This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 143 of Take A Bow.

[0:05] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and as always, we have a very exciting guest this week. Uh, and an exciting episode. Believe it or not, this week we have the youngest performer on the podcast this week that we've ever had on the show before. But y'all are gonna love this episode. I mean, he is such a fantastic talker. Um, he's so intelligent for his age, and um it kind of like I don't know, it just reminds me of like how mature you kind of and how quickly you kind of have to grow up to uh you know be on Broadway and kind of be a kid in the performing arts world and kind of put yourself in other shoes and it just takes a really special person and and this kid, he really put it all into perspective today, and I can't wait for you all to listen to him and uh his stories.

We have a newly uh, yeah, I guess newly award a Grammy Award winning performer on the show today, Walter Russell the third, who you may know as Little Michael Jackson on the podcast this week, which is so exciting. What what a uh what a talent this kid is and what a what a just person he is and an artist. Uh it's really incredible. And um, I was really impressed with this kid, and I know you all will be too, so I'm excited for you to uh listen to the episode and and share it with you all. So before we do that though, we gotta talk about some Broadway news.

[1:29] Eli Tokash: I mean, there's not there's not a crazy amount to talk about, but there is some important things to talk about. So um I'll start off by saying congratulations to Bad Cinderella, the cast and the company of Bad Cinderella, uh, for doing their first preview this week, this past week since the last time I recorded. And uh, you know, it's interesting. We they they haven't like officially opened yet, so there's still time for like changes and everything. So we haven't really gotten like official reviews from like the New York Times or anything like that. But you know, I am on theater Twitter and I I like to, you know, t get other people's takes on it. And, you know, it's really been a love-hate relationship with this show.

You either love it or you either hate it. And I I'm just excited to see the show. I think there's a lot to be excited about with this show, and I mean it's got a great cast, and there's a lot of friends of mine in the show. So um, I can't wait to have them on the podcast and talk to them about the show. Uh I obviously want to see the show before that happens, but uh it will be coming. So stay tuned for that. Bad Cinderella, you know, you you probably have your own thoughts about it. And um, I I'm just excited to see it to formulate my own thought about it, uh, my own thoughts and feelings about it.

[2:47] Eli Tokash: And uh I also uh while we are saying congratulations, want to congratulate the casting company of Parade. In particular, uh our Take A Bow family members, Douglas Lyons, um, we had Michaela Diamond, Jay Armstrong Johnson. I'm sure there's been more, but congratulations to all of you, and I can't wait to to talk to more people uh in the show about the show and about the events that happened outside of the theater uh on Tuesday, February 21st, which was in fact their first preview. Of course, we there are we were reminded that there is still evil in the world. Um the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi hate group, it was protesting outside of the Broadway revival on its first preview, stating that you know, Leo Frank was a pedophile.

Here, I'll I'll actually play you the clip. Um, but they they had their own take on it, and they were coming up to um their audience members that you know how like you go to a show and you're like waiting to get into the lobby and you're like scanning the tickets and they have to check your bags and all of that thing, and you're waiting in line for that. So while people uh the audience members were waiting in line for that, um, you know, there were people with signs holding signs that said uh that Leo Frank's a pedophile, and uh, you know, they they just not uh in favor of Leo Frank. Granted, he was Jewish, and so there's that to keep in mind when listening to this video. But uh this is uh one of the members of the group were walking around and approaching audience members saying this.

[4:39] Eli Tokash: You're paying 300 bucks to go fuck your worship or pedophile, you might as well know what you're talking about. Come on, guys. So there's that. Um he was saying that you do you want to learn the truth about what you're seeing tonight, you're going to worship and support a pedophile, which is simply not true because as we all know, he was the case was found uh not guilty. Leo Frank was found not guilty of all of this, and this was kind of set up and not favor of a Jewish man uh back in the days of anti-Semitism and all the things. So um crazy story and crazy event. With that being said, I wanted to just reinforce everything that's been said. The company and the creative teams of Parade and Beyond, uh, just across Broadway, really, have handled the situation with such professionalism.

They've done a really great job, and they've kind of encouraged everyone, you know, you will be safe coming to this show. They are going to have more security, so that you know, audience members they'll they won't be approached or anything like that. Um, none of that will happen, and um they will do their best to uh uh avoid and protect all of their audience members uh and avoid all any hate that may come this way.

[6:14] Eli Tokash: But um, as the cast said, I want to reinforce their message and just them reminding us, you know, this is still going on in the world, and it's just a reminder to them, and it should be a reminder to all of us of why this story is so important. And I'm gonna say, like, take a listen again to our episode with Michaela Diamond, because Michaela Diamond was the only episode that we've had um that we actually talked about Parade and this production of Parade, and and just the fact that you know this show in in the 90s was just so ahead of its time, and um, you know, we still lived in a higher um, you know, there was more anti-Semitism going on back then uh than there is nowadays, but we like to think nowadays that that's kind of over, and you know, this was an excuse of like this is why we're telling the story right now because it's not over.

And it's kind of reminding us about all of that. And it's reminding us how powerful this piece really is, and how you know this still has uh this is still a story that needs to be told, and people still uh aren't aware of it.

[7:30] Eli Tokash: So it's uh it's a tough thing, and you know, it's I apologize. Like, I don't know, it it I it's weird because I want to like apologize to the casting crew, but I also want to congratulate them for the way that they've handled it and for the way that uh you know, all of you listening, the Broadway community have kind of come together in support of the show and one another and just reinforce that like this is a very big story going on in the Broadway world right now. Um so don't take this as an opportunity of oh, I'm not going to feel safe at this show, because they are doing everything in their power to make sure that the safety of their audience members and their company and cast members are uh at the highest priority.

So just uh know that uh you will be safe and you will be protected, and they are increasing security and all the things, and hopefully this will not detour yeah, like detour you from seeing the show, but instead it will encourage you to see the show. So um that's all I'll say on this. There's so much I can say and so much that I want to say, but that's kind of all I uh I I feel the need to say at this moment in time. So um, yeah, that's what's going on. That's that was definitely the biggest story of the week.

[8:56] Eli Tokash: Um, we also have um a couple other things to mention. I want to shout out since we're doing congratulations. I want to send out congratulations to Laura Bell Bundy. Uh Laura Bell Bundy was it was announced that her uh she is going to be returning to Broadway after like almost more than like 15 years or almost 15 years or something like crazy like that. She's gonna be coming back to Broadway in The Cottage, directed by Jason Alexander. And for those of you who don't know who Jason Alexander is, you know who Jason Alexander is. He was in Seinfeld. Um, he was is a bro big Broadway guy. Like he before Seinfeld, I I believe uh he did Broadway, and that's kind of like how he got his start. So it's gonna be very exciting to see his directing style.

And then, of course, joining Laura Bell Bundy is going to be Eric McCormack and Lily Cooper, which Lily Cooper is also part of the Take A Bow family. And yeah, it's just an exciting thing. And another casting announcement, Laurie Metcalf and Sophia Ann Caruso will uh be starring in a Broadway thriller called Greyhouse. Um it's Levi Holloway's award-winning play, Greyhouse, and uh that'll be coming to Broadway very soon. Obviously, we have some crazy plays coming to Broadway and some absolutely crazy um stars uh coming to or and or coming back to Broadway in this season.

[9:38] Eli Tokash: So it's gonna be a very fun season to cover, uh, very fun season to talk about. Um so congratulations to everyone involved in those plays. And I also want to shout out Ashley Loren, who is going to be departing Moulin Rouge on April 9th. Um, Moulin Rouge had a lot of cast announcements this past week as well. Um Derek Llena is gonna be rejoining the show very soon. Um they announced that John Cardoza is going to be uh the Christian out on tour uh very coming up. And um, yeah, we have Ashley Loren departing the Moulin Rouge on Broadway, who's currently playing Satine. Uh no casting announcement has been yet for like her replacement or anything. But whenever I hear anything, I will let you folks know.

And uh, because you know, Moulin Rouge is still one of the biggest shows on Broadway right now. It's crazy. But every week, you know, you look at Broadway Grossings and everything, and it's still a top Broadway show. Every night it's almost at full capacity. So very exciting. And it was very encouraging to hear that uh Parade, the first preview was fully sold out. So um hopefully I it's glad to see that, you know, slowly but surely Broadway does appear to be coming back and coming back at like great capacity every night. So um very encouraging to see uh from all aspects.

[11:36] Eli Tokash: And something else that's very encouraging to see is the young future of Broadway. And I'm so excited to be a part of that, you know. Um I'm not I I can't I've I said this in an interview, but I was like, as a young kid, you're so well spoken. But like meanwhile, in reality, I'm like literally only like four or five years older than this kid, and I felt bad. But uh he is an absolute treat. This week's guest, Walter Russell III, is a name that we're gonna be talking about for many years to come. He kills it every night, eight shows a week. Um, well, four shows a week, but he kills it all the time when he's on over at M Data Musical, and he had the I I had the a pleasure of talking to him right before uh a show this past week. So here he is, Walter Russell the third curtain up.

[12:29] Eli Tokash: Alright, this week's guest is the third youngest artist to win a Grammy Award. You may know him as Little Michael Jackson or even as young Simba around the world and on Broadway. So it is my pleasure to welcome to Take A Bow, Walter Russell the Third.

[12:46] Walter Russell III: How's it going?

[12:47] Eli Tokash: This is going great. How are you?

[12:49] Walter Russell III: Oh, I'm great. I'm so happy to have you on. You're you're like the young prodigy of Broadway. Very exciting.

[12:54] Eli Tokash: Must be very cool. Take me back to the beginning before you found all this success both on Broadway and around the world on tour and stuff. How did you get started? What made you want to become a performer and like want to sing and stuff?

[13:11] Walter Russell III: I mean, from a very young age, I've I always wanted to dance and and I love to sing. And I haven't I hadn't done a lot of acting at that time, but I knew I always wanted to. And so, you know, I did little school plays, and a lot of people noticed me, and then I just got calls to do all these auditions on Broadway. And it was it was a really fun experience doing all that stuff. And yeah, my first big gig was Lion King on tour, and it was like the most wonderful experience, and like it being my first Broadway show, it was such a wonderful experience, and it it just gave me so much more expansion on how big like this industry is, and I knew I wanted to do more of it.

[14:08] Eli Tokash: So yeah, it changed your life.

[14:10] Walter Russell III: Yeah, it did, it really did.

[14:13] Eli Tokash: That's awesome. And how cool is it, you know, like with a show like Lion King and even MJ, I mean, like, those are both two things that like if you say the Lion King to anyone, they know what it is. If you say Michael Jackson to anyone, they're like, oh yeah, the king of pop, you know, like to be in such a show that's so recognizable and probably that you were fans of beforehand, how cool was that to kind of tackle those shows and start to perform as those people?

[14:39] Walter Russell III: Uh so ever since I was as young as I can remember, I always loved Michael Jackson. Like he was my favorite artist.

[14:49] Eli Tokash: Don't you share a birthday with him?

[14:51] Walter Russell III: I do, I do share a birthday with him. So I felt like it was just more of a connection than I actually thought. So I used to dance in my living room. My mom has just like a bunch of old videos dancing to Billy Jean and singing, and it was I felt so alive when I was doing all that stuff. And so if I could tell that three-year-old me that I would be in the next 10 plus years, he'd be like, you're knocking mess off. You're lying.

[15:26] Eli Tokash: Right. That's crazy. Um that's so fun. You know, with Michael Jackson with MJ, it's your first show that you originated a role. So, you know, you got to be do the whole like process with it, you know, tech previews, all of that. You got to do the cast recording. I mean, how cool is it to go through that whole process with the full cast, as opposed to like something with Lion King that's kind of like a well-oiled machine at this point? It's been on Broadway forever. So I'm sure it was a different kind of process that you had to do and in learning the show and all the things.

[16:01] Walter Russell III: Yeah, so like you said, Lion King, it was already a full-fledged play. It's seen a bunch of stuff. So basically it was just popping. They knew what to bring, they already knew what I had to do. So they just placed me in there. But MJ, it was so fun because you were able to kind of create this character as well, especially originating it. And so the fact that I was able to bring my own style to this was phenomenal. Like I never thought I'd be a part of an original cast. I've always wanted to, but yeah, the fact that I was able to originate such an amazing show as like MJ was just so cool. And the process of the acting and like the stage and seeing it all together and just communicating with other cast members.

And then even like the process of the album, like even then we were kind of making new stuff to put on the album to see what we could do and then bring it to the stage to be so they will be like, so this is what's the same and what's different. And so the fact that I was able to just craft that whole play and kind of make it what it is right now is just unbelievable.

[17:28] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure. It's awesome. And I've seen MJ maybe two, maybe three. I definitely two times, uh two or three times, and you absolutely kill it. I've only seen you actually as little Michael. Uh it's so it's I it's crazy. I picked the best nights to go. It's awesome. Um but yeah, seriously. So I mean, for those of you who may not have gotten the chance to see MJ yet, there's three kind of generations that we see of MJ of Michael Jackson. And I'm curious to know, like, through the whole process that we just talked about and creating the show and everything, what was it like to kind of work with the other Michaels to kind of like was there a moment that it was like, oh, what can we use off of each other to like kind of foreshadow things or maybe have some similarities since we're all playing the same people? Like, what was that like for you?

[18:22] Walter Russell III: So it was at first it was definitely complicated because we didn't really know each other. Sure. All the three of us didn't really know each other. Like one was there from like the beginning. I think every all the Michaels there were new. Like they weren't doing workshops or that. They just came in. So the fact that we had to find a way to bring it together and communicate. There's one scene where me and the big Michael, they we have like this scene and we have to communicate and do the same exact thing, but we can't see each other. So I remember we on for like a whole week we just worked on that timing and that communication and that like knowing like this is when it's gonna happen. And like I've been with these guys for over a year and we just grown so much.

Like they were there for all those big moments and like they saw me change switch to a different role. They were there for the Grammys and they were there for the recording. We were there for the Tonys. We were always rooting each other for something. And we just grown to be just brothers and I love those two so much.

[19:53] Eli Tokash: Oh that's awesome. You can totally tell like there's a special relationship, you know, between you, Tavon and Miles who play all the iterations of Michael. And it totally shows because and you kind of need that, you know, as an audience member it's like you know you're looking at your younger self in a way. So to see that relationship that you all share with each other it's really special and it's really wonderful what you guys are doing up there. I love the show. It's literally one of my favorite shows um if you can't tell but I'm curious because you know we've talked about you know MJ and and on Broadway and everything. I'm curious to ask you about the tour life with Lion King. Touring is very different compared to Broadway. So as a young kid too, what was that like for you? Talk to me about like school and how that was kind of a thing and just touring in general.

[20:49] Walter Russell III: So before I did anything on Broadway the first thing I did was the tour. So right off the bat it was a totally different experience. So during Broadway, it was just like for Lion King, it was just one rehearsal, and we wouldn't have to stay anywhere, and it was all in one place. On tour, it was completely different. They'd always have to tear apart the stage, pack it up, go to a truck, go to the next place, which would probably take maybe like three weeks to get to, and then rebuild it, and the other thing things would be like the stages would be different, some would be bigger, some would be smaller. So that would be a challenge, and we'd have to find a way to sort of change choreographies so we wouldn't be too far off the stage that we fall off.

So yeah, so and then we'd do that, and then we'd repeat it all over again, and I did that for about a good year, but they just passed their fifth year anniversary, the tour. So they've been doing that for a good five years. I know it has been a struggle, but I think the best part about it is seeing all these amazing and wonderful cities, like to be able to tour and just go all across America without having to like be like having to like know where next.

[22:23] Eli Tokash: Right. Where were two?

[22:25] Walter Russell III: Like, I'm pretty sure the best part, it wasn't even in the country. We went to Canada for a good two months, and it was in the summertime, and it was just so beautiful, and I got to see a whole different part of the continent that I never thought I was able to see until like maybe like 10 plus years. And so the fact that I was able to explore all those cities and just and perform not only to explore them, but also to perform there and give everybody a show there is just so amazing.

[23:08] Eli Tokash: It's interesting. Like you bring up the point that it's like I can't imagine that tour specifically. You know, you have so many giant pieces of that show. And you have the choreography is very could I'm sure is very different because you know, at least on Broadway, you got people walking down the aisles, and you got people on stilts and all the things. Like, are you able to like go into the aisle of every like theater around the world? Like, is that a thing, or was that a choreography change there too?

[23:38] Walter Russell III: Thankfully there is aisles, but on Broadway, there are sometimes like places, there are like sometimes like seats that the cast members go up to and they do their scenes there. Sometimes we don't have that, sometimes we actually have to do that on the aisles. Like I went to LA like a few like when I was in LA, I went to see Lion King, and normally they'd be up top, but they were on the stairs because they didn't know because there wasn't a place to sit on top of there. So they had to change that choreography to where they couldn't interfere with the storytelling while changing the choreography, and it was very interesting, and I'm pretty sure it was complicated for everyone who did it, but it still turns out amazing.

[24:45] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Are you were you a fan of the Lion King before you got the role?

[24:51] Walter Russell III: I only saw Lion King once. And that it was like my third Broadway show I saw. Wow. Yeah, it and it was that it was a very fascinating show because I've seen the movie like a lot of times. I wouldn't say I was a fan, but I did like it. I liked it. I love the play. And I and that kind of made me feel like since there were kids who were on the stage like me, I was like, I want to do that. And so when they were holding auditions, I was like, oh, great time.

[25:25] Eli Tokash: Right. And you know, like it's interesting because I mentioned before, like you may have to change the choreography going to state to state. But I wonder, like, did you have to like change anything after doing the tour and then coming to Broadway? Was there a big difference kind of there in that transition?

[25:44] Walter Russell III: When it comes to Broadway, there's a lot more jumping for the characters. Oh, really? There's a lot more animated, there's like a lot of animated style. And there are some different things that are in Broadway and tour. On tour, there is for Pride Rock, they come out the wings. For Broadway, they come up from the floor. The Pride Rock comes out. And there are some times where on tour, I'd have to run and hit a spot there on Broadway they would just lift me up and it was the fact that they couldn't do that, they couldn't have those assets all the time is because we're in a different place so sometimes they might have they may not have a place to lift it or there might not be a big enough space for it to go down so that that's I feel like those are the biggest differences Broadway.

[26:56] Eli Tokash: Wow it must be so fascinating just to kind of be there for all you know and kind of experience both of those different experiences and and such wonderful experiences you know like a opportunity of a lifetime it's gotta be so cool for sure and you're so young you know and you've already accomplished so much I think you're the youngest guest that we've ever had on this show actually yeah so it it's cool to to get your perspective of it all what about school talk to me about how you kind of balance all of that uh school was probably the hardest part because they there I was so far away when it came when it came to the tour I was so far away like I wasn't I wasn't there so they what they would do is that they would like send me like everything and then my tutor would print it out and I'd just have to be like okay and then I'd have to be like so is it this time it's like no you gotta do this and then it's like okay so can I do this now or later and it it was complicated.

[28:02] Walter Russell III: It was very complicated. But now that I I'm from New York, so now that and my schools are in New York.

[28:09] Eli Tokash: Oh wow.

[28:10] Walter Russell III: So if it is like a two show day and I do have to leave early, they're like, it's okay.

[28:17] Eli Tokash: So they totally understand.

[28:20] Walter Russell III: Also, it's a professional performing art school.

[28:23] Eli Tokash: So they totally understand. Do you go to PPAS?

[28:27] Walter Russell III: I do.

[28:28] Eli Tokash: Oh my god! That's where I went. I don't know if you know this.

[28:32] Walter Russell III: So I was actually in Pippin in Finding Neverland when that was on Broadway.

[28:36] Eli Tokash: Um yeah, yeah, yeah.

[28:39] Walter Russell III: So I of course, same deal. You know, like we had to get out early. We had to do the shows, and you know, if there were rehearsals during the day or whatever, and they had to be uh it had to be close to the theater and and you know, they had to be working.

[28:54] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. What grade are you in?

[28:56] Walter Russell III: I'm in ninth grade.

[28:57] Eli Tokash: Uh ninth grade, you're a freshman?

[29:00] Walter Russell III: Get out of here.

[29:01] Eli Tokash: It's wow.

[29:03] Walter Russell III: Yeah, it it's fun. Uh well that's very that's very cool. Uh in learning how that all works, you know. It's uh it's a odd thing, but it's pretty special when the school is able to work with you because I've I was in shows where the schools were very difficult for some people. But uh that's so that's so great that you're part of that uh, you know, system kind of thing.

[29:25] Eli Tokash: Um talk to me about this Grammys uh ordeal, because that yeah, you're already getting excited.

[29:33] Walter Russell III: I love it. Um this is insane. So Fire Shut Up My Bones is the first opera composed by a black man to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera.

[29:43] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[29:44] Walter Russell III: You had the chance to be a principal vocalist on the album and and all the things. Talk to me first of all about the experience of doing that, and then we'll get into the whole Grammy's things because it it's amazing.

[29:59] Walter Russell III: Uh so the so it just we just got out of COVID. I'll I'll say that I was still doing multiple auditions and I my manager came across this opera and I wasn't like the biggest opera guy and so kind of not to today was like hmm I was like opera I don't know about this did you have you ever sung opera before not at all I just Oh my god so I was like are you are you sure are you sure you want me to do this and they're like oh yeah I mean like yeah I was like okay so that was like one of the first in-person auditions that I did after COVID and so yeah they they looked at my bio and like like two weeks later they're like you got it I was like okay like for a good month I was learning how to sing opera wow and you know at the same time I was also re auditioning for MJ wow oh so after COVID you had to re audition for it yeah because they couldn't get any little kids because the COVID vaccine wasn't them at the time so I had to people only the kids who were able to get the vaccine could audition.

[31:36] Eli Tokash: But we already but I already got the opera, so I kinda kinda just like I kept it in mind, but my focus right there was the opera.

[31:48] Walter Russell III: And there were so many people who like came to the opera and and like Spike Lee came to the opera.

[32:00] Eli Tokash: He came to opening night, and he was he came and he was like, You are amazing.

[32:09] Walter Russell III: He was like, What's what shoe size are you? I was like, Oh, I told him my shoe size, and I was like, the next uh don't worry, I'll I'm gonna get you, I'm gonna get you like the freshest pair of Jordans.

[32:22] Eli Tokash: Stop it, and I and I thought he was lying because he had oh one too many, if you know what I mean.

[32:29] Walter Russell III: Wow, yeah.

[32:30] Eli Tokash: Oh okay, but the next day, a huge gift bag of Crookland shirts of 1619 beanies, and the and the newest pair of Jordans.

[32:43] Walter Russell III: Wow.

[32:44] Eli Tokash: And that explains it. Your outfits are fire, you're you're always in the freshest fits.

[32:50] Walter Russell III: Signed by him, by him.

[32:55] Eli Tokash: I did not, I never wore them.

[32:57] Walter Russell III: Wow.

[32:58] Eli Tokash: That's amazing.

[32:59] Walter Russell III: I was like, wow, and even then, like one of the other biggest black operas that happened before it was Porgy and Best.

[33:10] Eli Tokash: And it got nominated for a Grammy and won.

[33:14] Walter Russell III: And so even then I wasn't really like, well, this one a Grammy. I wasn't I wasn't really thinking about that, you know.

[33:21] Eli Tokash: You know?

[33:21] Walter Russell III: Right. And so during opening night, one of the scout from one of the scouts from MJ came.

[33:29] Eli Tokash: And they saw me and they wanted me to audition.

[33:32] Walter Russell III: And then the next day, I was do and then the next day I was doing rehearsals for MJ and then leaving early to go to the opera.

[33:41] Eli Tokash: So you were doing double duty.

[33:43] Walter Russell III: I was.

[33:44] Eli Tokash: Wow.

[33:45] Walter Russell III: Oh my God. Well, that's insane.

[33:48] Eli Tokash: And that seems like a lot.

[33:50] Walter Russell III: And kudos for you because you obviously deserved everything that came of it, which happened to be a Grammy award.

[33:58] Eli Tokash: Which casually, you're just a 14-year-old Grammy winner.

[34:02] Walter Russell III: Um, no biggie.

[34:05] Eli Tokash: Um, but I mean, how cool is that? Like, we when you were first of all, just like attending the event had to be so much fun, right?

[34:13] Walter Russell III: I mean, I I wanna talk about what I find I found out. Like, you're talking to me about it.

[34:21] Walter Russell III: It was just the weirdest, it was just the weirdest thing. I wasn't really feeling good that day, so I I called, so I didn't go to the show that day.

[34:23] Eli Tokash: I didn't go to MJ that day.

[34:31] Walter Russell III: Wow. And that same day, the Grammy list came out.

[34:35] Eli Tokash: And uh the re the only reason we were looking at the Grammy list to see if MJ got nominated.

[34:42] Walter Russell III: Of course. And it and it did, and we we were just posting and stuff, and we were we were like, oh my god, this is amazing, wow, wow, wow.

[34:51] Walter Russell III: And you know, like a few hours go by, and I just hear from the I'm in my room and I just hear from the living room, Walter!

[35:01] Eli Tokash: I'm like, what?

[35:02] Walter Russell III: My mom is jumping up and down.

[35:04] Eli Tokash: She's like crying.

[35:05] Walter Russell III: I'm like, what's going on? She was like, the opera got nominated.

[35:08] Eli Tokash: I was like, what?

[35:09] Walter Russell III: No way. She was like, your name is on it.

[35:12] Eli Tokash: You're like, I was like, stop.

[35:18] Walter Russell III: I was like, oh my goodness.

[35:21] Walter Russell III: And we just called like everyone we knew.

[35:24] Eli Tokash: After that.

[35:25] Walter Russell III: Oh my god, this! Oh my god, you will not believe this.

[35:28] Eli Tokash: Literally, I mean two Grammy nominations in one day.

[35:31] Walter Russell III: That's gotta be uh that's gotta be pretty cool. One of the best days of your life, I'm sure.

[35:34] Eli Tokash: It was, yeah.

[35:38] Walter Russell III: Well well, then uh attending the event had to be very fun, and and and another great day once you found out you won.

[35:47] Eli Tokash: Talk to me about that.

[35:49] Walter Russell III: Well, it would so the Grammys took place in LA, and it was great because a bunch of family members were like 90% of my family was in California, and so they were just kind of scattered around in California, and so they all came to LA to see it.

[36:09] Eli Tokash: So we uh they all were like sitting at the TV.

[36:13] Walter Russell III: Uh I brought I brought um four people, I I brought three other people with me, my mom and two of my cousins, and and we we were just waiting.

[36:24] Eli Tokash: It was like we so the first thing we did was we got an Uber to go to the red carpet, which had to be so cool.

[36:33] Walter Russell III: It was cool, but we were the fact the funniest thing was we were waiting in line, and all of a sudden, all these paparazzis are like flashing behind us, and we're like, what is going on?

[36:43] Eli Tokash: And we see Doja Cow walk in.

[36:46] Walter Russell III: No way, I was like, oh my goodness, and I was like, I forgot you. I was like, This is amazing!

[36:53] Eli Tokash: Like, yeah, it was amazing as well.

[36:56] Walter Russell III: Of course, but you know, after that, after we did the red carpet and stuff, they were like, Do you want to go inside?

[37:05] Eli Tokash: Because our nomination isn't until like two hours.

[37:09] Walter Russell III: And I was like, Yeah, because um Miles Frost, he he hosted like a part of the right like the first part of the Grammys.

[37:20] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[37:21] Walter Russell III: So you wanted to see that.

[37:22] Eli Tokash: So yeah, a few a couple hours went by and they got to our they got to our uh category, and we're my heart is founding on my chest, like everyone is like fidgeting.

[37:35] Walter Russell III: Oh and we hear Blanchard, and we just go insane.

[37:43] Eli Tokash: I just come up from my seat and I start walking.

[37:47] Walter Russell III: Yeah.

[37:48] Walter Russell III: And I just started walking, and you know, the rest is history, honestly.

[37:53] Eli Tokash: Listen, let me tell you something, because I I was watching the Grammys, and then of course I watched your like all the posts that were coming, because I follow you and and a bunch of like Broadway things and whatever.

[38:06] Walter Russell III: MJ, I think even posted it.

[38:08] Eli Tokash: You you ended up giving a speech, and let me tell you, your speech was incredible, like it was really good.

[38:17] Walter Russell III: And now talking to you right now, like I'm not surprised, but like, did you ever think like going into that day where you like, oh my god, I'm about I I may give a Grammy speech today in front of Doja Cat, Harry Styles, all these crazy people, you know?

[38:31] Walter Russell III: Like Yes, and no, like, like, obviously, my mom was like, You gotta you gotta make a Grammy speech if you win.

[38:40] Eli Tokash: I was like, Oh gosh.

[38:41] Walter Russell III: So wrote a list down of who to thank.

[38:45] Walter Russell III: On my phone, and my mom was like, I let me get your phone so I could take pictures.

[38:49] Eli Tokash: I was like, you can't do that right now.

[38:51] Walter Russell III: I'll show I was like, because my acceptance features on the phone.

[38:56] Eli Tokash: Right.

[39:03] Eli Tokash: Yeah, well, that that's awesome.

[39:05] Walter Russell III: So you totally prepared a speech and everything.

[39:08] Eli Tokash: That's it was a great speech.

[39:10] Walter Russell III: It was so sweet. You know, you touched on every kid, uh, you know, wants to all they can do is thank their parents for the sacrifices that they've made, um, and and the support that they've showed to make you know us live their live our dreams, you know?

[39:25] Eli Tokash: Um and I'm sure your parents are very proud of you, you know, with uh winning all the things and all the success lately.

[39:32] Walter Russell III: And I'm sure your MJ family are are also very proud of you.

[39:36] Eli Tokash: Like, how cool I know MJ, you know, they it they didn't win, but they really did because you know Miles Frost was hosting, you won.

[39:44] Walter Russell III: So you had some MJ love there.

[39:46] Eli Tokash: How cool was that?

[39:47] Walter Russell III: Oh, when I got back from LA, um it was so amazing.

[39:53] Walter Russell III: Like they just decorated, they decorated the front door of my room and it said VIP access.

[39:57] Walter Russell III: And she was like, Oh, okay. And I'm glad I and I'm glad I brought that because I probably would have blanked out.

[40:02] Eli Tokash: And they they got balloons and they were all like and there were one of my cast members, uh, he plays Barry Gordy.

[40:13] Walter Russell III: He he from the start, he was like, You you're gonna win.

[40:16] Eli Tokash: I was like, what?

[40:18] Walter Russell III: And then when I and then when I got back, he was like, What did I say?

[40:22] Eli Tokash: Is that Antoine?

[40:24] Walter Russell III: Antoine L. Smith.

[40:25] Eli Tokash: Yes. Come on. Antoine came on the show before.

[40:29] Walter Russell III: Antoine is the best.

[40:31] Eli Tokash: No surprise there.

[40:32] Walter Russell III: Oh, that's so fun.

[40:34] Eli Tokash: And for those of you listening at home, you know, if you didn't get a chance to see the show at the Met Opera, you can actually listen to it on Apple Music, Spotify, on all the things, and you can listen to Walter uh Walter's opera.

[40:47] Walter Russell III: It's it's wonderful.

[40:49] Eli Tokash: Search up uh Blanchard Fire Shut Up in My Bones.

[40:53] Walter Russell III: Uh and it's recorded live.

[40:54] Eli Tokash: So they like recorded one of your performances and made it into an album, which is super cool.

[40:59] Walter Russell III: Yeah.

[41:00] Walter Russell III: It was the the pro that process was was crazy because some of us some of us had mics and some of us didn't because some of us could project more and some of us couldn't.

[41:11] Walter Russell III: And what they did, all they did was just hang a bunch of mics like around stage, and they just and that's all they got.

[41:20] Walter Russell III: And the fact that and then I was like, oh my goodness, is are they even gonna hear anything?

[41:27] Eli Tokash: And then thankfully, but it came out great.

[41:31] Eli Tokash: You got a big voice for your small size, I guess. You know, you got quite the pipes in there. Um, but like performing on Broadway is one thing, but like I think people don't really understand how small like Broadway theaters are, you know, and you know this after going out on tour with Lion King. I'm sure you've performed in huge houses out there bigger than your MJ theater now. But the Met Opera is even bigger, you know, and it's huge. I mean, what was it like to perform on that stage? And were you kind of, I mean, I'm sure you were nervous, but like, did you kind of figure like, wow, this could you see how big of a space you were performing in?

[42:20] Walter Russell III: I did. I remember us practicing with the orchestra, and they were down there, and I just took a look up and I was like, wow, that is big.

[42:34] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah. You were correct.

[42:36] Walter Russell III: Oh gosh, I had to project.

[42:41] Eli Tokash: Yes, you do.

[42:42] Walter Russell III: You got the mics though.

[42:43] Eli Tokash: It worked, it worked out.

[42:45] Walter Russell III: Yeah.

[42:46] Eli Tokash: Oh, that's so cool. Um, listen, I want to ask you, because I mentioned like, you know, back in 2015, 2017, or whatever it was, um, I was on Broadway, and I'm curious. You know, there's not as many Broadway kids out there now, um, because there's just not as many shows with kids in them right now. Hopefully they come back and there's a little bit that you know what I'm talking about. Um, so I'm curious, you know, like what do you do like as a Broadway kid in between shows, Leo, or are kind of, you know, you're working and you're doing school, like how do you, what do you do nowadays to kind of, you know, remember that you're a kid?

[43:28] Walter Russell III: Yeah. Well, I'm actually up school for a whole week, so what I'm is I'm playing Just Dance with the other kids.

[43:37] Eli Tokash: Yeah, there you go. Uh, that's fun. Uh, on stage we're dancing, backstage we're dancing, and we are out of cardio win.

[43:46] Walter Russell III: There you go.

[43:46] Eli Tokash: So dance is like your fave.

[43:48] Walter Russell III: Yeah.

[43:49] Eli Tokash: Okay. You know, it's interesting because back then we would go to this park on 43rd Street. Uh, we um, 43rd in between 8th and 9th, and like the Matilda kids, the Les Mis kids, the Finding Neverland kids, the Lion King kids, we'd all go to the playground and kind of like go on the swings or go play basketball or do something fun. So I was curious, you know, if there was any sort of new traditions that the kids are doing nowadays.

[44:17] Walter Russell III: I wouldn't say it was new, but I feel like the latest thing that we've done was we went bowling.

[44:24] Eli Tokash: Like, oh.

[44:26] Walter Russell III: And that will be fun.

[44:28] Eli Tokash: Super, it was super fun. Do you win?

[44:31] Walter Russell III: Uh, no.

[44:33] Eli Tokash: Ah, you know, it's okay, because when I go bowling, I still have to use the bumpers.

[44:37] Walter Russell III: Oh, I hope they let you use bumpers.

[44:42] Walter Russell III: Uh, sadly they did not.

[44:45] Eli Tokash: No, oh no. Well, we lost.

[44:49] Walter Russell III: That's alright. You'll get them one day. Um, well, that's so exciting. Walter, you're a pro at this, you know, this whole podcasting thing. Cause you actually had, I want to mention your podcast that you had yourself, uh, the Pup Cast.

[45:03] Walter Russell III: And that was so fun.

[45:04] Eli Tokash: It was with your Lion King castmates, yeah?

[45:07] Walter Russell III: Yeah, so basically what it was is that I just interviewed all the Lion King kids, past and present. And what it was just, uh, it was how I just talked about what their experience was and how and how they began. It's kind of like this.

[45:27] Eli Tokash: It's kinda, yeah, okay.

[45:28] Walter Russell III: But it's not as good as yours.

[45:30] Eli Tokash: Like yours is just okay.

[45:32] Walter Russell III: Get out of here.

[45:33] Eli Tokash: You're very sweet. Thank you. Um, well, and that's still available for people to listen to, right?

[45:40] Walter Russell III: Yes, it is.

[45:41] Eli Tokash: So they can find that on like Apple Podcasts and all and that kind of mainly on Instagram.

[45:47] Walter Russell III: You can find on Instagram.

[45:49] Eli Tokash: Okay, great. Yeah. Where do we check that out? Leave your Instagram handle so that everyone can find you and follow along on your journey.

[45:58] Walter Russell III: Yeah, you can find it at WR3HRLM, all lowercase. Um, and yeah, it's basically just all about us hanging out and chatting and well how, how Lion King is going for us.

[46:15] Eli Tokash: Yeah, alright. Well, that's very exciting, and it's something that hopefully everyone goes and follows you and follows your journey because this is just the beginning. Uh, before I let you go, I wanted to ask if you wanted to play a quick little game with me.

[46:30] Walter Russell III: Yes, of course. I love yes, okay.

[46:32] Eli Tokash: We're excited for a game. It's called A Few of My Favorite Things. It's a little play off the Sound of Music over here, but it's basically a game where I just ask you a bunch of your favorite things just to get to know you a little bit more.

[46:44] Walter Russell III: Cool, great.

[46:45] Eli Tokash: Alright, so I gotta ask what's your favorite MJ song.

[46:50] Walter Russell III: Oh, you know I can't do that.

[46:53] Eli Tokash: You know that's the one I had to start with.

[46:56] Walter Russell III: Oh, I don't okay. You can give me top three if that's a little bit more.

[47:02] Eli Tokash: Thank you. Top three, Billie Jean, um, Off the Wall, and Baby Be Mine.

[47:14] Walter Russell III: Really? Wow, those are some like different ones, you know, like not the usual, you know, you hear Thriller and stuff, you know.

[47:22] Eli Tokash: That's awesome. You great, great picks. Alright, what's your favorite MJ dance move?

[47:27] Walter Russell III: I know you're a dancer. The moonwalk.

[47:29] Eli Tokash: The moonwalk. How long did that take to learn? Was that difficult to learn?

[47:34] Walter Russell III: For me, no.

[47:36] Eli Tokash: No? You're just, you love it. You love to dance.

[47:39] Walter Russell III: Yeah.

[47:40] Eli Tokash: Alright. What's your favorite in-between show snack or pre-show? Like, you know.

[47:45] Walter Russell III: Maybe Capri Suns.

[47:49] Eli Tokash: It's not bad, but we have just a refrigerator that's stacked with them.

[47:55] Walter Russell III: Yeah.

[47:56] Eli Tokash: That's awesome. What's your favorite costume that you've ever worn? And this could be an MJ, this could also be in Lion King, like any show that you've done.

[48:07] Walter Russell III: Wow. Uh, my Young Simba classic.

[48:11] Eli Tokash: I feel like that's how do you wore makeup, right? In that? How long did that take?

[48:17] Walter Russell III: That took like 30 minutes.

[48:20] Eli Tokash: The makeup?

[48:21] Walter Russell III: Wow. Alone.

[48:22] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. Like alone. Did you have to do it yourself?

[48:26] Walter Russell III: No, thank goodness.

[48:28] Eli Tokash: Oh. I was gonna say, wow. When I was in Pippin, I actually had to do, uh, I had, I was a clown for the first like two scenes.

[48:35] Walter Russell III: Oh, yeah.

[48:36] Eli Tokash: And I actually, I had to do that clown makeup myself. It was crazy.

[48:39] Walter Russell III: I had to scroll myself.

[48:42] Eli Tokash: You had, okay, you had to take it off yourself with like the wipes and everything.

[48:45] Walter Russell III: Yeah.

[48:45] Eli Tokash: But I'm sure it didn't fully come off at the end of the night. I'm sure you had to go home and showered.

[48:51] Walter Russell III: I had just wipes like prepare the show.

[48:54] Eli Tokash: Oh man. Yeah. Craziness, right? Um, what's your favorite musical theater show that you've ever seen?

[49:01] Walter Russell III: That I've ever seen. Mmm. Would it be biased if I said MJ?

[49:06] Eli Tokash: No. Have you seen it? Have they let you see the show?

[49:09] Walter Russell III: They, so I remember we had, um, we had like two weeks straight where it was all performances, and they gave each cast member a day where they could see the show.

[49:22] Eli Tokash: Stop.

[49:23] Walter Russell III: And I saw it and I was just like, oh my.

[49:27] Eli Tokash: This is, yeah.

[49:29] Walter Russell III: That, that's so awesome.

[49:32] Eli Tokash: That's so cool that you got to see the show, you know. It's very rare that they do that. Wow, that's great. I, you got to experience it from the way that, uh, we all ha do, you know, when we go see the show. I love the show. I would, I've said it before. It's my favorite show of the season. I think it got robbed at the Tony Awards and all the things, which is something else that you went to, which is so cool. Um, but yeah, I, I just think it was amazing. And that's all my qu, the game that we have played. But, uh, Walter, that's all I have. If is there anything that else that you kind of wanted to talk about, or is there something that you want to promote and you just want to shout out real quick?

[50:13] Walter Russell III: Uh, I wanna, I wanna say just catch MJ.

[50:18] Eli Tokash: Catch MJ. That's a great place to leave off. So thank you so much, Walter, for coming on the show. Uh, really appreciate it. And you have a lot to, uh, take about for. So thank you for coming on this week.

[50:21] Walter Russell III: Thank you so much for having me.

[50:32] Eli Tokash: Of course, take a bow Walter Russell III. I mean, this kid blew me away, and I'm sure he blew all of you guys away. But just talking to him about, um, in a way, it's weird to say, but in a way, it was like I was speaking to a younger me, and that was a really cool experience, uh, as an interviewer, and I could have talked to him all day. You know, very similar experiences. I mean, obviously, I don't have a Grammy Award to my name, but he is a Grammy Award winner, which is very exciting. But just talking to him about the theater and kind of him discussing not just what he does, but also what everyone else around him does. And it just reminds me of myself and making sure that, you know, you could tell that this kid is a sponge, you know.

When he is backstage, he is soaking everything in but while having fun all at the same time. And that was very much my approach to, uh, you know, being a kid on Broadway and trying to learn and continue to learn. And, you know, I thought that, uh, I hope that you all kind of like learn something because it's fun to hear these stories about, you know, being a kid on Broadway because it's such a different experience, uh, as opposed to anyone else, because we don't fully understand being a kid on Broadway, and we also don't like fully understand that it's a job. Um, you know, we kind of do it for the fun and the love of it, and now it's cool to go back to that and to see that and, you know, to talk about what it was, what it's like to do schooling and everything like that.

Like we, we haven't had a kid on the show in a long time, and you know, originally there was like a kid every other episode on the podcast, so it was nice to kind of bring it back to that. Hopefully, you all enjoyed, uh, listening to an episode like that and, uh, having our little Michael Jackson on the podcast today. And, uh, it's cool that he shares a birthday with him too. He's literally the little Michael Jackson. Uh, it's a pretty cool thing. And just to have someone from MJ on is always fun.

[52:41] Eli Tokash: So everyone go check out MJ, like he said, that was his final request before, uh, leaving the show. Uh, and, uh, yeah, go, go follow him because he's, he's a treat, he's a hoot, and, uh, you all will love his little videos and dances and stuff that he posts on Instagram. So definitely go check him out. This is a kid that we're gonna be seeing for quite some time, and, uh, I can't wait to see what's next for this guy because he's going places and very, very cool, very well spoken. And congrats to Walter for all his success, and thank you all for, uh, listening to this week's episode of Take A Bow. As always, I appreciate you, and I hope that you all had an amazing week last week, and I hope that you all have an amazing upcoming week and go, go support the theater, go support the arts, because why not?

You know, it's a special thing, and we all love it. So don't hide it, you know. Uh, I can't wait to go see some more shows. It's been a minute since I saw a show, so I'm gonna go try to go to some shows, and, uh, I can't wait to keep you all posted. So until then, bye everyone. Have a great week.

[53:49] Eli Tokash: For this episode's current call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow. This podcast would not be possible without the help of Dory Barenstein, Alan Seales, Kimberly Garrett, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network. Next in line to take a bow are our fabulous editors, Jessica Warren, who edits the audio of the podcast that you just listened to, and Tessie Tokash, who edits the videos and visuals for this podcast. And how about a bow for our executive producer, Chris Grimer? And our final bow are extra special to the patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McMahra, the listeners of PCC, as well as all of the other patrons for their continued support. If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to Patreon.comslash TAB.

If you enjoyed this week's episode, make sure to subscribe on the platform that you are currently listening to this on, or go check out our YouTube where you can watch the episode. You can also subscribe, like, and comment on there as well. If you're more into the regular social media and want to follow us, you can do that at Take A Bow Podcast across all social media platforms. The music of this podcast was made by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinon, and the logo was created by Giselle Bustos. And that wraps up this episode's curtain call. Thank you all again for listening to this week's episode, and I can't wait to see you next week. Bye everyone. Have a great week.