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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 120 of Take A Bow. I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and we have an unreal episode for you all this week. We have a star of Beetlejuice, the musical, who we haven't had on, honestly. I mean, we had Elizabeth Teeter, but we had Sean McManus, of course. We talked to him right before he made his Broadway debut in Beetlejuice. But we really haven't had much Beetlejuice talk on the podcast, so I was thrilled to bring those incredibly loyal fans a special episode with none other than Dana Steingold this week. I'm so excited for you all to listen to this episode. We talk about Broadway, we talk about what it's like to perform as a kid on Broadway, we talk about Beetlejuice, we talk about all of the things, and we even talk about life, and it's so fun, and you all are gonna love it, and you all are gonna become the biggest Dana Steingold fans because she is just a treat. I cannot wait for you all to listen to the episode, so we'll get to that in a second. But as always, we have to start out with some Broadway news, shall we?

[1:09] Eli Tokash: Now, you all know if you listen to this weekly, you all know that I saw Funny Girl in between last week's episode and this week's episode. Holy moly. I don't even know what to say. Truly. It was one of the best theater experiences I had ever experienced. I know it’s tough to hear, and it may be hard for some of you to hear that, but Leah Michelle was amazing in this role. I mean, her talent is just ridiculous. And I was somehow in the third row. So she was right on my face. It was crazy. It was literally crazy. Her performance and Tova Feldshuh's performance was just amazing. Like it was a whole new show. It was a whole new dynamic. Tova completely played the Mama Bryce. I'm the name is escaping me right now, but she totally played it completely opposite of what Jane Lynch did.

Jane Lynch really leaned into the comedy. Like, you know, and leaned into comedy as in, like, was kind of going the uh-uh kind of comedy, like trying to really punch those jokes. Where Tova was leaning into the comedy in such a natural way because of how miserable she was playing the role.

[2:27] Eli Tokash: She was literally just like a grouchy Brooklyn mother. And it was hilarious, like literally hilarious. And it was a whole new perspective, but she totally did not like, I mean, you know, Jane Lynch's comedy is completely different from many other comedians. She really leans into it, and then she kind of took the opposite approach, which was just fascinating to see. But those two really came in and I mean, I don't want to say stepped up their game or whatever, but like with them being in the show, like everyone around them stepped up their game. Ramin Karimloo, I mean, his performance when I saw it just last week compared to when I saw it months ago when it first opened, and that could have been because it was still opening, he was really still finding it and everything, but like his performance was just ridiculous, and his chemistry with Leah Michelle was incredible. The two of their voices together was everything I needed and more, and I didn't even know it.

[3:32] Eli Tokash: And then, of course, we have Jared Grimes, Tony nominee, Take A Bow podcast family member, whose episode was earlier this year. He was ridiculous. I mean, he's finding new things for tap dancing, he's finding new things in his character. His performance is absolutely ridiculous. And then of course, like, because of the times of COVID, that show is being hit brutally with COVID, and we'll get into that in a second. But there were I think six people out, and they only had like four swings and understudies, so they were down two people. So there were a bunch of split tracks going on. My dear friend Connor McRory, who was on the Finding Neverland tour with me, is making his Broadway debut as a swing in Funny Girl, and he's absolutely killing it.

He was doing all kinds of split tracks, he had all kinds of features because of it. He had lines, he had all the things. It was so cool to see him on a Broadway stage. Congrats Connor and literally everyone in the show. Justin Prescott, who's leading the way over there in the ensemble, and in general, just the whole production. I mean, you could tell as soon as he's on the stage, everyone's in like a, I don't know, like a faster pace, sharper pace. It's just incredible.

[4:55] Eli Tokash: The show was so good, it was a completely different show from what I saw months ago with Beanie Feldstein and Jane Lynch. It was incredible. I don't know what else to say other than the show is amazing. Everybody's performance is second to none. It's an expensive ticket, but it's worth every cent right now on Broadway. And as I mentioned that I'd get to in a second, with COVID being a thing over there, Leah Michelle did contract COVID and now has tested positive, so she's been out for quite some time which is rough because she's just trying to get start to get into the rhythm of things but that leads way for Julie Banco to continue to shine in that role as she has for the past really the whole run.

I mean, she's really just, I've never heard of an understudy get talked about as much as Julie Banco and so well deserved. I'm so happy for her, she's gonna continue to shine in that role and then she of course is doing it weekly on Thursdays, so very exciting stuff. I saw the performance of Leah Michelle right before they announced that she had tested positive literally it was that night I saw the show and then the morning after they were like, oh we may have an inconclusive COVID test so she's gonna be out for today and then they announced that she's gonna be out for 10 days.

[6:17] Eli Tokash: Craziness, craziness. And um, I don't know some people really took to social media and had a field day with it and then you know there's people that feel for her so hoping the it seems like the company has really taken a liking to her so hopefully everyone in that whole company gets back and they can kind of all the craziness can kind of settle in a little bit and the swings can rest a little bit and not do 70 different tracks a night. But it was just amazing. That show was amazing. The audience was insane again it was about her third or fourth performance and again four or five standing ovations during the show. It's probably just gonna continue, to be completely honest with you. And it's so awesome.

It's just so cool to be in that show and to see how excited everybody is to go to that show right now is so fun. Like it is. You just get to walk into the theater and with how excited everybody is, it's like it's a lot of people's first time seeing a Broadway show, and it feels like that energy is just feeding on to everyone else in the room who's seen another Broadway show because it truly did feel like I was experiencing Broadway all over again.

[7:34] Eli Tokash: This isn't even like a paid thing for Funny Girl or anything. This is just an honest opinion and my mind's rambling. And um, yeah, I just, I fell in love with the show all over again. I kinda understood it a lot more this time, and I think that that always happens for me. So nothing away from the other performers that I saw in it. It's just a second time you notice different things, you follow along a little bit better because you're not focused on this and this and this. So um just kudos to everyone involved in the show, and I have a feeling that it may have been saved. We may see a long history with Funny Girl on Broadway now. So you should probably have some time to see the show and you should definitely go see it if you are able to.

[8:23] Eli Tokash: Okay, moving on, because I'm talking way too much about Funny Girl. I also saw Dear Evan Hansen this week. I had to before it closed again, because it closes on Sunday, which is absolutely devastating. Quick happy trails and congrats on an incredible run to that whole company, everyone who's involved, the current company, the previous companies, everyone. Just incredible. That show gets me every time. So good. I saw Gayton Matarazzo, so good. He is literally playing himself as Jared Kleiman, and it makes me the happiest human being. And then you have Sam Primack who's finishing off the run in Dear Evan Hansen. Unbelievable. I mean, I had never even, I've heard of Sam, of course, but I had never seen him perform.

I'd never heard his voice. I know he was in the Jimmy Awards. I know he was Pugsley in the Addams Family Tour and all of that. But his performance in the show is absolutely incredible. He is everything you want in the role. Like his, the way that he plays it, his voice is ridiculously good.

[9:26] Eli Tokash: So the cast right now is really freaking cool. And you know what? Something that doesn't get talked about enough because I feel like it's been talked about a lot with Lilius White going into Hadestown and everything like that, with how they've casted replacements. I feel like Dear Evan Hansen is one of those shows that's really flown under the radar of not stereotyping what they had in the original cast and continuing with that. I feel like everyone looked different, whether it was race, whether it was their hair color, whether it was their hairstyles, whether it was their sexuality, whatever it was, like everyone was different from the original, and it was really cool to see that actually. So once again, congratulations to all involved in Dear Evan Hansen, and hopefully we see more of that in the future.

[10:17] Eli Tokash: And the last show that I need to see before it closes is Come From Away because it's just heartbreaking that those two shows are closing. But if you can make sure you get there before both shows close. Dear Evan Hansen closes on Sunday and Come From Away closes later on, I feel like mid-October. Anyways, I need to move on. Music Man, speaking of closing shows, Music Man announced that they're gonna be closing on New Year's Day of 2023. So January 1st, 2023, The Music Man is closing. I don't have an exact reason why they haven't come out with it yet. My thoughts are Hugh only has a certain amount of time in the United States. I talked to him about this when I was in the Greatest Showman readings with him and everything, and he said that he's only in the States for like twelve to sixteen months at a time because he likes to make sure he has time to go home and spend time with his family and his wife Deb and his dogs and everything like that. Just a great guy.

[11:23] Eli Tokash: So I don't know if it was that type of thing where he was in the States for too long and he was kind of like, okay, I'm all done. I did it, I've had a blast, and I can do it till January 1st, and then they were like, oh, well, we don't want to continue without you. I don't know exactly what it was, but nonetheless, it is closing, and it's devastating to hear. That's my thought. That's my two cents for anyone that cares. But yeah, that's what's happening. Go see it before it closes because it is a performance and a show that you don't want to miss if you haven't seen it.

[11:55] Eli Tokash: I talked about Lilius White earlier with her Hadestown debut. Incredible stuff. I just needed to shout her out one more time. Lilius White did have her first performance this week in Hadestown and got a handful of standing ovations after the first number, after a couple of her songs, actually. They have tons of videos and then the bows, they went crazy. People are loving Lilius White. There's a couple videos that went out. I haven't seen her yet. She sounds amazing. If you can go check out those videos to get yourself excited, please go do that because she sounds amazing. I mean, she looks great. That costume is gorgeous on her. It's everything that you want. It's so cool, and I cannot wait to go back to Hadestown to see her performance in it, and you should too.

[12:45] Eli Tokash: I'm literally giving all of these promotions to these shows, not even meaning to. Anyways, I'm just reporting. Mr. Saturday Night will go to Broadway HD for those of you who did not see the show. I know some of you may want to see the show with the age demographic that listens to this, some of you may not have any interest. I actually have some interest, but like I heard that like I may not get it as much as like my parents or grandparents may get it per se. So I'm excited that this show is gonna come to Broadway HD. I can watch it then. I don't have to spend a crazy amount on tickets to go see the show. And yeah, that's what's happening. It's gonna be with Billy Crystal, Shauna Bean, of course, all the original cast will be in it, and they are filming it, and it will be on Broadway HD sometime later this year.

[13:32] Eli Tokash: That's all I have for you folks this week. I do want to say that today, Thursday, September 15th, is the first day of Spanish Heritage Month. And for that being said, I want to wish everyone a happy Spanish Heritage Month to all who celebrate. We are going to be celebrating you all this month and in the future. I can't wait to share all of that fun content and ideas and all the things that we have planned for this month to honor Spanish Heritage Month. Let's turn it over to Dana Steingold, because this was a long intro, and I appreciate you all for sticking around and listening to me ramble about all these shows.

[14:11] Eli Tokash: But I've just had a really exciting week and I wanted to talk to you all about it. I even went to a Joshua Bassett concert, and I know I had uh Larry Sapersine on last week, which is some of the high school musical the musical the series fans, so I wanted to shout that out, and uh I I could talk about that too, but I'm not going to because this is a theater podcast, and we're stick with that. And so, without further ado, that's all I have to say. Let's just turn it over to Dana Steingold. Dana Steingold, curtain up.

[14:44] Eli Tokash: This week's guest is actually making her Broadway debut in the hit show Beetlejuice. However, this guest has been around the block with experience on tour, off Broadway, and more, appearing in shows such as Avenue Q and the 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Oh my god, tongue to start every time. Everyone, welcome to Take A Bow, Dana Steingold. How are we, Dana?

[15:06] Dana Steingold: I'm so good.

[15:07] Eli Tokash: Oh my gosh, so good. So excited to do this with you. Um, this is a blast. I've been like wanting to have you on forever. I'm obsessed with Beetlejuice. Love your performance as the Girl Scout for those of you who don't know.

[15:21] Dana Steingold: Yeah, oh my god.

[15:22] Eli Tokash: So good. Uh, but we'll get into all of that because what I usually like to start my episodes off with is asking people what got them inspired to tell stories and want to be a performer.

[15:33] Dana Steingold: Sure. So, you know, I think I was sort of an energetic kid, and I would kind of like force people into being my audience. Um yeah, I'm the oldest of four kids, so I sort of like created my own productions in my living room, which I was always the director and the star, obviously. And uh I think my siblings were maybe getting a bit frustrated with me, and my parents were seeking another outlet. Um and so they put me in dance class because I think that's sort of the natural progression. My parents both like went to dental school, so like nobody's like theatrical in any way. So I don't even think it even occurred to them to think like musicals. Um and I just sort of like loved dance class and a friend in the class uh was auditioning for a community theater production at the Jewish community center um in Westwoodville, Michigan of the King and I different time.

[16:24] Oh my gosh. It's out an outrageous story which is always so embarrassing to tell that my theatrical debut was Princess Dean Yowla.

[16:34] Eli Tokash: No way.

[16:35] Dana Steingold: So offensive terrible and uh yeah I think I wanna say also that uh Maggie Keenboulder is in that production with me and several other people who are still in the business and it's this very embarrassing story that we all talk about. But uh yeah so I went to the audition and my mom was like I don't know what this is like she doesn't even have anything to sing and I was like I've got this um and I did like a fully staged version of Part of Your World and uh I built it. So uh um totally and honestly I just kind of fell in love right away and I think from there I just kind of immersed myself in it and listened to every past recording I could get my hands on. Um and luckily this theater company sort of had this great children's theater and their main stage productions and an incredible woman, Nancy Gerwin ran it.

[17:32] Dana Steingold: And uh her son is Danny Gerwin who is in like Lori and Little Women and full Monty and whatnot and he was like very cool and on Broadway and a professional and always so kind to me. And he said to me like, hey, I think he was at University of Michigan at the time and I was pretty young. And um he said like hey, you have to go to this camp, stage door manner. It will totally change your life. So I begged my parents to let me go. Uh and they finally gave in like two years later. Um and it really was I always say it was like getting off the bus and it was like achieving nerd nirvana like singing Sondheim lyrics in the ca in the lobby and um it truly was like a scene from a movie and I sort of like how and where did I land um and that totally changed the course of my life because I think it showed me that this was possible to be a career and also I had just never been around people who were a that in love with theater but B so gifted.

[18:36] Dana Steingold: And I think when you're around people who you just can look up to and emulate and you're like wow I'm like one with them. I'm like on the same level this is so cool. Um and I just from there I was like this is this is the thing. So I think it was sort of summer camp where I decided that it was kind of the thing for me and then I applied to college and uh ended up going to NYU because my parents were sort of of the mind of like if I was gonna do this just like move to New York City. Um you know so I applied to all the sch all the schools.

[19:08] Dana Steingold: Yeah, you know like Michigan Carnegie Mellon um and NYU were kind of my like big choices and NYU felt like a great fit for me just because I really wanted to do academics as well. Like I do love being a student. So it was kind of a nice mixture of being a c in a conservatory within a larger university, where I think uh some other schools like Michigan, which is amazing. But I grew up like 30 minutes from Ann Arbor. And uh you're definitely like in the musical theater program.

[19:38] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[19:39] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[19:40] Eli Tokash: So cool.

[19:40] Dana Steingold: So I chose ML. Yes. Oh my god. And it w hey, I I think it was worth it. Here we are today. Totally. You know, who knows? Like so many tasks, and like I always say to people it doesn't actually matter where you go to school because you're gonna learn everywhere, and like each program has its own um strengths and weaknesses, and like if you're ready to learn, you will receive and you will come out like better for it. So school is cool. Just get a degree in something.

[20:06] Eli Tokash: Totally. Amazing. So so that's so fascinating hearing that like it was really Summer Camp that kind of did it for you because here we are in this like whole COVID world where it's just like everything is like online, like all auditions, all the things, like everything is self-tapes, all of that. And it and it just made me think of like, you know, doing a self-tape with like my brother or my sister, like you know, how you did productions with them and in in um your home and then like going to like go do it with a friend or something, and it's like life changing, you know, like even just like a little self-tape thing just like makes all the difference.

[20:47] Dana Steingold: Um so just because it's like like minded people are kind of like I don't know, it's like a comfort thing, and I feel like it kind of brings out the best in you, and that's really what it takes to be a performer is to be comfortable and to really like be yourself, you know, like self-full with extent of yourself to to tell the story.

[21:07] Dana Steingold: Absolutely, and I think like, you know, part of our job as human beings and actors is to like figure out who we are, and I think that that's the hardest work we can do is figuring out who our authentic self is. But once you figure out yeah, like once you figure out how to bring that into a room, I always say to people when I teach, like that is the thing people are interested in. Um it's not you trying to be somebody else. It's truly like stepping into who you really are and bringing all the things that you think are wrong or weird or quirky about you.

[21:35] Dana Steingold: Like that is what is so charming and interesting about each individual. And when you also approach things that way, I think competition is like irrelevant.

[21:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[21:43] Dana Steingold: Because you're really only bringing your authentic self so you're not in competition with anybody, if that makes sense.

[21:49] Eli Tokash: Right.

[21:50] Dana Steingold: Um yeah, but I think summer camp was for sure the first time I also realized like the most talented people were also the people I was gonna learn from the most and that it wasn't something to be afraid of. It was like so thrilling. Um and to this day I feel like my my favorite moments are being around people that I'm like almost like afraid to be around.

[22:09] Eli Tokash: Oh, I'm so in awe of their skills, you know?

[22:12] Dana Steingold: But I feel that's like when I'm learning the most and it was true in school also and it's still true for me today that when I'm pushed out of my comfort zone and like the more uncomfortable I am the more I'm learning actually.

[22:22] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[22:23] Dana Steingold: Well you have to you have to kind of let yourself be uncomfortable to put yourself in a position to succeed. You know like in a way it's like what we do is yeah we have to be ourselves but we also have to be someone else and tell their story and that's kind of like uncomfortable in in in many ways. If you think about it in like oh my God I have to do the story justice and I have to perform in front of fifteen hundred people every night.

[22:47] Eli Tokash: Like that that it's kind of what we do, allowing ourselves to be uncomfortable.

[22:51] Dana Steingold: So totally totally get that. Totally makes perfect sense. And uh it's amazing. It it's so weird what we do, but it's it's amazing. So it's it's beautiful at the same time. I don't get it. Um, it's it's like both things, but there are definitely days where I'm like, This is so bizarre to lose my job.

[23:10] Eli Tokash: Oh my gosh. Well, I have to talk to you about Beetlejuice because like it's iconic. And the show is just so uh beloved by literally all of Broadway. And we'll get into like uh the coming back and everything like that and all of that. But I wouldn't start out at the beginning of like the process with the show, 'cause I know you were with the show before it even came to Broadway. So when did you join the show and what was it like kind of seeing the show be a 150 page or whatever it was script on paper to then what it is today?

[23:45] Dana Steingold: Yeah, so I am one of a few people who have been around for quite a long time. Um the very first twenty-nine hour reading sort of happened, oh gosh, I wanna say it might have been like twenty sixteen, twenty fifteen. Uh yeah, and so honestly, like they wouldn't tell us what it was. They said a property, um, and they didn't really tell us what it was, so we kind of committed to it. All I knew is that I was playing a girl count.

[24:12] Eli Tokash: Amazing.

[24:13] Dana Steingold: Okay. And then uh when I found out it was Beetlejuice, I was sort of like, was there a girlfriend? And I ran every and I went, I don't recall. And then I thought about Adam's family values, and I was like, There was a gross one of that. Um so I saw it on the page and I thought, uh, I think I know what this is. I'm just gonna make a big choice and like take a stab at it, and they'll probably replace me with a child in the future. I'm sure they're doing this as like, you know, we have to have an adult do this now because it's a reading format and whatever.

[24:44] Dana Steingold: And honestly, at every juncture, I kind of thought that that would be the time I wouldn't be asked back. Um and so I would say like every six, seven months or so we would do another stage of development, another workshop, another reading, of eventually some staged labs to kind of see how it would work. And uh a handful of us it was me, Leslie, Carrie, Jill, Danny, and I wanna say no, I think that's it for the for the very beginning from the beginning to Broadway. And then that second round, uh Alex and Sophia came on as well as um Adam Danheiser and a couple other people.

[25:21] Dana Steingold: So we've all been like around the block with it and we've seen it go through several incarnations. Um some of which were very uh R-rated and uh as you know I'm sure you've heard about GC which was like the full am I allowed to say balls for the walls version on that um I would say like they went all the way and we loved that version. We had a lot of love for that version. Uh and I think then they kind of smartly realized um this was an amazing journey but maybe people were really focusing on Lydia's journey and so if we could make it slightly more family friendly and still feel dangerous and fun um they could kind of have a bigger audience.

[26:04] Dana Steingold: But um yeah it should be been incredible. The first reading uh Lydia's mom was a character.

[26:10] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah.

[26:11] Dana Steingold: So in another world she yeah she met up with her mom and she did find her and her mom kind of sang the song that's in the home placement.

[26:21] Eli Tokash: No way.

[26:22] Dana Steingold: Now yeah that only was So Home wasn't always in it. No, and actually Home was it had the same melody but it was a different it was called running away. But that song I'm trying to remember when that happened it might have been like in the lab, but one of the last labs, but no, there was always I think they were waiting to find the right piece there.

[26:44] Dana Steingold: Fascinating. Um and yeah it was called running away but then very smartly they realized that wasn't really super active. She's not running away from anything at that point. She's running towards something so I think then they sort of like revamped all the lyrics uh of that. But yeah it's been such a crazy journey just to see all of the versions that we've had. We were saying the other night that we should do like um like it's spelling bee, we used to do a dirty bee.

[27:08] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[27:09] Dana Steingold: Where we do all of the jokes we weren't allowed to do. Um we were like we should do like a midnight Rocky horror show version of this. It would be so much rehearsal and so much money I'm sure that we'll never do it. But even like a low show.

[27:22] Eli Tokash: Yeah like something like fun where it's like all the deleted stuff.

[27:26] Dana Steingold: Uh yeah, 'cause there are some really good, really good things that I can't even believe were said, to be honest. But I personally can't stand this mod cat.

[27:36] Eli Tokash: That's awesome.

[27:37] Dana Steingold: I bet people would be all over that. Like seriously, I bet people would love that. Just like the deleted versions of Beetlejuice.

[27:43] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[27:44] Dana Steingold: I'm upset. But yeah, I mean I feel super lucky that they like allowed me to continue the journey. Um like I I really don't know how I got here. I know like It's fascinating to you that you know like you were a Girl Scout so you were like, oh like is this my last go around with it? Like that's crazy. You obviously made a special impression or you you were do you were doing something right. So that's cool. Did you even think that maybe you had like I don't know, like an opportunity to be in the ensemble or something?

[28:13] Dana Steingold: Like were you hoping that you would stay with the show or is it kinda like, I don't know. You know, I think like with everything, this business is so crazy and there's so many ups and downs and I do so many readings and workshops and it's my favorite thing to do 'cause I love figuring it out and like being on the ground floor of stuff and creating and that's those are the most fun rooms to be in.

[28:33] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah.

[28:33] Dana Steingold: Um and again I think the most creative rooms and I would say also like where you learn the most 'cause you're like, oh interesting to see how this person approaches readings with like this person and how everybody works differently. Uh but yeah, I just sort of I was like, I can't get attached to anything. I just have to like make strong choices and hope that they liked them and will take me along to the ride. So I don't know if I ever thought like maybe the ensemble. I was also like, Will this even happen? 'Cause you know, I've been in this business a long time. I've had so many things like fall apart, like the Godspell revival in um two thousand and seven that I was supposed to be a part of and I was supposed to make my Broadway debut then. Um and that fell apart like three days before we were supposed to start rehearsal.

[29:18] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[29:18] Dana Steingold: So there've been so many close calls or cancellations and almost that I think it taught me to just live in the moment, enjoy what's happening and not really like hope too hard for anything to happen. And of course you easier said than done, we always like get attached to certain projects. Um but I think we all did think this this piece was really special and I think um, you know, Alex Timbers is so great and so collaborative and I think he also sensed that we had a very from the beginning with a family of people that were really creating the show that we that's i it's a testament to him and to our creative team and the show that we're all still here, like all these years later and it's because we really love it and really love each other.

[29:59] Eli Tokash: Yeah um and I've truly not ever been a part of a show where it's like this like both backstage and on stage just the coolest chillest people and everyone just truly has a great time which is why I think everybody who comes has such a good time.

[30:13] Dana Steingold: Exactly you can totally tell on stage that like you guys are having you you love what you're doing.

[30:18] Eli Tokash: Yeah right and it is and I think that's part of a joy.

[30:21] Dana Steingold: Yeah for sure. Oh my God so you were in DC and like you've been with the show for so long and like yes you've done you've done tours you've done um the off Broadway before you even came to Broadway but after doing the show in DC you're veteran and like you've done the show before but like there's something different about you know coming to New York and having your first like Broadway bow. Like it is it like it's kind of like unforgettable right so talk to me about your first Broadway bow with Beetlejuice.

[30:54] Dana Steingold: Yeah, I will say it was very surreal. I think when you take in how big of a moment it is if you actually did that in a moment you would be frozen in time and you wouldn't be able to actually participate in the um so in a weird way it's like both incredible but I felt the release after because I think while you're doing it if you if you really thought about oh this is the moment like I've also my words are this is it the day I've been waiting for like what a joke. So yeah no it's true though. You know and so I think it was this really amazing moment and I always say that like I did have to wait a long time for this thing to happen, but it also was so magical because it really does happen when all things are right.

Um, and it was such a perfect example. It brought so many pieces of my life together. Like Connor, our choreographer, um, we went to summer camp together. We met very first uh Saver Manor, he played my dad and the boyfriend. Um very upset because we were the same age. Oh my god. Hilarious horrified. Um, and when he first was like leaving the bus like not leaving the business, but deciding he didn't want to perform anymore and really wanted to transition into being a director choreographer, I got him his first job working on a show that my friends had written, and then that sort of led to you know, other collaborations, which ultimately led him to Beatlejuice.

[32:20] Dana Steingold: So we worked together, and if I had to put like all the wish list items, like if I had written it and buried it in a box somewhere, like originating a song on a cast recording and originating a role and getting to the Tony Awards on Thanksgiving Day parade, like I got to do them all with this. So in a way, like, yeah, I could have made my Broadway debut as a replacement a billion times or whatever, but it sort of worked out that this was like the thing and it was absolutely the right thing, and I got to build it from the ground up, so it was super rewarding. Um but I would say that like that first Broadway bow, like I was so happy, and then the enormity of just sort of like all the years that and things that it took to get there hit me like after and I walked off stage and I sat in the dressing room, and Jill looked at me and was like, You did it, and I just burst into Oh, stop.

Um yeah, and I just cried for like a solid 20 minutes. But um i in like a great way, because it was just like this oh really overwhelming like gratitude, but also that it was the right thing and that I felt ready to receive it also because I truthfully think that if I had been younger, I don't know that I would have appreciated it in the way that I step into it now, like very fully, being like, This is a special experience, this could happen again, this could never happen again.

[33:45] Eli Tokash: Right.

[33:45] Dana Steingold: Um, you know, and so I think, you know, I don't know, and and also being surrounded by just great people who also are so uh full of gratitude and and grateful to be there.

[33:53] Eli Tokash: So totally.

[33:55] Dana Steingold: I'm with you. The the more I do, like the more I do this kind of thing and like talk to people about like what it means to like be on Broadway. Like I came from West Virginia, which is like in the middle of nowhere, you know, like no one knows it's a state. They think I'm from Virginia and it's like no, it's West Virginia and uh there's no theater there. There's no theater there. You have to go to like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to do theater. And so like I knew nothing about it and like I took my first Broadway vow at twelve and I didn't understand it, you know, like I I truly just was like, Oh cool, like this is great, this is so much fun, like I was just having the time in my life. But now like as I'm I get older and everything and like my voice changed and I'm trying to like find myself again as a performer and all the things, I'm like, who knows if this is gonna happen again?

Like I didn't realize how amazing it would be to be on Broadway or like what it meant to be on Broadway. Like it's so true that like when you're young and you're kinda just like innocent and you're you're naive to it all and then like as you grow up you kind of start to appreciate it and like respect the amount of work it took. 'Cause as your kid, you know, you have all this energy like you were talking about earlier that you're just kinda always going and you're like, Great, this is so much fun, I'm performing with friends, you know. So like you just don't get you don't even know that like you're making money. Like you don't know it's a job, you know. You know, you're just like legit having that too.

[35:13] Dana Steingold: You know, like there's also something so beautiful in that 'cause I always say like I did my best work at fifteen. Again know any each other. You know, like there's no one telling me you can't. Like I was like, Well, yes, I can play the witch and into the woods at 16. That seems reasonable. Exactly. You know, I will be Sally and me and my girls. Absolutely. Like in your 14, you're like, Yeah, that seems totally great. And it's also just like, you know, I don't know, for me at least, like, as the more and more I get older, like the more I don't know, like in my head I get, like the more self-conscious I get or something. So like I I'm a hundred percent with you where I was like, I was doing my best work as a kid and I just didn't have a care in the world that other people thought of me, and then like the whole world changed all of a sudden overnight, and it's like, why do I care so much now? I'm like so like tense now going into auditions.

[36:01] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[36:02] Dana Steingold: I actually like okay, another embarrassing crying story for Dana Sangel, which is old now. Understand I do I do cry a lot. Um You should though. You're in touch with emotions, it's great.

[36:13] Dana Steingold: Yeah, and like I cry it's like in a positive way. I cry like out of joy a lot 'cause I like get really happy for my friend, whatever. So um this is like sort of a negative but release cry. When Godspell got cancelled, yeah, I sort of said, like, okay, I have like 48 hours to be like upset and falk and stomp around my apartment in my underwear, and then I have to like get a job. Because that's the reality. Like I left my job on tour to like do this broadway show and now I have to like get another gig. Um my friend was like, Yeah, yeah.

[36:40] Eli Tokash: Oh my gosh.

[36:40] Dana Steingold: My friend was like, Why don't we um go see Title of Show? And I said, Okay, great, that'll really cheer me up.

[36:55] Eli Tokash: God cute.

[36:56] Dana Steingold: Heidi Blick and Stuff gets up. One day I'll meet her and I'll be like, That really moved me in a way that I can't explain. She shut up and saying way back to when. Yes. And when I tell you that that song may as well have been called like I wish I could go back to theater camp, which really is what I think about But I was with my best friend and I mean I lost it. Like I was balling. Yes. In a way that was not normal, and the person next to me was probably like, What is this girl's journey? What is she going through? Right.

[37:25] Eli Tokash: Um but it's just so funny. And then I had that good cry and I was like, I feel better, like I can move forward.

[37:31] Dana Steingold: Oh my god. Who knew that you just needed Heidi Black and Staff in your life, you know?

[37:35] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and it was like chase chasing to like going back to before when you didn't know the politics. You just know the like money invested and like all your dreams, uh you know, you just didn't realize uh like what a miracle it is when you get a job because so many people have to say yes and agree and that it's just so hard. Um so yeah, that song really spoke to me that day. Um but I and it was just because like you could go back to that innocent time where you were just like doing your best work because like you just didn't believe no one had told you no yet. Right. You know, or like I don't know. So we just don't second guess ourselves and we just make big choices because it seems like you know what you're supposed to do and you're not judging yourself yet, and and then the trick is like circling back to try to get back to that place so that you can like fully step into like what you're supposed to be doing.

But it's it's I mean it's a constant journey as well 'cause I don't think any of us ever achieve it. There are days Leslie and I were just talking last night, like we were just saying, like some days you're just like, Am I even good at this? Right.

[38:36] Eli Tokash: No, seriously.

[38:39] Dana Steingold: Like, what am I doing here?

[38:41] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[38:42] Dana Steingold: Oh my god. Um and it happens, and I think if you didn't feel that way, like there'd be something wrong with you or you're lying.

[38:48] Eli Tokash: Right.

[38:49] Dana Steingold: It's like people who say they never get nervous, and I'm like, okay. I mean, we all have ways of dealing with it, but certainly there are moments where you're working through nerves.

[38:57] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[38:57] Dana Steingold: Right. And if not, it's just like adrenaline. Like it's like there's a it's a form of nerves, you know.

[39:04] Eli Tokash: Totally.

[39:05] Dana Steingold: Yes, exactly. It all everyone's nerves manifests in different ways, you know, and hopefully it it manifests in a way that you can work through and like perform. But um I no, I'm just like thinking back to your story, like I can't imagine just like being told that like you're cast in a Broadway show, and it's just like literally three days before rehearsal, it's just like it's not happening. Because I actually I spoke to Kelly Leo last week's episode.

[39:27] Eli Tokash: Oh, she was in that production.

[39:29] Dana Steingold: Yes. Yes. Yes. So so I it's funny that like you know, back to back like kind of crossover thing. But like I was it was fascinating just like to think about that when I saw that 'cause I I didn't even know that happened until I I was talking to Telly and did some research on him and everything, and then I saw that you were involved in that production too. I was like, oh my god, like cannot imagine living through a time where it's just like your problems, something so amazing. And for your case, like making your broadway debut, Telly's like a vet. Um but so just like to go through that, I I can't imagine. I can't imagine what you were dealing with. So but hey, it was theater that saved you and brought you back, so totally.

[40:07] Dana Steingold: And honestly, like it really was not great. Um, I'm not gonna lie to you, but it also was one of those things where like you learn from it and you say, Okay, um, what am I supposed to take from this experience? Right. Uh sometimes bad things just happen, there's no rhyme or reason. Um, and the next time I got to work with the director, Danny Goldstein, he gave me like the best job, which was I'll tell you why, which was Greece at Paper Mill, which wouldn't be like that's the best job. But um the people I was with became we became best friends on that show, and so it's like weird that like I had to lose this job, but it ended up bringing me like my best friends on another job. So it was like he gave me the worst experience and then the ultimate gift.

[40:49] Dana Steingold: Absolutely. So I always been like, thank you, thank you, thank you, because he's like our match we call him the matchmaker because like it was so beautiful. And Telly was in that too.

[40:56] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, that's so funny.

[40:59] Dana Steingold: But I mean it's so true, like you have to go through those lows to experience and appreciate the highs and like the good parts of like your career and like appreciate it even more. Um yeah, but it's it's crazy, crazy times.

[41:13] Eli Tokash: Anyways, crazy. I gotta go back to Beetlejuice, okay, because we say so we the it's open and all the things and it's killing it. It's doing so well, it's a hit. You know, like people like when it came it was just coming to Broadway, it was like, Oh, Beetlejuice is coming to Broadway? Like what is happening? Like, how does this gonna work? But everyone loved it, right? And then all of a sudden the COVID pandemic hit and it now that it was closing. So I mean, did you ever think that it was possible to like come back and like once music man said that they were gonna go into your the winter garden, then it was just like what what's going through your guys' mind?

[41:52] Dana Steingold: So again, with Beetlejuice I'm always like we've been on such a journey that I can never say never with this show. Like we are down, but we are not out. You know, I think what's interesting is, you know, when we opened we were very much not a hit. I think we were it we got very mixed reviews out of town and then we came in and we were all a little bit nervous because we were essentially doing a totally different version of the show we had done out of town and we were sort of like, okay, like we trust everyone on the team so much, we trust this is gonna work.

[42:20] Dana Steingold: But we all first read the new script and we were like, Okay, this is definitely a softer version.

[42:26] Dana Steingold: So, um when we opened, I think everybody who came was having a great time, but I think there was sort of a stigma, a bit of a stigma around it, and I think people were almost not embarrassed to be like, I loved it, but a lot of people in the business I think were coming being like, This is my favorite thing I've seen all year.

[42:45] Dana Steingold: You know, and they're like, Yes, just come, it's so fun. Um and I think also like with such great performances, you have like Leslie and you had Oh my god obviously Alex and Sophia and Br and just everyone doing such great work and I think we all loved what we were doing so much.

[42:59] Dana Steingold: So we thought we were gonna close pretty early on because we were super nervous and then truly the thing that changed for us was our performance on the Tony Awards and the cast album dropping that week.

[43:10] Dana Steingold: And all of a sudden it just took off. Like it was so crazy. Um and I think just people understanding what the show was and the tone of the show, I think they realize like, oh, this is actually not a kid's show, um, and it's so funny and irreverent and so I think every time we do a TV appearance it helps us, but specifically I think that Tony performance and the cast album.

[43:32] Dana Steingold: That Tony performance was like iconic. And honestly, every time we do something like that is truly a testament to I think Alex Timbers' skill of knowing how to direct for TV and this is gonna work for the show.

[43:43] Dana Steingold: It's not what we do in the show, but it's gonna sell the show the best way. And Brighton is so brilliant at all of those appearances.

[43:50] Dana Steingold: And always learning like new lyrics, it's crazy. So yeah, I think we were sort of like hoping to make it through the summer.

[43:58] Dana Steingold: Yeah. And um slowly things just started picking up and we were like, wow, people are really coming to the show.

[44:04] Dana Steingold: And then, you know, we were engaging with people um online because we were getting so many messages from kids and teenagers saying how much they related to the show.

[44:12] Dana Steingold: It meant so much to them and we would come out of the stage door and slowly like what started as you know, twenty people grew to like fifty, and then it grew to like a hundred and then it grew to like around the block the Winter Garden.

[44:23] Dana Steingold: And we realized something else was happening. And then of course Presley started doing the TikToks and we were making backstage TikTok and people were doing all this cosplay on TikTok with the album.

[44:35] Dana Steingold: And so I think it was just all of these things coming together in just the right time and our show all of a sudden went overnight it felt like from being like possibly on the brink of closure to being a huge massive chance that was like selling out and breaking box office records.

[44:50] Dana Steingold: Yeah. So I think when we found out about the Music Man's situation, they told us I wanna say it was like right before Thanksgiving.

[44:59] Dana Steingold: Um and they were like we're working really hard to move the show and this is not by any means like a closing notice.

[45:06] Dana Steingold: We just we have to vacate this theater. So we're gonna promote it as that we're vacating and um that's what we're gonna do.

[45:13] Dana Steingold: And I know our producers worked really hard to try to get us to stay in there but ultimately it was what it was.

[45:19] Dana Steingold: Um and saw the Music Man, loved it. It was actually quite healing to like go back to the theater and hear music in there again and hear people laughing just because after COVID, I was like the last time I came in here, like we took about and then the last time I was moving out and it was just so sad and silent.

[45:37] Dana Steingold: And so it was so nice to see like light in there. Right.

[45:41] Dana Steingold: So I yeah, it was just like I think we thought, you know, we were just gonna see what happens, and we're gonna enjoy every day we have until June sixth.

[45:48] Dana Steingold: Yeah. Uh and then I think I'm allowed to say this now.

[45:51] Dana Steingold: We were supposed to we found out we were going to move here.

[45:51] Dana Steingold: Uh it was a different theater than we have now.

[45:57] Dana Steingold: Oh.

[45:57] Dana Steingold: And then the pandemic hit.

[45:59] Dana Steingold: Oh wow. Um, and so we took that Tuesday night vow and we were you know, this doesn't age well, but we definitely were like making jokes about like going up to the door and being like, but we're really not supposed to.

[46:11] Dana Steingold: Why? Coronavirus. We were like, please let us do it, please.

[46:16] Dana Steingold: Yeah. Um just, you know, at the time I don't think any of us knew how serious it was.

[46:20] Dana Steingold: And we were like, Okay, we're not doing the stage floor, all right, you know.

[46:24] Dana Steingold: Right. We we didn't know.

[46:25] Dana Steingold: Um we so we thought we were going home for two weeks, and then slowly I think we realized it was not going to be two weeks.

[46:31] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[46:32] Dana Steingold: Um, and then we got that notification we were gonna have a zoom and they told us that, you know, we're gonna announce that we're closing early, um, because they don't know when Broadway's returning, and they were very kind on that call as well.

[46:43] Dana Steingold: Same thing like we will not stop until we try to get the story, you know, this this shouldn't be the end, and we can't make any promises, but we're gonna work extremely hard and they surely lived up to their words.

[46:56] Dana Steingold: Um so yeah, I i but at the same time, you know, we spent two years and I think we had hope, but also you don't want to have too much hope.

[47:06] Dana Steingold: Yeah, because it would be so devastating.

[47:08] Dana Steingold: So I think we all just sort of like cautiously put it to bed, but it was just like we were writing a new chapter, we weren't like closing the book kind of thing.

[47:17] Dana Steingold: And um, thank goodness I think that we didn't, but um on opening night, it was both so joyous and also very healing, and it was also a little painful because I think that was the closure of the first journey for us as well as the start of a new one.

[47:33] Dana Steingold: Right.

[47:34] Dana Steingold: And so it was so fantastic to be back, but it also is like bittersweet because we were missing people from our like original family, and everyone we have now this is new is amazing, but it was sad to be missing certain people, you know, and but a lot of them were there in the audience, which was really great.

[47:49] Dana Steingold: Oh um, yeah.

[47:51] Dana Steingold: But yeah, it's been totally surreal.

[47:53] Dana Steingold: Like I I truly still can't believe that we're like back and this is happened.

[47:59] Dana Steingold: I know.

[47:59] Dana Steingold: I don't know of another situation where this has happened, basically backed by popular demands.

[48:03] Dana Steingold: I don't know.

[48:04] Dana Steingold: No, literally, it's such a testament to your fans.

[48:07] Dana Steingold: Um your fans are literally like second to none.

[48:11] Dana Steingold: I mean, you have some of the best fans on Broadway, seriously.

[48:13] Dana Steingold: They show up in cosplay, they're doing the whole TikTok to have the whole the fan art of the wall in the marquee is insane.

[48:21] Dana Steingold: Um just like obsessed with all of it.

[48:23] Dana Steingold: Another thing that made me cry.

[48:24] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[48:25] Dana Steingold: Oh my god.

[48:26] Dana Steingold: But like rightfully so, because I think I had a couple tears walking past that too.

[48:30] Dana Steingold: Um but like when they announced when Beetlejuice announced that they were closing during the pandemic, like early, they they took to Twitter, they took to everywhere and like were doing petitions, like they were everything, like literally.

[48:45] Dana Steingold: And so, like, talk to me about what the fans mean to you and to this show.

[48:52] Dana Steingold: I mean, I I think everyone would agree that the fans of our show, we have the best fans in the world.

[48:57] Dana Steingold: It can be both beautiful and overwhelming at the same time.

[49:01] Dana Steingold: It's an interesting thing because our show centers around a girl who's and I think this is very important, who's like not a princess and she's she's not trying to find love or even like make a friend.

[49:12] Dana Steingold: She just is sort of moving through very real human emotions and moving through grief.

[49:18] Dana Steingold: And I think so many people connect with that and we do it all through humor of course, but it's still dealing with like, you know, at the beginning of Say My Name, she's about to jump off the roof.

[49:26] Dana Steingold: She's contemplating suicide, you know?

[49:29] Dana Steingold: Um and so I think it's been interesting just because we have so many people who are like I didn't feel seen and then I sort of found this like online community of people who liked the show and felt seen by the by the show as well and now they've become like friends and the first time they would meet would be at the stage door of our show.

[49:47] Dana Steingold: Which that is like the most beautiful thing I can possibly think of and so you know, it seems so silly 'cause you're like beetle dude.

[49:56] Dana Steingold: You know, but it really like means it means something to so many people and they're sort of like our extended family and like part of the fabric of our show and um I think one of the things we miss most obviously is having that stage door engagement right now because I think it is a huge part of the culture of our show.

[50:15] Dana Steingold: But um yeah we certainly have the world's most amazing fans and the art we receive and the notes I've received so many like letters and messages and um it really all just means so much to everybody and it's very cool to be a part of something that means this much to people, you know, and again I I don't know if that will ever happen again.

[50:38] Dana Steingold: Um so I think we're all just taking that experience and for what it is, which is like a very special like once in a lifetime experience.

[50:46] Dana Steingold: So special.

[50:47] Dana Steingold: So you also understand Lydia.

[50:50] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[50:51] Dana Steingold: Right?

[50:51] Dana Steingold: Like so talk to me about that, because you mentioned her, like her kind of arc where in Say My Name she's literally contemplating suicide and then like has to go through this emotional roller coaster of her mom dying and then like kind of befriending Beetlejuice and like all these things are going on and there's so many emotions that have to do with that character.

[51:13] Dana Steingold: That arc is so beautiful.

[51:15] Dana Steingold: Um and you can tell they really worked on like figuring that out.

[51:18] Dana Steingold: Talk to me about about that track and and what it means to to understudy such an iconic character.

[51:24] Dana Steingold: Yeah, I mean I try not to think about that part.

[51:29] Dana Steingold: Um but you know, I think it's so interesting because all of us who have done it are all so different, and so it's such a beautiful thing because everybody can bring their own um their own self and we've had such an amazing and supportive associate team and stage management team that has truly let us like find our own versions um of the show.

[51:50] Dana Steingold: Like certainly I could never do what Sophia does, or you know what I mean?

[51:53] Dana Steingold: It or what Elizabeth does, like we're all such different humans.

[51:57] Dana Steingold: Um but I think you know, it kind of came as a surprise.

[52:01] Dana Steingold: I think it just made natural sense to them that the girl scout would be the track that like covered um Lydia.

[52:08] Dana Steingold: And so it came about like a right before DC.

[52:10] Dana Steingold: It was like never something we had discussed prior.

[52:13] Dana Steingold: Um and so they were like, just come in, we're just gonna like sing Dead Mom and do like a scene, and it's just gonna be like it was very chill.

[52:20] Dana Steingold: It was just like um our musical director, uh, Chris and Timbers and Rachel Hoffman, and I was like, Can I find shit for my child right now?

[52:28] Dana Steingold: Like I don't know what she wants, I just was like, I'm so confused.

[52:34] Dana Steingold: Like, so I was like, I guess I'm just gonna work out of material.

[52:37] Dana Steingold: I think I know what this is, you know.

[52:39] Dana Steingold: And uh I went in the room, I did it, I left, and um later on Rachel Hoffman was like, Oh no, that was literally just we just had to like see you could do it, and like it was just like checking a box off and I was like, You should really tell people that before they go out.

[52:55] Dana Steingold: Yep.

[52:55] Dana Steingold: Um I can't remember so my age I don't remember what it was, but I was like, that is we should be clearer.

[53:01] Dana Steingold: But I still was sort of like I will be like snowstorm Lydia, like when people like can't make it from New Jersey, like you know, like I'll go on in like February, whatever.

[53:12] Dana Steingold: And and also 'cause I was like I have my own thing to do in the show and you know, so and that was truly enough for me.

[53:19] Dana Steingold: So I was like, this is just like an added bonus, I guess.

[53:22] Dana Steingold: Um or stressor, if you will.

[53:26] Dana Steingold: Um Yeah, but once I sort of like had the idea, I was like, well this is actually really fun because this I've made a career mostly of like dark comedic roles, you know what I mean?

[53:38] Dana Steingold: And and um all of like that canon.

[53:41] Dana Steingold: So I was like, this is so fun because it kind of pulls together all of that, plus like I guess for lack of a better word, that like sort of uh like seeker, um that sort of like Eponine, you know, kind of version of uh all those characters too.

[53:56] Dana Steingold: And it's such great score, so I was like, Okay, great, like I'll just go, I'll see what happens and um I ended up going on a lot and that was really exciting.

[54:06] Dana Steingold: Um and certainly like that first time you come through the floor.

[54:09] Dana Steingold: Yeah, like is very cool.

[54:12] Dana Steingold: I can't imagine.

[54:13] Dana Steingold: Yeah, it's very, very cool.

[54:14] Dana Steingold: I can't lie to you.

[54:15] Dana Steingold: Uh and it was just really great because like Brightman and I went to college together.

[54:19] Dana Steingold: And yeah, and so and we've also done a bunch of shows where like off off off Broadway where we made like twenty five dollars a show with like a curtain dividing our dressing room that we just did for fun.

[54:31] Dana Steingold: Um so we were like, this is the same, but like this looks bigger.

[54:35] Dana Steingold: Um so it's fun because every time I get to go on, it's like working with like A, he's an amazing team partner to begin with, but B, it's like this old friend, so it actually feels so familial and so comfortable and it's like we're just doing a play in the basement of for like the French Festival again.

[54:51] Dana Steingold: You know what I mean?

[54:52] Dana Steingold: So it's weird.

[54:53] Dana Steingold: It's like very big, but it also feels very small.

[54:55] Dana Steingold: Totally.

[54:56] Dana Steingold: Um and yeah, and it's just really fun and it in my track I actually don't interact with a lot of people on stage.

[55:01] Dana Steingold: I other than Elizabeth.

[55:03] Dana Steingold: Right or whoever is in that track.

[55:05] Dana Steingold: Um, you know, otherwise I just like kind of stand alone and on zero own thing.

[55:09] Dana Steingold: So it's so fun to get to like engage with everybody and do scenework and like really see everybody on stage.

[55:14] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[55:14] Dana Steingold: Um, so it's always like a joy to kind of get to go on and and like play with everybody.

[55:19] Dana Steingold: Oh and that's those are all my favorite moments.

[55:22] Dana Steingold: Like all the group numbers are my favorite.

[55:23] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[55:24] Dana Steingold: Oh my god.

[55:25] Dana Steingold: They're still like I don't get to think about it every day.

[55:28] Dana Steingold: The whole show is so fun.

[55:29] Dana Steingold: I mean, literally.

[55:30] Dana Steingold: It's so so good.

[55:31] Dana Steingold: It literally the entire time, like as an audience every your team's hurt after watching it 'cause you're literally smiling the whole time.

[55:38] Dana Steingold: I mean there's a couple of sad parts and everything, but like they make light out of it almost instantly.

[55:44] Dana Steingold: Um they want you to like it's it is a feel good show.

[55:47] Dana Steingold: I don't know, it's kinda bizarre when you really think about it, 'cause they do talk about suicide and losing your parents and like all these things, but like they do try to make it kind of fun and enjoyable all at the same time.

[55:59] Dana Steingold: Um so yeah, like like you said, like the whole show is so fun, and I mean it's no wonder why everybody literally everybody loves the show and and no one has a problem saying it now.

[56:09] Dana Steingold: Like they're not shy to say it now.

[56:11] Dana Steingold: Um So I have to ask you because I'm dying to ask you, you you play a Girl Scout in the show, and I saw on your Instagram that you're a snack carnage to her and like a a snack what did he say?

[56:21] Dana Steingold: A snack enthusiast.

[56:23] Dana Steingold: Um I I love that.

[56:25] Dana Steingold: So I have to ask you, like, do you have a favorite Girl Scout cookies?

[56:29] Eli Tokash: Okay, so I did have this a lot in your back, which is like the irony is not lost on me.

[56:35] Dana Steingold: So I basically have like one choice. I think there's two choices now. I think I came out with this type of gluten-free cookie.

[56:39] Eli Tokash: Oh.

[56:42] Dana Steingold: And it's a toffee flavor. I can't say it's my favorite thing or the short for it. But I really like coconut, so if I could, I'm sure it would be a Samoa.

[56:51] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[56:52] Dana Steingold: I like it. You know, I mean that's that's my favorite, and I'm not even a coconut guy. Uh but I love Samoas, and uh that's like the one thing. I will say it's an unpopular opinion, 'cause my whole family of their favorite are thin mints.

[57:07] Eli Tokash: And I'm just like a good old standby.

[57:10] Dana Steingold: I am so against thin mints. I have like beef with thin mints because I just don't think mint should be in like cookies.

[57:16] Eli Tokash: Like that's a time to like snack and like be unhealthy.

[57:19] Dana Steingold: And like mints are kind of like for gum, you know, just keep it in gum. Um anyway.

[57:24] Eli Tokash: No, I hear that. I totally see that. Uh yeah, I would go with like Samoa or probably catalong as a peanut butter.

[57:31] Dana Steingold: Oh my god, those hits.

[57:32] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it would be one of those for me, I think.

[57:34] Dana Steingold: Okay. Um but your toppy.

[57:36] Eli Tokash: But also like if we're out there, I like to be a little bit more.

[57:38] Dana Steingold: Okay.

[57:39] Eli Tokash: Okay. Kind of there.

[57:41] Dana Steingold: Okay. So yeah, if anyone's listening, make more gluten-free flavors, please.

[57:44] Eli Tokash: Gluten free, yep. Is are you gluten-free?

[57:47] Dana Steingold: Like, are you fully gluten-free?

[57:49] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I have celiac, so I actually have to be.

[57:51] Dana Steingold: So like so I thought it's thoughts like like nothing. Um, yeah, it's pretty cool.

[57:57] Eli Tokash: That's fascinating. I could imagine I cannot I cannot do it. I cannot do the whole gluten free thing.

[58:03] Dana Steingold: All I do is it's totally my diet is so bad. Um other conversation.

[58:10] Eli Tokash: Um I want to talk to you briefly about Avenue Q because it w it's another show that uh you were in, and honestly, like in a way, mine is like the sex things.

[58:20] Dana Steingold: Um I guess it could remind people of Beer Juice with like the watchiness comedy and kind of thing, the dark kind of comedy stuff.

[58:29] Eli Tokash: Um what Avenue Q is like and like having a puppet as like you your character, I don't know, like I can't imagine what that's like.

[58:39] Dana Steingold: It's very strange. Um obviously I come not from the puppet cu world, so I had to approach it as an actor.

[58:46] Eli Tokash: Uh and they kind of at that final callback, like you go to puppet camp before it, which sounds very cool, but in actuality you're like in a room at Ripley Greer, sitting in like a folded metal chair with a puppet, like learning how to do screens and like how to how to walk with a puppet, you know, like so you're literally going like A, B, C, D.

[59:08] Dana Steingold: You know. Um and they basically give you all the skills you could need to like get you through the callback, and then of course you get like much more in depth, like if you get test.

[59:17] Eli Tokash: But it's sort of to see who has like a natural affinity for it.

[59:20] Dana Steingold: Um so you do the final callback with the puppet. Very stressful.

[59:25] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[59:25] Dana Steingold: Um, I remember they taped it. I don't know if that's like normal, but they did tape mine, and I was like, this is bad.

[59:32] Eli Tokash: Because they will forget if I was bad at the puppet.

[59:36] Dana Steingold: Right. But they won't forget if they can look at the tape and remind themselves of my puppet.

[59:40] Eli Tokash: And also, like, you know, eye focus is really hard, and when you're in the camera, especially, like it's such an important thing, and I was like, oh, my puppet is just gonna be looking that you um so I never thought I would be here again.

[59:54] Dana Steingold: Um, but luckily I did, and it's just honestly it's such a fun show to be a part of.

[59:59] Eli Tokash: Another one where you just laugh every day.

[1:00:02] Dana Steingold: Uh and it presents its own unique challenges because I basically had to work backwards as an actor.

[1:00:08] Eli Tokash: Like I'm very much somebody who learns on my feet.

[1:00:12] Dana Steingold: I don't really memorize before I get on my feet, I kind of do it as I go and I just like to like play and find things.

[1:00:19] Eli Tokash: But with the puppet, you can't be as organic as you'd like to be because the puppet has to follow you.

[1:00:24] Dana Steingold: If that makes sense, so like I had to sort of be a lot more not that I'm not consistent, but I had to be more consistent in all of my choices until I was a competent and confident enough puppeteer that if I did something new, my puppet could also do it.

[1:00:41] Eli Tokash: Um and it is very stressful.

[1:00:44] Dana Steingold: Um I remember right before my first show, the stage manager was like, You haven't cried yet.

[1:00:49] Eli Tokash: And I said, Oh, it's everyone crying.

[1:00:52] Dana Steingold: She goes, Oh, everybody who plays Cape Monster cries.

[1:00:57] Eli Tokash: But yeah, I spent like a month, they give you like a month with the puppet.

[1:01:01] Dana Steingold: Oh so I just used my computer and I would record myself doing things to be like that looks like something, or that doesn't look like what I think it looks like.

[1:01:10] Eli Tokash: Um, which is like an act of nightmare to watch I was only watching the puppet.

[1:01:15] Dana Steingold: Yeah. Um Yeah, and so you know, I would say like I you basically start at like a basic slash intermediate level when you start the show, and then it takes several months to get comfortable.

[1:01:28] Eli Tokash: Um and I would by no means call myself like a great puppeteer at all, but I I was at least confident enough at the end of my time that I felt free and then I could like play and try things.

[1:01:39] Dana Steingold: But it's also weird because you have a second hander who's sometimes voicing you or puppeteering.

[1:01:45] Eli Tokash: So it's like you also can't make a choice on the fly that you haven't talked to them about.

[1:01:50] Dana Steingold: So it's just a bit different than a normal show, just because you can't like just engage in the scene and try something new.

[1:01:56] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:01:57] Dana Steingold: It's kind of like defying the laws of acting of just like listening and reacting kind of.

[1:02:02] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:02:03] Dana Steingold: It's totally crazy. But then when you see so like obviously I was not an excellent puppeteer, I came from from a different uh a different place, but when you see like Stephanie do it, you just it's so mesmerizing, like the puppeteering is so good that you're like, I will just like being on another planet, you're just like, I will never be that good, and this is so amazing to watch.

[1:02:24] Eli Tokash: That puppet is so alive.

[1:02:27] Dana Steingold: Um, but I remember like they were like, Well, you know, the goal is that people watch the puppet and not you, and I was like, Whoo's not totally.

[1:02:38] Eli Tokash: I can't imagine that it's gotta be so hard and you're like having like puppets be your scene partner kind of because you like don't want to like look at the puppeteer, I guess, because you're a little bit more.

[1:02:48] Dana Steingold: Yeah, you'll yeah.

[1:02:49] Eli Tokash: Yeah, we're told to look the puppet in the eye.

[1:02:52] Dana Steingold: So bizarre.

[1:02:53] Eli Tokash: It's so crazy.

[1:02:54] Dana Steingold: So you know when you catch someone's eye something's gone terribly wrong.

[1:02:57] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:03:00] Dana Steingold: Like that's like the giggle start or like someone's like like one time my ear fell off.

[1:03:04] Eli Tokash: What?

[1:03:05] Dana Steingold: Of Lucy, and I just came off the stage and I had like I was like, What flew?

[1:03:09] Eli Tokash: And it was fully her ear.

[1:03:10] Dana Steingold: Oh my word. But like it's like those moments where everyone's puppets sort of like start to like tumble down low because everyone's giggling and so you just kind of together.

[1:03:19] Eli Tokash: Hilarious.

[1:03:20] Dana Steingold: Yeah, I've had like puppet ears fall off. Like I think my friends Mike Clinton had his eye fall off and everyone's a little bit racist one night.

[1:03:28] Eli Tokash: And I it took like every part of my being to like keep moving forward and I just had to look like I changed the blocking had to like turn the other way.

[1:03:40] Dana Steingold: I can look at the person with one eye.

[1:03:42] Eli Tokash: No.

[1:03:49] Dana Steingold: Oh my god.

[1:03:50] Eli Tokash: It was that and then we started doing like the head box and I was like, this is and that's when it flew.

[1:03:56] Dana Steingold: Oh my god.

[1:03:56] Eli Tokash: Um I can't imagine.

[1:03:58] Dana Steingold: Puppets are a whole Yeah, they're like, don't work with animals or children, but I'd also like maybe say puppets.

[1:04:03] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:04:04] Dana Steingold: I know.

[1:04:04] Eli Tokash: I love working with animals and children.

[1:04:06] Dana Steingold: What the heck? I made that stick.

[1:04:10] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[1:04:10] Dana Steingold: Screw the puppets.

[1:04:11] Eli Tokash: No, not actually. We love puppets.

[1:04:13] Dana Steingold: We love Avenue Q.

[1:04:14] Eli Tokash: Um.

[1:04:16] Dana Steingold: Absolute love. Do they have like like you know, like when you're in like a nothing against Avenue Q, but like a normal show with like team partners, they have lift calls and everything like that.

[1:04:25] Eli Tokash: Do they have like a puppet call where you can kinda like do the puppets a couple minutes before the show and I don't know, worse?

[1:04:31] Dana Steingold: They don't have a puppet call, but they do have a puppet wrangler who's sort of like in the same way that like you'd have a wig department and there's somebody who like takes care of that they brush the hair, they style them every day 'cause like you know, they all come off looking crazy because they have like human hair and all of that.

[1:04:47] Eli Tokash: It's actually really weird when you think about it.

[1:04:49] Dana Steingold: Um and it's just such a sad room because it's like they have like your own hooks and there's I don't remember at this point how many puppets in the show, but let's say it's like forty-five or something.

[1:04:58] Eli Tokash: Uh-huh.

[1:04:58] Dana Steingold: And they're all just hanging there, like, you know, like no movement whatsoever.

[1:05:03] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, that sounds terrifying actually.

[1:05:07] Dana Steingold: No, and it's one of the rules of the show actually that we're never supposed to show anybody like they should always be alive if you're taking the photo or if you're at a press event, you can never like rest because they don't ever want to see the puppet like you know, take a disc or take a nap.

[1:05:21] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:05:21] Dana Steingold: Um so uh yeah, I remember we hosted uh I want to say it was like the Macy's it was like the Easter fashion show or something, and we were up there for so long and we couldn't take a break.

[1:05:34] Eli Tokash: Oh my gosh, my arm is gonna fall.

[1:05:36] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[1:05:36] Eli Tokash: Um need some circulation going.

[1:05:38] Dana Steingold: What the heck? It's definitely the most strangely most athletic thing I've ever done because I was like, This is really hard.

[1:05:45] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[1:05:46] Dana Steingold: That's awesome.

[1:05:49] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I can't imagine. It sounds very bizarre, and like people don't like realize that, you know, like as an audience perspective, you're just like, oh yeah, like sure.

[1:05:59] Dana Steingold: Like you just get used to it, and it's just you don't realize like the kind of work that it takes to to do that.

[1:06:04] Eli Tokash: But yeah, that's fascinating.

[1:06:05] Dana Steingold: Yeah.

[1:06:06] Eli Tokash: Well, Dana, I mean, that this has been fantastic. I I don't want to keep you too much longer because you got a show to get to tonight.

[1:06:13] Dana Steingold: Um, but this has been seriously so amazing, and I can't thank you enough for coming on and sharing all these fabulous stories.

[1:06:19] Eli Tokash: It's been a joy.

[1:06:21] Dana Steingold: Yes, it was so nice to meet you.

[1:06:23] Eli Tokash: My AirPods falls off.

[1:06:24] Dana Steingold: Oh, that's okay.

[1:06:25] Eli Tokash: Perfect time.

[1:06:25] Dana Steingold: No worries.

[1:06:26] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, thank you so much again and uh regulate on the rest of your run over at Beetlejuice.

[1:06:27] Dana Steingold: Thank you.

[1:06:27] Eli Tokash: Thank you so much.

[1:06:33] Dana Steingold: Of course.

[1:06:33] Eli Tokash: Take a Val Dana Steingold.

[1:06:36] Dana Steingold: Oh my god, that was such a fun episode.

[1:06:38] Eli Tokash: Uh, we had filmed this actually just a couple days after I filmed with Toby.

[1:06:43] Dana Steingold: Um, if you couldn't tell, I think it was literally like the next day I I uh recorded with Telly.

[1:06:49] Eli Tokash: So we did reference Telly's uh episode, which happened two weeks ago a lot during this episode because they were friends, and because it was kind of fresh in my mind, and I brought that up and I've been thinking about it.

[1:07:02] Dana Steingold: So just to give you a little bit of background and and I guess the story.

[1:07:07] Eli Tokash: But her her journey through the industry has been fascinating with the shows that she's been in with Avenue Q and Beetlejuice.

[1:07:14] Dana Steingold: I mean, they're just not your typical Broadway shows, and she's been in both of them, and it's just so cool to to talk to her about those experiences and what that's like, and to be able to be with Beetlejuice for as long as she's been able to be with it, and the whole cast really um is really cool.

[1:07:32] Eli Tokash: So to be able to talk to her about that and all that, it's just been awesome.

[1:07:36] Dana Steingold: And she was actually in the 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Tour.

[1:07:40] Eli Tokash: Uh, we did not talk about that.

[1:07:41] Dana Steingold: It's something that I definitely wanted to, but uh we we just talked for we we had such a great chat and I kind of got lost in the conversation, so we didn't get to talk about that and what it was like for her to tour.

[1:07:53] Eli Tokash: Um, especially at like a young age, she did that I believe it was like fourteen years ago now, um, maybe sixteen years ago.

[1:08:01] Dana Steingold: Uh so just really cool and to get her perspective on that would have been awesome.

[1:08:06] Eli Tokash: But I feel like we had a great episode, and you can follow her to um for her own content and to follow her along her journey and her future endeavors.

[1:08:16] Dana Steingold: I highly recommend it.

[1:08:17] Eli Tokash: It's fun. She posts a lot of Beetlejuice content, as she should, because it's it's so fun.

[1:08:22] Dana Steingold: And uh yeah, that's all I have for you folks this week.

[1:08:25] Eli Tokash: I'm gonna remind you guys for many episodes to come, maybe every episode, that you all should be subscribing to our Take About YouTube channel.

[1:08:34] Dana Steingold: We are going to be releasing the video portions of the episode so you'll be able to listen and watch to all of the episodes that we release.

[1:08:43] Eli Tokash: It will be a couple days later than it will come out on like the podcast platforms but nonetheless it's worth the wait and then you could even listen to it and then go back and watch it because I promise you I it will not let you down.

[1:08:56] Dana Steingold: It truly because they are hilarious to watch uh with my facial expressions and to to see what it's just like to to kind of have like a zoom interview.

[1:09:07] Eli Tokash: It's great.

[1:09:08] Dana Steingold: I highly recommend it go do it go like subscribe do all the things to the videos and uh that's all I have so I hope that you all have an amazing week.

[1:09:17] Eli Tokash: I hope this brought all the I hope this brought all of you some sort of entertainment for for this week or even for the day.

[1:09:25] Dana Steingold: I appreciate you listening and I hope to see you next week.

[1:09:28] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone have a great weekend for this episode's current call I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a vow.

[1:09:40] Dana Steingold: This podcast would not be possible without the help from Jory Barenstein, Brittany Bigelow, Katie Rosen, Alan Fields, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

[1:09:48] Eli Tokash: Next in line to take a vow is Teddy Socast who edits the audio and all the visuals for this podcast.

[1:09:53] Dana Steingold: A special thanks to patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McDamara, the listeners at PCC, as well as all the other patrons for their continued support.

[1:10:02] Eli Tokash: If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to patreon.com/slash T A B.

[1:10:08] Dana Steingold: And if you enjoyed this week's episode, don't forget to subscribe on the platform that you're currently listening to this on.

[1:10:13] Eli Tokash: Also, feel free to give us a follow on Instagram at Take Avalve Podcast.

[1:10:18] Dana Steingold: Take A Valve logo is designed by Giselle Bustos and the music is by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinon.

[1:10:25] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone.

[1:10:26] Dana Steingold: Hope to see you next week.