This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 150 of Take A Bow.

[0:05] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and oh my goodness, we have a beautiful well. This is a beautiful Wednesday afternoon for our fabulous 150th episode.

[0:14] Eli Tokash: Crazy to think 150 is here, but yeah, beautiful nonetheless, beautiful day. Spring is here, 150 is here, allergy season is here.

[0:23] Eli Tokash: If you can't tell, just so excited for this episode. I've been talking about it for the past couple weeks of just how excited I am to reach 150. Because I don't know, for me it's a pretty big deal. I mean, almost three years of podcasting, basically, which is wild because it literally seems like yesterday this whole little journey started.

[0:41] Eli Tokash: Um, but you know, some is the same, some is different, and you know, learned a lot and had some great conversations, and hopefully you guys are enjoying it. And if you guys are enjoying it, that is all that matters.

[0:54] Eli Tokash: So um, yeah, just happy 150 is crazy still doing it. So silly, but it's fantastic, and I could not be more excited to share this episode with you all.

[1:06] Eli Tokash: This week's guest is with someone that I've literally tried to get on for the past 150 weeks. Um literally, kid you not. I started this journey with Sydney Lucas, of course, and we each like reached out to like 10 to 15 people when we like had this idea and started like recording, and we like recorded in bunches and all these things, and you know, she was one of the first people that I reached out to, and it just never worked out.

[1:34] Eli Tokash: And you know, we would schedule it and then be like, oh, something came up, blah blah blah. So here we are. It's almost I we talk a little bit about it too. Um, it's almost even more special that this wonderful guest becomes our 150th guest. Wildness.

[1:51] Eli Tokash: You may know her if you know me, and you're listening to this because you knew me as a performer or whatever it is, you know her. You know, she was one of my leading players in Pippin literally an icon she brings up some stories that even I forgot about and little moments that we used to have so I'm very excited for you all to hear this and see what Pippin was like because we haven't had a Pippin episode in quite some time really long time if you ask me because we've had some Neverland episodes recently.

[2:26] Eli Tokash: Um but yeah anyways craziness fun stuff I'm so excited to share it with you all but first as always we gotta talk about what's going on on Broadway because there's always something going on first of all I want to start out in saying happy opening to Fat Ham which opened if you're listening to this on Thursday the day it comes out last night on Wednesday April 12th which is super exciting and then happy opening to Camelot which opens tonight Thursday April 13th which is super exciting because I will be at that red carpet very excited for it and uh that'll be a super fun one with a wonderful cast.

[2:26] Eli Tokash: We will be doing only cast on that carpet so there's not gonna be like any guests or anything like that I think it's just cast and creative teams which you know is where I try to focus those red carpets anyways so I'm excited for that nonetheless and that's over at Lincoln Center and Fat Ham of course is opening yeah last night which is so exciting so uh with that being said congratulations to all of you um everyone involved can't wait to see both of these shows and to cover Camelot tonight, I guess, if you're listening to this.

[3:37] Eli Tokash: Uh, I wanted to say tomorrow because I'm recording obviously Wednesday, April 12th, so that this can come out the Thursday. Okay, anyways, y'all get the gist. More news. The Tony Award host was announced, and I'm so excited.

[3:49] Eli Tokash: Okay, it was announced that Ariana DeBose will be coming back to host the Tony's. It's the 76th annual Tony Awards this year. So very exciting stuff. Dying to have her on the podcast. Hopefully, we can get her before the Tony Awards, maybe talk about it a little bit. Maybe when the nominees come out, though, because I want to talk to her about the Tonys.

[4:13] Eli Tokash: Um, so yeah, very exciting nonetheless. Ariana DeBose, my queen, who actually gets brought up in this interview with Carly, is hosting the Tony Awards again. Can't wait for it.

[4:24] Eli Tokash: And speaking of Ariana DeBose, we have some like I wanted to talk a little bit about Schmigadoon in Chimicago. If you guys are caught up on that. Um, and if you're not, that's okay, because I'm not gonna spoil anything. I'm not fully caught up, but I wanted to talk about some of the incredible shows that were kind of like referenced or like brought up in Shimicago or Shmigadoon.

[4:48] Eli Tokash: Obviously, Chicago was talked about, which is fun. We have a lot of crossovers in today's episode, actually. We have Chicago, we have Pippin, and then all other musicals that were like highlighted include Cabaret, Annie, Oliver, which is gonna be at the New York City Center, Sweeney Todd, which is currently on Broadway, Sweet Charity, Company, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, I mean, the list goes on and on, and of course A Chorus Line and all these fun things.

[5:16] Eli Tokash: I let again can't say more. I love the Broadway representation in the larger worldwide aspect in television movies, and I talk a little bit about that with Carly because you know, literally, the Broadway performers, they get to a set, and it's just like it requires a different skill. So not like I'm not knocking movie stars or TV stars or whatever, it's just a different type of acting.

[5:43] Eli Tokash: But Broadway kind of I don't know, she puts it in such a better way. It's so like it's all at once and it's all in your face, and it's craziness and like the film and TV so laid back. And honestly, it's probably like the stigma around like theater kids, you know, because like Broadway is just fast-paced, non-stop, blah blah blah. And that's like theater kids, the stereotype of whatever, or like, oh, he's the annoying theater kid, you know, type of thing.

[6:13] Eli Tokash: Um, and then like film is like, oh yeah, it's okay, yeah, yeah, sure. I'll wait here. Don't worry about it, take your time, blah blah blah. And it's just it's just a different lifestyle and a different type of patience and skill and collaborativeness. Um, so yeah, it's but it's cool to see that and give more people the opportunity to go see that.

[6:34] Eli Tokash: So if you haven't yet, go see Ariana DeBose and the incredible cast of Aaron Tveit and Alan Cumming and all of Dove Cameron. I mean, the list goes on and on. Titus Burgess. I mean, it's ridiculous, the people in the show. And then, like, we have like our friends like Jessica Vosk making cameos in a grocery store. You know, we love that.

[6:55] Eli Tokash: Um, it's just so you never know who you're gonna see, and it's all Broadway people, and I don't know. I'm not even like this. This isn't even like an ad for it, but I keep bringing this up because I love it. And Patrick Page, you know, we've had some take about family members on it, so I want to support it and support them. So go watch it on Apple TV season two.

[7:14] Eli Tokash: Uh and of course watch season one if you haven't. Um, but yeah, it's cool to see these musicals and like as a I don't know, like a theater fan. It's so like, oh yeah, I know what they're trying to do here, or oh yeah, that's funny. And like maybe not a lot of people would notice that.

[7:29] Eli Tokash: Anyways, fun stuff nonetheless. So congrats to all of them on season two. Uh Shmigadoon and Shmicago type of thing. Um, and uh last and final piece of news, we have uh coming out of Kimberly Akimbo.

[7:42] Eli Tokash: Um Kimberly Akimbo is going on tour and uh which is super exciting. They're gonna go out and tour in 2024. Um and this is a big I don't know, this is like I was having a conversation, and this is like not news. I'm like ranting at this point, but I think this is interesting.

[7:59] Eli Tokash: So Kimberly Akimbo in the theater industry, you make more money as like a business on a tour because you know, you only have a week to sell a show, and it's like, oh well, it's much easier to sell something out that's like a one night only concert, you know, which is so impressive, like the way Harry Styles sold out MSG for so many consecutive nights.

[8:24] Eli Tokash: This with tours, it's like, oh, I have a week to go see the show. I need to make that happen. When it's New York when you're on Broadway or whatever, like Phantom of the Opera, I'll give a prime example. I've always I haven't seen it on Broadway. I've always said, Oh, it's there. I have time, I can see it. And now I'm freaking out because it's literally about to close and I haven't seen it.

[8:45] Eli Tokash: So um that's happening. And so touring, it's easier to sell, it's easier to turn over, it's easier to travel. It costs more to travel, but it's able to um it has bigger theaters than Broadway, and it's easier to sell out. And it's easier to like maximize on profits and opportunities and all that things.

[9:06] Eli Tokash: Um that's just like the trend. It's not always a guarantee. That's usually how it works, though. So um very interesting. And usually shows go on tour that close on Broadway.

[9:19] Eli Tokash: So this is where I was kind of going with this. Um, no knock on Kimberly Akimbo. But if you ask me, and seeing all these musicals that are gonna be up for Tony Awards this year, I don't see Kimberly Akimbo winning all sorts of awards that they may have hoped for.

[9:37] Eli Tokash: But that's literally that has nothing to do with the show. Everyone knows how much of a Kimberly Akimbo fan I am, but I don't think it this this season is just so strong that it has so many options and it can go any sort of way.

[9:52] Eli Tokash: Um, but I don't see it doing as well as it may have thought. So the fact that it's announcing a tour already, and shows like Anne Juliet or Some Like It Hot or all these other new shows that have happened, even a Beautiful Noise is a good example as of a show that has announced a tour that you know may not have the longevity of some of those other shows on Broadway.

[10:20] Eli Tokash: Um, because they are anticipating, you know, I don't see a Beautiful Noise winning Best Musical this year. I don't even know if it gets nominated this year. Everyone knows how much of a fan I am of that.

[10:30] Eli Tokash: So it's no knock on these shows or anything, it's just I think these producers are from a business point of view, and I think it's interesting if y'all like kind of see that. Um, that they've decided, oh, okay, like we're hot right now, people are talking about us. Let's move that on tour before we while we can and before we're forgotten about type of thing.

[10:52] Eli Tokash: And uh yeah, I just thought that was something interesting. If you but it's a trend usually, like of shows being not on Broadway, but they're touring. You very rare that a show isn't it it's very rare that a show is both on Broadway and on tour, unless it's like Disney or something.

[11:14] Eli Tokash: That's just like there are they're fine, then they're like rich and they can put the money up and whatever. So um, interesting fact there. Uh thought about talking about it with a Beautiful Noise when that announced its tour. I didn't, and now I decided to talk about it today because I thought I think it's interesting.

[11:31] Eli Tokash: I don't know if it is. Some of y'all can reach out to me and be like, oh yeah, that is interesting. Or you could just be like, please stop talking, fast forward. Thank you.

[11:39] Eli Tokash: Um, anyways, that's my little rant. That's my Broadway news for the week. Um I'll move on.

[11:46] Eli Tokash: Uh episode 150. I'm not gonna leave y'all waiting anymore. Um, we'll get into the nuts, the the nuts and bolts was the meat of this. There it is. The meat of this episode.

[11:58] Eli Tokash: Uh in the episode 150, uh, with our fabulous guest, Carly Hughes. So without further ado, Carly Hughes, curtain up.

[12:24] Eli Tokash: Well, we all know episode 150. Believe it or not, if you didn't know, um this would call upon an extra special guest, and I'd say we got it.

[12:35] Eli Tokash: Uh this week's guest has been in eight Broadway shows, including leading roles such as Velma Kelly in Chicago, the leading player in Pippin, and so much more.

[12:45] Eli Tokash: Uh she then went off to go be a TV star on us, but that's okay. And American Housewives for four seasons. Come on. And here she is today with us on Take A Bow.

[12:54] Eli Tokash: So welcome to Take A Bow, Carly.

[12:55] Carly Hughes: Oh my god, thank you.

[12:57] Carly Hughes: Yes, take your bow. I'm so excited.

[12:58] Carly Hughes: Oh my god, this is so silly. I literally like okay, we saw each other at the Anne Juliet opening night, but like when like we like haven't seen each other.

[13:09] Carly Hughes: And like and also because of this pandemic and everything.

[13:12] Eli Tokash: Right.

[13:12] Carly Hughes: We haven't really seen each other, and that wasn't passing.

[13:15] Carly Hughes: Yeah, no, it literally. It was like uh, oh hey, and then you're like, I have to go to my seat, but I love you, like type of thing.

[13:22] Carly Hughes: Yeah, like on the end of the of the red carpet line.

[13:25] Eli Tokash: Yeah, no, it was it was amazing.

[13:27] Carly Hughes: And uh I was like, oh my god, my heart was so full of it.

[13:30] Eli Tokash: I know I was like, I'll take whatever I can get.

[13:32] Carly Hughes: I know I got my squeeze, you know, I got my fix, you know.

[13:36] Eli Tokash: It's so good to see you, and now you're living in LA, you know, the whole TV star thing.

[13:42] Carly Hughes: Um I don't know if I'm a TV star, but I'll take that.

[13:47] Carly Hughes: Um 92 episodes, come on.

[13:49] Eli Tokash: That's a series regular, come on.

[13:51] Carly Hughes: But it was like 98. I don't know what I did.

[13:53] Carly Hughes: Then that's like whatever it is.

[13:57] Carly Hughes: You could be right.

[13:58] Carly Hughes: I don't Google myself unless I want to know random pictures people post.

[14:02] Eli Tokash: Right.

[14:03] Carly Hughes: And I'll Google.

[14:04] Carly Hughes: Yeah, what's on there?

[14:05] Carly Hughes: What wait, who am I? What are we doing?

[14:07] Carly Hughes: I don't know.

[14:07] Carly Hughes: Well, sometimes fans will send me stuff on like Instagram and be like, Oh, really? Is this you? Or look what I found.

[14:12] Carly Hughes: And most of the time it's like interesting or cool and like nothing crazy. And sometimes I'm like, what is that picture?

[14:18] Eli Tokash: Oh, hilarious.

[14:20] Carly Hughes: That's so funny.

[14:21] Carly Hughes: I know it's like a you're probably like getting like uh paparazzi on the street, like, oh, Carly Hughes just walked past me.

[14:28] Carly Hughes: It's like, who's up there? Who's caught me off guard?

[14:30] Carly Hughes: Um, no.

[14:32] Carly Hughes: Sometimes I do find some of those pictures, and I'm like, what was I wearing?

[14:35] Carly Hughes: Why are you where was that person spying on me?

[14:38] Eli Tokash: Stop it.

[14:38] Carly Hughes: Oh my god, terrifying.

[14:40] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[14:41] Carly Hughes: That's crazy.

[14:42] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[14:43] Carly Hughes: So let's rewind here. Um, because now we're, you know, we're Kylie Hughes, but let's go back to when we were Kylie Hughes and why are we here? Like, why who how did we get into this whole thing? What made you want to like tell stories and be a performer and all that?

[14:59] Carly Hughes: I mean, probably the same age-old story as every theater child, yeah, who grew up singing into a hairbrush and in the shop and being the probably the most annoying sibling or cousin in the family because you're belting out tunes. Um, I just remember being younger and watching so much, like so many golden age musicals.

[15:23] Carly Hughes: Uh-huh. Um, because I'm gonna date myself. I would go to the library and rent on VHS team, and they had like a musical section. And like at the time I was young and I was like, musicals. Oh, I'm gonna be with music, sure. And then I would go every week and just rent a new, and but they only had the old ones.

[15:42] Carly Hughes: So I'm watching like Lena Horn and Debbie Reynolds and all you know, Corny Weather and Anchors Away and Seven Brides for Seven Brides, all the like classics. And I was like, Oh, it's so fun that they got to do that then, not associating it with now, because it wasn't like I didn't grow up getting to go to summer camps or theater camps or things like that.

[16:01] Eli Tokash: Sure.

[16:01] Carly Hughes: And then I got to high school, you know, or middle school in high school, and we got to do the school plays and thing. I was like, yeah, this is like what I watch on the video types. And then I like got a little older and was like, wait, I can still do this for a living. Oh shit!

[16:15] Carly Hughes: Yeah. I just didn't know. Like, you know, you watch movies, but you think I'm watching this movie because these people are in the movies, and that's what they do. I you you don't always think that it's something that you can do or something that's attainable because you if you don't have the means or know the know-how to get into it, it just seems like oh, those people are lucky they get to do that.

[16:33] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[16:34] Carly Hughes: Once it locked in that I'm like, oh, I can be one of those people. Then you know, I graduate high school a year early. Not because I'm super smart. I mean, I'm smart, but it was because I was like, oh no, I just want to go do this now.

[16:46] Carly Hughes: And figured it out. So two things what's a library, what's a VHS tape?

[16:52] Eli Tokash: No, I will kill you.

[16:55] Carly Hughes: Stop it. No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding, everyone. Um, I only know the interwebs, but uh in the library.

[17:03] Eli Tokash: No, that's hilarious.

[17:05] Carly Hughes: Streaming. I've only heard of streaming.

[17:07] Eli Tokash: I don't even know. What are you saying? Is that like Blockbuster?

[17:11] Carly Hughes: Oh, blockbuster, what a throwback.

[17:13] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. Remember that?

[17:15] Carly Hughes: Oh my god, two Ds. What is that?

[17:17] Eli Tokash: Um hilarious. But that's so fun. And so was it always kind of like the theater vibes for you, or was it the oh, maybe I can be on screen?

[17:27] Carly Hughes: It was always it started out as uh, I'm gonna be a singer. I just want to be, I just want to sing because I knew that I could do that. I could like sing before I could talk. And then once I started, you know, watching the musicals and stuff, and I was like, Oh, oh I want to do that dance and yeah, asking is that what it's called? Then I'll do that thing.

[17:45] Carly Hughes: And then kind of they melded together.

[17:47] Eli Tokash: Sure.

[17:49] Carly Hughes: Yeah, that's so funny. But always theater again because I didn't think I mean it was theater and like you know TV and film, but the theater just was more easily accessible. You know what I mean?

[18:00] Carly Hughes: And especially into Otta College and you know you go and you go to New York and audition like crazy. Um because auditions for Twin film, you know, aren't the same so lend itself to more of theater uh to start out right interesting.

[18:16] Eli Tokash: Yeah it's so funny. I feel like everyone sings before they talk.

[18:19] Carly Hughes: I mean we come out of the womb wailing high ease, you know it's like yeah I'll never hit again.

[18:24] Eli Tokash: Right.

[18:25] Carly Hughes: Um so real. Um but like yeah we we all know how to sing and then uh it's like oh we c we can do this we can player it and add more you know facets have to be in because for a while it's always like that is a singer and you know even on Broadway you have the dancer track the singer track the track and it's it's for a while was rare to people for people to acknowledge that no no I can do all three.

[18:52] Eli Tokash: Right.

[18:53] Carly Hughes: On purpose, you know well and you were like one of the like you were one of those performers that just like could naturally do all three.

[19:01] Eli Tokash: I mean I don't know if he was naturally if we worked on it or whatever but when I met you you were doing it all.

[19:07] Carly Hughes: Yeah. I mean hard work man.

[19:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah I mean part of it's natural for all of us and then the other half of the you know puzzle is is putting in the work and putting in the effort and and learning your craft and not just and growing and not staying, you know, stationary.

[19:23] Carly Hughes: Did that come like when I mean you when I met you, you already had like what five Broadway shows under your belt or four and that was your fifth?

[19:31] Carly Hughes: Pippin was my seventh, sixth or seventh.

[19:34] Eli Tokash: What?

[19:34] Carly Hughes: I know.

[19:37] Eli Tokash: Um, whatever.

[19:38] Carly Hughes: Pippin went seventh and then I did Chicago and then Cabin in the Sky at City Center and then moved to LA.

[19:43] Eli Tokash: Oh well, excuse me.

[19:46] Carly Hughes: Um Playbill lied to me.

[19:48] Eli Tokash: So Playbill fixed your database.

[19:51] Carly Hughes: Um unless I totally read it wrong.

[19:54] Eli Tokash: I think Playbill is missing them.

[19:56] Carly Hughes: Playbill's missing your freaking Broadway debut or something.

[19:58] Eli Tokash: Is it?

[19:59] Carly Hughes: They're not, they don't have spelling beyond there.

[20:00] Eli Tokash: I'm like, hello?

[20:01] Carly Hughes: That's not debut.

[20:03] Eli Tokash: Get it's a gala.

[20:04] Carly Hughes: Right.

[20:04] Eli Tokash: I don't even know if they Grinch on there.

[20:06] Carly Hughes: I don't know.

[20:07] Eli Tokash: Grinch.

[20:07] Carly Hughes: Oh no, Grinch is on there because I saw that and I was like, period, she's playing Mrs. Who. Like, come on.

[20:12] Eli Tokash: That's hilarious.

[20:15] Carly Hughes: Um but was that whole like triple threat thing and that work kind of was that always something that you were interested in, always something that you were training for?

[20:23] Carly Hughes: Or was it like, you know, six, seven Broadway shows later that you were like, oh, I came to Broadway and like I gotta work.

[20:28] Carly Hughes: No, I for me, I was always training for that because I all I I that's how my brain works.

[20:34] Carly Hughes: Like I I'm not just you know, I'm all over the place. I I I wanna do a million things, but I also want to be good at all of them because I feel like there's no point in doing them or putting yourself out there if you're not trying to be the best that you can be at any given level.

[20:48] Carly Hughes: Um, and so I was always like, oh, okay, once I figured out that I could dance, you know, I was like, oh well now I want to work on that and make sure that's up to par and acting, yes, I'm gonna work on that because I didn't want one to be greater than the other because in my mind I was like, Well, I get they're not gonna hire me to play this lead role that I saw once upon a time in this musical.

[21:08] Carly Hughes: If I can't sing and act and dance, and then you have to do them all amazing. Like, that's just how my brain worked.

[21:14] Eli Tokash: Um, in terms of like thinking about getting the job.

[21:18] Carly Hughes: Uh-huh.

[21:19] Carly Hughes: I guess I learned early on, like you can't get you won't get it if you're not at the top of your game, because there's other people that you're going to be competing against that are also at the top of their game, and then it's a matter of which one they want.

[21:31] Carly Hughes: So if you're not at the top of your game and you haven't worked on it, you're out of the running already.

[21:35] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[21:35] Carly Hughes: It's interesting because when you you go going back like earlier, you said, you know, you have your singer, you have your dancer track, you have your all the things.

[21:43] Carly Hughes: And it's like looking back, it's kind of like all of the understudies or alternates on Broadway are the most talented overall performers.

[21:52] Eli Tokash: Yes, you have to.

[21:53] Carly Hughes: I mean, and you know, I was an understudy in every show.

[21:56] Eli Tokash: Right.

[21:56] Carly Hughes: That's what I'm saying.

[21:58] Carly Hughes: So it was like you have to be ready to go at a moment's notice.

[22:01] Carly Hughes: And sometimes um the understudy has to be better than the than the one that is leading the show.

[22:08] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[22:09] Carly Hughes: People are paying to come see that lead, and they're not gonna stay for you, which we know because they get their money back if they want to, if you don't have something extra that is drawing them in because you are not right away the headliner, correct?

[22:21] Eli Tokash: You know what I mean?

[22:22] Carly Hughes: Absolutely.

[22:23] Carly Hughes: You it's kind of that stigma, you know, of like, oh no, I'm seeing this understudy, and then it's like, wait.

[22:28] Carly Hughes: Well, because you know, there are chances where you go out.

[22:31] Carly Hughes: I mean, I don't know, I'm sure you haven't been in a show where this has happened, but I know you've heard where you know they're like, ladies and gentlemen, tonight's performance of Oh, yeah, will be played by Carly Hughes, and the audience is like boo, and you still have to do the show.

[22:44] Eli Tokash: Right.

[22:47] Carly Hughes: That you can carry it out no matter what they think.

[22:50] Carly Hughes: Do you know what I mean?

[22:51] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and that's kind of the whole like mental toughness that you kind of have to have in this industry that comes along with performing as well.

[22:58] Carly Hughes: It'll beat you up.

[22:59] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[22:59] Carly Hughes: Well, not only the performing side, but before you even get the job in the audition process and all the things.

[23:04] Eli Tokash: That I'm going crazy daily.

[23:06] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[23:07] Carly Hughes: I'm like, you're good, you're still good at what you do. Don't worry about what they think. You're really amazing.

[23:11] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[23:12] Carly Hughes: And I'm sure to this day, like you we have those conversations with ourselves.

[23:16] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[23:16] Carly Hughes: It's a constant roller coaster, but it's because the nature of the business, which is why, you know, I tell, you know, people all the time, especially when I'm doing like a master class and such.

[23:25] Carly Hughes: It's if if this is not something that you want to do for yourself, and and you don't want to do that you don't want to do first, then you might want to find something else because there's all these other aspects that are gonna come in and beat you down.

[23:42] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[23:42] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[23:42] Carly Hughes: And if you're not doing this knowingly because you want to, it's gonna be way easier for them to tear you down.

[23:48] Carly Hughes: And for you to have longevity and to hang on in this business.

[23:51] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[23:52] Carly Hughes: Like you have to basically what I'm saying is you have to believe in yourself and it more so in the moments when you get all the no's and go, okay, it may not be for me, but I know that I'm still meant to do this, so I have to keep pushing forward, you know.

[24:07] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and it's not like Broadway or Bust, you know, type of thing.

[24:11] Carly Hughes: Yeah, exactly.

[24:12] Carly Hughes: We I feel like that's a big thing.

[24:14] Eli Tokash: I mean, for especially for people who don't know, but or if you're just getting out of college or you're usually it's Broadway or bus, and then you get a little older and have some experience, and you're like, no, it's not right.

[24:25] Carly Hughes: And it's so funny because like you go on the like if you go on a tour or whatever and you're like traveling the world, you go to these theaters that have you know 5,000 seats.

[24:33] Eli Tokash: Broadway's only like 1200 seats, you know.

[24:35] Carly Hughes: I know, and you're like, oh, I'm playing the wing in Boston, that's 7,000 people.

[24:38] Eli Tokash: Right.

[24:39] Carly Hughes: Like the fabulous Fox, you know, and some knew it, you know, like it's like all these things.

[24:43] Carly Hughes: It's like, what? This is nothing compared to whatever I was doing.

[24:48] Eli Tokash: For sure.

[24:49] Carly Hughes: Um and yeah, I mean, more I I don't know.

[24:52] Carly Hughes: It's I I guess that like dream of like Broadway with the big lights and all the things.

[24:57] Carly Hughes: But you know, it's it's not always that way.

[24:59] Eli Tokash: A paycheck is a paycheck.

[25:00] Carly Hughes: It's paycheck is a paycheck, but also like remembering that the path to getting to Broadway, even if that is your be all in doll goal, right?

[25:08] Carly Hughes: Path to getting there is different for everyone.

[25:10] Carly Hughes: So you have to learn how to take your wins when they come in and and realize that that is also leading you, you know, where you're supposed to go.

[25:19] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[25:19] Carly Hughes: And that's why I love doing this, because like talking to like I mean, you and I have never had these kind of conversations of like, yeah, you know, how did this start?

[25:26] Carly Hughes: You know, uh, but it's it's cool to like learn everybody's path and how different everybody like the 150 episodes, not one has been the same.

[25:35] Eli Tokash: Yeah, you know, it it's fascinating.

[25:37] Carly Hughes: Because everybody's journey is different, and it's hard for to get someone to hear that and really believe it, you know, when they're so eager and don't really know and and and haven't it hasn't clicked for them yet that oh I'm okay, you know.

[25:51] Carly Hughes: But but that's it's good to keep saying it so that people, you know, eventually it clicks.

[25:55] Eli Tokash: Mm-hmm.

[25:56] Carly Hughes: Absolutely.

[25:57] Carly Hughes: So uh Broadway debut, spelling bee.

[26:00] Eli Tokash: Mm-hmm.

[26:01] Carly Hughes: Craziness.

[26:02] Carly Hughes: Love it. Um, do you remember your first Broadway bow?

[26:05] Carly Hughes: Like, what do you mean?

[26:06] Carly Hughes: No.

[26:06] Carly Hughes: I don't remember Jack Rabbit.

[26:08] Carly Hughes: Somebody asked me that yesterday because that's so good to hear.

[26:08] Carly Hughes: That's so good to hear.

[26:13] Carly Hughes: Well, it's I guess it's good to hear, but it was not good to it was so I got cast in Spelling Bee.

[26:18] Carly Hughes: I didn't know the show. Um they got me a ticket to see it before my callback.

[26:21] Carly Hughes: And then but I think I was one of the last you know, slew of people that actually had my Broadway call, my callback for the Broadway show on the Broadway stage.

[26:30] Carly Hughes: Okay with Jane Clapine and the casting director on the stage.

[26:33] Carly Hughes: And so they I saw the show that night, did the callback, I get got cast, and I was going to the theater to watch the show.

[26:40] Carly Hughes: Um and then you're supposed to rehearse during the day, watch a show at night, but our PSM was on vacation.

[26:45] Carly Hughes: So they were like, just watch the show, you know.

[26:47] Carly Hughes: We'll start because I covered um I was a standby for Marcy Um Park, who played the piano and did the splits and twirled the baton, and Ronan Lisa Paretti, who was on stage the whole 90 minutes of the show.

[26:59] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[26:59] Carly Hughes: So they were like, Well, we'll start to teach you like the piano at the end of the week, but this cast never calls out, don't worry about it.

[27:04] Carly Hughes: I was like, Oh, okay, cool.

[27:06] Carly Hughes: And I also my very first day, welcome to Broadway.

[27:08] Carly Hughes: I lost my voice because I developed allergies for the first time.

[27:11] Carly Hughes: No fire, nothing hurt, nothing.

[27:13] Carly Hughes: They were like, Oh, you have allergies.

[27:15] Carly Hughes: Grown adult, never had allergy.

[27:16] Carly Hughes: So I was like, Great, I'll just watch the show this week.

[27:18] Carly Hughes: I won't get fired.

[27:19] Eli Tokash: Right.

[27:20] Carly Hughes: Cut two.

[27:21] Carly Hughes: Watch the show Tuesday to Monday.

[27:23] Carly Hughes: Cut two that Tuesday, the next Tuesday.

[27:26] Carly Hughes: Hey Carly, how you feeling?

[27:28] Carly Hughes: I was like, Great. I can sing today.

[27:29] Carly Hughes: I can't wait to learn some things.

[27:31] Carly Hughes: They were like, You have to go on tonight.

[27:34] Carly Hughes: Yeah, um, Jin is out and I was standby for Jen Samar.

[27:38] Carly Hughes: And I was like, What?

[27:39] Carly Hughes: What?

[27:39] Carly Hughes: No rehearsal, no rehearsal.

[27:41] Carly Hughes: They literally the last week they taught me like some of the piano.

[27:44] Carly Hughes: I don't play piano for Marcy Park, and they were like, You probably go on for this first.

[27:47] Carly Hughes: No, no.

[27:48] Carly Hughes: I had to go on that night.

[27:51] Carly Hughes: Opposite Mo Raka, based on watching the show.

[27:54] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[27:56] Carly Hughes: And singing the entire the I don't know if you remember that show is 90 minutes long, no intermission, and Ron is on the stage the whole time.

[28:07] Carly Hughes: And not only that, I went on for seven of eight shows that week.

[28:11] Eli Tokash: Stop it.

[28:12] Carly Hughes: Bill Clayton decided to come that week.

[28:14] Carly Hughes: Renard Talesy decided to just come and see Spelly B.

[28:17] Carly Hughes: Lynn Manuel Miranda.

[28:20] Carly Hughes: No.

[28:20] Carly Hughes: That way.

[28:21] Carly Hughes: Everyone came.

[28:22] Carly Hughes: And I don't remember.

[28:23] Carly Hughes: I'm still I sweat every time I think about it because I don't remember that whole week.

[28:28] Carly Hughes: I was just like, uh, don't forget the word.

[28:31] Carly Hughes: And Mo would pass me a joke to say, and I'd be like, why did the chicken cross the rod?

[28:36] Carly Hughes: And the audience would laugh, probably because of how I said it, but there were so many jokes that went over my head because I was just nervously reading it and making sure I was like, as the other kids were doing theirs, I was like saying lyrics in my head.

[28:48] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, terrifying.

[28:49] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[28:50] Carly Hughes: That sounds like that has been my journey on Broadway 90% of the time.

[28:55] Carly Hughes: Yeah, no, literally.

[28:57] Carly Hughes: Everyone thinks it's like so organized, right?

[28:59] Carly Hughes: They had no rehearsal.

[29:01] Carly Hughes: She was on the phone.

[29:02] Carly Hughes: No put ins, no nothing.

[29:03] Carly Hughes: They were like, no music rehearsal.

[29:04] Carly Hughes: I came in early that Tuesday and they just ran through the show because everyone was like, spook's gone, she'll teach you when she comes back.

[29:11] Carly Hughes: Oh my god, goodbye. I can't. I can't. So stressful. Flashbacks, PTSD happening right now.

[29:20] Eli Tokash: Right.

[29:20] Carly Hughes: Oh my god. Well, I mean, they kind of the show must go on, you know. They can't really like, I don't know, they can't like, uh, I don't like fire you for like not knowing for them not being doing their job, you know, type of thing preparing you.

[29:37] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, they can't like penalize you for that. That's craziness.

[29:40] Carly Hughes: Um, terrifying, but you know, like I've always said looking back, and I say that it's good that you don't remember your Broadway debut bow or whatever first Broadway bow. And it's like I always say, like, I feel like I was too young. Like, I feel like I just didn't understand it. Like, I didn't understand what I was doing.

[29:56] Eli Tokash: You were baby, you were having fun.

[30:00] Carly Hughes: Yeah, literally. I was coming to probably even better because that's what we should all be doing, is having fun.

[30:05] Eli Tokash: Right.

[30:06] Carly Hughes: No, for sure. And I totally get like in being like Pippin and whatever with you guys with the adults, you know, like they I could feel you know the reminder to them. Like I was kind of their reminder of just like, you know, this is good. This is fun. All the time.

[30:21] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[30:22] Carly Hughes: And I loved that. I love looking back on that and just being like, but now, like looking back, I'm like, oh, I wish I would have like, you know, soaked it in a little bit more and like took it all in, you know. Uh but it is what it is.

[30:34] Eli Tokash: It's no, you you were doing everything you were supposed to be doing for that age, too. You know what I mean? Like, I always loved that you were the age you were, as opposed to you know, too mature based on experiences, you know what I mean? Like not being able to live in the moment and act your age while also being on a stage full of adults, and you know, you did it right.

[30:54] Carly Hughes: Thanks, Carly. I didn't even know what I was doing, I was just coming to see my best friend cards.

[31:01] Eli Tokash: Right.

[31:02] Carly Hughes: Yeah, all I had to say was not a duck, dumbass, and walk off, storm off.

[31:06] Eli Tokash: Exactly.

[31:07] Carly Hughes: Um, no, I was I was living the dream, and then I got to go on like a little trapeze with you on the end there, you know.

[31:12] Eli Tokash: That was I always say that that's my favorite part, like, but like, especially like with you, like the all those memories are always with you on the end.

[31:31] Carly Hughes: Stop it! Oh my god, I can't believe you remember that. Stop. That's so sweet. I can't believe you remember that.

[31:37] Eli Tokash: I love everything. And why would you guys always come to my room for candy.

[31:41] Carly Hughes: Oh, yeah. Well, that and some puppy time because you roomed with the dog, which was who decided that.

[31:47] Eli Tokash: I don't know. I'm so sorry.

[31:49] Carly Hughes: Right. They're like, you're okay with this, right? I was like, I uh guess I guess so.

[31:54] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[31:54] Carly Hughes: And it was so weird because like our like child wrangler, quote unquote like Thomas, he was the like puppy regular too. So I was like, why is it you're not with that? I don't know. It was very I don't know. And also I was like, nobody can come in my room if I'm getting drunk that that's what I'm saying.

[32:09] Eli Tokash: When we would come we we come in when you were on stage like to get the dog for his entrance. I was like this is kind of weird, right?

[32:15] Carly Hughes: You're like, I don't think this is supposed to make that but hey we love Barnum.

[32:23] Eli Tokash: We right we made it.

[32:25] Carly Hughes: Yeah, he was a good reminder for us to to you know be human and uh have some fun.

[32:30] Eli Tokash: Yeah for sure. Um well I guess we're talking about Pippin so we'll we'll keep uh talking about it. Talk to me about like what it was like to you know like you said you were you were playing these understudies and alternates and standbys and all these things and now you're like starring and you're like the lead woman you know the leading player.

[32:35] Carly Hughes: I know they're like what's the name the leading player it's so funny because the only time I ever the only time I've done like ensemble work was on Broadway but all of my years of theater work leading up to Broadway were all leads at Derek Barry's theaters which is what we were talking about. Um so funny and I had come from I was doing beautiful yeah so it was one of the it was the second time ever that I didn't have to understudy.

[33:18] Eli Tokash: And because who am I gonna cover? Carol King? No.

[33:21] Carly Hughes: Right. Um so I did I had my Fridays free and I didn't have to, you know, stress about it. But um in taking over uh the that huge part that is the leading player, the parallel of life was the only way I could get out of my contract for beautiful was to do double duty.

[33:42] Eli Tokash: And I don't know, you were young, so I don't know if you knew this.

[33:45] Carly Hughes: So I I found out my callback was on a Wednesday morning. I went to Beautiful, did the matinee, came upstairs to get service, and found out I booked it, and they were like, You start rehearsal tomorrow.

[33:58] Eli Tokash: So then I had to call the producers of Beautiful and was like, um, I just booked this, and but and I had to go on, you know, I had two weeks.

[34:08] Carly Hughes: Right. But you're supposed to give a four-week notice.

[34:11] Eli Tokash: Right.

[34:11] Carly Hughes: Technically for ensemble. And they were like, luckily, you know, they loved me and I love them, and you know, and they were like, You you have to do this. I'll call you back and we have to figure it out. And they were like, Oh, we can try, we can get someone in in two weeks. You'll just have to do double duty leading up to so I I don't know that you remember this, but I would rehearse Pippin because I was with just Brad.

[34:31] Eli Tokash: So I would rehearse 10 to 6, and Beautiful had all 7 p.m. shows on so at six, I was busting my butt to run from Ripley Greer to 43rd to be in time for a half hour at 6:30.

[34:45] Eli Tokash: Right.

[34:46] Carly Hughes: And not quote Pippin lines to say beautiful lines, seeing Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. And then um after about a week of that, it was like I was a walking zombie because then we would rehearse at the theater, and then I book it from 45th Street to 43rd Street.

[35:00] Eli Tokash: Oh god.

[35:01] Carly Hughes: I only messed up my lines once in Beautiful, and by messing up, meaning I just literally was staring at Jessie like this.

[35:07] Eli Tokash: Yes, I was staring because I heard her words and I couldn't figure out what's next because I was standing there going, I remember this, going, Don't think about Pippin. Don't think about Pippin, don't think about Pippin.

[35:18] Carly Hughes: And then I God.

[35:20] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[35:21] Carly Hughes: And she looks at me and goes, and then she starts saying my lines back to me, like, and I'm 17, and you want to know where I went to school? And then she's like, and I was like, yes.

[35:29] Eli Tokash: Oh my.

[35:30] Carly Hughes: And I got to say she was like, holy shit balls. Um, yeah. But again, having to do all of that, uh, do the one show, learn a new show. And then when I finally was just doing one show, I had one day before I had to take over at Pippin, three hours total on the trapeze, because you know, you guys did it before on the stage, but I was doing another show.

[35:51] Eli Tokash: So I was one day at a studio in Queens where it was and they were like, Hope you learn these tricks.

[35:58] Carly Hughes: Yeah. I mean, it's a story of my life, but you know, it it it's it's the universe, I guess, saying this is this is how you roll.

[36:07] Eli Tokash: Yeah, no, it was so cool, like watching you come in and like because I was there, Sierra was already there, and uh Kyle was there, but I don't really remember like the process of like Josh Coffin and and who else played, yeah, because it was so random and fast.

[36:25] Carly Hughes: Yeah, like I don't remember all of that, but like I remember your transition, and I think probably because you're more um involved with like the circus, and I just like gravitated towards them and wanted to learn everything.

[36:37] Eli Tokash: Um, and so like I totally like remember like looking up to you and being like, Oh my god, she's so badass, she's so cool, you know, like type of thing.

[36:45] Carly Hughes: Yeah, no, and like, and I remember like you were like, Yeah, I gotta go by. It's like, so you guys like running, you know, with your bag, you know.

[36:50] Eli Tokash: Yeah. I was like, I'll see you tomorrow.

[36:55] Carly Hughes: Yeah, you know, go not mess up.

[36:57] Eli Tokash: Right.

[36:58] Carly Hughes: No, that's craziness though. That like it's a lot for a brain. But um, there was one night um where I was I was just doing Pippin. It was the night I it was the one night that I was j released and I was just doing one show, and I get a call from the producers at Beautiful, and they're like, We need you to come back to the show.

[37:17] Eli Tokash: I was like, I I can't. I was doing I was doing press shoots, black fingernails, Pippin.

[37:22] Carly Hughes: They were like, Grammy voters are coming and we need you back. I was like, Well, they're voting on the album. We released it. They were like, No, we we cannot have we need you to sing it. And I was like, I am I'm taking pretty they were like, Okay, what if you just come and sing your song and then leave because Pippin had 8 p.m. shows it.

[37:39] Eli Tokash: I literally rehearsed, did all the press, was on the stage doing my shoot, and then I was like, I'll be back.

[37:47] Carly Hughes: Ran to beautiful. It the curtain went up already, it was seven o'clock. Got to stage four, they met me at the stage door. I'm ripping things off, they're putting a wig on, shimmying into a pink dress, just in time to literally walk on stage and sing tonight.

[38:04] Eli Tokash: And I ended this thing, and I'm like, ah, my fingernails are black, and then I wave and walk off stage, run.

[38:10] Carly Hughes: They're taking the wig off, I'm shimmying out of the dress, getting dressed. I was like, I love you. Ran back to 45th Street.

[38:16] Eli Tokash: No to the music box.

[38:17] Carly Hughes: Yeah. To do a show. To what was my it was the one show that I was able to watch because I you know, I was never able to see Pippin because I had to go do beautiful.

[38:27] Eli Tokash: So it was the one night that I could watch the show because I went on the next night.

[38:32] Carly Hughes: And so I had to go and see for the Grammy voters, come back and I it came back in time just to hear Ariana say, Join us.

[38:39] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, Ari, yeah.

[38:41] Carly Hughes: And I was like breathing, but like it was an insane. The stories I have insane.

[38:47] Eli Tokash: I can't imagine.

[38:48] Carly Hughes: I this is fascinating. I'm like that yeah period. I mean Carol King, come on.

[38:55] Eli Tokash: It's so good.

[38:56] Carly Hughes: The music is so good. It's cool too. Like I'm sure to originate a role, you know, uh in Beautiful, you you had the opportunity to do that.

[39:05] Eli Tokash: That was amazing.

[39:06] Carly Hughes: I mean there's not that's something we all hope for, right? Like I think I got to do it. I didn't get to originate something until I mean the ragtime revival but those roles were already established, you know.

[39:18] Eli Tokash: But uh I think the first time thing was Ghost.

[39:21] Carly Hughes: Yeah. You know, and then and then Beautiful were the two shows that I was able to like bring something to life because it you know Pippin Patina did it and and Belma Kelly amazing was done a million years ago.

[39:35] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[39:36] Carly Hughes: So it's it's pretty it was pretty awesome. You know to like and now like when people do redo you know beautiful they're listening to my song or listening to my and and how I did Lucille in that show because I had two tracks so it's very it's very fun.

[39:49] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah for sure and and with that cast too like I'm sure there's something that's so like you said you know with Pippin you literally rehearsed with Brad you know you didn't have much I didn't have people until we had a put in that one day and I was like and then there's fire and you hoops and I was like ah he's like yeah when I was telling you in the room this big of just us watch out for it and I was like oh there's a actually people flipping flipping.

[40:16] Carly Hughes: No, literally.

[40:17] Eli Tokash: And then they're like, and happy going on tomorrow.

[40:20] Carly Hughes: Exactly it it's crazy. So I'm sure that time with like beautiful and having those scene partners to rehearse with got is helpful. You know?

[40:28] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[40:29] Carly Hughes: Sure. That that's gotta be there, you know.

[40:31] Eli Tokash: Yeah, you have to be able to do that.

[40:37] Carly Hughes: From getting on stage and put pe all the pieces being put together, and you're like, uh right.

[40:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure.

[40:44] Carly Hughes: Um, I love Mark Bruni. Uh, just to shout him out. Bruni, the director of Beautiful, um the greatest person.

[40:53] Eli Tokash: Um, so wanted to shout him out because he's probably listening.

[40:57] Carly Hughes: Um, I love him. Um talk to me. Uh you you mentioned Velma Kelly. So I mean, talk to me about the that phase.

[41:07] Eli Tokash: So I would just tell a story first. Um because I was obsessed with you um in Pippin and all the things, and we always like had our little lunch dates or movie dates or whatever it was.

[41:18] Carly Hughes: Of course I came to see you play Velma Kelly, and I was like, I remember what the hell is the show? I was like 11 years old. I was like, what I remember being like, your parents know you're coming to see Chicago.

[41:32] Eli Tokash: Yeah, well, I mean, none of us knew like my family's not yeah, my family's not musical theater. Um I literally like don't even know musical theater pre-Pippin.

[41:41] Carly Hughes: So like B BP.

[41:43] Eli Tokash: Um so um, that that's kind of like my introduction. And so um, you know, I came to this, I was just like, oh my god, like she's so cool, like she's the coolest person I know.

[41:55] Carly Hughes: But then I was like, what is Chicago?

[41:57] Eli Tokash: And I had this like whole like love-hate relationship with Chicago because I was like, Oh, I know Carly, but then I was like, but I didn't I didn't get that show.

[42:06] Carly Hughes: Yeah, but I saw it just the other day.

[42:08] Eli Tokash: Perfect, you shouldn't.

[42:09] Carly Hughes: At that age, you shouldn't live up.

[42:11] Eli Tokash: No, I it all of it just went over my head because I saw it just a couple weeks ago because Charlotte Temboise was back in it.

[42:18] Carly Hughes: Um and and of course Jinx monsoon and all the things, so I was like, okay, I have to go see it.

[42:23] Eli Tokash: And and this time I was like, Oh, oh okay.

[42:27] Carly Hughes: Yeah, I understand why people like this show.

[42:30] Eli Tokash: Yeah, you're you've grown up a little bit and you've getting you've got the jokes now.

[42:34] Carly Hughes: Yeah, it was just like I don't know, it was a lot as a I know, but I remember seeing you afterwards, and you were just like, I don't know what's went on, but that was cool.

[42:42] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I know coming backstage to your dressing room.

[42:45] Carly Hughes: I was like, Carly, you're so good. Job, like you were like, You're so good, good job.

[42:52] Eli Tokash: I was like, Oh my god, I love you.

[42:54] Carly Hughes: Oh my god, it was but like come on, like the show is iconic.

[42:59] Eli Tokash: It's gonna be the longest Broadway show after Phantom Closes.

[43:03] Carly Hughes: Um, like how cool is it to like be a part of that show? Uh it was uh, you know a lifelong dream, like yeah, that the only other piece of that puzzle would be to go back and play Roxy and be you know one that played both, but like dreams and goals.

[43:19] Carly Hughes: That role is legendary, it's amazing, and it was so fun. And I remember when I got there, people were like, "Are you ready? Like, this is the hardest role on Broadway." And I was like, "Oh, because I was like, you guys know I just came from Pippin, right? Like, that is the hardest role on Broadway, at least the version that we did when we implemented the trapeze, and you know, I was on stage 90% of the show, I only could go pee twice for 45 seconds."

[43:41] Carly Hughes: Yeah, and I got to Chicago, and I was like, Wait, like I get to chill in my room while she does a number, right?

[43:50] Eli Tokash: Right.

[43:50] Carly Hughes: Oh, fees twice like three times.

[43:53] Eli Tokash: Oh, cool.

[43:53] Carly Hughes: Like, I was like, no, no. I understand why it would be seen as the hardest role on Broadway, especially back then, but I was like, I came from that.

[44:02] Eli Tokash: Right.

[44:02] Carly Hughes: Hanging in the air and singing while hanging in the air and doing tricks. I'm this is amazing.

[44:07] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[44:08] Carly Hughes: But you know, it's a testament to how oftentimes one show or one particular role will set you up for the rest, right? So that it's not as difficult because you've put in the work and the training on something else, you know.

[44:22] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[44:22] Carly Hughes: Like I've never worked as hard as I've worked in my life since and even since the leading player.

[44:28] Eli Tokash: Really?

[44:29] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[44:29] Eli Tokash: Wow, that's crazy.

[44:31] Carly Hughes: But it's true, like you I mean, you think of like a triple threat, and then you think of like Velma Kelly, you know, the dancing, the singing, actually, all the time.

[44:39] Carly Hughes: The coolest part of playing Velma Kelly. Um, and not a lot of people know this, but you know, the different people put you into shows. Like I had Brad for Pippin and he's a, you know, Chet Walker, Fosse Extraordinaire, and going into another Fosse show, and I had um Gary, yeah uh put me uh well I had David put me in uh teach me Chicago and Gary came in to like finesse everything and then I had this one day on stage uh with Nettles and I did, and we were like, Oh, okay, rehearsing on stage, cool.

[45:11] Carly Hughes: And it was on stage with Ann Reinking.

[45:13] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[45:15] Carly Hughes: We had a whole day of her watching what we learned, tweaking things for us, and she comes up to me and she's like, um, you know, Cheetah did four times around the chair, and I was like, Oh, she goes, You can do it.

[45:15] Eli Tokash: And I was like, Yeah, yes, ma'am.

[45:32] Carly Hughes: And then so she would, it was this was like Velma takes the stand, the whole chair dance where she's like, and then I did this, and then I'll tell the jury I did, you know, and so she spins her leg around the chair, and they were like, just do two to be safe. She goes, Cheetah did three here, Cheetah did four. She goes, do it. And then they she go from the top.

[45:49] Carly Hughes: And I remember I one point I ran over to the side, had a mini asthma attack.

[45:53] Eli Tokash: Right.

[45:53] Carly Hughes: And she was like, Are you okay? I was like, Great. Because I was like, I'm not gonna stop.

[45:57] Eli Tokash: Right.

[45:58] Carly Hughes: Went back on. And then she's like, simply cannot do it alone where you do the cartwheel and all. She goes, From the top. Again, you know what? I think you can do this because you know, Cheetah did and I was like, Oh god, oh my god.

[46:10] Eli Tokash: Totally amazing.

[46:10] Carly Hughes: But she like upped the, you know, because the root the choreography is essentially the same for everyone, but little things tweak, like whether you do two around or three around, and she was like, do it.

[46:20] Eli Tokash: And I was like, Okay.

[46:21] Carly Hughes: Yeah, how do you say now?

[46:23] Eli Tokash: Pretty cool.

[46:24] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[46:24] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, that's so cool.

[46:27] Carly Hughes: But like to my point, like, you know, like it's fully a triple threat role. But then you incorporate, you know, the leading player, and it's like the triple threat.

[46:36] Carly Hughes: Okay, but now you're a circus performer. So like it's exactly you're doing the hula hoop in and like all the things like while singing. I remember I got there like the hula hoop, I couldn't get it to go around.

[46:46] Eli Tokash: I was just like, You want me to do this while walking and singing? I can't look stupid.

[46:51] Carly Hughes: Yeah, no, it's so like bizarre, right? But uh it's it's it's cool, like hearing you say like it kind of like set you up for whatever is next, you know.

[46:59] Eli Tokash: Yeah, just being thrown into it all and just uh, you know, thrown into the ring, as they say.

[47:05] Carly Hughes: For sure.

[47:06] Eli Tokash: I want to talk to you about going to set and like now like being like the TV star and like that whole difference was it kind of a transition uh from you know, Broadway to TV?

[47:16] Carly Hughes: Not a huge transition, but a huge adjustment, you know, like there's um I find in my opinion, there's so much more discipline that comes with theater, live theater, than there is with TV and film, because there's so much downtime in TV and film, you know, there's cuts, there's breaks, there's go back to your trailer, there's we're setting up for this, we're, you know, so the mindset, which is again another setup. If you're coming from theater live theater, you already have that discipline within you to maintain, you know, a character, you know, let's say in between the cuts and in between the, you know, let's do another setup for another shot.

[47:51] Carly Hughes: You are keeping that with you because that's what we're trying to do. We do one whole show from beginning to end and there's no break, there's no let's try it again. So um it was a huge um like adjustment of going, oh wait, just do it again. Oh, so I can do I can do it several different ways.

[48:08] Eli Tokash: Oh, I like this way better. Let me try to, you know, there's like options.

[48:11] Carly Hughes: Yeah. And that's kind of freaky, but even more of a reason to like stay on your game. So like, you know, you learn quickly, like give them all the best options.

[48:22] Carly Hughes: And you know, I'm sure everyone does that. You know, everyone has their own, you know, journeys or whatever. But you know, I my my viewpoint is you don't know what they're gonna use because you're not in the editing room and you're not in charge of it.

[48:33] Carly Hughes: So it's my job to be at the top of my game again and give them amazing options from whatever angle they're choosing, so that I know I did my part and I don't look crazy when it's edited together, you know.

[48:44] Eli Tokash: Right.

[48:45] Carly Hughes: But you know, the other adjustment is like, oh, I can breathe. I just get in a chair and wait till you tell me cool, you know.

[48:53] Eli Tokash: You're gonna do all the work for me? Okay, cool.

[48:55] Carly Hughes: Right. And I find that the same for a lot of you know, people coming from Broadway and friends that I've talked to that where we all get to set and we're like, oh, that's it? Okay, cool.

[49:05] Eli Tokash: Not to diminish it, but like, you know, they make us do way too many things on Broadway for way little money.

[49:12] Carly Hughes: Um, and so your mindset when you do get to transition into TV and film is is that of like go go go go go and then you're like, oh, I can breathe here. Cool. And those moments have been great.

[49:24] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that's so cool.

[49:26] Carly Hughes: I love it.

[49:26] Eli Tokash: Cause even that, like that show was hilarious.

[49:29] Carly Hughes: But you were playing yourself, you know?

[49:31] Eli Tokash: It was so fun to watch.

[49:33] Carly Hughes: Yeah, 100%. I because like you were at like the coffee shop with your girls or whatever, and I was like, this is literally Carly and I. Like, this is amazing.

[49:42] Carly Hughes: She's sassy, you know, having fun, telling her jokes.

[49:45] Eli Tokash: Oh, I loved that show so much.

[49:47] Carly Hughes: Oh, thank you.

[49:48] Carly Hughes: Yeah, American Housewives, you know, just chilling.

[49:51] Eli Tokash: It's TV star, no big deal.

[49:53] Carly Hughes: Um, you're so cool.

[49:55] Eli Tokash: Um, I'm glad someone thinks I am.

[49:58] Carly Hughes: Yeah.

[49:59] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. If you ever need a reminder, call me.

[50:02] Carly Hughes: Um, I got you.

[50:04] Eli Tokash: I got your back.

[50:05] Carly Hughes: But uh no, you've had such a wonderful career, and uh it's been it's been cool to talk to you all about it too.

[50:11] Eli Tokash: I love you.

[50:13] Carly Hughes: Sorry it took me so long to like oh my god, like do it.

[50:16] Eli Tokash: Honestly, I could it like couldn't have worked out better because like now you're episode 150, and to me that's like extra special.

[50:24] Carly Hughes: So that's amazing, dude.

[50:26] Eli Tokash: Yeah, literally, thank you.

[50:28] Carly Hughes: Yeah, that's amazing.

[50:30] Eli Tokash: It's so fun. It's it's so cool to you know, it gives me an opportunity to talk to you and like catch up and all the things.

[50:35] Carly Hughes: When do we can't wait to come back for like episode 250?

[50:39] Eli Tokash: Oh, honey, you got it. It's yours.

[50:41] Carly Hughes: It's reserved.

[50:42] Eli Tokash: Um, no, but literally, I love you so much.

[50:45] Carly Hughes: It I gotta ask before you leave though.

[50:47] Carly Hughes: I mean, you're almost at 10 Broadway shows. Like, is there anything that you would want to like?

[50:52] Eli Tokash: Because I see you, you still go into shows and everything, so I know you love it.

[50:55] Carly Hughes: Yeah, would you ever I think now uh like I can't wait to come back but uh but I um I just earned the right to be more specific now yes with but and and I do come back I want it to be for something that I believe in no matter the outcome of like a Tony Award or you know all of that I want it to be for a role that I really just want to do or that is fulfilling in some kind of way because honestly that's the only way you can get through eight shows a week you know that you know I'm just waiting for that moment or that particular role

[50:55] Eli Tokash: Yeah, oh my god well I can't wait I I just need you back in New York I need someone to figure this out uh someone write something and hopefully it fits it all get a one yeah and um it is in her contract that Eli also is like her dressing room buddy or something you know her son whatever it needs to be and if there's a part he gets it

[50:55] Carly Hughes: Yeah, for sure uh weekly dates and all the things I I'm there I've already booked uh I've I've reserved it it's all good we'll figure it out

[50:55] Eli Tokash: Um great glad we're on the same page okay I love you so much thank you for doing this you have so much to take about so proud of you

[50:55] Carly Hughes: Oh my god stop it take about Carly Hughes so cheesy but uh no yes oh my god yes come on but uh thank you so much for doing this and it's so good to see you

[50:55] Eli Tokash: You too and I hope to see you soon

[50:55] Carly Hughes: Yeah, absolutely we need to make it happen for sure

[50:55] Eli Tokash: All right thank you I love much take about Carly Hughes.

[52:31] Carly Hughes: Oh my goodness.

[52:33] Eli Tokash: So excited to have her on.

[52:34] Carly Hughes: So excited to catch up with her.

[52:37] Eli Tokash: She's such a fun uh person, personality, stories galore.

[52:42] Carly Hughes: I I don't know it it's fascinating to hear like literally just a couple weeks ago, two weeks ago, I think now, uh, when Mary Page was on the podcast of our experience in Finding Neverland, and that was kind of like her experience in Pippin and 98% of other Broadway shows, um, as she so put it.

[53:04] Eli Tokash: Um, it was really interesting to hear about that because Mary Page is like, oh my god, no, like Finding Everland was like the only musical that I've ever had that traumatic experience over.

[53:13] Carly Hughes: And you know, Carly came on today and was like, No, that's Broadway.

[53:17] Eli Tokash: Wild to hear about, uh, kind of mind blowing to me because I always thought Pippin was kind of I mean, I knew it was all over the place, but I also was a child, so I didn't know if it was just because I was a child that it was all over the place.

[53:30] Carly Hughes: But it's interesting to to hear her point of view on all of it and the fact that she was doing the double duty, and so she was she had just a very unique um situation and experience with it, uh, which is wild and very, very cool to hear about.

[53:45] Eli Tokash: Um, as well as her stories with Beautiful.

[53:49] Carly Hughes: I mean, that was craziness about the whole Grammy performances.

[53:52] Eli Tokash: She literally just went on to do to sing a song.

[53:56] Carly Hughes: She literally did a split track of her own track.

[53:59] Eli Tokash: I've never heard that before.

[54:00] Carly Hughes: So fun, so fun to talk about all these fun stories.

[54:03] Eli Tokash: Hopefully, y'all enjoyed Carly because she'll be back on the podcast.

[54:07] Carly Hughes: I love her so much.

[54:08] Eli Tokash: Uh, can't wait to see what she's gonna be in next, because you know, it's right around the corner.

[54:13] Carly Hughes: And she's actually, I wanted to shout out Carly is actually a really fun follower because uh fun follow, not follow her, but like if you're on Instagram and whatever, I'm sure y'all are already follow her and love her as much as I do.

[54:26] Eli Tokash: But if not, go to her Instagram page because it's hilarious, because she only posts videos pretty much, and it's just her being her like she was today and having so much fun.

[54:36] Carly Hughes: Usually she's talking about shoes or like little cocktails or coffee or whatever.

[54:42] Eli Tokash: Um she's cooking up, but like literally don't remember the last time she like posted a photo.

[54:46] Carly Hughes: It's just like her, you know, being silly and being her and having fun, and it's so fun.

[54:51] Eli Tokash: But it's literally at Carly Hughes, so go send her some love.

[54:56] Carly Hughes: And Carly huge thank you to you if you're listening for you know hopping on today and uh joining me in episode 150 and being the extra special guest for this week's episode.

[55:09] Eli Tokash: So excited and love you so much.

[55:12] Carly Hughes: But yeah, that's 150, y'all.

[55:14] Eli Tokash: That's just another episode of Take A Bow.

[55:17] Carly Hughes: Um, hoping you all enjoyed it and loved it as much as I did.

[55:20] Eli Tokash: Uh Carly is a treat and has the stories for days.

[55:24] Carly Hughes: I I just gotta keep saying it.

[55:26] Eli Tokash: But yeah, no, thank you all so much for listening to this week's episode.

[55:31] Carly Hughes: Thank you all so much for dealing with my allergies this episode, and uh I can't wait to see you all next week.

[55:38] Eli Tokash: Next week, well actually like upcoming starting like this week and beyond for the next couple weeks, we have some really exciting guests, and we have one of the guests uh is gonna be an in-person guest, so uh that'll be a fun one, and uh maybe one that you definitely want to watch on the YouTube.

[55:59] Carly Hughes: So stay tuned.

[56:00] Eli Tokash: And I can't wait to you know, 150, we hit it, but it's not like we're just stopping there.

[56:06] Carly Hughes: So this is just the beginning still of of Take A Bow.

[56:11] Eli Tokash: And uh I can't wait to for to have you guys along for the rest of the journey.

[56:15] Carly Hughes: And uh can't thank you all enough for following along.

[56:19] Eli Tokash: Shout out to all of you for listening every week, and shout out to those who are patrons of the podcast on Patreon.

[56:27] Carly Hughes: So uh once again, special shout out to you guys and love to all.

[56:31] Eli Tokash: Thanks for listening to this week's episode.

[56:33] Carly Hughes: Hopefully, you guys are um enjoying the weather, enjoying uh allergy seasons as much as you can, just the draining and and popping those Zyrtec or Allegra or whatever you're having.

[56:47] Eli Tokash: And can't wait to see you all next week.

[56:49] Carly Hughes: Bye everyone.

[56:50] Eli Tokash: Have a great week.

[56:53] Carly Hughes: For this episode's current call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow.

[56:58] Eli Tokash: This podcast would not be possible without the help of Dori Barrenstein, Alan Seales, Kimberly Garrett, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

[57:05] Carly Hughes: 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.

[57:16] Eli Tokash: And how about a bow for our executive producer, Chris Greiner?

[57:20] Carly Hughes: And our final bow are extra special to the patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McMara, the listeners at PCC, as well as all of the other patrons for their continued support.

[57:29] Eli Tokash: If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to Patreon.com slash TAB.

[57:34] Carly Hughes: 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.

[57:42] Eli Tokash: You can also subscribe, like, and comment on there as well.

[57:45] Carly Hughes: 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.

[57:52] Eli Tokash: The music of this podcast was made by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinon, and the logo was created by Giselle Bustos.

[57:59] Carly Hughes: And that wraps up this episode's curtain call.

[58:01] Eli Tokash: Thank you all again for listening to this week's episode, and I can't wait to see you next week.

[58:05] Carly Hughes: Bye everyone.

[58:07] Eli Tokash: Have a great week.