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[0:01] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 189 of Take A Bow.

[0:07] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and this week, oh my gosh, we have an episode for the ages. I am so excited to share this episode with you all.

[0:15] Eli Tokash: It is our first episode of 2024. So excited to be kicking off the new year this way. It's one of the it's actually the first time we're doing this type of guest. We're having this type of guest on the podcast, and I'm gonna get into that in just a second.

[0:32] Eli Tokash: Uh, but I do want to just say, hope everyone had a great holiday. Uh hopefully everyone is enjoying and kind of adjusting, getting back into the school grind or the work grind or whatever it may be.

[0:43] Eli Tokash: Um last weekend or last week really, um, I was out of town without my equipment. I was freaking out. Um, was unable to do uh an episode and not even like able to come on here and be like, hey, sorry. I did a little social media post.

[1:00] Eli Tokash: Uh hopefully that y'all who follow me there uh were able to see that and saw that we were not doing an episode last week uh due to that. Uh but I was uh, you know, having great family time, and that was it was so great, and I'm so happy to be back.

[1:17] Eli Tokash: You know, those times just that little break just you know, it does a lot for your mental health and and your your motivation and just unplugging for like literally a whole five days, six days, whatever it was, and having like no connection to the outside world, and just being with family is is the best.

[1:38] Eli Tokash: So uh, but I'm back and we have an episode for the ages. I mean, this is an episode, this is a guest that I've had wanted to have on for since the beginning. And I know there's a handful, especially lately, that I've been saying this to.

[1:52] Eli Tokash: Um, but truly, I mean, that list of people were kind of uh like my white whales of like people like I just would love to connect with again and catch up with or talk to. And uh we've been so fortunate with guests recently that I've been able to kind of check the marks, check the boxes off of a lot of these lately, and uh especially within the past year.

[2:17] Eli Tokash: So uh just thrilled that it's been working out. We have Aidan Gemme on the podcast this week, and Aidan is the first ever Llewelyn Davies brother on the podcast. Holy moly, for any of you Finding Neverland fans or fans of mine, which is so weird to say, um, you all know who this guest is.

[2:38] Eli Tokash: You all have been asking and begging me to bring this guest on. And I truly don't think that this is gonna disappoint. Uh Aidan is everything, you know, uh all as advertised. I mean, he's the he's the man, he's the best, and uh I was so great to catch up with him after not talking to him, and literally, I mean, it's been probably seven like years that we like have really not done that.

[3:09] Eli Tokash: We'll text every once in a while, like, hey, happy holidays, and that's really how this happened. It was a hey, happy holidays, hope your family's well, blah blah blah. And it was just like me sending that extra text this time of being like, dude, we've gotta catch up.

[3:24] Eli Tokash: Podcast this week, what are you doing? I need an hour, and let's just hang. And we I mean, we talked for two hours really, uh, one and a half, two hours of just catching up, and it was so so great. No time had passed, it was sick, and uh it was just it he's the he's the best, and you guys are gonna experience that right uh firsthand in listening to this episode.

[3:49] Eli Tokash: Uh I can't wait to share it with you. But first, we gotta talk about some Broadway news because there's a lot of Broadway news going on right now, uh a lot of exciting things happening, uh some marketable things happening, and so like good stuff and growing Broadway, which is great.

[4:04] Eli Tokash: Um I'll start off by saying uh where should I begin? I I guess in the marketing sense and everything, you know, Mean Girls and Color Purple are currently at in movie theaters right now, which is huge to be getting that musical representation in uh the you know movie theaters and more uh uh of a wider audience in uh you know that whole fan base.

[4:30] Eli Tokash: Can't wait to see uh both of these. I'm going to give my review on both of them in next week's episode. Can't wait to for my double feature I'm getting here very very soon. And uh I'm stoked for both of these uh movies. Hopefully, uh next week's guest may or may not be a Mean Girls cast uh person.

[4:52] Eli Tokash: So uh we shall see if not, it will be sometime this month in January. Um so excited for that. And uh we yeah, it it's great. Mean Girls, Color Purple. Can't wait for both of them. Loved both musicals, can't wait to see how they do it for film and in the movies.

[5:09] Eli Tokash: If you guys have seen it, please send me a DM. I want to know what y'all are thinking. Uh I've been seeing some videos on social media about them. Uh love doing that. And uh, you know, tag me and whatever. I'd love to see it. Um so that's been great.

[5:25] Eli Tokash: And then of course, you know, there's been the trend lately of, you know, the Tina Turner musicals and MJ the musical and all um all the good stuff uh of Motown and all of the singers and hearing their stories and whatnot. Uh there's another musical in the works called Purple Rain for Prince uh a musical for him and his life and his story and his uh music honoring that.

[5:52] Eli Tokash: Um and it's being written by Brandon Jacob Jenkins who we've talked about on the podcast here uh a few times especially of late uh as he currently has a show on Broadway uh Appropriate and love the show love the the play I have not seen it on Broadway but I'm a huge fan of the play uh I've read it multiple times and uh I'm gonna I'm thrilled I'm ecstatic really he's gonna be adapting the book from the 1984 film uh Purple Rain obviously so uh very exciting stuff I can't wait to see that.

[5:52] Eli Tokash: Um I think that could be great here on Broadway and I think that um I would not be surprised I guess I should say if they do go with a marketable guy for for to play Prince um you know Miles Frost kind of came onto the scene out of the blue and and to rose into stardom in in a matter like overnight uh through that performance but I wouldn't be shocked if we see like a guy that we know that's been on Broadway you know whether it's like a Jordan Fisher type uh of performer or not but um I think it'll be uh uh more of a Broadway veteran playing Prince.

[7:02] Eli Tokash: And I'm I'm very excited to to watch this announcement and look out for this uh you know this journey that the the show itself takes. Um that being said, I wanna, you know, uh when we always are announcing uh new works and new musicals, there's always something that seems to close when news is released, or vice versa, when something's closed, we hear about something new.

[7:27] Eli Tokash: Um and it's so sad to say that Kimberly Akimbo is closing on Broadway here in April. Um it's pretty crazy to think, you know. Um I don't know. It's it's making me start to question the weight that the Tony Awards have on musicals nowadays.

[7:39] Eli Tokash: Um I don't know if if you all feel this or kind of see this trend, but you notice the past couple like Tony Award winning musicals really haven't last like a crazy amount of time. So, like in recent years, what I'm thinking here is Kimberly Akimbo, right, just won this past year and it's closing.

[8:15] Eli Tokash: Uh Strange Loop did not last very long. Um obviously Moulin Rouge is still going on Hades Town, which is great. Uh, but the band's visit, the band's visit one before that. They did not have uh, you know, a super long run here on Broadway.

[8:31] Eli Tokash: Um, and it's just pretty crazy. I mean, the list kind of goes on and on. Um, Dear Evan Hansen no longer here. That had a great one. Hamilton, obviously, you have those, you know, standout performances. But like Fun Home lasted a year, Gentleman's Guide, not too long. Kinky Boots good.

[8:49] Eli Tokash: Um, but you know, it seems to be now we're already in the 2013s, and like that seems to be the trend of like I don't know. The shows are lasting a year, year and a half after winning the Tony Awards is not is not a good look for the Tony Awards, and hopefully uh we start to see that.

[9:06] Eli Tokash: I really thought Kimberly Akimbo would last a little longer. It's not the most expensive show to put on. Um but again, like you all know that it wasn't my Tony Award pick. So uh it could be a that thing too, and it's just not getting enough uh i it I don't know.

[9:25] Eli Tokash: It's not getting enough uh longevity of of the audience or the target audience. I feel like it had the hot wave, and um, you know, after that wave, it's kind of died down. And it's sad to see, but um, you know, I don't know. I I love Kimberly Akimbo. I've auditioned for it.

[9:44] Eli Tokash: I actually auditioned for it recently, and I was like, I'm pretty sure this is closing. I don't know why they're doing auditions, and it seems like they're gonna hold off and not replace anybody until closing, which is great, and they should.

[10:00] Eli Tokash: Um, so yeah, very sad to to hear that Kimberly Akimbo is closing. Congrats to everyone involved. Um, I won't say happy trails yet, so because we still have like three months, uh, but it's very exciting stuff.

[10:13] Eli Tokash: And actually, shout out since I've already mentioned Mean Girls, and now I'm talking about Kimberly Akimbo. Shout out for Nell Hogan, uh, who we had on for Nell and I uh were uh he was a guest on the podcast and and we talked about his career.

[10:26] Eli Tokash: He did Mean Girls on Broadway, and then they brought him on into the movie. Um he's in the Mean Girls movie, and it's super exciting. And shout out to Fernell for not only being in that, but now having it come out, and uh, you know, you're uh you're hot right now, so keep going.

[10:32] Eli Tokash: And uh, you know, he's he's the best too. So um he actually told me that he was in the movie right after we recorded and he wasn't really allowed to talk about it yet.

[10:51] Eli Tokash: So um shout out to him. Now we can talk about it and uh yeah. All right, so a couple casting announcements, uh, and then one more piece of news and then we'll turn it over to the episode.

[11:04] Eli Tokash: Couple casting announcements. Lola Tung will be coming in to Hades Town to play Euridice. Uh very exciting stuff. She will be replacing Solea Pfeiffer.

[11:14] Eli Tokash: Jordan Fisher will be staying on to do uh Lola Tung's run. Um I don't know if he's gonna be staying past that. I don't know what his deal is as far as how long he's gonna be in the show.

[11:26] Eli Tokash: But um very exciting stuff. I didn't realize that Lola Tung could uh sing. I'm a fan of hers. I met her a few times. I had no idea.

[11:35] Eli Tokash: I I still have never seen The Summer I Turned Pretty and that's obviously for those of you who don't know, that's where she's known for, and that's kind of like um her rise to stardom.

[11:47] Eli Tokash: Um and you know, the teenagers are are loving the casting announcement. I have yet to see The Summer I Turned Pretty, but I've met Lola a few times. We have a lot of mutual friends.

[11:56] Eli Tokash: She's a sweetheart. I had no idea she was this big TV star until like the couple times after I met her. Um and she went to LaGuardia and all these things, so we've like always like been friendly and I had stuff to talk about, but I didn't realize that like I could have talked to her about a TV show or like whatever.

[12:16] Eli Tokash: But uh very exciting stuff. Hades Town, you know, I love Hades Town. I don't think it it's almost turning into a Chicago stunt cast, you know, thing that they have going on to continue to bring people back.

[12:32] Eli Tokash: I don't know if it necessarily needs that. Hades Town is just too good of a show. Um, but I understand as far as like the longevity on Broadway, sometimes you need to bring in these people, and it's the people that are like, can they can they do it type of thing?

[12:48] Eli Tokash: Like they brought in Jordan Fisher when he was being talked about as can he do eight shows a week. Well, now he's figured it out and he's doing eight shows a week as Orpheus, which is not an easy role.

[13:00] Eli Tokash: Uh, but and he's allowed himself to, you know, not do the stage door and and do things so that he can and saying no to the press opportunities or whatever, just to make sure that he can do eight shows a week.

[13:15] Eli Tokash: He's taking care of himself and everything. It's great to see. And now it's like the question now with Lola Tongue coming in. It's like, oh, she can sing. I didn't realize she could sing, so that's gonna be interesting. Let's go see it. You know, it's these it's it's good calls, like they are stunt casting, but it's also makes sense casting. Uh sort of similar to what they're doing in Little Shop. Um, but it's been interesting to see nonetheless. Um, it'd be interesting to see more Broadway folks uh come into Hades Town, but uh we'll we'll see how that goes and their future casting announcements. So I've heard like uh Lizzie McAlpine is gonna be coming in for Eurydice after Lola or in the near future.

It's like crazy names coming out of a Hades Town. It's just I don't even know if it's necessary, but anyways, that's that's my rant there. Uh Derek Clenna is coming back to Mulan Rouge, which is great. He's reprising his role as Christian in Moulin Rouge. Uh starting, I believe, in February. And I'm so excited for this. Love Derek Klenna. I didn't get to see him in his first run. I can't wait to hopefully see him in the second run. Derek Klenna is the best, truly. Um what a guy. He's so freaking talented. Um hopefully we get him on during this, you know, run in Mulan Rouge. We've been so like close to getting him on so many times. And uh it'll it'll happen one of these days here. So uh shout out Derek and I can't wait for more people to see that iconic performance of his in Mulan Rouge.

Uh I also want to shout out uh current or I guess former Take A Bow family member, but always Take A Bow family member. Alex Brightman's first show in Spamalot on Broadway happened this week, Tuesday. Uh shout out to Alex Brightman. He came on here. We by the way, Take A Bow was the first to kind of report that Alex Brightman was gonna be in Spamalot. There was obviously a lot of speculation, but we were I I always said that like it's happening. He kind of inadvertently told me, and I never like I kind of inadvertently hinted at it because I would never be the type of person to like give out the confidential news because I get it. Um but we also I I've been saying like before the casting announcement for anybody in Spamalot was it is gonna be Leslie, James, and Royal Eagle Heart and Alex as soon as Alex can get out of the shark is broken.

Um and sure enough, here we are. So this cast is so ridiculous, so ridiculously funny and fun. Like literally a night of fun at the theater. There are some shows on Broadway right now that you're gonna go and you're gonna cry for two and a half hours. This show, you may cry for two and a half hours of tears of like joy and laughter. It's brilliant, it's so fun. He's brilliant in this role. Uh so happy for him. He's so happy in this role. We talked about it when he came on the podcast. Um, you could just tell how much he loved the show. So I'm so thrilled that he's back in it and telling the story that he loves. And we talk a lot about that in our episode this week. So uh before we turn it over to that, very exciting news out of the Sondheim canon.

Here We Are is going to be uh released for a cast album in the very near future. I didn't see a date on the release date uh for the album, but there was multiple reports and confirmation that they're recording it, and it will be released in the near future, and that'll be Sondheim's last cast album, uh I guess original cast album recorded. Um crazy to to think about, but uh that is the reality and performances. You only have 10 more days to go see Here We Are at the shed. Um, and really, I believe that's nine now when this comes out. So uh pretty crazy stuff. Everyone go see Here We Are at the Shed. I was able to cover the opening night. That was a blast. The cast is ridiculously talented and so fun.

Uh, so one not to miss for for many reasons. Alright, that's all the news I have for you folks this week. We have a behemoth of an episode this week. Uh so so huge uh both in length and in guests and everything in between. Uh, so that's all the news I have for you folks this week. Aidan Gemme is coming up right after this. I uh can't wait for you folks to listen to this. We didn't even talk about everything that I wanted to talk about. We went long here. It was an hour of his time. Um and we talked even before and after, so I was like, we were like, this is crazy. So uh hopefully we'll do it at another one at another time. And uh yeah, he's the best, and we could have talked about so much more, but we got questions from Finding Neverland fans, Lauren Oberdorf and Archie.

Um I don't know Archie's last name, but shout out Archie, you know who you are. Uh I was able to tell two people that we were getting uh some of the favorite uh and most requested guests on the podcast, and these are some loyal Take A Bow listeners. So shout out to them. And they kind of sent out some questions that they wanted to hear about Finding Neverland, and also Aidan's journey through Finding Neverland. Aidan's been with the show for for longer than arguably anybody else in the cast, uh other than Alex Dreyer. Um he was with it from the very beginning from readings, um, and it was just it was cool to to see all of it, but we didn't get to talk about half of it. I wanted to talk about backstage memories.

I want to talk about our handshake. Each kid had a handshake before um uh before the show that we did, and that was kind of like our our ritual of like getting into character and all that. Uh, but everything that we did talk about, it was it was magical. So uh to be able to relive some of that and go through that while also giving you all some um you know fun and and and um hopefully good advice uh that y'all will be able to take. Hopefully it wasn't too like you know, inside-y type thing. Hopefully you all will be able to learn from it and uh you know just enjoy it and and enjoy hearing us reminisce of uh of Mary Poppins show, uh Finding Neverland, him doing TV, um and all this great stuff. So uh without further ado, here is Aidan Gemme.

[20:13] Eli Tokash: We are starting the new year off strong with one of the most highly anticipated guests on Take A Bow. Not even like, I mean, yes, for the people listening, but also from my personal like self. It's an honor to have this guest on the podcast. Uh this is our first ever fellow Llewellyn Davies brother. Um, and you know him from originating the role of Peter Llewellyn Davies in Finding Neverland on Broadway. And uh you may have also seen him in Mary Poppins and Waiting for Godot. His resume expands to off-Broadway in shows such as You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and Runaways. Love that. Uh and recently you may have seen him on the CW channel in Naomi. So everyone, welcome to Take A Bow, Aidan Gemme. Hi, Aidan.

[21:00] Aidan Gemme: Hi.

[21:01] Eli Tokash: This is crazy. Thanks so much for having me on, dude. I'm very excited.

[21:04] Aidan Gemme: No, no, no. I am so thrilled to have you on. This has been long overdue, you know. Like, this is you are one of the person the people that like when I started this thing, I was like, who would I even talk to? And and you were by far the first person on the list. Now three years, four years later, whatever it is, we get to have you. I'm so excited.

[21:25] Aidan Gemme: I can't wait for all your cross country uh, you know, teammates to start making fun of you.

[21:31] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah.

[21:32] Aidan Gemme: Oh yeah, that'll be good.

[21:34] Eli Tokash: No, it'll be great. Actually, it's funny too, because we're starting 2024 off with you, and we started 2023 off last year with Elizabeth Teeter.

[21:44] Aidan Gemme: No way.

[21:46] Eli Tokash: Yeah, who you were the bank siblings together at Mary Poppins. So I was like, oh, that's pretty cute.

[21:51] Aidan Gemme: That's great.

[21:52] Eli Tokash: But she's the best. She's killing it. Um great to see. Um, so basically the the way I like to start these things is really just you know, asking people like how'd we get here? Like how what was your introduction to musical theater? Why did you want to start performing, telling stories, like what what was it?

[22:12] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. I think you saying like telling stories, as silly as that sounds, because I'm a child. Um that's like always been um what it's been for me. Um I so I got into acting, I don't know, kind of fell into it. One of my friends, Zach Unger. I don't know, do you know Zach?

[22:29] Eli Tokash: Yeah, oh my god.

[22:30] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, so we're from this we're from the same town in Westchester, you know, just north of New York City. So um he did like acting community theater, and I went to a show, and I don't know, I was like seven years old. No, and I was like, I was like, mommy, I want to do that. Um, and they had this like showcase where uh managers and um agents, representatives would go. So I went to that and somehow landed a manager and just kind of like fell into it. Um training or anything, just randomly.

[23:00] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, so Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins was like the first time that I like learned to sing like formally. Um so like apparently if you listen to like early recordings of me singing, um, like I sang with a British accent. Like not when I was singing for Mary Poppins, but just because that was the first time that I had kind of um learned how to sing for like in in any type of formal setting. So I don't know, it was just there I mean I know you feel this, like there's just kind of like a joy um when you get to like I don't know, make people feel something. Um I think for Poppins that like that was a lot of joy, and then in Neverland kind of got to tap into a bit more the emotional thing, and there's something like really, really um intoxicating is the wrong word. Um, but just there's like a draw.

[23:53] Aidan Gemme: Um and I kept getting lucky. Um kept I think just always led with like love loving doing what I was doing. That kind of you know snowballed in a positive way for me. Um so yeah, it's always been like I it's really fun and special to tell stories, and I've been like really really fortunate in that the things that I've been involved with were stories that I was like really passionate about sharing, and I think like Naomi obviously would love that show to have more than one season, but um like that's another story that's just like obviously as an actor you always like any opportunity you get is like super lucky.

[24:34] Aidan Gemme: Um but when you get to like tell a story that you like feel really, you know, you can get behind. Uh it feels so much better.

[24:43] Eli Tokash: Absolutely, and it's so interesting because like, you know, people always talk about, oh, you know, you gotta get into this character and you gotta do this and you gotta do that. But it's really like especially like when we were kids, you know, it was like if we could fall in love with the story, there was no character, you know. Like we could just go out there and have fun and and hit our marks and you know, make each other on stage laugh, and then yeah, by doing that, it's making everyone else laugh, you know.

[25:12] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, a thousand percent. I mean, those little like, you know, conversations with like the ensemble members, you know. I just I just ran into Josh and Dana are doing like an off-broadway show.

[25:23] Eli Tokash: Um, yeah.

[25:24] Aidan Gemme: Dana Costello and Josh Lyman who were in Finding Neverland. Um, and it's just like kind of brought back all these memories of like making each other laugh, like in character backstage when nobody was looking at us.

[25:35] Aidan Gemme: Um like those are like the best moments, you know.

[25:38] Aidan Gemme: Um in Neverland, that first you know, scene of act one may have been.

[25:44] Eli Tokash: That's exactly what I'm thinking.

[25:46] Aidan Gemme: Like Yeah, it was awesome to perform because we barely had to do anything. We were just talking to everyone, you know.

[25:53] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[25:53] Aidan Gemme: That and like the the ice cream with Rory and the mashed potatoes or whatever.

[25:57] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, I forgot about that.

[25:59] Aidan Gemme: Those are like the moments that you you know, you're like, Alright, this will be fun.

[26:04] Aidan Gemme: What's gonna happen here? Not even like what's gonna happen with my voice or whatever's gonna happen. You know, you're just literally at a playground, you know, as a kid.

[26:12] Eli Tokash: Oh, yeah.

[26:13] Aidan Gemme: Nothing else phases you. I feel like as I get older, times have changed a bit, and I'm worried about other stuff, which is pretty good.

[26:19] Eli Tokash: Dude, for sure, for sure.

[26:20] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. Um, well, so you mentioned, you know, you went to this, you know, I don't even know. They the manager agent, you know, try out showcase, whatever you want to call it. Um, and all of a sudden that it like that was basically your audition for for Poppins. Is that is that the case, or was it like you got signed with a manager and then they sent you out to Poppins?

[26:44] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, so I signed with the manager, um, and then kind of, you know, that got got auditions from there. Um yeah, so I I think Poppins was I I love the first the first professional job that I ever had was um a McDonald's radio commercial.

[26:59] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it was That's awesome.

[27:03] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, love it. Um and then Poppins was the first uh like professional theater thing that I ever did. Um so I think that was probably a year or so into once I'd like signed with the manager and everything and was actually going out and trying out for things.

[27:19] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[27:21] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. And you got bit by the musk and you didn't want to stop, eh?

[27:25] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. So what was that audition process like? Because I mean, I didn't do Poppins on Broadway, but I did it out on tour.

[27:33] Eli Tokash: That's right.

[27:34] Aidan Gemme: Like that's an audition that I'll never forget. It was my first audition in New York. So um there were many reasons, but I also just felt like that that audition process was so untraditional in a way.

[27:47] Eli Tokash: Yeah. What was this like?

[27:49] Aidan Gemme: I'm not sure. I mean, I wonder now I'm wondering if we were like in the same room together.

[27:53] Eli Tokash: We honestly totally possible.

[27:55] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, yeah.

[27:56] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, so uh I mean for me it was I think it was an initial audition, and then we did this like big like workshop um with like a ton of Janes and Michaels, and they like taught us some of the choreography, they like taught us let's go fly a kite.

[28:11] Aidan Gemme: Um we were reading with different Janes. Um and then I wanna say there was a third like callback after that. Um I totally could be making that up. But yeah, the the workshop like I yeah, I think so. The workshop was crazy.

[28:27] Aidan Gemme: Like it was mine was like playing zipzab zob and random games and stuff, you know, like it was it was crazy. Like I it I think that was before we even like started to to do like sides and stuff, because I think they wanted to see, you know, just how we behaved as humans.

[28:49] Aidan Gemme: Um because that's obviously something working with kids is challenging and probably the something that they have to look for, but also like how well we can follow directions. I mean, if you give us directions to a game or whatever and see how we could follow that, I think that that was also something, and then I feel like after that they like let people go and let people know who was staying, and and then kind of continued.

[29:11] Aidan Gemme: It was so weird. Your memory is your memory's better than mine, but that's absolutely happening. Um I've also had more conversations about it since this, you know, so it kind of you know sparks with the memory a little bit more.

[29:25] Aidan Gemme: Um, but yeah, I I I just thought it was crazy, and then all of a sudden, you know, I don't even think like usually with Neverland at least, they made me come in three or four times, you know, Poppins.

[29:38] Aidan Gemme: I feel like it was a one-day thing of all the callbacks in one day.

[29:42] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and I didn't even have to come back again after that.

[29:45] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[29:46] Eli Tokash: Was that you?

[29:47] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[29:48] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, yeah. I I mean I remember it being like over an hour long or maybe a few hours long.

[29:53] Eli Tokash: For sure.

[29:54] Aidan Gemme: Like it was like a long, arduous type of thing. With like sections, like we'd come out, my mom's like sitting on the bench and ripping the greer with like water, and I'm like, okay, okay.

[30:03] Aidan Gemme: Um then you like go back in for the next set or whatever it was. Um yeah, Poppins is Poppins was a great experience.

[30:12] Aidan Gemme: Um I think one of the things that show had going for it was like, you know, I think it ran for what, six years. And I was I I was the last Michael Banks ever.

[30:23] Aidan Gemme: I did the last performance on Broadway, which was like something I will never forget. Um but they had like they had the system down.

[30:31] Aidan Gemme: Um like they knew how to work with kids, they knew how to, you know, uh how to get everybody on board, how to get through the show, how to how to do everything in like a very professional, very um productive way.

[30:44] Eli Tokash: Um which was great.

[30:47] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. And this was like before the Matilda and everything. So this was like this was pre pre-all that and I don't know.

[30:56] Aidan Gemme: I feel like everyone kind of followed Poppins in a way. I mean, I don't really know what happened before that because I didn't live in New York or pay attention to the theater.

[31:05] Aidan Gemme: But uh it seemed like a lot maybe they already had a blueprint out there, but it seemed like a lot of people were following Poppins' blueprint, uh, for the near future, the next few years.

[31:15] Aidan Gemme: Um, but obviously that's also a testament to how like special and and and how well that works, you know.

[31:21] Eli Tokash: Um, but you mentioned closing the show. I mean, we've had teeter on the show, as I mentioned, so she's she was she was about it. I gotta ask, you know, from your perspective.

[31:32] Eli Tokash: I mean, I'll never forget your last show of Neverland and well my style was. So yeah, I I'm curious to, you know, how is that final performance of of Poppins and doing it with the entire cast?

[31:43] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, I mean it was uh the like the two I remember my first performance for Poppins was I I remember going to New York City, you know, um and just being like unbelievably nervous.

[32:00] Aidan Gemme: Like couldn't get any food down before, like super super nervous, excited but nervous. And I like oh, like my knees were shaking and Poppins had this scrim, you know, and the scrim rose, and literally the moment that it like you could see the audience, everything faded away.

[32:17] Aidan Gemme: Like it was this like surreal moment where I was just like the fear and the jitters were completely gone. So that was like a super memorable thing, and like literally from that moment on, like I've never felt stage fright on a stage.

[32:29] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[32:30] Aidan Gemme: Um the other utterly memorable moment was like the scrim rose on the last performance, and I'm sure Elizabeth said this, but like that audience was like never like Poppins was a family, and it it was a family with like generations of like I think there were like sixty kids that were in that show, and it must have been like two-thirds of the audience actually had either performed or was like a family or friend of somebody that had been in the show.

[32:55] Aidan Gemme: And like we stood there for like two or three minutes while they were just like you know, had this like ovation for us before we could start the show.

[33:04] Aidan Gemme: So it's like those two just like first moments of the show will like never leave leave me because they're just so and it was that like I don't know how long the show is. Let's say it was two and a half hours, like the final performance was three hours long.

[33:16] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[33:16] Aidan Gemme: Because we we couldn't get through a number without having like an unbelievably long ovation. They'd stop in the middle of numbers.

[33:23] Aidan Gemme: Like we would have to like literally the music would actually stop whenever there was something memorable that was like some big moment.

[33:28] Aidan Gemme: Like it was it was unbelievable.

[33:31] Eli Tokash: That's awesome.

[33:32] Aidan Gemme: And I think different Neverland, I was really sentimental. And probably definitely sentimental too, but it was like it was just this like unbelievable celebration um of that show.

[33:44] Aidan Gemme: Um so yeah, it was just like super super like infused with joy.

[33:49] Eli Tokash: I love um it was super cool, dude.

[33:51] Eli Tokash: That's everything that the show, you know, kind of embodies is you know, joy. You know, people were allowed to be a little bit more on the sob side, so we can think about it a little bit more.

[34:02] Aidan Gemme: Um that's that's awesome. I mean, those are like the shows that you never forget, you know, like the first ones, the last ones, and then like, you know, like as a kid, like you someone you look up to, like I'll never forget like Julius' last show, you know, like some one of those types of things where it's just like um I don't know, someone that means a lot to you leaves, and it's like, oh no.

[34:23] Aidan Gemme: It's all it's honestly like that fear of like I'm never gonna see these people again because I won't see them every day. But it's like no, that's not true.

[34:31] Aidan Gemme: Like, yeah, you know, I don't know.

[34:33] Aidan Gemme: Uh as a kid, you know, the the you just think uh so I don't know, you think of the weirdest things, and you you don't fully understand everything that's happening until like sure you know, after the fact, and it's like wow.

[34:45] Eli Tokash: Um, I gotta talk to you one last thing before we move on, because I mean I'm we're basically already talking about Neverland, but um yeah, I I got want to talk to you about the whole like Disney magic. You know, like as a kid, you know, like what were how old were you when you did Poppins?

[35:05] Aidan Gemme: I was nine and then I turned ten. I think I was the same.

[35:09] Eli Tokash: So we had to have been in that same audition.

[35:12] Aidan Gemme: A lot of parallels.

[35:14] Aidan Gemme: How long were you in it before Brody joined the your as your mom brought her, Elizabeth Broadhurst?

[35:20] Aidan Gemme: Oh. Um tour.

[35:25] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. So we had to have been in that same audition.

[35:28] Eli Tokash: That's crazy.

[35:29] Aidan Gemme: That's bizarre, yeah.

[35:30] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, that that's that's crazy.

[35:31] Aidan Gemme: I also remember when they offered it to me, it was like you could p I could pick tourists.

[35:36] Eli Tokash: Oh no kidding.

[35:37] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[35:37] Aidan Gemme: That's sick.

[35:38] Aidan Gemme: Um That's crazy. My mom was like, You're not going on tour.

[35:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it was crazy, man.

[35:45] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, I I'm actually very curious to see what tour life is like as an adult. You know, like now I'm at an age where I'm like, ooh, I wonder what that would be.

[35:54] Aidan Gemme: Um but I I wouldn't trade any of it. This is it's it was awesome. The show, you know, just changes everything.

[36:01] Eli Tokash: So as a nine, ten year old, whatever you want to do, w what was your thoughts on like the whole Disney magic? Like for me it was like the coolest thing ever.

[36:07] Aidan Gemme: Like for me it was like the coolest thing ever. I was a cool thing. I was like I I thought I was the coolest because I was like, oh, like people would be like, how'd it happen? I'm like, Disney magic.

[36:16] Aidan Gemme: And I'm like this punk nine ten year old who's like, oh jerk. What do you have like a favorite, you know, memory or like even learning how some of the things happen or what was it?

[36:28] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, no, I totally. So I remember, right, we do all of our audit uh all of our rehearsals in a studio. They've got the tape on the lines, and they're like, This is actually a Bureau, and you're like, What? No, it's not.

[36:37] Aidan Gemme: Um, what is that?

[36:40] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[36:41] Aidan Gemme: And and then I remember I remember the first rehearsal that we did in the theater, and of course, you know, the show was going on, so they had everything running.

[36:53] Aidan Gemme: And um and I remember like, you know, the the L well the wow, Llewellyn Davies uh uh oh.

[36:59] Aidan Gemme: The Banks' bedroom kind of floats down on the Broadway stage, and there were like there were certain things where like there were mirrors, so you couldn't it looked like it was just a bedside table, but there was actually something behind it.

[37:12] Aidan Gemme: There were oh now I'm just giving it away. Um there were there were various magical things, and as they were kind of showing us all the tricks of the set, apparently I was just standing there, like literally my mouth, like my jaw like on the floor.

[37:27] Aidan Gemme: And and our like the person kind of running our rehearsals, like pointed at me and was like because the kids have to act like amazed when Mary Hawkins starts doing all this magic, and apparently they like pointed me and they were like, That do that, that's what you need to look like.

[37:42] Aidan Gemme: Because I was just completely stunned um by the stage magic of it.

[37:47] Aidan Gemme: Um well, I mean, the thing is is that like it's so magical from an audience point of view that like when you get on the stage and you're like, Wait, that's it, like it it kind of like is like that it's even cooler that it's so simple.

[38:05] Eli Tokash: Oh, yeah, it makes this grandiose, you know, magic type thing.

[38:10] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, and I also remember people telling me, um, you know, the hardest thing about doing theater is making it organ and making it appear organic every single night, and that like never being an issue with that show.

[38:24] Aidan Gemme: Um it was just like it was I don't know, it maybe it was because I was a kid, but like it never it really didn't get old.

[38:32] Eli Tokash: No.

[38:34] Aidan Gemme: And especially those things. Like you know the moments coming in the first act when she like pulls out the bag and you're like, oh you know, like all of those little things where it's like you know that you're gonna get a little gasp from the audience, and like um just kind of playing into that a little bit, um, was always like so fun.

[38:51] Eli Tokash: Yeah, absolutely.

[38:53] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, that's cra that's hilarious. It's so true, and especially like in a big show like that, like it's live theater, so like it's not like everything can go exactly as planned every night.

[39:05] Aidan Gemme: So almost the it's easy to keep it organic in that way of like how are they actually gonna make it work?

[39:11] Aidan Gemme: Oh my god, they did make it work, like type of thing that that night. Um it's pretty incredible to think back on and pretty cool. Um yeah, what a what a show. What a fun what is funny? So I'm curious, like, did was that easy not easier, but like as something as big as Mary Poppins, you know, like Mary Poppins is like, as you said, been on Broadway like five years before you joined and and had like obviously it's a very well known movie with Julie Andrews and everything like that. Like, was that kind of something that you could you know go see or you know prepare for a little bit easily that as opposed to like Finding Neverland when you literally like created Finding Neverland from scratch. I know it was a movie, but it's kind of different.

Um yeah, I mean that's a good question. I know that I went to see the show long before I was thinking about acting. Um and and I watched the movie um for like preparation. Um so definitely I mean like did those types of things. Kind of credit my mom for all of like prepping me as a kid. Um but yeah, I mean I I think it definitely helps. Like with any of those things, like I was also Benny the Bull, which was there had been like five or six years worth of Bennies before that. So it like it wasn't the first time that I had to kind of uh, you know, take on something that somebody else started. Um and it's like an interesting thing of you know, being uh you know, pla being uh honoring what the people before you have done and what the character is and what the show is.

Um and like with Benny literally matching the voice, like that was the whole audition was just like how good are you at mimicking somebody's voice. Right. Um but also like wanting to bring your own kind of flavor to it. So I think I think it was helpful to have seen the show and know what it was like, but also not know like too too much. Um so that it could be a little bit more organic.

[41:11] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[41:11] Aidan Gemme: Um not like robotic and you're like, oh yeah.

[41:16] Eli Tokash: Yeah, not just doing what somebody else did.

[41:17] Aidan Gemme: And I think it was also helpful we had like three sets of Jane's and Michaels. I don't know what it was like on tour. Um, yeah, so it was kind of helpful and fun because whenever you would be matched like each week you'd be matched with a different Jane. Um and it was always a little bit different, you know, like I don't know what Elizabeth's gonna do versus what Maya's gonna do. Um and then you get to know each other's kind of you know, how you play scenes. Um that kinda helped. I think it was like very, very helpful with an established show like that to know like you know how how it goes and to be able to go and see it like you were saying and do that like research type thing. But also then to have the like making it your own. Um it's definitely like a fun and important part of it as well.

[42:00] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[42:00] Aidan Gemme: And I think that that also that kind of switch off goes back to the whole like how do I make this organic every every show, you know.

[42:07] Eli Tokash: Totally.

[42:08] Aidan Gemme: Totally. That's a huge help. I know for Neverland it was a huge help, you know, like we were literally I don't know if there were more than two shows a week that were like the same group of kids on stage. And I think the adults always talk about that, you know, like Carole Lee came on and was like it it kept us fresh. Like it it was literally a new show every night and that was the joy of doing it. Like we had no idea what was gonna happen. Especially like we're on stage a lot too, you know, both M Michael Banks and the Llewellyn Davies, like it's a large part of the show. So I think not only it helps us but everyone in the show, like around us. They all have their own moments with each kid, all different times, you know, like it's those things that people don't even think about from an audience perspective.

But, you know, anyone who's uh uh been in theater and involved in theater and shows or whatever, they know exactly what we're talking about, you know. Like they they those things just organically come into the to the show, oftentimes by accident and you know, kind of get stuck, you know.

[43:08] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah.

[43:08] Aidan Gemme: It's awesome. But those are the good times. Uh all right, so let's just let's just get into it then. Fi finally never landed.

[43:15] Eli Tokash: Oh, it's nine years ago.

[43:16] Aidan Gemme: Dude, no in that show.

[43:20] Eli Tokash: Yeah, no.

[43:21] Aidan Gemme: Disgusting.

[43:22] Eli Tokash: Nine years ago is when it opened on Broadway?

[43:24] Aidan Gemme: Yes.

[43:25] Eli Tokash: Okay, so then I was in it like a year or two before that.

[43:29] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[43:30] Eli Tokash: And I did the two uh workshops before Boston.

[43:34] Aidan Gemme: You did?

[43:35] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[43:35] Aidan Gemme: Oh, I didn't realize that. Was Sawyer with you there too?

[43:38] Eli Tokash: Or yeah, I think Alex was with was with it from the beginning.

[43:42] Aidan Gemme: Uh huh.

[43:42] Eli Tokash: And Sawyer did the first so there was a there was like a reading and Mitchell Sink played George.

[43:49] Aidan Gemme: Oh my god, I didn't know that.

[43:51] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[43:52] Aidan Gemme: And you did that with him or that was before you?

[43:54] Eli Tokash: Oh, okay.

[43:55] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, yeah.

[43:55] Eli Tokash: And then Wow.

[43:57] Aidan Gemme: Um Yeah. Funny, you know, Mitchell Sink is was was the bigger sink at that moment.

[44:03] Eli Tokash: Yeah, right?

[44:04] Aidan Gemme: I remember Sadie would like come to our rehearsal, she was an annie at the time and just like sit there because Mitchell is doing is doing his thing.

[44:11] Eli Tokash: So funny.

[44:14] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, that's crazy.

[44:16] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[44:17] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, and then eleven years, that's crazy.

[44:19] Eli Tokash: Yeah, so it's been a really long time, I guess.

[44:21] Aidan Gemme: You're old.

[44:22] Eli Tokash: No, just kidding.

[44:24] Aidan Gemme: Um I know. Um, but yeah, I mean that was something, you know, especially for you. I mean, you and Alex kind of experienced something that no n none of the other kids really experienced, and you have a very different relationship with the show just from being with it prior and seeing all of these different renditions of the show.

[44:47] Eli Tokash: Um you know, what was that process like?

[44:51] Aidan Gemme: I mean, what was that audition? You you kind of auditioned for a reading, and did you ever have to audition again? You know, like what was the whole process for you in Neverland?

[45:01] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, so the audition process was it was um pretty standard for the like for the reading, just in terms of like auditioning getting a call back. I remember for the callback, I had I had just recorded for Dora for Benny. It's a really it's a really, really raspy voice. And like I was terri like I was like whatever, ten or eleven years old, so I didn't know how to preserve my voice, and I sounded like I couldn't sing for the callback. Um and I think they were like no about this kid. Um so they like offered me the part but also like made me go to voice lessons. I was like, wow of the offer, which I think was really honestly a big help for me because then I got three voice lessons. Um and then Alex and I had to audition we had to audition for Boston and we had to audition for the Broadway version.

I think it was a little bit different, like we went in together and kind of were reading with it was mostly you know kids that we that had already been in the show, like Sawyer then came back and we like did kind of this weird audition at like Playwright's Horizon. Um and then for the Broadway one, it was like all of us together as well.

[46:14] Eli Tokash: And we were like, Are we auditioning for this or are you just like what's going on?

[46:20] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[46:21] Eli Tokash: Like did our voice change type of thing.

[46:23] Aidan Gemme: I think probably.

[46:24] Eli Tokash: But yeah.

[46:25] Aidan Gemme: Uh I think that's probably exactly what it was.

[46:27] Eli Tokash: But yeah, I mean I think there's a lot of things. One of the unique things about being a child actor is like a lot of the things that you learn about being part of that industry, you learn a few years later when you're able to like reflect back on it.

[46:43] Aidan Gemme: Um and like, yeah, I got to see the birth of a show from a book where we sat at music stands and somebody read the stage directions to like a full-fledged Broadway production.

[46:57] Eli Tokash: Um, which is like Wild.

[47:00] Aidan Gemme: Super super super cool. Um there were I don't remember how much we talked about this, but there were so many numbers. I mean, even once we got to Broadway, they were changing the opening number every night during previews. But there were so many songs um that were cut and added. Um and like when your feet don't touch the ground, there used to be a like a different key change that like we changed in Boston because my voice like doing eight shows was like killing it.

[47:28] Eli Tokash: So we were like, Oh, let's leave it down instead of changing keys here.

[47:31] Aidan Gemme: Like they were like all of these little things that happened as like the show progressed.

[47:35] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah.

[47:37] Aidan Gemme: I didn't realize that because once Tony Yazbek came in, they added a weird keychain, and I was like, Why are we doing some Yes?

[47:45] Eli Tokash: I was like, what are we doing here?

[47:47] Aidan Gemme: Like what why all of a sudden like a year in the run are we adding a keychain once Matthew left and yeah, obviously it it wasn't already there.

[47:56] Eli Tokash: I didn't realize that.

[47:58] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, so there were tiny things. There was like a great song that apparently um Gary and Elliot had written for the Queen and was like for the Queen of England that used to be the finale of the show, and then they cut it after the second reading.

[48:14] Eli Tokash: That's crazy.

[48:14] Aidan Gemme: Um because there was like a copyright issue.

[48:17] Eli Tokash: Yeah, like bizarre things like that.

[48:19] Aidan Gemme: Um where we'd come back for the next iteration of the show and there'd be like two numbers gone, and we were like, what happened?

[48:27] Eli Tokash: Right.

[48:28] Aidan Gemme: Um but yeah, yeah.

[48:30] Eli Tokash: I don't know, man.

[48:31] Aidan Gemme: It was cool.

[48:33] Eli Tokash: So did let me let me rephrase like I'm curious to just to add on top of the question, I guess. Did you ever have to do uh the dinner party dance break for an audition for Fighting Everlands?

[48:45] Aidan Gemme: No.

[48:46] Eli Tokash: I don't think maybe maybe for Broadway.

[48:50] Aidan Gemme: I envy the crap out of that because I've oh my god, I thought that I never like I could have quit musical theater right there.

[49:00] Eli Tokash: I honest to God, like probably cried in Julius' arms in that audition and was like, What am I doing?

[49:07] Aidan Gemme: Like, why why is this so hard?

[49:10] Eli Tokash: And like that that was brutal for me.

[49:13] Aidan Gemme: Um, but that's hilarious that you you know you didn't have to do that.

[49:18] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I don't know. I figured because the readings and everything, but I that's awesome.

[49:22] Aidan Gemme: What a cool what a cool thing to, you know, see that.

[49:26] Eli Tokash: I'm curious, you know, like do you have like a favorite thing you mentioned of all these things coming in and out. Like, do you have a favorite thing that was like cut that you like that you just miss, not even like you know, wish that would have been in it, just like something you missed performing or seeing or whatever.

[49:42] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, that's a great question. Um there was a number that Mary Barry had in uh in Boston called Rearranging the Furniture.

[49:54] Eli Tokash: They cut that for Broadway, right?

[49:56] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, they definitely did.

[49:58] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[49:59] Aidan Gemme: And Jenna DeWall um played Mary Barry and she crushed that number.

[50:06] Eli Tokash: Um so that was obviously I wasn't performing that, but that was such a great number.

[50:12] Aidan Gemme: Um gave kind of gave it gave a little bit more body to the Mary Barry character as well.

[50:17] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[50:17] Aidan Gemme: Um and then also the you know, in the Broadway uh production there was kind of a split stage where we were kind of playing um with uh James on one side and there was like the theater people on the other side, and we would kind of switch between the two, right?

[50:33] Eli Tokash: You remember that?

[50:34] Aidan Gemme: Oh, and yeah, yeah, yeah.

[50:36] Eli Tokash: That used to be a song called Great Adventure that had like such fun harmonies to sing.

[50:43] Aidan Gemme: Um I don't remember when that was cut.

[50:46] Eli Tokash: Was that not the original Piot to Kensington?

[50:51] Aidan Gemme: I no, it wasn't.

[50:55] Eli Tokash: Oh wow.

[50:56] Aidan Gemme: Um that's what I because I auditioned for Boston, and I knew that that was one of the audition songs.

[51:03] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[51:04] Aidan Gemme: And so I knew Great Adventure.

[51:06] Eli Tokash: I thought it was a great song.

[51:08] Aidan Gemme: I can't believe they could.

[51:09] Eli Tokash: I know.

[51:10] Aidan Gemme: Um That's crazy.

[51:11] Eli Tokash: Yeah, so that might have turned into the Pirates of Kensington, but it happened during um, you know, there's like, oh, they're playing their, you know, all of these adventures where you see the kind of bits and pieces of Peter Pan starting to form in Jamberry's mind.

[51:25] Aidan Gemme: And then in the Broadway version, they kind of split screen splits staged it.

[51:29] Eli Tokash: Um, but that used to be like a full musical number.

[51:32] Aidan Gemme: Um which died.

[51:37] Eli Tokash: Which died of musical theater death.

[51:40] Aidan Gemme: When did Stars come into the picture?

[51:43] Eli Tokash: Um that was a Boston edition, I'm pretty sure.

[51:47] Aidan Gemme: Yeah?

[51:48] Eli Tokash: You should really fact check me on every single word that comes out of my mouth.

[51:52] Aidan Gemme: No, I'm taking your word for it all.

[51:54] Aidan Gemme: I'm rewriting history right now.

[51:56] Eli Tokash: I love it.

[51:57] Aidan Gemme: I think that was a Boston edition. I mean, that that also was born largely out of you know, Sawyer's musical brilliance.

[52:07] Aidan Gemme: Um I mean, I feel like that song was largely just showing off what he could do.

[52:14] Aidan Gemme: He wanted to be a rock. I mean, and he like he made that, you know, like he made that. Uh yeah. Obviously. Good good move. He's he's doing pretty well for himself now. But yeah, I think I think that came into the picture in Boston. Um Wow. I think. Yeah. See, I mean, that's just an example of, you know, like when people say like creating a show or creating a role, I mean like that that's what we mean. Like, they write stuff for you, you know. You know, like they eventually wrote feet in that key for you guys. Like you Sawyer stars, like all of these things. It it's really it's pretty neat to to be a part of those productions and why people, you know, actors or whatever come on here and are like, I want to originate a role.

Like that's exactly what they mean. They want an opportunity to like let write for their craft, you know, and not like have to feel like they have to do someone else's, you know, craft or whatever. Um that's sick. Yeah. That's so freaking cool. I feel like I knew that, but I I I wasn't a hundred percent sure. Yeah. But hey, we're rewriting history here on Tick About. So it is what it is. Um I'm curious, you know, like you I mean, we talk about like different, you know, musical numbers and all of that, but like what about coming to Broadway, right? And having these new cast members? I mean, finding you kind of find your show, right? Uh have it on its feet for the first time and go through that whole process of creating it with Jeremy Jordan and all of that, and then you come to Broadway with Matthew, you know, and and more kids are in the picture, you know, more brothers or whatever. You know, what was what was that kind of like to for you?

[53:56] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. Um I mean I think one of the really fun things, I haven't done that much uh I most of what I've done is theater and kind of as soon as I did something that wasn't theater, I realized that like there's something really, really special about being with everybody in the cast all the time. Um so I think that was just like the fact that there were more people and that it was changing. Obviously, like you love like Thane Jasperson, um, who I think is still in Hamilton. Yeah, I think so. He was in he was in the readings and he was in the Boston production, and like I loved doing the show with Thane. Um and he left for for the Broadway production to go to Hamilton. So like it's sad when you lose people that are like, you know, you love watching them and love doing it with them every night.

But there's something really really fun about having new cast members and having you know new people um take on the show, and also like when you're a kid, like you're used to the kind of rotation of doing it with other kids. Right. Um same thing with Mary Poppins, and that's just kind of I guess it's like a child actor when you're not usually doing eight shows a week. Um it's kind of the norm to have different people. Um but absolutely it was fun having and there were a few of us that were kind of in it the whole time. Um and then you know, Matt did um he did the second reading, but then not the Boston one, and then came back for Broadway. Um it was Brian Darcy James was the what did the did the reading.

Like the first one. It was Brian Darcy James and and Jason Alexander was Fromman. There's that other thing, is like there were a lot of like unbelievable, you know, performers that I got to work with for for a few weeks in those readings before the Broadway production. That's crazy. Um, which was pretty sweet. But yeah, I I don't know. I I think just like you know, being in a Broadway company as well, you've always got people coming and going. Uh and it's fun to see see what they're gonna do to the show and kind of be the I guess the eleven year old vet who's been in it, yeah and kind of knows what's going on. Um and know the roads.

[56:25] Eli Tokash: Yeah, uh so I've never thought about it that way. Well, I think that I think that you kind of hit the nail on the head and kind of where I was going to next was like I'll never forget coming in because I wasn't a part of like the original cast because Hayden Sawyer left, you know, a month in or whatever, and I came in with Casey and then there, you know, that was the biggest thing. I mean, it felt like you know, Sawyer obviously, but I think it's also because everyone kind of knew Sawyer, knew who Sawyer was, you know, everyone kind of looked up to him. But once he left, you know, like you were the guy, you were the leader of like our little group, and I I I'll never forget just like you know, looking up to you.

Like I had just done pipping with Diane and everything, and but like I felt like I was still learning, I didn't know everybody, you know, like and it just like everywhere you went, you know, you knew other kids or other adults, you know, like and I was just like i I don't know, like I guess I kinda gravitated towards you and your leadership and just the way you carried yourself, you know, throughout that whole production, where I feel like a lot of the kids like if we just called them up right now, they would they would kind of feel the same.

[57:35] Aidan Gemme: Thanks, man. Um that's that that no, yeah. No, I mean that that's very very kind of you. Um yeah, I mean obviously hindsight 2020, but I I really feel like I don't know, it did it did genuinely feel like a brotherhood. Um and like, yeah, I'll never forget my last show, and just like yeah, like collapsing into Alex's arms and your arms. Yeah. I don't know, like you go through so much when you're doing a production. Um and you spend so much time with people that yeah it's a very unique kind of uh relationship that you develop with people. Um I I also just think, you know, like and I know it's just like it just goes back to just being like, oh, like as a kid, you know, but it's true, like I mean, especially you, I mean, you gave that show a good three to four or five years of your life.

Like, we grew up then. Yeah. Like everything that like our foundation, I guess, now that like we kind of built during those however many years, you know, like they were influenced off of every single one of those people in our cast, you know, and like how we carry ourselves now as actors, or how we even look at stuff, or how we, you know, uh attack a rehearsal and and while we still have to be professional, you know, we can have a pajama day, you know, like you know, like those those kind of things that like we learned and we kind of just see how everything is and we grow as humans and performers, like those were like pivotal parts of our lives, and it was just like wow, like it it was just like that that was you know our family, like we saw them more than you know our parents some days, you know.

[59:29] Aidan Gemme: Oh yeah, um, especially on like Wednesdays and Saturdays, you know, like we went to the park, but like we really didn't leave the theater on Wednesdays and Saturdays. So it's just like I don't know. I just I look back on those times and it's just like crazy how much you and Matthew and Laura and all Julius, like all of those guys are still a part of my life, you know, and just the way I do things now. Um and I think saying goodbye to that and kind of I I don't know, we didn't realize that at the time, but there was a part of us that was just like, This is gonna be so hard to leave. Oh yeah. That like, but we didn't know why. Yeah. And I feel like, you know, looking back at that, that was kind of it.

Um yeah, interesting. I don't know. I could talk about it forever. I fuck I loved that show. Um yeah, I well there's there's some questions that I so I reached out to a couple people that you know listen to this. Shout out Lauren and shout out Archie. Um and they they had some questions uh for you.

[1:00:32] Aidan Gemme: Awesome.

[1:00:33] Eli Tokash: And uh they want to know if you had to do Finding Neverland again right now, do you still feel like you would be able to do it?

[1:00:43] Aidan Gemme: I so I I don't know if they're dreams or nightmares, but I I periodically will dream that like finding Neverland's still going on and I and they like called me back, everybody got sick and like I need to do Peter and I never do it right.

[1:01:00] Eli Tokash: Did that not happen to you though? I feel like it's actually happened to me.

[1:01:02] Aidan Gemme: It did happen to me. I was doing I was doing your good man Charlie Brown and I I don't know what happened. I mean, you would probably know better than I would. Um It was when I think it was when Chris broke his arm, and then I was on vacation.

[1:01:16] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[1:01:17] Aidan Gemme: So they asked me to come back from vacation, and I was like, There's no way I'm gonna make it back for the show in time. You know, like I'm in West Virginia. And so Chris performed with a broken arm. Yeah, but I can't I remember them saying they tried to get too bad. I couldn't do it. Great. So Chris can hate us for the rest of his life.

[1:01:40] Aidan Gemme: That's crazy. So God, if I had to do it right now, it would not be good. But it would be fun. Um I kind of wonder. No, I kind of wonder how much would would come back. I think I could probably sing most of the most of the soundtrack pretty well. A lot of the dialogue would. Dialogue would be like, I don't know, maybe like 40% of it. Let's be real. Did we really know the dialogue when we were doing it? Maybe not. Maybe not. Maybe you more than me. I don't know. I don't know. I was I paraphrased a lot of the streets.

[1:02:25] Aidan Gemme: Yeah. Multiple duty, which is which really amazing. You know, I only had to do one one part. Yeah. Um That's true. I don't know. I was uh it was nice to get into more of a rhythm. You know, w there were seven of us, and there were a that was a lot. And then once you left, you know, there were only six. Yeah. And so I feel like we kind of got more into a groove. Everyone kinda had their own role a little bit more, and then when people had to take the day off, you slid into the other roles. Um but and I felt like that was just smoother. But you know, it w it was it was a blast, you know, like you said, just on your toes, organic. Like those are like the realest of real reactions, you know.

[1:03:09] Eli Tokash: Um, so uh so kind of same question. If Finding Neverland had a revival, and this is where it changes, what role such a good question would you want to play?

[1:03:22] Aidan Gemme: Peter the Lon Davies. Um I would. That's like your baby. Um it honestly can be Peter. I mean, it is Peter. I wouldn't get the part somebody else would, but um No, they could lower it, come on. Uh who else in that show would I want to be? Um I guess maybe it would be interesting to like be one of the other brothers. Never really thought about that. Oh, that's hilarious. Um I don't think I'd want to be JM Barry. Um I've always said that I wanted to be Elliot. And I think it's just because it would be such a good Elliot.

[1:04:04] Eli Tokash: I thank you.

[1:04:06] Aidan Gemme: But I also think that's uh that's a tribute to you know Chris Duan and how brilliantly com comical he did he did that. Yeah. Oh, you would that I can totally see it. Um I know, I don't know. Yeah, I guess then maybe maybe um who did Tyley play? Who was the like really spot? Oh my god, with the wig uh I always do that. I don't even I can't even remember his name. That would be funny. And you get with Mary Barry and whatever that would be that would be good. I could see you in there. You you could do those things with your voice, you know.

[1:04:44] Aidan Gemme: Oh yeah, yeah, I just talk call Tylie up. But I mean, if if there was a revival, like I would still want to be Peter. Um I love that though. Yeah, no question.

[1:04:54] Eli Tokash: Uh that's awesome.

[1:04:56] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[1:04:56] Eli Tokash: What an answer.

[1:04:58] Aidan Gemme: Um all right, last one.

[1:05:01] Eli Tokash: Okay, what was your favorite part about getting to tell the story of Peter Pan in a different way than the actual story of Peter Pan?

[1:05:10] Aidan Gemme: Great question.

[1:05:11] Aidan Gemme: I like that. Beautiful question. Did you, were you like super familiar? Because I’ll admit I wasn’t super familiar with Peter Pan before finding Emma. I wasn’t super familiar. I mean, you know, you know the story. Um yeah, of course. Never grow up type thing. Yeah, yeah, you know, I yeah. But and I, and again, I think I have a less interesting answer because I was so young when I was doing it. Um yeah, I mean, I think the genuine answer would be I had no idea what I was doing. Um, in terms of retelling a story in that way. But I think for me, right, the fact that this sentimental kid becomes the boy that never grows up. Um and I spent a lot of time in that head, like I don’t want to oversell what I was doing as an 11-year-old or however old I was, but it was a really emotional kind of experience.

Um and I think it was really special to be this kind of sad, lonely, finding himself lost kid that becomes the inspiration for the exact opposite. Um and I think that’s like being able to kind of give a little bit more character and depth and complexity to this, you know, you’ve got the silhouette right behind you, everybody knows Peter Pan. Um on your poster. But like, you know, this is like it’s a it’s an it’s just it’s an ageless story. Everybody knows or many, many people know it, but not many people know how it was created, and not many people think about how something’s created. Um and not just like, oh, there was hard to write a play, but like what the inspiration came from and the fact that it came from something different um than just this joyous boy, but it actually came from a lot of complexity and loss and loneliness. Um I think maybe I maybe it was subconscious or maybe it’s just looking back now is like um I think something really important uh in kind of giving more body to these ageless characters. Um yeah.

[1:07:33] Eli Tokash: It’s true. Never really thought of it that way. I like that. Yeah. Pretty wild. It there’s obviously I mean, you know, people left the stage or the audience or whatever the theater that night, you know, sobbing, but a lot of that was, you know, how amazing and and musically and magically they did like a death scene and yeah, how sad we were after that, but like it’s pretty wild to really take a step back and think about what that show is about and um I don’t know how deep it really was though. It’s pretty pretty crazy.

[1:08:10] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[1:08:11] Eli Tokash: Um well, that yeah, I mean I don’t know. I don’t know where we should uh go next. I know that’s like forty five minutes, uh it’s usually how long I do, but I’m loving this. I can’t I talk to you forever. This is crazy. If you have time, we’ll do like 15 more minutes.

[1:08:29] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, yeah. I’m good.

[1:08:31] Eli Tokash: If that, because there’s only like three or four questions. Um I wish I had more questions with your good man Charlie Brown and Runaways, but um I want to jump to Naomi really quick and talk about that because I mean that was the most recent thing you did. So many people were like, where’s Aidan? Where’s Aidan? And then all of a sudden is he even doing this? Because now he’s a big cross country star. But now all of a sudden you’re popping up on our TV screens, and it’s like, whoa, this is crazy. So um, you know, what was that um I don’t know, a TV show. You mentioned you’ve done a lot of theater, you know. What was that kind of transition like even all these years later, and balancing that with college um while filming?

[1:09:14] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, bizarre. It was bizarre. It was so much fun. Um I was I was just hanging out with uh Will Will Myers and Daniel Poig, who are the two other co-stars, I guess you would say. Um I mean that was for me just a really really great learning experience. Just being able to work. I mean, that show was created by Ava DuVernay, who is one of the people, one of the you know artists that I look up to the most. Um and kind of I guess seeing the anatomy of how like a television show is created is really interesting, but also seeing somebody that’s so skilled at it, you know, how she does it and how she approaches a process. Um so we also did that during COVID. Like we were in Atlanta.

[1:10:01] Eli Tokash: No way, yeah.

[1:10:03] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, we were in Atlanta, you know, getting COVID tested twice a day, like every single day. Um that’s crazy. And like I think it was very uh very much an anomaly in the fact that we couldn’t spend as much time. There were the less like spaces created for us to hang out as a cast outside of shooting because they didn’t want us all to get sick. Right. Um but yeah, I think it like also just getting to work with like Casey, who is like yeah, unbelievable. Oh my god. And such a fun person. I mean, Broadway kid too. So um I mean for me, like she was she was that show. Um and like getting to see her do her process, work with all of these different directors, and you know, you have a different director and a different writer basically for every single episode.

Um, so there’s a lot of kind of turnover of working with different people, and for me, everything was a first, you know, seeing how you shoot these scenes, um, preparing for this character that I was so used to being in character all the time, you know, for a theater production, and all of a sudden it’s very, very different, and you get a couple of lines, and even when you’re on screen, sometimes you’re not in the shots, or you’re not even standing there, or you’re playing to a character, you know, they’re doing a one shot on you, and it’s Casey who’s under 18, so she’s got her child hours and you’re not even talking to her.

[1:11:29] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:11:30] Aidan Gemme: Um, so there were a lot of like just learning things for me. Um but also like getting to work with Ava is unbelievable. Um getting to work with uh all of those other actors, and getting to tell that story, like I said, um sick was awesome.

[1:11:49] Eli Tokash: You were perfect for that. I mean, you’re Jacob, you’re a serious regular, not a big deal, and like you’re killing it. I mean, like, you not to like call you a nerd, but like you were like the sophisticated, you know, type of guy. And it was perfect, you know, like you played that. I’ve never seen you play something like that. And it’s cool to see, you know, as we get older, seeing more, I don’t know, dynamic uh, you know, and more tools in our toolbox, I guess, as we uh grow as people and actors. But uh it was cool to cool to see you in that and see you on screen.

[1:12:24] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, thanks.

[1:12:26] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure. I was a huge fan of the show. I’m part of the people signing the petitions to do another season or whatever. I loved it.

[1:12:35] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, thanks, dude.

[1:12:37] Eli Tokash: Yeah. It’s such a weird, you know, change from Broadway to to TV. And I mean, it’s I mean, no knock on on TV or anything, but for all the reasons that or yeah, I mean, for all the reasons that you said, it’s just so much more lonely, I feel like on a on a TV set, and there’s so many things that you you get into this groove as a person who grew up on Broadway, you know, of you know, you get into the theater and it’s almost magical as when you step into the costume you become it. Yeah, but on TV, you’re like in the costume all day, and you’re like sitting playing on your phone or whatever you’re doing, or doing schoolwork, and then you’re like, oh shoot, what am I supposed to be doing and what just happened, what scene was before this, why am I feeling this way?

[1:13:27] Aidan Gemme: All out of order, yeah.

[1:13:29] Eli Tokash: Like it’s honestly like harder, and uh it’s probably like Oh, I mean yeah doing that gave me so much respect for street actors. I mean, like, and you know, it’s just it’s really impressive what people can do. Um Yeah, yeah. It’s it’s the whole like how do you do the whole eight shows a week. I mean, it’s the whole it’s a totally different skill set and then it’s like how do you go over here and and do scenes out of order and and you know, you do a happy scene, but the scene before that you were supposed to be like crying and like that’s the one you just shot, even though that’s coming later. You know, like it’s just it’s crazy. Um it’s just different skill sets and and different and seeing different artists and performers work uh in those environments is just fascinating to to be a part of. Um that’s sick. I’m glad that you I mean you crushed that. And the show was great.

[1:14:23] Aidan Gemme: Yeah.

[1:14:28] Eli Tokash: Like and like you said, I mean, Casey, you know, it was it was great. And it was so like I mean, I’m I’m a big fan of like the flash and all of that. So like it was so like perfect for our age, you know, like with the skateboard and just seeing like, you know, it feels like our high school, you know, like just seemed like another day and that was our reality and but it was more of like a sci-fi reality. I don’t know. It was it was cool to see as someone hopefully that was the target audience, but like in that target audience that was um yeah, I don’t know, it was awesome. And to see both of you up there is like this is even cooler.

[1:15:03] Aidan Gemme: Um yeah, for sure.

[1:15:05] Eli Tokash: Um so all right, I’m gonna send you off two last questions. All right. Um and this is a bit of a bit of weird question, uh not weird question. I should probably shouldn’t say that because it actually came from one of our fabulous uh question givers. I don’t know. Um so they we wanna know um if there was a show that you would come back to Broadway with, what would it be and why? And I know that’s a loaded question.

[1:15:33] Aidan Gemme: Oh man. So take your time. It could be a show that doesn’t even exist if if that’s what you if you won.

[1:15:43] Aidan Gemme: Um boy. Um I’m not picky. Just um No, I mean, I think I I was just home for you know I’m in college right now, so I was just home for the break and I got to see a bunch of shows. And um like I feel like everything on Broadway right now is great.

[1:16:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:16:09] Aidan Gemme: Is amazing. Um so yeah, I don’t know of anything in the works. So I that’s gonna be a boring answer. Um but yeah anything, honestly. Um I would love to do the outsiders with you.

[1:16:27] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah.

[1:16:28] Aidan Gemme: I feel like they’ve been I feel like that’s been in the process since we were like in Neverland.

[1:16:34] Eli Tokash: I know.

[1:16:35] Aidan Gemme: Sawyer was pony boy for the readings over Never.

[1:16:38] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah. I would do that. Let’s do it.

[1:16:41] Aidan Gemme: Dude, um that is crazy. That would get you back on Broadway. I’m glad to hear it. So you’re s like so basically, like I know you’re you’re yeah, I mean you’re a TV star now, so I wasn’t sure if like it would take something special to make you come back to Broadway, or if you’re like, hey, I wanna continue to Broadway.

[1:16:57] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, I mean, so it’s really interesting. Obviously, like I grew up with it and it was always just kind of this joy joyous thing, not really. I mean, obviously it’s it didn’t feel like a job. Um but I always kinda had to balance I mean all we all do. Everybody has to balance things. And um you know, I I kind of realized I left Finding Neverland right before kind of starting I think it was like seventh or eighth grade, and for most of high school, you know, I did a few things but kind of got to live, I guess, a somewhat normal life, and right now in college, like I’m I’m not auditioning for things right now. Um and with every passing day that you know I’m kind of away from the industry, it like makes me makes me want to get back in a little bit more.

[1:17:43] Eli Tokash: So KCU’s missing.

[1:17:46] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, so I don’t know what it’ll be. Um I’m sure I there’s so many stories out there that people are telling that are really great. Um and hopefully, hopefully one day I’ll I’ll have a little little part in helping somebody tell tell a story.

[1:18:02] Eli Tokash: Love it. Um I love it. Who knows? So final question. I mean new year, 2024. Um, you know, what are your plans for 2024?

[1:18:14] Aidan Gemme: You know, there's I know that's a that's another crazy question. It's like in this industry, you know, you really can't plan. Um, but you know, what what what are the goals, I guess? What are your what are your goals here? Yeah, it's a great question. Talk to Eli Tokashmore. Um, this is this is coming from Archie. Shout out Archie. Um I think so I think something that something that I want to do personally in my life is is write more, is create more. Love. Um, there's a lot of stories that I want to tell. Um there's a lot of I don't know, yeah, things I I want to collaborate with people more. I feel like I have things just kind of floating in my head a lot. Um definitely a lot going on out there.

There's definitely gosh. There's definitely I want to uh I wanna I want to write more and see different where that goes. And uh being in college and not really being that being my focus right now, I've I've been able to kind of engage with performing in a much smaller way. So like on campus, I'm part of our like improv comedy group. Um I'm you know, a lot of my friends like I'm one of my friends did a theater thesis, so I was in his thesis last year, and it's really fun kind of doing these small lower stakes things. Um where uh I don't know, it feels it's like a different way of engaging with performing. Um so I think kind of expanding upon that is one of the things that I want to do. Um and hopefully finding a bit more creativity in that um and embracing the fact that like it's not a Broadway stage and the ten people here can walk away and say that was weird.

Um, but nobody will really care. So yeah, for me at least, I think it's finding the courage to like pick up a pencil and start writing things and calling up people and saying, hey, like let's actually try to make something, like let's do an open mic, let's you know, reserve this space and do a 30 minute, you know, one man show or whatever it is. Um and just like putting myself out there um and seeing what happens.

[1:20:37] Eli Tokash: I love that. Come on. Funny guy Aidan Gemme here. I love it. Dude, this is awesome. I I it's crazy. I mean, I don't know. I’ve always felt, you know, at home I guess I don't even know. Like the I don't know. We I've always felt, you know, something with our relationship. And it's always been so positive. And it's crazy to see how like-minded, I guess, or how similar we are. And I I I'm gr that's like nice. That's me kind of tooting my own horn because I think you're the coolest guy. So uh you know. Yeah, so you know, I I don't know. It's just this is awesome. It's so great to to, you know, see what you're up to and hear from you and and catch up a little bit and all the things that you're up to now. It's just been so fun to watch you from afar and and keep supporting.

[1:21:32] Aidan Gemme: Um likewise. I can't I'm so thankful for you for for giving me an hour out of your day. Like this has truly been awesome. One of the my favorites by far. I I knew it coming in, but it was this is this has been great.

[1:21:46] Eli Tokash: Oh, thanks to you. I mean taking the inspiration directly from you, you know. Like you're doing it. You're doing your thing, you know what I mean? Like I remember seeing when this kind of first popped up. Um being like, wow, that is awesome. So yeah, um definitely try to try to take a page out of your book and just do what you love and people all gravitate towards it.

[1:22:05] Aidan Gemme: That's right. Love it. Well, it's been awesome watching you and we're always supporting. So uh, you know, I was telling these two that you're coming on and they were so excited. So you got fans out there, you know, you know. We're supporting you and watching your journey from afar for sure. And um we can't wait to see, you know, what's next, and you've obviously so much to take about already. So uh yeah, this has been awesome and all the best to to your family and to you.

[1:22:37] Eli Tokash: Um you too. Yeah, you guys are the best. Thanks, man. Really, really good catching up, going down memory line a little bit.

[1:22:44] Aidan Gemme: Yeah, I know. It's the best, it's the best. Well, thank you, and and hey, best of luck in twenty twenty-four.

[1:22:50] Eli Tokash: You too. Thanks.

[1:22:54] Aidan Gemme: Take about Aidan Gemme. Oh man, what an episode. This is one that I seriously will never forget. Uh just absolutely love talking theater and and this industry with someone that, you know, went through it with me, you know, and that get that really, really gets it. Um and and, you know, we're able to talk about the old days, you know, where we were, you know, backstage together and and doing all the things. So, um, shout out to you, man, and keep uh y now I mean he's doing cross country at Amherst, um in college. So he's killing it and he's still, you know, doing whatever and what he can, uh to stay in the you know, for his craft. Uh he was telling me he's doing like s any time someone asks him to be in like a student film or or uh the improv club or whatever it is, the comedy he's been doing stand-up and whatever.

So he's still working at his craft and and doing it in a um low stakes level and he said that he is loving it and it's allowing him to, you know, gain his personal experience that he's then able to use when a audition like Naomi or a Broadway show or something like at a higher stakes level you know comes about that he's really able to draw from and he says that that's been so beneficial.

[1:24:19] Eli Tokash: Um so it's great to see how you know everyone really has been growing up and kind of doing their own thing while staying in this industry and working at their craft all at the same time um while being an adult and figuring this life out because it was funny like we said you we can talk about our experience and everything but every experience is different and I mean that's what is fun about this is that I get to have similar conversations but it's never the same episode because everyone has their own experience and everyone has their own advice because no one truly knows like what's going on this industry if this industry was a book then everyone would be great at it. Like it's so hard to sustain it because no one really knows what they're doing and it's just so unpredictable in so many ways that uh you know you can't you won't figure it all out and you don't have all the answers and that's okay.

[1:25:16] Aidan Gemme: So um that was a big uh you know chat after the episode a little inside uh of after the episode but uh it's been it was great to catch up with him. Hopefully you all enjoyed this week's episode. A lot of Finding Neverland chat but I know you guys like the Finding Neverland chat I know you all listened uh because you probably know me from Neverland.

[1:25:37] Eli Tokash: Um and then if you know me from Neverland you obviously know Aidan. He originated the role that I eventually took over. Um I was lucky enough to play his brother at first and and be able to share a stage with him and then to fill in his shoes with something even uh, you know, greater that I could have asked for. So uh shout out to Aidan and and lay in the the foundation for me to eventually take over and uh, you know, sharing all those we have, I mean incredible memories and uh it's great to see and by the way, like we shout out a lot of cast members here in this episode that we had, but every single cast per member like had an impact on our lives, you know.

[1:25:56] Aidan Gemme: Like we shout out I I I personally really shout out Julius and Matthew Morrison and Laura Michelle Kelly and um, you know, those folks a lot, Ryan Worsing. Um, I shout those people out. But I mean, they are just as influential to me as, you know, Josh Layman and Dana Costello and Amy Yakima and Tyler Ross and you know, like every person in that show, Rory Donovan and then I mean the list just goes on and on of how influential those people were to me. Crystal Kellogg and then people that I went to the tour with for like a couple weeks that kind of rode the tour, um, that I could just continue to, you know, Kevin Kern a and and build relationships with.

[1:27:08] Eli Tokash: So um the list goes on and on. But I I obviously it would be a three-hour episode if I named every single one. So just shout out to my whole Finding Neverland family. I love the episodes that we can really talk about Finding Neverland. As you can tell, Finding Neverland means so much to me.

[1:27:23] Aidan Gemme: So uh shout out to all of you, and if you're listening, 'cause I will be posting this in the the Neverland group chat or whatever, um, because it's two of your two of the little ones that uh got to catch up as adults. I'm sure that hopefully you all enjoyed this too and uh enjoyed reminiscing.

[1:27:42] Eli Tokash: So uh that's all I have for you folks this week uh everyone uh Aidan does have Instagram I know everyone was like oh my god when you saw Aidan Gem you probably was like oh this guy is like alive great um no I'm just playing I love you Aidan but uh it's so true like I I messaged one of the the people who helped it guess I won't like disclose that because I don't know um but they were like good to like hear from you type of thing you know it was like oh good to see your you're uh around and not under a rock or like you know whatever so uh it was hilarious because aid Aiden Gem is a mystery and everyone's like where is Aiden and and so great when you say his name it's always like oh yes that's he's the man and blah blah blah uh but you rarely you know see him around so this was huge for me to to get him on and get him to to chat about all of that so uh hopefully you all like I said enjoyed it and uh you know come back next week for another great episode we have an exciting one uh hopefully with mean girls cast member of the of the movie and uh if not it's still gonna be a great episode and it's gonna be with a really really cool um performer it probably if it's not mean girls it's probably gonna be about some like it hot and it's probably gonna be about the closing and everything like that.

[1:29:04] Aidan Gemme: So uh great episodes coming up we got a lot planned I was able to do a lot of that thanks to no school um so exciting stuff coming up stay tuned for it all. Hopefully, we're gonna do some more uh YouTube stuff and more like content content uh on top of the the podcast.

[1:29:24] Eli Tokash: Uh working on a a little series here that hopefully I'll be able to to uh indulge a little bit more about uh here in the near future. But until then, you know, keep following along, stay tuned, follow us on the socials, take a bow podcast. You may see Aidan's uh tag there, and so you can follow him along or whatever.

[1:29:42] Aidan Gemme: Um, and uh yeah, that that's all I have.

[1:29:46] Eli Tokash: So thank you again, everyone, for listening to this week's episode, and until next week. Bye everyone. Have a great week.

[1:29:55] 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 Dori Barenstein, Alan Seals, Kimberly Garrett, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network. Next in line to take a bow are our fabulous editors, Jessica Warren, who edits the audio of the podcast that you just listened to, and Tessie Tokash, who edits the videos and visuals for this podcast. And how about a bow for our executive producer, Chris Greiner? And our final bow are extra special to the patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners of PCC, as well as all of the other patrons for their continued support. If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to Patreon.com slash 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 A Bow 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.