This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 169 of Take A Bow.

[0:04] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and this week we have a live episode coming at you all. I'm so excited for it.

[0:10] Eli Tokash: First of all, I just love the live episodes. There's something about it that it's just so much easier, so much more flowy. Um, and then of course, we have some like audience interaction, which is always fun.

[0:21] Eli Tokash: And getting new uh like questions or perspective or just seeing how people are reacting to it in real time is kind of really fun. And um, yeah, so I can't wait to share this with you. It's really with some of my favorite people.

[0:34] Eli Tokash: We have new friend of the pod, Nathan Levy, who was in Dear Evan Hansen, and now he's here in Once Upon a One More Time, and uh Salisha Thomas, who you all know, she we had her on super early on, I want to say, in like the podcast life of Take A Bow.

[0:53] Eli Tokash: Um, and to get her back on and talk to her about this project and talk about being a swing, because I actually think like in her episode that we did with her the first time, she literally is like, shout out to all the swings, because I could never do that in my life, and now she's doing it, so it's really fun to to kind of hear all of this and and the time that's passed and uh talk about this show that's one of the newer shows of the season.

[1:17] Eli Tokash: It literally kicked off this new season that we're in of Broadway post-Tony Awards. Um, so I I loved it. I saw it, and I will say in this episode, there may be a couple spoilers, nothing too crazy.

[1:31] Eli Tokash: Um, so I apologize in advance if you haven't seen it, but hopefully it entices you to see it because I want to go back. I saw it early in the preview process.

[1:40] Eli Tokash: So I want to go back and see it, see what changes the shows made. Um, and then of course, kind of see how the performers themselves have kind of changed their show now that they've played with it, you know, for a longer period of time.

[1:52] Eli Tokash: Because I may have seen it like in their first week or two. Um, and it was Salisha's first time going on. So um, we talk about it, so I won't go too much into it.

[2:01] Eli Tokash: But uh, needless to say, I want to go see it again. So hopefully I'll see you there. Um, and it's at the Marriott Marquis Theater.

[2:07] Eli Tokash: So we literally filmed and recorded this episode literally basically at the theater. It was just like a floor uh above the theater, which was super fun.

[2:17] Eli Tokash: Um, all right. But before we get into that, before we turn it over to those fabulous guests and our chat about the industry and swing life and all of these wonderful things, we've gotta talk some Broadway news because there's been a lot of Broadway news this week and a lot of exciting Broadway news this week.

[2:35] Eli Tokash: So um I'll start out by saying happy opening to The Cottage, which Take A Bow was able to attend the opening night and kind of cover uh that opening and talk to some of the stars of the show and the stars that saw the show and all that good stuff.

[2:52] Eli Tokash: Um it was a little weird though, because like I couldn't say anything in regards to um other projects. So like it was like a interesting red carpet in the sense of like it was you kind of only had to talk about the show, um, and you couldn't really talk about much else.

[3:08] Eli Tokash: Cause I try to be like, oh, what was like SNL? How did that prepare you for this or like whatever? And you can't talk about it because of the SAG-AFTRA strike and all the things.

[3:17] Eli Tokash: So um very interesting stuff and uh a very uh you know TV heavy opening, you know. Like I wanted to be like, oh, um, Jason Alexander, how did your experience directing um all of your TV shows and movies?

[3:34] Eli Tokash: And uh how did that kind of translate to directing a Broadway show? Um, but I couldn't because I couldn't shout that out and due to the SAG strike.

[3:43] Eli Tokash: So it was still super fun, and I'm super glad that I was able to talk to them. Um, but it was just such a such an interesting night, very different from all the others.

[3:51] Eli Tokash: But uh I still can't wait to share that content with you all because it's super funny. These performers are literal characters, so uh you're literally just gonna be laughing the whole time when you see this YouTube video.

[4:02] Eli Tokash: Um okay, so happy opening to The Cottage and happy opening, kind of to Back to the Future. Their official opening is uh August 3rd, but they had like a gala performance on Tuesday, July 25th.

[4:17] Eli Tokash: Um, kind of kicking off their um, I guess they did like uh I don't know, like an exclusive opening night. Uh they did all their red carpet stuff, they had their party, they did their thing.

[4:28] Eli Tokash: Um, so very bizarre uh I don't know the way that they did it, but uh still very exciting. And shout out to the cast of Back to the Future. Happy opening.

[4:38] Eli Tokash: And then of course, you know, as always, with the openings come closings. Uh and uh, you know, I've got something to say about these closings to be honest.

[4:47] Eli Tokash: So it was announced just last week that New York, New York, and Greyhouse will close this Sunday, July 30th, um, which is crazy town.

[4:58] Eli Tokash: Uh they were literally given a week's notice, you know, saying that they're they're out of a job. Like we as an industry need to figure out some sort of system that's that works better for closing shows.

[5:12] Eli Tokash: I mean, I understand from the producer side that they don't want to continue doing shows because they just keep losing money, but at the end of the day, like it's not fair to the actors, the stage hands, the theaters, all all everyone involved who um, you know, you're also employing, and uh you don't you didn't give them enough time to look for a new job or or get back on their feet post um closing.

[5:36] Eli Tokash: So it's just kind of it's not okay, and we need to figure it out as an industry. And I feel like it's happening a little bit more and more, to be honest with you, because you know, Paradise Square obviously had that whole thing.

[5:48] Eli Tokash: Um, and now New York, New York, and Greyhouse, less than uh week's notice, basically. Um, I believe New York, New York was literally a week's notice, and Greyhouse was like a week and change, you know.

[6:00] Eli Tokash: Like, and it's just not it's not fair, but um hopefully we we get that figured out. I don't know how that all works and like who would be the people to figure it out, but uh there's definitely gotta be some sort of better system or a um fund of some sort that the industry has so that a show can give you two to three weeks notice.

[6:23] Eli Tokash: No, not two weeks, they need three to four weeks' notice, um, so that they can kind of put on the show for an extra week or two just to you know allow them to continue auditioning or find a job or whatever it may be, especially during this time in the industry.

[6:38] Eli Tokash: It's just a super hard time in finding um a job, you know, because of all these strikes and these uncertainties uh following our industry right now.

[6:49] Eli Tokash: So um just wanted to come on here and say that. And then, of course, on to more exciting news.

[6:55] Eli Tokash: Um, I'm so I freaked out over this announcement. Like, I'm so excited for it. Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblazada will be starring in The Great Gatsby at Paper Mill Playhouse.

[7:07] Eli Tokash: I'm so excited. Obviously, we knew that Eva Noblazada was gonna be in something. Uh, she was working on some show very soon, which is why she was leaving Hadestown.

[7:17] Eli Tokash: I talked about this a little bit last week. But this is just a dream for any Broadway and theater fan. And then of course it's directed by Mark Bruni, who uh directed me and Trevor.

[7:29] Eli Tokash: So to say I'm excited for this is literally an understatement. But uh just know that I will be at Paper Mill Playhouse maybe every show, not actually because money.

[7:39] Eli Tokash: But um I cannot wait to see the show. I will literally be there as many times as I can be and as early as I can be, because I can't keep waiting.

[7:48] Eli Tokash: The anticipation is killing me. Um but as anyways, uh obviously with Eva leaving Hadestown, we had to find the replacement.

[7:57] Eli Tokash: I mentioned last week we had to get it super soon, considering it's literally right around the corner, three weeks away. Um, and we got our announcement.

[8:05] Eli Tokash: We know who will be replacing Eva Noblazada, and that is Solea Pfeiffer. And that's starting on uh August 15th, which is super exciting.

[8:14] Eli Tokash: We love Solea Pfeiffer Queen, uh voice of an angel. Um, I think she's gonna be a great replacement in this role of Eurydice in Hadestown, I think it's just so you're great.

[8:24] Eli Tokash: Obviously, she um she was just in uh Almost Famous. So uh, you know, rising stars, Solea Pfeiffer here on Broadway.

[8:32] Eli Tokash: So Broadway's leading lady, um, which is super fun. Um, and then uh some more very exciting news, in my opinion.

[8:40] Eli Tokash: And this is exciting news for our industry as a whole, not just like a performer or an audience member or anything like that, but just our industry and as a business and uh hopefully getting producers to invest in more things like this.

[8:53] Eli Tokash: It was announced that How to Dance in Ohio is coming to Broadway on November 15th with an official opening night uh coming on December 10th.

[9:02] Eli Tokash: Uh and that's super exciting because as I said, you know, it had a lot of success in Syracuse at the Syracuse Stage. Um, and then of course it features a neurodiverse cast, which um, you know, we don't see that on Broadway, unfortunately.

[9:17] Eli Tokash: And the fact that there are seven principles in the show, all with different backgrounds and different um disabilities and all the things. It's so refreshing to see this on Broadway and seeing it in the forefront, you know, as leads of the show.

[9:34] Eli Tokash: Um, and I was able to actually meet a couple of the cast members at BroadwayCon this weekend. So, um, and then of course it's directed by Sammy Canald, who we know and love and is one of Broadway's rising female directors, which I'm super excited about.

[9:47] Eli Tokash: Um, so can't wait for this. And this is a huge, huge step for our industry. So um, when it comes to Broadway, November 15th is starting previews, and then December 10th, it's opening.

[9:58] Eli Tokash: Everyone needs to support this show in any capacity that they can to see more stories like this, because these stories are what is needed uh on Broadway.

[10:07] Eli Tokash: These are stories that need to be told. Um, and we as audience members need to hear these stories and hear these perspectives.

[10:13] Eli Tokash: So um, I'm just so excited about this show, and uh, I could talk about it forever. So hopefully we'll do something with one of the cast members soon or with the show or something.

[10:24] Eli Tokash: But uh just to say I'm very excited for that one too. So that's all the Broadway news I have for us this week.

[10:29] Eli Tokash: As I mentioned, personally, I I don't know if you could tell. I'm super excited about all of those announcements.

[10:36] Eli Tokash: Um, and uh it was just a really big week for Broadway. And uh, you know, hopefully we'll we'll keep learning and not close the show a week in advance.

[10:45] Eli Tokash: Um okay, moving on. We're gonna turn it over to our fabulous episode with the stars of Once Upon a One More Time.

[10:53] Eli Tokash: Salisha Thomas and Nathan Levy.

[10:56] Eli Tokash: Salisha Thomas and Nathan Levy, curtain up.

[11:02] Eli Tokash: We're live at BroadwayCon, y'all.

[11:05] Eli Tokash: I'm so excited, yes.

[11:08] Eli Tokash: We are live with literally the backbone and comic relief that you've never rooted harder for in Once Upon a One More Time, one of Broadway's newest musicals of the season.

[11:19] Eli Tokash: Uh, and it's featuring the music of Britney Spears.

[11:22] Eli Tokash: So kind of iconic. Every song is a bop. Um okay, everyone and join me in welcoming to Take A Bow, Salisha Thomas and Nathan Levy.

[11:33] Eli Tokash: Yay! I'm so excited. Thank you guys for being here.

[11:35] Salisha Thomas: I love you, Eli.

[11:37] Nathan Levy: Oh my god, I love you. Are you kidding me? This is gonna be so fun.

[11:40] Salisha Thomas: We have a lot to talk about. We have the show, man.

[11:43] Nathan Levy: This show is bonkers, and literally you feel it from the audience, you know.

[11:48] Salisha Thomas: You're just like, it's non-stop. The energy is top-notch, and y'all do it eight times a week.

[11:54] Nathan Levy: Well craziness. Well, yeah. Swing Salisha.

[11:57] Salisha Thomas: But lately Snowesha, um, which we love and have patterns. Thank you for my bracelet.

[12:03] Nathan Levy: I got my Salisha bracelet on.

[12:06] Salisha Thomas: Oh my god, we have some uh fans of the show in the audience. This is so exciting.

[12:10] Nathan Levy: Um well, talk to me about you know how you guys got involved in the show.

[12:14] Salisha Thomas: I mean, I know you've been in with it since DC, and then yeah, very different journeys.

[12:18] Nathan Levy: Yeah, it came just for Broadway brand brand new. Right.

[12:21] Salisha Thomas: Um, but I know that they had started like in 2017, a long time ago. I wasn't there back then.

[12:25] Nathan Levy: I started like 2020.

[12:27] Salisha Thomas: Oh, okay. Ooh.

[12:28] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[12:28] Salisha Thomas: COVID.

[12:29] Nathan Levy: Thank you.

[12:30] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, yeah. Rehearsals were what? March 3rd, 2020.

[12:34] Nathan Levy: LOL!

[12:35] Salisha Thomas: I know. I feel like you've told me about this show for years.

[12:37] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[12:38] Salisha Thomas: I'm like, do I need to move on? Do I need to like, is this ever gonna happen?

[12:43] Nathan Levy: And it finally came, and you came in right in the clutch.

[12:46] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[12:47] Salisha Thomas: So yeah, tell me your story. How you got involved?

[12:49] Nathan Levy: Go first.

[12:49] Salisha Thomas: Well, it's funny enough, my brother's also a performer, and he did early workshops of this back in like 2018.

[12:56] Nathan Levy: Um, and so that's how I first heard about the show.

[12:58] Salisha Thomas: He did.

[12:59] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[13:00] Salisha Thomas: And I was like, what is this? It didn't make any sense to me.

[13:03] Nathan Levy: Britney Spears musical with fairy tale pieces.

[13:05] Salisha Thomas: And I was like, okay, we'll see how that goes.

[13:07] Nathan Levy: And then um that was my first time hearing about it.

[13:11] Salisha Thomas: And then my teacher from college, I went to Pace, and his name was JD, he's the associate, our associate um director.

[13:20] Nathan Levy: Yeah, he um got me the job somebody.

[13:24] Salisha Thomas: Honestly, yeah.

[13:25] Nathan Levy: So I auditioned in February of this year.

[13:28] Salisha Thomas: So did your brother play Clumsy or no?

[13:30] Nathan Levy: Oh no, not at all.

[13:33] Salisha Thomas: That would be so crazy.

[13:34] Nathan Levy: Oh no, no, no, he did not.

[13:36] Salisha Thomas: Incredible.

[13:37] Nathan Levy: But you do, and you steal the show every time you're on stage.

[13:40] Salisha Thomas: You really are a great Clumsy.

[13:42] Nathan Levy: I feel like when we had our first like the first cast that at least that when I was there, you see the cast, you like you fall in love with whoever you see first, you know.

[13:50] Salisha Thomas: And sometimes it can be hard to envision anybody else in those roles, and I and as a swing, I know that too.

[13:56] Nathan Levy: I'm like, oh man, if anybody sees this person, they're not gonna want to see me.

[14:01] Salisha Thomas: Like sometimes I feel like that, but seeing Nathan, you playing Clumsy, it's really fun.

[14:06] Nathan Levy: Like before you was Raymond J. Lee, who's in Sweeney Todd right now, he's fantastic.

[14:11] Nathan Levy: And he was a great Clumsy.

[14:13] Salisha Thomas: And your version of Clumsy is so, it's so different and so it's so beautiful and so uniquely you and it's so good.

[14:23] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[14:24] Nathan Levy: It's so it's it seems so natural.

[14:26] Salisha Thomas: Like I wanted to ask you, like, as an audience member and like a performer who's in the audience, like you can tell the work that's been done.

[14:33] Nathan Levy: I mean, you have a walk, you have a talk, the way that you react things.

[14:37] Salisha Thomas: Like, how do you prepare for a role like that? Are you watching Cartoon Dwarfs?

[14:40] Nathan Levy: Like, how's that working?

[14:43] Nathan Levy: Literally, yes.

[14:44] Nathan Levy: I love it.

[14:53] Salisha Thomas: It was a lot of imposter syndrome this first few days of coming into something that seemed already so set, and everyone else knew it, and I was like, how am I gonna do this?

[15:04] Nathan Levy: And we're two very different people too, you know.

[15:08] Salisha Thomas: Like he's taller, we're just different. So I was like, okay, what am I gonna do? Um I did Google clips of the Smurfs.

[15:18] Nathan Levy: The animated Smurfs, truly, just to get like the physical comedy.

[15:22] Salisha Thomas: I'm obsessed. You go the Smurfs.

[15:24] Nathan Levy: I Googled the Smurfs.

[15:25] Salisha Thomas: Not even Clumsy.

[15:26] Nathan Levy: I also clumsy.

[15:28] Salisha Thomas: Okay, okay, great. I was gonna say you have a clumsy was first, and then I needed all something else.

[15:32] Nathan Levy: Well, wait a hold up. I'm gonna challenge you. Is Clumsy even one of the seven dwarfs?

[15:36] Salisha Thomas: Yes.

[15:36] Nathan Levy: He is not.

[15:37] Salisha Thomas: What?

[15:38] Nathan Levy: No.

[15:39] Salisha Thomas: No.

[15:39] Nathan Levy: Thank you. Thank you for those who know.

[15:42] Salisha Thomas: Clumsy and Erudite, my love interest in the show. We are both like the only really new made-up characters in the fairy tale world, which is crazy.

[15:52] Nathan Levy: Happy, dot, I can't count.

[15:55] Salisha Thomas: Sleepy.

[15:55] Nathan Levy: Oh, oh I don't know.

[15:56] Salisha Thomas: Sneezy, I don't know.

[15:58] Nathan Levy: Bashful.

[15:59] Salisha Thomas: Dopey, dopey and grumpy.

[16:01] Nathan Levy: Oh, so there's Ankle Dwarves.

[16:05] Salisha Thomas: Wow.

[16:06] Nathan Levy: Yeah, yeah.

[16:06] Salisha Thomas: So I'm the eighth made-up dwarf.

[16:08] Nathan Levy: That's great.

[16:09] Salisha Thomas: You've heard of the Grims, maybe.

[16:11] Nathan Levy: Maybe.

[16:12] Salisha Thomas: Like the original, maybe?

[16:13] Nathan Levy: I don't think so.

[16:14] Salisha Thomas: I think it was just because the Britney song Clumsy.

[16:16] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[16:17] Salisha Thomas: Name Clumsy. But yeah, so it was cool to like discover the physicality and like how can you be clumsy and fall eight times a week without actually hurting yourself?

[16:27] Nathan Levy: Right.

[16:28] Salisha Thomas: It's an ongoing journey.

[16:30] Nathan Levy: I'm sure you still do hurt yourself.

[16:33] Salisha Thomas: I'm literally covered in bruises and I'm not falling off.

[16:37] Nathan Levy: Well, we fall a little together in our duel.

[16:39] Salisha Thomas: A little bit.

[16:40] Nathan Levy: It's so cute.

[16:41] Salisha Thomas: So I saw the show. I saw the first time she played Snow White.

[16:45] Nathan Levy: She says that she's like, it's come a long way.

[16:48] Salisha Thomas: Give me a break. That first show, it seemed like she was playing the role for years.

[16:52] Nathan Levy: It was incredible.

[16:53] Salisha Thomas: I love it.

[16:54] Nathan Levy: Yeah, no, I'm serious. And then like the two of you guys' chemistry, like together for the first time going on.

[17:00] Salisha Thomas: I was kind of like, my god, like it's already there.

[17:03] Nathan Levy: Like you guys can tell how much fun you guys are having together on stage.

[17:07] Salisha Thomas: Our guest loves each other.

[17:08] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[17:08] Salisha Thomas: She makes it easy.

[17:10] Nathan Levy: You make it easy if I don't know where my hand's supposed to go.

[17:12] Salisha Thomas: You're like, I got you.

[17:13] Nathan Levy: I got you.

[17:14] Salisha Thomas: I got you.

[17:16] Nathan Levy: We shove with love.

[17:17] Salisha Thomas: We said.

[17:18] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[17:19] Salisha Thomas: Absolutely.

[17:19] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[17:21] Salisha Thomas: No, thank you for saying that. I definitely felt like the first time I went on for snow.

[17:25] Nathan Levy: What did I have? Maybe a day.

[17:27] Salisha Thomas: Snowden.

[17:28] Nathan Levy: No put in, no nothing.

[17:30] Salisha Thomas: No, and I did it in the rehearsal studio, but the studio is completely different than the theater.

[17:38] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[17:38] Salisha Thomas: For so many reasons. Like, you can't, you can see everything in the studio.

[17:42] Nathan Levy: You can't see the backstage traffic.

[17:44] Salisha Thomas: You can't, there's just technical things that are so different.

[17:47] Nathan Levy: And then also on stage things that have changed.

[17:49] Salisha Thomas: Spacing, lines, everything.

[17:52] Nathan Levy: And so that first time I went on, I just was like, I don't want to drop any lines.

[17:57] Salisha Thomas: I want everybody around me to be able to do their show.

[18:00] Nathan Levy: Right.

[18:01] Salisha Thomas: And so I was, and so thank you. You were there in the audience, and it went.

[18:05] Nathan Levy: Like it went.

[18:07] Salisha Thomas: But now I'm able to like breathe and have fun and like not be a brick wall behind my eyes.

[18:14] Nathan Levy: You gotta make it your own, you know?

[18:16] Salisha Thomas: Yes, I was thinking nobody knows this, except for Lauren Zagren.

[18:21] Nathan Levy: But like now, when we go on, there is a part at the end of Act O.

[18:26] Salisha Thomas: This is so stupid. Where like OFG comes out and the princesses are like, ah, who is she before they know that she's OFG, and we all run and hide, and I hide behind Lauren's skirt, and when we're in the skirt, we look at each other like this.

[18:42] Nathan Levy: Oh my god.

[18:43] Salisha Thomas: It's so dumb. But like I wouldn't be able to be that present the first couple times, but now we can play.

[18:51] Nathan Levy: Right.

[18:52] Salisha Thomas: Plus the first time you went on was during previews, right?

[18:55] Nathan Levy: Right.

[18:56] Salisha Thomas: So even in the show, it's not like you were stepping into a show that was set, it's like everyone was still figuring out what things were doing.

[19:03] Nathan Levy: On top of going on for your first time.

[19:06] Salisha Thomas: But she did it with Grace.

[19:07] Nathan Levy: Oh, yeah.

[19:08] Salisha Thomas: She's but for both of you, I mean, this has been a learning curve.

[19:11] Nathan Levy: I mean, this is both of your guys' first time originating a show on Broadway.

[19:15] Salisha Thomas: And so this is the first time you guys are kind of going through that tech preview, etc. process, doing the press and all the things on top of it outside the theater.

[19:24] Nathan Levy: How is that? Like, what has this process of this show kind of taught you as an actor and about the industry?

[19:35] Salisha Thomas: Ask for what you need for real.

[19:39] Nathan Levy: Which is hard for I know myself and other people are a little less confrontational, and it's hard to ask, but when you're in this process, and there's so many different departments, they are not always thinking about the little details that you might need.

[19:54] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[19:54] Nathan Levy: Um for previews and tech and all of that, like it's hard to ask for what you need.

[20:00] Salisha Thomas: That's scary stuff.

[20:01] Nathan Levy: It's hard, but you have to.

[20:02] Salisha Thomas: You have to. Otherwise, when you're in the routine of eight shows a week and you're beating yourself up thinking, oh gosh, I didn't ask for them to turn me up here in the mics, or I didn't ask for the lighting to be changed, or maybe we'd change his choreography to be a little bit easier, like on the body.

[20:17] Nathan Levy: Right.

[20:18] Salisha Thomas: The body, that's a thing. I feel like the show is kind of hard on the body, and I'm learning like to really pace myself.

[20:25] Nathan Levy: It's one thing if I'm on for a character that doesn't have any solos, or a character that does a lot of dancing, but like I don't know who I'm gonna be on for most of the time.

[20:35] Salisha Thomas: So I'm learning to pace myself and also in the ask for what you need thing, like if it's my first time on in a role, I realize that all the departments are kind of I don't want to use the word scrambling, but they're everyone is like, we need you to have a fitting for your clothes, we need you to have a fitting for your hair, we need you to have a spacing rehearsal.

[20:58] Nathan Levy: But also, like, I need to make sure I know where I'm going and my lines.

[21:04] Salisha Thomas: So if I find out that I'm gonna be on for a role before I'm in the building, I will hide before stepping in the building.

[21:11] Nathan Levy: Because once I'm in the building, everyone's like, I need you, I need you.

[21:14] Salisha Thomas: I'm like, but don't I need me?

[21:17] Nathan Levy: I need a second.

[21:18] Salisha Thomas: It's great if I go on stage looking great, but if I don't know what I'm supposed to say, that is so to really have my boundaries, because everyone is going to ask for what they need from you.

[21:32] Nathan Levy: You gotta make sure you have what you need too so that you're not just in a scene being like, I have no idea where to go next.

[21:40] Salisha Thomas: That is not a good feeling.

[21:41] Nathan Levy: That has not happened here, but it did happen once in DC.

[21:47] Salisha Thomas: I don't know.

[21:48] Nathan Levy: But that was a mid-show swing on in our cast was so you weren't there, right?

[21:52] Salisha Thomas: No.

[21:53] Nathan Levy: It was so gracious, it was truly everyone was holding my hand.

[21:56] Salisha Thomas: Didn't you just do a mid-show swing?

[21:58] Nathan Levy: Yes.

[21:59] Salisha Thomas: Yes.

[22:00] Nathan Levy: Craziness.

[22:01] Salisha Thomas: Crazy.

[22:02] Nathan Levy: Yes, that was two weeks ago.

[22:04] Salisha Thomas: Um it was a Thursday, and it was first Snow White, Snow Lee Sha.

[22:09] Nathan Levy: Snow.

[22:10] Salisha Thomas: And um I was in the dressing room.

[22:13] Nathan Levy: I'd been on for quite a bit, I feel, and I finally had a show off.

[22:17] Salisha Thomas: And I was in the dressing room, I posted about this, I'm like hanging out. I'm gonna buy my stationery, this show, had my afro out.

[22:24] Nathan Levy: Yeah, and I get a text in the middle of act one saying maybe put pin curls in.

[22:32] Salisha Thomas: She's gonna check in after brightest morning star.

[22:36] Nathan Levy: And I'm like, okay, this has happened to me before and they didn't need me.

[22:40] Salisha Thomas: But I'll just play along.

[22:42] Nathan Levy: Play along.

[22:43] Salisha Thomas: Right?

[22:43] Nathan Levy: Oh my god, stop doing it right now.

[22:46] Salisha Thomas: We're not doing it.

[22:46] Nathan Levy: It's like a barbecue potluck day or something.

[22:48] Salisha Thomas: Like we ate something.

[22:51] Nathan Levy: We had chili cheese dogs.

[22:53] Salisha Thomas: Stop.

[22:53] Nathan Levy: Yes, we did.

[22:54] Salisha Thomas: And um, long story short, I will say, between the texts of maybe get into paint curls, it was seven minutes before I was on stage.

[23:03] Nathan Levy: As the role in full costume, hair, microphone.

[23:08] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[23:08] Nathan Levy: And you just see every audience member's head go.

[23:12] Salisha Thomas: Including some of the cast.

[23:14] Nathan Levy: I was just gonna say, were you thrown off guard?

[23:16] Salisha Thomas: Like we're doing a little, but some people didn't get the memo because.

[23:20] Nathan Levy: We're talking like a matter of like four minutes, all of this was happening.

[23:23] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[23:23] Nathan Levy: And so by the time she actually ran on stage, we're all behind her, and we all were like, wait.

[23:28] Salisha Thomas: Riga looked at me like you ready for this?

[23:32] Nathan Levy: We're gonna do this.

[23:33] Salisha Thomas: I'm like, oh my gosh.

[23:35] Nathan Levy: So then how does it how like how does that affect something like you who obviously interacts with Snow White a lot?

[23:44] Salisha Thomas: No kidding.

[23:45] Nathan Levy: I mean, the ball, the way the ball sort of goes, everyone's like on their own sort of marathon sprint.

[23:50] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[23:51] Nathan Levy: And then once that finishes, um, we have a quick change off stage to get ready for that scene before our duet.

[23:57] Salisha Thomas: It's Snow White's like big song.

[23:58] Nathan Levy: Right.

[23:59] Salisha Thomas: It's the big mind, I was like, she'll leave after the song.

[24:03] Nathan Levy: Stop it.

[24:04] Salisha Thomas: I've got time.

[24:05] Nathan Levy: I don't need a warm.

[24:07] Salisha Thomas: Oh.

[24:11] Nathan Levy: She's literally running down the staircase, like, hey!

[24:15] Salisha Thomas: Screaming.

[24:16] Nathan Levy: It's crazy.

[24:17] Salisha Thomas: Is it crazy?

[24:18] Nathan Levy: I'm like, she ain't got a voice.

[24:19] Salisha Thomas: Do I?

[24:20] Nathan Levy: Do we have to do that?

[24:21] Salisha Thomas: Was she warm?

[24:22] Nathan Levy: She's warm.

[24:22] Salisha Thomas: Is she warm?

[24:24] Nathan Levy: She's always warm.

[24:25] Salisha Thomas: I love it.

[24:25] Nathan Levy: Oh, always.

[24:27] Salisha Thomas: The way she laughs, the way she talks, it's warm.

[24:29] Nathan Levy: It's warm.

[24:29] Salisha Thomas: It's from the second she wakes up.

[24:33] Nathan Levy: She's a professional, guys.

[24:35] Salisha Thomas: She's a professional.

[24:36] Nathan Levy: That's mandate.

[24:38] Salisha Thomas: Oh, yeah.

[24:39] Nathan Levy: We got one coming up.

[24:41] Salisha Thomas: Yes, we got to.

[24:42] Nathan Levy: Oh, yeah.

[24:43] Salisha Thomas: And we're doing this like what, three hours before not even three hours before your shows?

[24:48] Nathan Levy: So crazy time.

[24:49] Salisha Thomas: And I appreciate your guys' time.

[24:51] Nathan Levy: Of course.

[24:52] Salisha Thomas: Speaking of these early times with these shows and everything, I know you just went to GMA.

[24:57] Nathan Levy: Oh bongers.

[25:00] Salisha Thomas: First of all, 4 a.m.

[25:02] Nathan Levy: Yes.

[25:03] Salisha Thomas: Oh my god.

[25:04] Nathan Levy: And that was what?

[25:06] Salisha Thomas: Time you had to wake up or what time you had to be there?

[25:07] Nathan Levy: Uh that was the time I woke up and we had to be there at 5 or a little before 5.

[25:12] Salisha Thomas: But the whole thing was from 5 a.m. to probably like 11, 11:30.

[25:19] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[25:19] Salisha Thomas: And then we went home, tried to nap, and then went back for the show at 7.

[25:25] Nathan Levy: So, real talk.

[25:26] Salisha Thomas: Like, how did like first of all, you did the hardest number on GMA.

[25:32] Nathan Levy: I want to hear about this too.

[25:34] Salisha Thomas: I wasn't there.

[25:34] Nathan Levy: Like, how do you warm up the body, the voice, all the things at 4 a.m.?

[25:38] Salisha Thomas: Did you go to sleep?

[25:39] Nathan Levy: Like.

[25:40] Salisha Thomas: Did you have to do it over and over again?

[25:41] Nathan Levy: We did it over and over again for camera blocking rehearsals and then audio and then more camera blocking rehearsals.

[25:48] Salisha Thomas: Full out every time, too sh, right?

[25:50] Nathan Levy: Full out every time.

[25:51] Salisha Thomas: Luckily, we didn't have to worry so much vocally for circus.

[25:55] Nathan Levy: Um, but we did do crazy later in the day, and that one we did have to say.

[25:59] Salisha Thomas: Oh my god.

[25:59] Nathan Levy: Um, but physically, yeah, it was rough.

[26:03] Salisha Thomas: It was also so hot and sweaty and in the middle of Times Square.

[26:12] Nathan Levy: Is it that hot?

[26:12] Salisha Thomas: But everyone said they're like, oh, it's gonna be so hot.

[26:14] Nathan Levy: I'm like, no, it'll be early in the morning.

[26:16] Salisha Thomas: And then we have the butterfly like show fans that the fans had, and we were like, can we borrow them to fan ourselves?

[26:24] Nathan Levy: It was, it was rough, but then we actually did it once live at like 8:45.

[26:30] Salisha Thomas: And then had another break to rush into air conditioning, and then went back to do the same process of camera blocking for crazy around one.

[26:40] Nathan Levy: Oh my god.

[26:42] Salisha Thomas: It was amazing.

[26:43] Nathan Levy: It was literally like a dream.

[26:44] Salisha Thomas: We went back to that night show and we're like, is it Thursday?

[26:49] Nathan Levy: Yeah, instead of a 7 p.m. show a 7 a.m.

[26:51] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, literally, it was crazy.

[26:53] Nathan Levy: But it was really fun.

[26:54] Salisha Thomas: It looks so good.

[26:55] Nathan Levy: I was watching from home because they didn't need me that morning.

[26:58] Salisha Thomas: I was like, Thank the Lord.

[27:00] Nathan Levy: I'm turning my phone off, you guys.

[27:02] Salisha Thomas: Are you sure?

[27:04] Nathan Levy: You told me because once I'm not gonna get the call.

[27:07] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, exactly.

[27:08] Nathan Levy: Um, but I watched that morning and it I was watching like a mom, like, are the lights?

[27:15] Salisha Thomas: Are they good?

[27:15] Nathan Levy: Is everyone okay?

[27:17] Salisha Thomas: I'm like, oh wait, it's okay, wait, it's going well.

[27:20] Nathan Levy: And then on the other end, we were taking, did it look good?

[27:22] Salisha Thomas: Did it look good?

[27:23] Nathan Levy: Did we look good?

[27:24] Salisha Thomas: And everyone who wasn't in the number was like, Yes, you guys killed us.

[27:28] Nathan Levy: Oh, I love it.

[27:29] Salisha Thomas: It was so good.

[27:30] Nathan Levy: Something to be proud of.

[27:32] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[27:32] Nathan Levy: And it's all the things that come kind of going back to like originating a role.

[27:36] Salisha Thomas: Like, it's just so many things that people kind of don't realize or understand what comes with that.

[27:42] Nathan Levy: And not only like creating a character from scratch and doing like your work and finding the show.

[27:48] Salisha Thomas: It's like it's craziness.

[27:50] Nathan Levy: And then you have to do all of that in these early mornings on late night, you know, you guys get out of the show and then you can do it.

[27:55] Salisha Thomas: One thing about Broadway that I'm like trying to figure out like the balance, yeah, is you gotta show up every day, healthy, and able to do your show, but then you also like you wanna do the stage door, you wanna meet people who want to meet you, who are waiting for all this money to see you.

[28:16] Nathan Levy: Yes, you wanna do the interviews, you wanna hang out with the friends in town, you wanna do all the things, but also you gotta get rest too.

[28:27] Salisha Thomas: So the balance, it's not like filming a movie.

[28:30] Nathan Levy: You did the work in your own bubble, and then when it comes out, you can party and do whatever you want, because the work is done.

[28:37] Salisha Thomas: It's like, right, no, I have to actually do it again tomorrow.

[28:41] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[28:41] Salisha Thomas: So that is what I'm learning and balancing right now of like, how can I show up for these things and still show up for the show?

[28:50] Nathan Levy: Yeah, and especially with the preview process.

[28:52] Salisha Thomas: I mean, we had 42 previews, I think.

[28:55] Nathan Levy: Like it was a long, long time.

[28:57] Salisha Thomas: So that's I mean, y'all need an all 42.

[29:00] Nathan Levy: Y'all are still changing again.

[29:02] Salisha Thomas: All five weeks of waking up were there at 12 to 5, and then 12 to 5, it felt like longer than I was.

[29:09] Nathan Levy: I know it did.

[29:10] Salisha Thomas: Sometimes it was, sometimes it would come in earlier to stay later.

[29:14] Nathan Levy: Fit, yeah, all of that, and then do the show at night every single day.

[29:18] Salisha Thomas: So thank God we're past that process.

[29:20] Nathan Levy: But even then, we're still, I mean, understudy rehearsals are still happening during the day.

[29:25] Salisha Thomas: So finding that balance, like you said, is really I love understated rehearsals, though.

[29:30] Nathan Levy: Listen, I've been asking for it since the beginning.

[29:33] Salisha Thomas: There's nothing like being thrown on for a role that you have not rehearsed.

[29:37] Nathan Levy: There's nothing like being on stage in a role where you're saying the lines the first time with the cast for the first time with an audience.

[29:43] Nathan Levy: Yeah. Listen, I'm not an adrenaline junkie. That is jumping out of an airplane. Right. I'm like, oh my god, somebody just pushed me out of the plane, and I don't have a choice. We make it happen, we do the free fall, and we do the show, but rehearsal feels good for the mind. Like it's fun. It's good to be able to see everyone else's, you know.

[30:05] Salisha Thomas: Yes. Like we're just playing.

[30:06] Nathan Levy: Yes, totally. Yeah, so rehearsals is like, oh man, I would like to have this Thursday and this Friday free. But also would love a run out of work. If I need to go on repuzzle, on for repuzzle. At least I've touched it.

[30:19] Salisha Thomas: Right.

[30:22] Nathan Levy: So the first time I'm saying the words, I'm not doing a caricature of what I'm hearing.

[30:28] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, before.

[30:29] Nathan Levy: Yeah. Do you guys do themed understudy rehearsals?

[30:34] Salisha Thomas: So on Neverland, we did like other like different weeks, you'd have different themes. So like one week it would be like Disney theme, like when we'd come in like Halloween costumes of Disney characters, or onesie rehearsals, onesie understudy rehearsals, or even for the puddings, we'd do it. We would just have so much and you would dress up. We were rehearsing every day in Fighting Neverland. And I swear to God, I kid you not, I think it's a thing with shows. How many people have seen Once Upon a One More Time in the room? Okay, amazing. So I'm not spoiling anything. I swear to God, it's got something to do with shows that have glitter tornadoes in the fucking show. Because there's V Romus and non-stop and everything's going wrong, and there's rehearsals nonstop. I swear to God, I don't understand what it is. But um, you know, we try to have fun with it as much as we could since we were basically moving at the theater.

[31:25] Nathan Levy: Let her know.

[31:26] Salisha Thomas: Oh, we've not had any themed rehearsals. I've not even thought of that.

[31:30] Nathan Levy: Oh my god.

[31:31] Salisha Thomas: Everyone's just like, okay, you have your cappuccino. One thing at a time. It'll come, I'm sure.

[31:37] Nathan Levy: Sure. I love it. Oh my god, madness.

[31:40] Salisha Thomas: It's madness.

[31:42] Nathan Levy: It's who wants to finish it. It's bad. I love it. It's crazy. I've never said bitch more times in my whole life. And they always say, Oh, is it safe for kids to come? I'm like, well, we say bitch. Like 75 times. Like 85 times. 85,000 times. My mom's like, are you singing that bitch song to our church family comes? I literally thought about your dad seeing the show, and I was like, how is he gonna do it this? Literally, my feature line is it's Batney bitch. Bitch. Hey, church family.

[32:21] Salisha Thomas: But it's sweet that we have two little girls in the show, and their dressing room is next to us, and they always replace it with sis.

[32:27] Nathan Levy: Oh my god. Good. That's good.

[32:30] Salisha Thomas: What is that? Like, how is that? Like, you're kinda in a fairy tale show and you're performing with kids. Does it kind of like remind you to like you know?

[32:39] Nathan Levy: Every single minute. Love them. Yeah. Their names are Mila and Bella. I love those little girls so much.

[32:48] Salisha Thomas: They are the cutest.

[32:49] Nathan Levy: Are so cute. And it, I stop, I'm sorry, but I stop acting when they're on stage. I'm just like. In the final scene, the last like 10 minutes. As they walk across, I'm like, hi! And Bella goes, I can't wait back to you because I'm in character.

[33:09] Salisha Thomas: I love it. They're so just, and they're like, do you want snacks? I can't have gummies because I have cavities.

[33:18] Nathan Levy: Oh, you're gonna lose those things soon. All of them teeth. I love them so much. Yeah. Every day they're like, who are you to date? I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. We're gonna find out together.

[33:36] Salisha Thomas: So you wanna go look at the culture. Or Bella, right? Or Bella, the um, yeah, one of the little girls, she'll say, like, oh, I'm so proud of you. And she says it as if her mom is saying, yeah. I see what kind of home she comes from. She's like, You're doing so good. I'm so proud of you.

[33:54] Nathan Levy: I'm like, what is this voice? I love it.

[33:57] Salisha Thomas: Oh my god. So sweet. They're cutest. I saw them outside the stage door when I saw the show. And they were just eating it up.

[34:03] Nathan Levy: Oh, okay. They were like, Oh, you want my honograph? Yeah, sure. They're like you, little Broadway babies. First time we, like my opening night on Broadway in Beautiful, he was there. We went to Glasshouse. Eli was a child. A child at glass house. An actual child. He walks in, and the bartenders are like, Eli! I'm like, You're fourteen. They're like, what can I get you? I'm like, how do you how does how do the bartenders know you? These little girls are like that. They're little Broadway babies, just like grow up. They're stars.

[34:34] Salisha Thomas: Oh, yeah, 100%. They're stars. I know. And I forgot, like, Mila, the little black girl, she's like, I can't wait until you're my Cinderella.

[34:45] Nathan Levy: Oh. And in that moment, I was like, oh, I forgot I play Cinderella. Oh that's gonna happen one day. That's the first thought. I can't wait to make it bye.

[35:05] Salisha Thomas: Do you what do you do you understudy a role in the show too?

[35:08] Nathan Levy: None. So okay. Good for you. So you don't have to do the understudy rehearsals or anything?

[35:12] Salisha Thomas: No, I got lucky, but my last show I did, I understudio. Yeah. So that was a very different. I was in those understudy rehearsals. Some were themed now that I'm thinking back on that. It happens. It's the music box, too. Pippin did that a lot. It's in the book, for sure.

[35:27] Nathan Levy: I love it. This guy says, my last show that I did, as if none of us have ever heard of Dervin Hanson. You can flaunt it. It's okay. We love it. Incredible.

[35:40] Salisha Thomas: Oh, I mean, the first day of rehearsal, I showed up and was meeting everyone. I was so nervous, and I met Justin Gorini or Prince Charming. Oh. And he was like, oh my gosh, I saw you in Evan Hansen. You went on as Evan. And I was like, oh no, you're thinking of Jordan Fisher, probably.

[35:47] Nathan Levy: Oh yeah.

[35:47] Salisha Thomas: And he was like, no, it was you. And I was like, oh, are you sure? And he was like, yes, you were amazing. I was like, wow, oh my gosh. Like he really did see me. Isn't that crazy?

[36:03] Nathan Levy: Yeah. But just by coincidence, I was on the day he was there.

[36:07] Salisha Thomas: That is that is cool.

[36:08] Nathan Levy: Yeah. I love that. I love Justin too, by the way. He's really cool.

[36:11] Salisha Thomas: Justin is the coolest.

[36:12] Nathan Levy: And he's brilliant in the show.

[36:15] Salisha Thomas: And charming.

[36:16] Nathan Levy: Oh, charming. He's charming in real life.

[36:19] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, it is. He really is. Like he's not acting. But like, what is it like do when someone of Justin and uh Briga even and um the woman who plays OFG who plays?

[36:31] Nathan Levy: Oh, Brooke.

[36:32] Salisha Thomas: Brooke Dylan. I mean, I know she's making her Broadway debut, but she's like an icon. So like, what does it mean to have like those people kind of in the show kind of leading the way?

[36:40] Nathan Levy: Not to mention Jennifer Smart.

[36:41] Salisha Thomas: Oh yeah, holy. The leader of the cast. She yesterday she said um before five minutes to places, I like walk past her and put my water bottle down, and we always have a moment, and she just said, Nathan, you're a very good dancer, on top of being a great comedian. And I was like, I'm getting that tattooed. I'm getting it tomorrow. She's truly the best.

[37:04] Nathan Levy: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Can I get that on? Can I can you just say that one more?

[37:08] Salisha Thomas: Samard is the definition of a Broadway professional legend. She is the first one to places every single day. She is so consistent. Every her acting, her singing, she's consistent across the board, stops the show every day across the board. It can be the quietest matinee and toxic will pop every single time. And it's cool to see her in those matinee shows or where we would just want to maybe speed through stuff. Like our night shows are lit. Sometimes the matinees are like, oh wake up, everybody. But it's cool to see her even in those scenes still give the same beats, but just twist it a little differently, depending on what the audience is giving her. Very so subtle. She's very present, very kind. It is so cool. And no ego. She'll do anything and she'll commit to a bit so hard and so funny. But then if it's not working, she throws it away. It's like nothing. It's great. Incredible.

[38:06] Nathan Levy: Yeah, she said to me, she's like, I was like, how do you like make such big choices? Like we were in when we were in rehearsals and previews and stuff. She goes, I'm not afraid to fail. You know, just have fun, like it's a play. And that is tough to learn.

[38:22] Salisha Thomas: It is tough to learn.

[38:23] Nathan Levy: And when I was on, like for Betany being one of her daughters, I'm like, I really want to get it right because I don't want to mess up her show. It's very important to me that she has a nice consistent show, and I don't want to be the one to mess it up or anything like that. And she like came up to me one day, she was like, like wiping off my arms. I was like, what are you doing? She was like just wiping off that perfectionism off of you. Just like stop trying to be perfect. Like let it go. Just have fun. And don't worry about me or anybody. Just like just wipe that off and just go and just be. I'm like, oh.

[39:03] Salisha Thomas: Whatever you say, Jenny.

[39:06] Nathan Levy: Whatever you say. Sure. I love it. It's smart. Yeah. They really do. Like our leads, they really do lead the way. Every single person.

[39:19] Salisha Thomas: Oh. Yeah. Yeah. That's so important.

[39:23] Nathan Levy: Yeah, you can see it on stage. I mean, you really can. As audience members, you just tell that y'all are having fun. Like it's hard, but it's the most fun I think I've ever had performing ever. It's special.

[39:35] Salisha Thomas: It's really special. It's a party.

[39:37] Nathan Levy: It is a party. Because it's Bop after Bop, y'all. Like, and everyone knows it. Like the people in the audience are like singing along with you.

[39:47] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. Like, do you guys welcome all the ooze and the ahs.

[39:50] Nathan Levy: Oh, we love it. We've got things like this. Always so quick change just to hear them. It's so bracelets, you know, like you feel like you're in a nightclub.

[40:03] Salisha Thomas: I enjoy the mega mix.

[40:04] Nathan Levy: But make a mix, I'm like, I got for the show again. I did it. Now I can just have fun.

[40:10] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, exactly. Just have fun.

[40:12] Nathan Levy: Do y'all have a favorite Britney song?

[40:14] Salisha Thomas: Gimme gimme more.

[40:16] Nathan Levy: Give me more. Yeah. In the show, I like the opening number.

[40:20] Salisha Thomas: Oh, wait. You mean in general or in the show?

[40:22] Nathan Levy: Either one, however, you want to interpret it.

[40:25] Salisha Thomas: My favorite, I think in general is give me more, but in the show, toxic.

[40:29] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[40:31] Salisha Thomas: It's so good. Yeah. I think in real life, I like that one.

[40:40] Nathan Levy: I don't even know the words.

[40:41] Salisha Thomas: But her favorite song. I love it. I do love that song though. I was listening on the treadmill before I met Andrew. I was like, I need a I need man who knows how to take care of me. I'm so nung. That's all. I don't know how it goes. Now she has her man and she forgot the words. She's like, screw this, I'll meet there's no more. It's on my be a badass playlist. I can't wait for that.

[41:09] Nathan Levy: And you like the opening number?

[41:11] Salisha Thomas: I do. Yeah, yeah. I like the opening number because I feel like I don't know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It feels we really do start and it's just boom, boom, boom. Because you meet every character and then we finish with a loud boom and it's a little bit more. It feels exciting. Like the anticipation of the audience, and also like if I'm going on for a new role, it'll feel like okay, are we doing this? And it's like we're starting, there's no turning back. Like I have to go in line with everybody. Literally. And this is it. And the very first time I was on for Snow White, I remember not remembering who I was. And running on the stage and then looking down and seeing that I have the Snow White costume on.

And then the narrator saying, Snow White! I'm like, oh baby. And I forgot it was a musical. And that was that's the show that you saw. I was like, stop. I got my hair on, I got my costume. I have not warmed up. Stop it! Get out of here. I didn't have any time for me. Everybody was pulling every like I was being pulled from every, and I just forgot. It was in that moment, right when the lights came up, and it was I started the show. Right. Like, oh. You better work. You have to worry. And also, never again am I going to let that happen. Now I'm like, if my door is shut, I'm like, I put the sign on the door, I'm napping, even though I don't I wish there was another show that says uh another sign on the door on the dressing room door that I could say warming up. Yeah, do not stir. Napping, but she's wailing.

[42:54] Nathan Levy: Yeah. Right. I love it. I love you. You're so funny. I've got to ask you, because you guys are talking about giving more, and obviously that was like a huge like TikTok trend and everything, uh, with the dancing and stuff like that. But your guys' dancing is just like, it's unreal.

[43:12] Salisha Thomas: Oh, we're we're trying to keep up with those dancer dancers. Those dancers are insane. I mean, fli they're like circus performers low-key. Like they're just doing flips. A guy who's done Beyoncé concerts, Ariana Grande concert, no eyelid. They're like legit. Oh, they're like concert dancers. So you think you can dance.

[43:32] Nathan Levy: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, but you think you can dance. This show's like, they have been on it. Like, Josh was on Bay Chella. Oh, wow. Like, they're dancer dancers. It's really cool too to see like people like Jen Samar, Justin Guarini, these dancers. Everyone has such a different training. Yeah. They're all bringing so many different talents to the show, which also I think what makes the opening so exciting. It's because you're seeing all these different talents. Yeah. And it feels really, really special because we teach them and they teach us. And there's a lot of learning that we can do from everyone. And the way they staged it, Keoni and Mari, Madrid, our choreographer directors. They stage it in a way to where it feels inclusive in the terms of there are some really great dancers in this show, and there are people who are movers, and there are people who don't really dance.

[44:32] Salisha Thomas: And the way they've staged it is like when circus is happening, it looks like everybody can dance.

[44:37] Nathan Levy: Yeah, yeah.

[44:38] Salisha Thomas: They're very smart about their staging and yes. And before I knew who Ryan Steele was, who by the way was dance captain at Newsies, aka he can effing dance. Before I knew he was in rehearsals.

[44:55] Nathan Levy: I don't know who you're talking.

[44:55] Salisha Thomas: Who is that?

[44:56] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[44:57] Salisha Thomas: I went up to him and was like, Ryan, you're like you're like a really good dancer. And he's so humble. He was like, thank you so much, Alicia. He should have been like, do you know who I am? And then when I realized who he was, I'm like, 12 legend. Truly a legend.

[45:20] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[45:21] Salisha Thomas: Like so good. But that's like everyone takes care of each other in that way. Like the staging and stuff. But it was hard to learn.

[45:31] Nathan Levy: Yeah, it was hard, especially once we got into the theater and I got the shoes and the dresses.

[45:37] Salisha Thomas: Right. You're like, oh, we cannot do some of these moves dressed like this, or you know, in these shoes. So a lot of it was hard in rehearsal clothes.

[45:47] Nathan Levy: Right.

[45:48] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And sneakers. And now we're in boots and heels. The fact that we have gotten to opening, we're we is like we've been open for a month now.

[45:55] Nathan Levy: I was up yesterday.

[45:57] Salisha Thomas: And one day.

[45:58] Nathan Levy: A month and one day.

[46:00] Salisha Thomas: A month and a day. I love it. Amen to that. Is uh I think it's a miracle because I I don't know about you, Nathan, but trying to learn all those dances. How many times was I like I'm gonna get fired? I call my agents. I was like, yeah, if they put me on for this stuff, it's not gonna be.

[46:25] Nathan Levy: Right.

[46:25] Salisha Thomas: You're not like you're not able to do it with the whole cast and the spacing and everything. I was stressed. I was like, okay, I'm not gonna let them be trapped. I went up to stage management. I was like, listen, if you throw me on for this, it's not gonna go well.

[46:40] Nathan Levy: Well, and I mean with this choreography too, it's like you really give it your all, so you don't wanna be someone just thrown in there to see what happens. Like it's intense.

[46:52] Salisha Thomas: It is intense, and it's moving fast, and I I almost I know personally, I almost quit almost about three times. And it was like this show has been a dream come true for so many reasons. It being OBC, I'm like, I've waited for this my whole life, but I'm like, I don't know if I can I don't if I can do this.

[47:14] Nathan Levy: Yeah, and you were like, please don't leave.

[47:19] Salisha Thomas: Please don't leave. I'm like, but I don't know if I can do it.

[47:22] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[47:23] Salisha Thomas: And the way the creative team took care of us, making us feel like, no, no, no, everybody who is here is here for a reason.

[47:33] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[47:34] Salisha Thomas: And I see that now. Like I've gone on for snow as of today, I think, 21 times.

[47:41] Nathan Levy: Wow.

[47:42] Salisha Thomas: I if I thought I was just gonna be going on for Belle, I'd be like, I am out of here, get me out of here.

[47:48] Nathan Levy: You want to go on for Ariel.

[47:50] Salisha Thomas: No lie.

[47:51] Nathan Levy: No lie.

[47:53] Salisha Thomas: Oh, okay. You know, but like we all, like, everybody like in the building serves a purpose to make the show run the way it goes. And I'm glad that we encourage each other. When we get to that final scene with the little girl, we're all sweating like crazy. It's like we made it through, we told the story, right? No one died. No one may be a little bruised here and there, right? We're all covered in glitter, but we make it work.

[48:18] Nathan Levy: We make it work.

[48:22] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. Well, there was so much that changed too throughout this process. So I'm curious to ask you guys, you know, is there a change that you guys like miss? Is there a part in this show where you're just like, oh, that was so fun. Like, how cool would that be to perform H we?

[48:43] Nathan Levy: I have so many opinions. Absolutely. There's so all the versions are coming back now.

[48:49] Salisha Thomas: I know.

[48:49] Nathan Levy: And the versions play through my head every night that I'm on stage.

[48:53] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. Well, it's all just act two, I think.

[48:55] Nathan Levy: Yeah, if you've seen the show.

[48:56] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, if you've seen the show, there are so many iterations, so many things that like I literally say the old lines in my head. Scratch. If I'm on for snow and the little child says, What happens next? And Briga is pausing because she's acting, I'm thinking, is it my life? Did I screw up? The line is what happens next is we're in charge.

[49:18] Nathan Levy: Which is what it used to be for Snow White.

[49:20] Salisha Thomas: Oh no. And that's not there. I'm like, Slicia, you cannot say that. But there have been so many different versions of the show. I've been yeah, I would say the wedding. The wedding two is maybe the biggest change that we made.

[49:36] Nathan Levy: I think three is the biggest change.

[49:38] Salisha Thomas: Oh, adding adding three, right? And the arc of that, it used to be about something very different than reading.

[49:46] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[49:47] Salisha Thomas: That maybe wasn't the best.

[49:49] Nathan Levy: Oh.

[49:51] Salisha Thomas: Maybe it wasn't. But got it. But we're very happy with words. It's great.

[49:57] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[49:58] Salisha Thomas: It turned out perfect. Oh my gosh, sitting in the audience when it wasn't what it was going to be. I'm like, oh my gosh, is are we doing this right now? And now it's about reading. And that is that's fine.

[50:11] Nathan Levy: Well, when it all goes back to like, all right, tonight we're gonna try this full number, give me more that we learned today.

[50:17] Salisha Thomas: Right. You give it your all. And then the very next morning in rehearsal, they're like, alright, scratch that. We're just gonna do half a pivot. Just the handography.

[50:29] Nathan Levy: Yeah. Um, anything other changes?

[50:32] Salisha Thomas: Oh, you know what? Not much of our stuff has changed.

[50:36] Nathan Levy: No.

[50:37] Salisha Thomas: Like no, well, kind of. Broad bottom of my broken heart did not used to be a whole song.

[50:43] Nathan Levy: Oh.

[50:43] Salisha Thomas: It used to go right to from the and then Aisha would riff, and then Cinderella would like, yes, cut her off. Now it's a full moment. I'm like, okay, well, you gotta make sure we're warm every day for that one.

[51:00] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[51:01] Salisha Thomas: It's a fun song though. We they really gave us freedom to do whatever we wanted in that number. And so it's fun when I do it with Aisha or you or Lauren or anyone. It's whatever we want to do, you know.

[51:14] Nathan Levy: That's really fun.

[51:15] Salisha Thomas: I'm trying to think if there's any other. The ending has just changed a lot.

[51:20] Nathan Levy: Oh, yeah.

[51:20] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. Um snippet. That we missed really.

[51:26] Nathan Levy: But you don't miss any of them?

[51:27] Salisha Thomas: We're I'm happy with how we're yeah.

[51:30] Nathan Levy: It loves great.

[51:32] Salisha Thomas: I mean, it's come so far. I think I really like the way I like where it's settled.

[51:38] Nathan Levy: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[51:39] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. Because in DC, as a swing, I wasn't on a lot there.

[51:43] Nathan Levy: Right.

[51:43] Salisha Thomas: I went on like two and a half times. And I liked the show.

[51:47] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[51:49] Salisha Thomas: That's it. Great. And now when I see the show, which is rarely because I'm usually in the show, I love the show. And it's fun, and it's something that I'm proud of, where like no matter what happens with the future of the show, I feel like, you know what? I'm proud of this. And it makes me happy. I enjoy it. I enjoy watching it all the way through the mega mix. Like, as a swing, we can leave a little bit early, and I don't actually like to leave early. I'm like, I want to be at the party with everybody else at the end. Like it's I like where it has landed.

[52:28] Nathan Levy: I love that.

[52:29] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. Do you guys feel like I mean, I know technically you're not allowed to, like, once the show opens, it freezes. That was not the case during Fighting Neverlands, so I say that that never the show never freezes. So I'm curious, do you feel like additions or things can still change?

[52:47] Nathan Levy: I hope not.

[52:49] Salisha Thomas: Well, so so far in the video. You know what though? Yes, there actually has been some tweaks that we talked about in rehearsals, but we're like, we'll deal with it when it happens, for example.

[53:03] Nathan Levy: Oh, like line changes, you mean?

[53:04] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, like what happens if Little Mermaid is black? And she touches Rapunzel's hair. And Rapunzel says, Don't touch my hair. Do I touch her scales? Do I ask them if they're yours? No, ma'am, I do not. Is that weird if she's saying it to another black woman?

[53:22] Nathan Levy: Right, right.

[53:23] Salisha Thomas: And so we did tweak some things and it worked once and it didn't work the other time. Right. Because people are used to saying it the same way. But um, but we did have to tweak it to where, okay, beauty touches her hair. Sleeping beauty touches her hair. Uh. And then we go right back into it. We're like, well, what if beauty and mermaid are both black? But we'll deal with that later. So, like little changes like that.

[53:46] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[53:47] Salisha Thomas: Wild. And it'll probably be different if Lauren, who plays Little Mermaid, goes on for Snow White ever.

[53:54] Nathan Levy: Oh, yeah.

[53:55] Salisha Thomas: Like, will she say that she's snow black? Snow black, snow white something. She'll say something else, probably.

[54:01] Nathan Levy: Right.

[54:02] Salisha Thomas: Wow. You'll just have to come. Fun little things to talk about with the diversity of Broadway. Shout out to your team though, for the thing. Thinking of things, like I know, like back in the day, the stepsisters used to sing um Slave for You. Slave for You to Cinderella. And then they took it out for this version. They're like, we don't know. One day we might have a black Cinderella. And maybe we shouldn't sing the word slave on Broadway. Maybe we just don't know. Maybe we just avoid that. And now like I'm one of the Cinderella understudies, and I'm grateful that they took that up. Even though I love that song. Like, but maybe singing like your marks like is not a good idea.

[54:46] Nathan Levy: They took like.

[54:48] Salisha Thomas: Well, that's good. Shout out to them for realizing that. Because some creative teams, they don't mean it's one of our topics.

[54:55] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[54:55] Salisha Thomas: Exactly. Yeah. Craziness. They think of those things.

[54:59] Nathan Levy: Yeah, yeah.

[55:00] Salisha Thomas: And they're sensitive to those things.

[55:02] Nathan Levy: As they should be.

[55:03] Salisha Thomas: Open to the conversation.

[55:04] Nathan Levy: Yes.

[55:05] Salisha Thomas: Thank you.

[55:07] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[55:08] Eli Tokash: Do we have any questions in the audience right now for these lovely people?

[55:15] Audience Member: Yes.

[55:15] Eli Tokash: Hi.

[55:16] Audience Member: Hi.

[55:16] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[55:16] Audience Member: So you were on on Open Night, weren't you?

[55:19] Salisha Thomas: Part of it.

[55:20] Audience Member: Yes. I saw you during intermission. And then you were like, well, I was on for it with circus. That's when I met you.

[55:27] Salisha Thomas: Yes.

[55:28] Audience Member: And I was like, oh, I love your skirt. It's serving mermaid. And I was like, I'm Lauren Zachary and you were like, I'm her dressing roommate. And I'm like, oh my gosh, you're Silicia. I love you.

[55:40] Salisha Thomas: Oh my goodness. Yeah, I was on for opening night. But only for circus because we had our original Belinda, Ryan Redmond broke her foot. Our Goldilocks Amy.

[55:54] Nathan Levy: Oh my gosh, she's in my phone as Amy Goldilocks. What's her last name?

[55:57] Salisha Thomas: Larson.

[55:59] Nathan Levy: Amy Goldilarsen.

[56:01] Salisha Thomas: Oh my god. Shout out, Nathan for that one. Amy is on for the stepsister Belinda. We hired a new Goldilocks who is Raya Nixon.

[56:10] Nathan Levy: Raya Nixon.

[56:16] Salisha Thomas: Oh my goodness. I have to change everyone's name in my phone. I'm the word. Oh my goodness. Raya was on for Goldilocks, but she hadn't learned the whole show yet. And so they didn't want to cut the track. Instead, they were like, alright, it's gonna be a partial track. So um it was gonna be me or Diana, who's just popping along for five minutes in the number for the ball in circus. And I was like, Diana, I don't care if you want to do it, go ahead, girl. My hair's gonna be dumb if I open it night. And I remember being like, oh yeah, Diana's gonna do it. And I was telling her my plans for opening night, and then she was like, oh, that does sound nice. Yeah, you can do it. I'm like, oh. And so then I was on for the first act, and then I got to sit down.

And then come back for the mega mix. We had our director, choreographer, book writer, all the swings come back for the mega mix, which was really special. It was fun. It was such a fun night, and that's when I met you in the audience.

[57:15] Audience Member: It was so fun. I'm glad I got to meet you.

[57:18] Audience Member: My first time seeing the show.

[57:19] Audience Member: First time so much from that.

[57:22] Salisha Thomas: Really?

[57:23] Audience Member: Like you were there for opening night?

[57:25] Salisha Thomas: I don't know who you were.

[57:26] Audience Member: That was your first.

[57:27] Salisha Thomas: I waited for four hours outside, but there's a cancellation ticket with two friends, one who I literally just met that night. I now talk to her almost every day.

[57:34] Salisha Thomas: Oh my gosh.

[57:35] Audience Member: Oh my god. I run the Once Upon a More Time.

[57:38] Salisha Thomas: Oh, amazing.

[57:40] Audience Member: She finds out things before we do.

[57:43] Salisha Thomas: She's on.

[57:44] Audience Member: I always who's on the city.

[57:47] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, you're like, I learned so much from my friend.

[57:49] Audience Member: From my friends from this account.

[57:50] Salisha Thomas: It's like Justin's doing Broadway con? Can I get an autograph? It cost $32.

[57:58] Audience Member: Oh that's awesome.

[58:01] Salisha Thomas: Oh, how fun. Do we want us autograph? Do we have any other questions from anyone?

[58:13] Audience Member: Oh, there's one.

[58:14] Eli Tokash: Hey.

[58:15] Audience Member: Huh? Give it to us.

[58:21] Audience Member: Is there a Britney Spears song not in the show you wish you could sing in the show?

[58:21] Salisha Thomas: Is there a Britney song that's not in the show that you wish you could perform?

[58:26] Nathan Levy: I think they're all there.

[58:28] Salisha Thomas: No. Maybe the one with the that you were listening to it.

[58:32] Nathan Levy: What?

[58:33] Salisha Thomas: That's a great question. I'm like, I think there is one and it's on my playlist, but I can't think of what it is.

[58:42] Nathan Levy: Is it that one?

[58:44] Salisha Thomas: Maybe. But I can't think of what.

[58:48] Nathan Levy: A song it is?

[58:49] Salisha Thomas: Uh-uh. I think it's the Toy Soldier. I really love that one. I wish I wish Toy Soldier was in it.

[58:56] Nathan Levy: Yeah, what?

[58:57] Salisha Thomas: I don't I don't know. I'll be honest, I don't know. I did not grow up with Britt. I was not in high school or like with listening to Britney's music. So I'm learning whatever songs we got here, I'm like, okay, these are her songs. We just heard her single, her new single, Mind Your Business Bitch.

[59:16] Nathan Levy: Oh my gosh. I guess that one. She loves it. She knew what she was. Go on. Yeah. You know, I will say there are songs in the show that I wish I got to sing if I was on. That's a good one. And like all the roles that I cover, 12 of them at the moment. Um they like I just didn't change. They might be on it. Hashtag give me more swings. Give me more covers. Give me more covers. Three or more covers under 20 swings on a night to give me more covers. Oh wow. Please. But yeah, I feel like Justin has the best songs, and I'll never get to sing those. Ever. It would be fun to sing toxic. I mean background in it, but sing toxic.

[1:00:04] Salisha Thomas: You would say. You would say that, Nathan. I'm here for it. For sure. Oh I know. I love toxic. Iconic. So does everybody know at least more than one role just in case? Or is it like most of the people know just one role? Like how does that work?

[1:00:18] Nathan Levy: There's a lot of internal coverage.

[1:00:21] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. So in the ensemble, there are people that cover four or five roles of principles. But you know what it was though? We're very on the record. Okay. I'm scared. You know, we can edit this out. We might we might need to, but we might not need to. Um there's been a lot of changes within um the cast of what is chorus and what is a principal.

[1:00:50] Nathan Levy: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:00:50] Salisha Thomas: And so the roles that were originally considered chorus roles, they were asked to cover different parts in the cast. And I think the people who were originally principals from the beginning, they were not asked to cover anybody. But those people who were asked to cover are now considered principles. So now they still have those covers that they've already learned or that are in their contract for them to learn.

[1:01:18] Nathan Levy: Right.

[1:01:18] Salisha Thomas: So those are the people who know multiple things in addition to the swings, if that makes any sense. But you have your one track, right?

[1:01:25] Nathan Levy: I just worry about clumsy. Amazing.

[1:01:28] Salisha Thomas: Yes. Clumsy. So to answer your question, yes and no. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's an ongoing journey. Yeah. With all that. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm sure there's guys know it. Split track this, you know, like you're you end up having to do it.

[1:01:44] Nathan Levy: Yeah, we almost had we did a split track last week and we were all trying to figure out like how can we make this work? Can I split track Snow White and Little Mermaid if Lauren is on for Betany and all this stuff? I'm like, no, you can't split track Little Mermaid because she ain't got a voice. So you've been talking the whole show. You can't be like, oh, I can speak. Just like trying to figure out the different. It's a numbers game sometimes.

[1:02:11] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. A lot of characters. A lot of characters. For sure. There's a lot of characters. There's a lot of moving parts in your show. I mean, so many. Your cast is huge. But it's like a concert, you know? Like it literally is a concert. Like it's not a Broadway show. It is a Broadway show, but like it doesn't feel like it's a good idea. And I think they that's what they wanted. Like I love it, yeah.

[1:02:31] Nathan Levy: The book has changed so much, and there have been a lot of different like opinions within the cast, like, oh, we want this part of the story back, or this part is what we stand for. This is what we want. This is the story we want to tell. But also there is the aspect of, you know what, parade is already happening across the street, or Leopold is happening. Like, if you want to get deep, like go over there. Like this is what some people need post-pandemic. Pandemic is deep enough, okay? It's been hard enough, sad enough. Sometimes you want to go to the theater and turn your brain off and enjoy. Laugh. Just have a good night.

[1:03:11] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. Show up with your girls. Maybe you have a double and just have a good time. It doesn't always have to be like. Just keep it pushing and just feel good. Like when I leave the theater, I feel good. And sometimes you just need those things on Broadway.

[1:03:39] Nathan Levy: Yeah. And you feel it from so many different people too. There's little girls who dress up as Bells in the audience, but then there's also the Britney fans who are so just they can't believe that all of her music is on Broadway, and everyone is just beaming when they get out. And you feel it too in the breezeway and the hotel.

[1:03:59] Salisha Thomas: I love when I see like little black girls who they're like, oh my goodness, it was so great seeing you up there or like snow black. Like growing up, I never thought I could be a princess. Um not like the ones I saw on the Disney movies and everything, and then Princess Tiana came out, and I'm like, oh my gosh. And yes, I got that. That's where you started from. Like you were in Disney. At Disneyland. Yeah, making the magical map. Like, let's go. It's fun.

[1:04:22] Nathan Levy: Yeah, making the magical map. Like, I got to do like be a princess, but she's like the black princess. And in this show, I'm like, me and Diana Vaden, who's the other swing, we're both black. When we are on, those characters are black.

[1:04:45] Salisha Thomas: Right. Which I didn't see that growing up. And so it like, depending on what night you come, the character might be Asian, might be white, might be black, might be something. And so I know that when I'm on, something that I requested is that like my characters have textured hair.

[1:05:06] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[1:05:07] Salisha Thomas: Because I have textured hair. Of course, when I was on for beauty, she did not, but I really liked that wig. I was not complaining. This takes me back to my Miss California days. But like if I'm on for Cinderella, I would like for there to be a little bit of curl in it.

[1:05:26] Nathan Levy: Right.

[1:05:27] Salisha Thomas: And I don't mind if she's blonde, like Beyonce blonde. Right. But like I want to make sure that if there's another little black girl out there that they can look at me and be like, oh, I can do that too. Right. I think it took this show for me to, and a lot of my peers are way ahead of the game in terms of thinking when it comes to this. And I've put my own self in a box. Like, no, I I can only play characters who other black people played them. And this is the first time I've been in like really a show that is like, no, I can I can play all of the roles.

[1:06:04] Nathan Levy: Yeah.

[1:06:05] Salisha Thomas: And people have had to convince me you can play all of the roles. I mean, we're all human, we all have a story to tell, you know. Like, truly, it doesn't matter.

[1:06:15] Nathan Levy: It doesn't matter.

[1:06:16] Salisha Thomas: No. It doesn't matter. So silly. Like, all of it. It drives me crazy.

[1:06:21] Nathan Levy: Right.

[1:06:22] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. So that's been a huge learning curve for me, which is I'm grateful for. I'm like, okay. Because Audra does it. She's like, I don't care who played this before. Right. I'm gonna do this. My queen. I don't do our royalty. You can literally play it. Yeah, you can play Santa Claus and I'll buy a ticket. No, my closet. Swear to God.

[1:06:43] Nathan Levy: Yeah. I love it. Well, this is amazing. And I just want to end it by saying that we had a birthday yesterday of someone on the panel. We had Nathan's birthday. It was just yesterday. So let's end it off and let's give him a little happy birthday moment. You don't have to sing. Save a voice, honey. Save the voice.

[1:07:06] Salisha Thomas: Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy later birthday, dear Nathan. Happy birthday to you.

[1:07:33] Nathan Levy: Thank you. And we're gonna get the cast recording very soon. We're here doing nothing as recording. I was kidding. Just kidding. But we all won it. We all know we won it. Can you imagine? Um, thank you all so much for for stopping by and uh joining us today at our live episode. You all have so much to take a bow for. And you're about to do it on Broadway in an hour. Come see it. Come see it. Literally downstairs. Literally downstairs.

[1:08:02] Eli Tokash: Amazing. Well, thank you both so much, and thank you. Thank you for having us, Eli. Thank you, Broadway! Yes, thank you, BroadwayCon. Thank you, Broadway Podcast Network. Thank you, everyone. Oh, Broadway Podcast Network. Yes, all the all the people. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, my goodness. Take a bow, Salisha Thomas and Nathan Levy. Oh my gosh. I was just had a blast. It's always so much fun having an episode live in person. Uh, I just feel like it's so much easier to have a conversation flow. You know, you're not worried about cutting people off due to a lag on Zoom or whatever it is. Um, it's just it just flows so much more.

[1:08:41] Eli Tokash: And then, of course, like it's super cute. If you want to watch the YouTube video, I highly encourage it. Because there are times where we were like all holding hands and and talking about this industry and talking about the show. And it was just like, it's just such a blast, you know. You're talking with your friends. Um, so huge shout out to Selicia and Nathan to just come on here before a Sunday matinee, which is like brutal. At the end of the week, you're just like, I just want my day off. And then, of course, they come and talk to me for an hour with a room full of people. So uh appreciate you and and them for doing that. And then, of course, talking about their show, like all of it.

[1:09:17] Eli Tokash: It was fun to talk about kind of like the parallels of my career and experience in in doing shows on Broadways, you know, with a glitter tornado, which I do apologize if you haven't seen the show and I ruined that for you. Um, but there is a glitter tornado in the show, and it's literally breathtaking. And I had to ask them about it because obviously that was one of the most iconic moments in Finding Neverland. Um, so had to talk about that, and then of course, just like them being super candid with us in the sense of like asking them about the choreography and about the high energy, doing it eight times a week. And that's another thing that's so beautiful watching it on YouTube is like their facial reactions to that.

Like, it's just it's hard, you know. Like, you see the weight that they're holding and the pain and bruises that they are going through at the moment, so that they can just continue, you know, telling this story for uh hopefully a theater full of people.

[1:10:13] Eli Tokash: Um, and just talking about that and what it's expected and all of that and being a swing and all the things, it was just really it was a conversation that I was really excited to bring to the forefront. And hopefully that you all felt the same way and enjoyed that and got something out of that. Um, because it's funny, like Silicia, the first time I had her on, it was like she never thought she could be a swing. And uh now here she is, you know, covering 11 tracks, which is like, how? Like, how can you expect someone to do 11 different roles, you know? And lately, I mean, for the past month, I want to say, she's been going on for Snow White almost every show. Uh, she did all eight last week. She already started the week doing the first three shows.

Um, and that's sort of a testament of like how hard that rehearsal was and and creating the show and the choreography, you know, sticking up for yourself and being like, oh, how can we make this healthier on the body during a rehearsal process? And checking in with yourself, making sure that you will be able to do this eight times a week with a hundred percent effort because as performers, you know, like we want to give our all.

[1:11:25] Eli Tokash: And um, I think those conversations are just so pivotal um to share with people. So hopefully you all enjoyed that and uh, you know, enjoyed our clumsy not being a dwarf, uh, because I didn't realize that. And for all you Disney fans that are out there, you know, and of course, I'm sure there's a lot listening because if you're a theater fan, you're basically a Disney fan. It's it's pretty much the same thing. Um, y'all are gonna love this this show because, you know, it has all the Disney characters, you know. It's a fairy tale about the Disney characters. Um, and the topics that they touch on are just so perfect, and it's for all ages. Um, and all ages can understand it and get a different perspective on the show, which is something that I just love.

So I can't wait to go see the show again, see how it's you know really progressed as a show because there was a lot of changes made since the last time I saw it. And then, of course, you know, seeing how the performers changed their show and how they've grown as performers in their characters. Um, I always love to do that. So uh go check it out, the Marriott Marquee. Uh, thank you all so much for listening to this week's episode of Take A Bow. Hopefully, we will see you all next week. We have a super exciting episode coming at you, folks, for next week. Uh, and I can't wait to share it with you. So, until then, bye everyone. Have a great week.

[1:12:46] 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 Dori Bernstein, Alan Seals, Kimberly Garrett, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network. Next in line to take a bow are our fabulous editors, Jessica Gorin, 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 McNamara, 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.com slash T A B. 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 About 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.