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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 172 of Take A Bow.

[0:06] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and this week we have another great episode coming from a dear friend of mine, Gianna Harris, who is joining us on the podcast today.

[0:16] Eli Tokash: I am so excited to share this interview with you all.

[0:20] Eli Tokash: So fun fact about Gianna, Gianna and I have worked together, not like in a show or like in a cast before, but we do this thing called the Broadway Star Project.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: And, uh, you know, it's with a bunch of like other, you know, child actors.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: I don't do it anymore because now I'm over 18.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: Um, but you know, it was with like Gianna Harris and Diego Lucano, and we had Benell Fambrini, uh, me, and, um, you know, Luke Bon and Font.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: Uh, there was a bunch of other people.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: I mean, it was kind of like the School of Rock fam, uh, some of the Neverland kids.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: Um, and now it's like this whole like camp, and it and it's great.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: Um, and Diego's family is like the ones that actually started it.

[1:07] Eli Tokash: So it's great.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: And then you get, you know, they bring in people like Alex Brightman and, uh, you know, Carrie Butler, like whoever, uh, the Jen Gambatese, uh, was there, and all of these wonderful people they bring in to like, you know, coach you and you learn from them and you do this like week thing, and then you do a show at the end of the week.

[1:28] Eli Tokash: And, um, you know, it's some of the best times that like so many fun memories are from the Broadway Star Project.

[1:35] Eli Tokash: I've talked a lot about it here before, but that's how Gianna and I really got to like know each other because we knew each other from like, you know, the Broadway park and like these events that we'd have with like other kids on Broadway and stuff like that, because they were in, uh, Gianna was in School of Rock.

[1:50] Eli Tokash: Um, and at that time I was in Neverland.

[1:53] Eli Tokash: So, um, it was just great to like catch up with her.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: She's gonna be in a brand new musical coming out this season off-Broadway at the Public Theater called Hell's Kitchen, which is the one that, uh, is showcasing Alicia Keys' music, uh, and it's just an all-star cast.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: So I was so excited to talk to her about, uh, you know, her excitement of starting that because she starts that very soon next month.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: She starts rehearsal with, uh, performances beginning at the end of October.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Um, so we have a great chat and really, uh, inside scoop of what it was like to be a kid on Broadway and especially at our time.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Um, we had similar experiences, so it was, uh, great to talk to her and reminisce on that, and it's just a really great episode.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: I think you all are gonna really enjoy this one.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: But before we get into all of that, uh, we're gonna do a Take A Bow corner.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Uh, there's not much news going on in the Broadway world, um, other than like Solea Pfeiffer is now Eurydice and not even Nobazada.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Um, that's literally like it for the news.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Um, so we're doing a little Take A Bow corner.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Uh, I saw The Cottage this week, uh, and for those of you who know, um, I actually did the opening night for The Cottage, but I did it for BPN.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: I didn't do it for Take A Bow.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Um, I should still get some, uh, I'll put out like some of the content.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: It just won't be as like much of it.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Um, and I just loved the show.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Okay, I didn't think I, I didn't know what to expect going to see The Cottage.

[1:56] Eli Tokash: Um, I was pleasantly surprised.

[3:35] Eli Tokash: I could not stop laughing.

[3:37] Eli Tokash: It was absolutely hilarious.

[3:39] Eli Tokash: Alex Moffat is like bound for Broadway and like Broadway comedy.

[3:46] Eli Tokash: And for those of you who don't know, Alex Moffat is known for, you know, his sketch comedy.

[3:51] Eli Tokash: That's what like he does, you know.

[3:54] Eli Tokash: Like that's part of the cast he's in.

[3:58] Eli Tokash: I can't really say the project because of the SAG strike.

[4:01] Eli Tokash: Um, but he is just brilliant.

[4:03] Eli Tokash: His physical comedy is like none other.

[4:07] Eli Tokash: And then you have this genius set design, uh, that is so brilliantly done, and honest to God, like if they don't win best set, uh, at the Tony Awards, I will be shocked.

[4:20] Eli Tokash: I mean, there were so many hidden gems of, uh, just in the set, and some of them like they like showcase and like will make sure that you see, but then some of them you kind of just look around at intermission and you just start laughing, and you're just like that is just brilliant.

[4:36] Eli Tokash: And then you're like, oh my God, the thought that went into this is insane, like it's brilliant.

[4:43] Eli Tokash: Um, so huge shout out to them.

[4:45] Eli Tokash: The set designer was Paul Tate DePoo the Third.

[4:50] Eli Tokash: Um, he was brilliant.

[4:53] Eli Tokash: Uh, I've never heard of him, but I loved his set design, and, uh, obviously the direction by Jason Alexander is second to none.

[5:02] Eli Tokash: It's just unbelievable.

[5:03] Eli Tokash: Uh, not only is Alex hilarious, but everyone in the show is hilarious.

[5:08] Eli Tokash: Like Lily Cooper is pregnant during the show, which is like can we talk about that for a second?

[5:14] Eli Tokash: Because is this now like typecasting Lily Cooper as any pregnant woman?

[5:18] Eli Tokash: Because her last two shows between POTUS and The Cottage, she's been pregnant, or, uh, like in POTUS, she was like, uh, breastfeeding and pumping and all of that.

[5:28] Eli Tokash: Um, but this one she's just pregnant and about to have a child.

[5:32] Eli Tokash: Um, but it's hilarious because there's, it's literally six people and they're all in a love triangle, uh, and you are on the edge of your seat the entire time because you're, they just keep revealing stuff and you're just like, What?

[5:45] Eli Tokash: Oh my God, what?

[5:47] Eli Tokash: And, um, it's, it's brilliantly written and it's wonderful.

[5:51] Eli Tokash: So highly recommend The Cottage.

[5:53] Eli Tokash: Again, like I was pleasantly surprised.

[5:55] Eli Tokash: I will say it was on a night, so I went to see it Tuesday, I wanna say, and before the show, um, I, I don't know quite what happened, but I want to assume that it was someone either passed out or had a heart attack.

[6:16] Eli Tokash: Um, because this woman, I mean, we were in our seats, and this woman in the third row, all of a sudden kind of like she was sitting down and she ended up like collapsing on her husband.

[6:29] Eli Tokash: And it like obviously sitting down, but like she just leaned over and just like you could tell like dead weight, you know, like it was like she wasn't holding her weight or anything.

[6:41] Eli Tokash: Um, and so there was a lot of, um, concern prior to the show.

[6:47] Eli Tokash: We got there, we sat down 6:30-ish.

[6:51] Eli Tokash: This happens at 6:45-ish, and they, you know, stop bringing people in.

[6:56] Eli Tokash: They, the house manager is trying to perform CPR.

[7:00] Eli Tokash: Um, all of these things are happening, and it was just like your heart was just sinking.

[7:07] Eli Tokash: And she was in the third row, center orchestra, so like everyone was like watching this happen and trying to help.

[7:14] Eli Tokash: Everyone was on their phones calling 911.

[7:17] Eli Tokash: Everyone was around the theater trying to find, uh, the AED.

[7:22] Eli Tokash: All of these things were happening and it was craziness.

[7:26] Eli Tokash: And it like I was like, I, I don't know like how I can watch a show right now.

[7:32] Eli Tokash: Um, but this show is a show that everyone needs right now.

[7:37] Eli Tokash: Like, laughter is the best medicine for anything you're going through.

[7:43] Eli Tokash: And, uh, they unfortunately, they fortunately, uh, did get her to start breathing again and brought her back.

[7:52] Eli Tokash: I don't know like what exactly happened, so I don't want to like say anything, but they, she was able to become responsive and, um, you know, it was great.

[8:04] Eli Tokash: They stretched her out, um, her husband was there with her, and, um, it was just a crazy time before the theater, so the show ended up starting late, but, um, it was, it still ended up being a very good show, you know.

[8:22] Eli Tokash: I wasn't sure, you know, how the actors were gonna come out after, you know, getting the news of hey, we have to start the show late, someone in the audience is, you know, not doing well.

[8:33] Eli Tokash: Um, so it was crazy.

[8:36] Eli Tokash: But shout out to, uh, the house manager, uh, over at the Second Stage who was like got to her immediately and was super responsive because I truly believe that if he didn't start, you know, trying to do CPR that it would have been too late by the time the fire department and police came.

[8:55] Eli Tokash: Uh, but shout out to them as well, because they are the ones that ended up, you know, getting her to become responsive again, and she was, uh, like letting out moans and everything once she started to like breathe again, and it was just a crazy experience and, uh, crazy way to start the show, but it was also a testament to how powerful laughter can be and how everyone kind of needs it right now in this, in the, in our lives, you know, with no matter what you're going through.

[9:27] Eli Tokash: Um, The Cottage was, was a perfect medicine for, you know, seeing something traumatic just 15 minutes before, you know.

[9:37] Eli Tokash: So, um, congrats to the cast, kudos to them for, you know, keep going and staying in it and doing all of that.

[9:45] Eli Tokash: And, and, um, you know, my heart goes out to the woman and her husband who was there and, uh, thankfully she's, she's okay and stable now.

[9:55] Eli Tokash: Um, so yeah, I don't know what it is with me.

[9:59] Eli Tokash: I may be bad luck.

[10:00] Eli Tokash: The, the of the three last shows that I've seen, you know, Parade, Shark is Broken, and The Cottage, um, two of them have either had to stop the show or delay the show due to an audience member, uh, unfortunate event.

[10:15] Eli Tokash: So, um, crazy stuff is happening on Broadway, crazy stuff happens every day, and it kind of just puts things into perspective.

[10:22] Eli Tokash: Uh, I didn't want to like share that story just to like put a downer or anything, but, um, I also just wanted to share it to, you know, shed a light on like what happens, uh, on Broadway, like on a nightly basis and why Broadway is so special.

[10:36] Eli Tokash: Like it's a live event thing, like you are going through things with other people.

[10:42] Eli Tokash: Um, um, and it's just like a constant reminder of like these events that happen at a show.

[10:47] Eli Tokash: Like it's, it's just wild.

[10:49] Eli Tokash: Um, and then of course, that, you know, the show can be very powerful and, and take your mind off of things, um, that is easy to allow yourself to get down on.

[11:02] Eli Tokash: So, um, everyone go see The Cottage.

[11:04] Eli Tokash: The performances are like, it just, they're, it's a master class over there.

[11:09] Eli Tokash: The cast is incredible.

[11:11] Eli Tokash: So, uh, everyone go check that out.

[11:13] Eli Tokash: And then Matthew Broderick is starring in Love Letters at the Irish Repertory Theatre, uh, with Victor Garber, Brooke Shields, and more.

[11:23] Eli Tokash: Uh, fun fact, I was excited because obviously, like I just had Matthew Broderick on the show.

[11:28] Eli Tokash: Um, but I was excited about this because fun fact me, Sadie Sink, Luca Padavan, and Brooklyn Shuck did a little like spoof or like tribute to Love Letters for a Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS performance.

[11:46] Eli Tokash: And I say Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS moment because I'm not sure if it was the Easter bonnet, I'm not sure if it was like Gypsy of the Year.

[11:54] Eli Tokash: I don't know what it, I can't remember the exact event.

[11:57] Eli Tokash: I'm sure the video is online, honestly.

[11:59] Eli Tokash: Uh, but it was like they thought it was funny that they could get like kids to do Love Letters and talk about mailing letters and all these things.

[12:05] Eli Tokash: Um, so it, we, it was a blast.

[12:11] Eli Tokash: And, and so I like started to follow the show and like fall in love with the show and how cute it was.

[12:14] Eli Tokash: Um, so I'm excited to see this.

[12:16] Eli Tokash: I love Victor Garber, uh, and of course Matthew Broderick, and so I'm so excited to see this show at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

[12:26] Eli Tokash: Um, everyone go check it out.

[12:28] Eli Tokash: So I also want to shout out I'm going to see El Magopop in Here Lies Love this weekend.

[12:34] Eli Tokash: Um, and I want to say a happy opening to El Magopop because they open on Sunday.

[12:39] Eli Tokash: Um, for those of you who don't know, like guys, there's about to be a magician on Broadway, and that's well, and he's not just a magician, he's a, an illusionist.

[12:49] Eli Tokash: Um, and I'm a big fan of his.

[12:51] Eli Tokash: His real name is Antonio Diaz, uh, but his like magician name is El Magopop.

[12:57] Eli Tokash: And he does wild things.

[12:59] Eli Tokash: I've been talking about him a lot recently on the podcast because I was able to chat with him, and, um, you know, it's kind of wild what he can do and, and the stuff that, uh, I've seen.

[13:11] Eli Tokash: Uh, I follow him on social media, and now it's like it's even crazier, like looking at his social media, what he does there.

[13:18] Eli Tokash: Um, so I'm so excited because I'm seeing both of those this weekend, both on Saturday.

[13:23] Eli Tokash: I'm doing a double feature, double double show day, two show day, uh, to Doshe.

[13:29] Eli Tokash: And, uh, El Magopop and Here Lies Love, which I've heard great things about.

[13:33] Eli Tokash: So, uh, excited for both of these.

[13:36] Eli Tokash: And, uh, the opening of El Magopop will be on Sunday, and I will be there and I'll be chatting with a bunch of our friends, like Andrew Bartheldman.

[13:46] Eli Tokash: Um, we have Jordan Dobson, who's an upcoming guest as well.

[13:51] Eli Tokash: Um, there's some great people there, like Justin David Sullivan's gonna be there from, uh, Anne Juliet.

[13:58] Eli Tokash: We have Natasha Yvette Williams from Some Like It Hot.

[14:01] Eli Tokash: We have people coming from all over to enjoy some magic, uh, which is, which is great, and I'm so excited to see these people.

[14:12] Eli Tokash: Uh, Julia Lester will also be there, J Harrison G, um, Julie Banco.

[14:19] Eli Tokash: Um, I'm just like thinking Jelani Remy, we love.

[14:23] Eli Tokash: Uh, so very, very excited, all of that to say.

[14:27] Eli Tokash: Um, and uh yeah, we'll be there enjoying some magic and doing some content. So I'll I'll get that to you all very soon. Uh cool. Well, that's all I have for you folks this week. I've talked enough, and uh, I think it's time to just turn it over to the Gianna Harris and talk to her about what it's like to be a child performer and now about to be in a show at uh as an adult. Without further ado, Gianna Harris, curtain up.

[15:20] Eli Tokash: Okay, this week's guest is Broadway's next leading lady, if you ask me. Everyone who knows me knows I'm just obsessed with her voice. You may know her from School of Rock, whether you saw her on a Broadway stage or you saw her around the world on tour. But soon you will be able to see her at the public theater performing in one of the most anticipated shows of this next season, Hell's Kitchen. Everyone, join me in welcoming to Take A Bow, Gianna Harris. Hi, Gianna.

[15:48] Gianna Harris: Hello.

[15:51] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. I'm so excited. I was so giddy when I like texted you. I was like, yes, she's gonna do it. I'm so excited. Um because you are literally someone I've I've wanted to have on for forever. And then of course your announcement with Hell's Kitchen, and I was like, oh yeah, like we've gotta make it happen.

[16:08] Gianna Harris: Totally.

[16:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah. I was so excited when you texted me. I was like, why is he dicing? Stop it. I'm crying.

[16:15] Eli Tokash: Well, I know it's that's literally what it is nowadays. Cause I'm the worst texter as is. So now when I text people, they like assume it's something Take A Bow related. And I'm like, oh, I'm sorry. Um but it was. Um but here we are, and and you're coming back to this stage uh performing off Broadway, which is so exciting. Um so now you've conquered Broadway, the tour, the off Broadway. Uh you done it all, Gianna. It's so exciting, and and truly, I I just think that the sky is the limit for you and your talent. I've always been one of your biggest fans. Um so I'm just so excited to to s you know have an opportunity to to see you shine again uh on a stage and performing Alicia Keys music. I'm so I'm so just I'll buy the ticket today. Um but I want to start uh at the beginning. Like how why are we here? How do we get what made you want to become a performer, tell stories, all of that?

[17:14] Gianna Harris: Yeah, such a long journey, and I'm only like 18. It feels like it's been like forever. Um Yeah, I mean, going all the way back to when I was like seven, I really like to sing. My grandma bought me like a silly like karaoke machine for my birthday, and I play like you remember like the Wii? There would be sneak games. I played swimming games on the Wii all the time, and my parents realized that I was getting like really good scores, which is not silly because it's like a game. But they were like, Yeah, maybe she can kind of sing. And I started to ask for singing lessons, but I was only nine, and like I feel like back then teachers kind of didn't want anyone under like 10. I feel like they're a little more open now, but like especially like then they really didn't want anyone that young.

But I finally got a teacher that was like, all right, all like her lessons, and that's Natalie Megulus, and I love her so much. I still work with her. Um she actually helped me with my audition process for Hell's Kitchen, which was awesome, so great. Um and I started singing with her, doing different like her different showcases and stuff, and um I really enjoyed it to the point that I quit gymnastics, which was like my life. I would like I was like, I am a gymnast, nothing else, I don't want to do anything else.

[18:41] Gianna Harris: Yeah. So I gave up gymnastics for singing, and I'm glad I did because I'm better at singing than gymnastics. I would say it worked out if you asked me. But I started singing with Natalie doing shows, and then I started working with another vocal coach, uh Deborah Michaels. She's um really helped me with my performance, and she got me out to a lot of showcases and um different venues. Like I did um a lot of stuff in New Jersey, because that's where I live, but uh Joe Henry, which is a like a singing competition, and um I did the Apollo when I was 10.

[19:20] Eli Tokash: Oh really cool.

[19:21] Gianna Harris: I won the first round, which was like incredible, and I got to touch the stump and everything. Um after that, I'm trying to think where I went from there. I oh showcases. I started doing like like showcases for agents and stuff.

[19:40] Eli Tokash: I was just gonna say, so like what does that mean? You were just like performing around the world or you're doing like showcases for agents, and then you eventually got signed. Like what is the showcase?

[19:49] Gianna Harris: First it was in the tri-state area, just kind of doing different um competitions and opportunities to get out there and just like perform for people. There's a place called uh Lorita Winery that I sang at. They do like a competition. Um I'm trying to think of it. And is this like just singing, or is this like you're doing all three things?

[20:13] Gianna Harris: It was just singing then because it was all just competitions, it wasn't anything with like acting yet. And uh Natalie said, Oh, you should try auditioning for like Broadway stuff. Like that'd be a really good like for you to like get out there and try. Because she was very like she's very big into like Broadway and stuff, so she was like, Go do it. So then I got into the world of like open calls, which is oh yeah, not cute. It's awful. And like especially being at like 10, being like, oh my god, sitting there for like hours and hours.

[20:48] Eli Tokash: Right.

[20:49] Gianna Harris: Um I started doing stuff like that. Um, and then I met some cool people that do random farms. I think you might know them.

[20:57] Eli Tokash: They sound familiar.

[20:59] Gianna Harris: Yeah, they do do div they do agent showcases. And I met them through s I don't remember, somewhere, and uh that's where I got in front of my now agent, Leslie. So with Buckwald. So um I met her there. She really liked me.

[21:18] Eli Tokash: Well, I assume so. I hope so.

[21:19] Gianna Harris: She signed you.

[21:22] Gianna Harris: So no, um, I I started working with her and then like two months later I auditioned for School of Rock and I got it.

[21:29] Eli Tokash: Which was that your first one?

[21:32] Gianna Harris: First, um like audition, like for a musical or something?

[21:36] Gianna Harris: Um, I had done other ones like Matilda and like Annie's.

[21:39] Eli Tokash: Okay, of course.

[21:41] Gianna Harris: Like open calls, but it was I actually did the open call for School of Rock.

[21:45] Eli Tokash: Like the original.

[21:46] Gianna Harris: Yeah, which I This is wild. Okay, so for anyone who doesn't know what an open call is, an open call is literally like it it's in the word, like opened to literally anyone. Like Joe Schmoe off the street could come in and audition, and uh I mean, they have the opportunity to audition because you write your name and they may not even get through everybody that day because so many people may come. And it's really for like those who, you know, weren't able to get an appointment through their agent or don't have an agent, or you're not equity. Um, you know, there's all kinds of things to it and layers to it. Um so that's so interesting that that was your first audition. I have always been like I I don't know, I feel like we've always bonded over the sense of like we love musicals, but we don't know much about musicals.

[22:35] Gianna Harris: Yeah.

[22:36] Eli Tokash: Um because like did you even see a Broadway show before you got an agent?

[22:42] Gianna Harris: Like I think I saw like when I was really young, like I think it was Matilda was the one show that I saw, and I was like, cool.

[22:52] Eli Tokash: Right.

[22:53] Gianna Harris: It was nothing.

[22:55] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it was nothing more than that.

[22:57] Gianna Harris: Right. But that's so funny. And now here's to a career in the theater.

[23:04] Gianna Harris: Um quit gymnastics for it. That's hilarious. And I love that you like did it like go see a show and you fell in love with it like we get so many times on here. You know, it was not being a normal kid playing Wii sports and and singing along to the Wii.

[23:19] Gianna Harris: Yeah.

[23:20] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. I can't.

[23:22] Gianna Harris: I like I like my my experience with it. I think it it was organic.

[23:27] Gianna Harris: Hey, it chose you.

[23:31] Eli Tokash: That's iconic. But that like is a testament to your talent though. Like, honest to God. Like, I honestly, every time we do a cabaret together or the Broadway Star project or whatever it is, it's like, oh, what's Gianna singing this time? And it's never like it's never a musical theater song which cracks me up because you're like, I don't know any musical theaters song.

[23:51] Gianna Harris: And I'm like, no, Sam, I've been saying this singing the same one for the past ten years.

[23:55] Eli Tokash: Uh it's hilarious. I I just I don't know, big fan of yours. So um that's great, and very cool how it all happened. And then obviously you made it to Broadway, right?

[24:07] Gianna Harris: It was the Broadway before the tour of School of Rock.

[24:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[24:10] Gianna Harris: Um, so what was that like? Do you remember your first, you know, like Broadway bow, or do you remember your first time being on Broadway at any?

[24:20] Gianna Harris: Um, I remember I remember a lot, but I feel like I all the things I remember are not the important things. Like, I don't remember my first performance. I don't remember like that's so real. I don't remember much of like on stage just because it was like so conditioned in my brain that it wasn't like I even think, yeah. So that stuff kind of like went away, but it was all like the little behind the scenes things and like the silly songs we would sing backstage and like going to the park and like meeting you for the first time and like stuff like that I remember more just because it was like I was being a kid.

[24:59] Gianna Harris: Like I was just like, oh like I get to run around and have fun. Yeah, and like I don't wanna say like, you know, as kids on Broadway, we kinda like take it for granted, but like we also just don't realize what we're doing. Like we literally we think we're going to have a play date with our friends, you know, especially like with School of Rock, you know, you have a big kid cast, which I'm sure had to be also very fun. Um just to have like other kids your age and you can like hang out with them. What what was that kind of like for you? Did that kind of help you like nerves or anything like that?

[25:34] Gianna Harris: Totally. It was such a big support system, not only with the kids but with the adults. Um we weren't we weren't treated like kids. I mean we were kids, so we were like, you know, being watched and like people taking care of us. But like the adults didn't treat us like, oh like little kid, go away. Like it was no, we were a part of the show. We were a part of that family.

[25:55] Eli Tokash: And I mean you guys led the show though, let's say.

[25:58] Gianna Harris: Yeah, that's weird. I think carried.

[26:03] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. Other than Alex, of course, Alex King.

[26:05] Gianna Harris: Yeah. Ugh. Begging. Um well, yeah, 'cause like I'm curious because I don't know, like I don't wanna say like my first show that I did on Broadway was Pippin, and so it was just me and another kid. Like I didn't have like a a bunch of kids until like finding Neverland and a Christmas story or whatever. But like for Pippin, just because it was the two kids, we only had one Wrangler and we were kind of it was like an unwritten rule that it was like, you know, you stay in your dressing room kind of thing. And I always wanted to like I would try to like sneak out and be like, no, like I wanna talk to the people that like I don't know, I'm interested in talking to, like, you know, like I've always gotten along better with adults.

[26:50] Gianna Harris: Um, and so I was like, I wanna go like hang out with them, or I wanna go learn a circus trick or whatever. And so like I'm curious, like, did you ever have moments where you were like, Oh, you know, like I've gotten some talks from Wranglers or stage management where it's like, oh just s you know, respect the adults and and their space and before a performance and blah blah blah. Like, did you ever get any of that with School of Rock as a kid?

[27:13] Gianna Harris: Eli, we were wild.

[27:16] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I bet.

[27:17] Gianna Harris: Wild. So we kind of like of course we listened to our like Wranglers and our guardians. Yeah, but we kind of were we had a lot of free reign just because there were so many of us that couldn't keep us all in one place.

[27:31] Gianna Harris: Um but I feel like I would always be like running down to someone's room and like talking with them, and the adults were so kind to us that they would we would be like, Oh, I'm going to this person's room, and the the our guardians would be like, Oh, okay, that's fine, because they knew how the adults treated us, and they knew that they didn't see us as like I don't want to say a burden, but like they really did enjoy our company and did want to talk to us and hear what we had to say, which was really amazing.

[28:00] Gianna Harris: Yeah, and I remember like running down to uh like Sierra Boggess's room and like every show we would go down there and we'd pick uh word cards and they would have like different words and we'd be like, This is how I'm gonna feel today. And it would just be like different things and oh I have such a wonderful memory. I um we had she also had stones that were like the same thing, like they had words on it, but the stones had like cute little pictures and uh word on it. And every night we'd go down and pick a stone and everyone had gotten the stone that said princess, and I was like, I want the stone that says princess. Like I was the only person that didn't get it. And the night of Sierra's last show, we go down and we pick stones, and she's like, I hope you pick it this time.

And I I pick out a stone and I don't get it. But then she like goes over to her um like two worker desk and she grabs a little pink bag off of her desk and she goes, Well, this is why you didn't get it, and it was in the bag and she gave it to me.

[28:59] Gianna Harris: And it's sitting right over there. I'll grab it, I'll show you. That's so cute. Wait, she's such a queen. There's like a little cat on it. Oh my god. That's so cute. I'm like, I feel like that's amazing. That's so random though. Like it's such a cute little niche, you know, backstage thing, you know, that you can kind of share. That's awesome. I love that kind of stuff. But that's how I remember all the adults being so like generous with us and like, you know, chatting with us and telling us different things and making us laugh. They really enjoyed making us laugh and just making us feel invited and just like warm and safe. It was so, such an incredible experience. Oh, I love it. What about Alex? Do you have any like fun stories with Alex? Cause when he was on here, he shared some fun ones with the kids?

[29:55] Gianna Harris: He is crazy. And like he always, he was always making us laugh, and he'd always do silly things, and I mean he was very busy in the show. I mean, he's in almost every single scene, so we didn't get to see him that much. Like, I mean, like while we're performing and stuff, he's so like on and off. The one scene, I'm trying to think what to even call this scene. We're all sitting down on these carpets, and he's singing us this song, and there's no music playing, but he's like just singing a song, being like, Oh, this is what the song's gonna be, like, this is what we're gonna play. Yeah. And we used to call it something specific, but I don't remember. But there was when he did his second run when he came back after he left.

I swear, every single time he was trying, like purposefully trying to make us laugh. Like he would go above and beyond every single time. And it would just be us sitting there having to be like these like proper little kids just being like, Of course. Laugh. And then like we have to interact with each other, and so we look at each other and we're like trying not to laugh. And I doubt the audience noticed, but even if they did, it was still like, you know, like silly, like it's yeah. I feel like as kids we could get away with so much just because it's just like a genuine like kid reaction to like start laughing. So it's not like as an audience they're like, oh, they broke character, you know.

Like it's like, oh, that's so cute, like type of thing. That's what's so wonderful about the show is I feel like it was almost impossible to break character for us because we were just supposed to be kids. Like and we were, so it was like perfect.

[31:38] Gianna Harris: Yeah, that's awesome. I love that. Alex is literally just like the most kindest and like genuine person, you know. And so like to have a leader like that in your show, like kinda like leading the way, you know, it had to be helpful and kind of trickled down through the cast and everything.

[31:54] Gianna Harris: Yeah, that definitely helped with the environment and like having people really pay attention and listen to us. I mean, not only with the message of the show being like, hey, listen to your kids. Also play them like the way that Alex treated us with just such respect. Yeah. I mean, such a wonderful experience.

[32:17] Eli Tokash: And what about, you know, obviously you did the tour Broadway and then you went on tour. So I'm curious to like, was that kind of different? Like in any way, I mean obviously you had like a new cast to work with and things like that, but like was it kind of like, oh, I already know what I'm doing, it's the same show, or was it different and did you kinda have to relearn stuff?

[32:44] Gianna Harris: I definitely had to relearn stuff. They changed things. I mean for the set being different, like the set was different just because it's a completely different, like we're gonna be touring, so it has to be different. Yeah. So we had to change some things with that. I feel like we might have changed some dances for whatever reason. But I feel like I remember having to learn a lot of things that were new and that were different. The only thing that didn't change was the music, which was helpful. Right. So same show. Just different. But it was definitely definitely weird because I was the only person that had been right on Broadway.

[33:26] Eli Tokash: So I was like, Oh, they must have thought you were the cool kid.

[33:30] Gianna Harris: I was also the oldest.

[33:32] Eli Tokash: Oh boy.

[33:32] Gianna Harris: So they were like, alright, here's Gian.

[33:36] Eli Tokash: Yeah. You kinda had to play babysitter when the Wrangler didn't want to, yeah.

[33:45] Gianna Harris: I've been there for sure. I'm never land. Oh craziness. But uh, you know, good memories. I know like you met like Ava Brigley and like some of your friends that way. So we love her and her family. But um, yeah, and what about like the tour life? You know, you had to I mean it's it's kind of tricky as a kid to move away from your family and stuff like that. Was your brother able to come along or anything like that?

[34:09] Gianna Harris: Um I toured with my mom, and whenever we were close to, you know, around here, my dad and my brother would come up and they would come see the show and would stay with us for a little bit. Um but it was definitely really difficult, especially since my brother was so young. Yeah, um, it was uh it was sad, but I mean it was it was only six months, so you know we got to see them pretty often and we never went that far. I feel like before like when I was still on tour, we like kind of stayed in the same areas, and then as soon as I they were like in California and I was like, come on.

[34:51] Eli Tokash: Right.

[34:52] Gianna Harris: Clear other coasts, you know. Yeah. Um but yeah, I loved tour. Like I think it was one of my favorite like experiences. That's awesome. Ever. Like I loved Broadway, but I really loved tour. Oh, that's it. I thought it was so great seeing different places.

[35:11] Eli Tokash: And like, so were you able to, or did you have to do a lot of scroll?

[35:16] Gianna Harris: We had to do a lot of schooling. We did school every single day. Like every morning, we would all like wake up and like go down to a conference room in the hotel we were staying in. Like all in our pajamas, half awake doing school. But sometimes we would go on like field trips, field trips. And we would like see the city and to the aquarium or something. Yeah, like stuff like that, and it would just be an excuse for like the guardians to like be able to also see the city and not have us.

[35:45] Eli Tokash: Oh, that's hilarious.

[35:46] Gianna Harris: Yeah, but uh also like a lot of our guardians were our teachers too.

[35:50] Eli Tokash: Oh interesting.

[35:51] Gianna Harris: We only I think there was like one guardian that wasn't a teacher.

[35:57] Eli Tokash: Jeff Caroline Dunning at all.

[36:00] Gianna Harris: I think she might have been after.

[36:02] Eli Tokash: Oh, okay. I couldn't remember if she did it with you guys or not.

[36:06] Gianna Harris: I think she might have been after. Who was your tutor?

[36:10] Gianna Harris: My tutor, oh my god, what was her name? Bernadette.

[36:15] Eli Tokash: Oh my god! Wait, I know Bernadette Bridges.

[36:18] Gianna Harris: Yes! Oh my god. She was so sweet. What was so funny though is because I was older, so she was the only teacher that could help me because like the math I was doing and like all the other stuff, like the books that I had to read and stuff. Yeah. She was the only person that knew it. Every all the other teachers were like, I teach elementary school. Right. Not middle school.

[36:40] Eli Tokash: Oh wow. That's crazy.

[36:41] Gianna Harris: So you kinda had a one on one, but then you had to wait for her while she was helping the other kids, you know.

[36:47] Gianna Harris: Yeah, it would get kind of frustrating, especially since like I technically did not finish seventh grade.

[36:57] Eli Tokash: Girl, me neither.

[36:58] Gianna Harris: I actually I think it was sixth grade, but yeah. I did not finish seventh grade. Because I I just couldn't. I hate it. I I mean I'm s I graduated this year, so I can like it's fine. But like I I hated online school. I think that was the worst part of tour for me was do having to do online school. I really need that like one on one, like I'm with you, like teaching in like a classroom. I don't know. It's just hard for me to like look at something and be like, yep, that's it.

[37:30] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it's easy too with like especially like as a young kid to like be that disciplined is hard because you're already like you already have a job and everything. Like you're already doing so much that when you're not, it's kind of like easy to get distracted with like an electronic or something like that. So um, you know, I it makes sense, and and but you know, we we make it work. You got through it, and uh, you know, yeah, here we are. You graduated, that's all that matters.

[37:57] Gianna Harris: Yeah, um, but yeah, I definitely been there. Uh I can't remember her name at uh online education on location education. Um girl who like really because there was a whole debacle of me not finishing one of my years, and and she was like, she came in and she was like, He's fine, like literally fully like uh excuse me from like seventh grade or sixth or seventh grade, whatever it was, and I was like, you are my new best friend.

[38:25] Gianna Harris: Um lucky my school literally just didn't ask.

[38:30] Eli Tokash: That's amazing.

[38:31] Gianna Harris: Yeah. That's why we went to eighth grade, and then we were like, we were nervous that they were gonna be like, no, you have to redo seventh grade. Come on. But they literally, they literally just were like, Yep, she's in eighth grade.

[38:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it's it's not away. I don't know, school you're learning the the by seventh grade. You're not learning really anything new. Like you've already done most of the topics and stuff. Yeah, and uh having the experience of tour definitely taught me a lot of things in and of itself. Right. So I think being on tour, even though I didn't finish seventh grade, like being on tour taught me so many new things and different things. And see how people live. So I think that's enough learning. And that that you can't like that beats all sort of school learning. Like you learned about life, you know, like culture, all of that. Like school doesn't teach you that, you know. It's all like the numbers and everything.

Like it's good to know all of that stuff too. School, I'm not like knocking it, but like, yeah, it's crazy because uh, you know, like I was always told that I would never be good at math, even though I loved math, but I was told I'd never be good at it when I was like in high school because I had fifty teachers in a year, you know, teaching me all sorts of different ways. So like there were all kind of holes in my mouth. So when I finally went to like high school full time and I like wasn't working, they were like, somehow you got the right answer, but this work and how you did it is not correct or not how I teach or whatever. I was like, Well, this is like how I learned and like it's like a little bit from all of my different teachers, and they were like, This is a mess.

So I was and now here I am in a business school at college, and like you wanna talk about mess. But thankfully we have Excel and they could do all of the math for us. But it it's just it's crazy what like you know, having that experience and working as a child and and doing all these different things and and online school and going to school. It's like you're always changing and you have to adjust. And sometimes we don't get um, you know, the people don't adjust with us. Uh so it's difficult, but it's good to hear that you, you know, your school was able to adjust with you.

[40:50] Gianna Harris: Yeah, it's nice hearing that someone has had similar experiences with you.

[40:56] Eli Tokash: No, totally. It's craziness. But uh yeah, and so that's awesome. I love the tour life and everything like that. And you and we talked about your brother, so I I wanna ask you, you know, Carter is is a little star now. Like, I like I know you guys have always had like a special relationship. You guys have already always seemed close from like my perspective. So I'm curious because you were probably like he grew up watching you perform, you know, and you were probably like his biggest inspiration. And now, for those of you who don't know, Carter was in the off Broadway production of Barely We Roll Along with you know, people I've never heard of, like Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendes and and uh star side cast. So I'm like curious. Like, I'm dying to ask you, you know, like what was it like to kind of like be on the other end and kind of you know, watch him on a stage after being, you know, his inspiration?

[41:49] Gianna Harris: It was, I mean, amazing being able to watch him like I mean, he's done other stuff, he's done commercials, but it's not the same as like really seeing him on a stage, and he had never done just anything on a stage, he had never sung, he had never acted nothing. And he was still too young to do Broadway Star Project, so he hadn't had that experience, so it was I was really excited to see him and we were nervous I wasn't gonna be able to see him at all because I mean the cast is crazy and sold out immediately. Literally I didn't get to see it. I was so mad it like took a minute for me to like actually get to see it. Um yeah but it was so amazing he got a little singing part too and I didn't know like no one told me that he was singing so like at the end there's like a cute little like you know how in the show they do transitions with the the Mary Lily we roll along roll along like they do that multiple times.

Uh-huh so different people get to sing the transitions and this is like the last one and you can kind of tell it's the last one because it's like alright it's been like two hours. So people like well this is probably like, you know coming to the end. And Carter walks on and he's just walking by and I'm like oh look it's Carter and then he sits down on his bench and he gets to sing like the last little ending part. And I was like oh in just in tears and I'm like sitting next to my older brother and we're just like oh my gosh like there he is like he's he's made it like he wants this is what he wants to do and he's expressed that so much and being able to see him do it was so so incredible.

[43:34] Gianna Harris: Yeah, proud sister moment full circle. I love it.

[43:42] Eli Tokash: I was dying to ask you about, like, you know, because I saw you played your, it's again like you with your playbill or whatever, and I was like, oh my god, I bet she's like loving life right now. It's gotta be such a cool experience. That's so fun. Alright, so let's talk about Hell's Kitchen here because I'm so excited for this show. Obviously, it's at The Public Theater and all the things like that. But Hell's Kitchen, for those who don't know, if you don't know, now you know, this is the musical that Alicia Keys, her music is in this musical. So it's very exciting, and then it's directed by Michael Greif, who we all know and love. Camille A. Brown's the choreographer, like it's stacked. Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon's in the cast.

It's like so highly anticipated at The Public. And you're gonna be in it, and I just like, how excited are you to, you know, be returning to like a show? Like I know you've performed a lot, you know, within the past couple years and everything, but like, you know, with a cast, you know, and like on stage, how excited?

[44:39] Gianna Harris: I'm nervous. I'm so nervous, and like it's been so long since I've done something like this.

[44:56] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[44:57] Gianna Harris: And, you know, it's gonna be incredible, right? And that just takes, that takes work, and I know that's gonna take work. So, you know, I'm nervous. I haven't done it in so long, but I'm over the moon about it.

[45:14] Eli Tokash: Okay, I'm curious because is it me or is it just like with age we get more insecure about our craft?

[45:14] Gianna Harris: Definitely, definitely more insecure. I think because now we're like, when you're little kids, it's like you kind of get away with things a little more. I feel like we didn't have to, like, I don't want to say we didn't have to work as hard, but we didn't. And now I feel like I have to prove myself of, you know.

[45:39] Eli Tokash: I agree.

[45:40] Gianna Harris: Yeah. And I think too, as like a kid, it was just kind of like, it was just like careless. Like we didn't understand that we were working, you know?

[45:48] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[45:48] Gianna Harris: And we also didn't like think of it as like, okay, this is like how I need to like make a career. Like we didn't know what that meant. We were just like saying the word because that's what was being said around us, you know, type of thing. Um, so yeah, like I don't know, like I, you know, the last time you and I both were like on Broadway, it was like six or seven years ago. You know, so I was curious to see, like, you know, like was there ever any, I guess not like doubts or anything, but like was there all, was there any moments that you were like frustrated, like, oh, I hope I was like, I wanted to get that one, or was there a moment like where you were just like, you know, do I go just the music route like you started and do your band or something like that? Like was there any moments like that and then this kind of pulled you back in?

[46:39] Gianna Harris: Totally. I mean, you know, being 14 through like 17, no one wants to cast you.

[46:48] Eli Tokash: Right.

[46:49] Gianna Harris: They have to, you're in high school, you're still a kid, but you're like almost an adult. You're like in this area where it's like we might as well just cast like someone who's eighteen already.

[46:59] Eli Tokash: Right.

[47:00] Gianna Harris: So it's really difficult to find work at that age. And I mean, everyone I've talked to that was acting like around the same time as me, you know, they would say the same things, but it almost, you feel so alone in it. You're like, I don't know what to do. I don't know what I'm doing wrong or what is right. Should I keep doing this? Like, am I actually good because I'm not getting anything?

[47:25] Eli Tokash: Real.

[47:25] Gianna Harris: Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, I definitely started going in more of a music route and I was like, maybe this is what I should do. Like I really enjoy singing. Like maybe I should do that. And I was kind of in a rut with acting, so I was like, hmm, let's try that. But I just, I love being able to like sing and act at the same time. And I feel like there's nothing like that. Anything besides Broadway. Like that's what you get with Broadway is you get to sing and you get to put this emotion into it and you get to tell a story. I think I, the reason I said I didn't want to do singing anymore is I was like, this is not the same thing. I'm like, no one's seeing me do this. Like I'm in a booth and I'm singing, but it's not like being in front of people and being like, alright, like I'm here, everyone watch me, I'm singing, here's my heart.

[48:22] Eli Tokash: Right.

[48:23] Gianna Harris: And not even like, you know, there's something so strong about our community and so like doing it with people, like with a scene partner. You know, like nowadays it's all like electronic and you can hear them in through your headphones, but you're not like with them and it's like, what the heck is this? Like how am I supposed to tell a story not with like someone that I'm like supposed to tell a story with? So it's like, it's so beautiful and I've like, I'm not like, I am a theater kid, but like I've never like claimed it. Um, but like now it's like I'm a fool, like I'm obsessed with the whole musical theater, like I understand what it does. I would understand like how it can change a life, you know, like sort of thing.

[49:08] Eli Tokash: So, uh totally get that. And this project for you probably is like a dream come true because it mixes your love for music, you know, alone now with your newfound love of like theater and acting through the song and everything like that, obviously with like Alicia Keys' music, because your voice has always been sort of like, kind of have like that pop essence to it, you know.

[49:32] Gianna Harris: It's not like a traditional like Carly Gendall, like, you know, voice, um, who was your School of Rock castmate. Um, so like, and like that's like a traditional musical theater voice, but you have such a like a cool vibe and everything. So I was like curious for you, like how excited are you to like meet Alicia Keys and like work with these people and get to sing those songs in front of people?

[49:57] Gianna Harris: Alicia Keys has been like one of my favorite singers since I was a little kid. Like I've always, I've always been an Alicia Keys girl, like always listening to music. My mom always would play her, like whenever, like before I, you know, even knew that this project was happening, I'd always be like, oh mom, put on, you know, put on Alicia Keys. Like, let's listen to her. Um, like "No One" used to be one of like my favorite songs, like in the world.

[50:26] Eli Tokash: Of course.

[50:28] Gianna Harris: So, you know, when I saw this project was happening, I was like, oh wow, like this is really like something that I would love to do. And like, you know, you get the, you know, your email for your audition or whatever, and it has like character description and kind of what's happening in the show and the type of like voice that they're looking for, different like ranges and stuff, and just everything on it was like perfect. I was like, this is exactly me. Like the want for a traditional Broadway voice, but also like a bit of a pop vibe was wanted for the role. And I was like, I can, I can give them that. I can, you know, really nail that. Uh, you know, so just so excited.

[51:18] Eli Tokash: Did you meet her? Did you meet her yet?

[51:20] Gianna Harris: Yes.

[51:21] Gianna Harris: It was, yes, I did.

[51:24] Gianna Harris: It's so incredible. It was my last audition, which the audition process was so long.

[51:25] Eli Tokash: So long?

[51:33] Gianna Harris: So long, like a year.

[51:34] Eli Tokash: Really?

[51:35] Gianna Harris: Yeah.

[51:35] Eli Tokash: How many times did you go in over the course of a year?

[51:38] Gianna Harris: Um, was it like a Matilda thing where it's like 14 times?

[51:42] Gianna Harris: Uh, I don't think that many, but close. I went in first in September of last year for, um, hold on, my laptop is dying. I'll start my sentence again.

[51:59] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[52:01] Gianna Harris: I wanted to die. Alright. Thanks, green. Um, so I started in September with my first audition, which was for the lead, and then I think I had one self-tape, and then like three or four callbacks.

[52:23] Eli Tokash: Wow.

[52:25] Gianna Harris: And then I didn't really hear anything from them for a little bit, and then they were like, hey, can you come back in for the understudy? And they like even said in their email, they were like, 'You don't have to, like, we understand.'

[52:40] Eli Tokash: Right.

[52:40] Gianna Harris: And um, I was like, why would I say no? So I went back in a couple more times. Um, I would say like maybe like three more times. But I mean, they were kind of spaced out, like it was like a couple weeks in between each one, and then my last audition was in a completely different room, and I was like, alright, why am I in a different room? And I knew that she was gonna be there. It was on the email. But I feel like sometimes they say people are gonna be in the room and it's like, oh, they couldn't make it. So I'm like, I don't even know. Like, I could be anxious, and she could not even be in there. Like, it could be like an assistant of hers. It could be, you know what I mean?

[53:20] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[53:21] Gianna Harris: Um, but I'm sitting there waiting, and there's someone else in the room already, and I hear singing, and I'm like, oh my god, that's Alicia Keys in there. Like, I'm about to meet Alicia Keys. I hear her singing in the room, and so, you know, the other guy comes out and then they come out to me, and they're like, okay, we're gonna have you come in in a few minutes. And I'm like texting my mom, and I'm like, oh my god, I'm about to go in, like definitely in there, like I'm freaking out, but I'm also like have to keep my composure because I have to like do these scenes and like act, and this character is very different from me. I feel like I'm a very like bubbly, like up, you know, like excited person. She's very, in the show, she's very angry and upset about her life, so it's like I have to take this excitement and turn it into anger. But I'm about to meet Alicia Keys, but I have to be sad and upset.

[54:13] Eli Tokash: Right.

[54:14] Gianna Harris: Oh my god. So I was like, alright, I gotta, you know, compose myself. Took a few minutes, and then they come out and they have me come in, and she's standing there and she greets me, and she's so, so sweet, and she's like, hi, like, welcome, thank you so much for being here. Um, and then, you know, we start, you know, getting into my songs and the scene and stuff, and she's really helping me through everything. She was very supportive and she wanted me to do good. And, um, you know, I did my scene and they were like, wow, that was really good. Um, now we're gonna do, um, like a harmony thing. And so she walks over to me.

[54:53] Gianna Harris: Hell no, alright, I'm gonna teach you this harmony. Stop. And um, it's "If I Ain't Got You." And she starts singing this harmony and she's like, alright, like, you know, you got it now, we're gonna sing it. And then she goes down to the melody and we're singing this again, like together, and we sing it a couple times through. And it's just such like a wonderful, uh, like I think about it now makes me just like giddy and excited to start working. But, you know, that's, I mean, in my Instagram post that I made, I, it was me freaking out texting my mom being like, oh my god, I sang with her.

[55:31] Eli Tokash: Like I said, I did so good.

[55:35] Gianna Harris: That's amazing.

[55:36] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[55:40] Gianna Harris: You know, like especially with like one of your heroes, like to get past it all and just like focused.

[55:46] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[55:48] Gianna Harris: I'm so excited for you. Oh my god. This is crazy.

[55:51] Eli Tokash: Yeah, no, I'm just like, oh, that's so great. So cool to hear. I love those audition stories, how like different and weird that each one can be.

[56:01] Gianna Harris: Um, yeah, well, the show Hell's Kitchen is playing at The Public Theater, uh, starting on October twenty-fourth, right?

[56:09] Eli Tokash: I obviously I'm sure rehearsals will start before then for you.

[56:12] Gianna Harris: So I'm sure that's coming up soon.

[56:14] Eli Tokash: Um, but the show's gonna be insane. Like I said, like Alicia Keys, Michael Greif, Camille Brown leading the way creatively, Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon leading the cast. Um, I can't wait to see this. You're gonna have to like text me like everything because I want to want to know everything. I just got to work with Shoshana Bean recently for the first time and like that was someone like I was like, oh, I don't know, like I was a little nervous about like I was like because I was a fan, but I was also like, I don't know, like Shoshana Bean for me is was like a little intimidating. You know, because like I've known her and like she's just like a powerhouse, you know, like she's done her things on Broadway and everything.

[56:54] Gianna Harris: Um, and so like just like she was the sweetest person and the fact that she's playing in this Alicia Keys music was like, it was like, oh my god, this is perfect and I'm so excited to hear to hear all about it.

[57:13] Gianna Harris: So I love all of this little, uh, exciting moments that we're having with Hell's Kitchen.

[57:20] Eli Tokash: And I just had Brandon Victor Dixon on like earlier this year.

[57:20] Gianna Harris: It's gonna be awesome. I mean, I mean, you've already said this incredible cast, yeah, um, you know, such a beautiful story and I'm just excited for people to see it.

[57:21] Eli Tokash: Right. You know, is it really, is it like her story though, like her personal story?

[57:40] Gianna Harris: It's like yes and no.

[57:42] Gianna Harris: Yeah, it's very loose, like loosely based. I mean, there's a lot of things that just aren't the same. But you know, they kind of bring in that feel of her, like the character is very much her. Like very much her as a young adult. Cause I was all confused because like in the article that came out or whatever, it was like the lead role Allie, I wanna say. A L I. And I was like, is that like short for Alicia Alicia? Like I was like, is it her? Is it not her? I was but it makes sense that like it would be like short. But it's not at the same time. I mean, I've read, you know, her book. Yes. Right here. Um and that was prep like I read it in preparation of my auditions.

[58:33] Eli Tokash: Oh, interesting.

[58:34] Gianna Harris: Because they never said like, oh, it's about her, but you know, having the scenes and like the sides and like the feel of things. I was like, this is, you know, this is them trying to get across a story very similar to hers.

[58:49] Eli Tokash: Right. And you're obviously like young Ally, right?

[58:55] Gianna Harris: Okay. Oh my god. So you're like kind of playing Alicia Keys off Broadway. Wow. Okay. Well, go off Queen. Um I'm not fangirling at the moment, so it's fine. So yeah, so you're gonna do this show. I mean, obviously you just graduated high school and now you're gonna do this show instead of going to college, right? And what was that kind of process like? Do you, I mean, was that like conversations with your family? Was it kind of like a you thing and then you were just like, here's what's gonna happen? Like what was that process like for you?

[59:30] Gianna Harris: Totally so many conversations, like totally a group decision. Uh since like junior year, because I mean that's when you start looking at schools and you're really taking things serious. You're doing like the SATs and stuff. Right. So junior year I kind of was like kind of I don't know, maybe I'll figure it out next year. Like we'll see what happens. 'Cause I've always known this is what I wanted to do and I didn't want to slow that down with going to school and I was like, I don't even know what I will go to school for. Like I don't know if I'd want to go for musical theater or if I wanna go for music or if I wanna go for something completely different or like business, like you, like something else.

So I, you know, lots of conversations with my parents and with my manager. Like, what should I do? And then senior year kinda rolls around and I don't have any plans. And I everyone around me is like, oh, like I'm waiting to hear from this school and this school, we'll see what happens. And I'm like, All right, like I don't know what I'm doing. Maybe I'll go to community college. And yeah, then I get, you know, this audition for Hell's Kitchen in September, and I'm like, All right, maybe this is, you know, this is the one. And I get really far into it, and then they're like, sorry, like we're gonna move on. And then I'm like, Well, there goes that one. Like, yeah, I don't know what I'm gonna do now. And then like square one.

[1:00:55] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:00:56] Gianna Harris: And then a couple months later they get back to me and they're like, Hey, can you come back in for the understudy? And I'm like, Okay, this is really promising considering that they liked me the first time. So, you know, I go back into my audition process and it was such a relief when you know, I got the call saying, like, yeah, they want you to be a part of the show. And you know, it starts in September, so I'm like, All right, everyone's gonna be leaving for college and I get to like have something, I'm not just gonna be like sitting at home and like doing nothing and working and doing auditions and trying to get things like I did it and it's just like proof that I'm doing the right thing.

[1:01:41] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:01:42] Gianna Harris: Because I was never sure if I should go to college, if I should continue doing this, but I trusted myself and I think that's a message that anyone should like use. I mean if even if you're an actress or an actor or you know you want to be something else like anything just trust yourself. That's what I did. I was like I believe in myself that I can do this and that I don't I want to continue to work and I believe that I believe in myself.

[1:02:15] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:02:16] Gianna Harris: So that's awesome. Yeah I mean eventually I plan on going to college for probably business. You know I feel like that's important as an actor to you know be able to like read contracts and you know like that side of the business.

[1:02:31] Eli Tokash: Yeah totally ends up doing that but I hope that I'm just gonna keep keep keep going.

[1:02:39] Gianna Harris: Yeah.

[1:02:39] Eli Tokash: Well it's crazy because like nowadays like I mean it's not to say like school's accessible because it's very expensive and everything but now like with the whole like online presence of like that sort of thing. Um it's interesting like you, that's always an option you know like so like while you're in a show and like while you're working you could even do that sort of thing.

[1:03:03] Gianna Harris: Yeah.

[1:03:04] Eli Tokash: Um where it wouldn't be as taxing like going to school and applying to all these places and everything like that. But it's interesting like, you know, that you didn't end up like you didn't apply to schools then, yeah. You just kinda were like the stars aligned, you know, sort of thing.

[1:03:20] Gianna Harris: Um wow, that's awesome. Good for you. Because I know that's like a very difficult conversation and and decision to make.

[1:03:30] Eli Tokash: Um obviously the show made it a little bit easier.

[1:03:33] Gianna Harris: Yeah.

[1:03:34] Eli Tokash: So are you looking at this as like kind of like a gap year and then you're like or is it kind of like hey we'll just see what happens man.

[1:03:44] Gianna Harris: I think it's more of a let's see what happens. I'm excited to uh you know just live and work and Yeah. I don't want to say be tied down with school, but like having to do school. School's never been my thing. I've always just not enjoyed it. So you know I'm taking this uh freedom to learn things about myself and the industry and you know talk to as many people as I can and get as much advice from them as I can. You know, I'm just I'm just living.

[1:04:19] Eli Tokash: Just seeing what happens.

[1:04:21] Gianna Harris: I mean you're literally about to have like the top education working with Michael Greif and uh Shoshana Bean and all of these Camille all of these wonderful human beings. I mean like craziest master class you could think of.

[1:04:38] Eli Tokash: Literally like yeah like you can't ha get better teachers in college than than those people. I mean they the resume speaks for themselves.

[1:04:47] Gianna Harris: Um well that's awesome. Good for you, and and congrats on that 'cause I know that's uh that's gotta be tricky. You know, I honest to God, like I've always said like your voice I I could hear all day. Like it's just one of my favorites and I this is in my opinion just the beginning. Well, I mean you've already made it, but um I can't wait to see like where you the the career of Gianna Harris like goes because you are gonna be like one of the one of the leads for a very long time.

[1:05:19] Gianna Harris: Like totally I see it. Like Ariana DeBoes.

[1:05:23] Eli Tokash: Like I can feel like this. Um no, I'm obsessed. So um yeah, but thank you for doing this. I I was so excited to to get to catch up with you and and chat about your career and all the things coming up. Everyone go to see uh Hell's Kitchen at the public theater coming up this uh next not this month or next month, it's in October, uh through December. So it's a limited run. Don't miss it.

[1:05:47] Gianna Harris: Um you have so much to take about for.

[1:05:52] Eli Tokash: Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for having me.

[1:05:57] Gianna Harris: Of course.

[1:05:57] Eli Tokash: Thanks for sharing all the stories. Take about Gianna Harris. I'm not kidding, folks. Like when I say that like she is a name that you will want to remember, like, she is definitely one of them.

[1:06:16] Gianna Harris: Thank you.

[1:06:16] Eli Tokash: And I can't wait to see what she does and and continues to do. Uh I'm so excited to see her in um Hell's Kitchen. I'm very excited to see the show in general, but the fact that she's in it just makes me more excited. And uh I was thrilled that we were able to have her on the podcast today and talk about uh, you know, like the conversations of dealing like do I go to school, do I not go to school, do I try to work? You know, those conversations are real and they happen every day with child actors and anyone who's like a musical theater person, like it's a lot of like, oh, do I go to like do I go into debt to learn about musical theater or do I kind of bet on myself and and bet on the people that I have around me and have uh you know, you know, kind of chosen to to help me and and you know, between like the voice lessons and an acting coach and all of that, like do I do I do that or do I go to school and and try to find it.

[1:07:18] Gianna Harris: Right.

[1:07:18] Eli Tokash: Um I obviously wanted to go to school, um, which is why I'm at uh in school, but I also feel like if I went for musical theater, I don't know if I would have wanted to go to school. 'Cause I went to the high school and was like I I went to a performing arts high school and I was just like, you know, I'm learning all of this stuff already to where it it was like a conservatory and I knew all of that stuff and I do that stuff on a daily basis.

[1:07:47] Gianna Harris: Right.

[1:07:47] Eli Tokash: So um I didn't know. So it good for her for for not uh, you know, kind of betting on herself and and trusting her instincts and hey, the stars aligned for her. It doesn't happen with everybody, but um, you know, school's uh it it's a tricky thing to deal with and uh obviously I don't know. I I I don't wan wanna like there's no like stance that I have on school. Like if you go to school, great. If you don't go to school, great. And I hope that everyone uh succeeds, you know, like I root for everybody.

[1:08:19] Gianna Harris: Right.

[1:08:19] Eli Tokash: So um, you know, it's not the end all be all, but it is helpful in so many ways and allows you to meet a lot of people. Um, so kudos to her and thank you for sharing all of that. And uh I'm so excited for again, like I can't say it enough. Like, this isn't even like an advertisement. I didn't even go through like their press team or anything to get Gianna to come on the podcast today. I literally just texted her and was like, Hey, I'm really excited about your show. Do you want to come on the podcast to talk about it?

[1:08:44] Gianna Harris: That's awesome.

[1:08:46] Eli Tokash: Um, so yeah, I I'm I'm just really excited about it. And uh shout out to Gianna for coming on today. And uh yeah, that that's all the that's all I have for you folks this week. I hope you enjoyed this episode. I really do enjoy talking to fellow kids on Broadway. Um obviously, you know, there's not as much to talk about because our experience just isn't the experience of Alex Brightman or, you know, these other people that we've had on. Um but it we I I appreciate t kind of talking more about the the experience itself, uh and what it was like as a child, and not so much focusing on shows and resumes and stuff like that. It's more showing the human side of of the kids and and uh the performers and all the things.

[1:09:34] Gianna Harris: Right.

[1:09:36] Eli Tokash: So, um shout out to to Gianna again. Uh thank you for coming on. Thank you all for listening. Uh and I hope you come back next week. So we've okay. I'm not even gonna say it, but I will say the next like two months, buckle up. It's gonna be fun.

[1:09:52] Gianna Harris: Yay!

[1:09:53] Eli Tokash: And and this time I'm not gonna double up and and and get short on interviews or anything like that. I'm gonna save them all, and they're gonna come out once a week, but just know, we have a wild uh lineup coming up soon, and I can't wait to share with you all.

[1:10:11] Gianna Harris: Awesome.

[1:10:16] Eli Tokash: Uh, and then of course, we have some new people coming into shows that we may be talking to. Um, so I I'm teasing it, but um I I will say that we have some a great lineup coming up, and I'm really excited to share it with you all. Uh, and I'm gonna start recording this weekend with uh with that lineup.

[1:10:35] Gianna Harris: Cool.

[1:10:35] Eli Tokash: So uh come back next week for a wonderful guest and another great conversation. And until then, bye everyone.

[1:10:44] Gianna Harris: Bye!

[1:10:46] Eli Tokash: Have a great week. For this episode's curtain call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow. This podcast would not be possible without the help of Dory Barrenstein, 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 McMara, 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 TAB.

If you enjoyed this week's episode, make sure to subscribe on the platform that you are currently listening to this on, or go check out our YouTube where you can watch the episode. You can also subscribe, like, and comment on there as well. If you're more into the regular social media and want to follow us, you can do that at Take 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.