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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 186 of Take A Bow.

[0:05] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and this week we have a very, very exciting episode for all of you.

[0:05] Eli Tokash: We have a very special guest who is now a movie star starting today.

[0:18] Eli Tokash: Um, I'm very excited for this week's episode.

[0:21] Eli Tokash: Uh, literally one of my favorite performers.

[0:24] Eli Tokash: I, as most of you know, I'm a huge Waitress fan, and I continue to go back and fall in love with the show, and it's like I'm seeing it for the first time.

[0:35] Eli Tokash: And a lot of that is due to the fact that every performer in that show is simply incredible and insanely talented and really good at what they do.

[0:47] Eli Tokash: Um, and one of my favorites is our guest who plays Dawn in Waitress.

[0:54] Eli Tokash: So we have Caitlin Houlahan on the show today.

[0:58] Eli Tokash: Uh, and I'm just so excited for you all to listen to her journey through the industry, but also some of the stories that she shares from both Waitress and Girl from the North Country, as well as Peter Pan Live, which was like her first ever professional gig that she did.

[1:18] Eli Tokash: Um, and then Parade at New York City Center before it came to Broadway with Jeremy Jordan and Laura Benanti and all these incredible people.

[1:27] Eli Tokash: So it's a great episode and it's stories for days, and it's a longer one because Caitlin was the sweetest human being and willing to chat with us about it all.

[1:40] Eli Tokash: Um, so huge shout out to Caitlin, sweetheart, and we are so thrilled that she is now starting today a movie star, and we'll get into all of that.

[1:50] Eli Tokash: So, uh, with that being said, it is time to talk about some Broadway news before turning it over to Caitlin Houlahan.

[1:58] Eli Tokash: Um, Broadway news this week.

[2:01] Eli Tokash: We got some exciting stuff out of Broadway.

[2:05] Eli Tokash: Uh, if you ask me, all of these things excite me at least.

[2:09] Eli Tokash: And these are just four of the things that really kind of stood out to me that were really important for me.

[2:18] Eli Tokash: But of course, there are more things that happened and more announcements were made.

[2:21] Eli Tokash: But I'm just highlighting these four as it is a longer episode.

[2:25] Eli Tokash: So, uh, we're gonna start off and say Hell's Kitchen, the Alicia Keys musical that she wrote.

[2:32] Eli Tokash: It's sort of an autobiography, it's like a loose autobiography.

[2:36] Eli Tokash: Um, but it's called Hell's Kitchen.

[2:39] Eli Tokash: We'll be transferring to the Schubert Theater on March 28th of 2024.

[2:46] Eli Tokash: That's when previews begin, performances begin, all of that.

[2:50] Eli Tokash: Opening night happens to be on April 20th of 2024.

[2:54] Eli Tokash: Uh, so it will be in this year's Tony Awards season.

[2:59] Eli Tokash: Uh, and I'm so excited for the show.

[3:01] Eli Tokash: I mean, we had Gianna Harris on the show to kind of talk to us about the show and about the rehearsal process.

[3:10] Eli Tokash: Uh, they were very early on in the rehearsal process, but really the audition process and, you know, first time meeting Alicia Keys and all of that.

[3:19] Eli Tokash: Uh, but it's a star-studded cast, it's playing at the public right now.

[3:22] Eli Tokash: It's having major, major, major success.

[3:25] Eli Tokash: Uh, Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, uh, Malia Joy Moon is the breakout star in the show.

[3:34] Eli Tokash: Uh, so very exciting stuff, and I can't wait to be able to have the chance to see it because it is so hard to get a ticket right now at the public.

[3:44] Eli Tokash: So with it coming to Broadway, it'll be very exciting and hopefully a long run is in its future here on Broadway.

[3:54] Eli Tokash: Uh, even in the hard-selling Schubert Theater with how big of a space it is.

[4:00] Eli Tokash: So, uh, shout out to Hell's Kitchen, can't wait to see it and Alicia Keys.

[4:05] Eli Tokash: I mean, you can't go wrong.

[4:07] Eli Tokash: So, uh, yeah, that's that.

[4:09] Eli Tokash: And that's obviously the Schubert Theater where Some Like It Hot is right now.

[4:14] Eli Tokash: So, uh, obviously that's closing and Hell's Kitchen's going into that theater.

[4:20] Eli Tokash: Um, moving on, Amber Ardolino is going to be replacing Robin Herder in A Beautiful Noise starting January 2nd.

[4:30] Eli Tokash: Robin Herder will be leaving prior to that.

[4:34] Eli Tokash: So I can only imagine that the understudy is kind of, you know, holding down the fort for two weeks until Amber gets in the show.

[4:42] Eli Tokash: I would imagine this is like a contract thing of like, oh, when you get into a show, right?

[4:49] Eli Tokash: Uh, you have your contracts and whatever, and sometimes you sign off for six months, sometimes you sign on for a year, sometimes you're like, oh, um, this can be open-ended, but I would love a four or six-week out.

[5:04] Eli Tokash: Uh, some people can even get a two-week out.

[5:06] Eli Tokash: That's very rare.

[5:07] Eli Tokash: Does not happen a lot unless you're like probably Audra McDonald or something like that.

[5:13] Eli Tokash: Um, you know, it's a very hard thing to do to flip over a character and a performer and all that in just two weeks.

[5:23] Eli Tokash: Um, so I would assume that's what the overlap is in having the understudy go on for two weeks.

[5:31] Eli Tokash: Uh, so shout out to Amber Ardolino for getting her first principal role on Broadway.

[5:38] Eli Tokash: Uh, obviously a lot of you listening are her TikTok fans and all of that.

[5:43] Eli Tokash: She's currently in Back to the Future.

[5:45] Eli Tokash: Hopefully, we can get Amber on the podcast.

[5:47] Eli Tokash: I'd love to talk to her.

[5:49] Eli Tokash: Uh, I've been a fan of hers since her Broadway debut in Head Over Heels.

[5:53] Eli Tokash: Uh, she's one of those ensemble members that just stick out like a sore thumb.

[5:56] Eli Tokash: And I'm so thrilled that she'll get the opportunity to, you know, make her principal debut on Broadway.

[6:03] Eli Tokash: And, uh, shout out to Robin Herder for an incredible run in the show.

[6:07] Eli Tokash: Uh, you have, I believe it's now like 10 days.

[6:11] Eli Tokash: She leaves next Sunday to see her in the show, and she's absolutely incredible and was robbed of a Tony Award.

[6:20] Eli Tokash: So go see her while you can.

[6:22] Eli Tokash: You have until December 17th.

[6:25] Eli Tokash: Um, and yeah, that's that.

[6:27] Eli Tokash: So, uh, moving forward, uh, speaking of casting news, I'm gonna continue with that.

[6:34] Eli Tokash: Uh, it was very exciting to hear that Take A Bow family member Nikki Renee Daniels, uh, as well as Jay Harrison Gee and Cheyenne Jackson and many others join Sutton Foster and Michael Urie in Once Upon a Mattress over at New York City Center.

[6:55] Eli Tokash: Uh, you know, New York City Center, I've said it a million times, just continues to produce incredible productions while, you know, able to get these just star-studded casts.

[7:09] Eli Tokash: It's just unbelievable.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Um, and obviously Jay Harrison Gee, who, uh, Some Like It Hot star, now that Some Like It Hot's closing, Jay found their next role, and that's very exciting to see.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: So, um, yeah, great stuff all around and another stellar cast and another stellar season for New York City Center.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Shout out to them.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Uh, can't wait to hopefully see the show or even cover it, hint hint, wink wink to City Center.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Um, okay, moving on.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Oh, I was really excited about this one.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Uh, Merrily We Roll Along is extending until July 7th of 2024.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Uh, I was so thrilled to see this.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Obviously, Merrily We Roll Along, uh, after its huge success kind of off-Broadway, it was a very hot ticket coming onto Broadway and it continues to sell out.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Um, it's very exciting and with that star-studded cast that they have, uh, between Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff, um, and then of course, you know, you have your Katie Rose Clark and Lindsay Mendez and all of them.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Uh, you know, it was destined they kind of had to do a limited run with that cast.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Um, and I'm thrilled to see that they are extending and that they were even able to extend.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Um, and you know, I wouldn't be surprised to hopefully continue to see the show extend because I just know that all of them, as much of stars as they are, they all just genuinely love Broadway and love performing on the stage.

[8:52] Eli Tokash: So, uh, hopefully they just, you know, say, hey, I'm down to like continue doing this thing eight times a week if y'all are.

[9:01] Eli Tokash: So, uh, everyone keep buying those tickets because I think a show like Merrily We Roll Along and having that caliber of talent on a Broadway stage is huge for our industry and to be able to represent Broadway in such an incredible way with those stars.

[9:20] Eli Tokash: So, uh, shout out to Merrily We Roll Along, July 7th now.

[9:24] Eli Tokash: Uh, you have to see that on Broadway.

[9:27] Eli Tokash: And when I say you have to see it on Broadway, like you have to see it on Broadway.

[9:32] Eli Tokash: It's so unbelievable.

[9:34] Eli Tokash: Uh, and those three together as a trio are nothing short of excellent.

[9:41] Eli Tokash: So, uh, shout out to everyone involved in that cast.

[9:45] Eli Tokash: Um, last piece of news I want to mention before turning it over to Caitlin Houlahan.

[9:52] Eli Tokash: Uh, I want to talk about Waitress, uh, because that's kind of what the theme of this episode, uh, this week's episode is.

[9:59] Eli Tokash: Um, I am obsessed with Waitress, and, uh, they, I'm very excited to not like announce because like this has been announced, but I guess remind y'all that starting today, uh, a big reason as to why Caitlin is the guest this week, other than how incredibly talented she is and how great of a career she's had.

[10:22] Eli Tokash: Um, but today, starting today, you can go see Waitress the Musical in a local movie theater.

[10:31] Eli Tokash: Uh, so they filmed the pro shot and now it is out in select movie theaters around the world, and, uh, there's at least I would say a few near you.

[10:45] Eli Tokash: I mean, it's playing in New Jersey, it's playing in Ohio, it's playing in Texas, it's playing in, you know, wherever.

[10:51] Eli Tokash: Uh, hopefully there'll be theaters near you that are going to be playing Waitress the Musical live on Broadway.

[11:00] Eli Tokash: I guess they, I don't know what they're calling it exactly.

[11:02] Eli Tokash: It's kind of confusing.

[11:03] Eli Tokash: Um, but yeah, it's out in theaters starting today, and you only have five nights to see it.

[11:09] Eli Tokash: So, uh, you don't have long.

[11:12] Eli Tokash: You have until next Tuesday to really see it.

[11:15] Eli Tokash: I know, uh, AMC 25 here in New York is gonna be playing it for a week and perhaps a day or two longer.

[11:25] Eli Tokash: Um, but all I know is most theaters that will be having the show, uh, it will only be running for five nights.

[11:35] Eli Tokash: So, uh, you know, don't wait.

[11:37] Eli Tokash: There's gonna be like 3 p.m. showings, hopefully a 5:30, a 7 o'clock, and a 10, 10:30 moment, and, uh, that seems pretty standard for most movie theaters that I've looked into around the world.

[11:51] Eli Tokash: So, uh, you kind of have that matinee slash standard evening show vibe and, uh, even a late-night watch.

[12:00] Eli Tokash: So, uh, very exciting stuff, and I highly recommend everyone going to see it.

[12:06] Eli Tokash: We talk about it a little bit in the episode, but doing a pro shot of a musical is a hard thing to do, and it's a thing that is still new, and it's a thing that people are still experimenting with and, uh, kind of, I don't know, I guess, you know, really perfecting.

[12:06] Eli Tokash: Um, but, uh, everything that they do here with Waitress, it's a pretty risky thing to do, and they captured it so unbelievably well, and, uh, I'm thrilled to go back to see it again after seeing it at Tribeca and seeing it a million times on Broadway.

[12:47] Eli Tokash: So, uh, I can't wait to see it in theaters, and, uh, who knows, maybe I'll see you all there.

[12:51] Eli Tokash: And, uh, yeah, that'll be that.

[12:54] Eli Tokash: I mean, I do want to say as well that there happen to be rumors that it will be on a streaming platform eventually.

[13:03] Eli Tokash: Um, it seems like both Disney Plus and Max, uh, or HBO Max, whatever you want to call it, have been floated around that they will be carrying Waitress live on Broadway or whatever.

[13:17] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, but it doesn't seem like anything is like set in stone, and uh even if that does happen, it probably won't be until the spring or summer, if at all. So um I would just play it safe. If you want to really see it, plan on seeing it these five nights, and uh don't depend or rely on uh having the opportunity to potentially stream it. Um if we do get it on streaming, great, we're already paying for the subscription, just a bonus, and uh we can watch it in the comfort of our homes again. So uh yeah, that that's kind of that. And uh yeah, that's all I have. So uh I think with that being said, I mean, we're talking about it already. Let's just turn it right over to our fabulous guest this week, Caitlin Houlahan.

[14:06] Eli Tokash: Caitlin Houlahan, curtain up. This week's guest is a Broadway and movie star, as you may know her from Peter Pan Live, Girl from the North Country, or Waitress on Broadway. Speaking of Waitress, if you didn't get to see her shine on Broadway in Waitress, you'll be able to catch her in Select Theaters near you starting Thursday, December 7th, uh in Waitress Live on Broadway, which is so exciting. Everyone, welcome to Take A Bow, Caitlin Houlahan.

[14:40] Caitlin Houlahan: Hi, Caitlin.

[14:43] Caitlin Houlahan: Hi. Hi, everybody. Goodness. This is crazy. Um, well, thanks for doing this. Hey, hey Tuesday afternoon. Um, when we were recording, I I love everything Waitress. I've come on here a million times and said Waitress is literally one of my favorite musicals, if not my all-time favorite. Um, and and my girlfriend and I are obsessed with Dawn. Um, so I we I was so excited. You emailed back. I texted my girlfriend immediately, was like, you'll never guess who is coming on the podcast, and she was so excited.

[15:19] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh my god. So this is a treat. Uh I'm so flattered. Thank you for having me. I feel honored.

[15:25] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, always. Uh, I'm so excited. I I wanted to have you on like right after I saw the movie, but I was like, no, I have to wait for like more people. Like I know this is more people are gonna be able to see it. You know, it was ending at Tribeca, and I was like, we gotta do it uh when it like really comes out. So uh so glad it worked out. And uh perfect timing.

[15:49] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, perfect timing. Um yeah, so I'm curious. Like, like let's just start at the beginning. That's how I usually like to start these at least, and just like what why how are we here? You know, like what inspired you to want to be a performer to tell stories, all of that.

[16:08] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh my gosh. It's kind of a crazy story. I mean, I guess I don't know if it's that crazy, but one of my favorite things about performers in Broadway is that every person that I talk to has a different journey of getting to where they are. And I think that's so brilliant because how many professions have that unique like group of people who have come from a million different backgrounds and places in the world. It's crazy. Right. Um, so I guess mine's not as crazy as it could be, I suppose, but um I uh grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, like outside of Cleveland in um Aurora was the name of my town. My parents still live there.

[16:47] Caitlin Houlahan: And um I the first probably introduction I had to theater was my grandma would take me to shows at Playhouse Square, um, or we would go see the Nutcracker or anything like that. She really like instilled this love of performing um in me. And yeah, I like did a show in third grade and then did some shows in middle school and high school, but it never was something that I imagined myself doing as a profession. I don't know why, it just that we didn't my school was more into sports and you know, the arts were there, but it wasn't something that was like super supported as go and do this in the world kind of thing.

[17:35] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, so I went to school. Um, I went to school for music. Uh, I went to Baldwin Wallace, uh, which is also in Cleveland, and I started out as a uh music therapy major. Whoa. Um, my thought process was I love music and I want to do music, but maybe I'll do it in a way that seemed accessible to me at the time. Um and after two years of doing that, and two years of being at BW and watching the music theater uh students perform and going to their master classes and just watching that because I still loved it.

[18:16] Caitlin Houlahan: Um I had this just it was like this voice in my head that was like, I think that you can do that. And um I didn't tell anyone and I auditioned for the program. Oh and um and I it was crazy. And I got in, and so I ended up doing um an extra year of school since I had switched two years in. So I did uh three years of music theater and I had to double up on classes and then it and there was just like it I always felt like I had this like unfounded confidence.

[18:56] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, because even going through the the program, which is like a really incredible program, I didn't ever feel like I was a star or that I was, you know, the head of the class or anything like that. Um, but I just had this confidence that was like, keep going, just keep going, you're gonna be fine. Um and so we showcased in New York after we are right before we graduated, and um I moved to New York. This was in 2014, in May of 2014, and uh by I wanna say it was like July or August, I found out that I booked Peter Pan Live.

[19:39] Caitlin Houlahan: So it was all very fast, and I think my parents were kind of like, oh wow, okay, you know, they were when I said I'm moving to New York, they were like, Okay, sure. Yeah, you're moving to New York. They were very supportive, but they were like, okay. And then when they pretty much dropped me off in New York, they were like, okay, like they had all the hope in the world, you know, and all the support, but they were like, we're here if you need us. Um, so I think everyone was just like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, okay, all that was worth it. You know, that last extra year of school was worth it, and it kind of has been flowing ever since.

[20:17] Eli Tokash: Oh my gosh, I love it. Well, first of all, I gotta start at the beginning because I mean Cleveland's not that far away, but I'm originally from West Virginia, Weirton, I don't know.

[20:28] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh my gosh.

[20:29] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[20:30] Caitlin Houlahan: So yeah.

[20:31] Eli Tokash: Yeah. So uh we love that little connection, not too far away. Um, I mean, Cleveland is is far away, but Ohio itself, you know.

[20:40] Caitlin Houlahan: Totally neighborhoods. Midwestern-ish, you know.

[20:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love it. So when you didn't tell anybody that you were auditioning, but you just decided to audition, what was the conversation like with your friends and family of just like, hey, I got accepted and now I'm I'm changing. Like, what and I have to do an extra year of school. What what was that like?

[21:03] Caitlin Houlahan: Well, I think the first conversation that I probably had was with my parents. And I think I went home for the weekend, I was at the dinner table, and I was like, I'm switching my major to uh music theater. And they were like, oh. And I said, Well, okay, you know, BW has this amazing program and kind of gave them all these stats of, you know, these are past graduates and they're on Broadway, and and you know, I feel really good about this.

[21:31] Caitlin Houlahan: And uh they said, Okay, like what has to happen, basically. And and because I had to do an extra year of school, all the scholarships that I had gotten, none of them like went towards that year. So it was a little like kind of like, okay, we have to figure this out. How are we going to pay for this? And I ended up, I think I was a part-time student, so that I didn't have to pay, I I only had to pay for the classes that I had to take.

[22:00] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, and I lived off campus at that point. So we basically figured out a way to make it the least expensive way that I could do this. And honestly, I I think if if anyone had um hesitations, no one said it to my face. Everyone was so supportive in my family, in my friends, in my life. Um, and so that maybe that was part of this like confidence that I had found in myself. But um, yeah, did that answer your question?

[22:38] Eli Tokash: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we love that. I mean, literally, behind every performer, kid to adult, it's like there had to be some sort of support and in all the ways financially, mentally, uh, emotionally, like all of it. Uh someone to like lift you up whenever you needed it. Um, so it's great to hear that you you know, you had that and you had an overwhelming amount.

[23:03] Caitlin Houlahan: So uh, and obviously it worked out. Thank God you listened to the voices in your head.

[23:08] Eli Tokash: Uh yeah, I would say.

[23:10] Caitlin Houlahan: Um Peter Pan Live comes into your life, right? And I mean, you you go to school for musical theater, but you're getting a movie musical uh as your first gig out of college.

[23:24] Eli Tokash: Um I don't know, you're training for musical theater, but did it feel like you were almost doing something completely different because you were on a film set, or like was it kind of like, oh no, I know what's going on, I feel secure and at home, but it's a little different, or was it just no, totally different.

[23:40] Caitlin Houlahan: I mean, everything about it was different. It was, I think the rehearsal process was the most um normal part, or the most theatrical part of it because we were in a studio and um I didn't know anything really about TV. Right. Um and also it was such a weird medium because they had done um Sound of Music Live. It was the first time that this kind of theater, uh TV movie hybrid, but it's also live.

[24:21] Caitlin Houlahan: Like everything about it was new. And so I think that there was everyone involved was figuring out how do we do this? What do we do? And I had this amazing benefit of having so many castmates who had also never done anything like this, and we were all around the same age. It sometimes felt like theater camp. You know, all of the lost boys, like I I still am friends with so many people that I met on this job.

[24:54] Caitlin Houlahan: And um and someone and um uh Chris McCarroll who was also in it, I grew up with him in Aurora. Um we also went to BW together and then we ended up doing Peter Pan Live together and we were I think living together at the time so like every part of our lives we had kind of gone through together. So having him at my side made things so much easier.

[25:18] Caitlin Houlahan: Um and we could kind of go like what is this? What is what is crafty mean? You know like what's what is craft you know like this was my first introduction to anything like that. Um and then on top of that I was also understudying um Wendy.

[25:36] Caitlin Houlahan: So I was at every um every rehearsal for that and it was kind of like there was no um the only chance that I would have gone on was like if something happened right before we went live or if something was happening while the show was going.

[25:57] Eli Tokash: Right.

[25:58] Caitlin Houlahan: So like my anxiety level was already high because it's live and we have no idea how people are gonna you know react to this but it's extremely exciting and you know my entire hometown is watching and I'm on in the last like five minutes of this whole thing.

[26:19] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, it was just crazy. Um, and you know, we rehearsed so many times, but right before um my scene, which was the very last scene, I was Jane Darling.

[26:33] Caitlin Houlahan: So it was very last scene. Um, and Minnie Driver, who played older Wendy, had only just come in a few days prior. Um, because she was in this very last scene and that was it, and they got her to come in. So we didn't rehearse my scene a lot because they kind of waited until we had Minnie Driver. Um, so, and there was a lot involved. It was I was flying, so they were hooking me up to things while the camera was turned. And um right before I went in to the room, and I kind of had to like sneak over these beds while the camera was turned. And um the stage manager looked at me and he said, "Don't take any pauses, we're over time, and the movie will cut off. Stop." And I'm like, okay, it's my TV debut.

Right. And like I gotta make sure I get through all my lines and we fly and everything's gonna be fine. And then like, so once everything was done and they called cut, it was like the world was lifted off of everyone's shoulders and the entire place. But it was it was like, okay, I didn't have to go on for Wendy. I got through my scene, we flew, everything's fine, everyone's safe. Um and yeah, we just it was like the best time with such wonderful people. I'll never ever forget that entire experience. And um the bubble kind of burst as we were in our cars getting back to the hotel, and uh, there were people who were on Twitter reading what people's reactions were, and of course, I mean, it's this new medium.

It's a very easy to roast, and now now we can look back and like really laugh about some of the things. But um, it was it was an incredible experience. Um really after that, I felt like, okay, well, I still haven't had any experience with Broadway or really TV. So it was this like really strange hybrid where I was like, okay, I did this thing, but I also don't know how to do anything else still. Right.

[28:47] Eli Tokash: I mean, but like thinking back on it all, it's kind of a great way to be like thrown into the mix, right? Just to like get a million things thrown at you, especially like while you're still like young and like able to handle it. I don't know.

[29:03] Caitlin Houlahan: I totally, I mean completely. I think it was like I was young, I was with all of these other people who were my age, we were having a blast. Um, and it was like we were so impressionable at that time. It was like just tell us what to do and we'll do it. Like it really felt like a summer camp experience.

[29:27] Eli Tokash: Yeah, exactly. There's not really that room in your head of like thinking about anything else other than what you're being told, right? Like it's not even like I'm about to be in front of a million people like that.

[29:38] Caitlin Houlahan: Totally thought when all the crazy. No, I was like, just tell me what to do and I'll do it, you know.

[29:44] Eli Tokash: I love that. That's awesome. Well, yeah, I mean, you mentioned like, you know, Chris Jacarroll and like all of these people that you're kind of going through the first time process of it all together. Uh, but you also had like these absolute pros onset, you know, with like Rob Ashford directing and Christopher Walk and Kelly O'Hara, like I mean the list goes on and on. Like, do you feel like you know, as someone who was like starting out that you were kind of able to just like watch and kind of learn through them and try to like emulate what their process was in approaching a character or is the set or whatever?

[30:24] Caitlin Houlahan: Absolutely. I mean, I remember like specifically with Kelly O'Hara, because I it was Kelly O'Hara, and I was like, I cannot believe that I'm in a production of something with Kelly O'Hara, you know. Um and Christopher Walk. I mean, it's like people that it was the first time that I had like really seen people in person that I had really seen in films or on stage or read about. Um, you know, so it was a really good introduction to how normal people are. Um and you know, I think when you're in the same production as someone, you kind of realize that okay, we're doing the same thing. Maybe, you know, this isn't as unattainable as I maybe once thought it was. Um I'm trying to think, like, there are there are some people who are in Peter Pan Live that now I'll go see shows and think, oh yeah, that person was in Peter Pan Live. And I have no idea if they would ever remember me or anything like that. I mean, I looked like I was 14 years old, even though I was 24.

[31:38] Eli Tokash: Right. Totally.

[31:40] Caitlin Houlahan: But um yeah, just being around these like legends, it's like you could just stand on the side and watch and go, oh my gosh, like I'm in the greatest master class that I could ever be in.

[31:54] Eli Tokash: Right. And on top of being, you know, super young and looking like a 14-year-old, it's also like a very different community as like in the process of theater and film. So I'm sure that also has something to do with it, because you're not able to become that sort of family where you're doing a show for a year, you know. It's like you come in for four weeks or whatever long it is, and it's like, okay, we have to get this done and we have to figure this out like ASAP.

[32:23] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah. And it was it, they kind of, you know, it was like the Lost Boys in that kind of group was um would do stuff on this stage. And then pirates would be on another stage, and I don't even remember who else was in it. But it was like we all we were all in different areas. So there were some people that I barely interacted with. Right. Because they were working on their scenes, and when they were doing their scenes, we were getting dressed to do other scenes, and you know, it was just weird and wonderful and unique and unlike anything I'll ever do, probably.

[32:58] Eli Tokash: What a wild experience.

[32:59] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, yeah. Wow.

[33:00] Eli Tokash: So fun.

[33:01] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah. Wild. Well, I mean, you talked about, you know, after Peter Pan, it was like, oh my gosh, this I did this incredible thing, but I still like have no idea and everything. You then were like thrown into another really cool project at Lincoln Center, like one of the biggest theaters, you know, ever. Um with Jeremy Jordan and Laura Benanti and Ramin Karimloo, like all of these pros again, like and it ended up being Parade, if I didn't say that. Um so yeah, yeah, of course. Oh, how how I mean, how what was that like doing your first professional show on a stage in New York City? Like, do you kind of remember any of that? Like, are you able to like soak that up, or was it just like holy cow?

[33:51] Caitlin Houlahan: There's things I remember. It was a two-week process, so it was fast. Um, and I played one of the factory girls. Um, and it was again one of those situations where I got to just sit and listen to Jeremy Jordan and Laura Benanti singing, and as Jason Robert Brown is playing the piano, and I'm watching it, and I'm like, I can't believe I'm actually I I'm part of this. I'm not even just like uh sitting outside watching this. I am like in this and watching this. Um so uh that was like a huge pinch me moment. Um and the performance of it was exhilarating and terrifying because it was like, here's one shot to do this, and you have an entire choir behind you, and you have an orchestra behind you, and you have like one shot to just like okay, go ahead.

And and I felt that the hype for it was so extreme because people were really wanting Parade to come back. Like they hadn't, it was right, it happened, I think, in 1999 prior to this recent revival. So I don't know if that's right. 1998. Maybe even before. Something. It could have been, but yeah.

[35:11] Eli Tokash: But I mean it had been a while since the New York audiences had like experienced this show again. So, you know, it was it felt like there was a little bit of pressure, but it was also very exciting. Um I had a great time. I had a wonderful, wonderful time. And it's it's one of my favorite musicals. Um, and I'm I'm I was really lucky to um my husband was the standby for Ben Platt for this, you know, for the one that was just on Broadway. And so we both have like this crazy attachment to the show. Um, but it's that was a really, really special experience.

[35:55] Caitlin Houlahan: And I I remember uh we had a um a QA with the choir who was singing with us. There was one day it was at the end of rehearsal, and they had the whole choir, and this was like a 200 people, and they had us all sitting in chairs and they we each had a microphone. They said, "Okay, um, everyone go down the line and tell everyone what your first Broadway show was." And every single person had been on Broadway except for me, and so it like got to me, and I just said, um, "I've never been on Broadway." Like I remember just feeling like, oh my gosh, like I can't believe I've done these two big projects that feel so like high profile and like really feel like I'm doing something here, but like I still can't say I've been on Broadway, you know.

[36:50] Eli Tokash: Totally. Well, I think it's interesting because like, especially for like, you know, people that go to like school for musical theater or or just like audience members or whatever, it's like Broadway is the end all be all to like have success in this industry. And I feel like that's just so not true. I mean, obviously that's it.

[37:11] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh, it's such a lie. No, it's a great, it's a great goal to have, wonderful, wonderful goal to have, but it is so not the end all be all because there's this idea that once I get to Broadway, my life will be perfect and changed, and like my problems will go away and I will have enough money, you know, and it's like all of these things that we think will happen when you get there. And it's like, well, it just happens to be a high-profile job with um pretty good pay, but then you don't know if it's gonna close in a week or if you'll be in it for a while, and you know, um, but yeah, I I always felt that as well. That I just like I it's not the end all be all. There are so many other amazing, wonderful projects to be part of that, you know, aren't the typical eight shows a week.

[38:05] Eli Tokash: Absolutely. I couldn't agree more. And I don't know. I I just think that it's crazy because like the only difference between Broadway and like any other like a tour and everything, you perform in like bigger theaters, so you should be like more nervous for that, probably, than like a Broadway stage. But there's uh a more money involved in like the set and the light, so it's more glamorous and everything like that. But that's really the only difference. Is that the glamour, I guess.

[38:36] Caitlin Houlahan: Um to clarify, uh, you were right with Parade. Wasn't I mean, it was not 1998, but it was December 17th. So like you know what it was? It was on the 1999 Tony Awards because Brent Carver, his YouTube video or the YouTube video of him performing "This Is Not Over Yet" on um on the Tony Awards is probably my favorite performance on the Tony Awards of all time.

[39:06] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry.

[39:07] Caitlin Houlahan: So that's why I was like, I know that there was a 1999 in there somewhere.

[39:11] Eli Tokash: Right. It's fantastic. If you if people haven't seen it, it's a must, must watch.

[39:15] Caitlin Houlahan: Real. Yeah. Real. Um, and it's great with Caroline Carmelo, who everyone on this podcast knows and loves. She played my grandma on Funny Neverland.

[39:25] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[39:26] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, yeah. See? I just love Caroline. That's so cool.

[39:29] Eli Tokash: I know, right?

[39:30] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah. Um, so craziness and full circle moment.

[39:35] Caitlin Houlahan: I know that you know, Parade obviously lasted for a short time on Broadway, and then this experience with Parade, you said was like two weeks long. Was that still was that kind of like your reassuring moment of like, oh, I did do something on a stage, or did it still feel um, I know it wasn't like Broadway and you felt like secluded from that, but did you feel a little bit more comfortable, I guess, in working with incredible people still and all of that? It felt like I was on my way, if that makes sense. It felt like it gave me this, it gave me more confidence that okay, I'm in the New York scene, and I felt like this could help me get to where I really want to be. Um, which again, when if you're not on Broadway or haven't been on Broadway, it feels like you have to hit that goal before you can say you've made it when really, as we've discussed, I don't think that's true anymore, but I understand how that feels when you don't have that.

Um, so it felt like I was on my way. Um, with Parade, we were still holding books in our hands and were like standing at microphones. So it still didn't feel like I had like it was like I performed on a stage, but you know, I still had yet to do I don't know what felt like, but like what it you know, like what really is that? Like, right, right, right. It was this idea that I created in my mind of this bar that I needed to get to. Um, when looking back, that was such an amazing accomplishment. Um, that I wish that I had allowed myself to feel that at the time.

[41:34] Eli Tokash: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Lincoln Center, that that's no joke.

[41:38] Caitlin Houlahan: That is terrifying to record. Um, terrify, it's massive. Oh my gosh. For no reason. I mean, there's it's like, what the heck are we doing here?

[41:49] Eli Tokash: Yes. Um, well then I mean, after that, I mean you met that bar, or I guess the idea of that bar that you made for yourself in and making your Broadway debut in Waitress. Um, which is like, first of all, a beautiful musical. It was like I mean, it had success, like when you came into the show so like you had that going for you too where it wasn't like oh boy I don't know what this is or what I'm gonna do into or something like that um so you know like what was that feeling like to to you know finally get there and then to be able to make your first Broadway bow and feeling like hey yeah like I am here I do belong here almost it's it's moments like that that I wish that I could while I'm experiencing them I wish that I could like snapshot that emotion just to remember how that felt um because I saw Waitress when it was in previews and completely fell in love with it as one does because it's so amazing um and I remember watching Kamiko Glenn and just thinking that she was absolutely fantastic.

The character was so beautiful and so beautifully done and I remember thinking possibly for the first time that I saw myself in that character and thought if there was something that I could do on Broadway it would be that that like Dawn became my dream dream role.

[43:34] Caitlin Houlahan: And I remember emailing my agent and saying you know I know it just opened um but you know in the future I would love to maybe possibly get in the room for this. I that would, you know, be amazing. This is kind of my dream role. And he said, okay, like it probably, you know isn't gonna happen, but you know, just because it had just opened, you know. Um, and so by some strand of luck on my end, in it was still the summer, I think at the time, it was maybe August. Um, I got the audition and I was like, oh my, oh my god, I didn't know that this was even, you know, a possibility. And I went in um sang for Sara, which was like very surreal. Uh first time like ever seeing her in person and like I'm singing a song that she wrote. It's terrifying.

[44:35] Eli Tokash: You're terrifying. Shouldn't you sing for her?

[44:37] Caitlin Houlahan: Yes. That's crazy. It was crazy. And she was the just like couldn't have been more kind. Like she applauds afterward for everyone, which I just she's the nicest person in the world. I love her so much. Um and Jesse Nelson was there as well. And they said um casting had said, we'll bring you back later if um, you know, if they like you or who, you know, callbacks were gonna be later that day with Diane. And um, so I got the message that I'm going back in, and I was like, okay, and and I just like it was one of those moments again where you're just like kind of calm about it because you just feel like it was it was right. Um and so I went in and like I think it was maybe two days later they called and they were like, Do you want to make your Broadway debut?

And I mean, like I was like, um, yes, please. And um, I mean, you know, pinch me, like, great, yeah, let's do this. And they were like, Great, they want you to start immediately. Um, so I think I had like maybe like a week and a half before, and then uh I had two weeks of rehearsal, and then I was in like there wasn't time to think, right to overthink, which I think was a blessing in disguise.

[45:56] Caitlin Houlahan: Um because it was like go in, do rehearsal during the day, and then see the show at night and then do it all again the next day. Um and everyone there just surrounded me with love and support, and like everyone was so uplifting and like Chris Fitzgerald was so helpful. And um, I I mean, like he taught me so much comedy, like talk about a master class in comedy. Um, but he was so helpful.

[46:30] Caitlin Houlahan: And I remember him telling me, you're yes, you are replacing and you're having your Broadway debut on this day, but you still are allowed to give yourself time for your own previews. And he said, You will grow into the character, but like give yourself grace in those first few weeks because you're still finding yourself and this character, which we already were able to do, you know, when we opened. So it was just like a really beautiful sentiment. And I think that's something that I try to tell other people, um, because that was that was so helpful for me to hear. It doesn't have to be perfect your first time.

[47:10] Caitlin Houlahan: And let me tell you, it was not perfect the first time. Stop it. It was uh I was singing when he sees me, and it's such a hard song to sing when you're also kind of running around the stage and being thrown around, and it's like a really kind of like high belty and also patter song. Um, and when I did my put in, like I was having a really hard time holding out the last note because I was so out of breath, and it was just like a muscle that you needed to like build. And I remember Sara coming on stage and she said, I'm really sorry that I wrote this song like this.

[47:46] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[47:46] Caitlin Houlahan: Because I didn't know what the choreography was going to be. Oh my God. And so it was like everyone knew that this was a hard song. So that was helpful. But I thought, um, you know, my my Broadway debut, but my entire family's there. I have friends there, like it was a very supportive crowd. Um but uh I went to sing the last note, and I thought to myself, if I can't get through it, I'll take a breath in the middle, but I'll make it funny. And so I was like, um It's a choice. Uh like right. I was trying to make it a choice. Like he was like, wants to again. And like no one laughed, and I was like, okay, never again. I will never do that.

[48:29] Caitlin Houlahan: So yeah, that was the only time that I've had to really take a breath in the in in between. But um I, you know, it's like there's parts of that night that I do remember. Um but yeah. And and Charity, um, Charity Angel Dawson was also starting that day alongside me. She had been playing Nurse Norma, like she'd been part of the production since ART. Um, but it was also her first performance as um as Becky. And so I had her, you know, as just like my crutch and my rock uh during that time too.

[49:15] Eli Tokash: So you guys were able to like rehearse together, yeah.

[49:18] Caitlin Houlahan: Yes. We were able to oh my gosh. So so so so so so helpful. Um and just knowing that like you're not the only person that everyone's going, oh, that one person is new on stage tonight. Yeah, you know, it was kind of nice to be like, let's do this together.

[49:38] Eli Tokash: And yeah.

[49:38] Caitlin Houlahan: Not all eyes on you.

[49:40] Eli Tokash: Right, right.

[49:41] Caitlin Houlahan: Right. It just creates like a bond, you know, and we were like roommates together too. And so, you know, the fact that we got to film the movie together is just like this full circle moment. And I just I adore her. Ah, I love it. Um well, I'm curious, you know, like through this whole rehearsal process that you, you know, of you going through your show and everything, or even in the work session, uh, yeah, what was that like to go through that with Diane? And did you kind of have that sort of direction coming in, or was it with like the dance captain or PSM, or well, you know, what was that journey, I guess.

[50:21] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, I mean, I think the first, I want to say like the first full week, it was pretty much our stage manager Tom Gates, um, and a few of the of I think it was all of the stage managers, and I want to say uh and the dance captain Max Camung guy, who's like the just most wonderful human. Yeah, absolute legend. Um, and uh a couple swings, I believe. Molly Job, who's like one of my closest friends now. Um, but I'm pretty sure it started out as just us in the room and um, you know, with in a rehearsal room with kind of odd props, and you know, it did the stage taped out on the floor, but they told me, no, the stage doesn't really look like this, it's actually bigger, and you know, yeah. Um but you know, Diane did come in, and I think that was one of the benefits of having Charity start at the same time.

[51:23] Caitlin Houlahan: Sure.

[51:23] Caitlin Houlahan: Um was having her in and actually having the conversations with us about the characters and really giving us direction, which as a replacement, you don't always get that from the director. And you know, Diane is such a legend as well. So like being able to work with her, I just felt like I felt like I just got her. I understood her process and what she wanted. Um she was always she was always supportive. She would come to the show, you know, even randomly, and and you'd get a little email saying how wonderful the show is, and like, here's a couple of notes or things to think about, but it was never it was always positive.

[52:11] Eli Tokash: Right.

[52:12] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah. Always positive. I I I loved Diane's process, uh and everything that she did. Did she ever make you do the the character like breakdown or whatever? Like crazy things she did.

[52:23] Caitlin Houlahan: I never had to do that. I heard about it from everyone else. I know I heard about it. I I believe I want to say they did it at ART. They might have done it in the process um when they came to Broadway, but they everyone told me about it. Um, and then when we came back after the pandemic, we had four full weeks of rehearsal to put Waitress back on stage, and I was kind of nervous that she was gonna have us do back project.

[52:53] Caitlin Houlahan: But no, I escaped it. That was one of the most terrifying things ever in my life. Like scarier than an audition, scarier than like an opening night, like everything. And honestly, I just began bawling during mine. I was just like, this is crazy. I gotta stop.

[53:12] Eli Tokash: I totally understand. I think that's what I was always afraid of too. I was just like, it's gonna be so emotional, and I don't want to do it.

[53:18] Caitlin Houlahan: But it was so immensely helpful that like, you know, after it happened, I was like, I get it. Like I didn't understand why because I thought like I didn't have that appreciation for her at the time because I was like, just do all this work. It's like, you know, like that. I'm not in school right now.

[53:39] Eli Tokash: Right.

[53:39] Caitlin Houlahan: This is my like playtime after school.

[53:41] Eli Tokash: Yeah, this is after school.

[53:43] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, but hilarious. But and then after that it was like an awakening, and it was just like totally I was like, please do like every audition with me. Please like give me notes while I go through my day. Like I don't even care if I'm acting like it. Show me what I'm doing.

[54:00] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[54:01] Caitlin Houlahan: 100%, 100%. But we love her. Um, I'm curious as we're talking about like leaders, Sara Bareilles. I mean, like that is I mean, first of all, she's just like unbelievable, like in everything that she does. A saint like performing, songwriting, everything.

[54:21] Eli Tokash: Um I I just don't like what what was that? I can't imagine what that working with her was like because like she is on the creative team, right? And then at the same time, like they're through portions of your viewer run, and then of course when it reopened, you know, she was on stage with you and she was your scene partner.

[54:41] Caitlin Houlahan: But so like what was kind of that like in and kind of managing the dynamic and and being like, oh, I would love to hear your notes, but also like we're performing together, we're sharing the stage. So like, how did that all kind of go down?

[54:56] Caitlin Houlahan: You know, I think that once Sara kind of crossed the, I don't know, the line from being on the creative team to being in the show and being an actor, um, there were occasional times where she would say, Hey, I kind of want it to sound like this, or what if you tried this? But it never felt like it was a creative coming to you and asking you to do something. It was like, Oh, Sara's asking me to do something because this is her song and she's been thinking about it, and like that's so cool.

[55:27] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[55:27] Caitlin Houlahan: Um and so when she started rehearsing, there are certain benefits to being the lead, but also being Sara Bareilles and also having written the show. So we were able to be in the rehearsals with her. She wasn't rehearsing, you know, necessarily I'm sure that she had many rehearsals with our stage managers and dance captains and stuff.

[55:48] Eli Tokash: Um, but Charity and I would be there with her a lot of the time.

[55:52] Caitlin Houlahan: And so we were working, we were doing that scene work together, and Diane was in the room and really directing those scenes. And Sara has such a natural gift for acting.

[56:05] Caitlin Houlahan: Um that is really just like beautiful to see because it's so natural. It comes like second nature to her, and um it made me feel like so comfortable on stage. And I had already had, like I said, my preview process, basically.

[56:25] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, and having Sara come in, it was like I was kind of nervous again. But then at the same time, I think she was looking to us to hold on to her and to keep her steady because this was something that was totally out of her comfort zone.

[56:44] Caitlin Houlahan: And you know, it's not just oh, I'm stepping into a role, it's a role that I wrote and that people already know that I'm attached to. And there was she had so much pressure behind her starting this, and she knew that and was so just gracious, grateful, really like open and honest about the fact that she was nervous and that like she would joke about it and like just ever she treated every single person in that building the exact same.

[57:15] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, like I truly, like I couldn't say enough good things about her. Um, I just think she is like the most wonderful thing ever.

[57:24] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, and maybe she'll kill me for saying this, but her very first night that she went on, we were doing the negative and we were all holding hands at this one part, and I could feel her like trembling.

[57:38] Caitlin Houlahan: And that it was so heartwarming because it's like, yeah, we've all we've been there, you know? And like even Sara Bareilles is not immune to this feeling of being on stage for the first time on Broadway in front of, you know, a thousand people.

[57:56] Eli Tokash: Um meanwhile she's performed in concerts at everyone.

[57:59] Caitlin Houlahan: Exactly.

[58:00] Caitlin Houlahan: In stadiums, like if you know, it just kind of made me feel comforted in all of the anxieties and like nerves that I've felt over the years. Um, it's like, yeah, everyone gets nervous.

[58:16] Caitlin Houlahan: And despite her nerves, she can still put on a brilliant, brilliant performance. Unbelievable.

[58:25] Caitlin Houlahan: It was unbelievable. Her and Jason Mraz, like I saw the show a million times. I saw like everyone's like different, like uh, I don't know, I guess, ways.

[58:35] Caitlin Houlahan: But I would always go when Sara was on because she was always like randomly backstage at Neverland while like she was writing it.

[58:42] Eli Tokash: Oh really?

[58:44] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, I don't know. It was like it was so random. Because it was before the show opened, and I didn't even realize what Waitress was.

[58:51] Caitlin Houlahan: But she and Diane were like always together and she was always just popping up.

[58:55] Caitlin Houlahan: And I was always scared to death because I like had the biggest crush on her when I was like, Of course, of course.

[59:00] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[59:01] Caitlin Houlahan: Like what's going on? And then she was like the nicest human being. So I would just continue to go back and uh but her and Jason Mraz, I was like, oh my god, this is crazy.

[59:11] Caitlin Houlahan: Like two pop stars on Broadway together, like it was wild and their chemistry is ridiculous.

[59:17] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[59:17] Caitlin Houlahan: But I mean, also like it's hard to do Dr. Pomatter if you're not Drew Gehling.

[59:22] Eli Tokash: So we love Drew and Oh my gosh.

[59:25] Caitlin Houlahan: I mean, every person who did it was so different too. I don't think that any of the doctors did the show the same, which made it so much fun.

[59:34] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[59:35] Caitlin Houlahan: But yeah, I mean, of course, Drew, you know, it's hard to picture anyone else in that.

[59:40] Eli Tokash: It's so hard.

[59:41] Caitlin Houlahan: It's so hard. But also, Jason Mraz is so fun. Like, he's another person who is just like just a wonderful human being who just came in and made it his own, and it was just it was just nuts to see, you know, like and they weren't outdoing each other or anything, but like they were both, you know, like putting their own like little riffs in and like doing their own thing with the music just because they're both so musically talented and gifted.

[1:00:10] Caitlin Houlahan: So uh that I mean for me that was like the coolest thing to watch is someone like a vocal performance, like oh yeah, yeah.

[1:00:18] Eli Tokash: They would stand there and just kind of like go, hmm.

[1:00:21] Caitlin Houlahan: Okay, do you want to do like you know, like speaking in a language that just like none of us really understood?

[1:00:28] Eli Tokash: Yeah, because they're just so oh my gosh, truly, and it was just yeah, amazing to hear.

[1:00:36] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, uh well then you know, with the movie, uh you know, uh coming out. I mean, you obviously got to see the movie, and so like I know you got you, yeah.

[1:00:47] Eli Tokash: I don't know, you kind of got to revisit the show a few times in the sense of like it closed and then the pandemic and then it reopened and it closed again, but then you were re able to revisit it again with the movie.

[1:00:59] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, so like what was it like to just you know come together for the third time with your cast and and really bask in the show, but also like watch yourself in the show.

[1:01:11] Caitlin Houlahan: It's the craziest like feeling, emotion, um just the concept of watching yourself on screen in general is terrifying.

[1:01:26] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, um, and you kind of have to like I felt like I tried to go outside of myself a little bit. You know, I hadn't seen the show. Like I hadn't seen Waitress since I joined the show in 2016.

[1:01:41] Caitlin Houlahan: So I was excited to watch it and go, what did I, you know, I was backstage during this part. Like what did I miss? And to be able to see that, and I'm also going to take an answer that uh Charity said in a different interview this week, and I just think it she's so right about this.

[1:02:00] Caitlin Houlahan: Being able to see close-ups of these characters in a way that you wouldn't be able to see if you were sitting in an audience in a theater, it's like I got to watch my friends find more nuance to these characters than they perhaps ever had, including myself.

[1:02:24] Caitlin Houlahan: Like I was able to explore that as well, just in Dawn. But being able to see up close these the actors, like they're they're incredible. It it's it's a different way of seeing the show. Truly.

[1:02:43] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, in a more in-depth way, in in such a really beautiful, in in a really beautiful way.

[1:02:51] Eli Tokash: Um in a more personal way too.

[1:02:55] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah.

[1:02:55] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:02:56] Caitlin Houlahan: And it's more vulnerable, you know.

[1:02:59] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[1:03:00] Caitlin Houlahan: Yes, completely. And, you know, watching it with everybody, I was so lucky to be sitting around my castmates.

[1:03:07] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:03:07] Caitlin Houlahan: And it was like every time someone had their big moment or their big song, you know, it would end and everyone would be like patting each other on the back or like, you know, like elbowing, be like, yay! Like the support and the love was just like just filled the entire room.

[1:03:27] Caitlin Houlahan: Um and it's it's gonna be hard to watch it again and not have like those people around.

[1:03:33] Eli Tokash: Um, but at the same time, I just can't wait for people to see this because I think that it it captured like the magic of the show so beautifully.

[1:03:44] Caitlin Houlahan: Um yeah, and and it's so different from Peter Pan, you know, it it's not like it's not, you know, there's so many things that are different about it, but like this really it they have figured out a way to capture staged theater in a way that you still note and feel like you're watching a show.

[1:04:05] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, but you're getting those intimate moments, those like more vulnerable moments. And it is still really hard to do.

[1:04:14] Eli Tokash: So the fact that like they were able to do it in the way that they did, um is still like new, I want to say, like kind of like revolutionized that amongst everything else.

[1:04:25] Caitlin Houlahan: Totally.

[1:04:25] Caitlin Houlahan: But um, but they this pro shot is just as special and well crafted in in all the different ways.

[1:04:36] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, you know, it it's a dangerous thing to do to kind of like play with that and even mess with it.

[1:04:42] Eli Tokash: But uh, you know, yeah, I think it turned out beautifully, and I'm just thrilled that you know, it's it's in our lives again because this story is just so good, you know.

[1:04:52] Caitlin Houlahan: It really is.

[1:04:53] Caitlin Houlahan: So uh it makes you feel all the emotions. You'll cry, you'll Oh my gosh, truly, you'll laugh and yeah.

[1:05:00] Caitlin Houlahan: Anytime Christopher Fitzherbert comes on the screen, you're just gonna die, and then you get to ball your eyes out if you want to have a good cry, which who doesn't feel like who doesn't need a good cry, you know, like let's be real.

[1:05:13] Caitlin Houlahan: Uh crazy world out there.

[1:05:16] Eli Tokash: Um but yeah, you know, we we're doing it, and that's the beauty of theater, and that's why we we do it.

[1:05:22] Caitlin Houlahan: So um, I love it. Caitlin, I don't know if you have more time because we haven't even like.

[1:05:28] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, go I'm I'm around, I'm here.

[1:05:31] Caitlin Houlahan: I'm chilling, let's do it.

[1:05:33] Eli Tokash: I love it.

[1:05:34] Eli Tokash: Uh because I mean we're already going so long, but I feel like I can talk to you forever.

[1:05:39] Caitlin Houlahan: It's fine, same.

[1:05:41] Eli Tokash: Yeah, amazing.

[1:05:43] Caitlin Houlahan: Um I don't even know.

[1:05:45] Caitlin Houlahan: Like, I don't even know if I want to stay with Waitress if we want to move on to Girl from the North Country.

[1:05:49] Eli Tokash: Let's talk about Girl from the North Country, I guess.

[1:05:51] Caitlin Houlahan: Uh from the North Country.

[1:05:53] Caitlin Houlahan: Just because, you know, let's move it along.

[1:05:56] Caitlin Houlahan: I could literally talk about Waitress for three hours.

[1:05:59] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, longest episode of the, um, so yeah, um, but you know, Girl from the North Country, this was your first opportunity to originate a role.

[1:06:14] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:06:14] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, and you were able to have like time with it too, from off-Broadway and then coming to Broadway with it to really make it your own. Um, did you ever have an experience like that before? And you know, like how does that affect your process, I guess, uh, of just doing a show eight times a week? Does it kind of make you more mindful of like, hey, how do I sustain this? And like, I don't know, it also, you know, finding your character.

[1:06:45] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah. I mean, it was such a 360 from Waitress because the character was so different. Um, I also, the music was so different. It was just folky, you know, Bob Dylan stuff versus like the big show tune. So it really felt like I was in a play, like a straight play, versus being in a musical. Um, and the process was so different because, you know, when I did Waitress, it was I got thrown in and I had two weeks, and you know, there I was on stage with people who had already been doing the show for so long. And in this experience, especially when we were at the public and we had all of this rehearsal time, um, I mean, we would have a dialect coach come in and talk to us about a Minnesota accent, and you know, which we ended up not really totally all doing because it's just so hard or sounds ridiculous.

Like, you know, and when you try to like overdo it. So, um, we would do that, and then having Connor McPherson as our director and the writer, that was a different experience also. Um, and he was so not precious about his words that he had written. Wow, which was not an experience that I had ever had before. And he would always say things like, you know, oh no, no, my what I wrote was stupid. Like, say that. You know, just like very like self-deprecating, but in like a very endearing way. Um, just like he was so calm. Um, and our entire team was so calm about everything. There was no, or at least if there was anxiety about getting this on stage, it was not privy to us as actors. And we would sometimes have rehearsal.

We were supposed to have it from, you know, Tuesday through Sunday, and we'd get to Friday, and they'd say, okay, uh, have a great weekend. We'll see you on Tuesday. We're like, we would just not have rehearsal on the weekends. And I think, you know, having a group of people like our the age range of our cast was I think, you know, our youngest had just gotten out of school, so maybe 22 or 23, and then it went all the way up to, you know, late 70s. Um, and these people who are in our cast, they just, the amount of shows that they had in between them all had to have gotten to be close to a hundred. So, uh, it was another masterclass in acting, you know. It was like you got to just watch these people in their process.

And I felt like at that point I was creating a process of my own because I had done this show for a while, but it was so different that I felt like, okay, uh, you know, it's kind of like first day of school. Like, should I write everything down? Should I record things? You know, thick kind of things like that. Um, so it was very different. It felt it was very much a reflection of like Bob Dylan. It was chill. It was uh.

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

[1:10:06] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, yeah. It just, and you know what? And it worked.

[1:10:06] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:10:10] Caitlin Houlahan: And it's such a testament to different directing styles and, um, you know, just different rehearsal room styles. Like there are so many different ways to rehearse and come out with a successful show.

[1:10:18] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:10:25] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, yeah, and I was work my co-star, um, Colton Ryan and I had gone to school together. So we already knew each other, and there was someone else, um, in the cast, Matthew Harris, who was also from BW. So I felt like I kind of had my BW group of people.

[1:10:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:10:43] Caitlin Houlahan: And, um, you know, we would all just say, wow, this is so relaxed.

[1:10:48] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:10:48] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh my gosh, you know?

[1:10:50] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:10:51] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, and, and yeah, it just, I really respect everyone who was part of both shows that I've, you know, been in, but like it just was a totally different view on life. I mean, watching Mare Winningham and listening to her sing, like is just like another level of, yeah, truly of you feeling like I should be in the audience for this, not right here, you know, not front row.

[1:11:19] Eli Tokash: You have to tell a story, you have to do this too.

[1:11:22] Caitlin Houlahan: You get tells you exactly, yeah.

[1:11:25] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, hilarious. Well, uh, how does that, you know? You mentioned like your co-star Colton Ryan and like coming in knowing him and going to school and having that sort of history. How does that help your process? Like, does that kind of just make things easier in the sense of like, hey, we're coming in with this chemistry that we don't even have to find?

[1:11:46] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, I mean, I think it just made it, it made it so easy. And I remember us both talking about this. It was like we don't, we didn't have, we got to just skip over the step where you have to get to know your co-star.

[1:11:58] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:11:58] Caitlin Houlahan: We already knew things about ourselves. We knew, you know, who we had got, we just knew so much about each other that we got to skip past that and go, okay, we've worked together before, let's talk about the characters. And there was no, um, kind of hesitation, um, or like, oh, what do you think of this? Like it was just we could speak very freely, um, which was just really lovely. And then later on when we came back from the pandemic, Colton had gone to do um another show, and Colin Bates came in, and we got along immediately, and we did have to go through that step of kind of getting to know each other, but he had done the show in London. And so he came into it with a perspective already. And so it just, yeah, I just think I've, I've been so lucky with the people that I've had to work with.

[1:12:55] Eli Tokash: Yeah, especially like as your like opposite, right?

[1:12:58] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, yeah.

[1:12:59] Eli Tokash: I've been incredible.

[1:13:01] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, totally. I love that. Um, I mean, Girl from the North Country, it seemed like a bit of a roller coaster. I mean, I don't want to talk words in your mouth or whatever. But yeah, you know, like you, it generated so much buzz and that all these things were happening, and like you guys were open for like a week and then the pandemic hit. Like did that, I mean, what was that kind of like? Not only for you, like as a performer or whatever, but like for you as a human and your mental health.

[1:13:33] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh, yeah. You know, it was tough. Um, when we were at the public, we were sold out. And, um, there was so much talk about, uh, about our show around town, and we were all hoping that, you know, okay, let's go to, you know, we closed in December. We were like, let's get a theater and, you know, go to Broadway. And, um, it was a crazy year for Broadway, and there weren't any theaters open. Um, and we're pretty intimate, it was an intimate show, and so they were really looking for theaters that were on the smaller side, um, just because it really wouldn't have worked in, um, in a, you know, the Gershwin or something. Um, you know, not that that would have been open, but so we waited, we waited a year, and we had a text thread and we would Skype or not, oh my gosh, Skype.

We would Zoom together, and does anyone use Skype anymore? I don't even know. Probably, probably, probably someone. Um, but we would all, you know, stay in touch and all kind of kept that hope alive that okay, even though it'll be a year, like maybe there will still be like excitement behind our project. Right. So we got a theater for the following year. We got in there and we were the, uh, last show to open before, uh, the pandemic. And, uh, yeah, we were open exactly a week, and we had, we were sold out, we had crowds, we had the most glowing review in the New York Times. Um, I think it was, uh, Ben Brantley.

[1:15:17] Eli Tokash: Sounds right.

[1:15:18] Caitlin Houlahan: Okay, it was Ben, yeah, it was his final review, which we didn't know at the time, but he ended up retiring over the pandemic. So it was kind of his final Broadway review, and he, it was like this love letter to our show. It was so beautiful. Um, and so we felt amazing, and, uh, you know, pandemic hit, and we thought, okay, we're close for a month and then we'll be back and it's gonna be great. And then of course, everyone knows what happened, and so when we finally did come back, you know, the world had changed.

[1:15:52] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:15:52] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, it wasn't, I don't, I don't know that the general public wanted to see shows that kind of reminded them of what they had just gone through. You know, and Girl from the North Country was about the Great Depression or it took place during the Great Depression and kind of the struggles that that humans would go through, and it was almost too close to home. I think. I think that's why, um, it was just hard to sell. Um, because of that. I think people wanted familiarity, familiarity, and sorry, that's a hard word to say. Um, but yeah, so you know, we stayed open and, and we really, really tried to get the word out about what our show was about, and um, because ultimately I think we all felt that our show was truly about hope.

Um, but you know, it just didn't we got to be on the Tonies and we got to perform, and I think that was always a goal for all of us. Um, you know, especially it was on my bucket list, and so I feel that we still got all of the experience that we had hoped for. Um, but I do wish that we had been able to share it with more people.

[1:17:19] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[1:17:20] Caitlin Houlahan: It definitely deserved it. Um, I wonder too. I mean, this is all like Sunday, I don't know, Monday morning quarterback, like having after the fact of like what you could do. But it's like it's also like a show I feel that may cater towards, as you said, it took place in the Great Depression, so like an older audience.

[1:17:40] Caitlin Houlahan: Absolutely, and they were definitely hesitant after.

[1:17:44] Eli Tokash: Absolutely, absolutely many things, many reasons. I think.

[1:17:48] Caitlin Houlahan: But it is on tour at the moment across the United States. So, you know, maybe coming to, uh, album.

[1:17:54] Eli Tokash: We got the cut, yeah.

[1:17:57] Caitlin Houlahan: Absolutely.

[1:17:58] Eli Tokash: You slang.

[1:17:59] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's so good. It's truly, and it's so, you know, it lives on, and hopefully, you know, yeah, there will be a, uh, opportunity soon for that show to kind of get what it deserves.

[1:18:11] Eli Tokash: Absolutely. Parade.

[1:18:13] Caitlin Houlahan: It lasted like 85 performances the first time it was Brown Bowl.

[1:18:16] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[1:18:16] Caitlin Houlahan: So it happens to shows all the time.

[1:18:19] Eli Tokash: Yeah, you know, and good ones, you know.

[1:18:21] Caitlin Houlahan: They're not exactly, a lot of times it's timing, it's just timing.

[1:18:26] Eli Tokash: It's what the, what's going on in the world at the moment, it's what theater it's in, it's what else is on Broadway at the moment, you know. Um, when Hamilton came to Broadway, like Waitress was in that season.

[1:18:39] Caitlin Houlahan: Wait, is that right?

[1:18:40] Eli Tokash: Or was it the next one?

[1:18:42] Caitlin Houlahan: I don't, I Hamilton was 2016.

[1:18:46] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that would have, wait.

[1:18:48] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, that would have been Waitress.

[1:18:50] Eli Tokash: Really?

[1:18:51] Caitlin Houlahan: Is that right?

[1:18:52] Eli Tokash: Hamilton.

[1:18:55] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh, terrible memory.

[1:18:58] Eli Tokash: It's okay.

[1:18:59] Caitlin Houlahan: Time is the, time is that the pandemic happened and everything went away.

[1:19:04] Eli Tokash: No.

[1:19:04] Caitlin Houlahan: Pre-pandemic.

[1:19:09] Caitlin Houlahan: The 70th Tony year, I guess I should say.

[1:19:11] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh yeah, 2016.

[1:19:14] Caitlin Houlahan: So it was.

[1:19:15] Caitlin Houlahan: Right.

[1:19:15] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah.

[1:19:16] Caitlin Houlahan: Hamilton won 16 nominations, 13 categories.

[1:19:20] Caitlin Houlahan: 11 categories.

[1:19:21] Caitlin Houlahan: Jesus Christ.

[1:19:21] Caitlin Houlahan: I mean, it's like for that year, I think Waitress was the only show that stayed open from that season, like more than anything else.

[1:19:33] Caitlin Houlahan: So it's like you just, it's all about timing.

[1:19:36] Caitlin Houlahan: You just never know.

[1:19:37] Caitlin Houlahan: And you could think that it's the perfect time for the show to, you know, be on Broadway, and then a pandemic comes in and is like, nope.

[1:19:45] Caitlin Houlahan: You thought.

[1:19:46] Caitlin Houlahan: Right.

[1:19:47] Caitlin Houlahan: You thought, but you were wrong.

[1:19:49] Caitlin Houlahan: We love to throw forks in the road.

[1:19:53] Caitlin Houlahan: Um life.

[1:19:55] Caitlin Houlahan: Thanks, universe.

[1:19:57] Caitlin Houlahan: Um sweet.

[1:19:58] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, yeah, no, it's craziness.

[1:20:00] Caitlin Houlahan: And I mean, it's not even just about, you know, shows in general, it's just like careers and auditions, you know.

[1:20:06] Caitlin Houlahan: Like you could be like for a role, and it's still, you know, not your time.

[1:20:11] Caitlin Houlahan: And it's not your time.

[1:20:13] Caitlin Houlahan: And you have to be okay with that.

[1:20:14] Caitlin Houlahan: And it's really hard to be okay with that.

[1:20:17] Caitlin Houlahan: It's the hardest thing.

[1:20:18] Caitlin Houlahan: It's hard.

[1:20:19] Caitlin Houlahan: I always say like getting to Broadway may be easier than like staying on Broadway.

[1:20:25] Caitlin Houlahan: Totally.

[1:20:27] Caitlin Houlahan: No, totally.

[1:20:28] Caitlin Houlahan: I think once you've had a show under your belt on Broadway, you think that okay, they're all good, they're gonna be rolling in, you know, and then it almost gives you this like false sense of security.

[1:20:43] Caitlin Houlahan: Um I feel like the older I get and the more shows I do, the more nervous I get for auditions.

[1:20:50] Caitlin Houlahan: I feel like there is like way more pressure because they're almost like, it's like there's an expectation now of like okay, you've done all these things, so we want it, we want you to be good, you know, and I could be completely making that up in my brain.

[1:21:04] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, you know, I think as actors, we kind of make a lot of things up in our brains to make sense of the world and what we're doing, and you know, justifying our choices, but right.

[1:21:18] Eli Tokash: I couldn't, I honestly couldn't agree with you more, but like my sense of that is kind of a different thing because I just feel like as I get older, I have more insecurities.

[1:21:28] Caitlin Houlahan: And like I'm absolutely more insecurities.

[1:21:33] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[1:21:34] Eli Tokash: And I think you're aware of the business more as well.

[1:21:38] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, to the point where you're like, I almost wish that I knew less.

[1:21:44] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:21:45] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:21:46] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:21:46] Caitlin Houlahan: I you know, I always wish it was my first audition all over again.

[1:21:50] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:21:51] Eli Tokash: Because like honest to God, like walking into my first audition, it's not like I knew who Diane Paulus was.

[1:21:58] Caitlin Houlahan: Like she was a legend, but like I had no idea, you know.

[1:22:02] Eli Tokash: Yes, I you it was just like you come to work, Matthew Morrison.

[1:22:06] Caitlin Houlahan: Okay, great.

[1:22:07] Caitlin Houlahan: How's this guy?

[1:22:08] Caitlin Houlahan: Who is this guy?

[1:22:09] Caitlin Houlahan: You know, Glee never heard of it.

[1:22:10] Caitlin Houlahan: Awesome from West Virginia.

[1:22:12] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:22:14] Caitlin Houlahan: Totally.

[1:22:16] Caitlin Houlahan: I don't know.

[1:22:16] Caitlin Houlahan: That was so much easier, and now it's like I'm auditioning for who?

[1:22:21] Eli Tokash: Yeah, you like no, I used to not look people up before I went to audition, which I'm sure is like not a good thing, but it was because I didn't want to get in my head about you know who this person was.

[1:22:33] Caitlin Houlahan: And I think I really like to give people a chance to show me who they are and like to get to know them on a personal level before having like this kind of preconceived notion about who they are because of what they've done, or um so I think there's an argument to be said for like both looking up people to know who they are, but at the same time, if it's going to, you know hinder your ability to go in a room and have an amazing audition, then maybe it's okay to look them up after, you know.

[1:23:07] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and even if you are the type that would need like feels like, oh, like what's the style?

[1:23:12] Eli Tokash: Like what should I be like doing that?

[1:23:14] Eli Tokash: Whatever.

[1:23:14] Caitlin Houlahan: Like that that's one thing.

[1:23:16] Caitlin Houlahan: And like it's kind of that hard process that you have to go through of like what we talked about earlier, is like these are humans too.

[1:23:23] Caitlin Houlahan: Like we glorify them because we look up to them and we love their work.

[1:23:28] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:23:28] Caitlin Houlahan: But at the end of the day, they have to wake up and brush their teeth in the morning just like us.

[1:23:33] Eli Tokash: Exactly.

[1:23:34] Caitlin Houlahan: Crazy.

[1:23:34] Caitlin Houlahan: So but but it's so hard.

[1:23:36] Eli Tokash: It's so hard to do.

[1:23:37] Eli Tokash: Wow.

[1:23:38] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:23:38] Eli Tokash: Okay, okay, audition advice.

[1:23:40] Caitlin Houlahan: Come on.

[1:23:41] Caitlin Houlahan: Um just getting deep over here.

[1:23:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I love it.

[1:23:44] Eli Tokash: Well, I mean, Caitlin, this has been such a joy and I loved hearing your career and like your journey through this industry.

[1:23:54] Caitlin Houlahan: It's pretty crazy.

[1:23:56] Eli Tokash: And uh, you know, just the beginning, really.

[1:24:00] Eli Tokash: Um so is there anything?

[1:24:00] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, no, I mean, it's so exciting, and I mean I've said it already.

[1:24:07] Caitlin Houlahan: Like, you are one of my favorite performers to watch live.

[1:24:12] Caitlin Houlahan: So uh I love it.

[1:24:13] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh my gosh.

[1:24:14] Caitlin Houlahan: Thank you.

[1:24:14] Caitlin Houlahan: You and Chris man, there is something about that chemistry.

[1:24:17] Caitlin Houlahan: I was like, just ingest it.

[1:24:19] Caitlin Houlahan: I hate it.

[1:24:20] Caitlin Houlahan: Um it's so good.

[1:24:22] Eli Tokash: Uh for those listening, uh and you know, who may be like new to this or whatever, uh where can they find you on like social media and like stay up with your projects?

[1:24:36] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, um my Instagram, which I wasn't on for a long time, but I am back on, um, is just at Kate Hula, C-A-I-T-H-O-U-L-A.

[1:24:47] Caitlin Houlahan: And um, I pretty much post anything that I'm doing on there.

[1:24:53] Caitlin Houlahan: Um, if anyone's in the Westchester area, uh my husband and I are doing a little holiday concert at the Bedford Playhouse in uh Bedford, New York.

[1:25:03] Caitlin Houlahan: And um, yeah, so if you wanna if you're in the area and want to come see us, that's next Thursday, uh December 14th.

[1:25:12] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[1:25:13] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, and you can find I have it posted on my page if you want tickets and all that stuff.

[1:25:17] Caitlin Houlahan: But yeah, just just the Instagram.

[1:25:20] Eli Tokash: Amazing.

[1:25:21] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[1:25:23] Eli Tokash: Westchester peeps, I know there's some of you listening.

[1:25:25] Eli Tokash: I know that they're out there.

[1:25:27] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, for sure.

[1:25:28] Eli Tokash: Uh that's so exciting.

[1:25:30] Eli Tokash: Good for you guys.

[1:25:31] Eli Tokash: It's uh that'll be a blast.

[1:25:33] Eli Tokash: Um and uh go see Waitress in theaters.

[1:25:37] Caitlin Houlahan: Oh my gosh.

[1:25:38] Caitlin Houlahan: Uh December 7th.

[1:25:39] Caitlin Houlahan: Uh you're December 7th.

[1:25:41] Caitlin Houlahan: Big screen.

[1:25:42] Caitlin Houlahan: Yes, for five days.

[1:25:43] Caitlin Houlahan: My parents are going every day.

[1:25:45] Caitlin Houlahan: So if you want to if you're in the Cleveland area and want to see my parents, they'll be somewhere every day.

[1:25:52] Eli Tokash: That's so cute.

[1:25:54] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah, they're adorable.

[1:25:56] Caitlin Houlahan: Yeah.

[1:25:56] Caitlin Houlahan: They're so excited.

[1:25:59] Caitlin Houlahan: Um shout out to them.

[1:26:00] Eli Tokash: Um cool.

[1:26:02] Eli Tokash: Well, I mean, thank you so much.

[1:26:03] Eli Tokash: And yeah, you have so much to take a bow for.

[1:26:06] Eli Tokash: So uh congratulations on all your success.

[1:26:09] Caitlin Houlahan: Thank you.

[1:26:10] Caitlin Houlahan: Thank you for having me.

[1:26:11] Caitlin Houlahan: This was such a blast.

[1:26:12] Caitlin Houlahan: I couldn't literally talk to you for hours and hours and hours.

[1:26:16] Eli Tokash: Stop.

[1:26:16] Eli Tokash: We'll do it again soon.

[1:26:17] Caitlin Houlahan: Don't worry.

[1:26:18] Caitlin Houlahan: Okay, great, great.

[1:26:20] Eli Tokash: Um you're the best.

[1:26:21] Eli Tokash: Thank you so much.

[1:26:22] Caitlin Houlahan: Thank you.

[1:26:23] Eli Tokash: Take a bow, Caitlin Houlahan.

[1:26:26] Eli Tokash: Oh my gosh, what a fabulous episode.

[1:26:29] Eli Tokash: Uh it was so much fun to chat with her about her career.

[1:26:33] Eli Tokash: Um it was really cool to kind of have a similar experience.

[1:26:38] Eli Tokash: I didn't realize that I don't know, we would share so many similarities in our career working with the same people or even having the experience of, you know, starting this industry at a young age and working with, you know, legends that as you continue to make a name for yourself as an adult, you have to like reintroduce yourself to and be like, Oh yeah, like for a few weeks, like you were a very pivotal person in my life, uh or even a couple years, uh in my case, or uh, like hey, we shared a Broadway stage or or we shared Lincoln Center, or we did a movie together, or like whatever that random thing is, uh, and and it's like, oh yeah, but you have no idea who I am.

[1:27:19] Eli Tokash: It's like it's crazy.

[1:27:20] Eli Tokash: And and it's uh we talked a lot about it after the episode.

[1:27:24] Eli Tokash: It's like we honestly feel like different humans.

[1:27:27] Eli Tokash: Like that was a different life a lifetime ago.

[1:27:29] Eli Tokash: Um that was in a different life almost.

[1:27:32] Eli Tokash: So um what a great episode and and everything that she had to say about Waitress, speaking of actually, she said during her run for Waitress, she shared the City Center stage with Eric Anderson who plays Cal in Waitress and actually in the movie as well in the movie cast um who also went on to then play Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge and everything like that.

[1:27:56] Eli Tokash: So Broadway veteran, of course.

[1:27:58] Eli Tokash: And um she was like my first day of Waitress, I had to like reintroduce myself to him, and he was like, I thought you were like a baby, and that that like that's crazy that now you're this full-fledged adult.

[1:28:14] Eli Tokash: And that was, you know, four years later, uh Waitress, or or not even four years, it was like three or maybe even two, two and a half.

[1:28:25] Eli Tokash: Um and he didn't even recognize her.

[1:28:28] Eli Tokash: So it's crazy how, uh you know how times I don't know, like how how this industry works, especially as a young performer, and as you continue to, you know, be in this industry, uh you know, it's it's a weird thing.

[1:28:46] Eli Tokash: But uh you'll you'll totally understand and you'll it it happens quite often.

[1:28:52] Eli Tokash: So if it happens to you, you're not alone.

[1:28:54] Eli Tokash: Um and it's it's crazy.

[1:28:56] Eli Tokash: But uh yeah, just talking to her about Waitress and uh you know, filming the movie and the process of like Diane and everything like that, like her experience with her uh and working with Sarah and how sweet and and supportive she was throughout that process, like all of that stuff is so great to hear, and it kind of makes you fall in love with the show even more because you can really tell uh on stage at least, like as an audience member, uh that you have that camaraderie and that feeling, but Caitlin also hit the nail on the head that even in this movie, you have this in more intimate and more personal experience, and you have these close-ups where you can really see that uh, you know, the cast is really a family, and uh, you know, they genuinely love each other and support one another, and it just makes the story that much better.

[1:29:48] Eli Tokash: Um, so shout out to everyone involved in Waitress.

[1:29:52] Eli Tokash: Uh I absolutely love talking about her career, to be completely honest.

[1:29:56] Eli Tokash: And um, yeah, it was great to great to hear good stuff all around, and her stories that she was willing to share with us were were fabulous.

[1:30:05] Eli Tokash: So hopefully you all enjoyed it.

[1:30:06] Eli Tokash: Hopefully, you all learned something, and hopefully y'all come back next week for another great episode.

[1:30:11] Eli Tokash: Uh, we have some very exciting guests lined up for the rest of December to end 2023 off with a bang.

[1:30:20] Eli Tokash: So uh very excited.

[1:30:22] Eli Tokash: Stay tuned for those announcements and go watch Waitress the Mu Live on Broadway or Waitress the Musical or whatever it is in movie theaters starting today.

[1:30:33] Eli Tokash: Uh and uh if you're in the Westchester area, go visit Caitlin and Ryan uh in their in their concert cabaret show that they're doing that she was plugging.

[1:30:44] Eli Tokash: So uh for more information, head over to her Instagram and uh if you want to follow us, give us a follow while you're on the Instagram if you don't already.

[1:30:53] Eli Tokash: So until next week, bye everyone.

[1:30:56] Eli Tokash: Have a great week.

[1:31:01] Eli Tokash: For this episode's current call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow.

[1:31:06] Eli Tokash: This podcast would not be possible without the help of Dori Barrsteen, Alan Seals, Kimberly Garrett, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

[1:31:14] Eli Tokash: Next in line to take a bow are our fabulous editors, Jessica Gorren, who edits the audio of the podcast that you just listened to, and Tessie Tokash, who edits the videos and visuals for this podcast.

[1:31:24] Eli Tokash: And how about a bow for our executive producer, Chris Greiner?

[1:31:28] Eli Tokash: And our final bow are extra special to the patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners of PCC, as well as all of the other patrons for their continued support.

[1:31:37] Eli Tokash: If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to Patreon.com slash TAB.

[1:31:42] Eli Tokash: 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.

[1:31:50] Eli Tokash: You can also subscribe, like, and comment on there as well.

[1:31:53] Eli Tokash: If you're more into the regular social media and want to follow us, you can do that at Take A Bow Podcast across all social media platforms.

[1:32:00] Eli Tokash: The music of this podcast was made by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinon, and the logo was created by Giselle Bustos.

[1:32:07] Eli Tokash: And that wraps up this episode's curtain call.

[1:32:09] Eli Tokash: Thank you all again for listening to this week's episode, and I can't wait to see you next week.

[1:32:14] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone.

[1:32:15] Eli Tokash: Have a great week.