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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 101 of Take A Bow. I'm your host Eli Tokash and this week we have a very exciting episode coming at you all today. I'm so excited. Thank you everyone for your patience in moving this week's release to a Friday, just one day, but that 24 hours makes a huge difference for us from a production standpoint and scheduling conflicts with guests and everything like that. So great stuff. Thanks for choosing to spend your Friday or whatever day you're listening to this on with us. This week's guest is with Broadway star Jelani Remy, who's been in Lion King, Ain't Too Proud and so many other things. He's currently playing the MC in Cabaret in Connecticut, which is super fun at Goodspeed Musical.

I'm so excited to see him in that show, to see him in that role nonetheless. We talk all about it, so very exciting stuff. But before we turn it over to that, let's talk about some Broadway news, shall we? Because there's a lot going on. Happy opening to POTUS, Mr. Saturday Night, Macbeth and A Strange Loop. There's been a lot of openings lately, folks. All very, very exciting opening nights. I'm so thrilled that all of these shows are on Broadway. I've only gotten the chance to see one of those so far. I was able to see POTUS, absolutely loved it. It was literally hilarious. It's not like it's the strongest story and it's not like you're going to leave totally touched or moved or whatever. But it's totally one that you want to go see, that you just want to have a good time and laugh.

And that's what it is. Julianne Hough, Rachel Dratch, Vanessa Williams, Julie White, they all give wonderful, wonderful performances and all are just, Rachel Dratch is just hilarious. It's literally like, I know she's like an SNL royalty and everything, but like low key, the show itself is like two hour SNL skit. It's so fun. I love the way that they do it. Lily Cooper too, Lily Cooper was amazing. There's so many great people in the show and I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it yet. And if you have seen it, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Very exciting. Their press opening is on Sunday, so I'm very excited for that because I will be attending. And I've heard so many wonderful things about Strange Loop.

I've heard that like people are dying to see it more than once because they just need to soak it all in. I'm very, very interested in seeing that. I've literally yet to hear a bad thing about it. Not surprised with all the wonderful people attached to it and the creative team. And then of course, the cast is just stellar and it's like some of their Broadway debuts. So very exciting stuff and I cannot wait to see a Strange Loop. That's the one on my list. That's probably like top on my list right now of shows to see. So highly recommend that if you're in New York and you don't know what show to go see. And then of course there's Macbeth that I've heard is just absolutely amazing as well. I've heard that the direction of Sam Gold has just been amazing, literally on this show.

It's a new version of Macbeth that no one's ever seen and kind of no one's ever imagined. So it's kind of like this reimagined version. So very excited to see that one. And then of course, Mr. Saturday Night, I haven't heard too, too much about. I have heard that it's kind of more focused towards the older crowd, which makes sense because Billy Crystal is kind of the older crowd. I don't think the younger people are really going to go see, are dying to see Billy Crystal at least. Anyways, I've heard that it was great and I just heard that it was kind of more centered around the older audience, but totally okay. Go check it out if you're interested. And yeah, I'm excited to see all of those wonderful shows.

Hopefully I get the chance to see them soon and I can give you my full thoughts on it. So that's it for the openings. Moving on, there is some fun news that I just caught my eye. There's some fun news that came out that literally caught my eye. Caitlyn Knuden, Lauren Patton, and Laura Dreyfus, literally all three of my queens, and more are all joining to do this reading called In Sisters We Trust, or My F'd Up American Girl Doll Play. The presentation is taking place May 12th and May 13th at Open Jar Studios. And they've got just a stellar cast. I mean, Laura Dreyfus, Lauren Patton, and Caitlyn Knuden, like incredible. I didn't know that that was a collaboration that I needed. So very excited for that.

And then of course you have all of these wonderful people in the cast, including Jonathan Burke, who is a friend of Take a Bow, who's been on the show before. So we have two Take a Bow guests in that little reading. Hopefully something comes of that because I want to see all of those lovely people on a stage together. I think it'll be absolutely amazing. Super, super fascinating. Very exciting stuff. And then speaking of things that caught everyone's attention, The Wicked production company kind of came out and said that they will be doing The Wicked movie in two parts. Not sure how to feel about that craziness for sure. It'll be interesting because maybe it'll be like an act one, act two kind of moment.

But I have absolutely no idea what is happening over there. They're saying they're aiming for 2023. So next year in the fall slash winter. I'll definitely keep something to keep an eye on. Two parts is crazy. Apparently they were just like, listen, we are cutting way too much to make this like a movie. And there's stuff that we don't want to cut. So why don't we just make two parts? I don't know. They had this one, they had this long announcement and it kind of caused an uproar on social media and all the things, both positive and negative. So it'll be interesting to see how that works. I'm excited to see Wicked on the screen. I'm excited to see how they do it. Very interesting. I don't know.

I'll keep you updated when I get more information, but that's kind of like what I know right now. And as that's literally all that has come out, but definitely something to keep an eye on. So Wicked will be in two parts for those of you excited to see Wicked the movie. I mean, I hope you are because A, it's Wicked and then you have Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, I mean, leading the way. It's just amazing. Also, another fun thing that happened this week is the Spring Awakening, Those You've Known documentary had a premiere in theaters this past Monday. Looks amazing. They had some wonderful performances, very exciting stuff from what they've kind of published on social media and stuff like that.

But that's going to be premiering on HBO and HBO Max on May 3rd at 9 p.m. if you're going to be watching on HBO. That is Eastern Standard Time for those of you who live in different time zones and all that stuff. So that's all the big news that I had for you folks this week. So with that being said, I am going to turn it over to Jelani Remy and his wonderful, wonderful episode. So without further ado, Jelani Remy, curtain up.

[8:02] Eli Tokash: This week's guest has been seen as Simba in The Lion King, Eddie Kendrick's and at certain performances, Otis Williams and David Ruffin in Ain't Too Proud on Broadway. And you may have seen him around the world in The Lion King as Simba or High School Musical. And you can currently see him as the emcee in Cabaret at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, Connecticut. So welcome to Take a Bow, Jelani Remy.

[8:35] Jelani Remy: Oh my goodness. What an amazing entrance that was.

[8:38] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, no. Come on, what a resume. It's a mouthful. There's so much to talk about. I love it. Congratulations on everything, first of all, and thank you for doing this. I'm so excited to talk to you. And the way that I usually like to start my episodes is by asking people, you know, what inspired them to get into the industry and kind of tell stories and, you know, be a performer?

[9:03] Jelani Remy: Oh, yeah. Well, first of all, thank you for having me. And I get this question so often. And the answer is usually, it's always the same. It was, I was a late bloomer to theatre. And I was my choir teacher, Jennifer Jessen, that pushed me to do my first musical, which was Grease. And I got duty. I worked on that solo he has, what's that playing on the radio? Yeah, that one. And I remember singing it for people. And I was super nervous and super, you know, in my head about it and just didn't know what was gonna happen. And I said, finish the song, finish the choreography, and people clapped. And that was my first time feeling what us actors get to feel of telling a story or singing a song and making somebody feel something.

And them receiving it in the form of applause, which is the highest praise, you know. And I, that moment made me feel so alive. And so like, I guess it was, I found a purpose, I found a purpose and a passion, rather. Yeah, I wanted to get good at that. I loved how that made me feel. And I think that's why I'm still doing it because I love that feeling.

[10:15] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure. And I know you grew up in New Jersey, like, was this at like, school? Was this like,

[10:20] Jelani Remy: this is high school, high school, absolutely. It was high school, which then led me to do community theatre, which then led me to want to further education in the summer program at the Paper Mill Playhouse. I did the Rising Star program. Yeah, and then that made me make my decision as to furthering it in college where I went to Montclair State University.

[10:38] Eli Tokash: Oh, my God.

[10:39] Jelani Remy: Yeah, yeah. And that's when, that's when it really was like, Oh, this is this is it.

[10:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah. That's awesome. I can't believe like, you know, just within those four years, you kind of made that decision. And then you knew that that was what you wanted to do. And then you went and studied in college. It's crazy.

[10:53] Jelani Remy: Yeah. Well, you know, I don't it's not it wasn't my, it was just up to me. It was that teacher that saw that spark. Yeah, that sort of nurtured that and gave me a safe space to explore it, you know, and create an environment where I got to thrive and create an environment where we all sort of got to get our own little theatre community started.

[11:10] Eli Tokash: Mm hmm. So talk to me about The Lion King then, because Oh, yes. Oh my God, you were with the show for like, almost 10 years, right?

[11:20] Jelani Remy: Uh, well, who's counting? You know, every day is like day one, you know. But yeah, my journey with the show actually started via High School Musical. I did High School Musical first. That was my first Disney production. And then I went over to High School Musical 2 after that. And then I had an audition for The Lion King. And it was literally the day after High School Musical 2 closed. They were like, Okay, well, you're gonna go to New York and audition. And it just so happened that I got to sing a song from The Lion King and a Paper Mill Conservatory show in high school. Yeah. Shout out to Rob McClure, who taught me the song.

[11:51] Jelani Remy: Endless Night. And that's how I knew it to for my audition. You know, and then I found out a few a week or two later that I was going to go to Las Vegas to be in Lion King. And I thought I was going to be, you know, I didn't know who was going to play but I ended up playing the back legs of the rhinoceros first. And so I was a rhino's butt for quite some time. And I was an understudy for Simba. And once I went on, I knew that I just, it was that same feeling of the first time of the applause, like it was meant to be somewhere. And I wanted to nurture that role and ended up taking over the role. Right. In Las Vegas, and then went to the tour and then came to the Broadway.

[12:36] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, that's insane. How do you like, you were with the show for so long? Like, how do you keep it like, fresh every night?

[12:45] Jelani Remy: Well, one of the great things about tour life is that each city is brand new, right? That was also fun. But there's something about the show that is just like, it sets you up to just tell this amazing story. Yeah, it's gonna be somebody seeing it for the first time, or somebody seeing it for the last time. It's our duty to just be in the moment and have fun. Like no show is ever the same for me. You know, there's no show, there's always something different, you hear differently. And that's also the beauty of what we do as theater people, theater folk and actors, we get to react differently every night.

[13:15] Eli Tokash: Totally. It's like, the audience is like a scene partner, almost.

[13:20] Jelani Remy: You know, it's so funny you say that, because fast forward to now, when I'm playing the MC. A lot of the jokes I have are for the audience, and they're not here yet. So I cannot wait for opening night when we get our audience because that is, that is literally my co star.

[13:35] Eli Tokash: Yes. Oh my god, I'm living for that. I mentioned, like, when I do like my intro and outros and everything, I mentioned that like, you being the MC in Cabaret was something that like, I didn't know was needed.

[13:49] Jelani Remy: Like, it was something that like, I never thought about, but it makes so much sense.

[13:56] Jelani Remy: You know, I'm having I'm having such a blast with this show. And the cast is just outrageous. And just how we were sort of rethinking things. You know, now the person of color leading the show is different, you know, it's different. So we're having a lot of things, you know, rethought of or heard differently or choreographed.

[14:12] Jelani Remy: I think the biggest thing that I learned from being in the industry is that you have to be adaptable. You have to be able to pivot and change directions quickly because things can change at a moment's notice.

[14:42] Jelani Remy: For example, when I was in "Ain't Too Proud," we had to adjust to different audiences every night. You never know how they're going to react, so you have to be ready to give your best performance regardless of the circumstances.

[15:12] Jelani Remy: And then, of course, there's the whole aspect of touring versus being on Broadway. Touring is a different beast. You’re in a new city every week, and you have to learn how to connect with different audiences in different places.

[15:15] Jelani Remy: It's a unique experience that teaches you a lot about yourself as a performer.

[15:42] Jelani Remy: I remember when I was in "The Lion King," the energy of the audience was always electric, and that really fueled my performance.

[16:10] Jelani Remy: But then, in "Cabaret," playing the Emcee was a whole different challenge. It required a different kind of energy and presence.

[16:13] Jelani Remy: You have to be so in tune with the audience and really bring them into the world of the show.

[16:21] Jelani Remy: It's all about finding that balance and understanding what each role demands from you.

[16:35] Jelani Remy: I think that's what makes this industry so exciting. Every role is different, and every experience teaches you something new.

[17:03] Jelani Remy: And then there's the whole audition process. It's tough, but it's also a learning experience.

[17:23] Jelani Remy: You have to learn how to take rejection and keep moving forward.

[17:43] Jelani Remy: I remember auditioning for "High School Musical" and thinking, "This is it!" But even if I didn't get it, I learned so much from the experience.

[18:03] Jelani Remy: It's all about growth and understanding that every opportunity is a chance to learn.

[18:23] Jelani Remy: I think that's something that a lot of young performers need to remember.

[18:48] Jelani Remy: You have to be resilient and keep pushing yourself, even when things get tough.

[19:08] Jelani Remy: And speaking of tough, I had a year where I felt like I was just forgotten.

[19:37] Jelani Remy: It was a challenging time, but I learned to focus on my craft and improve myself as a performer.

[20:02] Jelani Remy: I ended up submitting a film to the Tribeca Film Festival, which was a huge step for me.

[20:22] Jelani Remy: It was a great way to channel my energy into something creative and productive.

[20:42] Jelani Remy: So, I think the key takeaway is to always keep moving forward and find ways to express yourself, no matter the circumstances.

[21:09] Jelani Remy: And remember, the audience is your scene partner.

[21:29] Jelani Remy: They play a huge role in how you perform, and you have to be aware of that connection.

[21:49] Jelani Remy: It's a beautiful dance between performer and audience, and when you get it right, it's magic.

[22:09] Jelani Remy: So, whether you're on tour or on Broadway, always remember to connect with your audience.

[22:32] Jelani Remy: That's what makes the experience so rewarding.

[22:52] Jelani Remy: And I think that's what keeps me coming back to the stage every time.

[23:12] Jelani Remy: The thrill of performing and the joy of sharing stories with people is what it's all about.

[23:35] Jelani Remy: So, I encourage everyone to keep pursuing their dreams and never give up.

[23:54] Jelani Remy: There will always be challenges, but it's how you respond to them that defines your journey.

[24:23] Jelani Remy: And I believe that every setback is just a setup for a comeback.

[24:43] Jelani Remy: So, keep pushing, keep learning, and keep shining.

[25:03] Jelani Remy: That's the beauty of this industry.

[25:23] Jelani Remy: It's all about growth, connection, and the love of performance.

[25:43] Jelani Remy: And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

[26:08] Jelani Remy: So, thank you for having me on the show, Eli.

[26:30] Jelani Remy: It's been a pleasure sharing my journey with you.

[26:50] Jelani Remy: I hope it inspires others to keep chasing their dreams.

[27:10] Jelani Remy: And remember, every performance is a chance to tell a story and connect with someone.

[27:30] Jelani Remy: So, go out there and make your mark!

[27:50] Jelani Remy: Thank you!

[28:04] Jelani Remy: I appreciate it!

[28:25] Jelani Remy: On the whole show, you know what I mean? Like his energy is through the roof, you know what I mean? Yeah. And so he's got some of the best one-liner zingers. And he also starts with "Papa's Rolling Stone," which is a great song. Yeah. But it was just a very funny role. Oh my god. Very funny for me. I love that. I love seeing like walking on the streets in New York and like even still like with Lion King and Ain't Too Proud, like I always see your face on like buses and billboards and trash cans and commercials. I love it. It's so cool. Like, do you ever kind of like, wow, like, that's me. Like, that's so cool.

[29:00] Jelani Remy: It's surreal. It's surreal. But it's also such a, it's a blessing. It is because it's like, I'm from Cedar Grove, New Jersey. Like, what? What? You know, I didn't expect, I didn't know what, where it could all lead. I didn't know. I just knew, I just loved how it makes me feel. Yeah. So that's pretty cool.

[29:27] Eli Tokash: Yeah. And now look at you today. You're a star. You're everywhere. And literally, oh my god. And now you have like a whole film festival coming out. Your film is in the Tribeca Film Festival. Go ahead.

[29:39] Jelani Remy: Yeah. So I am excited. The collaboration of the song "Gone Forgotten Year" written by Justin Anthony Long, Joanna Burns, my team of just wonders. And Brandon Burks directed this music video starring myself and Josh Breckinridge. Yeah. We just put our heads together and filmed and made art. And now it's like doing the thing. And it's going to be in the Tribeca Film Festival, which is super exciting.

[30:05] Eli Tokash: I know. That's huge.

[30:06] Jelani Remy: Yeah.

[30:06] Eli Tokash: Is that like—

[30:07] Jelani Remy: You can stream it on all of your streaming things, "Gone Forgotten Year." It's just like, it's a song that when we're feeling inside and not being with the one you love, especially, you know, and it's not safe, that doesn't make sense. And the feeling of like, what that feels like to be back with that person, you know? So I'm really, really pleased and happy that it's, you know, gonna be in the festival.

[30:33] Eli Tokash: Yes. Is that like a part of the industry that like, you know, you're keeping open for yourself, to possibly like, go into or like, you just want to like, do it all?

[30:43] Jelani Remy: I do want to do it all. Do it all. You know, I want it all. No, I want to do it all. But like, I love any avenue that I haven't really tapped into. I want to start developing. I've been writing songs, but never really did anything with them. You know, I just keep them in my back pocket just in case. And also like, I see myself maybe directing, choreographing things as well. I love that.

[31:04] Jelani Remy: I've done a few outdoor shows, or I do my own cabaret shows now, but I'm definitely loving, I'm loving what the year off, you know, the Pangea year, the Panna Cotta, has done, because it made us sort of make our own schedules and make our own sort of art with what we had. And so I love that it gave me the tools that I get to, different tools to build my other crafts in our theatrical worlds. That was pretty special.

[31:34] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I feel like the pandemic's biggest blessing was time.

[31:38] Jelani Remy: Okay, you have to think of another word for it.

[31:40] Eli Tokash: Oh, yes. I'm so sorry. The, the, um, the pan, pan, pan, pan, pan. Okay.

[31:52] Jelani Remy: That was like the biggest blessing of it all is like time, you know, because I feel like as performers, you know, we're just, we're always going, you know, our brains are always moving, our bodies are always moving. And like, to like sit, I mean, the first week was like, what is happening? And it was like—

[32:08] Eli Tokash: Not in the first week, the first month.

[32:14] Jelani Remy: But yeah, but then eventually you were able to like, kind of sit back and say thank you for like the time and like looking back on it. It's like, wow, I needed that, you know, a little reset. And so I love that, that it kind of helped you with that.

[32:29] Eli Tokash: I would love to see you direct and choreograph. I feel like that's something so in your future.

[32:35] Jelani Remy: Yes, oh my god, I see it. So exciting. Do you have like a show that like, you would want to direct or like choreograph?

[32:46] Jelani Remy: Oh, um, well, I got to do "Smokey Joe's Cafe" recently.

[32:50] Eli Tokash: Right.

[32:51] Jelani Remy: Super exciting. And it was great to do it in my own backyard. You know, and find these amazing students that were just students, I mean, talents that were just outrageous. I don't know, I'm gonna keep my options open, because I don't want to tunnel vision into one thing and miss out on something that, you know, is perfect.

[33:07] Eli Tokash: I know. And it's like, do you want to do like something original too? Like—

[33:11] Jelani Remy: Yeah, sure.

[33:12] Eli Tokash: Yeah, sure.

[33:14] Jelani Remy: Okay, I love it. And I want to see these songs. I want to hear these songs too. You better be releasing them. Maybe even a composer of a musical. Come on.

[33:22] Jelani Remy: I wouldn't go that far. No, no, no, no, no, I wouldn't go that far. There's far better than that. We'll see. We'll see.

[33:27] Eli Tokash: Your face when I said that was amazing. Oh my god. Well, I have to talk to you about Gabourey, because I think it's literally so, so cool. I love that you're going to be playing the MC. Talk to me about the rehearsal process. Talk to me about everything and just like, you know, you kind of are originating a role, but at the same time, like you have those blueprints. So like, what's the process of that?

[33:50] Jelani Remy: Yeah, so "Cabaret" here at Goodspeed has been such a great process so far. It's a lot. It's a lot. Because like, we're putting together this show with a whole different twist, you know, through different lenses, different eyes. And Lainey Takakura is the most intense choreographer I've ever worked with. No, I'm kidding. She's wonderful. But, you know, but the dance is so important and how to make it different. And I'm having a blast carving this role specifically because I have an attachment to it. I'm finding myself in the role of being the strong character, but then I get to sort of layer it and you get to see the man behind the mirror. You know, you get to see, you get to do all that and go on this beautiful journey of, you know, the sky falling.

So I'm loving that and also just meeting these incredibly talented people, which is so awesome. But I also love that I get to be Jelani and sort of ad lib and make myself laugh, make people laugh. And like I said, I cannot wait for my co-star, which is all of you to come see it. And that's sort of like work together. Yeah, it's really cool. And James, our director is also James Vasquez, our amazing director, which is so awesome. Yeah, we're having a blast out here.

[35:14] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that's amazing. I'm so excited. Literally, when I saw that, I'm seeing the pictures and everything that you like. Are you? The ones you're posting on social media and stuff like that. I'm just like, I'm here for it. I'm living for it. Yeah, it's so different. It's like it's funky. It's colorful. Yeah, we're doing it different.

[35:30] Jelani Remy: Yeah. So I don't know if I asked you this. Did I ask you like if you started as like a dancer in this industry?

[35:44] Jelani Remy: You never asked me that. And the answer is no, no, no. Really? Because I feel like you're like such a good dancer. I love to dance. I love it. But I'm a singer who moves well is what we call it in the audition world. Because when you were talking about the choreography, I was like, oh my god, like, I feel like he is a dancer. I don't know. I am. Sure. I'm an entertainer. Yeah. No, I love everything. I can do a true triple threat. You got to do your best. I'll do my best. Yes, I love that. Um, yeah. In this show, I get to dance in like a heeled shoe. That's very different. So everybody who's ever done "Kinky Boots" or any other show. I am proud of you. And that's coming back. Come on. Good. Seriously.

So good. Um, so yeah, in heels and everything like did you have to like some numbers in some numbers? Yeah. That's insane. Do you know you like how to walk in them? I can't even walk in heels. I don't know. I am a glamazon in heels. I am so gigantic. Oh my god. No, I'm learning. I've learned and I've practiced makes perfect. So I bring them I get in front of a mirror and do my struts and do my dance moves. Yeah, the ankles are still intact.

[36:57] Jelani Remy: For now.

[36:58] Eli Tokash: Yeah, oh my god, that's insane. I feel like that would have to be like a whole other rehearsal. Like just time in heels.

[37:04] Jelani Remy: Well, yeah, and Laney will tell me if it's wrong. So—

[37:10] Eli Tokash: Oh, yeah. That's great. You need someone like that. Awesome. It's awesome to support and just the tribe is just right.

[37:18] Jelani Remy: Mm hmm. That's awesome. I'm so excited to see it. It's from May 13 to July 3, at Goodspeed musicals, as he mentioned. So exciting. Everyone go check it out if you're in the area. Even if you're not, whatever, go see it. Go travel. Go for a road trip.

[37:40] Jelani Remy: Anyways, Eli, that's kind of all I have for you today. And I was wondering if you would be willing to share your social media for everyone listening so that they can like follow along and see all these wonderful pictures that we're talking about.

[37:55] Jelani Remy: Would I ever follow me and all my adventures on Instagram? It's @itsjelaniremy, again, @I T S J E L A N I R E M Y. Yes. So yeah, go check him out as MC and "Cabaret." Go check out "Gone Forgotten Year" at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. That's screening June 12th and June 16th. Is that correct?

[38:17] Jelani Remy: That's correct. Oh my god. So many exciting things happening in Jelani's future and in his life and many more to come. So follow him along so that you can stay up on all of the great stuff. Jelani, thank you so much for doing this this week. It was so much fun talking to you. Till we meet again. Thank you so much.

[38:32] Jelani Remy: Of course, of course. It was awesome. You're a dream. Take a bow, Jelani Remy. Thank you so much for joining the show, Jelani. I had a blast talking with you. I'm a huge fan, once again, of Ain't Too Proud. So I love talking to all of those folks who were in the show and who had such a stamp on the show. I love Juwan Jackson, who I've talked to on the podcast and now Jelani. Great people, great humans, wonderful performers. So it was just a great chat. And of course, everything else that you're doing, go check him out as the MC in "Cabaret" at the Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut from May 13th to July 3rd. Very exciting to see him. I didn't know, like it was literally, I saw that announcement and I was like, this is something that I didn't know that I needed.

Like there's some times where it's just like, you know, you make these like dream casts of yours, but then you like miss someone that's like actually like, you don't think of people to do those roles. And it's like, oh my God, it makes so much more sense. Like that's actually a wonderful casting decision. So shout out to you casting directors.

[39:45] Eli Tokash: With that being said, that's all I have for you folks this week. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Take a Bow. Next week, we have a very, very exciting episode with a very, very exciting guest. Does not disappoint. And I'm looking forward to it so much. That's going to be episode 102. And for those of you who listened to the 100th episode of Take a Bow, thank you. And you know who that next week's guest is. So if you don't go check out episode 100, it was a good one. It was a fun one.

[40:14] Eli Tokash: Oh, and for those of you who did come and check us out on Thursday, I put a little announcement in there that we will not be posting on Thursday. And in fact, we are posting Friday. And I also added that there was going to be some exclusive bonus content coming out this week. And that's going to be at the opening night of POTUS. So check that out if you're interested. Follow us on social media to stay tuned when that will drop because it'll be an awesome episode. I'm very, very excited. It's going to be amazing. POTUS is awesome. Go check it out. And then these guests, these guests that I'm going to be talking to on Sunday is just ridiculous. So hopefully that episode will come out maybe Monday or Tuesday, but stay tuned on my social media.

And yeah, that's all I have for you folks this week. So come back next week. We will be dropping on Thursday next week, not Friday. Thank you all again for your patience. And yeah, I hope everyone has a great week until then. Bye, everyone. Have a great week.

[41:21] Eli Tokash: For this episode's curtain call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow. This podcast would not be possible without the help from Dory Berenstein, Brittany Bigelow, Katie Rosen, Alan Seals, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network. Next in line to take a bow is Tessie Tokash, who edits the audio and all the visuals for this podcast. A special thanks to patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners at PCC, as well as all the other patrons for their continued support. If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to patreon.com slash TAB. And if you enjoyed this week's episode, don't forget to subscribe on the platform that you're currently listening to this on. Also, feel free to give us a follow on Instagram at Take A Bow Podcast. Take A Bow's logo is designed by Giselle Bustos, and the music is by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinan. Bye, everyone. Hope to see you next week.