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[0:02] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 110 of Take A Bow. I'm your host Eli Tokash, and this week we have a bit of a lighter episode for you folks this week. It's been a crazy time here at Take A Bow and just life recently with a holiday weekend. And then of course, BroadwayCon is approaching, which is literally, besides the Tony Awards, probably Broadway's biggest day of the year, I would say. Or I guess actually it's the biggest weekend of the year, I guess you could say.

[0:20] Eli Tokash: And then of course, I'll talk about some Broadway news, and uh yeah, that'll be this week's episode. So I'll start off with some Broadway news. Um, not much has gone on this week. Uh McBeth, I saw Macbeth this week. Uh, I I didn't fall in love with it. I'm not a huge Shakespeare guy. Uh it's actually in its final weeks now. Uh, so you won't be able to see it after Sunday. So if you're in town uh and you're a big fan of Shakespeare, I would recommend it. It's a cool modernized way of doing it. The performances were actually incredible, but the story itself is just hard for me to understand. Shakespeare itself is kind of something that I've never really gotten into.

[1:35] Eli Tokash: Um, but if you like Shakespeare, I definitely recommend it. Uh, I did see it with uh former Take A Bow guest, actually, Sky Alyssa Friedman. Um, and she's a big Shakespeare gal, and she loved it. She she really liked Macbeth. And I thought, again, the performances were incredible, and it's worth going for that. Um, but if you kind of have a hard time understanding Shakespeare and following along Shakespeare's text and all of that stuff, it may not be for you. And if you're in town for BroadwayCon this weekend, I know it's closing, but if you're not a big Shakespeare person, I would probably recommend seeing another show.

[2:12] Eli Tokash: But uh nonetheless, I'm excited that I was able to see it before it closed. And if you're one of those people that try to see everything uh on Broadway um whenever you get the chance, like obviously this show is closing, and it's actually one of the shows that's closing the soonest. So if you don't come to New York all the time, definitely go check this one out because like I said, it's worth going for the performances, but the show itself is a little wonky to me. I don't know, it's not my favorite. Um and also speaking of a new show closing, uh, we have a new show opening. So happy previews to Kite Runner, uh, which started its previews and performances this week, just Tuesday.

[2:53] Eli Tokash: Um they've gotten some crazy buzz around all of these fun things, and they're actually gonna be doing some incredible content with BPN this weekend at BroadwayCon, which I'll talk about in a little bit, uh, when we kind of get into the episode portion of this week's episode. Um, but happy opening to Kite Runner. I'm very excited to see the show. All of these shows that like, you know, like the Harry Potters and like the famous books and everything that we see, and now they're coming to Broadway. It's kind of exciting to me. And I I'm excited to see how they pull this off on the stage.

[3:26] Eli Tokash: Um, I've heard great things about it so far with the invited dress, the friends that went there, and then of course, with the couple days that it's been opened, it's a hot ticket right now, so I gotta figure out how to get into that one. But uh it'll be uh it'll be a fun one, and I'm excited to to meet some of those folks today, or this weekend that is at uh BroadwayCon. So oh, and speaking of like famous books and things that are being brought to the stage, Stranger Things announced yesterday on Wednesday that they're gonna be trying to make something for a stage adaptation. That is crazy to me. I don't know how they're gonna pull that off.

[4:03] Eli Tokash: Obviously, now they have four seasons. Uh they're writing season five, um, and that's like currently in the process, so I don't know what they're gonna do with it. Um, they're just completely different stories each season, so I don't know what season they're gonna pick, uh, or maybe just something completely new, just with the same characters. I don't know, but it's gonna be interesting. When I saw that, I was like, what is going on? That would be something so cool to like be in. Um I think it's something that we should all keep our eye on. I'm a huge Stranger Things fan. Hope that you all are too. Um, it's literally like all anybody's talking about.

[4:41] Eli Tokash: And I was trying to get a Stranger Things panel going at BroadwayCon. I don't think it's gonna happen with all the incredible Broadway connections that Stranger Things has. Um, but I may be able to pull something off where I get a couple of Stranger Things kids at BroadwayCon doing a podcast live from BroadwayCon that you all will be able to attend, and I'll keep you posted. And you know where I can keep you posted on all my social media where I will be posting all kinds of content from this weekend, I'll be posting live updates from BroadwayCon. Uh, hopefully, I'll be able to just be doing crazy fun stuff just there at the con that are completely unplanned.

[5:19] Eli Tokash: Um, and then of course, things will pop up uh throughout the whole weekend, and I'll make sure I uh let you know where I am and what my whereabouts are and what I'm doing. Uh BroadwayCon, this I guess we'll just turn it into this episode portion because there's a lot to get to, and I'm talking about BroadwayCon anyway. So let's do it. Uh, BroadwayCon actually has two different locations this year. It's gonna be at the Manhattan Center, and then of course the New Yorker Hotel. Um, crazy. That's never been done before. It's usually at like a big convention center or a big hotel that can do it all.

[5:51] Eli Tokash: Uh, but this year it has the two different locations. It seems like uh the New Yorker will be more for panels, and the Manhattan Center will be uh the main stage panel, and then all of the booths should be at the Manhattan Center. Um, I could be wrong on that, so don't quote me on that. But that's what it appears to, that's what it seems like with the uh conversations that I've had with the BroadwayCon people. Um, and uh yeah, I'll obviously keep you all posted on it. Maybe half and half, and it seemed just like it's it's split up in some way.

[6:23] Eli Tokash: Uh BroadwayCon uh Broadway Podcast Network usually has a booth. This year we will be actually only having a room, so like a panel room. Uh so if you want to check out our booth, I guess come to our room because we were gonna be we're gonna be doing so many fun things. We have like the lights of Broadway show card events, and then we have all the live recordings featuring uh obviously me and Catherine Gallagher, we have Annalise Carpacci, Brad Oscar, and Rob McClure. We have the Kite Runner cast, we have Claiborne Elder, we have Jennifer Samard, we have Andrew Barth Feldman, Leslie Margarita, again, possibly some of the Stranger Things, and so many more incredible guests.

[7:02] Eli Tokash: So please stop by. It'll be a great time. I'd love to say hi, and uh you can be a part of some live podcast and ask some questions to your favorite Broadway stars. So that's always exciting. Um, and you'll of course be able to meet all of those incredible Broadway stars and all the podcast hosts. So we look forward to that. And if you're interested in doing any of those, we're gonna be at the New Yorker Hotel. We will be in the Herald Square suite, and we will literally be there all weekend. Um I will be in and out of that room. I wanna branch off and kind of collect my own content from BroadwayCon.

[7:36] Eli Tokash: So I'll be uh popping in and out of both the New Yorker and the Manhattan Center. But uh obviously a majority of my time will probably be spent in the Herald Square suite where Broadway Podcast Network is. Uh, but hopefully again I'll be uh splitting that time and kind of be able to make my rounds and see everybody and meet new people and obviously meet the incredible guests and performers and actors that we all are excited to see for this week. Um, and and adding on to that, I mean, this is the first in-person BroadwayCon in a couple years, and BroadwayCon has definitely taken this year to a whole new level.

[8:14] Eli Tokash: I mean, they got Hillary Clinton as a guest this year. They have so many great guests, great panels, autograph and photo booth guests, they have show features and all kind of different things. So I'm so excited. If you haven't already yet gotten your ticket to BroadwayCon and you're like either in the city or you're thinking about coming, do it. It's not too late. Get your ticket, figure something out. It we can we can all have a great time, and and it's literally it's gonna be such a fun weekend, and I hope that uh I see as many of you there as possible.

[8:46] Eli Tokash: And like I said, if you are gonna be there, reach out to me somehow. Like reach out on the social media, um at Take A Bow Podcast, which is all one word, or my social media at tocash underscore Eli. Um, I'll be on both, checking all of them, trying to meet up with as many people as I can. Um and yeah, we're just gonna be having a good time. I mean, I'm gonna be at some of the panels too, um, because I'm a Broadway fan just as much as you. And uh I'll I wanna go to like the Broadway Jackbox Live with Andrew Barth Feldman before he comes over to our Broadway Podcast Network uh booth or room.

[9:21] Eli Tokash: Um, I guess we can call it. And uh yeah, it's gonna be there's all kinds of things going on where um I'll be uh tending as a fan just like you. So I'm sure I'll see you or sit next to you or something. Um and but we'll just have to coordinate it, if not. Um so I'm sure we can figure something out. Uh what else is going on? I think that's about all you need to know before you go to BroadwayCon. Um if you want to check out more of the Broadway Podcast Network stuff that's going on at BroadwayCon, we have a schedule on our Broadway Podcast Network website uh where it literally has our specific schedule.

[10:00] Eli Tokash: And then of course you can go to the BroadwayCon website and um see all the events that are going on. I mean, there's like seven events happening every hour on the hour. So you have to definitely pick between the two. And uh it's g there's some there's some really hard decisions, but uh it it you can't go wrong. So that's the good thing. You you can't make a wrong decision. There's so many great things for for everyone to do and fans of all ages. So um it's gonna be a fun weekend, and I appreciate you all for like understanding that uh we aren't having our traditional episode this week because a lot of my time the past few weeks has been like getting all this stuff together for BroadwayCon and coordinating schedules and events and all kind of things.

[10:47] Eli Tokash: But I promise you it's gonna be so worth it with all the incredible content that we will be coming out with this weekend. We'll have some on Patreon, we'll have some on our social media, we'll have some obviously in our podcast feed for all of you to listen. Uh we're gonna be pumping out stuff all over there, so keep an eye out on the social media because we'll keep you all posted, and uh I appreciate you all listening, and to everyone that's going to BroadwayCon, I will see you tomorrow. I cannot wait. And to everyone else who is not attending the BroadwayCon, I will talk to you all next week with an incredible guest, and it's probably gonna be our wonderful interview that we're about to have this weekend live in person at BroadwayCon.

[11:28] Eli Tokash: Hopefully, I get the the episode like the recording back before Thursday so you can hear our conversation that we had with Catherine Gallagher. If not, it'll be a traditional episode with another fabulous guest, and uh we have so many we have so many great guests coming up and uh a lot of fun things that are in the work. So I will talk to you all next week, and I hope that you all have an amazing week and I hope hope hope to see you at BroadwayCon. Bye everyone. Have a great week.