This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hello, everyone. Welcome to Survival Jobs, a podcast in collaboration with Broadway World.

[0:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: My name is Samantha Dawn Tuozzolo, and this is my amazing co-host, Jason A. Coombs. Hi, Jason.

[0:20] Jason A. Coombs: Jambo.

[0:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hey.

[0:23] Jason A. Coombs: You never seen Mean Girls?

[0:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, I have. Many times. But I was not understanding what you just did, but now I do. Thank you for the clarity.

[0:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: She says that to the black girl, and she's like. I love that. I love that movie. Anyway, how are you?

[0:43] Jason A. Coombs: Hey, Samantha. I'm good.

[0:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: What's your temperature check? I think we forgot that last time.

[0:49] Jason A. Coombs: I think so, too. My temperature check is good. I mean, I can't really complain. I just feel busy all of the time, and there's always something. I complain about that a lot, but I'm so grateful to be busy and to have family and friends and work and creativity to keep me busy, but sometimes I just want to go to bed. But no, I'm good. I'm going to move back to Brooklyn.

[1:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's official?

[1:13] Jason A. Coombs: It's official.

[1:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: Great.

[1:15] Jason A. Coombs: I was really sort of fighting it at first. I love, love, love living in Hell's Kitchen where I've been for the past 18 months, but circumstances and everything, I'm going back to Brooklyn close to my old neighborhood where I lived for six years. So it'll be good, and it'll just be a little change of pace, and financially, it makes the best sense, the most sense right now.

[1:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Facts.

[1:46] Jason A. Coombs: I'm doing that, and so that's where I sort of am at. I'm just trying to focus on getting my mind around packing up all of my stuff and getting out.

[1:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: I hate moving.

[1:57] Jason A. Coombs: It sucks, but luckily, I convinced my brother that he's going to drive a truck in from Connecticut and help me move. I don't have a ton of stuff. I mean, I do, but I also don't. So that's my temperature check. I'm really focused on that. I think I'll feel a little jittery and all over the place until I'm settled into my new space.

[2:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[2:20] Jason A. Coombs: But I'm good. I'm good. What's your temperature check?

[2:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: I am sore. I've been going back to the gym regularly now.

[2:30] Jason A. Coombs: Yes.

[2:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: I've been doing some weight stuff, which is not really my jam, but I got to do what you got to do. Getting old, but I'm feeling it.

[2:41] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. My friend who is a personal trainer, really into fitness, follows me on my Apple Watch, and anytime I do cardio, she writes me. She's like, stop doing cardio and do weights because it just ... So whatever. Could do the weights.

[2:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: I try to do both. But yeah, I'm just feeling it here and lifting up my arms right now. I know we just recorded Dan before this, and I was so uncomfortable. I was trying to get comfortable. But yeah, it's all good, though. I'm just happy to be here, be in this space, be in connection to you and to our wonderful guests.

[3:18] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. And speaking of wonderfulness, weird transition, but we were honored to see The Piano Lesson, which is closing this weekend.

[3:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[3:28] Jason A. Coombs: So if you haven't seen it, I definitely recommend. This comes out on Thursday. You have three days, but we got to see it last week. And how incredible was that play?

[3:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing. And shout out to former guest, April Mathis, who really walks onto that stage hot and really, really, really killed it. April has a smaller role in the show, but such a big presence in her performance is so wonderful, and it was so amazing. I'm happy that we saw it after we interviewed her versus before because we had an idea of who she was, and it was so nice to meet her in person after the show, which was amazing. I mean, you guys, don't miss this show if you can. Go see it. You do have three days. I do believe it's probably at TKTS. I don't know. Everybody runs to see things as they're closing, so I don't know the availability, but if you can get in there, get in there.

[4:30] Jason A. Coombs: Danielle Brooks, Samuel Jackson, April Mathis. It was-

[4:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: John David Washington.

[4:36] Jason A. Coombs: Correct.

[4:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Phenomenal, guys.

[4:38] Jason A. Coombs: Phenomenal.

[4:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: And I read the play, so I didn't think I read this play before, but when I was watching, I was like, oh yeah, I definitely did read this. But when I read it, I didn't read it as being as funny as it was. And I guess I was talking to another friend, my friend Edward, because he saw it a week before I did, and we were like, yeah, I guess it's why we're supposed to watch plays be performed, not just read them, because you miss stuff, you know? And it was so funny. I was laughing the whole time, trying to stifle my laughter. But I want to say one thing, because a friend of mine shared something about Piano Lesson, and I saw that piano, right? Because the play is about this piano. It's a family heirloom that has the carvings, these carvings on it of the ancestors, of the father and grandmother who were slaves during the British play set.

But anyway, the designer, I don't know his last name, but his first name is Romello, and how do you spell his last name? It's H-U-I-N-S. He designed this piano, and it's going into the Smithsonian. Yeah, I was like, because I remember looking at the piano and how detailed it was, and they kept touching it in the play, and I was like, I want to touch that piano. But obviously you can't. But I was like, oh my gosh, how amazing is that, the opportunity to have this piece of history in the Smithsonian that blew me away.

[5:59] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, such an amazing show, and that's amazing that people will be able to go see it. Now Jason, I don't know if you're ready to talk about this, but you guys, hello everyone. Shout out to Bailey from O&M, by the way, who is helping us get some guests, and she really hooks us up with press tickets sometimes. So shout out to Bailey.

[6:21] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, we love Bailey.

[6:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: ... for us on this show. And I went to the bathroom when we got there, and Jason went to the seats. When I was coming back from the seat, I see Jason staring at me down the aisle, just like-

[6:35] Jason A. Coombs: Crying.

[6:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: ... his head. And I'm like, I don't have my glasses on. I'm like, what is going on with this guy? I arrived to the seat, and Jason, would you like to continue?

[6:47] Jason A. Coombs: I mean, I don't even know how to transition it well, but guys, folks, non-binary friends, Oprah, Oprah. That's all I got to say. Oprah was in the building. Oprah was in the building.

[6:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Not only was she in the building, Oprah was sitting directly across the aisle from us.

[7:04] Jason A. Coombs: So Jason was on an aisle seat, and Oprah was on the aisle, literally right across from us.

[7:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Crying. I was literally crying.

[7:13] Jason A. Coombs: He was, guys. I had to literally rub him and be like, hey, we're here. It's okay. It's Oprah. It's crazy. It's going to be fine.

[7:22] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, you just don't get like that. I mean, I probably got like that from two other people my whole life. We've gotten to meet some cool people in general, but-

[7:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: It was Oprah, Jason.

[7:31] Jason A. Coombs: ... it was on another level. I know. It was wild. I couldn't believe that. I guess that was the most shocking part, is how random that was. If I knew she was going to be there, I would have been like, oh, Oprah's going to be there. It's fine. But she just randomly walked down the aisle, and she had a mask on, but you can just tell.

[7:50] Jason A. Coombs: Should I go into the whole story? I'll make it really fast. I don't want to bore people. But Oprah, I couldn't watch the first 20 minutes of the play because I was watching Oprah. No, I'm just kidding. I was watching it, but it's hard to really focus when there's someone like that in the building. And she was laughing, and I was laughing, and I have a very obnoxious laugh for those who know me or don't know.

[8:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's not obnoxious. It's beautiful and lovely.

[8:15] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, thank you. But I was trying to stifle that laughter because I didn't want to be weird and make a lot of noise, whatever. And I did it once because something was so funny in this play, and Oprah was looking at me. And I feel her looking out of my peripheral, but I didn't want to get scolded by Oprah, so I just kept looking forward. And Samantha was nudging me. She's like, she's smizing at you. And I was like, oh, thank God. And then I kept laughing. And then Oprah was laughing with me. She was looking over. We were connecting. We were laughing through Act Two together. And I've been exaggerating. It was like three times. It was like three times.

[8:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, it's real.

[8:55] Jason A. Coombs: And then when we were leaving. Anyway, long story short, Oprah touched me on the way out. She said that was such a great show. It was so funny, right? And I just couldn't talk.

[9:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Touched his arm, you guys. Literally. It was crazy.

[9:08] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, it was crazy.

[9:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, you know, like how we always say we're so grateful for this show and all the opportunity it's bringing us and all the guests it's bringing us. And we're grateful for, you know, getting to sit in a show with Oprah. Crazy. Crazy.

[9:23] Jason A. Coombs: And Gail.

[9:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: And Gail.

[9:27] Jason A. Coombs: Poor Gail.

[9:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: I met Gail before, so I felt like I didn't have that experience.

[9:31] Jason A. Coombs: You were like, I know Gail.

[9:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, no, Gail was cute. And we tried to get in the background of the selfie. Jay, maybe you could insert it here. You definitely see Jason's hair, but we're like a little too far over.

[9:41] Jason A. Coombs: Thank God for big hair.

[9:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, thank God for big hair. Oh, man. Yeah, it was an amazing experience and an amazing show to be repetitive, run, see the show. You probably won't sit next to Oprah like I did, but the show is amazing. So that's reason enough to go.

[9:58] Jason A. Coombs: Daniel Brooks.

[10:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, my God. Daniel Brooks. I mean, everybody in that show.

[10:03] Jason A. Coombs: Everybody.

[10:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Just unbelievably good. I do want to share a really quick survival job story that's going to tie into our guest today. So as a kid, to do a really hard transition as a kid, I did this community theater called Crystal Theater. It's where I met most of my best friends who I'm still friends with today. Robin, this is how I met Robin DeJesus, who has been on the show a couple of times. He was literally my teacher, my theater teacher when I was younger. I don't think I've shared this on the show before, which is amazing. And then I went on to be a teacher for kids and teach them, you know, dance and acting, you know, for five-year-olds and six-year-olds from I think I taught from like five to maybe like twelve.

And I just wanted to give it a quick shout out because I don't think I've shouted out Crystal Theater on this podcast. So shout out to Crystal Theater. Shout out to Cheryl and Alex Kemeny. Shout out to Sharf Romanton. These ladies really sculpted who I am today by giving, you know, this theater life and opportunity to young kids to express themselves and be on a stage. And like I said, I met a lot of my really good friends from this theater school or what did we, I don't know, Children's Theater, Community Theater.

[11:26] Jason A. Coombs: Children's Theater Company, yeah.

[11:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, it was amazing. Which then years later, our guest today, Dan Micciche, has been involved with Crystal Theater as well. He grew up in Connecticut but was doing other community theater like Towns Away. But as we got older, Dan, you know, we became friends with him and he came in and to play a couple of benefits and concerts that we did there. So shout out to Crystal Theater because it really just brought, you know, a lot of people together.

[11:53] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. Which let's talk about Dan. Can I say one quick thing? Just how important community theater is because I know like, you know, a lot of people are pursuing this as their career, but not many, not everyone gets to do that. Not everyone gets the luxury to do that or has the life to do that. And community theater is a really great way to keep the arts alive. And so live your passion. And it may not be Broadway, right? But you're still getting to live out your passions. And my friend, Sarah, Sarah Burns started this really great cabaret called Krabby Cabaret. It has a show coming up for Valentine's Day, February 10th. So I just wanted to shout that out too because she's someone who is a phenomenal singer, could be on Broadway, but it's not, and that's not her path right now.

And it's totally fine. And I love that. I love that people at just community theaters out there like Crystal Theater, like the Krabby Cabaret that gives people the opportunity to keep creating. So yes, go Dan.

[12:47] Jason A. Coombs: Boom, boom, boom, boom. Okay, guys, we love Dan Micciche. He has been a friend for years. We've been trying to get him on this show for a while and we finally got to chat with him today. So let me tell you guys a little bit about him and then you can go listen to the episode, which is an amazing episode. He's preaching and preaching.

[13:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. Dan Micciche is the current music director and conductor of Wicked on Broadway and has been with the show for over seven years, including the national and international tours. For the first six years of living in New York City, he started out as an actor and played Mary Sunshine in Chicago for over 2,000 performances on Broadway, as well as the national tour, Japanese and Thailand companies. Some of his TV film credits include The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the 2021 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Good Morning America. He was a soloist at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and Bernstein's Mass. Some of his recordings include Bernstein's Mass, Grammy nomination in 2008. Some of the 54 Below show credits include Amanda Jane Cooper, Patrick Page, to name a few, as well as playing the Appel Room at Lincoln Center.

[14:07] Jason A. Coombs: Good job, yeah.

[14:08] Dan Micciche: One of his workshops includes Stu for Silverton. He has taught masterclasses and workshops at major universities, including University of Michigan, Boston Conservatory of Music, Berkeley School of Music, NYU, Pace, Notre Dame, as well as schools in Peru, Mexico, and Switzerland. In addition to his work on Broadway, he is the owner of his coaching company for actors and co-owner of IMTA. He graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music in 2007.

[15:06] Jason A. Coombs: Dan, I'm so happy to have you on the show. I've known you for many years. To our listeners, Dan sometimes gives me singing lessons when I can't stay on pitch. And, you know, I think it's really helped. I really have a talent with that. And Samantha really is very good at taking notes.

[15:39] Dan Micciche: That's good.

[15:49] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, she'll take it to the nth degree. And I always appreciate that.

[15:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you. I hit the T's real hard.

[15:58] Jason A. Coombs: Samantha, you have a musical director from Broadway as your vocal coach. Look at that.

[16:04] Dan Micciche: My personal vocal coach. Sorry, I kept that secret from you all this time.

[16:10] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my gosh. Okay, cool. Well, like I said, congratulations on Wicked. You're on one of the most iconic shows in history. Like, that's huge. And we were just talking about, you know, just how amazing that is before we started the recording. So I wanted to say it on the podcast as well, officially. Long winded way of saying that. But before we begin, do you want me to take this first question, Samantha?

[16:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. What do you think the term survival job means to you, Dan?

[16:42] Dan Micciche: So I've been thinking about this a lot. Survival job, I think like has like a cloud around it being like, oh, it's a job that like I have to do to like get to like where I want to be. I feel like survival job is like filling in the time that you aren't doing like a bigger job or a dream job. And or like, even while you're on your big job of your career, you can still have like gigs here and there. And I feel like that's survival jobs as well. Although there's a peppering of survival jobs that are just some really hilarious stories.

[17:30] Jason A. Coombs: Which brings us, do you have a favorite one that you've had along your journey?

[17:35] Dan Micciche: Well, I've been very, very fortunate in that. When I first moved to New York City, I moved as an actor before I became a music director. And before I went into Chicago, the musical, my survival job would be, you know, playing the piano. And so I would be a coach, I would play auditions. And that was my thing while I was being an actor. And even when I was in the Broadway company for those six years, and the tour, 2000 performances.

[18:12] Jason A. Coombs: As Mary Sunshine?

[18:16] Dan Micciche: As Mary Sunshine. 2000?

[18:17] Jason A. Coombs: 2000 and children only missed three shows out of 2000 performances.

[18:23] Dan Micciche: Whoa, I did not know this fact about you. That's crazy.

[18:27] Jason A. Coombs: She shows up.

[18:29] Dan Micciche: Yes. So yeah, so really mine would be, you know, playing the piano and being a company for people. Now, the funny ones would be during the pandemic. Let me just rattle off a couple.

[18:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, I'm so excited.

[18:49] Dan Micciche: I became a substitute teacher in a darling little town in Connecticut.

[18:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Which one?

[19:00] Dan Micciche: Called?

[19:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm not going to be able to say the name.

[19:03] Dan Micciche: Ah, okay.

[19:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Got it.

[19:04] Dan Micciche: Let's just put our thinking caps on. When in the class, I taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade chorus.

[19:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay.

[19:20] Dan Micciche: In the middle of the pandemic, 350 students. On Zoom. Half online, half in person. And I said, children, we're not going to be singing. Because you have masks on. And God bless. What we're going to be doing is learning about the dames of Broadway. So it actually was incredible that we learned about everyone from Carol Channing to Patti LuPone to current divas today to pop music to R&B to classical to Leonard Bernstein. But it was also many, many dark days where a certain person would say, if you're a music director on Broadway, why are you here?

[20:07] Jason A. Coombs: Or this is my other favorite quote is I was saying that my friend Carol Lindsay was coming up to stay with us for the week with her husband, Kevin. And this one eighth grader says, excuse me, Mr. Mitch Kaye, what kind of bedding are you putting on her bed?

[20:29] Dan Micciche: She goes, are you putting frete bedding on her bed?

[20:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm dead.

[20:34] Dan Micciche: Yeah. So that was an interesting time.

[20:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: A little baby gay.

[20:38] Dan Micciche: No, I don't know. Just a bitch.

[20:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Just a bitch.

[20:44] Dan Micciche: Yeah. So those were an interesting, I only lasted about four weeks. It was an experience. And that was it. Also, like, was totally told that I was going to like do two classes a day. And fast forward to like seven classes a day, plus lunch and bus and recess duty.

[21:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Lunch duty.

[21:11] Dan Micciche: Lunch duty, like was a Broadway music director, lunch duty. And also didn't get the job, but applied to work at the Ridgefield hardware store in town. But I don't think I got the job because in the interview, I said, so like, how does pay work? And they were like, what do you mean? I was like, I am willing to totally do like a standard, like $400, $500 fee a day.

[21:44] Jason A. Coombs: You did not say that to the hardware store.

[21:46] Dan Micciche: They were like, there's minimum wage. I was like, I understand. I understand.

[21:51] Jason A. Coombs: They're like $400 a week, maybe.

[21:58] Dan Micciche: So basically, again, going back to survival job, it's like, I think we all learned whoever we are, like the true definition of that term during the pandemic. Because I have always been a coach, but even, you know, I have my coaching clients, even when I'm doing eight shows a week and rehearsing every day. But during the pandemic, I ended up coaching about 35 to 40 people a week. That was my survival job then.

[22:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: So would you say that this substitute teaching, doing the lunch duty and all that stuff was the worst that you've had?

[22:37] Dan Micciche: Yeah. Yeah, it was. It was. It was wonderful in some ways where it's like, there's kids that like still write me and it's so wonderful. And I learned a lot about myself during that time. And you know what? I was like, there's no ego here. I was like, I'm going to do this. Like, when am I ever going to do this again? It was dark. You know, it was very emotional for me in a lot of ways because of what we were all going through. But yeah, that was definitely the worst. I mean, the Frette sheets is just unbelievable. Is that even, that's how you say it?

[23:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Frette, yeah.

[23:16] Dan Micciche: But I mean, I did experience those sheets once with, you know, maybe an ex-boyfriend and they're amazing, but like, they're a lot of money.

[23:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[23:31] Dan Micciche: I mean, there were other comments where, oh geez. I mean, I would go in, I would go in on these eighth graders where I would be like, oh, there was one time I said, I showed them a video of Leonard Bernstein conducting Candide and this one girl, same girl, Frette sheets was like, so what is like that old man in gray hair is just like waving his arms. Like, what does he even do? And how does he even support himself? I was like, my love, that man is richer than all of your parents.

[24:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: And he loves what he does.

[24:04] Dan Micciche: And like, could you imagine waking up every single day, making a wonderful living, doing what you've dreamed of and their minds were like. I love the Frette girl. Love. But I got her back in the end on the last day of school because she started making fun of the Upper West Side, which no, she was saying that the Upper East Side, which to the listeners, if you live on the Upper East, all the best, wonderful. I just, we have a place on the Upper West. I love the Upper West. So I said to her after class, I said, listen to me, Frette sheets, this attitude is going to get you nowhere. And since I'm leaving today, I said that in my head, I'm going to give you two pieces of advice. And what they are is tweezers, and conditioner.

[24:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: Did you actually?

[24:58] Dan Micciche: Yeah. And by the way, like, who cares if she went home and complained it was the last day. Yeah. I was like, toot-a-loo. You know, I drove out of the middle school parking lot blasting before the parade passes by. How about that?

[25:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's so good.

[25:16] Jason A. Coombs: I am dead.

[25:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, I think we should dedicate this episode to our audience.

[25:20] Dan Micciche: Well, thank you for sharing those stories.

[25:26] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, those are some real good survival job stories. But I want to talk about now, by the way, I did not know you did that many performances in Chicago. That's amazing. So how did you make the transition from Chicago to Chicago? And how did you get to Chicago?

[25:38] Dan Micciche: Yeah, so I went to Chicago. I went to Chicago. I went to Chicago. I went to Chicago.

[25:46] Jason A. Coombs: So how did you make the transition from performer to music director, conductor? And was there like a moment that you were like, this is what I have to do? Or what was that like?

[26:00] Dan Micciche: So I got Chicago in early 2008. And I would say at least because I did the Broadway company for a long time, but then I did 100 and 125 cities in four countries with the show. So I was with it for quite a while. But I want to say, maybe around year three, I started to, you know, just really like, be immersed with our conductor and other conductors and hanging out with the musicians. You know, I also, my coaching business really started growing at that point. And I learned that my brain, I was able to give notes to singers and help them connect to the material vocally and emotionally much better than I could ever do as an actor myself. And so I felt like my brain was like so much more alive, being a coach and a music director, that around 2012, like four years in, Adam Gettle was looking for an assistant in the city.

And he found my name. And I auditioned for him. And he was really the first person to kind of believe in me as like a musician, because a lot of people were like, this is Mary Sunshine guy, he's not going to be a musician. And he's like, you know, you're really good. And I think you should do this for the rest of your life. And I was like, well, Adam Gettle thinks I'm good, then maybe I'm a little talented. And I just started kind of trucking along. And I've always been that kind of person that like, that happens to me. And I'm like, okay, what's the next thing I need to do? I'm never like, oh, I'm set, you know, because like the hustle doesn't stop, you know, regardless of where you're at in your career. It's just, it's a constant hustle. And yes, it could be a stressful hustle. But it also could be like,

[28:16] Dan Micciche: That's just how my brain works. I'm just always hustling. And I want to say around the time I matched up with Adam, I became friends with Schwartz. But it was never like a professional relationship yet. We just became friends. And Schwartz has always been very sweet where he's like, well, you're the really great actor and, you know, stay on that path or stay on the music direction path, but I'll support you in any other way. So I want to say around then I really kind of was like, you know what, I really think I want to transition. I have no idea how. No one will give me the time of day except for these two guys. And there just was like this bias of me being an actor and trying to transition.

And I started playing a lot of auditions. And that was another thing where like, you can't play auditions if you want to audition as an actor. And without the gift of Chicago, I mean, I found that it really kind of fulfilled that big part of my life of being a Broadway actor. And I stayed with it for so long that around that time, it sounds silly, but one day I just woke up and I was like, you know what, universe, I am ready for whatever you're going to throw in my lap. I have no idea what that is, but I'm open. And it was as simple as that. And I got offered to go music direct something at Theatre by the Sea. And I went to go do Patrick Page's show at 54 Below. And, and really like, that was kind of the turning point.

I ran into Stephen Arimus on Ninth Avenue at Flaming Saddles. Iconic. Different times in both of our lives. And, and I was like, Hi, I'm Damage Cam, friends with blah, blah, blah. And he's like, Oh, yeah, you're that Mary Sunshine guy. Oh my gosh. He's like, you should play for me someday. And I was like, I'd be thrilled to. And I gotta give a shout out my darling Paige Davis. We were doing Chicago at the time on the road. And she would make sure there was a piano everywhere we went so I could practice the score of Wicked. Because I said to myself, I was like, I'm going to either get called for this tomorrow in six months or in six years. But as always, as an actor and as a musician, preparation meets opportunity.

And if I can be in control of being the one that won't be in my way of getting where I need to be, then I'll do that. And so he called me the next morning. And he's like, Can you come over my apartment? We need someone on the tour for key three, assistant to the assistant conductor. And I went over and I played for like an hour. I met with him for two hours. And he's like, Great, you'll go on tour in eight days. Can you imagine if you did not go to Flaming Saddles that night? I mean, I can really look back in my life and say, Can you imagine if you did not go to Flaming Saddles five nights a week? No, I know. And Stephen was a huge part in changing my life, you know, him, David Stone, Schwartz, I mean, many people, you know, that I'm very, very grateful for.

But and then I left eight days later to play key three, never played a synthesizer before, I can say that now. But like, literally, just, you know, I just went in. And in like the first six weeks of being there on tour, I was subbing key two, three, the rehearsal book, and then I started conducting. So and really, everyone's like, Don't you miss performing? There's not been one day. It just feels right. Yes, it just feels right. And I think I would have felt differently if I didn't have a career as an actor. But also like, my job is part of performance, right? I love getting actors and dancers to a place where they feel supported emotionally and musically, because I, I've had experiences as an actor, I don't feel supported by my music director. So if I can be in that way, I'm much more. I also love the managerial part of my job, which you don't get as an actor. So long winded answers. I'm sorry.

[33:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: No, that was an amazing story. I, you know, Jason and I are in a similar situation where like, being out somewhere meeting somebody is going to take you to a new level. And that's just so important. Like, you never know, like, New York City is crazy, and stressful and expensive. And I'm tired. We're tired all the time. But the connections and experiences that you have can really like, change your whole life. It's wild. Yeah. And even now, like, where it was 16 years ago, when I moved to New York, like, I say this to students all the time, like, the opportunities that are at your fingertips, you just have to have class about it.

[33:44] Dan Micciche: You know, exactly. And sometimes all you have to do is ask, all you have to do is ask, ask and have class. I think it's those genuine connections, right? It's like, I always tell younger people when I, when they asked me to do talks and randomly, it's like, you don't force a connection. But if it's like, you hit it off with someone, it's like a genuine connection. You keep those connections going, you know, send an email every now and then and just make it natural. Don't be like, Oh, I need a job opportunity. When you first meet someone, that's not the right way to do it. You know, people don't like that. You got to cultivate these relationships.

[34:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Be hungry, but don't be like, super annoying.

[34:23] Dan Micciche: Don't be thirsty.

[34:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, exactly.

[34:28] Dan Micciche: Wow. So you started off on the Wicked tour. Did you have a favorite place that you visited? Because it sounds like such a transitional time period. I know you probably were touring on other shows before, but in this capacity as a musical director playing?

[34:44] Dan Micciche: Well, the first, the first two years on tour, I was key three and assistant and the keyboard tech, which God bless. And nobody's business doing that. And just really was like the, I always also say to like musicians and actors, like, be the person that I use this term lightly, quote, saves the day. Not in an egotistical way, but meaning that person's like, oh my God, he can't play rehearsal. Dan, can you play rehearsal? Absolutely. You know, it's be that person, be that person as an actor that is already off book and prepared as the third understudy. You do the work. And so I stayed out the first two years. I was keyboard three, subbing the keyboard books and like conducting once every six weeks. And then, and then I became a music director and conductor of the national tour for two more years. I was out on tour for four and a half years straight. And then they once again changed my life and I moved to the Broadway company.

[36:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: What was that like? What was that like? Where did, where did it just like, we trust this guy. He's the guy let's get him over there.

[36:07] Dan Micciche: That was the most Broadway's moment of my life. I put my notice in, I was leaving. I met my husband Chase on the road. He's in technology. He's not in the business, but he was working for Disney in Orlando. And so we were on tour in Orlando and I was already at like the four year mark. And I was like, I'm, I'm ready to go home and I'm ready to go home and just be unemployed and hustle, you know? And, and, and so I put my notice in like 10 months before I left.

[36:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow.

[36:46] Dan Micciche: That's a long time. That's a healthy notice. I wanted to give them notice and, and, you know, a big goal of mine and dream was to buy my apartment. And I did that and I was like, I'm ready to go home. And I had to get some personal stuff together and, you know, and, and November of that year, 2017, you know, I put my, I told the Remus, you know, months ago, I was like, Hey, you know, I'm leaving, but, you know, if ever you need me, whatever. And he's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, we got, you know, but it was, you know, Brian Perry was there for years, you know? So, uh, we were at the Thanksgiving day party in Cleveland and David Stone, darling David Stone came out to the tour to visit. And I'm standing at the bar with him and we're talking and this and that.

And I just, I said to him, I want to thank you for the four, the last four and a half years of employment. You've changed my life. And he knows I always get like an emotional Betty and he's like, Oh God. I'm so dead. He goes, well, you're very welcome. But what are you talking about? I said, well, you know, like I'm, I'm leaving, I'm, I'm leaving in, you know, three months and I just want to thank you personally, you know, face to face. And he's like, yeah, I know you're leaving, but I was like, Oh my God. Like, okay. I'm just thanking you. And he's like, yeah, I know. Like you're going to leave. Um, we really love Chase. You know, you guys take time, go on vacation. Um, um, but in nine months, uh, you're going to buy a house in Ridgefield and you're going to take over the Broadway company as music director and conductor.

Did he literally say you're going to buy a house in Ridgefield? He also knew I dreamed of moving here. Yes. Right. But he's like, you're going to go on vacation. You're going to buy a house in Ridgefield and you're going to take over as music director and conductor on Broadway of the, of wicked, uh, around November. I was like, what? And he's like, yeah, it's already been set. Okay. You're like, sounds good, David. Thank you so much. And it was a gift from God in so many ways, because sorry, my cuckoo clock is playing over here. I love it. It's really good background. Nursery rhymes. Um, I, it was a huge gift because I had to get a lot of stuff in my life, in my personal life together. And I got nine months off knowing I was going to have this enormous life-changing event in my life happen.

And, um, I mean, I don't know if religious faith, whatever. I mean, that is God for me, but, um, it just was, it was, it was a gift and I was able to walk into that job in a healthy mindset, physically and mentally, and just go because it's so massive taking over that. You are taking over years and years and years of history of dynamics of people. Um, it is 90% managerial conducting a massive commercial Broadway show. It is 90% managerial. So to the music directors and to musicians like advice, it get up on your personality skills and know how to talk and finagle things and to have clear, calm conversations and knowing the difference on how to talk to an actor, which is very different than how to talk to a musician, which is very different than how to talk to a director, you know? Um, and so it was, it was just an amazing time. Amazing.

[40:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Can I piggyback? I was going to ask because I'm sure not everyone knows, like what is a day in the life of a musical director who works on Broadway? Like, what is that like?

[41:04] Dan Micciche: Um, I can only speak for myself cause I talked to directors and they're like, why are you going in every early every day? Um, uh, obviously eight shows a week. Um, I note one show a week from the back of the house. Uh, I conduct pretty much seven a week. Um, but if I'm not in rehearsal every day, I'm in auditions every day. So I'm in auditions pretty much eight to 10 hours a week hiring for both companies. Just last year I've auditioned 12,000 people. Whoa. Yep. 12,000 people. Yep. And, um, and then, uh, whether what's going on in the building, I'm rehearsing about 10, 10, 15 hours a week. Um, and then I'm constantly on the phone. So, I mean, I've learned my boundaries and this and that, but pretty much a normal day for me personally is Dan Michke. Um, I wake up at around eight o'clock, eight 30 and, um, I'll get my day started with emails. Um, maybe some phone calls in the morning, um, spend as much time as I can with my husband.

[42:53] Dan Micciche: Long day, Dan.

[42:55] Dan Micciche: Yeah. And I commute every day. I drive in from Connecticut every day, which has been the biggest gift of my life. And I feel like it's the only way I can do my job because you have that time in the car by yourself.

[43:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: So like have Dan time.

[43:09] Dan Micciche: Yeah. And also listen to this podcast, either have Dan time. Listen to this podcast or I'll be on the phone with one of the creatives.

[43:19] Jason A. Coombs: Wow. Am I wrong when I say that you're only the second person to take this position, like consistently?

[43:28] Dan Micciche: I'm the sixth.

[43:30] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, how embarrassing.

[43:33] Dan Micciche: Stephen Arimis started the show then quickly soon after Bob Billig took over, then Alex Lacamoire really quickly. Oh, fun fact. All three of that happened. Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone. All three of that happened in like the first like three years.

[43:54] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, wow. Because Wicked was like blowing up, right?

[43:59] Dan Micciche: Then Dom Amendum, big, long time Dom Amendum, Brian Perry, long time, and then it's me.

[44:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: In my mind, it was Stephen Arimis, Dan. Like I feel like when you booked this, everyone was like, oh my God, I don't know. Somebody made that up or maybe I did. Love that.

[44:15] Dan Micciche: Yeah. Thank you for correcting my thought there.

[44:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow. Dan, I feel like I learned so much today and I think this episode is super important for our listeners just to, you know, keep it moving, follow the path, follow the gut, meet the people. And what did you say? Class? What did we say? Have class? I can't remember. Rewind it, guys. Whatever we said was really, really good.

[44:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Now, I know you know that we always end the episode with a game, but before we do that, we love a game.

[44:55] Dan Micciche: We love a game.

[44:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: And I think you're really going to like this game. But before we do that, do you have any advice for anybody who's listening who might feel stuck in their survival jobs, who so badly wants a career in the arts, but feels like it's just not going to happen and they're just slinging another margarita at the bar?

[45:15] Dan Micciche: Um, I would say first and foremost, write down the pros and cons of your job. Then I would write out in detail your budget of every single dollar that you spend a month, where you can cut and where you can add to give yourself as much flexibility and self-respect with your time. Then I would, no jokes, old school. First, like go on, literally go on Craigslist and go on Facebook and look for jobs. Friend of mine literally just got a nanny job, $105,000 a year, dental health vision. Yeah, I know this is very unheard of and works four days a week. That is the ultimate survival job. Now I have, I have three other things to say. Use your networks. Do you have friends that do other survival jobs that are more lucrative and give you more time to audition or practice as a musician?

Pick their brains, write people on Instagram or social media of people that you idolize in this business, people that you might've not even met yet and ask them, you know, what is it that you want to do? What is it that you want to do? What is it that you want to do? And I know you're very busy, but is there ever a time that I can bend your ear over a cup of coffee or get you on the phone for five minutes or something? You just have to put yourself out there. Cause it's very easy with a survival job of being like, this is what I have to do. And then you can just, you know, do whatever you want to do, whatever you want to do, whatever you want to do, and then you do it, right? I just that's my best advice.

Like budget for me is huge. You know, just looking to see what kind of money's coming in, what's not. And then also self-respect and like, am I feeling respected in this job and giving the time that I need to do the other things I need to do? And if not, it's New York City. There's always other options.

[47:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow. I think I need to take all of that advice for myself. I know I was looking for a pen to write some notes.

[47:47] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[47:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'll be editing this show.

[47:49] Dan Micciche: Yeah. You can listen later.

[47:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow. Dan, thank you. This was so much fun. It only took us a year.

[47:57] Dan Micciche: No, not a year, but we've been trying to schedule this for a long time. And clearly look at the day in the life of Dan. It's a busy day.

[48:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's a busy day. So thank you for squeezing us in.

[48:07] Dan Micciche: Thank you.

[48:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: So for our game, and you know, Jason, I was kicking myself in the beginning of this episode when he said, you know, he was teaching everybody about all the Broadway divas. So first we were going to do a Broadway diva trivia game, but then I was like, Dan loves Liza. Am I wrong?

[48:21] Dan Micciche: Of course.

[48:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: So we're doing a Liza Minnelli trivia game, trivia with a Z, trivia with a Z makes no sense, but I love it.

[48:31] Dan Micciche: So we're doing a Liza Minnelli trivia game, trivia with a Z, trivia with a Z makes no sense, but I like it.

[48:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love it. It's like she would say, yes, yeah, exactly. Trivia with a Z.

[48:46] Jason A. Coombs: So we're going to give you some like true or false. Yes.

[48:50] Jason A. Coombs: So true or false, multiple choice. And listen, we really if you're stuck, we'll wink and we'll help you out.

[48:58] Dan Micciche: Great.

[48:59] Jason A. Coombs: All right, Jay, you want to kick it off?

[49:01] Jason A. Coombs: Sure. True or false. Liza was named after a George and Ira Gershwin song.

[49:08] Dan Micciche: True.

[49:10] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, it is true. Liza, All the Clouds Roll Away, a song that George and Ira Gershwin wrote. I almost gave you the answer because I was just reading it. Sorry.

[49:19] Dan Micciche: It's OK. My fault. I messed up this document a lot today. There was a lot of confusion at the beginning.

[49:25] Jason A. Coombs: It's OK. Great job. Exactly. One out of one, Dan. One out of one.

[49:32] Jason A. Coombs: Number two, how old was Liza when she made her screen debut? A. Seven, B. Eleven, C. Three or D. Two months.

[49:42] Dan Micciche: Two months.

[49:44] Jason A. Coombs: Unfortunately, that's incorrect.

[49:45] Dan Micciche: Three.

[49:47] Jason A. Coombs: OK, you got it on the second one. We'll give it to you because you said it at the same time that I did. I can't find the facts on that. I had it, but she was three.

[49:55] Dan Micciche: Oh, on Meet Me in St. Louis.

[50:00] Jason A. Coombs: Garland's character, Veronica, in The Good Old Summertime.

[50:04] Dan Micciche: What?

[50:05] Jason A. Coombs: She played her daughter in Good Old Summertime.

[50:09] Dan Micciche: This is really embarrassing. I think we should change the questions and talk about Fratechites.

[50:15] Jason A. Coombs: We can do that for the bonus. Don't worry.

[50:17] Dan Micciche: Yeah. But, you know, it could have been Meet Me in St. Louis. Who knows?

[50:22] Jason A. Coombs: All right, next one.

[50:24] Jason A. Coombs: Next. Liza Minnelli used to babysit Ron Howard, and he went on to cast her in what show? This is a multiple choice. A. Grey's Anatomy, B. Arrested Development, C. The Office or D. How I Met Your Mother.

[50:39] Dan Micciche: B.

[50:41] Jason A. Coombs: Correct. There you go. Good work. You got there all on your own.

[50:45] Jason A. Coombs: OK, number four. True or false. Before Liza played Sally Bowles in the film Cabaret, she performed the role on Broadway.

[50:54] Dan Micciche: False.

[50:55] Jason A. Coombs: Correct. Yep. She lost out on the stage role to British triple threat Jill Hayworth. She said, though, she said, I knew I'd get the movie for some reason. She told that to the Huffington Post. She said, I knew I'd get the movie in St. Louis.

[51:17] Jason A. Coombs: And we didn't put a bonus question, but for the bonus, you want to give us your best, Liza?

[51:22] Dan Micciche: That's it?

[51:23] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. Four questions. Quick. Oh, you want another one?

[51:27] Dan Micciche: I can give you another quick one real quick.

[51:29] Jason A. Coombs: Real quick.

[51:32] Jason A. Coombs: Well, we got 100 so far.

[51:34] Dan Micciche: You really did. Kind of.

[51:39] Jason A. Coombs: True or false. True or false. Liza Minnelli voiced Dorothy in the animated sequel to The Wizard of Oz.

[51:46] Dan Micciche: False.

[51:49] Jason A. Coombs: What?

[51:49] Dan Micciche: Minnelli continued her mother's legacy by giving the voice to Dorothy in the Journey Back to Oz, in which Dorothy and Toto must save Oz from a new evil witch, Mumby, played by Ethel Merman.

[52:01] Jason A. Coombs: What?

[52:03] Dan Micciche: Wait, what is the name of this?

[52:05] Dan Micciche: This is called Journey Back to Oz, an animated sequel to The Wizard of Oz. A new evil witch, Mumby, played by Ethel Merman.

[52:18] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you for telling me this.

[52:20] Dan Micciche: You're welcome. I have never heard of this.

[52:22] Dan Micciche: You're welcome. This is fabulous. She was 15. I can't wait. They recorded their lines in 1962, but issues with the inexperienced animation company halted production. The film was not released until 1974. By then, of course, Minnelli was already a seasoned superstar.

[52:40] Jason A. Coombs: Wow. Oh, I gotta check that out. Especially with Ethel.

[52:49] Dan Micciche: Yeah.

[52:50] Jason A. Coombs: Okay. So, basically, you got 100 on the game, and you learned something new. Trivia.

[52:56] Dan Micciche: Trivia.

[52:57] Jason A. Coombs: I guess. He's still mad about the game.

[53:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, my gosh. Dan! It was so... Can we do it all the time?

[53:03] Dan Micciche: No, it was great. It was great.

[53:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Can you tell our listeners where they can find you on all the social medias to keep up with you? You're always teaching classes, also, so we'll definitely drop links.

[53:18] Dan Micciche: Maybe always was an exaggeration. Yeah. My name, Dan Michake, on Instagram, D-A-N-M-I-C-C-I-C-H-E. I'm also on the Facebook. I'm not as hip as you all with the TikTok and the Twitter and all that, but I'm an Instagram gal. And yes, I was doing more classes earlier, but I will coach from time to time, so you can hit me up on Instagram. And I do coach singer-actors, but also conductors, and I love that.

[54:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that.

[54:03] Dan Micciche: And if you're lucky, I'll teach you exercises.

[54:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: And if you're extra lucky, he'll teach you Luck Be A Lady.

[54:10] Dan Micciche: Absolutely.

[54:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's amazing, Dan. Thank you for the impression. Were you ever dressed up as Liza?

[54:14] Dan Micciche: Oh, yeah.

[54:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[54:16] Dan Micciche: Are you kidding? I did an act in college as Liza Minnelli. She...

[54:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, my gosh. Yeah.

[54:21] Dan Micciche: Oh, yeah. And then I...

[54:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Please send us that photo so we can insert it here, or if there's video, we will insert it right here.

[54:37] Dan Micciche: I don't know if I will do that for you.

[54:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Got it.

[54:41] Dan Micciche: You'll be a career-going.

[54:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: But...

[54:44] Dan Micciche: I'm dead. If you on Broadway World as Liza, and then conducting Wiccan in the evening.

[54:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. I definitely think that's a great career move.

[54:52] Dan Micciche: I mean, I definitely would be the first.

[54:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Well... For sure.

[55:00] Jason A. Coombs: Well, if you want to follow us, if you're a fan, or you don't follow us yet, we can be found at SurvivalJobsPod on Instagram and...

[55:09] Jason A. Coombs: Twitter.

[55:10] Jason A. Coombs: And then SurvivalJobsPodcast on Facebook, and you can shoot us an email if you want to get to know us, or ask us some questions, or recommend a guest at SurvivalJobsPod at gmail.com.

[55:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Jason, I want to say you just really killed that.

[55:26] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you.

[55:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: Jason gets very nervous when he has to give our social medias because they're all over the place.

[55:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: And if you want to follow us, you can follow my boy Jason at Jason A. Coombs, and me at Sammy Toots.

[55:40] Jason A. Coombs: Not to Saluno.

[55:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Not to Saluno.

[55:42] Jason A. Coombs: Awesome. Thank you, man. This was so much fun. Have a wonderful day.

[55:46] Dan Micciche: Thank you.

[55:47] Dan Micciche: Thanks for having me. A two-show day today.

[55:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, my gosh. Thank you.

[55:51] Jason A. Coombs: Is it?

[55:52] Dan Micciche: Oh, yeah. No, one show. It's Wednesday, right?

[55:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, there's only one?

[55:56] Dan Micciche: Wait. We flip-flop. We're five show weekends right now, and then we go to two.

[55:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, my God. Well...

[56:01] Dan Micciche: You know, fill up on that coffee, babe. Five show weekend.

[56:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, my goodness. Thank you.

[56:05] Dan Micciche: Yeah. Thank you so much for your time and sharing that knowledge. I was going to be taking notes. I'm going to have to rewind the thing.

[56:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thanks for having me.

[56:10] Dan Micciche: The thing.

[56:11] Samantha Tuozzolo: Rewind the thing.

[56:12] Dan Micciche: Yeah. Awesome.

[56:14] Samantha Tuozzolo: Bye, honey.

[56:31] Dan Micciche: Bye.