This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:01] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 175 of Take A Bow.

[0:07] Eli Tokash: This is crazy. I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and this week we have such an exciting episode for you all. Uh, an episode that has really been a long time in the making. Ever since I met him, really, I have wanted to have this incredible performer on. I mean, I say this a lot, uh, especially with like the younger performers, in the sense of like, oh, this is look out for this person's name, you know, they're gonna be a star, blah blah blah. Like, but I'll never forget my first time seeing Kimberly Akimbo at the Atlantic Theater and falling in love with Seth and falling in love with the performer that is Justin Cooley.

[0:47] Eli Tokash: So I am so thrilled uh to have him on the podcast today and talk to him about his journey to Broadway. Um he has a unique journey, obviously, from Kansas, and then of course he went through the Jimmy Awards, but the Jimmy Awards was not a traditional Jimmy Awards, it was during the pandemic, so it was peak COVID, and he had to do it all virtually in his bedroom.

[1:07] Eli Tokash: Um, and so we talk about all of that, that whole journey, and uh we also talk about his journey now and what he's currently learning while being on Broadway. And honestly, that is the like number one thing, you know. Like you think you know everything it is about performing, and then you you come to New York, and it's just like a whole new ball game.

[1:31] Eli Tokash: And um, yeah, it's just so exciting to hear all about it. And he was super candid and uh open with me, and uh, we talk about all sorts of things, and it's gonna be an episode that you all love. But before we get into that, we gotta talk about some Broadway news, shall we?

[1:47] Eli Tokash: There's a lot going on this week. Um, I usually don't love to start with the bad news. I kinda like to like muddle it up in the middle, I guess. Um, but I'm gonna start out in saying that Jay Harrison G is going to be out from Some Like It Hot uh for six weeks as they have to undergo surgery.

[2:08] Eli Tokash: I don't know exactly what happened or what kind of surgery is happening. Um, very unfortunate news. Demarius Copes will be taking over the role of Jerry slash Daphne while uh Jay is in recovery, and um we're sending our best wishes to Jay.

[2:29] Eli Tokash: Everyone send positive vibes, positive prayers, all the things to Jay and uh during this recovery that they're dealing with. So um, shout out to you and sending love to you, Jay.

[2:43] Eli Tokash: Um moving on. Okay, so Funny Girl obviously closed it last week on Sunday. Um, and it was just all over. I mean, the gays, the straights, the women, the men, the everybody's were going bonkers, whether you loved her or you hated her.

[3:05] Eli Tokash: She Leah Michelle sang "My Man" on Broadway at the bows on the closing performance of Funny Girl. I mean, it was just I wasn't even there, right? And this video like just gave me chills.

[3:24] Eli Tokash: It was wild. Um I can't imagine what it was like being there. The crowd seemed absolutely bonkers. Um, and uh yeah, it was just uh a cap off to an incredible run uh of Funny Girl for that entire cast and company uh involved.

[3:45] Eli Tokash: Um and then after she sang "My Man," you know, she welcomed the whole cast back on. They did one last company bow. Usually she takes last bow while Ramin waits for her and everything.

[3:59] Eli Tokash: So it was a cute little video. And uh yeah, it was just everyone was talking about it. Theater Twitter had some great news this week.

[4:10] Eli Tokash: Um and and to follow up that good news. People were going crazy for Megan Hilty and Jennifer Samard's announcement. Uh the whole cast got announced, uh, but Megan Hilty and Jen Samard are going to be leading Death Becomes Her in its debut production uh over in Chicago.

[4:34] Eli Tokash: Uh, and that's gonna be running from April 30th through June 2nd of 2024. Uh this cast is stacked. And uh this this musical, I like I had never heard anything about it, and now I'm intrigued.

[4:50] Eli Tokash: Like they did cute little videos to announce it, and I have some friends in it. A couple take a bow family members. It seems like Ryan Wersing's gonna be in it, um, who we all know and love.

[5:02] Eli Tokash: Um, and uh yeah, it's just gonna be uh a great production. I can't wait to see what happens. And you know, it sounds like in 2025 we're gonna get Death Becomes Her on Broadway.

[5:13] Eli Tokash: So we won't have to wait too long for Jen Samard to return, and we'll get a Megan Hilty uh comeback to Broadway. Speaking of comebacks to Broadway, Titus Burgess is coming back to Broadway, which is super exciting.

[5:27] Eli Tokash: Uh Titus is joining Moulin Rouge as uh and he'll be starring alongside uh Casey Cott and Courtney Reed. So that's exciting. Love Titus.

[5:38] Eli Tokash: I'm obsessed. I want to go see Moulin Rouge again. Um I want to see Casey and uh Courtney in the roles. But um now that Titus is in it, I'm like, oh my god, even more of a reason to go.

[5:53] Eli Tokash: Um, so it's just iconic. And uh it is gonna be a limited, brief kind of performance type thing, you know, booked him busy, Titus.

[6:01] Eli Tokash: Um, so I I think we're gonna be seeing a lot of this though, uh, especially with you know, someone of Titus who's kind of gotten into the film and TV world um with SAG AFTRA and everything on strike.

[6:16] Eli Tokash: There's not much work. So these people are gonna be coming back to their roots and coming back to Broadway, even if it is for a short stint.

[6:25] Eli Tokash: Um just that live theater drug that you can't live without. It's always pulling you back in. Um, and and speaking of casting news, we'll go over to Samantha Pauly uh is joining Jeremy Jordan and Eva Nobozata in The Great Gatsby over at Paper Mill.

[6:42] Eli Tokash: Uh and their performances uh actually start October 12th and they run through November 12th. So it's just a month long uh engagement of The Great Gatsby.

[6:53] Eli Tokash: Uh I'm dying to see it. The whole cast was announced, but uh most notably was Sam Pauly joining the cast with Jeremy and Eva.

[7:02] Eli Tokash: Um, and it was fun to see some familiar faces and some familiar names in that casting announcement as well. So hopefully we'll get some of those folks on, and we'll it's looks like from what I've heard and seen from friends that are in it, um, that it's it rehearsals have started, and uh they're already on the grind, Mark Bruni heading head leading the way as the director.

[7:28] Eli Tokash: I'm super excited for this, and uh um this is just gonna be something really special. So I can't wait to see uh this over Paper Mill.

[7:35] Eli Tokash: Anyways, moving on, we're the last piece of news I have for you all is Waitress. Waitress was finally like uh I don't want to say bot, but like low-key.

[7:49] Eli Tokash: I don't know. I don't really exactly know how it works, but they got like you know, they got a producer, like the main producer uh Bleaker Street.

[7:59] Eli Tokash: Shout out to them because they are giving the entire nation an opportunity to see Waitress the movie. And um, if you didn't see it on Broadway, well you bet you don't want to miss it in theaters.

[8:14] Eli Tokash: Um it's so different from seeing it live um like on Broadway, but the way that they've captured it and the way that the this production is done, um, and how they filmed it and all the things, you totally get lost in it.

[8:32] Eli Tokash: And um, this is like one of those things where it's like you have to see in a movie theater because of the big screen, you do get lost in it, so you do feel like you're watching it on stage.

[8:42] Eli Tokash: Where if you saw it at home on like a Netflix or whatever it is, you don't get that same effect because you're watching it on like uh or even on your phone.

[8:52] Eli Tokash: It's like a two by four. I mean, I'm being dramatic, but um, you know, it's just not the same thing, you know, it's meant to be seen in a theater, so go see it in theaters.

[9:03] Eli Tokash: Um, and that's going to be uh available and released nationwide on December 7th, 2023. So we don't have to wait too too long.

[9:11] Eli Tokash: Um, and it's just a unique experience. I mean, I I love when shows are filmed, but uh this is like not one of those ones that you'll see at the library or whatnot that's like from the mezzanine or whatever it's from being recorded.

[9:27] Eli Tokash: No, this is like a pro shot from like Hamilton and stuff. So um I'm very excited for it. Everyone knows how much I love Waitress.

[9:36] Eli Tokash: If you listen to me every week, um I'm a big fan, so very excited for this. And I already saw the movie, so I loved it.

[9:44] Eli Tokash: And you bet I'll be back and seeing it in a movie theater. Um, anyways, that's all the news I have for you folks. I've talked enough.

[9:52] Eli Tokash: Um, and I don't know, I think we should just turn it over to Justin. I mean, this episode has it all. So um I I love him.

[10:02] Eli Tokash: And if you're a Kimberly Akimbo fan, you're gonna love this episode because it talks about the relationships with Vicky, um, and all and the rehearsal process and Janine and how he's such a fan of hers, and it's really really great.

[10:17] Eli Tokash: So without further ado, let's just send it on over to Justin Cooley.

[10:17] Eli Tokash: Justin Cooley?

[10:40] Eli Tokash: This week's guest is a Jimmy Award finalist and a Tony nominee, which is crazy. Uh known for an heartwarming performance as Seth in the Tony winning best musical Kimberly Akimbo.

[10:55] Eli Tokash: So everyone, welcome to Take A Bow. Justin Cooley.

[10:57] Justin Cooley: Hi, Justin.

[10:59] Justin Cooley: Hi, thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here.

[11:04] Eli Tokash: Justin, I am so excited. I will never forget So Kimberly Akimbo had this like cute little cabaret thing for like the ensemble kids, the chorus kids.

[11:16] Justin Cooley: Yes.

[11:16] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. It was so Kimbo after school.

[11:21] Eli Tokash: It was so good. And uh afterwards, you know, we went out and and I was like, Justin, I found you and I was like, I just want to be like one of the first people to congratulate you for your incredible performance and your Tony nomination that's gonna happen.

[11:39] Justin Cooley: And you were like, No, no, no, please don't say anything. Like, I don't want to think about it.

[11:45] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, I'll never forget it. And it was like you gave like the cutest little response, and I was like, mark my words, it's happening, and you're like, I don't even want to think about it.

[11:58] Justin Cooley: Yes, come on.

[12:00] Eli Tokash: Come on, Tony nominee Justin Cooley. It's so fun.

[12:04] Eli Tokash: Um, we'll we'll let we could chat about that a little bit, but the way I usually like to start these things is just starting from the beginning. Like, why are we here?

[12:14] Eli Tokash: Like what inspired you to want to perform, tell stories, entertain all the things.

[12:20] Justin Cooley: Right. Okay. Um it's like a relatively short journey right now, but I guess a lot happened. Um yeah, so I I feel like I I grew up singing and I grew up with a wild imagination.

[12:38] Justin Cooley: Love to play pretend but theater and acting was not something that was like in my realm. I had never like gone to see shows growing up.

[12:47] Justin Cooley: Um like I saw my first live musical at like age 15 at my high school. It was Big Fish.

[12:55] Justin Cooley: It was so good.

[12:57] Eli Tokash: Oh I love it.

[12:58] Justin Cooley: That's so good. Um and so that's that's when you know that specific bug started for me but you know I guess I guess it was always kind of there.

[13:10] Justin Cooley: Now I like to think that um but now I was so shy and so nervous about um like being in front of people like I was not I wasn't that type of person at the time I still am nervous but um it's it's worth um but yeah so my freshman year of high school I was in Hairspray um that was the first show I did I was just in the ensemble I remember seeing all my friends in choir like auditioning for it and I was like could not be me like I will not be out there this um but they came like to our classes and I remember one of the older choir kids that I thought was so cool he like came in he was like hey y'all our program has like two black people in it.

[13:59] Justin Cooley: He was like we so please come or else we cannot do the show.

[14:05] Justin Cooley: And I was like, okay.

[14:07] Justin Cooley: I don't know if I can act. I don't know if I can sing, but I can be black. So I will go ahead and do that. So that was the first thing. That was the first thing that got me in. It was like the most roundabout, I feel like. Like I just stumbled into it, and then I was just an ensemble, and then the next year, so this all happened like in my four years of high school. That was my freshman year. The next year I was an ensemble again, and I was like part of more stuff. I was really I like really grew into my theater kid self very quickly. I was like on tech crew, I was kind of doing everything. Um but it's not something I set out to like really actually pursue until my senior year, like I got like my first role in like my junior year.

I was in All Shook Up. Um it was so it was it was great, it was a great, it was a good one. Um but then so I did that, and then like senior year comes and the time comes where you have to make decisions. Um but I had spent like most of my adolescent like in the books. I was hitting the books, I was I was like I'm T doctor or like something like that. Um and then senior year, I was like, what if I didn't do that? What if I just switched it up on you, mom and dad? Right. Um so I literally did not decide until like October of my senior year, like what two three years ago now. Um and then that was that was crazy. I mean, college, anyone listening, it is the worst. It's actually so worse than so.

If you feel insecure and humbled, like it is okay. Um it happens to all of us. Um, but yeah, I like had never done a monologue. I like was like, what is a pre-screen? What are all these things? And it was just like staring. Yeah, yeah. So then I guess that's the beginning that leads kind of straight into Kimberly. Um and you didn't even go, like you committed to a school, but did you even go to college?

[16:16] Justin Cooley: I went to orientation. Well, I was presentation was when I got like my email to come that the following week. Like I left orientation and I was like, I'm gonna go do this little little audition. Like it'll be so cool to like be like be in New York, be seen by people in the industry, and so I had the callback, and so I moved in, I like put out my succulents. I was in my dorm, I voted for my classes, I was so excited for 8 a.m. ballet. Um and then the following week, it was like psych. Um, so yeah, so that happened. Um, the Jimmy Awards, which is what's the crux that we can get into. Um what made that transition. Um end of my senior year, I committed to Texas Christian University. I was gonna go there for musical theater, and then I was I was a Jimmy Awards nominee, which was crazy at the time.

I remember the day I won my regional competition, shout out the Blue Star Awards at Casey Starlight. Um I remember like like almost throwing up, like it was so crazy to me, and now I think like I went to the Tony's and it's like now look where you are. That was fine. But no, I was to know that like I was gonna be a Jimmy's kid was crazy.

[17:43] Justin Cooley: Okay, so did you know what the Jimmies were? Like did you know that this process, you know, could lead to the Jimmy Awards? Right, right, of course. And I I was not expecting that, but you know, it was we were right, we were right at the time. We're similar in age. Like, I feel like when the gym like boom raised the level with like Renee and Andrew, and like you know that so to me it was something that was like holy grail, like so beyond me, truthfully. Um right, but I was I was Dimitri and Anastasia, that was the role that got me in. Um which was cool, which is a role I did not think I was gonna get, so like ugh all all the things just kinda happened. Um I knew about the Jimmies and I had seen the kids that were older than me.

Like I kind of learned about it, like when I was supporting like my friends who were competing at the regional competition that were older than me that are so amazing that I thought I was like, oh my gosh, I will never, I will never be on the stage doing this medley. Um and there I was so unreal. So freaking cool. Cause like for me, like it I knew what the Jimmy Awards were. Like, so when I was in Finding Neverland, they actually like brought like kid judges in. We didn't actually judge, they just made us sit in the front row, and it was the year that even the wasada won that I was there and we were like honorary judges and stuff.

[19:11] Justin Cooley: You were there? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They brought the kids of the Lion King and the kids of Finding Neverland, and they were like, These are our guest judges. We did nothing. We just sat in the front row and like cheered and literally jaws on the floor the entire time. But like still, like even being there, I was like, how does this work? Like I had no idea that like your school performance could lead you to perform on a Broadway stage. Literally the biggest stage on Broadway at the Min's Cop. It's like why and so after that, like learning it, I became like this huge fan of the Jimmy Awards because I started as a CLO, which is where like Van Kaplan and Keisha and all of them, that's where they teach.

And so I was like, I know these people, but I never heard of this and never knew how this process worked. So it's interesting that you already, you know, you you had that on your your to-do list and you crossed that off right away. Um but you you had such an interesting experience with it because that happened at the peak of the pandemic. And so your experience was kind of virtual. So what like wha how did that work from a virtual sense? Did you have to record all of your all of the stages in hopes that like I don't know, you found out during the broadcast like how far you made it, or did you know the whole time and you had to like keep it a secret? What was that like?

[20:34] Justin Cooley: Oh no, it was crazy. So um right, everything everything was virtual, and so it was like it was like a week of us like being on Zoom from like 10 a.m. to like eight at night every day. Honestly, it was crazy. They were very ambitious with it, and it ended up being pretty awesome. Like they they It was pretty advantage, but like they had us out there like uh in the street dancing like fields. Like there's like a kids of me like singing in this field. Yeah, I'm like, that is crazy. On my birthday. It's iconic. Yes. Um, it was crazy. I was so tired of an episode during that time, I was I was literally in a show. I was in a community show, which normally we would just be like, you know, I'm out, I'm going to New York.

But I was like still around. So I was doing Mamma Mia, and I was like, Yes, Mamma Mia. And like being like at the Jimmy, like doing everything. It was it was crazy. Um But we didn't know. We didn't know. We knew I knew that I was a finalist, um, like a few days before the broadcast, because that was when we performed the finalist performances. So that was like my little secret, and it was so funny because I was in the show and everyone knew I was at the Jimmy's, and like I was being quiet and weird, and and they were like, the Jimmies are over, and I was like, uh, well, I still have like two more days. And they're like, what does that mean, Justin? But it was kind of fun.

[22:03] Justin Cooley: It was kind of fun to have that secret for like um, but then the day the day came and we didn't we didn't know who won. Um so we still all had that that performance. We all kind of watched it together. Um that's so cool. I might have been doing my show actually while the broadcast was happening. I was No way. Yes, yeah, yeah. So you were like, did I win while you came off stage? Like checking your phone. Stop it. So funny. Yeah. Wow. Um I wish, you know, I I wish I got the more the more authentic Jimmy's experience. I I watched the Christians here, and it looks awesome. Yeah. Um, they all come in and really meet each other. But it's kind of crazy because now these days, like, you we're all we're all getting older, and like I've been in New York for two years, but now like slowly I'm getting to meet my fellow nominees for the first time because I never met them before, but like I know who they are and I'm fans.

[23:01] Justin Cooley: Um but yeah, so it's been cool. It's weird to think like um I am like one of the Jimmy's kids who booked Broadway, like period. Come on, Jimmy alumni. Um, it's so cool. It really is, and I know that like you know, it wasn't the authentic Jimmy experience, you know, like for a lot of kids, it's like their first time in New York, and you still like were waiting for that to happen. Um but like you also at the same time, like you had an experience that like no other Jimmy kid had at the same time. Right. So you were in like such a right, like you were a unique year. They'll never forget that year, you know, type of thing where it's like you were a part of that. So pop off. Not only were you a part of it, you were a finalist. Come on.

[23:48] Justin Cooley: Um in front of the green screen with like the awful audio quality will always be with us. No, I'm obsessed with the sparkly pink backgrounds that they gave you. I was like, that's so funny. Um that's so funny that it was a green screen. That makes sense now that like I was like, you really just had that sparkly background? That's cute, Justin. That's cute.

[24:18] Justin Cooley: Um so so then you I mean, you had the finalist you that for when you did your like finalist solo, you sang from a song from Tuck Everlasting. So how does that work? Did they give you that song and be like, oh, this is your audition song, kind of like a regular audition, or did you have that already prepared as like your audition song? How does that work?

[24:41] Justin Cooley: So also Well, I to I took Dimitri, but my year was different because not every regional theater was doing the same thing, like in terms of how the regional or competitions were getting to like the Jimmy's um 'cause not every not every sh school was able to do shows and um and all that sort of thing. So it was kind of a different format but we brought solos like to our regional regional competition and Time is the is the song that I was kind of carrying with me through that year. Like I think I sang it for some colleges. Um I I won my regional competition with it. Um so it was mine. It was mine. But we we did take them and at the Jimmies they always have the little coaching sessions um which we still got just over Zoom which was cool. Adam Cantor was was my was my like coach workshop person.

[25:44] Justin Cooley: Um so so I worked on Time with him and he he said that was a good one. So worked on it. And yeah so that's that's a it's like my signature song truthfully in like building my book so like I still go back on Time sometimes. No that's so real because I was like when my voice changed it was like okay time for a whole new book and I was like I've never listened to like adult sing I was always listening to girls because that's where my voice sat. You know, like what does an adult male sing? What are those songs like? That's so funny that you're yeah, I'm in the same boat 'cause I don't know. I like Broadway, but I don't I've never heard all of these cast albums. It's the same like three songs, you know.

[26:30] Justin Cooley: Right. Um Yeah, I and it's crazy. It's crazy being um at this point in my career. Um it's it's an it's a new thing that's happening, but I wonder if it's like when people from the Jimmies kind of are booking so quickly, it's like there's still a lot I haven't learned and there's still a lot like I need to do. Like I like I came here right after high school, so it's like I I don't have the book, I don't have all those things, so that's kind of an interesting thing for me to be building while debuting on Broadway and learning so many other things. It's like don't get it twisted, I still never took tap.

[27:10] Justin Cooley: So I still need to learn. Like a lot of the things. Oh my god, I love it. No, you're gonna be in Some Like It Hot and you're gonna do the tap the tap break, uh your book. That's hilarious. Um well I'm curious because you know, your first time in New York happened to be your audition for Kimberly Akimbo, or I guess your callback. So what was that like for you? Like was it kind of a culture shock? 'Cause you're from Kansas. So is is was it completely different or was it kind of like effortless and you were like, oh, like I belong here in a sense.

[27:50] Justin Cooley: You know, it was it was a culture shock. Um I'll say it doesn't really set in until you move here, also. You know, when I was first here for my audition, I was like, that's what I was focused on. Um like I wanted to take my vacation. It was so funny actually though. Like the one day we had planned out, I was supposed to like go to my callback and then um and then we were gonna go to Central Park and we can go to Rockefeller Center and I got on the train left and I was like I was with my mom and I was like oh like it was fine like I think it went sort of well and then like we were just about to start our tourist activities and I get another call and they're like could you actually run back here like we just want to like see our date no I was like oh God I was just gonna be free from the stress.

[28:39] Justin Cooley: Right. But you know suffice to say it went well and yeah um but yeah it was it was it was so different um but I will say I I never went in with like this is where I belong um I definitely went in with like okay let me see like I know it's great but like it's also kind of crusty and busted and crazy here. Really so I was like I'm gonna keep my sights on both of those truths. Um so so when I came in it was um it is very different and and I I love it now like I feel I feel like I I belong now um but there there was a lot to adjust to for sure but in a way I guess being like 18 like I was like about to make a life adjustment either way so it was it was kind of seamless in a way that it didn't feel like ah New York it felt like ah I'm 18 and I'm leaving home. Like I was going to do already. Like time to be independent, time to be right. Like here we go. Now I just happen to be in New York doing it.

[29:55] Eli Tokash: Right. Oh, that's interesting. So you kind of had the mental preparation, but like not at the same time.

[30:03] Justin Cooley: Like then I got here and was like, ooh girl.

[30:08] Eli Tokash: Right.

[30:09] Justin Cooley: Yeah.

[30:10] Eli Tokash: How do these subways work? Um, okay. I have to look for an apartment. No, thank you.

[30:15] Justin Cooley: Right. And I have to like check my mail and like look at the old ew. I have to cook my meals. What? What is that? Yeah. It's crazy, man. It's just a wild world. But these Kimberly uh Kimbo auditions, I I read in New York Times. I was doing a little a little preparation for this. Um that that you it took like three emails for you to end up doing the audition. What was the wait, Justin? What was the wait?

[30:48] Justin Cooley: Oh gosh. Kind of linking back up with the previous story. So it was post Jimmy's right. I was doing a show. I was in Mamma Mia. I was like so overwhelmed, overloaded, and quite frankly not immensely confident. And so this came and it was like no way. I was like, no way am I putting myself this is not not the great attitude, but I was like, I can't put myself in front of Jimmy Desori right now, you know?

[31:22] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[31:23] Justin Cooley: I was super nervous. I was super nervous to have such a big opportunity, and I think also suddenly, 'cause like I was like never even saw myself at the Jimmy's, so then to be at the Jimmy's to be a finalist to now getting an audition, like in the I was like, oh, I just I just chose to go into this five months ago. Like I was speaking, right.

[31:45] Justin Cooley: Um so firstly actually I was sick though. I was like, I was like, I was just the finalist. I was I'm literally in my show. I was like, I can't do this. I was like, thank you guys so much. But then they were like, oh, like just send it in next week. And I was like, okay, okay. Like, okay, like I that's cool. And then and then I got sick after the show, you know, like the high school, like post-show, like you just fall apart. Overwork, overstimulated. Like, thank you so much for like being persistent with me, but like I can't sing right now. So like, and I was just trying to be like so respectful, like I felt so bad, so I was like, So, like, if you guys like need to move on, like if you need to like, you know, like don't worry it, like thank you, like I'm so glad.

And they were like, no, like last time, like we really we really would like to see you, like, get it in as you can. And at that point, like, you know, there was that poll. I was like, I do want to do this deep down, but I am so so afraid of this.

[32:48] Justin Cooley: Um, because I was also going to college, like this all happened in two weeks after the Jimmy's. My orientation was scheduled later that month, and then this was all happening in between. And I was like, like I'm going to college and this thing. But then I was like, you know, what's the worst that could that can happen? And that that's that's like a great opportunity that the Jimmies provides. Like you get out there. It's like exposures. So yeah. The worst thing that's gonna happen is that like now they're gonna have my name and headshot, and and hopefully, hopefully it's good. But you you do have to put yourself out there, and that's something now I think about looking back, like I I want to reinforce kids like at that age like to know that even if you don't have all all the talents and all the training and all the skill like I'm in Kimberly Akimbo because I have something special to stay say like for that story at my age.

[33:44] Justin Cooley: So being an 18 year old um being like a little messy and unkempt is what yeah that bonds me to Seth. Um and so that's that's the wisdom I have now um but at the time you know it's hard to believe my initial response was just like no like I'm gonna voice crack and like I don't want Janita Sori to see me voice crack.

[34:07] Eli Tokash: Right.

[34:08] Justin Cooley: That's real and and I feel like that that that kind of applies to anyone like at any age you know I'm sure you still like I don't know when you go perform or you know there's someone really cool there that night at a show you still get nervous or you know and like that happens. It's just being a performer and I don't know it's just it's scary putting yourself out there and and being vulnerable you know but we do it to ourselves so and we love it because in the end it's worth it.

[34:41] Eli Tokash: Yeah yeah yeah we do it in the end it's worth it. It's okay to have it's okay to have that internal you know turmoil.

[34:48] Justin Cooley: Well I'm curious so to stick with this audition process here that we're kind of in did you ever audition with Victoria Clark to kind of like do a chemistry kind of audition.

[35:03] Justin Cooley: I think about that a lot. No, we did not really until the first day. And it just seems like such a like I don't know if that my creative team is just that, you know, galaxy brain, like they just saw and knew that this was going to happen, but right, like it turned out to be a coincidence that like we we just really resonate with each other and and became really close friends personally and it comes across in our work and like I think it's what makes what makes a lot of it so strong. Um it's it's crazy.

[35:36] Justin Cooley: It's like a real, a real fateful event. Um we did not we did not do any readings together.

[35:43] Eli Tokash: Wow, that's crazy.

[35:44] Justin Cooley: So the first time you guys met was at first rehearsal at uh Atlantic Theater, basically.

[35:49] Justin Cooley: Yes, yes.

[35:50] Eli Tokash: Wow, that's wild.

[35:52] Justin Cooley: Okay, actually what's so funny, the first time we met was um when we had skate camp, because that was the first thing we did.

[35:59] Eli Tokash: Oh right. Skate camp.

[36:01] Justin Cooley: We we ice skate in the show. Surprise.

[36:06] Justin Cooley: It's out there. Um but I went to the training camp too.

[36:12] Justin Cooley: So I actually though I don't I don't skate in the show, I do have the I have the skills, they're there. I added it to the resume.

[36:21] Eli Tokash: Right.

[36:22] Justin Cooley: I'm adding it.

[36:23] Justin Cooley: Um along with the Jiva. Um period. Um she she literally she came one day, she didn't do skate camp originally because um uh she she wasn't she she had stuff going on. She's she's she had business, but um she came to visit just to say hi to everyone, even though like she wasn't and she was like, Oh, like I rode my bike here, and we were on like like 14, like some maybe like 30, 40, somewhere around there, and we're and we're like, where do you live? And she's like, Oh, like a hundred and seventy, and I was like, this 60 year old woman did not bike down in this hot summer, like 130 streets, and that was the first time I met her, and I was like, she's unhinged in the best way, and she is one and incredible.

[36:54] Justin Cooley: That was the first time I met her, and she made it. But what a leader, you know, like that's what a leader of a of a company, you know.

[37:24] Eli Tokash: Absolutely, absolutely.

[37:26] Justin Cooley: Something she wasn't even a part of. She was like, I'm gonna write this bike there. Just to say hi and show face, you know, that's wonderful.

[37:34] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I love that.

[37:35] Justin Cooley: So okay, so I've never had a stage kiss.

[37:41] Eli Tokash: So I'm curious for you, like, what is that like for someone that you like had never even met, you know, like you read the script, and you're just like first day rehearsal, okay. I have to like kiss someone that I'm about to meet. Like, what is that like? Is there any sort of like prep mental preparation that you have to do just for like some stranger you gotta kiss?

[38:05] Justin Cooley: Um that's so funny. I I had done stage kisses before in high school. Um, but you've seen the show, there's something that's so different about the stage kiss.

[38:18] Justin Cooley: Um, I feel like this was like the first time I was doing something like this. Reading the script, I think what we all knew, the creative team was like, this is like this is something fine, like eat like, you know, we we can't just go out there and just be kissing each other.

[38:37] Eli Tokash: Right.

[38:38] Justin Cooley: So so it was so it was nerve wracking for me and for all of us. For me, I was more nervous than Vicky because I was like, I'm kissing Victoria Clark. Like I'm 19. I'm doing this on like a professional stage, like I don't really know how to do this.

[38:55] Justin Cooley: Um actually, so it was the first time though we had like an intimacy coach, and he was like this very like vibey man, and he was like, You guys just have to let the heart magnetism like spark. And I was like, okay, I was like, okay, magnetism. Um yeah, that's that's how we crafted it, and it it was nerve wracking. Stage kisses overall are nerve wracking. And then when you're stage kissing right, wait, no, now I'm like I can't spoil. But um, yeah, there's a stage kiss in there and it's a very special moment.

[39:37] Justin Cooley: Um but yeah, it took care, it took care. I think that was like a big, uh big developmental moment for me. Um different than anything I've done before and like that I might, you know, ever do. It's like a very unique moment.

[39:52] Eli Tokash: Yeah, exactly.

[39:54] Justin Cooley: And it's kinda sorry, what was that last part?

[39:58] Eli Tokash: One second.

[39:59] Justin Cooley: Oh yeah.

[39:59] Justin Cooley: I'm actually gonna plug in my laptop so it doesn't doubt.

[40:01] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah, go for it.

[40:07] Justin Cooley: Work. Um no, yeah, like the stage kissing is just I don't know, it's always been something so like I don't know. I like go in for auditions now and I'm just like, oh, like there's a kiss in here. Like, how does how does how would that work?

[40:23] Eli Tokash: So uh I was curious to hear from like a fellow young reformer, you know, like I don't know. I'm still in that phase where I'm like you're like, I haven't even kissed that many people, like in my like do I even kiss well? Like I've kissed one person, right? You know, like I'm like, oh god. Am I a good kisser? They just tell me, I don't know.

[40:41] Justin Cooley: What that's crazy.

[40:46] Justin Cooley: So um very interesting to to hear. That was more for me than for the listeners. Uh so um, but yeah, like your your guys' chemistry on stage is just it it is beautiful and it is unique and and it is like it works, you know, like it's something that we like you don't see a relationship like this on any sort of Broadway stage, you know.

[41:12] Justin Cooley: And so the fact that you guys are able to do so with such grace and maturity, but also such like realness, like at the same time, like you can tell there is uh like you both love each other, you know, like and it may not end up be in a romantic way, but but there is love there and you both care for each other and it's just so beautiful watching it as an audience member.

[41:36] Justin Cooley: Um that's what it's called. I think uh it it's a complex show and a complex moment, so like it takes complex effort, and so yeah, all that stuff took a long time to build.

[41:50] Justin Cooley: And even the kiss, like, like it the vibe changes with the audiences. Sometimes people laugh, sometimes people aw some silent, sometimes it's tense, and it's like we had to kind of experience all of that shit and and learn through it.

[42:06] Eli Tokash: Right.

[42:07] Justin Cooley: And now I'm sure it's just like okay, we got it, we're good. It's okay.

[42:12] Justin Cooley: It's just uh it's just a little kiss. Cause at the end of the day it is just a kid.

[42:16] Justin Cooley: Like it's nothing like crazy, right? Um I don't know. We're just I'm in that stage where I'm like ooh yeah but yeah okay um oh my gosh you know what Victoria Clark said the first time we did it we pulled out and she said yeah everybody has lips and I was like he I was like whoa that changed the game for me because I'm exactly it breaks the ice right yeah that's great that y'all are able to be comfortable do all the things um well I remember the first time I saw Kimberly Akimbo and it was at the Atlantic and I mean I don't know if the show has changed drastically but there were definitely like parts of the show that are no longer in it from the off Broadway production to the Broadway production.

[43:12] Eli Tokash: So I'm curious to ask you you know like is there anything like it it could be a song it could be a scene it could be a line um that was in the off Broadway production that you were like like thought were so funny or you have like a memory about that is no longer in the show today.

[43:30] Justin Cooley: Oh my gosh there are so many. Also the siren oh please that's okay um oh my gosh there are so many I mean I think especially because like it's a comedy there are so many like jokes that have been cut for so many reasons that I'm like, ugh. I wish. I wish we kept in so many just crazy things that people would do. My favorite one is Ali Mozzie. Like she had a face for like two days during her opening song. Um darling. And there's a part where she's talking about Carpal Tunnel, and she's like, Why would I get inspirations on both hands if I did not need them? Like for like two days during my previews, she would just be like, Gary. Like, like to someone named Gary, like, why would I get them Gary?

And then the writer was like, who's Gary? Don't do that. But I'm like, we should have kept that. I it is unring and so weird. Um but there's so many things like that. I think a specific thing in the music which you would have seen at the Kimbo after school. Um the wapwalk swipe swi. Yes, waterfall hand. Real fans who remember that. That was cut early, early in preview of the Atlantic, but I miss her. It was cute. It was cute. It was everything. You had me at that table, that would have been in there. Please. Right. Right. Right. That's awesome. It's crazy. And there's there's their whole whole whole new songs. There's one whole new song, act one. It's just act one finale. Right. We saw that. It's crazy. We all like sing that recreationally because we missed it. Right. Right. It was good. It was good. I remember. Oh, sorry, go ahead.

[45:33] Eli Tokash: Janine didn't think so.

[45:34] Justin Cooley: Yeah, I I know. I remember it was Skye. She like because I don't know, Skye and I are good friends, but she like I saw like it at the Atlantic 'cause it was Sky. So um I I remember like s always singing that song and Skye was like, Oh, yeah, that's cut. And I was like, No, no, it's not. You're lying. Take it back. And she was like, Yeah, but we're really not sure what song it is 'cause they just keep changing the finale of Act One.

[46:06] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[46:07] Justin Cooley: I I heard there was like forty like not forty, I'm being dramatic, but we're actors. Um so I heard there were many renditions and trying to find what works for that finale. They didn't hate it, but they knew it needed to be changed a long time ago. And so we always kinda talked about it. And right. Like I was saying, obviously all the changes work 'cause we 'cause we weren't best musical and so they they were probably what needed to be done. Yes. But I don't know. Waterfall hands maybe maybe would have gotten us musical plus. Like I have like a special spot.

[46:46] Eli Tokash: I'm with that.

[46:46] Justin Cooley: You you you need to like incorporate waterfall hands just in like your maybe even like after the oboe when the lights dim, it's just like or the two bo, not oboe. What am I saying? Um but you know what I mean. That would be so funny. It's crazy it's so fun being a part of a new musical. Um to see that sort of stuff happen.

[47:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah, well talk to me about your journey and and like finding y you know, creating your own character, you know, finding your Seth. Who was like a was there an inspiration or like a person that really helped you find it? Was it kind of just you or yourself, you know, a lot of it, you know?

[47:27] Justin Cooley: I don't know. I mean, it it is such it was such a complicated process, as I'm sure it always is, but I think like kind of the pertinent themes for me were like I was I was creating a character, right? For any musical, which is hard for any actor and is a process, but at the same time, I was so young and so inexperienced that you're always learning through your career, but in a big way I was kind of learning how to act um at the same time, like at the level. Um I was advancing like as an actor while creating this character. So I I feel it it's been a long journey, which is crazy because a lot of people like say like they saw The Atlantic and they loved what I did. Um and I feel like I really didn't settle into it until like a few months ago, really.

Um because as I was getting better at acting, like at like a a steep incline rate, it was like the character was evolving with me. But I'll say it's it's very interesting, um that there was all of that going on, but at the base of it, like what I needed to do to get to Seth was like tap into just being myself and my pure self and like the lack of of like formal training was like bringing out special things that I needed that I now am like okay, I can look back on that and keep that. Um, but it's been a a process of like myself coming out. Like, I remember like in the early rehearsal process, like Seth was just like so shy. Like he was just so shy all the time because I was. Um now that I've like had grown and kind of found more things in the character it's like I look back on that though and I bring it out in in in little bits now to like create a more a more full picture um but I'll say also with inspirations like that's my kind of personal journey but there are so many things I like to say like he's he exists on this spectrum between like Tigger the Tiger from like Winnie the Pooh and like Luna Lovegood.

Oh my god sprinkling of like Napoleon dynamite like there's a lot of of weird inspirations I'm obsessed together for Seth. And I think you know the the the thing of live acting is like he he kind of goes different places on different days um and finding that truth was another thing about building this character that like an important realization I I would feel like as a teenager I was like we have like different personalities like every three days. Like we like you're so not actually grown into your identity and you're like figuring stuff out that like um you know that's all that's also changing and like in volatile in ways um and I would feel insecure about that as a human in the rehearsal space like trying to navigate working with Victoria Clark and like working with myself and then building this character I was like oh my gosh like I'm a new I'm a new I'm a new kid today.

Like I'm doing I mean I think that's something that that permeates through your whole life but it I do think it's heightened you know when you're a teenager like at that time um but then like finally hitting the realization that like wow that like is something I am struggling with as a human and that is also something Seth is struggling with because he is 16. Um so like let's just do it together and and I think that's something that kind of clicked in um and made things different for me.

[51:24] Eli Tokash: Um I love that it's so true.

[51:27] Justin Cooley: Yeah a lot of people like a lot of teenagers specifically should think about like when you're doing roles because I feel like um yeah it's it's a weird time in your life and so in acting is like the art of like self-control and like fixing but it's like it really doesn't have to be like be yourself and like be the volatile teenager you are and like just bring it bring it forward.

[51:59] Eli Tokash: Yeah and I think that that's something so special about like when casting directors do cast someone young to play a young role like there's an element to the human self that they're exploring that brings to the characters that sometimes is missing when they cast like adults to play kids or something like that.

[52:19] Justin Cooley: You're so right and and the realization and that's this is something that's very new that's happening like people my age and it was a realization like in terms of storytelling, the experience of like being a teenager, like has something potent in itself. Like teenagers, like you are, I was, I guess, I'll speak for my as a teenager, it's so deeply insecure. But it's so it's hard to believe that you have something like that you can say like I'm an artist, you know, like I'm artist with like my own paintbrush, like my own thing, because you're insecure, but then it's like that insecurity is a paintbrush to speak metaphorically.

[53:07] Eli Tokash: Um it's so true.

[53:09] Justin Cooley: Yeah, that's like a big lesson I learned on this journey settling into myself with this role, and that's like what I think about Jimmy's kids or talk to other Jimmy's kids or kids who are like working into it, like that's what I want to talk about because like I pushed off this audition because like I wasn't secure in my insecurity. Um the second I was like so many good things happened, and like I I flourished in this role.

[53:37] Eli Tokash: Right.

[53:38] Justin Cooley: It's so true. It's like use it, you know, in a way.

[53:42] Eli Tokash: Right, right. So interesting.

[53:44] Justin Cooley: Um there's a philosophical digest for everyone.

[53:47] Eli Tokash: Yeah, no, no, I'm this is great. Like, this is what this is all about. I love talking about the human side to performer because we know you as Seth, right? Like, we we don't know like Justin. We think we do because we see you perform. But we have to learn this side and to like know the human is it's wonderful. And to learn all of these people. I'm I'm obsessed with it. I love these conversations. Thank you.

[54:11] Justin Cooley: Yeah, of course.

[54:12] Eli Tokash: Well, I do you are you like struggling for time? Because I have two more questions. If if you need to go, we'll end it here.

[54:19] Justin Cooley: Two more questions we can do.

[54:21] Eli Tokash: Okay, two more questions we can do. Um well, I I'm dying to talk to you, obviously, about the Tony Awards. Um Girl, we haven't even hit that.

[54:33] Justin Cooley: Um, so this is I mean, this is wild. I am so happy for you. Tony nomination, it's just unbelievable how crazy was that process, and how like important was it having Vicky and Bonnie there who have already gone through that process to kind of help you through it all.

[54:59] Justin Cooley: Right. It was it it's it's such a crazy, I think it's such a crazy time in my life, and it's a crazy time overall because it's like this weird month and a half in which like from your nomination to the day, you know?

[55:17] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[55:18] Justin Cooley: Um, and it was crazy. It was it was like you you have these immense feelings of like, oh my gosh, you're you're Tony nomin your Tony nominee. Um that's incredible. But then it's like that's not the only feeling that arises. Um there's now like um for me for the first time doing this, it was like, okay, so now I I've built as an actor and built my skill, and now it's like I am going to be doing all these press things and doing interviews and doing galas and doing shows and and like special performances. Um so I felt like for the first time, um, I was I it was like in a mental learning experience in a way that like is it's about the nomination, but it's like not what you would think about immediately.

Um but like the the the whole process of it and and the feelings you navigating my uh like your own like this is an awesome accomplishment like I worked so hard to get this it's time to keep working um now I have to do different things and I have to think about this and I have to sit with it because it's gonna be a lot and it's like induces tears like the whole season like it's so stressful they're like I have like five weeks in a row where it's like no day off like every day off with like some sort of event like it's crazy sleep like no and yet you have to sleep like to do your job well so it's oh my god um it was crazy it was hard it was hard in many ways and like I yeah you know that's the truth that needs to be said it is so difficult um so that's all to say I I don't I literally think like I would have imploded like the brain like though I would have exploded if I did not have Victoria Clark and Bonnie also there like they had so much wisdom and um I feel like the great thing about our cast overall and like personally is that like I'm 19 Bonnie's you know 40 Vicky's 60 there's so many different um places in our career and in our company and and we kind of feel that all the time which is cool like have intergenerational like you know like going through going through each other, but during that time it was so good I could I could relate to Bonnie because it was her first time, it was Vicky's like sixth time.

[57:53] Justin Cooley: Um yeah, it was it was crazy, and also the whole company. I mean, we we were all a part of it together. Um so you know, on times I would be like, I you know, I want to go out with people, but like I don't like oh, I'm so tired. Then it's like we can just sit in the dressing room for like 30 extra minutes after the show so I can get some human interactions from um, yeah. It's isolating, I'm sure. And but at the same time, you're like, I should probably save my voice too, you know. Like my voice, but it's hard to find that right. Yeah, it was hard, it was crazy. It's it's so weird to be past it. Um, there's there was like the actual day of the Tony Awards, it was like ahead, also like a big relief, honestly, because it was like, oh my gosh, like this is I can breathe.

Um it was awesome. It was a crazy day though. I think I'm like I feel like the memories are like coming back. They like were like they were like muted for like a month. I was like, I don't know what I was doing that day. Right. I don't know how that happened. Wait, were you like w was there a moment even like at the nominee luncheon or even at the Tony Awards itself where you you kind of were like starstruck to like meet someone?

[59:23] Justin Cooley: Oh my gosh, every day it was it was stressful, it was stressful. Oh my gosh. This is this is the real vulnerability. I remember sitting at like one of the luncheons. It was it was like for the new dramatist field, it was wonderful. It was a great day. But I was like sitting at the table, and like Corey Hawkins was next to me, and like Ben Platt was like on the other side of me, and my producer was there. And I was just like, I'm just a little boy. Like I a child. Like what is happening? Like, why am I? I don't know what to talk to Ben Platt about. I don't know what to say to anyone. Um I do it. Eventually I was like, ah, whatever. And I was like, ah, I'm just like, I'm just gonna be myself, but I did. I like, oh, I need to go home. Like, this is amazing. But I was like, this is so scary and so crazy. And um just a whirlwind for it all to be happening when I was 19. I was like, oh my gosh.

[1:00:28] Justin Cooley: Um you couldn't even have a drink with everyone. No, literally. Oh my gosh. I remember that was starstruck though, like the first time. Like I like I told I was like, I didn't say hi, but I walked past Jessica Chastain and we shared the same air for a second, and so I think I'm good. I think I'm good now. Like sad. Right. And eventually I did say hi to her. Um, I don't know if you remember what I did. So I I gained a lot of bravery at that time. Come on, confidence.

[1:01:10] Eli Tokash: That's awesome.

[1:01:12] Justin Cooley: What a cool time, and what a cool thing to experience at such a young age, you know, to meet like that season was just stacked with so many incredible performers, you know, Alex Newell, Jay Harrison G, like, and then you had like the movie stars, Jessica Chastain, Aryan Moyad, like of course Hawkins, like everywhere. I was like, well, I'd uh to know I like yeah, I was like that was a cool thing about not one of the best things about being nominated, which you know I just said was super hard, but it was like um being pushed a little bit deeper, like into like the industry and getting getting opportunities to meet those to meet people. I mean, not only those people, but like all the people I met um during that time, like that was you know, having a funny nomination is great, but like well, it is great, but um it's awesome. Um but like the the award and the title is not the only thing, you know that that it does for you.

[1:02:11] Eli Tokash: Absolutely not.

[1:02:17] Justin Cooley: Yeah. Wow. I'm obsessed. Well, um, I want to end it on one final question just because I love like I've I've seen these shows that I talk to people on, and I always go back after talking to them, and I wanna at like leave it starting like I like leave the interview asking what the everyone's favorite part of the show that they're in is to perform. So that like when I go back, I can be like, oh, I know he's having a good time right now. So what is your favorite? Do you have a favorite number, a favorite scene, a favorite line, whatever, to perform every night?

[1:02:55] Justin Cooley: Yeah. Um I think I enjoy my first scene where I just meet Kim on the bench. Um because like it's something we've played with so much, and it's like um I kind of get to experience like it's a lot of the me and Kim friendship scenes. I'll say that connected to the locker scene is what we call it. Um we talk and we have an awkward little conversation and it's so cute, and like I get to experience the euphoric feeling of like not knowing someone and becoming their best friend over and over again every night, and that's like so actually nice. Like that's a really cool thing I get to be a part of in this story, and like to reset it in that first scene and be like, I don't know this girl, like who are you? And then live through it and then like feel like um, you know, that first spark of friendship. It's it's so cool.

[1:04:00] Eli Tokash: Yeah, cry along.

[1:04:02] Justin Cooley: Oh I love it. I'm literally gonna be in the audience like, oh my god. Um I love it. Well, Justin, you have such so much to take about for. I mean, you were so early in your career, and I cannot wait to see and like support you and watch this journey that you go on throughout your career.

[1:04:23] Justin Cooley: Yeah, this is just a beginning. Um, but you already have so much to be proud of and so much to celebrate. So thank you so much for for coming on here with me today and taking styles this year.

[1:04:35] Justin Cooley: Yes, oh my god, of course. I'm so excited. This has been a long thick time in the making. We were gonna scheduling this for for a minute here, but we got it done.

[1:04:45] Eli Tokash: Patient and sweet.

[1:04:47] Justin Cooley: Are you kidding me? No, no, no. Because I get it. Like, like it's it's good. I've been there, I have not been at the Tony Awards, but I I have done eight years a week, and it's a brutal thing. So I completely understand it. I and I appreciate this just like happening and and you giving me some time to for everyone to get to know Justin and not Seth. Thank you for giving me that chance.

[1:05:11] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, of course. Well, you're the best.

[1:05:15] Eli Tokash: Uh go have fun doing eight shows this week. You kill it every week, and everyone, you know, you're just winning everyone's hearts over at the booth theater. So everyone go check out Kimberly and Kimbo.

[1:05:30] Justin Cooley: Oh my god, what I I don't know, like, okay, real talk. I don't like I get nervous still, like asking some questions because I'm like, okay, if I was performing, like, how would I want to be asked this question that I really want to know about? You know, so like asking him about the whole like kiss with Vicky and everything, like I was like, is that gonna be okay to ask? Cause like I don't I've never seen like anyone ask that question. I didn't know what.

[1:06:05] Eli Tokash: So um I I finally did, and I it was just so uh his answer was just so brilliant and so candid, and and him talking about you know how he was just nervous to send in a tape, but look what happened when he did. Um, and it was because that you know, like Janine Tassori, oh that's a little scary, like I'm a big fan of her work, and blah blah blah. Like it was just Justin is such a raw, natural performer, and like it's so wonderful to see how you know everyone has their times when they're supposed to you know be pulled into this world that we're in.

[1:06:51] Eli Tokash: Um whether it's getting discovered on social media, whether it is um, you know, just sending in a tape, whether it's a Jimmy Award from a high school production, you know, like you're getting picked from a high school production. You just never know.

[1:07:07] Justin Cooley: Um, and it's crazy how the world works and takes you along this ride and puts you to where you're supposed to be, because he was literally about to be a doctor. Could you imagine this kid is a doctor?

[1:07:18] Eli Tokash: I mean, I actually could, um, and I'm sure he would be incredible, but this man does deserves to be on the stage.

[1:07:26] Justin Cooley: Like, we as an audience member and fans deserve to get this wonderful gift that uh he has and possesses nightly on a stage. It's just so crazy to me, and it's just another reminder as to, you know, everything happens for a reason. And if you love this, you know, keep going and stick with it because your time will come, you know, like in one way or another, this industry has it's scary, but it it it does have a plan for you, and it is okay to be insecure, and um you have to be, as Justin said, which really resonated with me, secure in your insecurities.

[1:08:09] Eli Tokash: Um and so just a just a bright person and a wonderful person to have on the podcast. So much to take about for.

[1:08:18] Eli Tokash: Anyways, I'm basically restating the entire podcast. So I am going to stop talking, but first I want to say thank you all for listening to this week's episode of Take A Bow. Um I'm back at school, so I don't know if you can tell. There's a little bit of energy to me. I'm a little excited, a little change of scenery, a little change of pace. Um, and uh yeah, it's just uh we're gonna do some weekly things here and there, and you know, I appreciate all the support and all the love.

[1:08:47] Eli Tokash: So thank you for listening to this week's episode. Come back next week for another wonderful episode. Until then, bye everyone. Have a great week.

[1:08:59] Eli Tokash: 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 from Dory Barrenstein, Alan Seales, 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 Grind? And our final bow are extra special to the patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McMahon, 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.