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[0:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi everybody, it's Samantha Tuozzolo here at the opening night of Machinal at New York City Center for the New York Theater Company's inaugural performance. We're gonna talk to the cast, creatives, and guests of the show. Come along with us.

[0:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi, happy opening.

[0:16] Unknown speaker: Hi, thank you. Happy opening.

[0:17] Unknown speaker: Oh yes, thank you.

[0:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um we are 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 Machinal?

[0:25] Amy Marie Seidel: Hi everyone, my name is Amy Marie Seidel, and I am the director of Machinal.

[0:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amy, congratulations. This is such an iconic night. We're here at City Center. It's the New York Theater Company's first ever production. What drew you to want to direct this historic production?

[0:43] Amy Marie Seidel: Yeah, it's uh I'm really excited about tonight. This is one of those shows. It was written in uh 1927, right after the trial of Ruth Snyder, who murdered her husband and then was sent to death by electric chair. And sometimes plays that are written a hundred years ago don't stand the test of time, but because of how heightened Sophie Treadwell wrote this and the forms that she uses, it is one of those things that serves as an allegory to the machine of modern life forever.

[1:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: And were you familiar with this piece prior and did you always like have a vision of it being reimagined in a way like this?

[1:23] Amy Marie Seidel: I knew the piece very well. Um I had read it before, but I never had considered my own version until now. Um but then once it started flowing, working with MADISON HILLIGOSS, the tap dance choreographer and the team, it just it flowed effortlessly. It didn't take a lot of you know wrenching in some sort of form to play with because it lent itself to it so easily um that it just it flowed and it seemed really really natural to include practical foley and tap dance in this piece.

[1:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Incredible. Can you share one of your favorite parts of the rehearsal process?

[1:58] Amy Marie Seidel: Oh my gosh the rehearsal process was a downright delight with this company just a downright delight. Um one of the things we did we took a hiatus and then we came back and when we came back everybody shared a little piece of uh research that they had done around the piece um and there's this wonderful photo of uh queer sapphic community in the 1920s and we were like that's our bar that's the bar that we have in the play um that Temidayo, one of our company members, brought in as a part of the research and that just stood out to me and I've just been looking at that photo ever since and uh and relishing our opportunity to create this in such a queer way.

[2:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing well congratulations. Before I let you go, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Do you have a survival job that you can share with us one that maybe you did before you were directing or maybe during to keep you afloat?

[2:51] Amy Marie Seidel: Absolutely survival jobs are a part of being an artist. Hello that's what we've been saying for four years people sorry no and I just got excited I think a lot of people seem to think like oh once you've made it then you don't do that. That is not true. Artists are multi-hyphenate beings naturally and we do many things and I think we deserve to live a balanced life. Sometimes people choose to do things other than just create theater or create art and uh sometimes people don't choose to do those things but they have to do those things because when we're picky about the stories that we tell oftentimes those things don't pay. And so I've done everything. I've worked at a rock and gem store. I love me Maurice right now.

I love you too, mom. Um I've done lots of things as uh as a survival job. Uh rock rock and gem store was super fun. We sold like museum quality rocks. So cool. Um I love rocks. Uh and I I'm an archery teacher. And I still like between things, if I'm able, I'll pick up a shift. Yeah. Um I am a technical specialist for continuing education for doctors, oftentimes. Um I was a personal assistant for a long time. That's a wild job. Um, like you name it, other than food service, because I'm nervous, I'm gonna drop something. I've pretty much done it. And um I encourage everybody to get good at whatever your heart thinks you might get good at and make it work.

[4:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. And that's a mic drop, everyone.

[4:23] Unknown speaker: That might have stopped.

[4:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh no, it didn't. Okay, and in one word, please let our audience know why they need to come see Machinal.

[4:33] Amy Marie Seidel: Does it have to be one word? It's just something I like to do. It's good for social media, but if you have a couple, I'll allow it since you're the director.

[4:42] Amy Marie Seidel: Okay, let me let me think of a good one. Hold on. You can do multiple. I just have to laugh on that. I I approve.

[4:50] Amy Marie Seidel: Humanity over machine.

[4:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Boom. Congratulations. Happy opening night. I can't wait to see this play. Thank you so much.

[4:57] Amy Marie Seidel: Thanks for chatting.

[4:58] Katherine Winter: Um hello everyone. My name is Katherine Winter and I'm playing young woman in Machinal.

[5:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: So how do you feel? This is the New York Theater Company's first ever production. You're the leading lady. We're here at City Center. What's going through your mind? Tell me everything.

[5:11] Katherine Winter: Um, I'm so excited. I'm so grateful for everyone who was able to make this happen. Um, the support from everyone behind the scenes, from the artist collective and founding members of New York Theater Company itself, who a lot of them have pitched in to make tonight possible, as well as the artistry on stage, and um there's so many young female and gender non-conforming folks um who are oftentimes people's associates and assistants that are helming this production. And so it really feels like this moment that like the younger at the gates, and we're making some really cool theater with this play, it's almost a hundred years old.

[5:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: So that was my next question. This is a play that is not new, the story is not new to anybody, and it's completely reimagined. So was that very challenging? Did you know the story coming in, or was it all new material for you to digest?

[5:57] Katherine Winter: Yes, so I um almost did this show in college. I was supposed to be in it.

[6:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god, full circle, and here we are.

[6:03] Katherine Winter: Yes, and then I booked my off-Broadway debut in a musical version of Sleepy Hollow, and so I ended up not doing the show, and so it was in the back of my head for a while. As like something I was dying to do, and so I'm so happy to be able to be here um and to be able to do this story and do um a really queer version, a smaller cast, and I love the form of tap dance, so to have that be amplified in this production is so exciting.

[6:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. Oh, I can't wait to see it. Um so my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were, you know, performing and doing the thing. Do you have a survival job you can share with us?

[6:35] Katherine Winter: I have many survival jobs. One of which I call my muggle job is I'm a tour guide. Um so I do the film and TV tours for the city. So I do a Central Park TV movie walking tour, a law and order tour, Mrs. Maisel's marvelous New York City tour, um, and a Holly Lights and movie sites bus tour. Um and my other survival job is actually in the field somewhat. Um I work for the Verdon Fosse Legacy. So I work for the Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon estate in um everything from educational outreach to performances and festivals and all of that as well.

[7:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um excuse me, I need to go on that law and order tour immediately. I love law and order.

[7:07] Katherine Winter: Or is it like SVU or is it it?

[7:09] Katherine Winter: It is mostly SVU based. Um, yes, I'm a big fan. Uh there is a slideshow presentation on the evolution of Mariska Hargitay's hair over 25 years.

[7:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I'm can I come?

[7:19] Katherine Winter: Absolutely.

[7:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Can I get a VIP ticket?

[7:21] Katherine Winter: Absolutely. Thank you so much.

[7:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much. Okay, before I let you go, get ready for this amazing show. In one word, tell everybody why they need to come see Machinal.

[7:31] Katherine Winter: Um the one word is thrilling.

[7:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Boom. Frank Legend the best time. It was so great to meet you. Thanks.

[7:39] Unknown speaker: Hi, happy opening night. We're a podcast. A lot of people are just listening. So can you please introduce yourself and let us know your role here is with Machinal?

[7:47] Colleen Doherty: Yes. Uh hi, I'm Colleen Doherty. I'm the lighting designer.

[7:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations. This is such an iconic night. We're here at City Center. It's the New York Theater Company's first ever production. What does it mean to you to be a part of something that is now historic?

[8:02] Colleen Doherty: This is always gonna be the first. Um, it's a big deal. I think at the start of this process, um Amy, our director, asked me why I wanted to work on this show, and I said that I felt this tremendous need um to work with this team of incredibly diverse um women and non-binary people to tell a story about a woman who was trying so hard to find her own way. Um so to be able to literally light the way for them meant a lot.

[8:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Literally light the way for them. That is amazing. Were you familiar with this piece at all before you hopped on?

[8:43] Colleen Doherty: No, I didn't know anything about it. I know it's a piece that's very commonly read in college, which is really exciting. It's a piece that people should know. Um, I had never read it myself, so getting to read it for the first time and to see all of the work that Madison and Amy and the cast did and see it come together, like it's not even how I envisioned it in my head when I first read it, and it was so exciting to see it come to life.

[9:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: That is so cool. Isn't that so fun when you know a new piece of art comes to you and just really inspires a lot? Um so before I let you go, I'm sure you have a lot to prep for for opening night. In one word, can you tell our listeners why they need to come see this play?

[9:21] Colleen Doherty: Oh, in one word. Um I'm the lighting designer, so I'm gonna say um thank you. Uh I'm gonna say electric. I think that women's oh, thank you. Women's history is electric, and we need to talk about it more. We need to see more of it in art. Um, so yeah, come see it for that. Women's history is electric, y'all.

[9:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much. Happy opening.

[9:48] Colleen Doherty: Thank you so much.

[9:49] Unknown speaker: Welcome, 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 Machinal?

[9:55] Michael Scott: I will. My name is Michael Scott. I'm the executive producer of New York Theater Company, and happy to have our inaugural uh production here tonight.

[10:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, it's huge. It's your inaugural production. You're the executive producer of this entire company. What does it feel like for you to have this happening at City Center? Such an iconic home for theater.

[10:11] Michael Scott: We're very lucky to have it here at City Center, and we uh appreciate them very much. We um we were looking at a few places they allowed us to pick them and they picked us, so here we are. It was wonderful.

[10:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: Incredible. So what made you want to jump on to be the executive producer of this new company? What what about their work that they're going to be doing is stuck out to you that differs from other companies?

[10:35] Michael Scott: That's that's a fantastic question. Thank you. Katherine Winter and Shalina Kennedy, who are really good friends of mine, asked me to be the executive producer, which is basically the business portion of the uh company. And so I gladly joined. I have a real job in Panama City, Florida. So I'm up here every three to five weeks. Great. And um the the opportunity along with the 14 collective co-founders is just incredible because we want to find work for all people about along the spectrum of who we are.

[11:09] Temidayo Amay: And we collaboratively be work together in unison, and it's just been wonderful so far. So this is just the beginning. And this is our inaugural. That's amazing. Well, congratulations. Something a little off topic. You're flying here every three to five weeks. Tell us the airline, tell us what's giving the best points. What's the best perks these days? Well, it depends on the days, right? Depends on what's going on. That's exactly right. Depend on the weather, depend on the equipment, depending on whoever. Whoever's not flipping upside down. Just kidding. Um, in one word, please let our listeners know why they need to come run and see Machinal. Uniquely creative, which is if you put it all together, that's one word. Thank you so much. It was so great chatting with you and meeting you. I appreciate the time.

[11:50] Temidayo Amay: Yeah, of course. I'm happy to be here. You look great. Thank you. So we're a podcast. A lot of people don't know who I'm talking to, so please introduce yourself and let us know what role you play here with Machinal.

[11:58] Temidayo Amay: Yes, I am Temidayo Amay. I use they/them pronouns, and I am the doctor and the priest and others in Machinal.

[12:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. Congratulations. I mean, I didn't know when I was walking in here tonight. It was such an iconic night. The New York Theater Company's first ever production. We're here at City Center. How has this experience been for you?

[12:20] Temidayo Amay: It has been a whirlwind. Um, we started in March, and it has just continued to grow and develop and blossom from there. I truly had no idea what to expect because this is a whole new company. So every part of this has been like a surprise. And it just keeps getting better and better. I know I've, you know, been performing for a while, and to be doing something with a new company, doing a show that's like iconic. Um, I'm just really, really glad and really grateful to be like doing the show with them.

[12:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: So you said that doing a show that's iconic. Were you familiar with this story or this play ahead of doing this project? And was it challenging to see it in a new way?

[13:01] Temidayo Amay: Yeah, so I first heard about this show in college, and I remember reading it being like, I want to do this show. It seems really cool, but I doubt anyone's ever gonna actually do it. And so when I saw this, like, um, that this is going to be produced for the season, I was so excited. I was like, I have to audition. Um, and you know, I think for me, the most exciting part of this has been how we've incorporated the dance. MADISON HILLIGOSS is the choreographer, and they are incredible. And so I'm singing in the show while there's tap dance happening, and then there's acting happening, and we're, it's brilliant. It's absolutely brilliant.

[13:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: I literally can't wait to see it. You know, I sort of came in, did my research, people don't worry, but still learning so much as I'm chatting, so it's gonna be great. Um, before I let you go, please let the audience and the listeners know in one word why they need to come see Machinal.

[13:53] Temidayo Amay: My one word for why you should come see Machinal is it's fierce.

[14:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: And that's that, people. It is fierce with a capital F.

[14:01] Soph Metcalf: I'm Soph Metcalf, they/them pronouns, and I play Lover and others in Machinal.

[14:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. So this is an iconic night. We're here at City Center, it's the New York Theater Company's first ever production. What does that mean to you?

[14:19] Soph Metcalf: You know, I am somebody who's really community forward, and so to be a part of this community as it's starting feels both very true to my values and very like organic and exciting to be part of something at the start. So yeah, I'm really I'm pumped.

[14:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: So for those of you who can't see, Soph has incredible makeup on. Is this your show makeup or is this your just fit for opening?

[14:41] Soph Metcalf: No, this is a reference to a 1920s non-binary surrealist named Claude Cahun. Um, so is the shirt. Um, show the camera.

[14:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: The video will be on Spotify.

[14:53] Soph Metcalf: Excellent. Yeah. So the artist, uh, was living in Paris and was a, you know, queer out person living their lives in the 20s, and so they were a big, uh, pull for me in the course of making this project.

[15:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. And you look great. Uh, so my show on the Broadway Podcast Network is called Survival Jobs. Do you have a survival job that you can share with us through your artistic journey?

[15:16] Soph Metcalf: I don't really think of it as a survival job because I do love it. Um, I love when the survival job is one we love. That's the goal. It is. So I teach at the American Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts up on 61st in Amsterdam.

[15:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: And uh, went there.

[15:33] Soph Metcalf: Uh-huh.

[15:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: I also did not go there.

[15:36] Soph Metcalf: But I do teach there and I love teaching there.

[15:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's incredible. Well, congratulations. Before I let you go, I know there's much to do to prepare for the evening. Number one, taking off your makeup, maybe. Um, in one word, can you let the audience know why they need to come see this show?

[15:51] Soph Metcalf: Innovative.

[15:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Boom. Innovative people. New take on an old classic.

[15:57] Soph Metcalf: There you go.

[15:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Well, break a leg, have the best.

[15:59] Soph Metcalf: Hi, happy opening night.

[16:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: We're a podcast. A lot of people are just listening. So can you introduce yourself and let us know what your role here is with Machinal?

[16:07] Brittany Harris: Hi, I'm Brittany Harris. I'm the sound designer of Machinal.

[16:11] Sarah Goodman: And I'm Sarah Goodman. I'm the associate sound designer and the A1.

[16:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. So this is the first show ever for the New York Theater Company. We're here at City Center. How does it feel to be a part of something literally historical?

[16:24] Brittany Harris: It's really exciting. This show is really special. It's really unique. It's a play with tap dancing and a lot of really cool, like foley and different sounds and brilliant sound design by Brittany. It's been a really cool experience, yeah.

[16:37] Sarah Goodman: Yeah, same. It's been thrilling, um, to just see all of the actors and dancers and everybody coming together, the whole creative team, the whole process has been a learning experience, a journey, a roller coaster, but like to come out on the end and like see how amazing the show is. I am so honored to be a part of this and everything that everybody's created, so super just grateful.

[17:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: I literally can't wait to see it from everything I've read and the way everyone's speaking about it. It's like making me giddy.

[17:06] Brittany Harris: Oh, it should. Did you guys know this play at all?

[17:09] Sarah Goodman: I know it's a play that's been around for a really long time, and was it like very hard to s to reimagine it, or was it just like a no-brainer?

[17:17] Brittany Harris: For me, I had never heard of the play or seen it before, so the way Amy imagined it, it was like that's the only way that I know. So I thought that was cool to have that perspective.

[17:27] Sarah Goodman: But yeah, I'm curious, Sarah, like have you done this way before?

[17:30] Sarah Goodman: I have not been familiar with this play before. I didn't know it, I hadn't read it or seen it anywhere, and so it's kind of exciting because this is sort of like the first version of it that I'm familiar with.

[17:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, um, so my show on the network is called Survival Jobs before or during your artistic journeys. Do you have a quick survival job you can share with us?

[17:48] Brittany Harris: Yes. Um, I had plenty of survival jobs. Um, the ones that I can think of currently would be um music copyist, transcriber, uh arranger, orchestrator, those are my side hustle jobs. I'm a cellist, I still gig. I have a wedding gig on Saturday. Like I, you you gotta keep going.

[18:14] Sarah Goodman: I mean, you're booked and blessed, it sounds.

[18:14] Brittany Harris: I've done every survival job that you could possibly think of. I've done retail, I've done office work, I've been a temp, I've been a bartender, I've been a bar back, a cocktail server, uh line cook, gift bag stuffer, gift bag stuffer, thank you. You got me that gig.

[18:28] Sarah Goodman: Um, so many side jobs, and I have like a career slash survival gig at Broadway Podcast Network. Shout out, hey.

[18:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much. I'm sure you guys have a lot to do to prep for the show. Before I let you go in one word, how about do it together? Might be fun.

[18:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Tell everybody in one word why they need to come see the show.

[18:48] Brittany Harris: I'll count to three.

[18:49] Sarah Goodman: Okay, it's gonna be fun.

[18:51] Brittany Harris: One, two, three.

[18:53] Both: Thrilling!

[18:57] Hannah Snow: My name is Hannah Snow. I play nurse and others, and I also cover uh young woman.

[19:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Incredible. So this is a big night for the New York Theater Company. Um, it's its first show ever. So how does it feel to be a part of something like this?

[19:13] Hannah Snow: It's an honor. I'm also one of the founding members of New York Theater Company.

[19:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations!

[19:19] Hannah Snow: And we really started off with a bang, and it's amazing. It's been everything we wanted it to be so far.

[19:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, you're literally at City Center for your first ever show. That's major.

[19:31] Hannah Snow: I'm a little unwell. It's also my off-Broadway debut. So the fact that it's happening here, and I've seen so many shows here. I, I'm gushing.

[19:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. The fact that it's happening here, that you're performing in it, and also a founding member of this company is so much to be proud of. I just met you one second ago, but you should be like so proud of yourself.

[19:53] Hannah Snow: I cannot wait to see the show. Um, so this show is reimagined. This play's been around for a million years. Uh, did you know the material coming into this reimagined production? Was it hard to see it in a new way, or was it a no-brainer?

[20:07] Hannah Snow: I did not know the play. A lot of people know it, or like they'll be like, oh yeah, that play. I didn't know it. Um, I was very interested by the subject, the first woman ever to be electrocuted is interesting. And then I did read the script, and then Katherine, who is one of the founders of the theater company and my dear friend, was like, the text is kind of, you know, there's a lot of rhythm in the text. What if we do a tap dance Motional? And I was like, yeah, that sounds like something that hasn't happened before, and how fortunate are we if we can be part of something that is truly new and original.

[20:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[20:38] Hannah Snow: Tap dance Machinal.

[20:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: So my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Do you have a survival job you can share with us that you do before, or maybe like during your artistic journey?

[20:49] Hannah Snow: Thank you for asking me this question. Thank you for having an answer. Um, I have five jobs, don't we all? I am one of the things I do is I am a tour guide, and I actually do the Sex in a City Tour.

[21:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god, Katherine's a tour guide as well.

[21:04] Hannah Snow: You work for the same company, but is that kind of fun?

[21:07] Hannah Snow: Um, it's amazing. It's also the Sex in a City Tour is like a one-woman show. I have a fantastic Samantha impression, I must say.

[21:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: You must come on my tour.

[21:14] Hannah Snow: I will give you a free Cosmo.

[21:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: Is that true?

[21:17] Hannah Snow: I love Cosmos.

[21:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Are they very sweet?

[21:19] Hannah Snow: No, they're tart.

[21:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, that's how I like my Cosmo, just a little tart.

[21:24] Hannah Snow: I'll find you at the after party.

[21:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[21:27] Hannah Snow: I don't know if I'm making it, but another time.

[21:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Sure.

[21:31] Hannah Snow: Um, okay, thank you. And before I let you go, get ready for an amazing night ahead. And one word, let our audience know why they need to come see Machinal.

[21:40] Hannah Snow: Because you will walk out of the theater going, oh my god, I've never seen something like that before. It's not a play, really, it's not a musical, it's something in between, but then there's sound effects and then there's tap dance, but then suddenly somebody is singing, but it's and it's and the entire concept of it all, I really don't want to give it away. But just come have a look. And I promise you're gonna walk out saying to your friends, I saw this insane cool play. You have to go, is how you'll feel. You have to go.