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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 21 of Take A Bow.

[0:06] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and this week we have a very exciting episode. It is just me this week. That's right. We went on a little hiatus. Uh life kind of took over these past two weeks. I don't know. I was battling some something. I don't even know what it was, whether it's allergies, illness, whatever. Uh, finals are right around the corner. Now we're pretty much easing up, lightening up with the school. We are uh in full force Tony season, uh getting ready for all of that. So we have some very exciting uh content um, I guess in the works for you. Um, as well as we have some very uh exciting content that we've made uh during our two-week little hiatus after our 200th episode with none other than Matthew Morrison himself, which was an absolute blast.

Thank you for everyone who reached out with the kind words in regards to that episode. Uh what an absolute blast dream, all the things, and uh so excited that we were able to make that happen. And uh yeah, so here we are, we're back, we're here to talk Tony's this week. Um, and then literally we have uh Monday. We're gonna be rolling out some red carpet footage. We're gonna we talked to the entire cast of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and I think I'm starting to understand a little bit how these red carpets go, which is very exciting. I'm getting more and more comfortable.

[1:37] Eli Tokash: Um, unfortunately, it's taken 30. No, I'm just I don't actually know how many times, but it it's taking a minute. Um, and you know, we just had an absolute blast. This red carpet was unlike any other. Yes, we talked about the show, but we talked a lot about other projects, other things that people were up to. Even the people that were at the show. It wasn't just like uh, how excited are you to see the show type of thing. It was a full-on conversation, what they're working on, stuff like that. Um it was an absolute blast. And that's coming out on YouTube on Monday. We're releasing Monday because it's a halfway point from uh our Thursday episodes. Uh, as well as, you know, you're not getting much theater on Monday because there's a lot of shows that are dark on Mondays. So uh we thought, you know, Monday's a good time to to get your theater fix.

[2:29] Eli Tokash: Um and that way uh, you know, if you're uh upset that you're not seeing a show that day, you can check out uh a show in itself on YouTube. Uh I guarantee it's uh it's a great one. And um I'm so excited to share that with you. Uh the cast, Eddie Redmayne and uh the rest of that insane cast is all in appearance. Uh all so lovely people, all beautiful people too. Uh their fits were incredible, so definitely worth the watch for for many reasons. Um, and I can't wait to to share that with you.

[3:02] Eli Tokash: So, all right, uh that's enough about the little brief uh discussion on where's Take A Bow been. Uh but here we are, we're back, and uh we're gonna be doing some episodes. We have exciting episodes coming up, like I mentioned. We wanna I I'm gonna try to do as many of these Tony nominees as possible. Listen, this is a crazy time for them. It's so hard to get a lot of them. I have a couple of them lined up already, thankfully. Um, and I was kinda able to set that in in these past two weeks before the nominations came out. Um just assuming, you know. You you you can kinda tell which roles are like big enough to like kind of garner that uh a sort of attention.

[3:47] Eli Tokash: And we'll also be getting uh some some people that you know haven't been nominated but hopefully are still going in the season uh and still doing some work. So um hopefully we get a couple of the Gatsby people on, uh hopefully we get some of the Wiz people on. You know, the shows that I felt were snubbed, they're gonna want to do press during this time, even though they're not getting a lot of press because they weren't nominated for much. Um so hopefully we can we can take advantage of that here on Take A Bow and and focus on some of those shows as well.

[4:21] Eli Tokash: Um so we have some exciting things coming up and uh a couple things lined up already. We're still finalizing our schedule, but uh nonetheless, some exciting things come in uh no matter what. Um anyways, so now on to this week's episode. We'll start out it's it's another episode. We gotta start out with some Broadway news. It's been a couple weeks. Um there's lots to talk about. I'm not gonna talk about all of it, just because there's so much to talk about.

[4:51] Eli Tokash: Um, but I'll start off and saying how freaking excited I am. Y'all, in the year 2024, I didn't know this was gonna happen. This was not on the bingo card, but Patti LuPone and freaking Bernadette Peters are gonna be in the same Broadway season. Sign me up. This is great. Are you kidding me? Um very, very, very exciting. Uh Patti LuPone, it was announced just recently that Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow are going to be on Broadway this upcoming season. Obviously, Bernadette uh was announced a few episodes ago.

[5:34] Eli Tokash: Um here we are. I mean, the true divas of Broadway are happening in the same uh season. And we have an upcoming diva, I feel like in this industry, with Rachel Zegler also joining next season. So next season's just gonna be uh one for the books, to say the least. I think it's absolutely gonna be uh no boring season, I guess you could say. It's gonna be full of uh excitement. But uh the show that uh Patti LuPone is returning to Broadway for is called The Roommate, starring, like I said, alongside Mia Farrow.

[6:18] Eli Tokash: Um very exciting stuff. This was announced um that Patti was gonna return to Broadway a couple weeks ago. We didn't know in what, we didn't know like when it would happen and all that. Um so now we have all the details. Very exciting stuff. Uh, that's opening actually in September, uh, with previews beginning on August 29th. Um, and the official opening is September 12th.

[6:43] Eli Tokash: So very exciting stuff. Uh, I look I'm looking forward to that, and uh we'll see how that goes. We'll see, we'll see Patti back with her equity card, see how she's like in life uh with the equity card back in hand in her pocketbook uh for her next Broadway show.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Alright. Ugh, my freaking queen okay so uh as I mentioned Rachel Zegler is also going to be uh actually making her Broadway debut I almost said returning to Broadway I believe she's making her Broadway debut let me fact check myself real quick but as I do that Rachel Zegler is going to be coming to Broadway with Kit Connor the star of Heartstopper which is a show on Netflix that's kind of taken the world by storm the theater community of course um and uh now both both stars of the show are in uh are on Broadway uh with Sweeney Todd and Romeo and Juliet.

[7:11] Eli Tokash: Um so Romeo and Juliet is coming to Broadway. This production is actually gonna be uh represented by um Sam Gold and uh there's another production obviously that you all have heard about I'm sure um directed by Jamie Lloyd starring Tom Holland very exciting stuff um but I I can't believe that uh that uh and I can't believe that we're gonna have competing Romeo and Juliet's next season so uh that'll be something to keep our eye on um it's interesting what Broadway's doing with that um because you know there's a lot of versions of Great Gatsby there's lots of versions of Romeo and Juliet it's like is that like the new thing or like the revival is just taking over.

[8:49] Eli Tokash: Um what what what's happening here? Um but I I don't know. I'm excited. I I think a little uh competition never hurt anybody. So we'll see how that goes. I think Romeo and Juliet will hopefully be going on at the same time. Unfortunately with the Tony Award announcements, I will be interested in seeing if Great Gatsby's will uh compete at the same time.

[9:14] Eli Tokash: I have a feeling they will not just because it's really hard to sell out that Broadway theater um as well as you know the minimal single Tony nomination uh I'm sure really hurt Gatsby and was not quite what they were expecting. So um we'll see how that goes but very exciting stuff nonetheless little competition uh a little diva action all the things some very exciting casting announcements nonetheless something to look forward to for next season.

[9:43] Eli Tokash: This is crazy like we're already talking about next season. I feel like this uh j this seasons of of the of the Broadway has just flown lately. Um it's been we're we've been cruising y'all um but very excited for the Tony Awards this year nonetheless. I I'll get into all the nominations and stuff in a little bit but uh I was really impressed with how they did it this year.

[10:07] Eli Tokash: But I'll talk about it after. Um and I it just got me excited for the Tony. So um anyways moving on um okay so very exciting stuff some concert announcements here uh from our faves uh speaking of like divas you could totally uh put these two in there uh Idina Menzel is going on tour, uh and she's calling the tour Take Me or Leave Me Tour, which I'm obsessed with.

[10:38] Eli Tokash: Uh, I love that title so much. Uh little shout out, I feel like little ode to Rent. Um, I I love it. Uh and it that's starting in July, and that's gonna be starting kicking off, I guess, in Seattle, Washington, and she's going all around the the state.

[10:54] Eli Tokash: So uh check out if uh you if she would be coming to a theater near you and uh go see that diva live on stage. That that would be awesome. I mean, Take Me or Leave Me Tour, like I would assume it's a little bit of a Broadway-ish tour.

[11:09] Eli Tokash: Like, uh she doesn't like have her own songs, you know. So like I'm sure that she's gonna be doing lots of covers. Um she did her like little Christmas album and stuff, like so she has like done albums, but I really think that uh I wouldn't be surprised if there's a lot of a lot of Broadway, a lot of her old shows type of things.

[11:29] Eli Tokash: And if, you know, you didn't get to see her in like Wicked making her uh originating the role of Elphaba, now you can see her. Um I think it's very exciting. So uh we'll see we'll see how that goes. Hopefully I can see that because that's my queen.

[11:44] Eli Tokash: Uh have Idina Menzel signed poster right above my head as I record this.

[11:49] Eli Tokash: Um speaking of Queens and Kings and Divas, um, very exciting after his reopening of the Palace Theater that he's going to be kicking off uh here on Broadway. Take A Bow family member. It's so crazy to say still. Uh Take A Bow Family Member Ben Platt will be going on tour for his new album, uh Honey Mind, which is super exciting.

[12:17] Eli Tokash: So you can go see him uh in a theater near you very soon as well, sometime this summer.

[12:31] Eli Tokash: But uh his tour is basically like June to July and he'll be here in May. Um and then Adina starts in July. So uh they'll kinda overlap a little bit but not much. So very exciting nonetheless uh love Ben and obviously he'll be doing his own songs. But he did mention for at least his Broadway stint he'll be doing some some Broadway songs and and odes to his uh previous shows and type of things like that. So uh that'll be very exciting. I'm I'm very excited for both of those events and uh we'll see how that goes. So um I think that's all the Broadway news I have for you folks this week actually um before I oh actually one more thing stereophonic uh extended its Broadway run through mid-August of 2024.

I'm pumped for them they're killing it and we'll get into that one of the uh well actually they are the most historic plays uh for your Tony Award season they broke the record being the play for the most nominations uh uh of a play that's ever received at the Tony Awards super exciting stuff uh and this is just like a little show that came from I believe Playwrights Horizons um and you know no star no nothing no even like uh in this no following in the sense of like okay it's not like the outsiders, or it's not like uh this. Like it's just like uh a show that is just really, really good and solid, and uh they've really found a little niche with it, and uh I'm so thrilled to see it. You know, no star to like sell the tickets or whatever, it's just done really well through word of mouth and uh you know, everything else that they've been doing as far as like press uh and just getting the word out there and and the way that they did their off-Broadway run in New York before and now they just stayed in New York because New York audiences were loving it, but they moved to Broadway so a bigger audience can see it, which it's just like it's great, and I I've heard nothing but great things about it, so I can't wait to see it.

Shout out to them. Very exciting that we're extending now th thro uh through mid-April. So they'll be here post-Tony's, and um they'll be here for quite some time post-tony is now. So very exciting stuff. All right, let's get into it, y'all. The big uh uh not announcement, but like the big thing of the week. The Tony nominations. So we had Tony nominations on Tuesday, very exciting times. Um, and you know, I thought it went pretty well. Um, I loved how they did the Tony Award nominations this year. I thought Renee and Jesse Tyler Ferguson did a great job. Um, you know, my biggest critique last year of the whole Tony Award nominations announcement was that there just like wasn't it wasn't a celebration the way that they did it, and this is coming from like Miles Frost and Leah Michelle Stan.

You know, I'm I'm obsessed with both of them. I think both of them are ridiculously talented, one of the two most talented people in our industry and on Broadway last season. Um so nothing against them or anything like that, but I just I just didn't love what they were doing. They they were just reading categories, reading nominations, and I was just like, okay, like I'm done, you know. Like, unless I like know the person, I wasn't getting like excited about it because there was no excitement on like their end. Um they they kind of just read the the things and read the categories and went on to the next one. Um this year I thought they did a really nice job. Uh first off with their CBS uh kind of pre-announcement thing that they did um with Jesse and Renee Elise Goldsberry.

Um they they had the personalities, they were able to talk about it. So when they announced a category or whatever, they literally talked about it, they digested it, they kind of analyzed it, like it was just really well done. And these are like people who are at the top of our industry. We want to hear their expertise, you know, we want to hear from them and their thoughts and what their opinions were on a show or or whatever it may have been. Um, or even just something little as oh, I saw this show last week and just loved it. You know, like even that just gets you excited, and you're like, oh yeah, like I I should go see it. Like, let's go check it out. So, um, I loved what they did uh and the the n the uh I guess news anchors over at CBS, I don't know.

Uh but the the people hosting it with them, they were uh asking them questions and that was great. And then uh nine o'clock happened, they announced the first like six categories or whatever, the very exciting ones uh uh eight thirty, which we'll get into as well. So very exciting stuff. And then the the nine o'clock feature on YouTube was was fine and i it was a little bit more of the whole uh okay, nominations category next, nominations category next, or vice versa, or whatever, because category comes first, uh and then they share the nominations of that category. Get with it, you lie. Um, but I I thought it was better because they they had some um fun a little bit beforehand, they they talked, they had some uh I don't know, they just they just put a little bit more of themselves into it.

And as someone, you know, when you get someone as big as the people that they're getting to announce these nominations, you wanna see their personality throw off. You wanna hear from them, you wanna hear their thoughts and opinions. If it's like Charlotte St. Martin, the president of the Broadway league or I guess former president, no offense to her, but like, yes, just read the nominations in the categories. Like no one uh you know, like it's not as exciting, you know, I guess to say no uh 'cause audience members and and future, you know, people that want to be nominated for a Tony, uh, they look up to the Jesse's and the Rene's and the Leah Michels and the Miles Frost, you know, like you wanna hear from from them and um just get a little bit more of their um personality as as people who idolize them.

So um I I appreciated that and I thought that they did uh a better job in incorporating that this this season. So uh here's my other gripe. [19:43] I absolutely cannot stand this 8 30 Tony announcement. What are we doing, people? This is why when I come on here and I'm talking to someone that I absolutely love, and they say, my Tony announcement. Oh, well, I found out through a text message because I was sleeping. And I'm like, what? Like, what's wrong with you? But I'm like, yeah, girl, like get your rest. Like why are we doing this at 8 30 in the morning? This is crazy bonkers, bananas, land. Like, we are in a time of allergy season with people doing eight shows a week, and then they have to do press on top of that.

So they basically have to do two to three shows a day because they're selling the show, they're performing in the show, they're getting butts in seats themselves just because of who they are. Um, you know, like they're just carrying and they feel the weight. So, um, let's give these guys proper, like moments that they could like celebrate their accomplishments. Because waking up and being like, oh my god, I was nominated for a Tony. Like, like you can't fully process that, and when you do, you can't even celebrate that. So, as people in an industry that is more focused at like night, and we have to room ourselves and turn ourselves so all of us are night owls. Why are we doing it for the early birds of the corporate world who are not going to be watching from their their cubicle desks because they're working too?

Like, we are uh people that you know are gonna be finding late night jobs, you know, like because that's the schedule we gotta be on. That's the schedule that that uh you know we have to be on for entertainers and for the rest of the world to come and support the arts, you know. Like, that's just the reality. Um, so I just feel like it's a little weird. Um I I I don't know exactly how I would do it because I I appreciate the Mondays off, and I feel like at this time with especially the Tony's and all these shows opening that um the opening uh you you have all this press, you have the cast recording and albums that you have you can basically only do on Mondays, so a lot of people are doing that.

So no Tony party or no Tony announcement Mondays, okay? Leave that off, just keep that dark for everybody. Um I feel like Tony nominations should happen Sunday night after three o'clock shows, and everyone's out, like everyone goes out and is able to celebrate their shows or their personal achievements, and I it should be like a a big thing, you know. You know, it should be celebrated properly, it should be ex excited properly. Like probably people be making their Broadway debuts got up, you know, but the people that have done this and and are are conditioned into, okay, I got a show tonight at seven o'clock. I'm on stage two and a half hours of the two forty minutes of the show. Uh two two hours and forty minutes of the show.

Um and so I gotta rest. Like I gotta rest. It's allergy season, I gotta rest. Uh this is Tony Seasons, Tony voters gotta come see the show. Um all these things are happening, and uh, you know, the the true vets will take care of themselves and they won't even be able to celebrate it properly. So I I just don't love that, and I think Sunday night is a night that you know everyone is already out at Glasshouse, at Dutch Fred's, wherever they are, um, you know, celebrating another week uh of of success on Broadway, and they're okay with celebrating on Sunday night because we got a whole day off Monday to regroup. We have a little bit of a day off on Tuesday because we don't have until seven o'clock or six o'clock when they have to get to their theater, uh, you know, to to do their thing.

Um so they have like a 30 hour turnaround. So they're they're willing to to do something Sunday. So I don't know. Maybe that's just me. Probably no one cares listening to this, but that's my ordeal, and I I'm just not a fan. I w just keep in mind throughout this this Tony season when I talk to people and I say, Alright, so how excited were you when you found out, or where were you when you found out? And everyone says in their bed, y'all know why. And I don't know, that's just not fair to me because they're not on that natural high. They don't get to have that natural excitement and celebrating with their friends right away, you know, when they first find out. Like, nothing would be more exciting for someone than doing that.

[25:01] Eli Tokash: Instead, they gotta be super excited, deal with all these phone calls, text messages, respond to that first thing in the morning before they even start their day. So they're already at a late start to their day. Um, and then they gotta like go off of that high of excitement of oh my god, I was just nominated for a Tony, go do a show, and then get it themselves excited again when they're tired after a show to be like, Wow, I was nominated for a Tony, and I'm going to celebrate that, you know. So, anyways, that's me, that's my rant. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk, and uh, yeah, that that's the thing. The other I I am getting this is just me on rants today. This is why we have no guests today, y'all.

So, um, other gripe gripe number three and final gripe, and then I'll get into the nominations. So, last gripe that I want to talk about is what is the deal with this Tony nominations. Okay, this season, it was a record high of shows that were opened that that like opened this season. You know, shows were opening left and right, they were opening until the last day they possibly could. Um it was just a bonker season. Shows were trying to get fit in. There's no shout-out to the people that had to cast these shows, so the casting directors. There's no show shout out to these theater crews that have to get these stage hands uh in and out of shows in literally one like less than one full week. Literally five, six days was happening over at the St. James Theater.

So God bless them. The stage crews, the ushers, the the um box office attendees, all these people, nothing. And then these casting directors that had to work double because of how many shows were opening. These press people who had to uh, you know, advertise 20 freaking shows each because there's a million things opening, and they're all opening at the same time or in the same pocket, uh, and they're all just killing it. They're organizing opening nights, they're organizing opportunities to uh, you know, just ha set up interviews and have people talk to the show. Uh, you know, with this social media world that we're in now, that's so important. So I don't know. It's just it's bonkers, and they're not expanding the categories.

This was my real gripe, but that that kind of just came out of left field just now, but it's so valid. Um, and they're not expanding these categories. So there's a ton of snubs this season, for that matter. And you know what? I can't even get mad at it because the people that got nominated should have gotten nominated. However, fourteen other people also should have gotten nominated, but they couldn't. Because, you know, there's five um there's five categories uh or five spots and in most of these categories, and that's kind of the thing. The only category that they expanded, and they've kind of um a constant, I guess I should say, um, for lack of a better term. This is last season they expanded uh one category, and it it it feels like it's that same category this year with the uh featured actress of a musical and that had seven nominees.

So I'm just confused as to why the rest of the the categories can't have seven nominees, but you know, that's just me. And uh I just feel like with all the shows opened, it's like where do we draw the line of with this much parody and this much uh this many shows that opened uh as opposed to other years or when this was created where there's only five of them that uh that get nominated that uh you know, where where does the conversation start where it's like alright, let's let's recognize some more. Um obviously they are doing that because there are seven for one category, but I'm just saying, like what what why not the rest? I'm I don't know. Anyways, needless to say, very excited. I th I like I said, no gripes with the actual nominations with the actual nominees.

I thought everyone was super deserving. Obviously there were tons of snubs. I don't know if I like I can't even be mad at the snubs because like I I can't think of anyone to to replace or I didn't feel like anyone like I was surprised that anyone got nominated, I guess I should say. And by the way, this is me not seeing every show um yet this season. Um unfortunately, I have a lot of work to do. Um, but you know, I I just thought so just to name a few here the Ryan Vasquez, the notebook, even John Cardoza, take about family member, Jeremy Jordan, even Nobazada, Joy Woods, Izzy McCallla, uh, Justin Guarini, uh, Steve Corell not getting a nomination, Grant Gustin not getting a nomination, and listen, that's fine.

I have no grip about Grant Gustin getting not getting a nomination. I saw his performance water for elephants, loved it. Uh I I d I don't um I'm not upset that he wasn't nominated. I'm not gonna fight tooth and nail. But I do appreciate when I mentioned Grant Gust and Steve Carell. Um I was surprised because of who they are. You know, uh oftentimes on Broadway, and and especially this season, I've talked a lot about it on here, how thankful I am that we have so many incredible stars uh in our Broadway community this season, and a lot of them wanted to make their Broadway debut or return to the stage or whatever it is. For the in this case, Steve Carell and Grant Gustin both making their Broadway debuts, shout out to them.

So um they uh the the Tony committee didn't just be like, hey, Steve Carell's on Broadway. Tony Awards are probably the most um exciting night universally for a theater kid and the theater community. It is the biggest night. So having a star like Steve Corell could be huge for Broadway. Could bring in so many people, uh random people. Like people just scrolling through the TV, just being like, hey, what should I watch? Oh, Steve Carell's on here. Steve Correll's nominated for award. What show is this? What's going on on Broadway? Why are there so many stars on Broadway? Holy cow. This person's on Broadway right now, too. Like that's what it it can do. And it could be huge. But but the Tony committee didn't do that.

And I I applaud them for doing that because oftentimes they do. And oftentimes this is like a very political, um, not to say that it still wasn't, but it it is it it the all award seasons is very um, you know, there's a lot to it, and um I think that it says something and not uh uh nominating them, especially like Steve Carell. I mean, he's playing Uncle Vanya in a show called Uncle Vanya, like that role is expected in the sense uh or or should get nominated for a role. I mean, that would be like Annie from Annie not getting nominated, or like Gypsy and Gypsy Rose not getting nominated, you know, like there's just roles that you know should be nominated. It's just like Pony Boy Cleritus and the outsiders, okay?

Brody Grant's nominated. So, like, I don't know. It's a that sort of thing for me, and uh, I was just shocked. So, uh, but shout out because you know, a lot of these young kids came in and these youngins making their Broadway debut came in and they stole the freaking show. And I'm talking about Sky Lakota Lynch, I'm talking about Malia Joy Moon. I'm talking about Brody Grant. You know, it it's great to see. And then we have uh an incredible piece of news here. Kara Young, who uh was nominated for her performance in uh um Pearly Victorious. Um she is the first black actress to be nominated for a Tony Award three years in a row. It's just bonkers to me that uh this this was a real stat. I heard this stat from a friend, and I was like, that's incredible.

I mean, especially like Audra. Aunt has been nominated for how many Tonies? It's just awesome to to see this kind of history, um, and this kind of diversity in in the in the Tony Awards this season. I think it's absolutely amazing. So, um that's what I have to say about that. Um no more gripes. Very excited for everyone that was nominated. You know, I have mixed feelings on the Tony Awards and award seasons in general. Um it it was interesting to see these shows um that opened a little early. So these shows such as um The Outsiders and um I think the outsiders, and I think that uh Merrilly we roll along is set up to have a lot of success here at the Tony Awards this season. I think that if it's not the outsiders, it's gonna be Marile Roll Along in a musical category.

Um do with that what you will. I haven't seen all the shows, but that's my i if Marilee's in it, if the outsiders are in it, it's one of them. I don't uh I these shows that opened too early, as I said, this is an overpopulated season. A lot of shows closed early. There were a lot of flops, sure, but at the same time, performances were great in those flops. Um, however, there are also a lot of uh just turnover from last season because there were a lot of shows that just didn't last from last season. So uh a lot of shows just open sporadically, and I think that a lot of these shows were forgotten about. Um, and I say that all the time. I said it when these shows were opening. Don't expect much of them from the Tony Awards because they're not going to remember these performances when two weeks before these nominations have to be in, a stunning performance from the outsiders is happening, and they're watching that.

Stunning performance of Hell's Kitchen in Hell's Kitchen, the heart of New York, where people are just pulling on their their the heart strings of a New Yorker. That they're gonna see that and they're gonna remember that over once upon a one more time. You know, like that that's the thing. And uh more and more I feel like we're seeing that, and um I think that that was very, very imminent uh in this this year's Tony nominations. Uh and I'm not just talking about like once upon a one more time, okay. Was it the best show? No, but it was I think awesome. Um Back to the Future, that it was not a flop. That lasts l a long time and is still lasting and going strong. That did not get nominated for as much as I thought.

That was something that was one of the first shows that opened this season. Greyhouse. Here lies love. Um ja's African hair braiding, I thought could have got uh attracted more c um more um, I guess uh attention. Same with uh Gutenberg. Gutenberg, I thought, where was that? I definitely thought at least one of them would be up for something. Um they didn't get much. Uh Spamalot did not get much. Where I thought, okay, Leslie Kritzer, shout out Leslie Kritzer, because she was absolutely stunning and amazing in this freaking show.

[37:33] Eli Tokash: Um definitely thought it would be up for a little bit more. That closed before the these shows that dominated opened, you know. So um I just think that that these have all all things to to play a role in. And then of course you have the opposite side of that, where it's like it's too close to the deadline that not everyone got a chance to see it. Great Gatsby. How were people supposed to see that a week before the no Tony nominations? Uh the other one is the whiz. Uh, how are like and maybe they did see it, and maybe they did see it and they just didn't like it, and that's that. But, you know, I think that that three-week window where the outsiders opened, stereophonic opened, uh, Hell's Kitchen opened in the last week.

So that's the only one I could not I I could see, you know that that my argument wouldn't be the case, but at the same time, in that last week, you're gonna have to prioritize one musical. So, of course, it's an Alicia Keys musical who's this pop star about New York. People are gonna love that. There's Soshana Bean, people love her. Brandon Victor Dixon, people love him. You know, like there's gonna be that one that they prioritized in that last week, and Hell's Kitchen seems to be the one uh that opened in the last week. So it's very interesting when you try to boil it down and go through um, you know, the success and what made the success. I hope that not anybody, uh, well, not everybody, I hope nobody uh allows this uh award seasons to influence, you know, what to see or what to do.

Same with reviews, reviews are the same way. One person's opinion is not uh the end all be all. Um but I'm very excited for the Tony Awards because the nominations are great, the nominees are fantastic. Um I like I said, I think everyone who got nominated is so deserving. I have no gripes with the people that were nominated. I think everyone is so deserving. I think everything is so spot on. I just wish I would have seen more uh opportunities and more uh I would have loved to see more people, you know, get that recognition that they deserved. Um so yeah, but uh needless to say, um it was it was a great they did a great job, I thought. Um I was very impressed with uh the Tony nominations, the way that they did it this year.

Um hopefully they continue to find ways with it. Hopefully they do it on another date at night. Um, but shout out to, like I said, Hell's Kitchen, 13 nominations, stereophonic 13, uh, stereophonic breaking records for a play. The outsiders with 12 nominations, like I said, I think it's the outsiders, and I think it's merrily we roll along that are just gonna kill it in all the musical categories this year. Um, but I'll be very excited to to see how it all shakes out and have a better analysis. I don't want to like get into all these like categories and whatnot right now because I haven't even seen a lot of these shows. So, um, uh when I do, we will be doing uh kind of analysis show, um, kind of like we do where we do the the predictions and whatnot. And that'll be the week of the Tony Awards.

[41:06] Eli Tokash: We'll be very excited for that. I'll have a great guest for that. We'll we'll go back and forth and do it together. Very excited. But um, yeah, yeah, I mean, that was just my thing on the Tony Awards. Uh I thought, uh I'm curious to hear what everyone's favorite show is from my from the listeners here. Um I'll be doing a poll on Instagram. I'll I'll be doing some interactive stuff throughout the Tony Awards season. Uh, just to see where everyone's at. And I I feel like everyone is gonna have so many different opinions because we are in this uh incredible season of parody uh here on Broadway. But we also have so many stars that I think a lot of people are gonna be p wanting to pay attention to.

And that's what I said. Like, granted, I mentioned, you know, Steve Corell uh and and Grant Gustin not getting the nominations. But I mean, look, we have Rachel McAdams, we have Sarah Paulson, we have Leslie Odom Jr., we have Jonathan Groff, we have Brian Darcy James, we have Kelly O'Hara, we have Eden Espinosa, uh, we have Jim Parsons, for goodness sake. We have uh Brandon Victor Dixon, Joshua Boone, uh, Daniel Radcliffe, uh, we have Roger Bart. We have um BB Newworth. I mean, like, we got we have names. We have the attention. People are gonna be paying attention uh to the to um to the award seasons and to Broadway, and um I think it'll still be a great night and uh a great night to continue to grow the audience of Broadway and gain that exposure.

We have an incredible, credible host. Uh, third time in a row, shout out. Ariana DeBoes uh will be hosting again. Um and she crushes it every time. Hopefully, hopefully, during this whole um Tony Awards season type thing that we do, we'll be getting Ariana DeBose on. Um that will be very exciting. So um shout out to her.

[43:10] Eli Tokash: Shout out to to all the nominations, everyone's so deserving. I thought uh I I think it's gonna set up for a great night. Um, it'll be very interesting to see um just how it all pans out. Congratulations to everyone involved, and um, you know, once again, I I look forward to seeing how this shakes out. Bold predictions, by the way. So uh I know I said I wasn't gonna be doing predictions and analysis on the Tony Awards, but I'm still gonna give a big uh bold prediction. So uh as I mentioned earlier, I don't think Gatsby, the great Gatsby, the current one that's on right now, will make it to compete with the upcoming Gatsby at ART. Um, I will be shocked if that stays open long enough to to be on Broadway at the same time.

Um the other one I have a bold prediction about is unfortunately Heart of Rock and Roll. Um I I want to get ahead uh and say that I think the next time that we talk we'll probably see a closing announcement. Um this isn't a knock on the show. I haven't even seen the show, so I can't even like talk on the show. If any of you are Cory Cott fans out there or uh, you know, Hoey Louie and the news fans, get over there while you can, because that I would be shocked if that doesn't announce closing before the end of May happens. Uh so go check out Heart of Rock and Roll.

[44:49] Eli Tokash: I'll be I I want to go see it. I definitely want to see it. They didn't get any nominations, uh, which is heartbreaking, I mean, honestly. Um but uh yeah, that that was one. And Patriots, the play, also seems like a bit of a snub, only with one nomination. I've heard nothing but good things about that show, too. Um so um we'll see how that goes. And and once again, shout out to Stereophonic. I love when shows are are in that best orchestration category. Um, just to show, you know, this isn't a musical category, you know. This is uh theater, you know, and theater can be done in so many ways. A play can be done in so many different ways that it can even have music, a play. Uh, even though it's not called a musical and it's still considered a play. I just love seeing it. I love the reinventing of uh what it means to be a play and and just how um a play can be told and uh be set up on a stage.

[45:55] Eli Tokash: Um I think it's absolutely brilliant. So I'm excited to to see stereophonic. I'm excited to see uh how it does in the best orchestration category. Um and yeah, I mean that's all I have for you folks this week. I know I don't know, like I I don't want to be like uh I I I don't know. I like came on here to like have a therapy session with my gripes of the Tony Awards. I don't even have any gripes. I I okay, maybe I do, but nothing against the nominations. I think uh I think the Tony Committee did a great job. Um I think it was exactly what you kind of like expected. I truly didn't feel like there were many surprises. Um so shout out to them uh for not being super controversial. So of course I'm nitpicking on this on this little things. Um, you know, not you can't satisfy everybody.

[46:45] Eli Tokash: Um anyways, so that is my little rant of of the week and uh we're back, baby. We are back and we are gonna have some exciting episodes coming up very soon with uh all of your favorite performers and uh so much more. I would love to get a few uh directors and um choreographers on for this season too. So uh we'll see. We'll see. L reach out to me. Reach out uh if you have guest suggestions, if you love the show uh so much, you know, like reach out, let me know. Um, I am doing a massive, massive, massive outreach right now to uh all of these shows and uh all of these performers. So uh if there's someone in particular that you want on, we'll get them on. And if there's a show you want us to talk about in particular, we'll talk about that show. I I want to do them all.

[47:41] Eli Tokash: That's not gonna happen. It just can't happen. I don't have the bandwidth. I don't even think it's possible uh to do that before the Tony Awards, which is happening in like six weeks. Um so yeah. But please let me know. Because we have six weeks to talk about your favorite shows and the shows that you're most excited about before the Tony Awards. So stay tuned. Very excited. And uh next time I see you all, I'll be talking to you as a 21-year-old.

[48:16] Eli Tokash: So very excited about that. Um thanks for bearing with us these past couple weeks uh with no episode. Hopefully, you all caught up on uh episodes you perhaps missed. If you missed any episodes, um, as well as catching up with our our content on on the YouTube and stuff. We uh were able to use this two weeks very successfully, uh both in uh giving us time to catch up on some editing. I don't know why I keep saying us, it's really just me. Um I I just need some time to to get with the whole uh scheduling uh and scheduling ahead and and figuring out the guests, being fully transparent, um, as well as editing uh all of this great content that's coming your way.

[48:58] Eli Tokash: Um everything that you see on social media um and everything that's gonna be coming up on the YouTube. So we are still uh making content and and we use this time productively uh in the in the midst of the craziness with finals. Uh hope everyone listening. I know there's a lot of young people listening. Uh if you are uh in college, um shout out to you and navigating this crazy time uh with finals and uh final papers and exams and all that nonsense, but great stuff for our future. Um so yeah, that's all I have for you folks this week. Thank you so much for listening again uh and thanks for for the grace uh of these past two weeks. Uh we are back and we are going to be giving some exciting content. So come back next week for a great episode. And until then, bye everyone. Have a great week.