This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hey everyone and welcome to episode 44 of Take A Bow. I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and oh my goodness, do we have another exciting episode for you all. Uh we have two guests, which is double the fun. Uh I can't wait to share this one with you all. Maya Jade Frank and Michael Lee Brown stopped by, and uh they're doing some pretty incredible things, so I can't wait to share that with you. But before we do that, let's have a little news segment, shall we? What's going on in the world? Lots of fun things happening. Okay, I don't know about you all, but I said it last week, you know, the In the Heights trailer released during the Grammys, and oh my god, it was so good. I'm so excited, and I'm even more excited to learn that they are actually they had like a set release date, but they're actually gonna bring it up.

So they're gonna have the release earlier than it was uh originally announced. So now it's going to be on June 11th. We will see the In the Heights movie. And I am so excited. Uh Anthony Ramos is so good. Uh Lin Manuel Miranda, of course, Christopher Jackson, all of these incredible talented actors are in it. Uh I can't wait. I could not be more excited. A recent guest of Take A Bow, Lena Hall, is actually gonna be doing a virtual show, uh like a little concert, April 9th. If you're interested in that, I know some of you may have listened to our episode, so if you're interested in watching her perform, go to her website or go to her social media account for the link for tickets to that little lovely Zoom concert that she's uh having for everyone.

And I believe there's a meet and greet uh option as well. So go check it out. Okay, so two fun events coming up. Monday, March 29th, Amplify 2021. It's a new little event that Broadway stars are doing. And what it is is it's a virtual show with your free ticket. You're actually gonna get a pre-show meet and greet. So that's really cool. You don't have to do anything, you don't have to pay anything. You get a link if you register for a ticket, you get a link, and you can get this little pre-show meet and greet virtually, and all of these fun things. And you can watch the show, you can watch people like Andrea Burns, Ashley Park, Eva Noblazada, Reeve Carney, special appearance from Bernadette Peters.

I know, I know that's incredible. I'm so excited for that. Gavin Creel, Celia Keenan Bolger, uh Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks, Michael Diamond, Jen Kalello, Rama Cler, Ashley Park, Take A Bow guest, Caitlin Kinnanin. I mean, like, the list is just going on and on. Brandon Victor Dixon, all these amazing, amazing people. Shoshana Bean, I got I can't I mean, I I could do a whole podcast on who's gonna be at this event. Um, it's gonna be pretty amazing. Amplify 2021. Uh again, you can get a free ticket, you can get a meet and greet with that ticket. It starts at 8 p.m. March 29th. That's Monday. And uh there it's their inaugural spring concert that they're gonna do, and they will be raising money and highlighting programs which provide support, visibility, and community for the female non-binary and TGNC music makers in the theater industry.

So it's definitely a great cause, and it's definitely something that's worth checking out. I will be checking it out Monday, March 29th at 8 p.m. And the next day, Tuesday, March 30th at 8 p.m. is the annual Broadway Backwards. They're figuring out how to do it virtually, and I could not be more excited because not only is this like so entertaining, but like it's also um supporting a great cause and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. It's gonna also be featuring amazing guests like Stephanie J. Block and Leah Salonga and Matt Bomer and Darren Criss and Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Henry and Jay Armstrong and Jen Kalello will be hosting it, and like all of these amazing people are gonna be in it.

It's Broadway Backwards, and for those of you who may not have heard of it, it's the annual event featuring Broadway stars performing numbers in which they usually like would not be able to do on stage, like be cast in, and this gives them an opportunity to do that. So it's kind of like miscast, but it's also different in a way as far as they're not just limited to gender. So it's really cool, it's great, it's a lot of fun. Uh I'll be there, it's free on YouTube. Go check it out. Some other fun things that are happening here are uh Celia Keenan Bolger launched a new podcast called Sunday Pancakes, so I'll be checking that out. It's with her friends. Like, it's not necessarily Broadway related.

Obviously, Broadway's were talked about a lot, and she has like guests from Broadway shows that she's worked with, so it's a lot of fun. And then of course, there's a new fun little announcement that was announced, and that's that Fun Home. You know, Fun Home. You ever heard of it? No, you haven't? Okay. That's okay. Um, you know, our old co-host, Sydney Lucas, used to be in it, and like I guess she got like something called a Tony Award nomination, whatever. But it's actually gonna be premiering in Australia, and get this, it's in Sydney. So it makes sense, right? Uh it's Sydney, Australia, Fun Home's making an Australian premiere. Uh so that's exciting. I thought it was worth mentioning. Obviously, Sydney, Australia, Sydney Lucas are now both connected to Fun Home.

I loved it. Um, yeah. So that's kind of what's going on in the Broadway world. And uh with that being said, let's turn it over to Maya and Michael, and they're going to explain what they're doing and what is going on in their Broadway world. Maya Jade Frank and Michael Lee Brown, curtain up.

[6:20] Eli Tokash: On this week's episode, we have not one, but two guests taking a bow. Maya Jade Frank and Michael Lee Brown both have created impressive resumes for themselves, whether it was on Broadway or Disney Channel or even creating music. Recently, they have joined forces to create BeneFIT, which includes many of your favorite Broadway actors and even some previous Take A Bow guests. So welcome to Take A Bow, Maya Jade Frank and Michael Lee Brown. Thank you all for coming on the show.

[6:46] Maya Jade Frank: Thank you so much for having me.

[6:51] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, of course.

[6:52] Eli Tokash: I'm so excited for this. I know it's gonna be a blast, and what you guys are doing with BeneFIT is amazing. So let's get into it. So the two of you, obviously, you guys both have Broadway shows under your belt. Before we get into BeneFIT, what kind of got you guys into theater?

[7:06] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, it's it's it's been a journey. So I got into theater probably about when I was nine or ten, very young, and uh I actually started out getting more into like the TV world and I went out to LA when I was very young trying to do that whole thing and the little things here and there and kinda got into that whole, you know, very different community. Um but I loved it. It was great, it was wonderful. And then when I got a little older into high school, I got more into doing professional theater and theater in school, and I grew up outside of Philadelphia, so not too far from New York City. And so throughout high school I started to really utilize New York City and going in and training as much as I could and taking voice lessons and acting classes and things like that.

And so then after that I knew I wanted to go to school for it. So I went to college for theater and I left and did a couple plays and and just was always just did as much theater as I as I could really, and then that led me into, you know, doing Dear Evan Hansen and some other shows and things like that. Uh but it it's I I guess w what for me how it started was I really just wanted to perform. I loved acting, I loved singing. And even though when I started I really wanted to do more of the acting thing, I got more into the music and singing as I got a little older, and so theater kind of allowed me to uh, you know, do all of it, which which is what I love about it.

[8:21] Michael Lee Brown: That's amazing.

[8:22] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it's so true. Maya, how about you?

[8:24] Maya Jade Frank: Kind of similar. I mean, I actually hijacked one of my sisters' auditions when I was like real little and sang the bare necessities, and she really is the one that inspired me, I think, to perform and um you know, watching her grow up and she used to take me out of like the crib and like dance with me and teach me things and and so I just kind of idolized her. And then once I did my very first show, I fell in love with like the rush of seeing other people's reactions, I guess, if you want to call that. And I I think it was after my first show that I ever did Hurricane, uh, the musical off Broadway. And one woman came up to me after the end and she said to me, you know, you reminded me so much of my daughter who passed away.

Thank you so much for for bringing that light back into my life for just even a few minutes. And and I was five or six, but for some reason that really hit me. And ever since um, yeah, ever since then I just kind of felt like that's where I needed to be. I needed to be performing, and it showed me how you can really inspire others by telling stories through movement and expression. And I just fell in love and continued. Just made me happy.

[9:46] Eli Tokash: I love that. I mean, uh literally anyone who is a performer of any sorts, I feel like that is definitely one of the greatest honors and benefits of it all, is just like making a positive impact on someone's lives, you know, even if it is for a couple of minutes or whatever.

[10:02] Michael Lee Brown: Sure.

[10:02] Eli Tokash: So you guys talked about like what kind of inspired you to get into theater. So now you guys have created this BeneFIT. And what inspired you guys to make that? And are you trying to kind of sh bring other people into theater that may not be into theater? Or is it kind of geared towards people in theater? Like what's it?

[10:22] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, for sure. Maya really Maya really was the one the force behind all this and uh helping out as much as I can. But she really, you know, she's brilliant and she was amazing with coming up with this. So it's really wonderful. I've never been the kind of person that sits still and does nothing. I like to balance things, but I also like to be super busy. I don't know, I feed off of that energy and very New York in that sense. Um and I was coming around and I was thinking, you know, um, we're in quarantine kind of basically still, and it's been a really long time, and I miss my theater community. I miss I miss having those people to share and learn from express creativity and foster community. And I was like, we need to create something because that's what we do, and let's just do it. It doesn't exist. That's so let's make it together. And I thought that it would be a really great idea to somehow give back.

[11:16] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah.

[11:16] Michael Lee Brown: And I thought that the Actors Fund was a great way to um give back to our community. And I wanted to make sure that it was open to everybody, so I made a donation based, and um, you know, we've been great at getting amazing donations, and so that's been amazing. And basically the idea of BeneFIT is a series of master classes taught by industry professionals. Um, and it can be anything from you know, a mock dance audition call to uh where this weekend we're having a Dear Evan Hansen workshop, like an audition workshop, so you can bring in your audition musical theater cut and we'll help you with it. Um and they're taught by you know, people on Broadway, people who've been on Broadway, dance captains, uh we've got producers, uh, and we also have you know, people from TV and film as well, like Larry Saperstein's gonna come in and teach a top class, and he's from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and he's awesome and so much fun. And yeah, we wanted to make it we wanted to create and use creativity to inspire and motivate change and motivate and foster community. So at the same time, give back.

[12:28] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[12:29] Michael Lee Brown: I mean that's amazing. And what organizations have you partnered with to uh like where are the donations going to I guess?

[12:37] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah also all the donations are going directly to the Actors Fund.

[12:40] Eli Tokash: That's awesome. I mean yeah I if we've been doing that here on the podcast too you know like put pushing that as much as possible.

[12:48] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah it it's incredible what they're doing over there at the Actors Fund truly um I was trying to get yeah right and I don't know if you all see saw what happened uh a couple a couple days ago in Times Square like for Broadway's like one year anniversary of being shut down I you know like again I was like trying to like be like you know make donations. I made a few donations and like for in honor of like the one year anniversary because it's so true like so little can go so far. So not only if you you will get like an amazing class with industry professionals, but you'll always you'll also be making a huge impact on some people's lives. So it's really cool what you guys are doing and the fact that you've teamed up with that.

[13:28] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah for sure and it's and it's so cool. It's true too Maya I mean Maya's like one of the hardest working people I've ever met. She's crazy busy on team it's it's amazing.

[13:37] Michael Lee Brown: So uh it's really cool she's doing this and I I'm happy to be a part of it. But yeah the main uh what's really cool about it one the Actors Fund is amazing and I I've heard a lot of stories and a lot of people have been very you know that the actress wanted to help so much. And so it it's definitely an organization that I really am passionate about and want to you know give back to as much as I can make my donations. And and also it's just it's i on more of a creativity level, it's just to have that experience of being able to have a free master class, you know, or just donate a couple dollars, you know, to a great organization uh for that masterclass is so vital and crucial. And I I if I had that, you know, when I was younger or whatever, maybe or any stage of my career, I I would have jumped on it, you know.

Uh so that's just been really cool. And and there's such a variety of amazing artists who have been signing up for this, and we have more people coming and things like that. And and so it's it's really it's a really cool thing. Hey, if you're hearing this podcast you want to teach a class, like reach out to us, the aw Sister.

[14:42] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, exactly. We're open to everybody, you know, any any of us.

[14:45] Eli Tokash: And now how long is this like how long do your classes go to?

[14:49] Maya Jade Frank: So, um right now it's every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Um and it's anywhere between like an hour and an hour and a half. It's really up to the teacher and you know, also like what we're teaching. A few weekends ago we had Erica Mansfield who is amazing. She's been in a few billion Broadway shows. She's currently um Mrs. Doubtfire. I was in two Broadway shows with her. No, I was I Yeah, we were in Pippin and Finding Neverland together.

[15:15] Michael Lee Brown: Oh, that's amazing.

[15:17] Maya Jade Frank: I love Erica. We were in Evita on Broadway together.

[15:20] Michael Lee Brown: Oh my god, of course. She's literally been in every Broadway show.

[15:25] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, no, no, she taught a class and she was so amazing and she also did like a QA. And it's really cool to be able to see like all of these people from all over the world who are coming in and zooming in just to learn from these people because it's access to these classes and um that they've never, you know, really had before. So that's such a cool aspect of it.

[15:48] Eli Tokash: Now, did they do they go to like the end of April or like beyond?

[15:54] Maya Jade Frank: They go beyond. Right now we have them scheduled like through the summer, and we're currently working a little bit of a summer program, perhaps. But right now we have people like really lined up until when is our last one currently, Michael?

[16:07] Michael Lee Brown: It's a while from now. We have a lot and more coming, obviously, too. So it's kind of just a real ongoing and ongoing, you know, process to be honest.

[16:15] Eli Tokash: Yeah. That's awesome. I'm glad that you guys are like you know, going strong, and it's not just like a month thing, and you're

[16:16] Michael Lee Brown: Oh, yeah, no. I mean it's start. I think originally we started out thinking we just do a couple weeks, but then it kind of grew and with the interest we got from it and and you know, uh just we're like might as well just keep it going.

[16:31] Maya Jade Frank: It's great. That's incredible. I mean, w I literally everything that you guys are doing, it's just like mind-blowing, and it's just so great for not only like the community and everyone involved, but also for like people who you know love Broadway and love theater and want to get into it and can learn from people that are doing it, and that's like so cool. Um, how do people actually sign up?

[16:52] Maya Jade Frank: So all you have to do is go to the yasisters.com slash benefit, and you can see all of the like you can see the entire schedule. Um, and then you there's like a little sign that says click here to sign up, so you just sign up there. And you can also sign up for multiple classes at the same time, so you'll get an email like that week for the zoom link and everything.

[17:13] Eli Tokash: You mentioned the ya sisters several times. I mean, obviously that's you and your sister, um, but you guys are kind of known for like you know, giving back and like working hard to give back to the community and helping others as much as possible. So, like I don't know, explain a little bit about like the Yasisters and how we can follow you to see like what other projects you're working on and stuff like that.

[17:34] Maya Jade Frank: Of course. So the Yasisters is really a it's a production company for creatives, and we work with you to create opportunities and foster communities. And we started off really by just wanting to give back and that same idea of being a New Yorker of not wanting to sit still. But uh basically we started off during Hurricane Sandy when we were turned away because we wanted to volunteer, but we were too young. So we were like, no, that's not gonna stop us from giving back. And so we ended up like putting on cabarets and we sold bracelets, we did bake sales, um, we partnered with a like a little fashion company basically that taught uh that teaches like uh fashion and sewing, and we partnered with them and we ended up raising enough money to bring arts days to schools that uh had their arts budgets cut um due to restructuring their schools and building the gyms and you know um that kind of a thing and rebuilding necessarily their schools because a lot of it was shut down, but their arts budget were completely cut and and being you know an artist and and I know Michael, like you know, having the arts is such an important part of your childhood, right? It inspired you, so we wanted to make sure that everyone got that opportunity, and so from there we just kind of grew and we started doing other projects.

[18:58] Maya Jade Frank: Uh, one of our latest ones was hashtag make invisible visible, where we fundraised and raised awareness for invisible illnesses, so like anything from Lyme disease to lupus and Crohn's, and we did uh we made t-shirts, we did photo shoots, we did video shoots, we did cabarets, uh, and it was really amazing because we ended up giving um our all of our donations to directly to patient care. Um, because a lot of the time, you know, when you donate, uh, it's great to donate to research hospitals and everything to find a cure, which is awesome. But then there's also those people that can't afford treatment. Um and so we wanted to make sure that those people were getting taken care of. So that was our latest one.

And it was pretty amazing because we were able to do it in New York and in LA. Um and I think it's one of the coolest parts of that hashtag making visible visible. And yeah, so if you ever have an idea, you know, that wants producing or whatever, we're here and we'd love to.

[19:57] Eli Tokash: And you're still you're still working on that too, right, Maya? With the um Make It Visible Visible.

[20:02] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, we're still we're s we still work on making visible visible. Um and we continue to grow and want to grow.

[20:11] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah. No, I mean it guys, if anyone like if you're interested in the listeners and finding out, it's really great. I thought it was still happening. I just want to make sure for that go go check it out, but it's not there anymore.

[20:22] Maya Jade Frank: But no, it is true.

[20:24] Michael Lee Brown: No, yeah.

[20:24] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, Mike Michael's on top of it.

[20:26] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, no, we just recently. And I recently partnered with um this company called Ride Out Lyme and we did a bunch of uh like a series of Pilates classes for um and it was like gentle Pilates classes for movers and for um for people uh who are struggling with chronic illness and and wanted to move in a safe way. Um and so we worked with them for like three weekends uh and brought them Pilates classes and then those donations went to um Ride Out Lyme, which is a Lyme organization. So it it you know, we're just we continue to grow and we continue to learn and give back.

[21:05] Eli Tokash: I love that. And speaking of Pilates, um you also are doing Pilates in your uh benefit stuff. So if you're interested in Pilates, I mean obviously, like as a theater person, warming up your body is so important and just moving your body, and obviously that's often difficult during these times. So if you're interested in taking a Pilates class, so like they don't just offer like Q<unk>A's and like special classes. It's not just singing and and dancing and workshops, although it I mean like Michael taught the coolest class. He was our opening class, and he did a singing QA class. That was awesome.

[21:41] Maya Jade Frank: Um and then Kay and I are taking a Pilates class for movers, what May 2nd, I think.

[21:47] Michael Lee Brown: So yeah, I think so.

[21:49] Maya Jade Frank: And yeah, you we had a cooking class too. I mean we'd have a lot of things too.

[21:52] Eli Tokash: I love it. And Mark Tuminelli, who most of these people listening know. We've talked a lot about Mark. He had me on his podcast, etc. Um, it was awesome. He's a character.

[22:03] Maya Jade Frank: So yeah, go check him out. And and uh Maya, you actually speaking of Mark Tuminelli, you have experience at Broadway workshop, and that's kind of how you got your start. So and then you've moved on and you've done uh Mary Poppins on Broadway. You just talked a little bit about Evita, uh and all these like crazy things, and you were on Disney Channel and Bizard Vark, uh, all of that. So uh I guess like let's talk a little bit about like how how did doing you know theater first, like being in Evita and Mary Poppins, how did that kind of help you prepare for like a role like in Bizard Vark and stuff like that?

[22:37] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, I mean, I think that I mean, for me at least, the main difference is between like TV and Broadway, I think is definitely that you get to retape. But I think something that Broadway definitely prepared me for and um especially for like Disney was going with like the flow and having energy, you know, because that was like one of the most fun experiences when when you're on set, you know, you just gotta like keep going and go with the pace and and be bubbly and fun and energetic, which um I probably have too much energy to begin with anyway. But and set aside the fact that their candy station is literally unreal.

[23:12] Michael Lee Brown: Yes.

[23:13] Maya Jade Frank: Uh I think that definitely Broadway helped me learn how to obviously pro be professional in a work environment with older people, but also how to bring yourself to a character and how to have that that energy um to just keep going and try new things and and just power through.

[23:33] Eli Tokash: Michael, what what about you? Like you've done Michael is you gotta ask him about like the Dear Evan Hansen experience.

[23:40] Michael Lee Brown: Oh my god so many times playing every single character because this man is insanely talented.

[23:47] Eli Tokash: Yes. So that's what I want to talk about because I mean listen, we've talked about like swings and all of that and just like the like I in Finding I had to play four roles as well. So like it's it's kind of like a crazy thing, you know and just like y so I I wanted to talk to you because obviously I mean when you're playing four different kids, I mean they're all kinda the same in a way as far as they're all just like kids and have a lot of energy. But in Dear Evan Hansen, I mean all three of the characters that you play, so you play Connor, Evan and Jared they're all vastly different.

[24:22] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah.

[24:22] Eli Tokash: And even like even them as individuals like have all of the emotions in two hours. So like it's crazy.

[24:31] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah.

[24:31] Eli Tokash: So how do you, I don't know, how do you not only keep track of who you're on for that night, but also, I don't know, like kind of keep it fresh and act like you know, you you do this every night.

[24:43] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, no, for sure. It that definitely, they're all very, very different characters, so it was a lot of fun, but it was also your head would spin, you know. But it was really great, had a great experience with Dear Evan Hansen, loved it. I just loved the show. I was always a big fan of Michael Grife, who was our director, always a huge fan. I mean, from Rent and everything that he did, and then next to normal, and then I even like, you know, if then I love that show. I mean, all those shows he directed were wonderful. And uh, so I was really excited to work with him, and then um Ben Pasek and Justin Paul, they were amazing. I was a huge fan of them as writers, music writers. I went to a lot of their concerts when I was in college and things like that. And so it was so excited to get to work with them, and then and Steven Levinson as well. I mean, he's amazing too. I um it was just a really amazing team to be able to work with.

[25:23] Michael Lee Brown: But well, with the um with the show in particular, with the parts, for me, what I did, and I I created a uh a little a little sheet for each character because for me the most confusing part of it, besides the actual like character development of each one, was mainly just trying to figure out where each person entered an exit, you know, obviously in our blocking and those things, you know. The show is unique in a way where especially for Connor and mainly Jared, Jared would always jump in in these different places and then randomly go out wing three, but then this scene scene wing two and that scene wing one. For some reason, he was all his blocking was crazy. And so I had these sheets for each one, and so when I first started, uh, you know, going on, I had uh, you know, a copy on each side of the stage, and I would just I would make sure I checked it right before I went on and did the scene, and then you know, and then eventually it was kind of like my training wheels, eventually I didn't need that anymore, but it got me to at least feel like confident, all right. Alright, I'm I'm entering the right wing, I'm gonna land on 11, you know, 11 right, and then I'm gonna exit wing three for some reason, you know.

[26:25] Michael Lee Brown: So things like that. And then, you know, what I also found too is the idea of doing um Evan Hansen. So I started out under studying three boys, and then about I guess like maybe six to eight months in, I can't remember exactly. I started then taking over as the alternate as Evan Hansen. So I mainly just did Evan Hansen because I went on for him, you know, two to four times a week from whatever. And then I would take over like when they were on vacation or whoever. So that kind of became more the role that I I played, and then I would go on for the other boys if needed.

[26:53] Michael Lee Brown: Um, but was what was unique about that part in particular was that you know he's on stage for the whole time, and so kind of like what Maya was saying about you know, when you go to do you know the TV or something, like TV work I've done, it's you know, you get be able to do the you do a take and then you're done, you're taking your done. But it's really cool to be able to do something where you can just kind of do it from the beginning to end, and you know, Eli as well. Obviously, you've done theater, and I love Finding Neverland, that's an amazing show, so that's awesome. But like, you know, you get that opportunity to actually do the show from beginning to end and actually follow a character from beginning to end, and so that's a really cool thing.

[27:25] Michael Lee Brown: And so I kind of found it really more challenging, not more, but challenging in a different way when I was playing Connor and and Jared because they were in and out all the time with Evan. I was able to just go. I started the show, I was on the stage pretty much the entire show. I think I exit like three times, and that's it. And then it's like, you know, you can really just be there and live in the scenes and just live in the show and not feel like you have to, you know, jump in and out all the time and get out of character and stuff.

[27:49] Michael Lee Brown: So, you know, there's it that came with its own challenges as well, but I just found that to be interesting. You know, you would think that oh, maybe the you know, the person that's not on stage as much, you know, but that it's challenging in its own way, you know, so it it just was interesting.

[28:02] Maya Jade Frank: That was kind of enlightening. That was definitely music how it was for me and um in Mary Poppins, because like when uh as Jane Banks, you know, you're always constantly on the stage. I was we never really we literally never had a break. Every time we would run off stage, it would be like to grab water and and I would be the one that had um I'd hide like red M&Ms in like my pockets and then it like squeezy applesauce so I could have like a sugar high in between. But like it it I mean it was insane the amount of time that you're on stage and and living in this role and then doing quick changes and having to stay like present and all at a at a young age too, and also speech-wise, you know, making sure that you're safe at all times, which you must know from like Finding Neverland too, and um, which is honestly one of my favorite musicals ever, Finding Neverland.

[28:55] Michael Lee Brown: Oh, thank you.

[28:57] Maya Jade Frank: Incredible and and similar to you, I mean I've been so fortunate because like Diane Paulus is like literally a work of art, Jagged Little Pill is amazing, waitress, all of that. Um, but Maya, I was actually in the tour of Mary Poppins. So, like while like while you were on Broadway, I was touring with it nationally.

[29:14] Michael Lee Brown: Oh, cool.

[29:14] Maya Jade Frank: I mean, I played Michael, so yeah, so I totally know what you're saying as far as the whole Jane Banks and all that situation.

[29:20] Eli Tokash: Yeah, going back to Michael or yeah, to Michael, oh my god. I had a brain fart because I was saying Michael Banks, and then I was like, wait, that's not his name, but it is um so um you talked about like how you kind of ended up taking over Evan. Um how like the alternate for Evan and everything, how how difficult was it vocally for you?

[29:48] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, definitely. So it was funny. Everyone made fun of me. Um, not in a playful, nice way. I loved all the cast memories and stuff, but they used to make fun of me because when I first started, I like watched the show every night. And the other understudies did too, but I was kind of like, I was crazy about it because I just really I like I gotta watch it. Like I gotta this is how I'm gonna learn it, you know. And so I watched that show so much. So by the time it opened, I'd seen it like a hundred times, you know. So I felt like I for me it was super important to be like I wanted to get to the point where and you guys know where you get to that point where you could basically be on autopilot and do the show and just feel like almost be like I don't even know how I just did that.

Now at the same time, I didn't want to like I didn't want to do that for just doing that. I wanted to be able to just be able to focus on other things. So when I finally I just wanted to get to the point where I feel like, all right, I know the book blocking the lines, the song like the back of my hand, so that then I can focus on all the really important stuff, like you know, the intricacies of it and the detail work of it and all those things and just have fun with it, you know. So I had that kind of long period where I really got to do that. So then by the time I went on for Evan Hansen for the first time, while I was like so nervous because it was like that was just so nerve-wracking, like the whole first scene where you just open up the laptop and then it's like you just start the show.

It was like so I was like, oh my god, you start with this monologue and stuff. I was so nervous. But it you know, I think because I was so I had watched it so many times, I'd studied it so much, I felt so comfortable that the nerves didn't affect it as much. And so that then when I got to like you know, after a couple weeks and months, I really kind of just settled into the role and was able to make it my own. And I thought in it like four times, maybe.

[31:28] Maya Jade Frank: Oh my gosh. Well, it's funny though. When I watch, I've seen like bootlegs of me like really early on, and it's a very different performance from when I did it like a year later.

[31:36] Michael Lee Brown: Oh my god. You know what I mean? Like I changed it so much. So, you know, and good, you know, so it's uh you made it your own, like as you go, you know.

[31:43] Michael Lee Brown: Exactly. So I changed it as a win, and you know, and also you know, working with the director Michael Greif and stuff, he was very like very much about like he came to the show pretty much every week, gave us notes, like even after it opened and everything. So he was really into changing things and keeping things fresh. And so that really changed my performance alone, just by you know, working with him so much. With and it's cool to have a director like that who really is very you know into detail and likes to keep on it, you know. And uh, and that was kind of cool for all of us. We'd always joke because you know, we always when he was there, you always got your notes and stuff, and you had to take, you know, and which was great. It kept it, you know, kept you on your toes, which is good.

[32:21] Eli Tokash: Totally. That's awesome. I mean, I would I would love to just go watch the show. I mean, I'm jealous how many times you've gotten to see the show because it's just such an enjoyable show. I'm sure that had a lot.

[32:30] Michael Lee Brown: It's funny, I know. I wish I could see it tonight, but oh my gosh. We all need a little Dear Evan Hansen right now, let's be real.

[32:42] Maya Jade Frank: Yes, we're very popular. All of it.

[32:46] Eli Tokash: Um so Michael, you talked earlier too about like your creative team and Dear Evan Hansen and Pasek and Paul. I was fortunate enough to work with them in The Greatest Showman and in A Christmas Story. And then now you're making music. So like, do you feel like learning from them and watching them and everything like that? It's kind of impacted how you write and your music kind of now.

[33:06] Michael Lee Brown: That's a good question. Um, I yeah, I mean, I think anybody I think you know, all the artists that I like and have listened to always kind of inspire me too in some way, either subconsciously or consciously with my writing and music. But I did I learned so much from them just from just you know, just watching their process and being able to be a little bit a part of when you know, because technically I was from the original cast, so I saw them all throughout the rehearsal you know rehearsals Broadway so you know I was able to just kind of watch them and see what they were doing and change things here and there and then also just how detailed they are again um and things like that. So yeah I learned a lot from them and I just I think they're just amazing songwriters and um you know it was an honor to work with them but for sure I've definitely was you know inspired by them.

[33:50] Maya Jade Frank: I love that.

[33:51] Michael Lee Brown: So great melodies. They have the best melodies.

[33:52] Maya Jade Frank: And Greatest Showman, I love that that that was that good for you. That's awesome.

[33:57] Michael Lee Brown: I love that movie. It was so great. My mom is obsessed with The Greatest Showman when it first came out like literally every time we were on an airplane she'd watch it the entire time and I mean like a six-hour flight between New York and LA and LA to New York.

[34:09] Maya Jade Frank: Um she would watch it. I'm obsessed with The Greatest Showman. And I was fortunate enough to work on all the readings and then my voice changed so I wasn't able to do it the movie because I couldn't hit the song anymore.

[34:22] Michael Lee Brown: I know it was so tough.

[34:23] Maya Jade Frank: It's not a news but it's a good thing is hard.

[34:29] Michael Lee Brown: I went through it I we I it's tough it's like oh that was such a crazy time.

[34:35] Maya Jade Frank: But that's awesome you got to work you know with in the beginnings like that just to be able to work with them is awesome.

[34:40] Michael Lee Brown: Oh my god truly just to see how their minds work and everything they're like incredible.

[34:47] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah yeah it was really cool and it was really cool too to like be a part of that and then like watch the movie and then be like whoa what happened to this song and what happened to this part and like like you know like watching the changes and everything like that.

[34:59] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah.

[34:59] Eli Tokash: Yeah and that's the same for any project, both in theater and in TV and film, you know, like it's really cool to be a part of that like beginning stages of the process, and just to say that you were still kind of like part of that process and kind of inspiring the role and everything like that as they were creating it.

[35:16] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, for sure.

[35:17] Eli Tokash: That's awesome. Michael, I actually have so I have a like this thing called Patreon, and like a couple people are like in like a little community or whatever, and they have a question for you. Um one of your questions was Is it more difficult to play? This is from Brandon Chang, by the way. Um, is it more difficult to play Connor because there are so many versions of him? Example, the real one, Evan's manifestation, and Jared's manifestation.

[35:44] Michael Lee Brown: So, can you talk a little bit about like the depth and dynamic of Connor?

[35:49] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, that's interesting. That's a really good question. I don't think I've ever been asked that question. That's cool. So, yeah, so the however I think I know the answer. So the main thing is is that with Connor was that you wanted to play Connor, like obviously in the first scene when he's you know, when he's not a manifestation of their minds, you want to play him throughout the entire show as if he is just you know alive, a real character, and you want to play him as if you know he has his needs, what he wants to achieve in each scene, what he wants to achieve by the end of the show. And so you really need to humanize him as you know, just genuinely playing Connor as Connor would be playing, you know, as being himself.

You know, for me it was a unique experience because I played each part, so when I would go on stage, I had you know, and you you know this when you have a different perspective, okay. When you're having somebody that you just played last night, and then now they're speaking to you as the other part, and it's like you're trying out to mouth the word sometimes. So uh so you gotta really be in the character and really think about all right, this is you know, and do your technique and the things you want to do. But so for me, the biggest way into Connor is just playing Connor as genuine as possible and not thinking about that aspect of he's a you know a manifestation of their minds and stuff and just and just playing it as if as the character Connor you've decided you're playing, you know, and keeping that throughout the show.

[37:10] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, that's awesome. I I don't know, I couldn't imagine. All three every character in Dear Evan Hansen is just so unique and so dynamic and literally like everyone's favorite. So like it's so like it's amazing just to play any of them and you were able to play three.

[37:24] Michael Lee Brown: That's just so cool.

[37:25] Eli Tokash: So Maya, let's let's transition a little bit over to you. So you you are like, you know, like every like teenager and preteens like dream, you know? Like you were able, you've been able to work on Broadway, you've been able to work on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel and all of these amazing things when you were like, you know, because you were kind of that age where like you you had to love Disney. I mean, every child loved Disney and Nickelodeon and what all of this, and you were kind of at that age.

[37:56] Maya Jade Frank: I was like, Yeah, right? So like how cool is it to like not only like be that age and like where you're just like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel's the only thing I watch and nothing even compares, and and like being on set and like seeing yourself on that channel, how cool is that?

[38:12] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, it I mean it's amazing. I think while I was doing it, I don't think I really realized it, to be honest. I was lucky enough to do the pilot of Bizaardvark. And I think that experience also was just so insane, like it was just amazing um to be able to really form this character, like you were saying for you know, um, with building like Connor and building your Evan, it's the same thing. Um to be able to build like a Disney Channel character from scratch and have so many people to support you and I think that that was just such an amazing experience and that I would never really get to play anywhere else right. Belissa is literally Melissa with a B. Um she like I play a bassoon you know it's my outfits are crazy.

My hair is crazy. I love it. I wear two different earrings that are like crazy. Um so uh it to be able to form that character I think was such a beautiful experience and being on set was amazing and because I mean and and I think because also it was like that Disney environment and they had so much experience working with kids it was such like a welcoming environment and everyone wanted to like help each other and and make each other better and all of the kids like are so amazing and I love them so much they're still I mean they're still my really good friends uh to this day. I was so lucky with the Nickelodeon um you know, nominated for a daytime Emmy Award was something I don't think I've ever you know thought of as like a 12-year-old girl to be flown out like not a big deal you know just very casual yeah but that was that was pretty cool so I would say yeah I think I that was like during a voice that was one of the voiceovers fun fact actually during one of the tapings I lost one of my teeth.

[40:04] Michael Lee Brown: No oh oh just like I lost it too like they're did it just like fall out oh yeah or like weird because like my teeth like I went through a phase where like they just never would fall out like on their own.

[40:19] Maya Jade Frank: Like they'd have to be yanked out. I mean which is probably like too much too much information.

[40:23] Michael Lee Brown: But um it don's okay.

[40:25] Maya Jade Frank: In fact, it definitely did um definitely did. Um fall out during one of the tapings.

[40:31] Michael Lee Brown: Oh my god, that's incredible.

[40:33] Maya Jade Frank: That's really funny.

[40:34] Michael Lee Brown: That's like the milk beds and the Skittles that I was eating.

[40:38] Maya Jade Frank: Oh no, that'll do it.

[40:41] Michael Lee Brown: My parents always used to give me like jolly ranchers and be like, munch down. I'm like, no.

[40:45] Maya Jade Frank: I could I couldn't stand teeth pulling.

[40:50] Michael Lee Brown: Oh my god, it was the worst.

[40:51] Maya Jade Frank: Uh yeah.

[40:52] Eli Tokash: Yeah, right?

[40:56] Maya Jade Frank: Oh my god. I literally never knew it.

[40:59] Michael Lee Brown: I would never let my parents do that.

[41:01] Maya Jade Frank: I always like ran in like that.

[41:04] Michael Lee Brown: That is the craziest thing.

[41:06] Maya Jade Frank: Oh my god. I can't remember.

[41:07] Michael Lee Brown: No, seriously.

[41:08] Eli Tokash: So we were talking before, you know, obviously like about how much of an impact audiences have on your performances and like all of that and just being an actor as a whole. Um this question is for both of you. I mean, you guys have both been in projects, right? Mary Poppins with all the magic and everything like that, Evita's beautiful story, Dear Evan Hansen's incredible story. What are some of the most like memorable stories that you guys have maybe after the show that have kind of been like for you, you know, like yes, this is why I do it and this is why I love it.

[41:42] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, with Dear Evan Hansen in particular, I think just because of the um like the subject matter of it, you know, it it there you really felt like in addition to just doing a great show, you really felt like you were, you know, helping people get either get through something or or you know, discover something about themselves or whatever it may be, but it it really felt like you were kind of giving back to a community. And the show even donated to a lot of uh different organizations, like suicide prevention and different things like that. So I think that was really heartwarming and and very eye-opening for me. One, the letters that I received from different people who had seen the show and either went through a similar experience and felt you know comforted by seeing the show or saw themselves as one of the characters and things like that.

Um or also just going out to sign you know autographs after the show and people telling me that they either had a parent or a son that passed away or died by suicide or something like that, and and was able to the show really resonated with them. And so that was really, you know, I wasn't expecting that going into the show. I mean I knew the show had a heavy subject matter and and really spoke about things that were you know very necessary and need to be talked about, um, but I didn't know it would have that much of an impact on people right after, and that people be so unwilling and open to talk about it after a show. And um, so that it was very it was very uh moving for me, and it was definitely a growing experience for me to hear these stories and and uh be able to you know empathize with these people was really really interesting and very very nice. It was really cool.

[42:39] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, totally. I I mean I I couldn't imagine like a show like Dear Evan Hansen. Um I was in a show too, Trevor the Musical, it was like an off-Broadway run, or it was a run in Chicago and now it's moving to off-Broadway. Um and that in you know, my character Trevor ended up like trying to commit suicide, and same thing. Like it was like it's based off the Trevor Project.

[43:33] Michael Lee Brown: So like Well, that's what I was just gonna say.

[43:35] Maya Jade Frank: I was I was just saying and which we I think our show uh too, yeah.

[43:39] Michael Lee Brown: So I was just about to say the Trevor Project, that's amazing.

[43:41] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, no, yeah, totally.

[43:43] Michael Lee Brown: And so like you work with um Joshua Turchin.

[43:46] Maya Jade Frank: Oh no, I wasn't in the off-Broadway run. I did I was Trevor in the Chicago run, and then my voice changed.

[43:56] Michael Lee Brown: Um he's taking one of our benefit classes.

[43:59] Maya Jade Frank: So Yes, Josh Turchin, who's also um part of the Broadway Podcast Network family, and he has his own like the early night show thing going.

[44:07] Michael Lee Brown: Um yeah, we we love Josh and I know Josh very well.

[44:11] Maya Jade Frank: Um we've done a bunch of cabarets and like projects and everything together. He's the best. But no, like same thing, like totally like it's crazy how how much any story and y can affect someone and you're just kind of going out there telling a story, and when you're telling the story, you may not realize how big of an impact it has until like afterwards, and you're like, wow, like I love my job because I get to do this and get to have impacts on people's lives.

[44:40] Maya Jade Frank: I'm sure I mean Mary Poppins, literally, like the magic and everything, it got so many kids and anyone, like even adults, like into Broadway and everything like that.

[44:51] Michael Lee Brown: How cool is that?

[44:52] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, Mary Poppins is just it's so magical and they make it so magical not only for like the audience but also for the people in it.

[44:59] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, seriously.

[45:00] Maya Jade Frank: Yeah, right. I think the whole experience also of, you know, and how Michael was saying, people coming up to you and that same kind of thing how I was saying like in Hurricane on my first show, that's really what made me fall in love with acting to begin with. But it was definitely a different experience for me to like walk outside of the stage door and think kids, you know, because yeah being in like Lay Miz and Evita and those kind of things definitely is very different than going outside and seeing kids your age and be and then being like inspired by the magic and inspired by you and and I think that that's so awesome and all the experiences that I've had, I think that just as a performer in general, and you get this, it's so special to to be able to perform for people and make them feel things you know whether it be like happy or sad and like Michael was saying um you know that you touch someone's lives with this art and and that's why I'm so sad that like you know we're in like this quarantine and that's why I wanted to do benefit to make people feel again um because I think that that's definitely you know like we're we're missing that and I and benefits bringing that back and so many people are doing so many creative things and I don't know I just think that there's like there is such a difference in in magic right with with musical theater too um I'm such a musical theater nerd um but yeah I guess if that I mean that that does that kind of answer your question no it totally answers the question because like that's kind of what I was alluding to like just seeing kids your age you know and almost having them say like oh like I look up to you and like I want to do that too and like stuff like that like hearing that from like someone that's your age just like for actually to have like your friends be able to come and see you.

[46:47] Maya Jade Frank: Because they wouldn't necessarily when you're like nine years old you're not gonna necessarily see some other shows but when you're nine years old you're gonna go and see Mary Poppins and you're gonna be like oh my goodness.

[46:57] Michael Lee Brown: Um it was so exciting I think for me to be able to like show and share my like share what I love to do and and and with my friends you know what I mean so when I go to school they're like oh this is what she does from like eight a eight p.m to midnight you know yes I love it it.

[47:15] Maya Jade Frank: It's awesome.

[47:20] Michael Lee Brown: Maya, you have a podcast too, right?

[47:20] Maya Jade Frank: You you you have a podcast, you make music, all of that fun stuff. Tell us a little bit about that and where we can find that.

[47:26] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, for sure. So my podcast simplify, I was doing that for a while and I gave it a pause because I had some other things going on.

[47:32] Maya Jade Frank: So it's gonna be back at some point.

[47:33] Michael Lee Brown: It'll be back and better than ever. Um but for now it's on pause. Um, but essentially what that is, it's called Simplify Simp, you know, like Simplify, but with L E E, which is my middle name.

[47:45] Maya Jade Frank: Very clever, I know.

[47:46] Michael Lee Brown: Yes, I love it. It's super clever, it just rolls off the tongue. Um, but the essence of what the podcast is is just about how we can simplify our lives in order to um, you know, uh live healthily, live happy, and how we can go about achieving our goals.

[47:59] Maya Jade Frank: I just think it's super important that we, you know, for me when I want to work towards something, the best way I can do it is by simplifying it and finding out ways how I can do that, and you know, even down to the things we eat and the things uh, you know, way we exercise or things we do, whatever it may be, more simple ingredients we have, or the or is the better way to go in life.

[48:16] Michael Lee Brown: So that's kind of what the essence of the podcast is. And I've had some great guests so far, from doctors to you know, uh comedians to different people, and and so check it out, and uh there'll be more coming.

[48:27] Maya Jade Frank: And then music wise, yeah, I'm always doing music, and I I I I just a lot of it kind of got paused with everything going on, but I had a couple songs, more acoustic songs I just put out just because I was trying to just start putting more music out, even though in these difficult times.

[48:41] Michael Lee Brown: And um, I have a uh a single coming out soon in a couple weeks, and that's more of a bop.

[48:47] Maya Jade Frank: Uh so that'll be uh a little bop.

[48:51] Michael Lee Brown: Uh the last uh the last couple songs were a little bit more on the somber side, but I I think they're they're pretty nice.

[48:57] Maya Jade Frank: So uh check them out.

[48:58] Michael Lee Brown: Yes, they're very good.

[49:01] Maya Jade Frank: Oh, thank you guys.

[49:03] Michael Lee Brown: You can check them out of all the streaming services, and uh I the first EPR release rate used to be was a lot of fun.

[49:09] Maya Jade Frank: I worked with Matty James Thomas, who is who was Pippin.

[49:11] Michael Lee Brown: Yes.

[49:12] Maya Jade Frank: Uh he basically produced it and stuff, and so that was really kind of my I was always writing songs and getting into that, and that was kind of the first CP that I released, and then from there I just started to write, you know, do more songs and stuff like that.

[49:22] Michael Lee Brown: And and I'm gonna have more songs, like I said, coming out.

[49:24] Maya Jade Frank: So it's just like an ongoing thing that I love doing and love writing, and yeah, check it out on all the streaming services.

[49:29] Michael Lee Brown: Michael E. Brown is my name.

[49:31] Maya Jade Frank: So uh please, yeah, check it out.

[49:34] Michael Lee Brown: I love that.

[49:35] Maya Jade Frank: Well, this has been honestly this has been amazing. Check out benefit and all of these amazing things, and also before we leave, tell everyone your uh social media so that they can follow along for both benefit and any other projects that you may work on in the future.

[49:49] Michael Lee Brown: Uh you can follow me at Maya Jade Frank, and then you can go ahead and follow the Yaw Sisters.

[49:55] Maya Jade Frank: So the Ya Y A sisters.

[49:59] Michael Lee Brown: Um that'll keep you up to date with Benefit.

[50:01] Maya Jade Frank: And if you guys want to sign up, go to the offisters.com slash benefit, donate if you can.

[50:08] Michael Lee Brown: Take these classes, they're here for you.

[50:11] Maya Jade Frank: And yeah, and if you're interested in teaching a class and being involved, do you seriously don't need any experience to to come in and and um and take a class?

[50:21] Michael Lee Brown: It's open to everybody.

[50:23] Maya Jade Frank: We want to make it inclusive, and we want to see our faces, right?

[50:27] Michael Lee Brown: We want to make this community as big and bright and happy as possible.

[50:31] Maya Jade Frank: So stay tuned there and yeah, and follow me on my own account.

[50:34] Michael Lee Brown: I'm working on some cool stuff too, so you can go ahead and check me out there.

[50:38] Maya Jade Frank: But yeah.

[50:39] Michael Lee Brown: Yeah, so please please sign up.

[50:41] Maya Jade Frank: And mine's hey Michael E. Brown, so it's H E Y Y Michael Lee Brown.

[50:45] Michael Lee Brown: Hey, Michael E. Brown.

[50:46] Maya Jade Frank: And I was back.

[50:48] Michael Lee Brown: I love it.

[50:49] Maya Jade Frank: All these creative names, Michael.

[50:50] Michael Lee Brown: I love it.

[50:52] Maya Jade Frank: Michael E. Brown was taken when I went to make my Instagram.

[50:55] Michael Lee Brown: Oh no, so I had the hey.

[50:57] Maya Jade Frank: I was a decision between high and hay.

[50:59] Michael Lee Brown: I don't know if I was saying why it shows hey.

[51:02] Maya Jade Frank: I love it.

[51:03] Michael Lee Brown: It worked, it worked.

[51:06] Maya Jade Frank: Well, I literally thank you guys.

[51:07] Michael Lee Brown: I can't thank you enough.

[51:09] Maya Jade Frank: And everyone, check out Benefit.

[51:10] Michael Lee Brown: Thank you both for coming on and sharing your stories and a little bit about benefit.

[51:15] Maya Jade Frank: Uh yeah, this has been a blast.

[51:16] Michael Lee Brown: Thank you so much for having us.

[51:18] Maya Jade Frank: Really appreciate it.

[51:20] Michael Lee Brown: Of course, I'm glad you I'm glad that you we were able to make this work.

[51:23] Eli Tokash: Take a bow, Maya Jade Frank, and Michael Lee Brown.

[51:26] Maya Jade Frank: Oh my god, I'm obsessed with the three names.

[51:29] Eli Tokash: It's so much fun. But come on, what they're doing is so cool. Obviously, they're both highly reputable people, and now they've joined forces to create benefit, which is so cool and so fun and uh so helpful for so many people.

[51:45] Maya Jade Frank: It's benefiting a lot of people, including the actress fun and whoever takes classes.

[51:50] Eli Tokash: It's really great. I may or may not be teaching a class soon.

[51:56] Maya Jade Frank: Um, you may want to keep your eye out on that.

[51:58] Eli Tokash: I'm so excited about that. I don't know if I'm supposed to share it yet, but it it it may happen soon, it may not.

[52:06] Maya Jade Frank: Wink wink.

[52:07] Eli Tokash: So keep your eyes out for that if you're interested.

[52:10] Maya Jade Frank: And there's a lot of cool things happening.

[52:12] Eli Tokash: There's a lot of amazing talent that are volunteering their time to help the actors fun to help everyone who's attending these classes, everything like that.

[52:21] Maya Jade Frank: Obviously, like I mentioned in the interview, there are a lot of my friends who are doing it, but also a lot of take about guests that are doing it.

[52:29] Eli Tokash: So it's very exciting.

[52:31] Maya Jade Frank: So keep an eye out on that. Go check it out, go register for a class if you're interested.

[52:35] Eli Tokash: It's great. And now let's turn it over to drama dictionary.

[52:40] Maya Jade Frank: We have some fun things coming to the podcast.

[52:42] Eli Tokash: We may be getting some songs for these segments, but I will keep you all posted on that.

[52:48] Maya Jade Frank: But for today, we're just having myself introduce drama dictionary.

[52:52] Eli Tokash: And if you are new, drama dictionary is our weekly segment where we introduce a new word every week.

[53:00] Maya Jade Frank: And today's word of the day is gonna be AEA.

[53:03] Eli Tokash: It's taken us back a couple weeks ago.

[53:06] Maya Jade Frank: I introduced what OBC meant, and I mentioned that that's what you'll see in the playbill and everything like that when you go see a show.

[53:12] Eli Tokash: So AEA is the same thing.

[53:14] Maya Jade Frank: Obviously, it's a three-letter uh abbreviation, but also it's something that you'll see in playbills, you'll see them on resumes, you'll see them on the internet, whatever it may be.

[53:25] Eli Tokash: You may see them in like their Instagram bio, whatever.

[53:28] Maya Jade Frank: And what that stands for is it actually stands for the Actors Equity Association, and that is our union that the actors in the Broadway community are under.

[53:39] Eli Tokash: So and it is specific to Broadway and theater because for TV and film, they have a completely different one, and that's SAG and SAG AFTRA.

[53:50] Maya Jade Frank: Uh so yeah, some fun things to know.

[53:53] Eli Tokash: Obviously, a union, it's important to kids and adults to make sure that they're being treated equally, uh respectively, and they're being taken care of, really.

[54:05] Maya Jade Frank: And of course, for kids, the union is much stricter as far as, you know, they can't work as many hours, they can't do a certain amount of shows if their role is big uh if their role is a main character.

[54:16] Eli Tokash: Um, there's all of these things that go into it, and it's really interesting, and it protects us actors and it gets us better pay and everything like that.

[54:24] Maya Jade Frank: So usually when you do get a role on Broadway, you have to join AEA.

[54:31] Eli Tokash: But not anybody can join the union.

[54:33] Maya Jade Frank: You have to have a certain amount of credits and credentials to be eligible for uh to be in part of the union.

[54:42] Eli Tokash: So that's some fun things about the industry of Broadway and um all of that.

[54:50] Maya Jade Frank: So AEA, if you I'm sure you will now see it more than you ever have before now that you know what it is, and now that I introduced it to you.

[54:58] Eli Tokash: So you're welcome.

[55:00] Maya Jade Frank: And for our final segment of today's episode, let's do some triple E, shall we?

[55:06] Eli Tokash: It's Eli's Entertainment Experience, and honestly, I'm gonna do this one from an audience perspective.

[55:13] Maya Jade Frank: I know I have shared my experiences as an actor, uh, but this week I wanted to do it from an audience perspective, and I wanted to talk about seats.

[55:22] Eli Tokash: Um, when you go see a Broadway show, you know, you have to get a ticket, and then the ticket, of course, you you're gonna have to pick your seat.

[55:29] Maya Jade Frank: And I saw like this interesting article that kind of said that it doesn't matter where you sit in a Broadway theater, it it won't affect how much you like a show or not.

[55:40] Eli Tokash: And honestly, like I don't know if I agree with that.

[55:44] Maya Jade Frank: I feel like this where you sit in a theater uh really has an impact on whether you will enjoy the show or not, or maybe not enjoy the show or not, but the level of enjoyment that you will uh receive when seeing a show.

[55:59] Eli Tokash: Um, because obviously, like if you're seeing like half of this stage, how are you gonna like the show as much if you saw the full stage?

[56:08] Maya Jade Frank: You're like not even seeing everything, like you're missing things, and I feel like that's like something really hard.

[56:14] Eli Tokash: So I definitely think that it does affect your enjoyment of the show.

[56:20] Maya Jade Frank: And I'll give you an example.

[56:21] Eli Tokash: The first time I saw Beetlejuice, I sat at like the far right of the house, and I was only able to see like a quarter of the stage.

[56:31] Maya Jade Frank: Like really, I wasn't able to sti see much of the stage.

[56:34] Eli Tokash: And it was like a last minute, like cheap ticket that I was able to get.

[56:39] Maya Jade Frank: And I was like, well, I really liked it, but I wanna like give it a real shot.

[56:46] Eli Tokash: Like I wanna see everything that was going on.

[56:48] Maya Jade Frank: And especially like in a show like Beetlejuice, there's so many things happening on stage at once.

[56:53] Eli Tokash: It's kind of crazy.

[56:54] Maya Jade Frank: And when I saw it the second time, I enjoyed it so much more.

[57:00] Eli Tokash: I was like going crazy while I was watching it, because I was like, How did I miss this the first time?

[57:07] Maya Jade Frank: I was so like upset and I was like, Oh my god, like what that's insane.

[57:14] Eli Tokash: And um, obviously there have been like other times where I've gone to shows where I haven't had the best seats because you know, like sometimes that's just how it works, and um, especially like working, you don't really know if you can go to the show until like last minute.

[57:28] Maya Jade Frank: So it's really it really does impact it.

[57:31] Eli Tokash: And I'm curious to know, uh, for everyone who's listening, like if you've seen a show of any caliber, what all of your opinions are on seeing a show maybe from a bad seat or not.

[57:44] Maya Jade Frank: And I'm curious to hear if that has affected your enjoyment of the show or not.

[57:49] Eli Tokash: So, yeah, that's a little bit about my experience as an audience member, and that'll wrap it up for this week's episode.

[57:57] Maya Jade Frank: So, thank you all for listening to this week's episode.

[57:59] Eli Tokash: It's episode 44, and next week is 45.

[58:02] Maya Jade Frank: I'm so excited.

[58:04] Eli Tokash: And yeah, just your friendly reminder to continue to be kind to one another, please, because we all need a little kindness and we all need to help spread it.

[58:13] Maya Jade Frank: So, yeah, thank you all for listening to this week's episode, and I'll see you all next week.

[58:19] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone.

[58:20] Maya Jade Frank: For this episode's curtain call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow.

[58:25] Eli Tokash: This podcast would not be possible without the help from Dory Berenstein, Brittany Bigelow, Katie Rosen, Alan Seals, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

[58:33] Maya Jade Frank: Next in line to Take a Bow is Tessie Tokash, who edits the audio and all the visuals for this podcast.

[58:39] Eli Tokash: A special thanks to patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners at PCC, as well as all the other patrons for their continued support.

[58:47] Maya Jade Frank: If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to Patreon.com slash T A B.

[58:53] Eli Tokash: And if you enjoyed this week's episode, don't forget to subscribe on the platform that you're currently listening to this on.

[58:59] Maya Jade Frank: Also, feel free to give us a follow on Instagram at TakeA Bow Podcast.

[59:03] Eli Tokash: Take a bow's logo is designed by Giselle Bustos, and the music is by Nikki Torsha and Cormic Collinon.

[59:10] Maya Jade Frank: Bye everyone.

[59:11] Eli Tokash: Hope to see you next week.