This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:05] Jason A. Coombs: Hello, survivors. Welcome to Survival Jobs, a podcast in collaboration with Broadway World and Broadway Podcast Network.

[0:12] Jason A. Coombs: I am your host, Jason A. Coombs, and I'm here with my amazing co-host, the legendary iconic Samantha Tuozzolo.

[0:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: And we are here. We're talking. We are connecting. We are celebrating Pride Month and summer.

[0:28] Jason A. Coombs: You said we're talking.

[0:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: We're talking. Good thing we are. We're living. We're being in the moment. We are making something special. Continuing to make something special.

[0:40] Jason A. Coombs: Yes. Hi, Jason.

[0:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hi, how are you?

[0:45] Jason A. Coombs: I'm doing okay. So in theme, in theme with how we've been answering this question to the new listeners, welcome. Jason and I always check in with each other at the beginning of every episode.

[0:57] Jason A. Coombs: This stint of time, Tony season. We're relating our feelings to a show from the season this year of Broadway. Um, so how am I? Today, I would say I'm feeling like The Notebook, the musical.

[1:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, not because I'm in love, but because I am dementia, right?

[1:19] Jason A. Coombs: I do not knock on wood have dementia.

[1:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: In case anyone wants to know, and the way it is affecting me and my emotions is absolutely batshit. I cannot stop crying about anything. I'm just crying, crying, crying. So I'm absolutely The Notebook.

[1:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: And like, shout out to women who struggle with hormones and things in our bodies, and like, not to like get too deep and too open, but like, a lot of women go on birth control to help with their menstrual cycle.

[2:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: And it just is so crazy the things we have to do to not want to like cry every single month. Um, but I'm taking myself off just because I want to see how the body feels without it.

[2:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: And I'll let you know how it's feeling right now. Crying. So I am I am the rain scene in The Notebook musical.

[2:27] Jason A. Coombs: Okay.

[2:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: I am crying, crying, crying. But like I'm not like in like a major depression or anything, but like yesterday, if anyone looked at me wrong, I would have like punched them and then cried.

[2:44] Jason A. Coombs: Well, I'm sure they deserved that they looked at you wrong.

[2:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you. I'm kidding. And like I'm so happy to be The Notebook this week because it is my favorite show of the season.

[2:53] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you. Yes. How about you, Jay? How are you feeling?

[2:56] Jason A. Coombs: Um, that's funny because I always struggle with this. I'm always like, how do I fit this in? But um, well, first I want to say thank you for being so transparent with your feelings. I know like I'm sure so many people can relate to that out there.

[3:11] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, um, I guess I always try to think of something, and because it's Pride Month, right? And I think that lesbians are so much cooler than the gays.

[3:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: I was gonna say Olympica.

[3:25] Jason A. Coombs: Um, yeah, happy Pride Month to everybody celebrating out there. And if you aren't celebrating, what's wrong with you? Are you a homophobe? You should be ashamed of yourself.

[3:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: No homophobes here.

[3:38] Jason A. Coombs: Homophobes are not allowed. Did you see that? Did you see that video? I think I sent it to you, Samantha. But there's a very funny video of Jonathan Groff being honored with something, and he says he's celebrating Pride Month, right?

[3:51] Jason A. Coombs: And he said he's single. I would just say I'm single.

[4:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: I just can't get over that.

[4:11] Jason A. Coombs: On the topic of pride, did you see this viral video? You love Pride and Prep. Should we call that episode Pride and Prep?

[4:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: I wish. Maybe when we get Jonathan Groff on, we'll call it Pride and Prep.

[4:23] Jason A. Coombs: Oh God. Guys, we're really trying to get Jonathan Groff on. So if anyone can, anyone's listening who has the hookup, send them our email, survivaljobspot@gmail.com.

[4:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[4:34] Jason A. Coombs: And my personal one, jcombs28@gmail.com. Thanks.

[4:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: 28.

[4:59] Jason A. Coombs: Um, speaking of pride, my phone number 203-545.

[4:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Jason, you're killing me today.

[4:59] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my god. You gotta laugh sometimes, right?

[4:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: You know, or cry.

[4:59] Jason A. Coombs: You're laughing and I'm crying. That's the vibe.

[4:59] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, speaking of pride, there's this viral video going around of Adele's concert.

[5:06] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, somebody screams out pride sucks, and she's like, Are you fucking kidding? Like, are you actually at my concert screaming out pride sucks?

[5:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Like what is wrong with people?

[5:19] Jason A. Coombs: That's what I was just gonna say. Like, mind your bit. Like, if you are not gay, no worries, I'm not gay. I'm a major ally. I love the gays, all of them.

[5:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: But all of them, yeah.

[5:33] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, multiple group chats filled with them.

[5:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, but like if gay people or non-binary people or transgender people bother you so bad.

[5:45] Jason A. Coombs: Don't talk, like, shut up.

[5:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Keep to yourself, surround yourself with no gays, how boring your life is gonna be, and just please be quiet.

[5:55] Jason A. Coombs: Like other people's choices and who they love and what they want to identify as does not personally affect you in your day-to-day life.

[6:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: So please zip your mouth, go find someone to love and surround your own life with whatever happiness you can find.

[6:12] Jason A. Coombs: And I don't know if it'll be much because you're such a judger bye, and I'm off my step stool, and blame it on the hormone swirling.

[6:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: I will yes, she will punch you in the face.

[6:24] Jason A. Coombs: I was driving my mom around yesterday, and she goes, Do you want me to drive? And I said, I'm good.

[6:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: She's like, You're angry driving.

[6:33] Jason A. Coombs: That's me every day. People can't drive, but anyway, yeah.

[6:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you for saying that. Thank you for um, yeah.

[6:41] Jason A. Coombs: Because it's other people's life choices do not affect your day to day.

[6:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Who they go to bed with that night does not affect who you go to bed with that night.

[6:49] Jason A. Coombs: What they want to identify as does not affect what you as an individual identify as.

[6:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: So please keep it to yourself. Love is love, and keep it moving, and let's just continue this world with love because I'm sick of it.

[7:05] Jason A. Coombs: So many of my friends are non-binary or are trans, are or are gay, and these are amazing people, some of the best people in the world.

[7:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: And so that's all that matters at the end of the day.

[7:18] Jason A. Coombs: So happy fucking pride. Let your freak flag fly.

[7:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Not that we're freaks, but we all are freaks.

[7:26] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah. Can you cut to Shrek? Isn't that from Shrek?

[7:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: Let your freak flag fly.

[7:31] Jason A. Coombs: Let your freak flag fly.

[7:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Never let it down.

[7:35] Jason A. Coombs: Never let it down.

[7:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: Can you cut to that song there?

[7:37] Jason A. Coombs: And now I'm gonna go on mute because let her cook.

[7:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Come on. Goodbye.

[7:43] Jason A. Coombs: Singing passion.

[7:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Samantha's pulling on me this week.

[7:52] Jason A. Coombs: I love it. But um before we go into our very special, awesome, handsome superstar of a guest.

[7:59] Jason A. Coombs: I just wanted to give another plug. You know, I it's always so awkward doing plugs of your own stuff, but Bridgeport Film Fest.

[8:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Where is it?

[8:06] Jason A. Coombs: It's coming up right here. I'm a boob. Um, I think it'll be this is uh and we have submissions that are closing you know very soon.

[8:14] Jason A. Coombs: So uh we have a special discount. I'll put in the notes and I'll put right here because I can't remember off the top of my head for those watching.

[8:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: But um, submit your film, submit your scripts.

[8:25] Jason A. Coombs: Um, when tickets go on sale in July, come.

[8:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: So yeah, that's all I want to say.

[8:30] Jason A. Coombs: bridgeportfilmfest.org. All the information is there. Love y'all.

[8:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love you so plug.

[8:36] Jason A. Coombs: Oh good, and this is celebratory time.

[8:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: So yes, Samantha's gonna be full of pride and prep.

[8:46] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, Jason, let's talk about our guests today.

[8:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my gosh, what an icon.

[8:51] Jason A. Coombs: I know we say that a lot, but tell us the story, Jakeim Hart, starring in Hell's Kitchen.

[8:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh Jay, tell us the story of how Jakeim came to our show.

[9:02] Jason A. Coombs: This is a good story.

[9:04] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, yeah. Well, you know, of course, I got to do the red carpet of Hell's Kitchen back on 420. Can you believe that?

[9:11] Jason A. Coombs: It was like so long ago, but also like yesterday. Shout out Broadway World for giving us the Yeah.

[9:17] Jason A. Coombs: And uh we got to I got to go on the red carpet and got to interview some really cool cast members and crew, and Jakeim was one of the last ones that I got to talk to, and he was just so awesome.

[9:30] Jason A. Coombs: He had like the best outfit, he was like the best dressed. I'll throw a picture in there, and he was just so cool.

[9:36] Jason A. Coombs: And I was like, you know, like I love the show, and like I was telling him how I cried the whole second act of the show, and he was just such an awesome person.

[9:43] Jason A. Coombs: He let me ramble for like what felt like 20 minutes, but you know, and he was so cool, and uh I met his stylist also.

[9:50] Jason A. Coombs: Um, but he's just so cool. And I reached out to him if he wanted to be on the show, and he was like, Yes, he likes the show.

[9:54] Jason A. Coombs: He really appreciated my questions on the red carpet. So that was really inspiring and cool to hear.

[10:00] Jason A. Coombs: So and speaking of being open today, I'm an open book today. He was so open on our show and so vulnerable and shared so much.

[10:08] Jason A. Coombs: And um, I really enjoyed this conversation and felt really moved and inspired.

[10:15] Jason A. Coombs: And he's so great in Hell's Kitchen, too. You know, we talk about The Notebook a lot, but we also talk about Hell's Kitchen a lot on this show.

[10:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wow.

[10:24] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, it's close for me too. I love it. I've seen it twice, and I will go back to the I will go back to the I love that.

[10:33] Jason A. Coombs: You know, he's such a talented singer and a musician, right? He plays the guitar and he plays the piano and he plays drums in Hell's Kitchen.

[10:42] Jason A. Coombs: And I think she said drums not even like his main instrument, which is also really freaking cool because he's up there just beating those buckets, you know.

[10:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I'm like it.

[10:53] Jason A. Coombs: I'm a Jakeim stand. We'll put that on there for sure record.

[10:56] Jason A. Coombs: And then I got to meet him officially again, like after seeing the show again after our conversation.

[11:02] Jason A. Coombs: It was like actually meeting like a friend, like an actual friend now.

[11:05] Jason A. Coombs: Um after Hell's Kitchen. And um, you know, took some pictures, I'll put that in there with my friend Alana and I and got to fangirl again.

[11:14] Jason A. Coombs: And yeah, we're gonna we're gonna make something happen. You listen to the interview and we we manifest something, all three of us.

[11:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: We manifest a collaboration.

[11:24] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, we sure do.

[11:26] Jason A. Coombs: So let me tell you guys a little bit about Jakeim, and then please enjoy this episode and please run to Schubert Alley and see Hell's Kitchen.

[11:35] Jason A. Coombs: If you haven't seen it yet, I don't know what you're waiting for because we talk about this show like almost every week, and truly it's such a great, fun, beautiful, inspiring, and heartfelt show.

[11:44] Jason A. Coombs: So you need to see it. It covers every box of feelings, truly.

[11:50] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, you guys, Jakeim Hart, who's currently starring in Hell's Kitchen as Q and Ensemble, has also been seen on Broadway in Almost Famous, where he played Dennis Hope and understudied Russell.

[12:01] Jason A. Coombs: Uh, some of his off-Broadway credits include Sing Street at New York Theater Workshop, which by the way, I saw years ago pre-pandemic. It was so good.

[12:08] Jason A. Coombs: Hello, this is my campaign to bring back Sing Street. Thank you. Um, and he was also seen in Saturday Night at Second Stage.

[12:16] Jason A. Coombs: Uh, regionally, you may have seen him in We Live in Cairo at ART. Some of his television credits include Blue Bloods on CBS, The Affair.

[12:24] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, I love The Affair on Showtime. Stay tuned for his debut EP Bad Country coming soon to streaming.

[12:33] Jakeim Hart: Thanks, guys. Thanks for listening. Enjoy this episode. Enjoy Joaquin. He's awesome. Enjoy Joaquin. Joaquim. Welcome to Survival Jobs the Podcast. We are so excited to sit down here with you. First of all, congratulations, Hell's Kitchen 13 Tony nominations.

[12:54] Jason A. Coombs: Thank you so much. How are you feeling?

[12:58] Jakeim Hart: I'm just trying to. And we're just having the blasts. I'm having I'm having a really good time. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Of course. Well, we had we had a little we had a little like gala thing last night. So excuse me if my voice is a little tired because we were we were singing at the top of our lungs.

[13:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my gosh, I love that. That's so fun. Um okay. So before we get into Hell's Kitchen, which was I'm sure everyone wants to hear everything about, we're gonna go back to our show, which what our show is about, our roots, survival jobs. Love this. So before you were in Hell's Kitchen, before you were in Almost Famous, before you were just killing it, do you have a survival job that was like one of your favorites or very memorable for you?

[13:50] Jakeim Hart: Um sure. So when I uh what allowed me to move to the city was uh was bar work basically. Um I got a job at uh at a fancy restaurant downtown, and uh with very minimal experience. I guess they were, you know, kind of I mean, you know how people like with their resume when they move into the city, you know. Um, so trying to make something happen. You know how it goes. You know how it goes. But it's like sometimes you gotta do that to get in the door, and then like once you're there, you show them like, hey, you deserve to be there. So that's what happened there. I ended up staying at that place for about a year and you know, they were semi-flexible with me like doing auditions and stuff. Um so uh I'm I was I was grateful to have the you know, opportunity and like the money to be able to move from Long Island to the city.

That's that's that's what did it for me. So I just went to a couple other bars after that one. Um and then I stopped bartending, I think before the before the pandemic. Um I was in a show that was slated to go to Broadway, but then the pandemic, you know, oh yeah. We're gonna talk about that. Changed the plans, yeah. Yeah, you know.

[15:08] Jason A. Coombs: For sure.

[15:09] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah, yeah. But uh bar work was definitely like my uh my main uh survival job. I did that for you. Slinging those cocktails.

[15:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah. Hey, you gotta do it.

[15:19] Jakeim Hart: You gotta do it. So bartending was what really did it for you and like helped you be where you are today. But do you have a survival job that was like not one that was like super positive or helpful, one that was like crazy? We have a lot of stories on here of people are like, I quit after a week because you're one of those.

[15:38] Jakeim Hart: Oh Lord. Um I quit after a week because I mean uh uh a bar job did make me quit after one day, but uh aside from that, um uh I was uh my first job uh after I graduated college, moved back home to my parents' house. I was uh I was pizza delivery boy um I did that for a summer I want to say like not even like two months it just is it was pretty awful um they don't pay for that they don't pay for your gas they don't you know everything was done in cash um there is you know I had problems with some of the people I was working with there's no HR that you can complain to so it's just like you either gonna get this money or you're not so um I I did that for yeah I want to say not even two months just because I I needed some money uh but that was probably like you had to survive I you know when you when you fresh out of college and you're just looking for for some money like that was it served its purpose I'll say that yes so let's move past that no more pizza delivery for now anyway.

[16:52] Jason A. Coombs: Hey hey the knock on knock on what it was all the way um so I read online I was doing a little bit of research that you started playing the piano at four yes and then you were drumming around eight and then guitar which is like your main instrument at nine.

[17:09] Jakeim Hart: Yeah and it was a way to connect with your dad who was a musician. Can you share exactly what was the catalyst for you that was like hey I want to pursue this as a career oh I can act oh I got a I got a voice too like um well the it's like the the seeds have been planted like from an early age like my my father was a was successful you know musician for about thirty or so years.

[17:41] Jakeim Hart: Oh wow yeah and uh I but the problem was like I was kind of intimidated by how like how advanced and how skilled he was because he's like trying to bring me into the fold I'm like bro what am I what am I gonna do next to you when you're you know doing all that so um you know you know um because I'd go I grew up like watching him play going to his gigs and all that stuff and um so I wanted to find something that I could be as expressive on and for me that became guitar and my dad was playing in uh in a band at the time and his uh his bandmates uh became my guitar teacher didn't charge my dad a dime or anything so I really do owe uh Danny Marks uh my guitar teacher a very huge debt of gratitude for giving me a livelihood and you know not charging my dad a penny.

Shout out Danny Danny Marks um uh support you know local guitar teachers um yeah and then uh it kind of well because we had so many instruments in the house it's like you know you start on one and then it's like oh what's that over there? Oh what's that over there? So it was a little bit like putting my hands in different places just to see you know if anything started sounding good and you know when I was a kid like all kids just love to play. So I became like more regimented and focused about it. Um and this is like my one regret I wish that I had like become more serious about it like earlier on. Um I had uh I'd kind of like you know fallen back from lessons and playing regularly. I just you know I wanted to play video games and do the do the musicals when I was a kid um for the most part uh but when I got um sing street was uh like my first big uh contract after graduating and that was a whole show about um actor musicianship is about like kids uh in the 80s like making a band so it was imperative that everybody was uh kind of a consummate musician and that really made yeah no it was it definitely was like another playground for me to like sharpen those uh those skills um especially with like collaborating and playing with other people it's like I I played in like I played in some bands when I was in high school but like you know everybody's just like messing around but this was like they wanted it to be the real deal so we really had to tighten up um but uh yeah no that's uh that's my only that's my only regret in life basically is just I I decided to become serious about it I think too late and I wanted to you know I I'd be in a different place now if I had been this discipline when I was just learning when I was a kid but you know yeah you know how that goes yeah everything happens when it's supposed to I guess right yeah because who knew where you'd be if you were you know doing a lot of studying you may not be drumming it up on a non-nominated best musical you know 13 nominations right so you know wow, you know and that that's that's the ironic thing.

[21:01] Jakeim Hart: I I don't really I don't really drum like that, but um Welled me. Yeah, we do. I I don't really drum like that, but um like I'll keep this beat for you, but uh the it's it's ironic because my first um my first like reading or workshop was uh it was it was a workshop at public theater back when I was still an undergrad and I was um I I was hired to to drum in that show too. So now all these years later, full circle, um I'm being uh hired to drum again first at the public theater and now at the Schubert. So that's really cool.

[21:38] Jason A. Coombs: That's really cool.

[21:40] Jakeim Hart: Nice, nice little full circle.

[21:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, but so so you made your Broadway debut in Almost Famous in 2022 as Dennis Hope. But that was two years after you were supposed to bring Sing Street was supposed to come to Broadway in 2020, which by the way, I saw Sing Street and I love day, yes.

[21:57] Jakeim Hart: Where was it?

[21:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Is that New York Theater Workshop?

[21:59] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah, it was, yeah. Back in um pre-pandemic. And I remember being so excited about it. So hello to anyone who's listening. Can we make it come back in some way? You know, the powers that be.

[22:14] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, yeah.

[22:15] Jakeim Hart: Um so what was your opening night like for you for Almost Famous after you had like expected already to be on Broadway, um and then it finally did happen. And do you have a favorite favorite memory from your time in Almost Famous?

[22:29] Jakeim Hart: Um well, I'm very I'm very grateful to you know, producers of of that of of Almost Famous and you know Cameron Crow, all of them for giving me that opportunity. It was a very low and dark point in my life. My father had just passed away, actually, at that time, and I was I was reeling from a long time of like no work, and then this popped up out of nowhere, and I almost didn't even take the audition just because I was really uh upset and not feeling like myself, and especially because it was a show about music. I was like, how the hell could I, you know, uh the the biggest musical influence in my life is not around anymore. How could I you know possibly you know get through this? But uh my mother and my uh my uh girlfriend at the time really uh really uh sent the message home like hey, you should he would want you to do this, he'd want you to see this through.

So um thanks to them, I I uh took that advice and went on the Zoom callback, and uh it was uh it was a whirlwind, man. Like, you know, a show about music, and I'm a I'm a musician. It just felt like it was a good fit, and you know, it lasted for as long as it did, but you know, that's just the nature of the business. But I was I got a whole lot out of my short time there, like cool people that I still talk to today, and yeah, and that's great. Just what it represented at that point in my life. It was really like a a saving grace in a way, yeah.

[24:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah, thank you. Thank you. Congratulations, thank you for sharing that. Our condolences.

[24:13] Jakeim Hart: Um thank you, thank you.

[24:19] Jason A. Coombs: No, no, it's it's it's not, but um, especially with you know the just the magnitude of that loss. But I I'm choosing now to approach my music and my career is like you know, he's still he's somewhere, he's got a better seat than most people, but he's somewhere watching.

[24:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. Wow, okay. So if you don't mind, let's get into Hell's Kitchen.

[24:44] Jakeim Hart: Yes uh congratulations again how did you get involved with this production because I know it was at the public originally so like give us all the details and how much has it changed since the public to now oh boy um well I have been involved in development oh god I I think it was April of last year is when I had my first 29 hour reading and that's where I met like most of the um people that got the Shubert right now um and at that point uh like when I took the odd when I did the audition I think I I went out of town so I couldn't I couldn't go to the callback and I I guess whatever I did in the room like you know stuck with them enough to just like offer me the the reading and like that was my that was my callback to see if I passed the vibe check and everything.

[25:38] Jakeim Hart: You know how that goes. So, there was a 29-hour and then there was tier three a couple months after that, and then we went into production for the public. The way that this was built, it's gone through so many different hands, at least in a couple different departments. But when I was first brought into it, there was no sheet music. I was being taught things by people who had been there longer than me, and it was about a communal learning experience.

[26:20] Jakeim Hart: Memory, we were truly building it together.

[26:24] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, like, yes, but personally, I don't read music that well, so this is the first time that I'm used to trying to muscle my way through reading cheap music. But this was something that kind of felt intuitive in a way because you're just going by what sounds right, and you're going by what other—it's like a call and response type thing. It was a very, very cool way to get to know all these people in an intimate way, just making music together.

[26:56] Jakeim Hart: Um, so, like I said, it was a vibe check, and we all came together, and we all passed.

[27:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Did you think it was gonna have this life though? Like, did you think it was gonna go to Broadway?

[27:11] Jakeim Hart: Or, you know, you try to not be too speculative about the future just because anything can happen, and I've seen a lot in my short time, so I've tried to temper my expectations. But, you know, with the type of people that were involved, I didn't think that they were messing around, so I was like, this is definitely worth pursuing.

[27:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that.

[27:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, well, we both are so lucky that we have seen the show, and it's so beautiful from representation to themes of forgiveness and the mother and daughter bond, and just so much more, and obviously, like the Alicia Keys of it all, which we'll talk about later. Um, why do you think this show is resonating so well with audiences?

[28:02] Jakeim Hart: Because it's just like people are coming again and again and again.

[28:06] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, I mean, I feel like it's a story that just speaks to the heartbeat of the city. And so that's why when you look out at the audience, it's generally, I think, like a cross-section of New York. You have your old-timey theatergoers that are always gonna go to the theater, but then you have some young people, a young cohort, and then you have the Alicia Keys fans. It's all these people being melded together, and that's what I think the spirit of New York is—everyone from different walks of life coming together to watch something that they think is incredible.

[28:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Melting pot.

[28:44] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[28:46] Jakeim Hart: Absolutely.

[28:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: No, go ahead.

[28:50] Jakeim Hart: I'm sorry, I cut you off.

[28:50] Jakeim Hart: No, I was just saying, like the Alicia Keys of it all, it's really like that's the glue, the binding.

[28:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: That was gonna be my next question.

[28:57] Jakeim Hart: You're like we're in sync right here.

[29:01] Jakeim Hart: And I probably asked you this on the red carpet. I don't remember because I was, you know, in a daze myself, but hey, listen, we both were. Alicia Keys is such an icon and has been such a juggernaut in pop culture and music for what, 25 years almost? Like, so what has it been like working with someone who's like from our generation, right? Someone—I mean, I'm not sure how old you are, but like someone we've probably looked up to since we were young, you know, and to work so closely with her.

[29:30] Jakeim Hart: And second part of the question is what have you learned from her as a performer and creator?

[29:36] Jakeim Hart: Um, well, I mean, obviously on a, you know, first couple meetings, it was just like a feeling out how the dynamic and everything, but pretty quickly I understood that, oh no, this is—we are collaborators. Like, you know, she gives to us, we give to her. It's a symbiotic type of thing.

[30:03] Jakeim Hart: You know, she's really, really good at making people who might otherwise feel like, you know, nervous or out of place feel like they really belong, and that's important for the success of the show.

[30:17] Jakeim Hart: Um, yeah, so I learned from her just to, you know, be more confident and standing in my truth and my talent and that I'm doing this for a reason that I'm supposed to be. She, you know, every time that she gives us some motivational words, it's something along those lines of you all belong here, you're here for a reason.

[30:40] Jakeim Hart: And you know, as a working artist, like you need to hear that from your heroes. That definitely helps you feel like you're doing the right thing, that it's not all a waste of time.

[30:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, totally, that's amazing.

[30:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, she is such a queen.

[30:56] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, that's not even—it's an understatement.

[31:02] Jakeim Hart: She's so genuine too. I'm—I don't know if you remember her, but she came to one of our old survival jobs back in like 2016. Actually, it was the day that Prince died. I'll never forget that because she did a tribute to him.

[31:12] Jakeim Hart: Um, she was so sweet. I had to sneak backstage, I had to like go meet her no matter what, and she was so kind. And to know how kind she was, and then to talk to her again on the red carpet, I think people say about her is her.

[31:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: How about full circles today?

[31:30] Jakeim Hart: And it started off at the survival job to just keep tying it all in.

[31:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Hey, so Jakeim, in your bio for 'Hell's Kitchen,' you share that you are proudly on the autism spectrum, and thank you for being open about that. But, you know, we're still struggling in the theater community with inclusion and diversity, and it's been an uphill battle of trying to get everybody to be equals, no matter if they're on the spectrum, no matter what their race is, no matter what their gender is.

[32:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: So what do you think we can still do as a community, whether it be producers or us in this theater podcast, to make sure that there's inclusion in all aspects of theater?

[32:16] Jakeim Hart: Hmm. Um, I don't know if I'm gonna have like a holistic answer, but something that like the reason why I disclosed that is, um, and you know, the first time that I did it was my first contract out of the pandemic, which was 'Almost Famous.' And somebody on our—it was one of our dressers actually came in and said that his friend's cousin had seen the show and she was on the spectrum, and it made her feel like she was seen.

[32:38] Jakeim Hart: It was just an important—I wanted that moment. I wanted people coming to see the show to see that, oh, there's somebody like me that's actually doing this, and therefore it's a pathway that's open to me, right?

[33:10] Jakeim Hart: We can sometimes get in our heads with these limiting beliefs of, oh, like I'm not enough or I'm not, you know, what they need me to be or whatever, but if you're comfortable enough with just being you to the fullest extent, somebody in a decision-making capacity is going to recognize you for your greatness.

[33:30] Jakeim Hart: So that's my two cents with the inclusivity.

[33:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love that.

[33:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you for sharing.

[33:40] Jakeim Hart: No, I was just gonna say, like exactly your story you shared about somebody reading that and feeling like, oh, like they're feeling seen. So thank you for being open with that. And I think that's where it begins, you know. Everybody did something small to build up to make a difference.

[33:57] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah. I mean, we're in a world now where we have more language to describe these things than when I was growing up because it was very, very stigmatized and nobody wanted to talk about it. And, you know, you were made fun of actually if you did talk about it, but now it's like we can begin to sort of unpack these things and just, you know, kind of take our masks off a little bit.

[34:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah, that's the power of theater is to open people's eyes, right?

[34:26] Jakeim Hart: And change perspectives and challenge perspectives and absolutely and to hold up a mirror so we know what we're doing wrong.

[34:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that so much.

[34:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, all right.

[34:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: So we're almost towards the end.

[34:39] Jakeim Hart: It goes by so fast.

[34:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god.

[34:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: But we know you're busy, you got eight shows a week. We don't want to take up too much of your time.

[34:44] Jakeim Hart: Oh, sorry, I just got one show tonight, so we can—

[34:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: But you're so young and you wear multiple hats as a performer and a musician. You've done theater and you've done television from what I can see. Um, is there a project or collaboration or a role that you'd hope to have one day?

[35:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Do you want to manifest with us? Because Jason and I are big manifestors, so—

[35:15] Jakeim Hart: Okay.

[35:16] Jakeim Hart: Hear me out. Um, and all Broadway producers with deep pockets who are listening, I think we are overdue for an epic movie musical adaptation of 'Ragtime.' That's my dream to direct that.

[35:32] Jason A. Coombs: Jakeim has not been kidding.

[35:40] Jakeim Hart: It's my favorite musical.

[35:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Mine too.

[35:43] Jakeim Hart: Oh my gosh.

[35:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Are you gonna be Coalhouse?

[35:45] Jakeim Hart: Listen, give me like maybe another five years or so, and I could probably—yeah, I would love to.

[35:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: I have chills right now.

[35:56] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, I do too, just because Jason, you've been talking about 'Ragtime' a lot. So it's like my dream is to direct that. Oh my gosh.

[36:10] Jason A. Coombs: Okay, we're gonna make that happen, Jakeim.

[36:12] Jakeim Hart: Right here.

[36:13] Jakeim Hart: We're doing it.

[36:14] Jason A. Coombs: Oh my god, I have chills.

[36:16] Jakeim Hart: Start fundraising, whatever we gotta do.

[36:20] Jason A. Coombs: But you know, we got 'Les Mis,' we got what other—we got 'Swing Time,' we got 'Wicked' coming out. 'Ragtime' needs their epic movie musical.

[36:28] Jakeim Hart: They need their moment.

[36:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, oh my gosh.

[36:32] Jason A. Coombs: Well, glad we're on the same page.

[36:34] Jakeim Hart: Well, when I cut to this clip and say we manifested it here first, y'all.

[36:40] Jason A. Coombs: We did it first.

[36:41] Jakeim Hart: There we go.

[36:42] Jason A. Coombs: There we go.

[36:42] Jason A. Coombs: Matthew, you could be the girl in the swing though.

[36:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, I'll take anything.

[36:48] Jakeim Hart: I'll take anything in the movie.

[36:51] Jakeim Hart: Um, so Jakeim, you were in the bar life, you were in the pizza delivery life in your survival jobs. Um, and now you have such a great career as an artist. We have a lot of listeners who want a career in the arts. Do you have any advice for someone who may be feeling stuck in their survival job and not having experienced their big break yet? What's your advice to them to keep going and hustling in that survival job for the end goal?

[37:19] Jakeim Hart: Um, well, I would say that there is no shame in providing for your immediate needs in the short term.

[37:34] Jakeim Hart: But um doing what you need to do to get by is very, very important, especially if it keeps you here and within the theater ecosystem and close to it.

[37:44] Jakeim Hart: Um there's many years I was you know working, you know, bar jobs where you are the job is auditioning, right? It's it's just being able to negotiate the two of paying your rent and getting in front of as many people as possible.

[37:59] Jakeim Hart: So don't feel like you're not moving the needle just because you haven't booked whatever you think you need to book, because it will take in most cases years before that happens.

[38:11] Jakeim Hart: So it's about building momentum and about getting to meet as many people as possible. And you know, that's not gonna happen overnight. So just uh consistency is really is really key with this type of work.

[38:25] Jakeim Hart: Um don't don't expect the big break to to come at a certain point because what'll happen is it'll come when you don't expect it. So yeah.

[38:35] Jakeim Hart: It always you don't expect it. Preaching, preaching today.

[38:39] Jason A. Coombs: Hey, you know, I'll get off my my soapbox now.

[38:42] Jakeim Hart: No, stay on reality.

[38:44] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, exactly. Thank you for that. Cause I feel like, and Samantha and I have had these conversations too. Like, oh my gosh, how come this is not happening yet? We're like, I'm I'm I need this to happen, and then it's like, hey, slow down. You got time.

[38:56] Jakeim Hart: It's gonna happen, what's gonna happen. You you have more time than you think you do, especially when you're you know, you're just out of school, you you know mid-20s, late it does it doesn't matter. There's no there is no linear timeline for an art's career.

[39:14] Jakeim Hart: People have their breaks when they're young, people have their breaks when they're in their 50s. It doesn't matter if it's something that you love, it will it it'll happen. You just have consistency.

[39:25] Jason A. Coombs: Look at your co-star Keisha, she just got her first Tony nomination, right?

[39:29] Jakeim Hart: I'm not sure, yes.

[39:30] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, that's amazing. After four decades in this career, like you know, well overdue for her recognition.

[39:37] Jakeim Hart: Wow, yeah, that's case in point, you know.

[39:40] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, love that.

[39:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, the final question before you play a really fun game is Um, I know you're you're doing your thing in Hell's Kitchen. Um, I know you're you you're also into a little bit of fashion. I saw you in the red carpet, you were one of my favorites that day. You're killing it.

[39:54] Jakeim Hart: That's great.

[39:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you. Yeah, it's my stylist.

[39:59] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, shout him out, shout him out.

[40:00] Jakeim Hart: Shout out to Ash uh Ash Ashraf, my uh my stylist and my best friend.

[40:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love that, I love that so much. Is there something else that's feeding your soul artistically? Whether it be a book, a another podcast, whether it's a movie, a musical. What's feeding your soul artistically right now? What should we check out?

[40:22] Jakeim Hart: Ooh, well, I mean the uh personally what's been feeding my soul is uh you know music. I I make I make my own music and uh I play with uh play with a couple couple people around the city.

[40:38] Jakeim Hart: Um that's been like a completely like auxiliary thing, like outside of the main theater thing that's you know paying the bills. Um and that's uh obviously again like continuing in the tradition of uh my dad and like having a band and everything.

[40:55] Jakeim Hart: So that's that's really like been the what I've been pouring all my time into outside of the outside of the theater.

[41:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, making making music.

[41:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, who are some of your musical influences?

[41:07] Jakeim Hart: Oh uh Prince, um definitely Prince, uh Jimi Hendrix, bunch of uh Leon Bridges, uh bunch bunch of bunch of folks.

[41:18] Jakeim Hart: Well, I I mean I can look through my dad's records are right behind right behind you, so it's kind of uh yeah. No, I I draw influence from a lot of uh from a lot of places.

[41:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Everybody does, yeah.

[41:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, we gotta come see you, let us know next time performing.

[41:35] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah. Well, it'll probably be after it'll be after award season, but like though I I do like to schedule some gigs in the summer.

[41:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Amazing, fun.

[41:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes. Well, thank you so much for joining us. This has been such a great chat. Um y'all, if you have not seen Hell's Kitchen yet, you better get your tickets and you better get over there because wow, what a great night at the theater.

[41:58] Jakeim Hart: Thank you.

[41:59] Jakeim Hart: You're gonna that the finale, which I don't I mean, people can guess what the finale is.

[42:03] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah. Everyone was just like standing and singing along, and it was just so good energy, and people were loving it. So I'm so excited for you.

[42:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm so thankful you came on our podcast.

[42:14] Jakeim Hart: Oh here's much much more. Keeps keep shining.

[42:18] Jakeim Hart: Thank you.

[42:20] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, and see you on that ragtime set in a couple years.

[42:23] Jakeim Hart: Hey, listen, listen. We'll deep pockets out there. Make this shit happen.

[42:27] Jason A. Coombs: We're gonna make it happen.

[42:31] Jason A. Coombs: So we have a really fun game.

[42:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, that we're gonna play that. I stole from L, which I I love that I play with my friends sometimes actually. It's the song association.

[42:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: So Samantha and I are gonna give you a word, and you're gonna give us you have 10 seconds to give us a song.

[42:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, that has that word in it. You could sing a little line, you could hum it if you don't know all the words, but okay, all right.

[42:53] Jakeim Hart: Oh boy, the pressure's on.

[42:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: You want me to kick it off?

[43:00] Jakeim Hart: You kick it off, Samantha.

[43:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: All right, are you ready?

[43:02] Jakeim Hart: Okay, okay.

[43:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wait, let me get my timer. So all right, Jay, you let me know.

[43:07] Jason A. Coombs: Now you got the time.

[43:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, we can give you 10 seconds. All right, go ahead, Samantha.

[43:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, number one, love.

[43:16] Jakeim Hart: Uh, all you need is love.

[43:20] Samantha Tuozzolo: All you need is love.

[43:22] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, good. That was check.

[43:24] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, immediately where I came.

[43:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Love that. Okay, next word is you.

[43:34] Jakeim Hart: Yo, one, yo, the one I need.

[43:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, see, yeah, Beyonce. Gotcha.

[43:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, number three, crazy.

[43:53] Jakeim Hart: I'm sorry, Beyonce is on the top of my head. Sorry.

[44:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Sweet is the next word.

[44:02] Jakeim Hart: Sweet.

[44:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: What what'd you say?

[44:05] Jakeim Hart: Oh, I'm sorry, sweet. Like sweet candy SW.

[44:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, okay. Oh, oh. My white showing.

[44:11] Jakeim Hart: She got eyes and do this guy. Sweet child of mine.

[44:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh.

[44:18] Jason A. Coombs: Okay.

[44:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay. That was good. I actually just got dumped. I got really stumped with sweet. I was like, what are we doing?

[44:23] Jakeim Hart: Wait, he said my white is showing. I was it took me literally 10 seconds to get that. I was like, white chocolate?

[44:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: I was so confused for a second.

[44:32] Jakeim Hart: Oh, because of sweets. I was like, wait, what? I've been on a sorry, I've been on a no-carb, no sugar diet for the past week and a half. So I was like, white chocolate.

[44:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: All right. Next one.

[44:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh god. Foxy.

[44:50] Jakeim Hart: Ooh, Foxy Lady.

[44:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Jimi Hendrix.

[44:55] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, yeah. Come on. I watched it. I saw that on YouTube.

[44:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god.

[45:00] Jakeim Hart: I saw that performance on YouTube.

[45:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, thank you, thank you.

[45:03] Jakeim Hart: Yeah, stronger.

[45:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Stronger.

[45:07] Jakeim Hart: Uh what uh doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[45:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Kelly Clarkson.

[45:14] Jakeim Hart: Yes. You're killing this game.

[45:17] Jakeim Hart: Literally.

[45:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm doing better than I thought I would.

[45:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: Next one.

[45:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Sexy.

[45:23] Jakeim Hart: Oh I'm bringing sexy back.

[45:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yep.

[45:30] Jakeim Hart: Yeah. You're literally killing it.

[45:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh my god. This is my favorite game. This is so fun.

[45:35] Jakeim Hart: It's fine.

[45:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, we got three more, and then we'll let you go. Sorry.

[45:41] Jakeim Hart: Okay.

[45:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: So dance.

[45:45] Jakeim Hart: Uh dance on me, dance, on me, dance on me.

[45:49] Jakeim Hart: Oh, I mean, I hate that song, but like, uh, who is that? It's like the TikTok song. Remember? It's like people put like the filters on.

[45:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh yeah, yeah.

[45:59] Jakeim Hart: Uh uh. Yes. You can also do dance the night away.

[46:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, Barbie.

[46:06] Jakeim Hart: Yeah. I was trying to do dual leap. I was like, what's that song? Within like the TikTok thing to go anyway.

[46:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, you wouldn't dance with the grade. TikTok always exists.

[46:13] Jason A. Coombs: Oh good, Jason. That's a good one.

[46:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, that's a good one.

[46:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: All right. Number nine. We're not even counting numbers, but next up.

[46:21] Jakeim Hart: Nothing.

[46:23] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh, I felt nothing.

[46:26] Jakeim Hart: Something, something from course line.

[46:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: That used to be my song.

[46:31] Jakeim Hart: Oh, really?

[46:32] Jakeim Hart: Yeah.

[46:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: This man is nothing.

[46:37] Jakeim Hart: Now I'm playing the game. Nobody asked me.

[46:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: We'll play one day, Samantha.

[46:42] Jakeim Hart: It's so funny.

[46:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, thanks. Me and my friends put the words in a bowl, and maybe we just go around. It's so funny.

[46:46] Jakeim Hart: Oh, that's make it a drinking game.

[46:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's good, JMJ. It's very fun.

[46:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, last one.

[46:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay. All right. You're ready for this. Can take it home. It'd be 10 for 10.

[46:56] Jakeim Hart: Okay.

[46:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: New York.

[46:59] Jakeim Hart: New York Jungle.

[47:02] Jakeim Hart: It dreams made.

[47:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[47:06] Jason A. Coombs: Come on now.

[47:07] Jakeim Hart: All right. You live.

[47:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: See what you did there.

[47:16] Jakeim Hart: I was stressing out. I was like, I'm gonna be cussing up the storm, trying to think of these songs.

[47:21] Jakeim Hart: I I don't even think you got like two seconds past. You just played.

[47:24] Jakeim Hart: Flayed, played, played.

[47:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: This was so amazing. Thank you again for chatting with us. Before we go, can you please let our listeners know where to follow you if they're not already following you?

[47:36] Jakeim Hart: Yes, uh I'm on I'm on Instagram at uh Jakeim Hart, J A K E I M H A R T, all one word.

[47:45] Jakeim Hart: Um I I don't think I have Twitter, I think I may have deleted my Twitter. So just Instagram, yes.

[47:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, yes, yes. Um, thank you. I want to thank you both so much for having me again.

[47:58] Jakeim Hart: Uh my gosh, of course.

[48:00] Jason A. Coombs: Our pleasure.

[48:01] Jakeim Hart: Thank you for joining us. It's we're we're the ones who are thankful.

[48:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, that's so much fun.

[48:06] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, Samantha, you want to tell people where to find us?

[48:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: I sure do. And if you do not follow us yet and you're a Jakeim fan and you don't know anything about us, check us out at Survival Jobs Pod on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

[48:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Check us out on Facebook at Survival Jobs a podcast. Shoot us an email at survival jobs pod at gmail.com. Our YouTube channel's coming out hot now, so make sure you keep up with that too.

[48:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Follow my boy Jason at Jason A, I can never point to you at Jason A and follow me at Sammy Toots.

[48:41] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, and go see Hell's Kitchen. Go to the Schubert Theater, ASAP, go see it.

[48:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Would not be disappointed. Over 300 five-star reviews.

[48:50] Jakeim Hart: That's crazy, and so worth this.

[48:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: And I said unbelievable, but it's not unbelievable once you see it, guys. It's amazing.

[48:57] Jakeim Hart: Thanks so much.

[48:58] Jakeim Hart: Woo!

[49:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Thank you guys so much for listening to Jakeim's episode. Go see Hell's Kitchen, just like we shout all the time. If you if you enjoyed this episode and listening to us on Survival Jobs, a podcast, please like, subscribe, and follow.

[49:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Leave a review. Um, we could we could use all the love we can get. Check us, check out our YouTube page. Jason's making some amazing content for the YouTube.

[49:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Um, and share with your friends. Let everyone know what's up over here. We're, you know, independent creators just pumping out episodes every week.

[49:37] Jason A. Coombs: And we pumping.

[49:39] Jason A. Coombs: We are pumping.

[49:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Almost at 100, baby.

[49:44] Jason A. Coombs: Pump, pump.

[49:45] Jason A. Coombs: Almost at 100.

[49:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Pump it up.

[49:47] Jason A. Coombs: Pump up the jam.

[49:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Pump it up.

[49:50] Jason A. Coombs: Oh yeah.

[49:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh yeah. Bye.