny LaRoche: Yeah, it's just been this like nostalgic, powerful, profound moment where we all just get to yeah, bring the show that we loved and like put it in the genre that we love the most.

[45:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that so much. Let me tell you, when Robin is stepping on all of their hands, I was like, this is so iconic.

[45:15] Jenny LaRoche: I'm like, fierce, here, spierce, fierce, fierce.

[45:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: So she's so great.

[45:20] Jenny LaRoche: Oh my goodness. This is like a role that I was like, I was like, for decades to come, everyone's gonna be like the Ivy Lynn role.

[45:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Literally, literally.

[45:29] Jenny LaRoche: So, as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for post-show cocktails.

[45:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, where are you taking the cast of Bombshell?

[45:36] Jenny LaRoche: Well, I also have a four-year-old at home and an eight-month-old at the moment.

[45:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my goodness, congratulations.

[45:44] Jenny LaRoche: So she's like, I'm not having cocktails.

[45:49] Jenny LaRoche: But um, it's very hard for me to like, yeah, yeah. But I do love Bar Central.

[45:54] Jenny LaRoche: Yes, I just said best cosmos in town. You heard it here first.

[45:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: And I'm quite the old-fashioned gal, so I will be enjoying definitely an old-fashioned and maybe some other cocktails tonight.

[45:57] Jenny LaRoche: Maybe some other cocktails when we have the babysitter.

[46:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Exactly.

[46:10] Jenny LaRoche: So we'll see. Shout out to the babysitter.

[46:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Which brings us into my next question. My show on the network is called Survival Jobs.

[46:17] Jenny LaRoche: Oh, love.

[46:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Do you have a survival job around uh through your journey that you can share?

[46:23] Jenny LaRoche: I have only had to have two survival jobs so far, knock on wood, um, in my 16 plus year career.

[46:32] Jenny LaRoche: And my survival job when I injured myself was working at the spa.

[46:35] Jenny LaRoche: I found a lovely spa that had a gym and all the amenities that I needed.

[46:40] Jenny LaRoche: So I did my own PT, I did my own training, and I also got a discount on massages, which is amazing.

[46:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: That is amazing.

[46:47] Jenny LaRoche: That's the go-to survival job. I just get the discount, and the schedule was flexible, and then I was able to like hop back onto live television gigs and things like that.

[46:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing.

[46:56] Jenny LaRoche: That's my favorite too.

[46:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, get the discount where you can combine it with your survival job.

[47:00] Jenny LaRoche: It was so great talking to that massage. We all get the massage, every single one of us, especially Alan.

[47:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, before we let you go, in one word, can you let us know why everybody should come see Smash?

[47:06] Jenny LaRoche: Everybody should come see Smash because you get to laugh and enjoy this behind the scenes story of what we all do for a living and why we love it and why we just can't get enough of it again and again.

[47:26] Scott Wittman: Boom.

[47:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: We're a podcast network, a lot of people are just listening, so can you please introduce yourself and let us know your roles here?

[47:32] Scott Wittman: I'm Scott Wittman, I'm the co-lyricist of all the songs from Smash.

[47:36] Marc Shaiman: And I'm Marc Shaiman.

[47:38] Scott Wittman: Which mic am I talking to?

[47:39] Marc Shaiman: I'm your pick.

[47:42] Marc Shaiman: I'm Marc Shaiman, I'm the composer and co-lyricist along with Scott Wibbon here of Smash.

[47:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations.

[47:49] Marc Shaiman: I saw the show last night and I had the best time.

[47:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: The songs are amazing. It sounds great. It looks great. How has it felt for you to be working on such an iconic show?

[47:59] Marc Shaiman: Um, it's not for us to say iconic, but yeah.

[48:02] Scott Wittman: I'm saying it because it is.

[48:04] Marc Shaiman: It is iconic.

[48:05] Marc Shaiman: It's been great fun because we've been laughing for a couple of months now.

[48:09] Scott Wittman: So that's always a good thing.

[48:10] Marc Shaiman: Yeah, that definitely is.

[48:11] Marc Shaiman: It made me forget my 401k.

[48:15] Scott Wittman: Yeah, to hear an audience finally, you know, actually in a theater hearing these songs that were written to be, you know, performed the way they are in the show, you know.

[48:25] Marc Shaiman: Balls out, if that can I ball what is the expression?

[48:28] Scott Wittman: Falls to the walls, falls to the walls or something else.

[48:31] Marc Shaiman: Yeah, not at all.

[48:32] Scott Wittman: Yeah, all of that.

[48:33] Marc Shaiman: You know, everyone in the show is so phenomenal, and and they all just create these moments that the you know raise the roof, and it's just it's just a thrill to be there.

[48:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Totally.

[48:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, as you guys know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go get post-show cocktails. Where are you guys taking the cast of Bombshell for a post-show cocktail?

[48:52] Scott Wittman: Oh, my apartment, I think.

[48:53] Marc Shaiman: Yeah.

[48:54] Scott Wittman: You're like, I'm not going out in these streets.

[48:56] Marc Shaiman: Yeah, no, no, no.

[48:57] Scott Wittman: Scott's apartment is where it all always ends.

[49:01] Marc Shaiman: And sometimes begins.

[49:03] Scott Wittman: Hey, at least you have a good spot with some good cocktails. That's all that matters.

[49:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: What so what are you guys most excited about for tonight?

[49:10] Scott Wittman: Opening nights are so exciting and fun.

[49:13] Marc Shaiman: Oh, I'm excited for the world to see these these this cast perform this material.

[49:18] Scott Wittman: That's what I'm most excited about.

[49:19] Scott Wittman: And we have a lot of friends coming to the show tonight who haven't seen it, and it'll be fun to watch their faces.

[49:24] Marc Shaiman: Yeah, like Nathan Lane and Sarah Jessica Parker.

[49:28] Scott Wittman: Shout out.

[49:29] Marc Shaiman: My friend Jennifer Lewis is gonna be out there going, I should be playing that part.

[49:35] Scott Wittman: It should have been me. Good for her.

[49:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Before we let you guys go in one word, let us know why everybody should go see Smash.

[49:42] Scott Wittman: Go see Smash if you want to laugh.

[49:45] Marc Shaiman: Yeah, have laugh and and feel good about theater, musical theater.

[49:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi, happy opening.

[49:51] Marc Shaiman: Thank you.

[49:51] Rick Elice: I I apologize that my writing partner Bob Martin is stuck in traffic.

[49:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh gosh.

[49:55] Rick Elice: So his his hand will repr my hand will represent Bob.

[49:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: I like that hand.

[49:59] Rick Elice: It's a nice hand.

[50:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: It is so clever.

[50:07] Rick Elice: For sure.

[50:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: He definitely is.

[50:08] Rick Elice: Can you introduce yourself to our listeners who are just listening and let us know what your role here is at Smash for the people who don't know?

[50:15] Rick Elice: My name is Rick Ellis, and I am the writer of the of uh Smash, along with the legendary Bob Martin.

[50:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Who's stuck in traffic?

[50:23] Rick Elice: Who's stuck in traffic? Tony Winner for Drowsy Chaperone, um, who just opened Boop last week and who um had Elf on Broadway.

[50:30] Rick Elice: Bob Martin is uh the writer who has three Broadway shows in the same season this year.

[50:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: That is crazy.

[50:36] Rick Elice: And I am and that's all I'm going to tell you about his resume.

[50:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congrats to Bob and congrats to you.

[50:42] Rick Elice: So how does it feel to be here at opening night after a long road and a lot of hard work?

[50:47] Rick Elice: We pitched this show, Bob and I, seven years ago.

[50:50] Rick Elice: Now the producers, of course, and Mark and Scott, the songwriters will tell you they've been working on this, you know, since sixteen oh three or something like that.

[50:56] Rick Elice: But seven years is a long time.

[50:59] Rick Elice: And um we worked on it through uh the pandemic, you know, we would meet on FaceTime and try to amuse each other because we were everyone was so depressed, including us.

[51:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Totally.

[51:07] Rick Elice: And so this thing became this sort of rip roaring musical comedy because we were glum.

[51:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[51:13] Rick Elice: Uh through the pandemic, and uh, and then um rather improbably, Susan Strowman said, Oh, yeah, I'll direct it.

[51:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: And what an icon.

[51:21] Rick Elice: And then Steven Spielberg and uh Bob Greenblatt and Neil Merrin said, Oh, okay, well then let's let's move forward.

[51:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[51:27] Rick Elice: And to me the whole thing is sort of a dream.

[51:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, it's definitely because it really came, it really grew out of two um, you know, two people like everyone else in the world, um, locked down and feeling horrible and um and trying to cheer ourselves up through that awful period of time.

[51:45] Rick Elice: And um, and and this is the show that came out of it.

[51:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, and what great material to work on when you're depressed.

[51:51] Rick Elice: Something just so fun and light and well it kept getting crazier and crazier as we got crazier and crazier.

[51:56] Rick Elice: So it's a lot of good release.

[51:58] Rick Elice: It's a it's a I mean, there are a couple of things that happen in the show that take the audience by such a surprise, and they make the sound, uh, they make this sort of gasping, oh I didn't see that coming kind of sound.

[52:09] Rick Elice: And when 1400 people do that all at once, um I it's a feeling I really recommend.

[52:15] Rick Elice: So, you know, so write a show. If I can do it, anybody can.

[52:17] Rick Elice: Write a show, get an audience to laugh, and uh and you'll never be unhappy again.

[52:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: Not that hard, not that hard.

[52:26] Rick Elice: Uh so as you know, the Casa Bombshell loves to go out for post show cocktails. Where would you take the cast of Bombshell out for some post-show cocktails?

[52:36] Rick Elice: Well, you know, we invented uh the name of a club in the show.

[52:40] Rick Elice: Um we called it the 11 o'clock spot, because the 11 o'clock spot, for those of you who maybe you know who were just born yesterday, um, you know, the 11 o'clock spot is the is the number that happens before the um it's the penultimate number of of a show.

[52:54] Scott Wittman: They call it 11 o'clock spot because theater used to start at 8:30. So around 11 o'clock you would have the second to last number. There you go. However, um we thought it would be great fun if there was actually a bar that opened up called the 11 o'clock spot, and we could then you know rival the clubs that we actually um are um uh tipping our hat to in our show, Bar Centrale and uh Joe Allen and uh Bond 45 and uh and uh um West Bank Cafe, of course. Um those are the th that's those are the um the real life places that our fictional characters would go to. There we go. I love that. I love that spread of places, all A plus places. Why not? Um so it's opening night. What are you looking forward to the most?

It's always such fun and the energy is so high. Oh, I'm looking forward to tomorrow because um the late great Hal Prince who um who produced Fiddler on the Roof in this theater, one of the first shows that I saw as a kid um back in 19 La Dida, um uh said, no matter what happens, you open a show, and then the next day you get to work on the next one. So I'm looking forward to tomorrow um having a meeting on uh uh with some people who've been very very patient while I've been um working on this. And I'm I'm gonna dive into that. Dive right in. You deserve it. Before we let you go, it's so cold out here, so I'm sure you want to warm up. And one word, let us know why everybody so should go see Smash.

Um, I it I think it's the cure for what ails us now, you know. You know, I I I I'm all for I'm all for drama, but there's so much drama happening in the world that um I think it's uh I think to um to come to see the show and to laugh your hindquarters off uh and then go back out into the world feeling a little bit more of a you know lift, perhaps. Um I I think that's a great thing. I think it's great when theater does that generally. Um makes you thank God for the day that you were born. There you go. Uh but uh I hope Smash does that. It sure does. Well, thanks. Hi, happy opening.

[55:00] Ben Rappaport: Hey, thank you very much. So we're a podcast network, a lot of folks are just listening. Can you let us know your name and what your role here is on Smash on Opening Night? So I'm Ben Rappaport, Broadway and television actor. Uh and my wife my wife, uh Megan Kane, plays Holly, the stage manager in the show. And she's phenomenal, you guys. You need to run to the show. So, how does it feel for you to be here supporting Megan on opening night? I mean, the level of pride is like astronomical. You know, Megan uh has worked so hard over so many years. She made her Broadway debut in Anne Juliet a couple years back. And that video kind of went viral. It went viral, yeah, for getting the part. And then this, this is her Broadway principal debut.

So it's sort of like a bit of a graduation, and to be debuting a as a principal role in a show like Smash, such an iconic thing that we you know, we used to watch the show back in the day, and it couldn't be a more perfect situation. I think. Yeah, how sweet is that. So you're obviously not a stranger to opening nights. Of course, no. What's your favorite part about a Broadway opening? Oh, my favorite part about a Broadway opening is um you just never know who you're gonna see in the house. You never know who you're gonna run into. You never know who you're gonna meet. You know, sometimes like my last problem the well, the opening of Good Night Oscar, I met Steven Spielberg, who was one of our producers.

No big deal. Just casual. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So you just never know. Yeah, yeah, it's totally fun. So I I imagine you've seen the show already. I have. This will be my fourth time. Welcome back. So, as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out and get post-show cocktails. Yeah. Where's Ben taking the the cast of Bombshell? Ooh. Post show for a nice little nightcap. You know, I would say, like on a fancy night, Bar Centrale, of course. Best Cosmo in town. But on a more like there's oh, so good. And then on a less fancy night, I mean, fancy but like a more casual night. Yeah. Bond 45, right across the street. That is like the 75th Bond 45 we've gotten. Exactly. Guys, the verdict's in. I think Bond 45's taking the case.

Friendly staff and uh amazing cocktails, amazing food. Yeah, amazing. So my um podcast on the BPN, on the BPN. Yes. It's called survival jobs. Awesome. Before you were a working actor, do you have a survival job you can share with us along your journey? Well, it's funny that we're here at the Imperial Theater because one of my survival jobs was I used to be uh I used to sell water and candy in the um Broadway, you know, in the concessions. I used to walk up and down the aisles. And this was when I was uh here, it was Billy Elliott was playing. Oh wow. And so I used to walk up and down the aisles of this very theater selling water and candy. How cool. And now you're back here in a whole different light.

A whole different light. Well, congratulations to Megan and to you, you know, of course. Before we let you go, tell everybody why they should come see Smash in one word. Ooh. Show biz. That's it, people. Cheers. Nice to talk about it. Nice to see you, yeah. Nice to see you.

[57:46] Arielle Jacobs: Um, can you introduce yourself to our listeners? A lot of people are just listening and can't see your gorgeous face. Hello, everyone. My name is Arielle Jacobs. We are here at the opening for Smash. Thank you so much for doing that for me. Uh you're obviously no stranger to opening nights. What is your favorite part about an opening night and why do you find it so important to come support other shows happening in the community? You know, it takes a long time for a show to get to Broadway. Sometimes ten years or you know, more than that. So to be there for the opening just feels like a celebration of all of the work that went into it and the huge team that brought it together, including all of the writers and directors and producers and the actors, and it really does take a village, so to be sure.

Just feels like we're celebrating not just the people, but the journey. Sure does. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but in the show, the cast of Bombshell, which is the show within the show. Love to go out for post-show cocktails. Where would you bring the cast of Bombshells for a post-show cocktail? Here in Hell's Kitchen. This is such a hard question. Late night food. I don't drink, so late night food. Best late night food in town. It's hard. Hell uh hold fast. We have I also okay. I like a quieter place. Okay. So that's that's a no for that. I like a quiet place where I can talk to people and not shout. Especially as a singer. You have to be really careful about preserving the voice.

Right. Um, so I think I would probably. You're like my apartment. You're like my apartment. My dressing room. Yeah. You're like in my fuzzy socks and sweatpants because people, it is so cold right now. Yes. Or like a sometimes you can find like a hotel bar that's kind of quiet. Uh I love a little hotel lounge moment. Okay, so we found the answer, people. Um my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were a literal Broadway star working actor, do you have a survival job from your journey you can share with us? Five at the same time. Some people are on Broadway on my show and they're like, I have a survival job now. And then I do my show at night. Yeah. Because that's part of the journey.

It is. And you have a lot of downtime in between jobs. I am people I've done four Broadway shows. People think it's job to job to job, and it's not. No. So in between my jobs, I was a caterer. I was an assistant for a lawyer. I um worked in a flower shop one time. And I was also a person who would like hand out free samples on the sidewalk. Oh fun. Anything good? Garnier Fructis Samples. Oh, good. I would have taken a couple. Right? Well, thank you so much for chatting with us. Um, do you have any well wishes you want to give to the cast of Smash on their opening night? Congratulations, you are all stars, and I can't wait to see you shine.

[57:46] Tona Tu: We have a lot of people just listening, so can you please introduce yourself and let us know what you're most excited about to see Smash tonight? Oh my gosh. Okay, well, my name is Tona Tu. And let me be your star. Gorgeous vibrato. Thank you so much. Opening nights are so exciting. The energy is crazy. What makes it so exciting for you to come support a show opening on Broadway? Uh any show or this show specifically? Uh just supporting Broadway on opening night. I mean, there's something magical about the opening night buzz. Yeah, but you know, there's something like the performers are excited. Um, I think that we just don't get an opportunity to be in community that often, and so the theater is a perfect place to just come and celebrate.

Especially now. And why this show specifically? Oh, I was a huge fan of the show from the television show. Uh Catherine McPhee, Megan Hilty. My goodness, I belt those songs in my car. Yes. All the time. Um so when I got the invitation, I I was I was thrilled. Perfect. So not to give you any spoilers. Okay. But the cast of Bombshell does love to go out for some post-show cocktails after the show. So where are you gonna take the cast for a post-show cocktail, some late night food? Oh, I don't know, but wherever I go, I definitely want to get a penicillin. Have you ever had one of those? No. Alright, so it's whiskey, ginger, bitters, and honey. So whiskey is tough for me. Is it? Yeah, I'm a vodka ginger.

Yeah. Yeah. You don't have like a favorite Hell's Kitchen bar? No, I'm not from New York. Oh my god. No, don't tell anybody. Well, I'll give you some recommendations. The Vas House Tavern, Cold Fast, Fars and Trollley. Those are just some that we've gotten answers for tonight. Oh, right. Well, you'll have to go try and find a penicillin tonight. Is that what it's called? A w uh penicillin. A penicillin. Yeah. A penicillin. Well, thank you so much for chatting with us. Before we let you go, why don't you tell us some well wishes you have for the cast of Smash tonight on their opening night? You're all stars, and I can't wait to see it. Cheers to that. Cheers. Cheers. It was so great chatting with you. Have fun.

[1:02:37] DJ Cherish the Love: Uh my name is DJ Cherish the Love. Thank you for the producer on Here Lies Love. Amazing. This is my amazing girlfriend, Chris Devanny. I'm A2 on the show. I work backstage and food. Amazing. Congratulations to the both of you. What are you most excited about for opening night of Smash? Oh my god, the energy. I know, it's the best. Energy. It's the best. We love opening night. We love an opening night party. Um so as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for post-show cocktails. If you were to take the cast of Bombshell out for a post-show cocktail, where would you take them? The speakeasy here in Nick Town. What's it called? I can't say. Okay. Oh, oh, because don't speak easy. You have like a password and have to like sneak in.

Iconic. Iconic. I got it. I'm so sorry. No, it's okay. Arielle Jacobs is here, people. She's saying hi. She's a star. Oh, because you're a producer. Caroline's love was so amazing, by the way. Okay, so we can't know the password to the speakeasy, fine. Or or the name. Do you have a bar? Same one. Same one. So, guys, it's top secret. We're never gonna know the name of the game. To be fair, we'd go to Vanguard. We'd go to Vanguard. Vanguard is great. I love Vanguard. We love Vanguard. Great wine selection over there. Um, well, thank you so much for chatting with us. Before I let you go talk to everybody else, let us know something you want to say to the cast of Smash on opening night. Y'all are awesome. Shine, shine, shine. I see you. I've seen the blood, sweat, and tears you've put into this, and I can't wait to open the show with you. Yay! Cheers, congratulations. Happy opening!

[1:04:13] Amanda Kloots: We have a lot of people just listening. So can you introduce yourself to the people who can't see your gorgeous face? I am Amanda Kloots. Amanda, you are obviously not a stranger to opening night. I am not, no. So what is your favorite part about coming to a Broadway opening? Oh, just I think the excitement. I feel like, no, my favorite part is right before the curtain goes up. How the the audience, like the the energy and the cheering. Yeah. I remember being behind the curtain and feeling that, but like in the audience is also so thrilling. It's the best. Are you a Smash fan coming into this? Are you coming in sort of not knowing much? I don't know much. I don't know much. I remember watching the TV show a little bit.

I know the show, this Broadway show is different, but I really don't know anything. And I'm loving that actually. Yes, I went in the same way, and it's so fun. You're gonna have the best time. I don't want to give you any spoilers. But the cast of Bombshell, which is the musical within the musical, loves to go out for a post-show cocktail. Oh, okay. If Amanda was gonna take the cast of Bombshell out for a cocktail in New York City, where would you go? Anywhere or Times Square area? Well, you know, O'Cell's Kitchen, Time Square area, I think we're gonna be. Oh my god, Bond 45 is the most popular answer tonight. That's a great bar. We love, and they used to have like a late night theater special, like 50% off a bottle of wine and pizza. I'm not sure if they do that anymore. That sounds perfect. Yeah, it does. That's perfect. Yeah.

[1:05:34] Unknown speaker: Um, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs.

[1:05:37] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[1:05:37] Unknown speaker: Before you were a working actor, host, influencer, all of the things that you do.

[1:05:42] Unknown speaker: Hallmark movie star.

[1:05:44] Unknown speaker: You're so sweet too. Do you have a survival job from your journey that you can share with us?

[1:05:48] Unknown speaker: Yes, I was an airbrush artist at Beach Bump Tanning.

[1:05:52] Unknown speaker: Do you do the spray dance?

[1:05:53] Unknown speaker: Yes, I did spray tan for people.

[1:05:55] Unknown speaker: Oh my god. Did you ever have like a really bad one that you gave somebody?

[1:05:59] Unknown speaker: Oh no, I was so arguing. I gave people abs, collarbones, I detailed the bodies.

[1:06:10] Evet Nicole Brown: Oh my god, I love that one. That's the first I've ever heard. I've talked to a lot of artists and had a lot of jobs, and that's the first time we've heard that. I know you have a lot of people to talk to before we let you go. Let us know what you want to say to the cast of Smash on opening night. Oh, I said it to my last interview, but and Stro is probably saying this too tonight, but full out with great conviction. We're all here to support you. Go get 'em. Cheers. You can't see your gorgeous.

[1:06:35] Evet Nicole Brown: I am Evet Nicole Brown, and this is my husband.

[1:06:37] Anthony Boyd Davis: Icons, icons, icons. I'm so excited to chat with you guys. So, what are you most excited about for opening night of Smash tonight?

[1:06:44] Evet Nicole Brown: Well, I was blessed to be a part of the workshop a year ago. So I'm excited to see how the show has changed. Yes. Um, I know firsthand how hard it is to put this show up. I know how hard all of these performers are working. So for me, it's just to come and celebrate my friends as they have their big debut. So beautiful. The show is so fun. I saw it last night. It takes so much energy for them. So yes, I sign off on all of that.

[1:07:03] Evet Nicole Brown: So as you know, the cast of Bombshell, which is the musical within the musical, loves to go out for a post-show cocktail. If you were gonna take the cast of Bombshell out for a post-show cocktail, where would you take them?

[1:07:14] Evet Nicole Brown: It could be in LA. Yeah, listen, it's gonna have to be the bar at Cheesecake Factory because that's the only restaurant I ever seem to go to.

[1:07:19] Anthony Boyd Davis: In New York?

[1:07:20] Evet Nicole Brown: Horbow, anywhere. It's just it's gotta be a Cheesecake Factory. I mean, the peanut butter cheesecake though is Oreo Dream Cheesecake. Come on. I mean, you cannot go wrong with that.

[1:07:30] Evet Nicole Brown: So I have a show on the Broadway Podcast Network called Survival Jobs. Before you were an iconic, like working artist, do you have a survival job from your journey that you can share with us?

[1:07:40] Evet Nicole Brown: Yeah, I loved, well, one Christmas. This, well, this is when I was younger, I did a Christmas at Toys R Us. So that should tell you how hard I worked. But when I first moved to LA, I was office temp. So I worked at MCA Records and MGM, so I was around entertainment before I was in entertainment.

[1:07:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, that's great. So you got a little taste of it before.

[1:07:56] Evet Nicole Brown: Absolutely. Um, so they're in this play, they're doing a musical about Marilyn Monroe. Is there another iconic person, famous person that you would love to see a musical done about?

[1:08:06] Evet Nicole Brown: Ooh, baby. I want the life and times of Viola Davis.

[1:08:10] Anthony Boyd Davis: Same.

[1:08:11] Evet Nicole Brown: She said she just got her, she's got her Madame Tussaud wax figure that looks so much like her. My baby sent me the video of her seeing it for the first time. So I want to see her life and time with music behind it. I mean, that would be so amazing.

[1:08:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Absolutely. What about you, baby? Who are you just?

[1:08:23] Anthony Boyd Davis: Oh, Lena Horne.

[1:08:25] Evet Nicole Brown: Lena Horne. Come on, baby, another great one. Another great one. I know you guys have a long night ahead, so I'm gonna let you go. But before I do, is there anything you want to say to the cast of Smash on opening night?

[1:08:35] Evet Nicole Brown: Oh Smash cast, you are my favorite Broadway mutants, and I can't wait to see you shine.

[1:08:41] Anthony Boyd Davis: Yeah, thank you, Chief. It was so good chatting with you and I think.

[1:08:44] Wesley Taylor: Hello, my name is Wesley Taylor. I'm 5'9, and I'm based in New York City. Thank you so much. What are you most excited about to be here opening night of Smash on Broadway?

[1:08:54] Wesley Taylor: Look, this is very meta. It's very trippy for those of us who were on the TV show. Um, I did 26 episodes of that show.

[1:09:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's amazing.

[1:09:03] Wesley Taylor: Um, I was only supposed to be in three. Uh and then we love when that happened. And to watch this develop through the years has been really exciting. Um, even not being a part of it. But Krista Rodriguez, one of my best friends, is a part of it, and that's amazing.

[1:09:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, she's so good.

[1:09:19] Wesley Taylor: A couple people in the ensemble were dancers on the show, and then Jenny La Roche, the associate choreographer, Josh Burgas, the original choreographer, you know. So a lot of those Mark and Scott, the music, come on. So the list goes on and on.

[1:09:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Come on. The list goes on and on. So as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for a post-show cocktail.

[1:09:37] Wesley Taylor: Sure, who doesn't? Where would you take the cast of Bombshell for post-show cocktails?

[1:09:42] Wesley Taylor: Oh, oh, that's a good one. That's a good one. Cause Hell's Kitchen and Times Square and Midtown, it's always like changing in terms of where the new spot is for, you know, the thespians to go after the show.

[1:09:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Correct.

[1:09:55] Wesley Taylor: It used to be Glasshouse Tavern for a while. Long time. Now it is definitely not.

[1:10:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: I know.

[1:10:00] Wesley Taylor: And it's actually like really upsetting.

[1:10:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: It is sad to me as well.

[1:10:04] Wesley Taylor: Um, Bond 45 is still a biggest one of the night. That's our biggest answer of the night.

[1:10:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, so people are loving Bond 45.

[1:10:12] Wesley Taylor: Sir Henry's is a new thing that people like, but I don't, you know.

[1:10:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: So yeah.

[1:10:18] Wesley Taylor: I'm open.

[1:10:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're open.

[1:10:21] Wesley Taylor: Um, what is your favorite part about an opening night?

[1:10:24] Wesley Taylor: Uh the energy in the audience because everyone is rooting for it to succeed.

[1:10:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[1:10:29] Wesley Taylor: Unlike, uh, you know, previews is nerve-wracking and they're still figuring it out, working out the kinks. Press week is terrifying. Um, you know, it's self-conscious and you're watching yourself. Uh and then like opening night is just a party, it's just a celebration.

[1:10:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Totally.

[1:10:45] Wesley Taylor: Um to feel that love for the first time when you're on stage. And to be in the audience. It's just infectious.

[1:10:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Totally. Now, they're making a musical about Marilyn Monroe in this show.

[1:10:54] Wesley Taylor: Yeah.

[1:10:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: If you could see another musical made about another famous icon, who would it be?

[1:11:01] Wesley Taylor: Oh, that's a good question. I think we need to do Gore Vidal next.

[1:11:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Great.

[1:11:07] Wesley Taylor: I would love to see it. Would love to see it. You know, there was a reviewer, a recapper once the show when the show was on TV, who nicknamed me Gore of Adol. So that's why it just came to me.

[1:11:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: So you're gonna star in it.

[1:11:22] Wesley Taylor: Rachel Schuert wrote these weekly recaps on Vulture, and there's a shout-out, Rachel.

[1:11:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Shout out.

[1:11:28] Wesley Taylor: Um they were brilliant. Okay, so you're gonna star in it.

[1:11:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I'll see you.

[1:11:32] Wesley Taylor: So it's for me.

[1:11:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: So we'll see you at that opening next.

[1:11:37] Wesley Taylor: Thank you, Podcast Network. So a lot of people are just listening. Can you please introduce yourself to our listeners?

[1:11:41] Ann Harada: I'm Ann Harada, and I played the stage manager on Smash the TV show.

[1:11:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. How does it feel for you to be here to watch the stage production of something you were a part of?

[1:11:51] Ann Harada: So long ago I decided. Yeah. And it feels completely surreal and bizarre. The show is the point of it. So good, but you're gonna love every second of it. I was screaming, crying, laughing the entire time.

[1:12:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: So as you know, the cast of Bombshell loves to go out for post-show cocktails. Where would you take the cast out for post-show cocktails?

[1:12:12] Ann Harada: Or late night food if we're not a cocktail girly? Whatever's available, I guess.

[1:12:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: You don't have like a favorite go-to post-show?

[1:12:20] Ann Harada: I love Joe Allen.

[1:12:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yep, iconic. Cheers to Joe Allen.

[1:12:24] Ann Harada: So they're making a musical about Marilyn Monroe in this.

[1:12:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's what I heard.

[1:12:28] Ann Harada: Yes, you did hear it.

[1:12:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. If you could see a musical made about another famous icon, who would that be?

[1:12:32] Ann Harada: Liza Minnelli.

[1:12:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, that's a good one. How come that hasn't been done yet?

[1:12:36] Ann Harada: It will be, it will be, right?

[1:12:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: It totally will be.

[1:12:40] Ann Harada: Yeah, my podcast on BPN is called Survival Jobs. Before you were a working actor crushing it, do you have a little survival job you can share with us?

[1:12:48] Ann Harada: Yes, I was a fact checker for Self magazine.

[1:12:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh I worked in the cutscene now. Really intense.

[1:12:54] Ann Harada: Thank you. Yes, it was crossing your T's and dotting your I's in a real way. We can't send out fake news, you know what I mean?

[1:13:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. I know you have a lot of other people to talk to before we let you go. Can you give a word of encouragement to the cast of Smash on opening night?

[1:13:09] Ann Harada: I'm so happy for you. I love you so much, and I'm so happy I get to see you shine tonight. Cheers.

[1:13:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: So great to chat with you.

[1:13:17] Debra Messing: Hi, happy opening of Smash on Broadway. We are a podcast network. A lot of people are just listening, so a lot of people can't see who I'm chatting with. Can you please introduce yourself to the listeners?

[1:13:27] Debra Messing: I am Debra Messing, and I was in the original Smash TV show.

[1:13:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Icon. I played Julia, who was the lyricist. How does it feel to be here at Opening Night of Smash to see this version of something that was so intimate for you?

[1:13:42] Debra Messing: I am bursting. I mean, it you know, while we were doing the TV show, we were saying this has to be a Broadway film. How could it be? I mean a Broadway show. And uh, you know, the music that was written for that show was just too beautiful and too exciting not to be on a Broadway stage. So to be here tonight and to be able to reunion, reunite with all of my original cast and friends. It's just a huge celebration.

[1:14:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: So special wait, I mean, wait till you see it. The show is so good. I could not stop smiling and laughing when I saw it. So you're in for a treat.

[1:14:19] Debra Messing: So, as you know, the Casa Bombshell loves to go out for post-show cocktails.

[1:14:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, I didn't know that.

[1:14:23] Debra Messing: Oh, maybe not. See, I'm spoiling things. Sorry. So if Deborah could take the Casa Bombshell out for post-show cocktails, where would you take them?

[1:14:32] Debra Messing: Oh my gosh. My apartment for tequila.

[1:14:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: What okay, uh Reposado and Yeho Blanca?

[1:14:41] Debra Messing: Uh Repasado. Neat with lime.

[1:14:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Perfect. I love that. Cas Amigos, do we have a favorite?

[1:14:47] Debra Messing: Uh 1942.

[1:14:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: There we go. We love to see it. So you know they are making a musical about Marilyn Monroe. If you could see another musical be made about a famous icon, who would you want to see? Besides yourself, of course.

[1:14:58] Debra Messing: Oh my god. Um I mean, Barbara Streisand.

[1:15:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's a great one. Hello, if any producers are listening, can we get it made? I mean, come on.

[1:15:12] Debra Messing: Come on. Um I have a show on the Broadway Podcast Network called Survival Jobs. Before you were a working actor and you were in your journey, do you have a survival job you can share with us?

[1:15:23] Debra Messing: Yes, I was a um a cater waiter.

[1:15:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay.

[1:15:27] Debra Messing: Uh for two nights. Then I was fired.

[1:15:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, what did you do?

[1:15:32] Debra Messing: Um, I wasn't strong enough to hold 15 plates. Like I was the I was fresh out of school, and I was like, I could do this, and it was it was Mayor David Dinkins. It was one of his big events, and I was useless, and so they fired me.

[1:15:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: They're loss, honestly.

[1:15:50] Debra Messing: I'm not meant to do it. Look at her now, people.

[1:15:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, thank you so much for chatting with us. It was so great to meet you.

[1:15:56] Sarah Stiles: Thanks for watching. Have a winning show.

[1:15:58] Sarah Stiles: I'm Sarah Stiles, an actress and a fan of Smash.

[1:16:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Why are you such a fan of Smash?

[1:16:05] Sarah Stiles: Well, my husband is working on the show.

[1:16:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations.

[1:16:08] Sarah Stiles: Yes, he's a local one, an electrician. We did just talk about that because I'm tripping on all these wires.

[1:16:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, he can help you.

[1:16:16] Sarah Stiles: Thank you. He did that.

[1:16:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay.

[1:16:17] Sarah Stiles: But here goes Alan fixing the wires.

[1:16:20] Sarah Stiles: Yeah, no, I'm excited to. It's a big Broadway musical with lots of sequins and dancing and belting, and I can't wait. And Brooks, so funny.

[1:16:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god, Brooks is so funny.

[1:16:30] Sarah Stiles: Everybody, everybody. I could not stop laughing and smiling when I saw this show. I did see the show. You're in for a treat.

[1:16:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, I can't. I don't want to give you any spoilers.

[1:16:38] Sarah Stiles: Okay, but the cast of Bombshell, which is the show within the show, they love to go out for a little post-show cocktail.

[1:16:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh huh. So if Sarah could take the cast out, where would you take them?

[1:16:48] Sarah Stiles: Do you know what I love?

[1:16:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Tell me.

[1:16:50] Sarah Stiles: Have you been to Ardesia?

[1:16:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: No.

[1:16:51] Sarah Stiles: Okay.

[1:16:52] Sarah Stiles: Where?

[1:16:53] Sarah Stiles: On 10th Avenue at 52nd. And I understand that that's a bit of a hike for people in Midtown. I used to live on 15th and 10th. I don't even know.

[1:17:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Ardesia. Is it new?

[1:17:03] Sarah Stiles: No. And it's a delicious wine. But you know where? It's opposite MCC's.

[1:17:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay.

[1:17:08] Sarah Stiles: So if you ever sing a show there, pop over to Ardesia.

[1:17:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: Got it.

[1:17:12] Sarah Stiles: Get the pretzel bites and the wine. You'll be so happy.

[1:17:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love wine and I love pretzel bites, so what problem?

[1:17:18] Sarah Stiles: What problem? You're welcome.

[1:17:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much.

[1:17:20] Sarah Stiles: Thank you.

[1:17:20] Sarah Stiles: I always love to find a new bar.

[1:17:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[1:17:22] Sarah Stiles: I'm a wine girly.

[1:17:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: There you go. So they are making a musical about Marilyn Monroe in this show.

[1:17:26] Sarah Stiles: Uh huh. If you could see a musical made about another famous icon, who would you pick?

[1:17:31] Sarah Stiles: Mabel Normand. And I know there's Mac and Mabel, but I want like the actual Mabel, silent film star, Mabel Normand. Yes, that's what I would like.

[1:17:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hello, if anyone's listening, let's bring Mabel.

[1:17:44] Sarah Stiles: Yeah, yeah. That's what we want.

[1:17:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's what I want. And real quick before I let you go, my show on BPN is called Survival Jobs. Before you were a working actor, do you have a survival job you can share with us from your journey?

[1:17:54] Sarah Stiles: Oh, so many, but I was an elf at Macy's.

[1:18:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: That is so fun.

[1:18:01] Sarah Stiles: But let me tell you, I worked in the puppet department. There was a puppet show, and I think it kind of led me down my path. Because you I don't know if any of these listeners know my woo. But I'm a puppet girl on Broadway. And it sort of like paved the way.

[1:18:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: There you go.

[1:18:18] Sarah Stiles: So we have to love our survival job sometimes, people. Sometimes we don't know it'll lead to.

[1:18:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Exactly. Well, thank you so much for chatting with us.

[1:18:25] Sarah Stiles: Thank you, Samantha. Cheers.

[1:18:26] Katie Tucker: So a lot of people are just listening. Can you please introduce yourself and let us know what your role here is with Smash on Broadway?

[1:18:34] Katie Tucker: Well, I am Katie Tucker. I'm the video and projection designer.

[1:18:38] Alekovieti: My name is Alekovieti. I'm the costume designer for Smash.

[1:18:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations to you both. I saw the show last night, and everything is just 10 out of 10. Like I love every second of it. What has been your favorite part about working on this show?

[1:18:51] Katie Tucker: Oh, I mean, honestly, I have to say it's the group of people that we're creating the show with. You know, the show is really about the creation of a musical and all the ups and downs of that. And we really went through it together, and it was a fantastic experience.

[1:19:06] Alekovieti: A great, great creative room. It was amazing, yeah. Like Katie was saying, the room was incredible. Um to me also working with Susan Stroman was kind of like absolutely. I mean, the most magnificent of them all.

[1:19:18] Unknown speaker: So it's true.

[1:19:20] Unknown speaker: Oh, amazing.

[1:19:21] Unknown speaker: So, as you both know, the cast of Bombshell, they love to go out for post-show cocktails after a good show.

[1:19:28] Unknown speaker: Where would you guys take the cast?

[1:19:31] Unknown speaker: For a post-show cocktail.

[1:19:33] Unknown speaker: Oh, I will go to Glasshouse.

[1:19:35] Unknown speaker: We're got a glass house.

[1:19:36] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[1:19:36] Unknown speaker: Let's say glasshouse.

[1:19:38] Unknown speaker: We got two glass houses.

[1:19:39] Unknown speaker: We're keeping tabs of all the answers tonight.

[1:19:41] Unknown speaker: Glasshouse got a couple of votes, so you guys are right in line.

[1:19:44] Unknown speaker: Vaca soda with lime.

[1:19:45] Unknown speaker: Vaca soda with lime, which you'll go to.

[1:19:46] Unknown speaker: Non-alcoholic Heineken.

[1:19:48] Unknown speaker: We love it all.

[1:19:49] Unknown speaker: We love.

[1:19:49] Unknown speaker: We love.

[1:19:50] Unknown speaker: Well, also just make sure we get the risotto balls and we're good.

[1:19:53] Unknown speaker: Oh my gosh.

[1:19:53] Unknown speaker: We love the risotto balls.

[1:19:54] Unknown speaker: Also, a hack I learned at Glasshouse is I love to get the fries with the buffalo sauce on the side.

[1:19:59] Unknown speaker: Try it.

[1:20:00] Unknown speaker: Try it.

[1:20:02] Unknown speaker: Oh, the queso.

[1:20:03] Unknown speaker: So, guys, aka, we love.

[1:20:05] Unknown speaker: In conclusion, aka, we love Glasshouse Tavern.

[1:20:09] Unknown speaker: Well, congratulations to you both.

[1:20:11] Unknown speaker: It's so stunning.

[1:20:12] Unknown speaker: Everybody needs to come see this show.

[1:20:14] Unknown speaker: You do.

[1:20:16] Unknown speaker: Thank you so much.

[1:20:17] Unknown speaker: Very excited.

[1:20:18] Unknown speaker: Cheers.

[1:20:18] Unknown speaker: Yeah, so we're a podcast network.

[1:20:20] Unknown speaker: I know.

[1:20:20] Unknown speaker: That would be nice.

[1:20:21] Unknown speaker: We should start having champagne on these carpets.

[1:20:23] Unknown speaker: Make everything better.

[1:20:24] Unknown speaker: We're a podcast network.

[1:20:25] Unknown speaker: A lot of people are just listening.

[1:20:26] Unknown speaker: So can you please introduce yourself to the people who can't see you?

[1:20:29] Kevin Chamberlin: I'm Kevin Chamberlin. I'm a Broadway actor in TV and film.

[1:20:33] Unknown speaker: Kevin, so you're obviously not a stranger to opening nights. What is your favorite part about coming to an opening night on Broadway?

[1:20:40] Kevin Chamberlin: My favorite part about opening nights is sitting in the Jeff Hiller.

[1:20:46] Unknown speaker: Oh my god.

[1:20:47] Kevin Chamberlin: Jeff Hiller and I have been at opening nights together. And here we are again. I love sitting in my dressing room and getting all the gifts and telegrams from all the people. And two of my closest oldest friends are in this Brooks Ashmanskas.

[1:21:02] Unknown speaker: Oh, he's so good.

[1:21:03] Kevin Chamberlin: Yes, the amazing Brooks and Kristen Nielsen. Amazing. I did my first off-Broadway show with Miss Nielsen. So and one of my first shows with Brooks. So we're old buddies.

[1:21:16] Unknown speaker: Oh, so sweet. So I don't want to give you any spoilers, but the musical within the musical is called Bombshell. And the cast of Bombshell, they love to go out for post-show cocktails. Where would you take the cast of Bombshell out?

[1:21:28] Kevin Chamberlin: Joe Allen's or Bar Central.

[1:21:29] Unknown speaker: Oh, okay, and I've said this a couple of times tonight. Bar Central is the best Cosmo in town.

[1:21:34] Kevin Chamberlin: Yes, and I also have some personal favorites like Unduit. Best dirty martini in town. Yes, and of course the Italian one, Bon 45 up the street.

[1:21:46] Unknown speaker: Love Bon 45.

[1:21:48] Kevin Chamberlin: Bon 45 has gotten the most votes tonight. So that if I were gonna calculate the votes, Bon 45 is coming in at number one.

[1:21:55] Unknown speaker: All right. So I'll be sure to listen to your podcast.

[1:21:58] Kevin Chamberlin: Oh, thank you so much. So before I let you go talk to all these other people, my podcast on the network is called Survival Jobs.

[1:22:04] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[1:22:05] Kevin Chamberlin: Do you have a survival job that you can share with us on your journey to becoming a working actor?

[1:22:09] Kevin Chamberlin: I used to deliver sandwiches at Between the Bread on West 55th. I was Santa Claus at Macy's. Amazing. I was a data processor in the World Trade Center. Oh wow. And I used to help when I moved to LA, I was I used to help stars set up their MacBooks.

[1:22:27] Unknown speaker: Oh, amazing.

[1:22:28] Kevin Chamberlin: Macintoshes when it was difficult.

[1:22:30] Unknown speaker: Yeah, so you are the survival job king with all of that.

[1:22:33] Kevin Chamberlin: I was around a long time. Enjoy your night. It was so great to have to be here.

[1:22:37] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Hi, I'm Marissa Jaret Winokur.

[1:22:39] Unknown speaker: Marissa, what is your favorite part about an opening night?

[1:22:42] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Um, actually, the opening nights are my favorite just because everyone's here excited and happy and just wants the show to do well. I love an audience that's here to support, and I think opening night like first preview and first opening night, those are the audiences that are like, yeah, we want to laugh, we want it to do good. Nobody, there's nobody cynical in the audience.

[1:22:59] Unknown speaker: Right.

[1:23:00] Marissa Jaret Winokur: No judgment free zone, just like they say at Planet Fairness. Um I don't want to give any spoilers away. But the musical within the musical is called Bombshell. The cast loves to go out for post-show cocktails. So where's Marissa gonna take the cast of Bombshell for a post-show cocktail in New York City?

[1:23:16] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Um back to my house where warmth and um I would literally take everybody back to my house.

[1:23:21] Unknown speaker: Right. Yeah, what's the drink of choice in your house?

[1:23:24] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Um, it's um a tequila grapefruit would be the drink of choice.

[1:23:28] Unknown speaker: So it's giving paloma vibes.

[1:23:29] Marissa Jaret Winokur: It's giving paloma vibes. Yes.

[1:23:31] Unknown speaker: Um, my show on uh BPN is called Survival Jobs.

[1:23:34] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[1:23:34] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Uh huh.

[1:23:35] Unknown speaker: Do you have a survival job on your journey to becoming a working actor that you can share with us?

[1:23:38] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Oh my gosh, well, my survival job, I worked at Scores in the bathroom.

[1:23:42] Unknown speaker: You know that strip pub?

[1:23:43] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Yes. So when I was 19, I worked in that bathroom of Scores, but I worked in the girls' bathroom. So I was just really just working with the strippers.

[1:23:48] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:23:50] Marissa Jaret Winokur: And I literally would like give them their tampons. That's what my survival job is. Honestly, giving tampons to women is such an important thing. But they give me $20. So it was like the perfect survival job.

[1:23:59] Unknown speaker: I love that.

[1:24:00] Marissa Jaret Winokur: And then I was on Broadway at 20. So I was like, you know what? Cheers to you.

[1:24:03] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:24:04] Marissa Jaret Winokur: Giving from giving tampons to Broadway, guys. It doesn't get much better than that.

[1:24:07] Unknown speaker: It doesn't.

[1:24:08] Unknown speaker: Hi, happy opening.

[1:24:10] Unknown speaker: It's so great to see you.

[1:24:11] Unknown speaker: Thanks, man. We're a podcast network, so a lot of people are just listening. Can you introduce yourself to the people who can't see that I'm talking to icons?

[1:24:18] Christian Borle: My name is Christian Borle. I played Tom Levitt on Smash, the NBC show. And I'm Sky Maddox, his wife in real life, but I was also in Hit List on the second season.

[1:24:27] Unknown speaker: Amazing.

[1:24:29] Unknown speaker: That's right.

[1:24:30] Unknown speaker: Wow. So what does it mean for you to be here tonight after being so intimate with this story in this show so long ago?

[1:24:36] Christian Borle: Well, I don't remember any of it. It was 12 or 13 years ago. No, it's about time. I'm so excited for everybody involved. I have such dear friends. Even, you know, all the people who were involved in the show, Josh Burgas and Mark and Scott. Um we're thrilled. And my dear pal Rick Elice, who wrote the book. I'm really excited about it. I mean, you are in for a treat. I could not stop laughing and smiling the entire time.

[1:24:58] Unknown speaker: Oh, good.

[1:24:58] Christian Borle: So, not to give any spoilers, obviously, you know the story, but the Bombshell musical is the musical within the musical. The cast loves to go out for post-show cocktails. Where would you take the Bombshell cast out for a post-show cocktail in New York City?

[1:25:13] Christian Borle: Oh gosh, don't look at me. We stay at home with our golden dude. A lot of the some people have answered my apartment with some neat tequila. But listen, if you're in the theater district, Joe Allen.

[1:25:20] Unknown speaker: Joe Allen.

[1:25:23] Christian Borle: That's a big one we got to do. Look at all the posters on the wall from all the memorable flops. The next poster going up is Tammy Faye, ladies and gentlemen. I can say it here now officially. All the memorable flops. That is the full quote of this interview.

[1:25:36] Unknown speaker: So my show on the Broadway Podcast Network is called Survival Jobs. Before you both were working actors, do you have a survival job from your journey that you can share?

[1:25:45] Christian Borle: You wanted to talk about your journey tonight, baby. Here's your two. Here's your chance.

[1:25:49] Unknown speaker: Here's your no one.

[1:25:50] Christian Borle: My survival job has always been dance, fortunately.

[1:25:53] Unknown speaker: That's amazing.

[1:25:54] Christian Borle: That's amazing. Very, very fortunate.

[1:25:56] Unknown speaker: I bartended at Vintage, which is no longer uh.

[1:25:59] Unknown speaker: Vintage was like on 10th, right?

[1:26:00] Christian Borle: 51st and 9th. I turned 21 there.

[1:26:02] Unknown speaker: Oh my goodness.

[1:26:04] Unknown speaker: But you were drinking three years before that at Vintage, I'm sure.

[1:26:07] Unknown speaker: That may have been why I got a lot of things.

[1:26:11] Unknown speaker: Well, happy opening. It's so great to chat with you both. Congratulations. You're in for such a treat.

[1:26:15] Unknown speaker: Cheers.

[1:26:16] Unknown speaker: Hi, happy Smash Opening Night.

[1:26:18] Unknown speaker: Hi, happy Smash Opening Night.

[1:26:19] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:26:20] Unknown speaker: This is a podcast, so a lot of folks are just listening, and Kenya is who I'm talking to. So can you please introduce yourself?

[1:26:25] ana gasteyer: Hi, I'm ana gasteyer. Icon Queen Extraordinary.

[1:26:28] Unknown speaker: Icon and Queen.

[1:26:28] ana gasteyer: I played Queen Agravain this season on Broadway.

[1:26:30] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:26:31] Unknown speaker: And once upon a mattress.

[1:26:32] ana gasteyer: She sure did, and I was laughing my face off. Trying to be relevant.

[1:26:35] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:26:35] ana gasteyer: You are relevant, please.

[1:26:37] Unknown speaker: So welcome to Smash Opening Night. What are you most excited about tonight?

[1:26:40] ana gasteyer: Well, I'm most excited about Brooks at Smash Guest. He's funny in everything he does.

[1:26:53] Unknown speaker: Yeah, yeah.

[1:26:53] Unknown speaker: He's great.

[1:26:55] Unknown speaker: So not to give you any spoilers, but the musical within the musical is called Bombshell. The cast of Bombshell loves to go out for post-show cocktails. Where would you take the cast of Bombshell?

[1:27:04] ana gasteyer: This is so corny, but I really did fall in love again with Sardis when we were doing mattress. It's been a kind of a resurgence. Upstairs at Sardis was I started going there all the time. I mean, even though like it's not corny. It feels old fashioned, but it was really I love old fashioned Broadway, so for me that was very funny. I had martinis there yesterday.

[1:27:20] Unknown speaker: It's the best.

[1:27:21] ana gasteyer: Yesterday, so it is not corny at all.

[1:27:23] Unknown speaker: That's our first Sardis of the night, I think.

[1:27:25] Unknown speaker: Is it really?

[1:27:25] Unknown speaker: Yeah, we've gotten a lot of Bond 45.

[1:27:27] ana gasteyer: Oh yeah.

[1:27:28] Unknown speaker: Which I get a big one, yeah.

[1:27:29] Unknown speaker: I get, but I was like, oh, I didn't realize that would be the most popular.

[1:27:32] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:27:33] Unknown speaker: So they're making a musical about Marilyn Monroe.

[1:27:35] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:27:36] Unknown speaker: In this musical.

[1:27:36] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[1:27:37] Unknown speaker: If you could see a musical made about another icon, who would you want to see?

[1:27:42] ana gasteyer: Ooh, that's a good question.

[1:27:44] Unknown speaker: Icon.

[1:27:45] ana gasteyer: Yeah.

[1:27:46] Unknown speaker: Or someone that you admire.

[1:27:48] ana gasteyer: That you consider an iconic.

[1:27:50] ana gasteyer: I would say a Lucille Ball.

[1:27:52] Unknown speaker: Lucy Death musical.

[1:27:53] ana gasteyer: That's a really good Ricky because that's a tumultuous relationship and the music would be great.

[1:27:58] Unknown speaker: That's a really good one.

[1:27:59] ana gasteyer: Thanks.

[1:28:00] Unknown speaker: Um before I let you go, talk to everybody else.

[1:28:02] ana gasteyer: Okay. My show on BPN is called Survival Jobs.

[1:28:05] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[1:28:05] ana gasteyer: Oh yeah.

[1:28:05] Unknown speaker: Before you were a literal famous icon.

[1:28:08] ana gasteyer: Yes.

[1:28:08] Unknown speaker: Crushing in on Broadway on TV. Do you have a survival job that you can share?

[1:28:12] ana gasteyer: The last job, really real job that I had before I became a performer, I was a switchboard operator at a children's hospital.

[1:28:18] Unknown speaker: At a at like a hospital.

[1:28:19] ana gasteyer: And it was I mean I'm like high stakes stuff. I was just about to actually take the 911 operator exam when I met my husband and I decided to move to LA with him. And then the rest is history.

[1:28:31] Unknown speaker: Sorta.

[1:28:31] ana gasteyer: It took a little bit longer than it sounds in the story, but yes.

[1:28:40] Unknown speaker: I was a busboy at my brother's restaurant in Westwood, California.

[1:28:43] Unknown speaker: Westwood restaurant?

[1:28:45] Unknown speaker: Italian?

[1:28:46] Unknown speaker: Uh steak and seafood.

[1:28:48] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[1:28:48] Unknown speaker: All right, at least I can't make it.

[1:28:50] Unknown speaker: It was a very famous chain of restaurants in LA and up and down the West Coast.

[1:28:54] Unknown speaker: We love steak and seafood, you know?

[1:28:56] Unknown speaker: A lot of food service.

[1:28:57] Unknown speaker: A lot of food service.

[1:28:58] Unknown speaker: Well, thank you so much for chatting.

[1:28:59] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:29:00] Kenny Leon: I'm Kenny Leon. I'm a Broadway director, and I have a play running on Broadway now entitled Shakespeare's Othello.

[1:29:07] Unknown speaker: Hello, and congratulations on Othello. It is stellar and everybody's buzzing about it.

[1:29:13] Unknown speaker: Um so obviously you're not a stranger to Broadway opening nights. What's your favorite part about an opening night on Broadway?

[1:29:19] Kenny Leon: I think the curtain call.

[1:29:22] Unknown speaker: The curtain call, then you get closer to the party.

[1:29:25] Kenny Leon: No, no, I just like then we would have gone through laughter and tears and laughter, and you know, at the end, it's celebrating. It's celebrating not only this show, but all of Broadway.

[1:29:37] Unknown speaker: For sure, for sure. We love to celebrate Broadway.

[1:29:39] Unknown speaker: I don't want to give you any spoilers about the show, but there's a musical within the musical called Bombshell. The cast of Bombshell, they love to go out for cocktails post-show. Where would you take the cast of Bombshell?

[1:29:49] Kenny Leon: For a cocktail, post-show, theater districts. Uh I would take them to the Lambs Club on the second floor.

[1:29:57] Unknown speaker: Good one.

[1:29:58] Unknown speaker: That's the first Lambs Club we got tonight.

[1:30:00] Kenny Leon: That's a really good one.

[1:30:01] Unknown speaker: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:30:01] Unknown speaker: Um, and before I let you go, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs.

[1:30:05] Unknown speaker: All right.

[1:30:05] Kenny Leon: Before you were a working artist, do you have a survival job from your past that you can share with us?

[1:30:11] Kenny Leon: Uh I work at Steak and El restaurant. I worked the salad bar, then I was a waiter, and then I was a cook.

[1:30:17] Unknown speaker: And now he's a director.

[1:30:20] Unknown speaker: Thank you. It was so great chatting with you.

[1:30:22] Unknown speaker: Cheers.

[1:30:23] Unknown speaker: How are you?

[1:30:24] Unknown speaker: Happy Smash opening.

[1:30:25] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:30:25] Unknown speaker: We're a podcast network. A lot of people are just listening and can't see who I'm chatting with, so can you please introduce yourself?

[1:30:30] Kristen Chenoweth: I'm Kristen Chenoweth. Icon Queen.

[1:30:31] Unknown speaker: Congratulations. You just got a nomination for the Queen of Versailles.

[1:30:35] Kristen Chenoweth: Thank you. Coming to Broadway next season, we're so excited.

[1:30:38] Unknown speaker: So we'll be at your opening night next.

[1:30:40] Kristen Chenoweth: I hope so.

[1:30:41] Unknown speaker: What is your favorite part about a Broadway opening?

[1:30:44] Kristen Chenoweth: The excitement. Look, everybody's here to celebrate what people have been working on for years.

[1:30:49] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:30:49] Kristen Chenoweth: And it's all coming together in this one night, and then we get to run the show.

[1:30:53] Unknown speaker: Yeah, and you're in for a treat. I saw the show last night. I can't wait to stop laughing.

[1:30:57] Kristen Chenoweth: I'm gonna laugh my butt off now.

[1:30:58] Unknown speaker: You totally are.

[1:30:59] Unknown speaker: So the musical within the musical is called Bombshell. The cast of Bombshell, they love to go have a cocktail after the show. Where would Kristen Chenoweth take the cast of Bombshell for a post-show cocktail?

[1:31:09] Kristen Chenoweth: I'm old school. I would probably go to Joe Allen.

[1:31:12] Unknown speaker: We got a lot of Joe Allen tonight.

[1:31:14] Kristen Chenoweth: Old school.

[1:31:15] Unknown speaker: We love a Joe Allen moment.

[1:31:16] Kristen Chenoweth: We love a Joe Allen moment.

[1:31:18] Unknown speaker: Um before I let you go chat with everyone else. My podcast is called Survival Jobs.

[1:31:22] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[1:31:23] Kristen Chenoweth: Do you have a survival job from your past before you were a working actor icon crushing it?

[1:31:28] Kristen Chenoweth: I used to teach aerobics.

[1:31:29] Unknown speaker: Oh, that's a good one.

[1:31:30] Kristen Chenoweth: That's how old I was.

[1:31:32] Unknown speaker: Aerobics.

[1:31:33] Kristen Chenoweth: No, that's a great one.

[1:31:34] Unknown speaker: Well, thanks so much for chatting. Happy opening cheers to you.

[1:31:36] Kristen Chenoweth: Cheers to you.

[1:31:37] Unknown speaker: So hi, happy opening.

[1:31:38] Unknown speaker: Hi, thank you.

[1:31:39] Unknown speaker: Hi.

[1:31:39] Unknown speaker: I don't want to give you any spoilers. But the cast of Bombshell, they love to go out for post-show cocktails.

[1:31:44] Unknown speaker: Okay. Where would you take the cast of Bombshell?

[1:31:46] Unknown speaker: Ooh, I would take the cast of Bombshell to Julius in the West Village.

[1:31:52] Unknown speaker: The original gay bar.

[1:31:54] Unknown speaker: The original gay bar, the one and only cash only, so bring cash. But it is it's where the Matachines met to talk about gay liberation. It is where gay people have met since the dawn of New York. It is the original gay bar and the greatest gay bar.

[1:32:07] Unknown speaker: The greatest gay bar.

[1:32:08] Unknown speaker: The one I recommend.

[1:32:09] Andy Mientus: And we are a podcast, a lot of people are just listening, can't see your beautiful face. Let us know who you are.

[1:32:14] Andy Mientus: I'm Andy Mientus. I was in the cast of the Smash television series, but now I'm here. This new iteration supporting it.

[1:32:24] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:32:24] Unknown speaker: Bye.