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[0:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hello, my name is Samantha Tuozzolo. I'm here for the Broadway Podcast Network at the Opening Night Gala of "Illinoise" on Broadway. You guys, this is the most stunning show I have ever seen. Come along with me as we chat with some of the cast and creative team.

[0:14] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: Hi, congratulations on a stellar show.

[0:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much. So we're a podcast network. A lot of folks are just listening. Can you please introduce yourself and let everybody know what you do here at "Illinoise"?

[0:25] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: My name is Tasha Vietz Van Lear, and I'm one of the vocalists in the show, and I play guitar.

[0:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: And it's your Broadway debut.

[0:32] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: And it is my Broadway debut.

[0:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: How are you feeling tonight?

[0:35] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: I mean, I need to fangirl for a minute. I saw the show for the first time tonight, and I was gay gasping. I was like, the vocals are unreal.

[0:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: So okay, back to the question. How do you feel today after I'm done fangirling?

[0:48] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: I feel a little bit overwhelmed, but in a very good way. I am so in awe of everyone who's in this show, all of the dancers and Justin and all of the creative team, and to be a part of it. It feels unbelievable and surreal. But I'm grateful that we've done it so many times. So now we get to this moment, and doing the show tonight just felt like, you know, putting on our old familiar sweater and just giving it a little extra beautiful.

[1:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's sort of how it feels to be in the audience as well, overwhelmed in like the best way possible. What's your favorite song to sing in the show?

[1:25] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: Oh, um, I'm lucky in that I love all of the music in this show. I mean, how can you not? I really haven't gotten tired of it, but I do love singing "Man of Metropolis," which is the Superman number. Um, because it's a very, I've found I've discovered a lot of sweetness in that song, but a lot of it is through the choreography and getting to connect with Brand Martinez who dances that number. Um, I just live for our moments of getting to like hold all of that sweetness and community and celebration on stage.

[2:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: So beautiful. So obviously, this is a story told through dance. Is there a particular moment in your life that you'd like to see be told through dance?

[2:09] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: Wow, that's a great question. Um, I can't help but think of I'm a singer-songwriter in my own right, and so I can't help but try to imagine some of my own music, um, kind of set to dance in this way, and I have dreams of making music videos where I can tap all of the dancers and ask them to come be a part of like a visual world that I make with my own music. Um, that would be really special.

[2:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's so cool. And real quick, my show on the podcast network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were on Broadway and playing guitar and crushing it, do you have a quick survival job you can share with us?

[2:39] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: Um, so many. I have never had music be my only job until now.

[2:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations, that's huge.

[2:46] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: Thank you. Um, so right before this, I was working in a wine store in Chicago.

[2:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[2:51] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: Fun, I love wine.

[2:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, enjoy your night. You deserve it. You are so incredible. This is such a special show, and I'm going to be back.

[2:59] Tasha Vietz Van Lear: Thank you so much. Enjoy the night.

[3:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you for talking to us. Hi, so we're a podcast network, a lot of folks are just listening. So can you please introduce yourself to the people who are listening and let us know what your role is on the show?

[3:10] Sarah Nova: My name is Sarah Nova, and I have a brand My Brightest Diamond that was on Sufjan Stevens' record label Asthmatic Kitty for a really long time, and I sang on the original "Illinoise" album and was part of the touring band.

[3:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations. I saw the show for the first time tonight and was absolutely blown away. How are you feeling tonight? And having all these people be here and chatting with you and celebrating something that you've been a part of for such a long time?

[3:39] Sarah Nova: It's a thrill, it's a child's dream to be on Broadway, to be in the House of Oklahoma, the St. James, the House of King and I. It is a great honor.

[3:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, that's incredible. Um, what is your favorite song to sing during the show and why?

[3:58] Sarah Nova: Woo! I think that "John Wayne Gacy Jr." is a very difficult song to sing, but I think that it as a contemplation of however you want to, you can think of that song in so very many kinds of ways, and so I think it's a song that calls one to empathy, and instead of othering what a human being might be capable of to really find the capacity and then find compassion in oneself.

[4:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: And that's how I think of that song.

[4:37] Sarah Nova: That's really beautiful. Thank you for breaking it down like that. So obviously, the show is a lot of stories told through dance. Is there a life event from your life that you would love to see be told through dance?

[4:47] Sarah Nova: Woo! That's a great question. Um, I have never thought of that before.

[4:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Me either, until tonight, and I was like, whoa, let's see what everyone has to say.

[4:59] Sarah Nova: Yeah, I would love to do that. I would love to see my music in dance form. I think that would be really, really thrilling. But now I know that you really ought to count in eights. There are a lot of fives in the show, and it does make for particular challenges. So these dancers have conquered those fives so beautifully.

[5:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: And lastly, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were working with your song and your singing craft, did you have a survival job along the way that you can share with us?

[5:34] Sarah Nova: I did come from a family of musicians, so I came up doing music my whole life, but I was a waitress at 33rd and Third, and I also worked at 30th and Park Avenue as a waitress for a while.

[5:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that. So many threes. Maybe that was your good luck charm for all the success to follow.

[5:55] Sarah Nova: 333 30th.

[5:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, congratulations. The show is stellar, and I can't wait to come back.

[6:01] Sarah Nova: Thank you for chatting with us.

[6:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much. Hello. Happy opening night.

[6:05] Dario Natcherelli: Thank you so much.

[6:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Welcome to our podcast network. A lot of folks are just listening. So can you please introduce yourself to the people who are only listening and let us know what your role here is at "Illinoise"?

[6:16] Dario Natcherelli: Hey everyone, my name is Dario Natcherelli, and I am an understudy, assistant dance captain, and fall captain.

[6:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow, congratulations. I saw the show for the first time tonight and was completely blown away and overwhelmed. How do you manage to juggle being an understudy as well as the assistant dance captain?

[6:35] Dario Natcherelli: I mean, these dance pieces are so complex. It is a lot of work, but it's very, very rewarding and to be able to learn Justin's choreography, not only in one track but so many tracks, and now with the assistant dance captain role, being able to watch everyone do everything. Um, it's definitely like a challenge, but it's a good challenge.

[6:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: What is your favorite piece to dance in the show?

[7:01] Dario Natcherelli: Oh, I oh gosh. I really love doing "Predatory Wasp." Um, that's a really fun one in the Henry track, and watching Ricky and Amad do it too is so inspiring, and being able to learn from them as well every night is really cool.

[7:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Now this is your Broadway debut. So how does it feel to be making your Broadway debut in such a huge show with all of your multi-hyphenate positions in the show?

[7:27] Dario Natcherelli: I mean, what an honor to be making my Broadway debut in "Illinoise." I feel like I don't want to say it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because I hope that there are more of these opportunities for dancers. But um, yeah, I just feel very lucky to be surrounded by these incredible dream collaborators on this show. So yeah, I'm very, very grateful.

[7:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Beautiful. So obviously, a lot of story is told through dance in this show. Is there a particular life event that you've had that you would like to see be told through dance?

[7:57] Dario Natcherelli: Oh my goodness. I probably have to think about that for a second. It's a tough I've been stumping everyone with that. That's such a great question. And I mean, I am a tap dancer, that's my first love, so I would love to. And of course, you have Byron Tittle who does all the tap dancing in the show, and it's just so inspiring. So I would maybe love to see something told through tap dancing on a commercial stage or on film or something, whatever type of medium. But um telling the story of tap dance would be really wonderful.

[8:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um and lastly, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Do you have a survival job that you had before you were literally doing every single job in "Illinoise" on Broadway?

[8:42] Dario Natcherelli: Oh my gosh, I've had so many. I would say the one that I did during like the height of the pandemic was very niche. I would hand dye yarn and I would sell it online, and so I would knit projects, crochet projects, make my own patterns to sell them online, and I would hand dye this yarn in my small New York City apartment and advertise it on Instagram to sell it. So that was like my last, like really wild.

[9:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's actually a first that I've heard. That's really cool.

[9:14] Dario Natcherelli: Well, congratulations. This show is so stellar. I can't wait to come back. Enjoy your night.

[9:17] Dario Natcherelli: Thanks so much. Have a great night.

[9:20] Byron Tittle: Okay, my name is Byron Tittle. I'm a cast member in the show. My character name is Cass. I'm also the tap dancer within the show.

[9:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: So yeah. The tap dancing is, I mean, the whole show is stunning, but though that tap number took me out. I saw it for the first time tonight and was screaming. It's so, so beautiful. How does it feel to be a part of such a unique show on the Broadway stage?

[9:48] Byron Tittle: Feels a little surreal. Um, I saw "Moving Out" as a child and that changed me. So to be living in the moment that I know will change my life forever is super. I don't really have the words to describe it yet, but I feel it in my entire body every single day. How lucky I am to get to perform this show.

[10:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: That was really beautiful. You just said to be living in the moment that's changing my entire life. Thank you. That just like gave me body chills. What's your favorite piece to dance in the show? Obviously, it's non-stop dancing, and you do that incredible tap, but what's your favorite piece to dance and why?

[10:29] Byron Tittle: I would have to say like my three-stars phrase in the beginning with Christine Flores and Kara Chan. Um, I really just met them very recently. I'm about to cry. And um, they've changed my dancing and me as a human, and it starts out my show and it grounds me.

[10:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you for being so vulnerable.

[10:59] Byron Tittle: That's how I mean the audience feels the emotion through all of the movement. So you guys are absolutely killing it, and thank you for sharing that. Obviously, we're telling a lot of story through dance. Is there a moment in your life that you would like to see be told through dance?

[11:18] Byron Tittle: I actually being told in the show. Um, I'm a cancer survivor, um, like almost 10 years now.

[11:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations.

[11:26] Byron Tittle: Thank you so much. Um, yeah, and doing this show has healed so many parts of me. And um, Gabby and I have a special connection, and since she plays Shelby, who is affected by cancer within the show, um, we've had a lot of conversations, and it's helped so much with like survivor's guilt and so many of these other little drop-down places of cancer surviving that aren't as optimistic, you know. It's still hard to survive to go back into life and feel like nothing has happened and operate as though you don't want anybody to give you too much grace, but you still want the acknowledgement of being a survivor.

[12:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: So um yeah, this show has kind of broke open my mind to what is possible.

[12:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Isn't that beautiful? That's what art's supposed to do, and it's doing it for the audience and the cast. It's actually insane. And I can't believe that is because a lot of the times as artists, you pour and don't get anything back, or vice versa, you know, for the audience. They're like, okay, I didn't really get it. But it's such a symbiotic relationship, and it's such a cycle, and I feel so, so lucky to be able to tell a story that has to do with me, that looks like me. I am also queer, I'm also a cancer survivor. It feels like I have been put in this moment by a higher power specifically in my body, and it's the most otherworldly experience, really.

[12:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much for sharing. Like, we feel it so, so deep from the audience as well. Congratulations on a stellar performance. I can't wait to come back again and again and again.

[13:05] Justin Peck: We're the Broadway Podcast Network. A lot of people are just listening. So can you please let everybody know your name and what your role here is with "Illinoise"?

[13:12] Justin Peck: Hi, I am Justin Peck. Uh, I'm the director and choreographer and co-writer of "Illinoise" on Broadway.

[13:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Justin, I saw the show for the first time tonight and was screaming, blown away, lost my mind. I don't even know where to begin with these questions, but how did you dissect this? The process. It's such a beast of a show, and it's so beautiful. So where did you begin?

[13:36] Justin Peck: Um, I guess the process really began with the music and wanting to honor this album, which is an album that really struck a beautiful chord with a whole generation of people. And I wanted to bring it to life in a theatrical way. So, uh, present the music sonically, but also create an entire world that adds dimension and adds sort of like narrative to what this album could be.

[14:05] Justin Peck: So that was like where it all began, and then I spent a lot of time collaborating with Jackie Sibblies Drury, my co-writer on this, and the great playwright to shape the story and shape the storytelling and build these characters and see how they sort of like ran through the course of this album and this music.

[14:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: I felt so lucky as an audience member to watch this piece of theater, and it's such a unique piece of theater to come to Broadway, so thank you.

[14:37] Justin Peck: Do you have a piece in the show that was maybe a favorite one to choreograph, a favorite one to create?

[14:45] Justin Peck: Well, it's hard to pick one. I mean, there's the thing about this show is that the story is told mostly through the language of dance and movement and gesture. Um, in a lot of ways, it sort of feels like it's delivered like you're watching a silent film, and it's actually being underscored by this music and this album and the lyrics. Amazing vocalists, amazing musicians, like truly one of a kind band that's bringing this album to life. Um, but the beauty of that is that we're able to explore so many different emotions and story arcs and character arcs. So I found the moments that touch on grief to be the most terrifying to develop for me personally, and also the most profound in how they're expressed in the show.

So I guess numbers like "Kasimir Pulaski Day" and "The Sears Tower," um, and even like the "Chicago Reprie" solo, which is kind of like I think of it as the 11 o'clock number for Ricky Ubeda. Um, but instead of singing, he dances, and he delivers this elegy poem at the end of this whole story that he's told. So it's a really beautiful moment.

[16:07] Justin Peck: It's so beautiful. So obviously we're telling story through dance. Is there a moment in your life, in your own personal life, that you would like to be seen through dance?

[16:18] Justin Peck: Um, I guess it's like in the spirit of the show, but like that moment of coming to New York. It's just we all a lot of us know what that feels like, and it's such a, it's oh, there's an adrenaline and there's like a joy and there's fear and there's, yeah, terror, and there's like, it's all the things, and it gets almost so emotionally boiled over that you want to like physicalize that somehow. And so yeah, I guess that moment, that a moment like that is fun to like.

[16:55] Justin Peck: So lastly, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were crushing it as an artist, do you have a survival job that you could share with us that you had along the way?

[17:05] Justin Peck: Um, I used to like organize an accountant who worked at the School of American Ballet where I went. I used to organize his personal taxes, and it was like the most mind-numbing stuff I've ever done. And just made me run the opposite direction and go straight into the dance studio.

[17:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, you know what? Running into the dance studio has paid off for you. Congratulations on everything. I'm such a fan. I cannot wait to come back to the show again and again and again.

[17:39] Brent Martinez: Yeah, uh, my name is Brent Martinez, and I play the role of Clark, and Clark becomes Superman within the show.

[17:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing, amazing work. I just saw the show for the first time tonight and was completely blown away. What does it feel like to be such a part of such a unique and groundbreaking show on Broadway?

[17:58] Brent Martinez: Um, you know, I got into entertainment through dance. So to be part of a show that is, uh, the primary tool is dance, it's a dream come true. I mean, my 12-year-old self is geeking out every single day that I get to do this on a Broadway stage. Uh, I've been in five other shows, and not any others have I felt this celebrated as a dancer.

[18:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Of course, it's so beautiful. Is there a favorite piece that you have in the show that's your favorite to dance?

[18:25] Brent Martinez: Uh, selfishly "Superman," because I get to bear my heart. I mean, it's amazing.

[18:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: So thank you.

[18:29] Brent Martinez: Yeah.

[18:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: It was amazing. I was literally screaming through it. Um, so obviously we're talking a lot about dance. The show is story told through movement. Is there a particular moment in your personal life that you would like to see be told through dance?

[18:44] Brent Martinez: Ah, interesting question. Um, I've been stumping a lot of people with this one tonight.

[18:51] Brent Martinez: Yeah, I have a story that I've been trying to tell in some ways. It's my childhood, it's about generational trauma from my grandpa to my dad to me. And it's, um, kind of through many iterations become this dance piece that's in my head.

[19:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[19:08] Brent Martinez: Um, let's get it out of your head.

[19:10] Brent Martinez: I mean, it's like in Justin Peck has inspired that way of telling a story, and um, yeah, I think, you know, could be something.

[19:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, "Superman" was incredible, by the way.

[19:21] Brent Martinez: And thank you.

[19:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, lastly, my show on the network is called Survival Jobs. Before you were starring on Broadway in multiple shows, do you have a survival job along the way that you could share with us?

[19:31] Brent Martinez: Yeah, I when I first moved to the city, I worked in catering because it was the most flexible job. I could say no to the event and be available for auditions, and um, and it paid like $25 an hour, and that's yeah, it's kind of what I did. And I also cleaned toilets at Steps on Broadway to take free dance class.

[19:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, incredible, incredible. It paid off.

[19:52] Brent Martinez: The toilet cleaning totally paid off.

[19:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you.

[19:54] Brent Martinez: I appreciate it. Congratulations.

[19:56] Brent Martinez: I can't wait to come back to the show again and again and again.

[19:58] Rachel Lockhart: My name is Rachel Lockhart. I'm originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and I play the role Morgan in "Illinoise."

[20:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Rachel, I am I feel like a broken record. I'm saying this to everyone. I saw the show tonight. I was completely blown away. When you were having your moment, I leaned over to my friend. I was like, she's amazing. What does it feel to be a part of such a unique show on Broadway? Especially in this crazy season?

[20:24] Rachel Lockhart: Yeah, it's honestly so overwhelming. A lot of emotions, but in a good way. Truly a big blessing. I just graduated college a year ago, so to be doing or accomplishing a big dream of mine at such an early time in my career has been such an honor.

[20:39] Rachel Lockhart: So I'm just taking in all of it, trying to embrace everything. Being present day by day, amazing.

[20:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Is there a piece in the show that is your favorite to dance?

[20:48] Rachel Lockhart: I love "Jacksonville," the number that I'm in. Um, and then to watch, I love watching "Predatory Wasp," the part at the end towards the end of the show. So heart-wrenching. Uh, takes you on an emotional roller coaster, but so powerful.

[21:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[21:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: So we're telling a lot of story through dance, obviously. Do you have a particular moment from your personal life that you would like to see be told through dance?

[21:11] Rachel Lockhart: Hmm, I think, uh, let's see. That's a good question. Um, a moment from my personal life. I begged my mom since I was young to do a dance competition. She's a studio owner, um, and I grew up in the concert world, and so I begged her to do dance competitions for ever since I could remember, and I finally did my first one, maybe ninth grade, and I was also questioning if I wanted to continue dancing around that time.

[21:36] Rachel Lockhart: Um, I choreographed the self, um, choreographed work that was about labels and breaking limitations and stereotypes, and um, wasn't expecting anything from it, wasn't even focused on the trophies or anything. I just wanted to do that for myself.

[21:52] Rachel Lockhart: And so this woman that was watching in the audience came up to me and asked, could she hug me and full face full of tears? And from that moment on, I knew that I was put on this earth to dance.

[22:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, something around those lines of just showing my journey.

[22:05] Rachel Lockhart: Let's get it out of your head and into dance.

[22:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi, congratulations on an amazing show. We're with the Broadway Podcast Network. A lot of people are just listening, so can you please introduce yourself and let everybody know your role here at "Illinoise"?

[22:17] Gabby Diaz: Hi, my name is Gabby Diaz, and I play Shelby in "Illinoise."

[22:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Gabby, I saw the show tonight. Your performance is unbelievable and so heart-wrenching and so stunning. What does it feel like to be a part of such a unique show on Broadway, especially in this season?

[22:36] Gabby Diaz: It's very humbling, it's very emotional. I love dance more than anything, and I wasn't sure that I'd ever have the opportunity to share what I believe to be my gift in this way on this scale on Broadway.

[22:50] Gabby Diaz: So I feel very surreal and I feel very humbled. A lot of pinch me moments. Just trying to soak it all up.

[22:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's kind of how you feel as the audience. Like, pinch me, like this is so stunning, I can't believe we're watching this.

[23:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: So we're obviously telling story through dance. Is there a moment from your own personal life that you would like to see be told through dance?

[23:10] Gabby Diaz: Oh wow. I mean, what I get to share in this show without revealing too much is very personal to my family's experience right now. It's been a hard year, so getting to dance through these challenges that so many people face, and something that touches so many people has been really cathartic in a very special way.

[23:34] Gabby Diaz: It's just it's crazy how the universe, like many things true at once, all happening at the same time, and I'm very grateful to be surrounded by these people in this time.

[23:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you for sharing that. And real quick, before you were successful creating art as your career, did you have a survival job before you were making money as an artist?

[23:56] Gabby Diaz: You know what's funny? I always said I'd just be the manager at a gym. So I applied to work at a gym, but I applied for the managerial position, and I didn't get the job.

[24:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: I was gonna be like, and you booked it.

[24:10] Gabby Diaz: No, I didn't get the job because they were like, girl, what do you think you're doing? Um, I'm very blessed and fortunate to say I have not had to have survival jobs.

[24:20] Gabby Diaz: I teach as my survival job, which is still movement. So I'm very fortunate, which it's fortune, and it's also true, true talent.

[24:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: You are so amazing. Congratulations. Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us.

[24:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I'm gonna make this quick so you can go party. We're the podcast network, a lot of people are just listening. So can you please introduce yourself?

[24:38] Ben Cook: Yes, I just yes, I just heard about the Broadway Podcast Network. Welcome.

[24:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Now you're on it.

[24:43] Ben Cook: I can't remember.

[24:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Thank you. Can you introduce yourself to the people who are just listening?

[24:47] Ben Cook: Yeah, I'm Ben Cook, and I'm fortunate enough to be a part of "Illinoise."

[24:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Ben, your performance is so stunning in this show. What does it feel like to be in such a unique show on Broadway, especially during this season?

[24:59] Ben Cook: I mean, it's absolutely nuts. I mean, we started creating this like two years ago. Um, I got to make this with my best friends, people I knew long before, you know, we started working on this together. My partner in real life, and it's just, uh, it's been crazy, you know, two years in the making, and the fact that we somehow, some way landed up here does not cease to amaze me, honestly.

[25:22] Ben Cook: I mean, I watched it tonight for the first time and was so blown away. It's so stunning.

[25:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: So, congratulations and thank you. Obviously, we're telling story through dance. Is there a moment in your own personal life that you would like to see be told through dance?

[25:37] Ben Cook: Whoa, oh my god, that's a great question. I don't know. I like I wish that's a really, really hard one.

[25:45] Ben Cook: I feel like if I had to choose as corny, you know, it's like when I fell in love with the person I'm with now. It's that's the most cinematic I feel like my life has ever felt to you know feel those feelings and like if anything could represent it, I think dance, it would be for that.

[25:53] Ben Cook: It would be for that. It'd have to be, you know.

[26:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Falling in love is amazing.

[26:07] Ben Cook: That's so beautiful.

[26:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: And real quick, I know we you gotta get to this party. Um, my show on the network's called Survival Jobs.

[26:13] Ben Cook: Okay, cool. Do you have a survival job you can share with us before you're a literal Broadway star?

[26:17] Ben Cook: Honestly, I feel very fortunate. My survival job has always been teaching dance. I love dance. I love kids, and so that's been the job. Anytime I've been out of work, it's been like who, what studio can I, you know, uh work with, and yeah, I love teaching dance.

[26:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Specifically, I go home to my home studio where I grew up dancing and where I learned to dance.

[26:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's so beautiful, and those lucky kids. Congratulations.

[26:48] Ricky Ubeda: Yes, I am Ricky Ubeda.

[26:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you, Ricky. Um, this is such an amazing performance and such an amazing show. What does it feel like to be in a groundbreaking show like this, especially during this season?

[27:00] Ricky Ubeda: It's such a unique show for Broadway. Um, I think I'm just really excited to be celebrating this moment with my cast and the creative team. We've been sort of, um, in the studio and sort of in the mud for like many years, um, creating something that feels different and it's been difficult but also really fulfilling.

[27:20] Ricky Ubeda: And I think to get it in front of audiences and to have them resonate so much, so much so that we got to be able to bring it to Broadway because the way that people was moving people was so loud. Um, it's really special. We're really excited.

[27:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's so, so stunning and beautiful. So obviously, we're telling story through dance in this show. Is there a moment in your own personal life that you would like to see be told through dance?

[27:44] Ricky Ubeda: Oh, that's a good question.

[27:47] Ricky Ubeda: Oh wow. I'm really into like coming of age stories, which is essentially what my character is in the show. But yeah, I think it'd be a fun story. Like a, you know, like I had an interesting childhood, like growing up in like a Cuban household in Miami and going, yeah, like going to school was interesting. I think that would be a really fun, sort of unique and nuanced story to tell, maybe.

[28:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Totally.

[28:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: And real quick, my show on the network's called Survival Jobs. Before you were a literal Broadway star, do you have a quick survival job you can share with us?

[28:17] Ricky Ubeda: I never.

[28:18] Ricky Ubeda: How fucking blessed.

[28:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: Sorry, I swore.

[28:20] Ricky Ubeda: No, no, no, you can swear.

[28:22] Ricky Ubeda: But obviously you don't because you're so talented.

[28:25] Ricky Ubeda: And I know how lucky I am to never tell you.

[28:25] Ricky Ubeda: I was shot out of a cannon when I was 18 years old, straight out of high school.

[28:33] Ricky Ubeda: And gratefully, I haven't had to have a muggle job, as we say.

[28:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: A muggle job, listen.

[28:40] Ricky Ubeda: I'm like, and if the time ever came, I would. And what would I do?

[28:43] Ricky Ubeda: Maybe I'll do that.

[28:44] Ricky Ubeda: What would I maybe I work at a bookstore?

[28:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Beautiful.

[28:48] Ricky Ubeda: He would work at a bookstore, but it's not just luck, it's talent, you're so amazing.

[28:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Congratulations. Thank you for talking to us.

[28:54] Ricky Ubeda: Go enjoy your night.

[28:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you so much.

[28:57] Ricky Ubeda: Bye.