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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 46 of Take A Bow.

[0:04] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and I am so excited to be with you all again this week.

[0:10] Eli Tokash: And we're about to dive right into all of it. But before we begin, I just wanted to give some quick shout-outs to my dear friends and people who have been associated with this podcast because we have some exciting news that going on with the industry kind of coming slowly making a comeback.

[0:30] Eli Tokash: Um so just wanted to send out my congratulations to my friends, Nikki Torcha, who, if those of you who may or may not know, if you listen to the end of the podcast, we say his name every episode.

[0:43] Eli Tokash: Um he made the little intro music and outro music for our podcast. So he's a songwriter, and of course, he's an actor, he was in Kinky Boots and all of that stuff, but he's now doing TV stuff, and he's now a part of the cast of Law and Order Organized Crime, which is the new spin-off of SVU, and he's killing it.

[1:07] Eli Tokash: There's two episodes out, and it's amazing. So, for those of you who may or may not have watched it already, I encourage you to keep watching it or go watch it because it's pretty amazing, and you'll see Nikki Torcha.

[1:21] Eli Tokash: I also wanted to send out my congratulations to Aiden Gem, who was in Finding Neverland with me, and he is now going to be in the new CW show called Naomi, I believe is the title right now.

[1:36] Eli Tokash: It may be a working title, but it may just be Naomi. Uh, and it's like a new superhero show on the CW, so I'm so excited to see him in that.

[1:43] Eli Tokash: And for those of you who listened to the Ian Armitage episode of Take A Bow, he, as you may know, is playing Young Sheldon in Young Sheldon.

[1:53] Eli Tokash: They just got renewed for three more seasons. I mean, that is so rare. Usually it's like season to season, but they must be doing really well in order for it to be renewed.

[2:04] Eli Tokash: Kudos to him. I'm so excited for him. I'm so excited for the show. Glad to hear it's doing well.

[2:09] Eli Tokash: And hopefully we're gonna have some more cast members from Young Sheldon on because they have a big Broadway cast, so stay tuned for that.

[2:18] Eli Tokash: But now let's get into it. So let's get into the news going on in the industry. Uh Broadway is coming back, and we know this because, as I mentioned last week, theater workers they're trying to get them all vaccinated.

[2:31] Eli Tokash: I got my first dose this week. I'm so excited. And something else that happened this week to infer that Broadway is coming back, is that it did come back for a little bit with Savion Glover and Nathan Lane at the St. James Theater.

[2:50] Eli Tokash: Um, it was insane. For anyone who didn't see it, I believe there are videos out there, but I mentioned before in the podcast, you know, these NY pops up are doing these incredible things.

[3:03] Eli Tokash: Um, if you follow them on social media, they will be streaming the performances live, and that's how I watched it.

[3:10] Eli Tokash: Um, I was just in the car on my way to my vaccine, actually watching it, and it was awesome. It was awesome to see, I mean, Broadway legends up on a stage again.

[3:20] Eli Tokash: It was really cool because it was in the St. James Theater, and that's the theater that Frozen was in, and unfortunately they closed, but it was really cool to see a performance in an empty theater with like no set or anything like that.

[3:33] Eli Tokash: Uh, it was cool to see people in the audience again, and after they were done with their performance, just to hear applause and everything like that. It was really, really cool.

[3:42] Eli Tokash: So if you missed that, I encourage you to go check that out because it gives us all hope and it's really cool to see. And speaking of performances, today Ticks is doing a series of rooftop concert performances.

[3:55] Eli Tokash: Uh, and kicking it off was Lauren Patton, star of Jagged Little Pill. Derek Klena also performed this past weekend.

[4:02] Eli Tokash: And this week, Anna Villafañer and Bradley Gibson will be performing on the rooftop. And this is so cool.

[4:11] Eli Tokash: I was actually asked to go to the Lauren Patton concert, but I wasn't able to because my grandparents were in town for Easter. But I heard amazing things about it.

[4:21] Eli Tokash: The friend who invited me, she went and she loved it. She was loving life. She also loves Lauren Patton.

[4:27] Eli Tokash: And she was just telling me about how amazing it was to see a performance again. Although it was outside, it was still great to be able to see our inspirations up on a stage and performing and spreading joy and doing what they love to do.

[4:43] Eli Tokash: And receiving that again was, she said that like it was the most fulfilling thing that ever could, that it was like exactly what she needed. So I'm so excited about that.

[4:54] Eli Tokash: If you're interested in Anna Villafañer and Bradley Gibson, go check it out because it's really, really amazing what today Ticks is doing.

[5:02] Eli Tokash: And hopefully, due to the success of Lauren Patton and Derek Klena and what I've heard about Anna and Bradley, hopefully they will continue to do well and hopefully they'll extend it and do some more concerts outside.

[5:17] Eli Tokash: It's really cool. It's a really cool environment, and I'll keep you all updated if anything else comes out about this. So, yeah.

[5:24] Eli Tokash: Show tickets for Broadway shows are now selling tickets for after Labor Day. Uh, not all shows are selling tickets, so just like a PSA there.

[5:36] Eli Tokash: But Jagged Little Pill and Ain't Too Proud, which our guest Jawan Jackson is in, they're both selling and a couple others, they're all selling tickets to their show after Labor Day.

[5:49] Eli Tokash: It's really cool. A lot of people have already bought tickets. My friends have been sending me stuff. I've seen it on Instagram.

[5:56] Eli Tokash: This is so exciting, everyone. I am so excited for Broadway to come back. I'm so excited to go see a show again.

[6:01] Eli Tokash: Um, it's gonna be really cool to see how it all works. And for those of you who didn't check out that Savion Glover, Nathan Lane NY pop-up thing, you should check it out because it'll give you all an idea of how they're going to make it all work with the COVID protocols.

[6:16] Eli Tokash: So it's really cool. Um, some other fun things. There's I guess a little these two are events.

[6:22] Eli Tokash: So Girls5eva. It's a movie musical that'll be released sometime later this year. Their trailer just dropped.

[6:30] Eli Tokash: It looks incredible. First of all, I can't wait for another movie musical because I'm actually someone that really likes those movie musicals.

[6:38] Eli Tokash: Um, so I'm interested to see how this is going. And by interested, I mean excited because it really can't be bad with the cast that they have.

[6:46] Eli Tokash: Uh, Sarah Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Ashley Park, and more are going to be in this amazing, amazing movie.

[6:54] Eli Tokash: It's all about girl power and everything like that. So I'm really excited for this to come out, and I'll keep you all posted for when it's released.

[7:01] Eli Tokash: It's it looks really cool. If you are interested, go check that out. It has some amazing people in it.

[7:06] Eli Tokash: So there's gonna be a new event that will be benefiting Ellen Stardust Diner, which is the iconic diner that is located in Times Square.

[7:17] Eli Tokash: It's kind of a big tourist attraction, and it's definitely like a well-known restaurant. It's known for their workers that wait the tables, but also will sing.

[7:28] Eli Tokash: If you haven't been there the next time you come to New York, or if you live in New York, go check it out because it's awesome.

[7:34] Eli Tokash: Um and support them because during COVID, they've been really, really affected and they've been hit pretty hard.

[7:41] Eli Tokash: Um so they're being almost threatened to shut down. So the Broadway Alive organization has partnered with Ellen Stardust Diner in hosting this event where current and alumni workers and singers of Ellen Stardust Diner will be putting on this virtual cabaret, and it's gonna be hosted by Matt DeAngelis, Broadway star, and Emily McDamara.

[8:06] Eli Tokash: And it's going to be featuring Christine Dwyer, Alicia Umphries, Dana Costello, and so many more. Those are some names that popped out at me.

[8:16] Eli Tokash: So if you're interested in not only watching that, but also supporting the wonderful diner that has always meant so much to New York.

[8:24] Eli Tokash: It's meant a lot to Broadway. Uh, it's a great way to get your foot in the door as a performer in New York.

[8:30] Eli Tokash: Uh, it's where a lot of people get their starts. So go check that out. It's April 18th at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

[8:38] Eli Tokash: It's gonna be amazing, and it's like always supporting a wonderful cause. So that wraps it up about this week's kind of news in the Broadway world.

[8:49] Eli Tokash: So let's turn it over to the drama dictionary before we turn it over to the interview.

[8:55] Eli Tokash: And for this week's drama dictionary, we're gonna kinda go off of that Stardust Diner and it but also mix it in with theater.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: So this week's drama dictionary word of the week is going to be apron. And I know what you're thinking.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: I just talked about a restaurant, so there's probably like some cooking, and like, you know, you wear this to like not get food on you and all of that.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: But actually, there's a theater term called apron. And what it is is it's a section of the stage that like goes into the audience.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: So if you've ever been to a show and like the center of the stage or the sides of the stage, they like expand and they like knock out some seats.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: They call that specific part of the stage the apron, and it usually like goes into the audience basically, and it's usually like in the center, it's like a circular shape, or it could be the sides in like a triangle shape.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: Um, so it's really interesting. Another word for it is four stage. So if you've heard that term, it's the same thing, so it's just like an addition to the stage that expands it to the audience because they needed more space, or they just thought it looked cool and it kind of worked for their scenes and whatnot.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: Um, so that's really cool. I thought it was a fun way to tie the two together and also talk about the stage and yeah, what that would be.

[10:25] Eli Tokash: So that's this week's drama dictionary word of the week. That's apron.

[10:30] Eli Tokash: Everyone, we have two amazing guests this week, and they are we're going back to interviewing some young adult actors and performers, so I'm really excited about it.

[10:39] Eli Tokash: So, Madilyn Jaz Morrow and Zell Steele Morrow, sibling dynamic duo, is joining the podcast this week, and they're gonna talk about all things growing up Broadway, as well as what it's like to have a sibling on Broadway at a time where you may not be on Broadway.

[10:58] Eli Tokash: So it's a really cool dynamic that we talked about. Uh, we talked about bullying and a lot of great things.

[11:04] Eli Tokash: So, without giving too much away, let's turn it over to that. So, Madilyn Jaz and Zell Steele Morrow, curtain up.

[11:32] Eli Tokash: Oh my goodness. On this week's episode, we have yet another dynamic duo tandem, and not to mention they are kind of an iconic sibling duo on Broadway.

[11:43] Eli Tokash: Between the two of them, they've combined for three Broadway shows, three off-Broadway shows, and each have an OBC credit and many other like cabarets and special performances and like movies and all the things.

[11:58] Eli Tokash: So, everyone join me in welcoming to Take A Bow, Madilyn Jaz and Zell Steele Morrow.

[12:04] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Hey!

[12:05] Zell Steele Morrow: I'm so excited to have you guys here.

[12:08] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I'm so excited for this. It's gonna be so fun.

[12:11] Eli Tokash: So let's talk about what kind of started this whole journey that I've kind of alluded to in the intro. Like what kind of got you guys into theater?

[12:20] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: What started the whole mess that we have gotten ourselves into?

[12:25] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh no, of course it is.

[12:28] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh, thank you. Um, I my mom owned a dance studio, she taught dance growing up, and I basically grew up in this dance studio, and so I was super lucky to have that as my foundation, and I just grew up around dance and music, you know, before I could even function.

[12:49] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And I also I remember well, I don't remember this, I was too little, but I went to a lot of community theater productions of a friend of mine, her name is Amanda. I love you, Amanda. And I would just love watching her on stage. I would love watching it. I was not one of those babies that like cried the whole time during a show. I was very well behaved, and I was just super, uh, I was super, you know, astonished at what I was watching. And so then when I was like three, I think I did my first community theater production. I was in The Jungle Book and I played a wolf in a monk. Oh my god. And I like mannerisms, I would like lick my hand and scratch my ears and that's and now we're here. Um no. And now here we are.

We went to a wolf to Broadway. But yeah, so I so I did all of that in California. I was also on like a dance competition team, so I was super, super involved. And then randomly, my dance teacher's daughter lived here and she called my mom and was like, "Hey, Billy Elliott is having um auditions for the ballet girls. Like Madeline should come and audition," and my mom was like, "Huh, you're funny." Uh and then but then we were like, "No, just kidding, like, let's make like a whole trip out of it. We had never been to New York, let's do it." And then we went and I ended up getting four callbacks for uh ballet. Oh my god. I know it was crazy. It was my first time, and I was shocked. And then I didn't get it.

I got cut and I went back home, and then I went in for Annie, as every little girl in America did. And yeah, of course. I got a couple callbacks for Annie, and then I got cut. Um, and each trip, by the way, because we were very poor and we couldn't afford to like continue because we're from you know, the all the way across the country, we couldn't just like come and stay here every single time. We would literally get on the airplane, get here at like six in the morning, like on the red eye. I would go to Starbucks, do my audition at ten, get back on a plane right after the audition and go to school the next day. Oh my god, I can't no hotel, no food, and then and then Matilda right after Annie, and it was just the same deal, and I got like five callbacks for Matilda, and then I just got lucky and I booked that one, and then he came along with me, and he was just there the whole time.

[15:14] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, I was alone. I came along for the ride, however, that's I love it. And then like Zell, like for you, did you kinda see your sister? Was it until Matilda that you were kind of like, "Oh yeah, this is what I want to do," or was it before that?

[15:31] Zell Steele Morrow: Uh, I'd say it's probably before that, uh, because I also like grew up in like the dance studio and everything, and I also like took dance classes from the dance teacher that she had as well. I also took dance classes from my own mom, so that was great.

[15:43] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Amazing.

[15:45] Zell Steele Morrow: And yeah, I just saw her performing in like the regional theater productions that we would do, and I just fell in love with that.

[15:52] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And he even did some, yeah.

[15:54] Zell Steele Morrow: Like we was one.

[15:56] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, I was one when I knew for sure.

[15:58] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah.

[15:59] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god. That's hilarious. I was the elephant bird in uh Suzucole and I had my little egg and I slid down that slide and I bugied around the stage.

[16:11] Zell Steele Morrow: As you should at one year old, some kids can't even walk.

[16:16] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: That's amazing. So you guys are all kind of natural performers and you know it shows when you guys are both on stage. Um and you know, like I'm just so proud to be your guys' friends.

[16:27] Zell Steele Morrow: Um my god.

[16:32] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So my god, this is so silly. We're gonna like a Valley girl. Me, uh you guys are coming f into the city and then like the main part that you mentioned was going to Starbucks before the audition. I'm obsessed.

[16:49] Zell Steele Morrow: That's true. I had to get too.

[16:52] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: You could have gone somewhere else. You had to go to Starbucks. Shameless.

[16:56] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, exactly.

[16:58] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my gosh. It's okay. I still I've still loved that the story. Uh kudos for you guys though. Like, you know, a lot of kids it's easy to get discouraged, especially like when you come to New York like your first time and then like don't book it and then like from getting cut, they kinda just stop. But you just you kinda kept going and continued to grind and uh find ways to come to the city. Um it's really cool.

[17:24] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, good for you guys.

[17:25] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And it definitely I'd say it worked out, right?

[17:28] Zell Steele Morrow: Actually, yeah, I think so.

[17:30] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Okay. As long as we're both on the same page. That was like seven years ago, right? So now you guys have been in the city for like roughly seven years, or like is it more?

[17:42] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah.

[17:43] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: We went, we actually went back like a tiny like for uh almost a year after Matilda. And then and then he got together. And then I went, no, let's go back. And then we just oh my god.

[17:57] Eli Tokash: So you guys actually left. Like you guys were in New York and then you left and went home to California. Wow. I didn't realize that.

[18:03] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, that was like the hardest part because not only was I like leaving my show, but I was leaving like New York. I was leaving the state for a period of time that I thought wasn't definite. But then obviously he was like, just kidding. So then we came back and we haven't left.

[18:18] Zell Steele Morrow: So then it was Zell's fault that it's continued.

[18:21] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Um now we can blame him.

[18:26] Eli Tokash: Oh okay. Um, so wait. When you were in Matilda, were you like homeschooled, or did you go to the school that you ended up like that you were at when Zell was doing Fun Home?

[18:37] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: No, I was tutored. We had tutors at rehearsals every day. We had to have like three hours of tutoring, and I got all of like my books and everything shipped from California at the time, and I was just tutored every day at rehearsal, and then I graduated seventh grade uh in the basement of the Schubert. I remember.

[18:57] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god.

[18:58] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah. And then when it was time for eighth grade, I did end up going to a school here for a short period of time, but then I actually because we moved back, I ended up skipping eighth grade and then just going straight to high school in California. And then when we came back, I went to high school.

[19:14] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god, look at you. Skipping all of these grades.

[19:18] Eli Tokash: So as we mentioned already, um, we kind of alluded to it. But Madeline, you kind of brought everyone here because you got to make your Broadway debut in Matilda on Broadway, which is like so exciting, which like was the Annie for like every non-redhead girl.

[19:36] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So that is the best analogy I've ever heard.

[19:40] Eli Tokash: Thank you. I mean, like it it was like even for like the guys, like if you weren't a redhead, like Matilda was it, you know, like it was it's just that's just how it was. And everyone wanted to be in Matilda when it came, and that was like the hype. Um, so you got to make your Broadway debut in it. So kudos to you. Although Broadway is like completely different from like any other theater experience ever. Do you feel like your experience in California doing theater and even dance and everything like that? Like, do you think that helped prepare you for what was to come on Broadway?

[20:17] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh, 100%. Yeah, and dance specifically, like it's not really just about like learning choreography. Dance is about discipline, it's about creativity, and Zell mentioned this earlier too. We were talking, like stamina is so important when you're doing a show.

[20:33] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah.

[20:33] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: When yeah, I know you know. When you're doing a show and then you have two show days, you have eight show weeks, like you need to keep your endurance up. Um, it's a lot of work, and so that's what I think dance uh teaches you most. But yeah, I I think that doing all of those different types of shows and playing different roles, like some of them in the ensembles, some of them I was, you know, had a larger part. It just teaches you how to like be in a cast and like work with other people, and also just about like being professional and totally you know, just like the basic things like what measures are in cheat music and like all of those little things that you kind of are expected to know when you get to this level, it's just like really important for sure, and then of course, like with dance too, like a lot of it kind of like you alluded to earlier. People just think you have to like go out and dance, but also like dance is a huge part of storytelling, and it's just another form of that.

[21:30] Zell Steele Morrow: So, like doing that, it can almost like it's really the basics of acting and everything, like all just moving in general. Like, if you know how to dance, you can pretty much be successful at it.

[21:43] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So it's cool, and I know both of you are actually like big dancers and kind of like were dancers first, I guess, before anything else, right?

[21:51] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[21:53] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I would say so.

[21:54] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, I mean, we grew up in a studio, so it's like what's most comfortable to us.

[21:58] Eli Tokash: Right. So, like, when do you think like the whole singing component came to play?

[22:03] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Didn't well, I did my first show and I sang in it, but I hadn't taken voice lessons at three, uh huh, but it was after that show. I think I was five or six when I like took my first voice lesson, and I've had voice lessons like every Saturday since I was six years old, even here.

[22:20] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god, that's incredible.

[22:21] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Uh that's amazing. And Zell, same with you, like were you kind of like, "Oh, she's doing voice lessons, so I kind of want to do voice lessons"?

[22:28] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, I was just a copycat. She was kind of like the blueprint who I wanted to be.

[22:34] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Um so you would crash my voice lessons.

[22:38] Zell Steele Morrow: I would. I would I would go in and I would sing my heart out. I'd be like, it's my time to shine.

[22:46] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: You got you.

[22:47] Zell Steele Morrow: As you should.

[22:48] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I'll take the last 15.

[22:52] Zell Steele Morrow: I love it.

[22:52] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I'm just that makes that's so like Zell, honestly. Like, I don't know what else to say.

[22:58] Zell Steele Morrow: Like it's so good.

[22:59] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So talking about like how important stamina is and just like vocal like voice lessons and everything like that. Madeline, tell me about the day in the life of a Matilda performer, like being a Matilda, because it's grueling.

[23:15] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: It was so much. Yeah. Rehearsals in terms of rehearsals. Um we would have nine hour days, I would say, and three of those hours would have to two or three would have to be allotted with tutoring. I know. So we did tutoring for a little bit, but we had like a different schedule every day. Sometimes it was a big dance day, and we would literally dance for six hours straight. Sometimes we had um vocal rehearsal, we'd learn, you know, the music to the show, and then we put choreography to it. Then once we got to the theater and we we opened, typically what shows do is like they open their show and then you know, you just show up at half hour and you do your show. But they really were very particular in keeping the show really updated, really fresh, super precise, because everything like it meant something, it was super important.

And so I know the kids we were called almost three hours before the show, every single day. I know we would have to do uh we'd do a really intense physical warm-up and a really intense vocal warm-up, and then we'd do like a meditation type thing, which was really beneficial. And then we would do these things called safety checks, which were we would just like check all of the hazards in the show, and there was like a lot of them. It was like a packet they gave us. So we would like test out the swings and we would try the vault, and we would do all these things to just make sure that everything was secure and nobody was getting hurt, and then we would have to like get ready for the show and get dressed and do our hair and mics and everything.

So it was a really really intense process, but everything was like there for a reason, and I think that's why the show ended up being so successful is because we like really took everything into careful consideration.

[25:00] Eli Tokash: For sure. Yeah, well, it's crazy. I mean, just the thought of like going to a show three hours before, like, I understand like the whole like you know, there's a lot of safety precautions and everything like that, and it's definitely useful, but like it's like so rare, and so like that it's just like mind blowing for like someone who is also like in shows and stuff, and like I don't know, I I've never like heard that before. Like, and when I heard that Matilda people do that, I was like, wow, good for them.

[25:26] Zell Steele Morrow: And it was like just for us, like, even the like the adults would show up like half hour before, and we'd have been there for two hours, just like getting notes and warming up.

[25:35] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: The kids are the real star of the show, so the adults can like come later.

[25:41] Zell Steele Morrow: That is true.

[25:42] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god.

[25:43] Eli Tokash: So Zell, let's talk about you and let's talk about your Broadway debut. You opened Fun Home on Broadway. Madilyn was kind of a model for you, and so like now you're kind of following in her footsteps. How cool was it to like open a brand new show on Broadway?

[26:00] Zell Steele Morrow: It was honestly so crazy. It was like such a dream come true because I have been looking forward to do something like that ever since I saw her in Matilda. So when I actually like got it, it was just like a huge turning point in my life for me. It was just so crazy, and I like really couldn't believe it. I remember when they told me I ran around the entire dance studio because we were at my mom's dance studio. I ran around and I ran out the door, and I was like, I'm gonna be on Broadway. And it was just it was just such a memorable moment for me. And so when opening night happened, it just felt so like surreal and I didn't even believe it. But here's I was like so scared at first but as soon as I walked onto the stage and I saw all those people there, I just felt so calm and like because that's where I've always wanted to be. And so when I finally got there I felt like so relieved and I was just so happy.

[26:56] Eli Tokash: For sure. And I wanna it's interesting that you say that you know like with being scared and everything and like you know nerves play a big factor in your performance. So do you both have been in shows with multiple kids really do you think that having other kids there your age going through the same stuff that you're going through do you think that kind of helped with like nerves helped with your enjoyment of being on Broadway and like just like do you how did that kind of relate to your experience?

[27:28] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, that's a really great point and I don't think that's brought up enough when like you know we talk about these things because I think it played a huge role because and I I know he just said it and I feel the same way too you feel like you have so much support right when you're on stage like you never really feel alone which is the goal. Um but also when you're rehearsing and just putting the show together and you're backstage it just doesn't even feel like work. It just feels like a fun day hanging out with your friends. Um so just that aspect behind the scenes can really put you at ease. So you're not even like worried about you know what's gonna happen out there.

[28:10] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh yeah for sure. I mean because I was in Pippin, so like I was the only kid really and in the performance and I remember like literally like there wasn't a performance where I wasn't nervous and I remember in Finding Neverland like that first show I wasn't even nervous because you know you just have other people around you and honestly like it's not even like you you do feel supported but at the same time it's like you're not even thinking that you're about to do a performance. You're just thinking like oh I'm here with my friends and like we're gonna have fun and we're just playing games and like doing fun things. So it's interesting how like just having those people there kind of like help your mind at in stay at ease you know yeah and especially like for you and Pippin like wow you are surrounded by some like crazy people.

[28:56] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah like they were just they could do so much.

[28:59] Zell Steele Morrow: Right. That's just like intimidating myself. That's crazy.

[29:03] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Well and that was the other thing too like you know like you feed off of your castmates and the audience and whatever it may be. But like with them, you know like they're not like Broadway performers and they were like acrobats. So like not only were they like they were also nervous that like oh my God what if a trick goes wrong and like what if someone's gonna get hurt like you know like you kinda that energy is kind of put out there and it just adds to your like level of nervousness and you're like oh my god like what is happening so it it's really interesting just like the yeah like the energy of the room just plays such a huge role on like any performance really and like I feel like your preparation for performance will uh dictate how the rest of your pro your whole performance goes. So it's interesting how it all works.

[29:50] Eli Tokash: It's craziness. So Zell, you uh well both of you really. I mean, your Broadway debuts were original Broadway casts. Um so you guys kinda set somewhat of a blueprint. There was a little one before you with like, you know, off Broadway Fun Home and I think London Matilda, like all of these things. So yeah. But like at the same time, you know, you had to like create it for yourself. So like what was that process like and how did it how was it making um something that was already kind that had a foundation already? How did you make that your own?

[30:27] Zell Steele Morrow: I think because here's the thing Fun Home has a lot of really mature material and it's a very like mature topic about the entire show. But I was so surprised to like know a lot more than I thought I did. And then I like felt really mature with it, if that makes sense. And it obviously helped because everyone in the cast didn't treat us like we were kids. They treated us like equals that's huge. And so it that just really helped with the entire thing.

[30:56] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah I was also playing a real person.

[30:57] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah.

[30:58] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Which in my mind I think is easier because then I have because like you said how like we were like kind of a blueprint in a way that person that I was playing they were sort of like a blueprint for me.

[31:11] Zell Steele Morrow: Right.

[31:11] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And so I just feel like that was like that really helped me learn my character and learn how I wanted to play that character.

[31:18] Zell Steele Morrow: For sure.

[31:19] Eli Tokash: Yeah yeah yeah and what about you Madilyn?

[31:21] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Well the the entire creative team from London they all came over. Everybody was so involved and hands on yeah they came over and they spent the entire rehearsal process with us and some of previews. So we had a lot of Brits screaming in our faces about what they wanted us to do. No, it was great. But yeah, so so we had all of that help, so it didn't really feel like we I don't think I ever felt lost or confused about like where the scene was going, where my character was going or what was supposed to happen in terms of storytelling. Like they were super helpful in that.

[32:00] Eli Tokash: So yeah, well, that's awesome. I mean, both of you also, like, you know, in your cast and everything like that, you guys have had some really experienced cast members to share the stage with. I mean, Michael Cerberus, Chris Sieber, like all these people, um, who Taylor Trench and like all these people. Um, you know, they're they're huge for like someone who who's uh for a show of any sort that is trying to create and figure out what this show and the story that we're trying to uh tell, uh what it kind of is. So it's awesome to have those type of people a part of your company to kind of like mold everything together.

[32:38] Eli Tokash: So Zell, now we have to talk about some Harry Potter stuff because Harry Potter has like oh my god, I know you're so excited. Harry Potter has such a passionate and loyal fan base. Like, first of all, first of all, were you a fan of the books before you before you found out that you were gonna do it?

[32:59] Zell Steele Morrow: Definitely. I I loved the book so much. I remember, I remember specifically when I first started reading the books. I got the entire series from Barnes and Noble. It was beautiful. Amazing. I I was reading Harry Potter. And I remember my mom guiding me down the street, like when I was crossing the street in front of cars, because my face was glued, like my eyes were just glued to the pages. Like I didn't want to look up. I was just reading the entire thing. I fell in love with the books as soon as I started reading them. It was amazing.

[33:30] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god, it was like destined, you know, like it was totally meant to be. I love that.

[33:36] Eli Tokash: Um so you know, playing, like I said, like Harry Potter is massive, like everyone knows what Harry Potter is. Um so like playing such a famous character, like the younger version of Harry Potter. Did that ever like phase you before a performance? Like, did you kind of like think it was a pretty big deal, or did you kind of treat it as though like, oh, you know, like it it's just me, I gotta go out and do my thing. I don't know, like how did you handle all of that?

[34:01] Zell Steele Morrow: Harry Potter is such a famous character in so many different aspects, like for people who are adults, for children, for everyone. And so to play that role and to live up to that character, it was definitely a challenge in a way, but since I already knew that character so much from like reading the books, like growing up, right? It felt like it was m it's not nostalgic. You know what I mean though? It's like do something, like, and then years after you go back to it, you're like, oh, like, and then you like remember and look back on it and you get that feeling.

[34:36] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So that is nostalgia, okay.

[34:38] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, yeah, you're good.

[34:41] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Thank you for defining the song.

[34:42] Zell Steele Morrow: Okay, I decided so it was just so yeah, I just it was nostalgic.

[34:50] Eli Tokash: That's amazing. That's a great way to put it. Um, did you like go back and read the books again when you got like cast, or did you kind of just like, oh, I know what this is?

[35:02] Zell Steele Morrow: I definitely reread the books like so many times. Uh I remember back in the day, like when like trying to learn the part, I did reread the books. I was like, ooh. And I like tried to look for new things that I didn't like know the last time. Like, because I was so focused on the storyline and didn't really pay attention to like the really really minor details that I may have missed the first time.

[35:22] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Right.

[35:23] Zell Steele Morrow: So when I reread it again, I was like, oh, I missed that.

[35:26] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And yeah, I remember specifically that in that in the book, in the book, in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, Professor McGonigal said in the book, she said as the password for Dumbledore's office, she said uh lemon drop, uh-huh, but in the movie, she says lemon squeeze.

[35:47] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god.

[35:48] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah.

[35:48] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Good catch.

[35:49] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah. I don't know why I remembered that. It's like the one thing, the one minor detail that I remembered so much.

[35:57] Eli Tokash: So for your character preparation, like, did you find it was easier to like prep from reading the books, or did you find it was easier to like watch the movies and stuff like that?

[36:07] Zell Steele Morrow: I feel like both definitely really helped me out. I feel like it was there wasn't really one that helped me out more than the other because both of them had a certain aspect because Dana Radcliffe is such a king, like an amazing person. And like I I look up to him. He's such an amazing actor and everything. So I wanted to learn that Harry Potter, but I also wanted to learn the original book Harry Potter. Cause some people read the books and not the movies, and some people do vice versa. So I wanted to incorporate both in that.

[36:38] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that's awesome. That's a really good way to look at it, and a really good way to put it. I have to ask, what house are you guys?

[36:45] Zell Steele Morrow: I'm a Hufflepuff.

[36:46] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I'm a Raven Claw.

[36:47] Zell Steele Morrow: What are you?

[36:48] Eli Tokash: I'm a Hufflepuff.

[36:50] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh no!

[36:51] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh no!

[36:53] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Let's go.

[36:54] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god.

[36:55] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I just I'm sorry to scream.

[36:57] Zell Steele Morrow: I'm sorry.

[36:58] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: But in your face.

[37:00] Zell Steele Morrow: I'm sorry.

[37:01] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: That was too good.

[37:02] Eli Tokash: You guys really like got really excited because Madilyn, we are similar, we are not that similar.

[37:11] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Don't worry.

[37:12] Zell Steele Morrow: No, hopeful puffs all the way.

[37:14] Eli Tokash: Well you know what? That makes so much sense.

[37:18] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Thank you.

[37:19] Zell Steele Morrow: Thank you.

[37:19] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god. I knew we would get a kick out of that that question. So, Zell, I mean, I don't mean to like take away from this amazing moment that we're currently having, but you were scheduled to have your final bow on the Sunday of the week that Broadway shut down. Therefore, you really didn't have your real final bow. So, like, what was your reaction when you heard that you you had taken your final bow without even like knowing that you took your final bow?

[37:48] Zell Steele Morrow: So, this is actually a really funny story. Well, it's not funny because obviously this is a very sad moment. But it's kind of interesting how this happened. Like, we knew that the virus was spreading and it was getting like worse and worse by the day. And on my second to last show, which was Wednesday, and then everything shut down on Thursday.

[38:10] Zell Steele Morrow: Um, so my mom was like, This actually might be your last show. Things are getting worse, and so she bought tickets for her and my sister, Madeline. Why did I say my sister? You're right here. So she bought tickets for um for the two of them, and we treated it as if it were my final show. We did. Because um, so I just tried to soak it all in and just really live in that moment. So and then when I found it out the next day, like on Thursday, I was like, yeah, I was like already sort of prepared for that to happen. So if I if I wasn't prepared, I would have sobbed down on the on the concrete on the street on my way home from school. But since I like knew it was definitely I took it a lot better.

[38:58] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's still there were still some like tough emotions there, but that's really great that you like kind of you know treated it as your final performance, you know, your family was able to be there. Uh it it always makes it better when like you know, you kind of prepare and like you're able to share those moments with your loved ones and everything like that. That's so cool. Mom instincts are like always right on. I don't know, like they have like a special thing that like moms always know. I don't know what it is.

[39:27] Zell Steele Morrow: She knew I know I got the tickets, I got them.

[39:31] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Good for her. I mean, those are hard tickets to get, like, I can't believe she was just able to like get the tickets.

[39:37] Zell Steele Morrow: I did both, yeah.

[39:38] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: That's awesome. But like, hey, it worked out, that's amazing. Now you were scheduled to take your final vow because you were leaving Harry Potter because you were gonna go be a star in another show, and you were gonna be in Assassins, which obviously got postponed due to COVID if you didn't catch on to that already. But how did you deal with like all of these things that were coming out? I mean, you were supposed to uh record for the Sack Lunch Bunch again, the the final bow didn't happen, this was kind of like taken away from you. Like, how did you deal with all of this kind of being shut down?

[40:12] Zell Steele Morrow: Well, obviously, it was such like a drastic change from like being on Broadway one day to literally being stuck in bed next. Like not being able to leave the apartment. So it was obviously so crazy, but I found ways to stay creative and stay like positive about the entire situation. Like I got together with some of the Fun Home kids, like Sydney, Oscar, Gabby. And we like did stuff for Rob Boy Cares. And we would like sing songs and raise money. And so we did that as a way to sort of like keep working and keep the theater business thing.

[40:53] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Right. You know, keep those creative juices flowing, keep the magic theater, all of that stuff.

[40:59] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Well, that's really great. I mean, it seems like it's been that has been really like one thing like that's really positive about the whole thing in the theater world is just how everyone has kind of come together and like you know, just continue to create art to like keep that alive. It's been really cool to see. And Madeline, you're you're making songs.

[41:19] Zell Steele Morrow: I know, I know.

[41:20] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: This was actually a thought. Like this was gonna be a thing before COVID happened, and then it kind of just like you know, like took a curve.

[41:32] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god, so it was so permanent.

[41:34] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, it was like it really timed out really well, but like I kinda like everything had to be adjusted because everything was like in place, and then it like totally like took a turn because we were like, oh, now we have to do it as because of COVID, like you know, like it's crazy. Um, but it's worked out and like hopefully it'll continue. So we'll see. Broadway's hopefully coming back super soon.

[41:55] Eli Tokash: So Zell, you also like obviously you both have like just love theater, you know. Like, like we all do, otherwise we wouldn't be on this podcast right now. Um but Zell, you have like an undying love for SpongeBob the musical. Like you literally loved it, and you were going to be in Assassins with Ethan Slater, like with SpongeBob. Come on. Like, how excited were you to ask him how many times he saw SpongeBob?

[42:26] Zell Steele Morrow: Okay, okay. How many times? No, you ask him the question.

[42:32] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Fine, okay. Alright, I'll take your job. Take it over. Um, how many times do you see SpongeBob Zel?

[42:40] Zell Steele Morrow: Um, if you take the number three and multiply that by another three, that makes nine. Um, I know I'm a math genius. So I stopped with SpongeBob the musical nine times.

[42:54] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god. Um that's amaz and this was is this like was that during Harry Potter? Or like no?

[43:01] Zell Steele Morrow: Like, yes.

[43:02] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, it was. Really?

[43:04] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god, that's crazy.

[43:07] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, it was. And you still never missed a show.

[43:10] Zell Steele Morrow: I never missed a show.

[43:11] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah. And here's the thing. We had Mondays and Tuesdays off for Harry Potter. So we got to see like all the shows on Tuesdays. It was like the day that we could like see shows because it was a Tuesday.

[43:28] Zell Steele Morrow: Um because Broadway's always off on Monday.

[43:31] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And yeah.

[43:33] Eli Tokash: It is?

[43:33] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I didn't know that.

[43:34] Zell Steele Morrow: No, I'm saying it blew my heart.

[43:38] Eli Tokash: No. I know, I know. I'm just I'm just poking fun with you, Zell. But that's insane. I love that though. Like, that is like one of the biggest regrets that I have. Like, you cuz during Finding Neverland, Fun Home was going on, and so I never got to see Fun Home. Like, once.

[43:54] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god.

[43:55] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah. That's funny because I got to see Finding Neverland.

[43:58] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, we got to see them.

[43:59] Eli Tokash: So that's that's kind of because your show was like an hour long.

[44:05] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: It was an hour and a half to be honest.

[44:08] Zell Steele Morrow: So an hour and a half.

[44:09] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: My bad. I'm so sorry. But let's go back to SpongeBob.

[44:15] Zell Steele Morrow: We gotta change the topic.

[44:19] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Um, you both divert the conversation, I guess.

[44:24] Zell Steele Morrow: You know what? I will. So, anyways, before you rudely interrupted Madeline, how excited were you to work with SpongeBob himself?

[44:36] Zell Steele Morrow: I died.

[44:39] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, like what was that reaction?

[44:41] Zell Steele Morrow: Um, I found out he was in it. Okay, when I found out, because I auditioned for it, right? And when I found out that he was in it after I auditioned for it, I was like, oh my god, I better get this. And so when I actually got it, I like screamed. Oh my god. And it was just so it was such a crazy like experience for me. Because like I was gonna be able to do something after Harry Potter, because like I didn't have anything played after Harry Potter, and it was so weird. This is before COVID struck. Of course, so um, I did not know what was going to happen. Um, and so I was so excited to be able to work with someone who is amazing. He's literally like my idol. Yeah, he is such an amazing actor, just a person in general.

He's like an amazing musician, everything. Cause like when I went to the Broadway Flea Market, I saw him there, and James Snyder, who plays the adult version of Harry Potter, he was sitting at the panel right next to him. No, and he knew how much I loved Ethan Slater. So he got him, he got Ethan to get off of the panel and like come down and say hi to me. And he was just so nice, and I was just so happy.

[45:50] Eli Tokash: Oh, that's awesome. Like see him. It was just amazing. And I remember when he followed me on Instagram, I screamed and ran around the apartment for a good like.

[46:01] Zell Steele Morrow: He did. I have a video of it.

[46:02] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god. This this whole screaming and running around the apartment, like it seems like a whole trend you got going on.

[46:09] Zell Steele Morrow: It's nothing.

[46:13] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I love that.

[46:14] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god, that's so funny. But honestly, that's so cool. And we always used to like joke around with you, like when you went through that whole Harry Potter phase about how you should always like you should one day like play his son or like a mini me version of him because like you guys totally look alike.

[46:31] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: It could totally happen.

[46:32] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah. For like is that like a dream role that you have? Like if you had a dream role, like would it be to be with Ethan Slater or would it be with Madeline? That's the question.

[46:42] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh that is so funny.

[46:45] Zell Steele Morrow: I'm so funny and that's it. I'm just kidding, okay. No, okay, I'm gonna be nice. I'm gonna be nice. The obvious choice would be Ethan Slater. I'm just kidding. No, no, no. It's been okay, fine. It's okay. We all know the real answer. No, I would die to be in a show with you. I yeah, no, I would I would that's literally my dream. Is to it doesn't have to be a Broadway show, it could be the film. Like, literally, I just want to work with this kid.

[47:17] Eli Tokash: That's that's meaning. So have you guys ever worked with each other before, like on the same project?

[47:23] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Um, we did like community theater regional productions in California together, a few of them, but nothing like nothing here and nothing like Broadway or professional or anything so but the goal that's the goal that's the goal okay I'm we're gonna make it happen we're putting it out into the universe whoever's listening to this you know produce a show have Madeline and Zell oh my god that's amazing I always I've always wondered that I was like I bet they want to work with each other like that'd be so cool you guys have like the best relationship would you guys want to play like siblings or would you want to play like friends or like something else or what does it even matter?

[47:23] Zell Steele Morrow: I don't think it matters if we did something with her.

[47:23] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Okay fair enough we could hate each other for all this yeah we're in it yeah amazing great answer great answer you guys are gonna play like enemies.

[47:23] Eli Tokash: I love it! So, okay, oh, by the way, speaking of this adorable relationship that you guys have, Zell, I kind of dug up some dirt, and Zell told me that you guys have kind of like this cute nighttime routine that you guys like to do, and I love to hear about it.

[48:32] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yes, I need to hear about it.

[48:36] Zell Steele Morrow: Okay so Zel and I share a room which is like a rest of disaster that's the real reason you're gonna yeah basically she falls asleep like earlier than me every single night because she's old most nights okay that's not makes me sound old but you are I'm just kidding I'm just kidding basically I spend like a lot of the night talking to my friends and just like playing video games with them because amazing I'm boy. And basically, basically, whenever I go to bed, she's always whenever I go to bed, she's sorry, most of the time she's asleep. And so what I do is I always like kneel right next to her bed and I go, Madeline, Madeline, I'm going to bed now. And I like whisper to her. And here's the thing most of the time when she wakes up, she goes, like she's like having flashbacks from war or something. I don't know what my god.

[49:37] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Because you startled me.

[49:39] Zell Steele Morrow: I don't startle you. I I'm sleeping. I was like, I go, Madeline, I wasn't even touching you.

[49:45] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I really mean like she's like, No, but he gets like in my face, and we we have to say goodnight to each other. That's our deal. And he and he like requires me to remember the moment he says goodnight to him, even if I'm asleep. He'll be like, Are you gonna remember this? You better remember this.

[50:01] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god, I can remember I'm asleep.

[50:03] Zell Steele Morrow: Right. I remember last night. My mom was still up and I said, Mom, mom, she said she'll remember.

[50:12] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god. Some days I say I will remember, and then I don't remember.

[50:19] Zell Steele Morrow: Okay, I always the one time, no joke. One time I woke up and he comes over to my bed and he's like, Look, I have a video to show you.

[50:49] Zell Steele Morrow: It was yeah, okay. That means nothing. It means nothing, but it's a great story. Okay, I have to like say it, not to give any ideas to like Madilyn, like put like earmuffs on or something.

[51:01] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Zell, you have to try like the old like shaving cream with like a feather and see like what happens.

[51:09] Zell Steele Morrow: I'm so sorry.

[51:11] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And I need the video. I expect proof. I expect a video.

[51:15] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, you're pushing this friendship a little far on the screen.

[51:21] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Listen, this is what happens. You guys agreed to this. You know, you know how this is.

[51:26] Zell Steele Morrow: Hey, we didn't sign anything.

[51:31] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Not yet.

[51:32] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god.

[51:36] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Okay, but we'll get back on track. We'll get back on track.

[51:39] Zell Steele Morrow: Okay.

[51:39] Eli Tokash: You guys did a video called I Have a Voice, and a bunch of Broadway kids kind of came together, and it kind of, you know, it was to raise awareness and kind of shine a light on the victims of bullying. So that was back in 2016. So like I know like you guys haven't like worked before like with each other before on that. So what was that like?

[52:04] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, oh my god, that's what I'm here for. Um see now you want to stay. Um so what was that kind of like what did that mean to you guys? Like how important I mean Zell, I I don't I don't mean to like share your business, but like I know you have had some experience and like all of that. Um so like what did that mean to you to do that and kind of stand up for those who uh uh go through that?

[52:29] Zell Steele Morrow: I also I don't mind if you share it. I thought about it now. I know you're pretty vocal about it on the Instagram.

[52:34] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh yeah, just just look on my Instagram. I was thrown in a trash can. It was very fun. At school, and this is the same school that Madilyn and I uh went to, and so like we're not happy about this right now.

[52:39] Zell Steele Morrow: Not happy.

[52:49] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Uh-huh. By three teenage boys, all older and stronger and taller than me, might I add. Great.

[52:56] Zell Steele Morrow: But yeah, I feel like it's so important to spread awareness about bullying because people have to go through this on a daily basis, whether it be in person or just side rolling, which is just as worse. It's terrible. Like it can lead to so many horrible things. So for me to make that video and for me to spread awareness about that, I just felt so happy to be trying to do my part and to try to spread awareness about this really serious issue that a lot of people do have to go through.

[53:24] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Right.

[53:25] Zell Steele Morrow: I just felt like it's really necessary to get the word out there. Especially in like, I don't know why, but like especially in the performing arts industry, like there's a lot of like bullying, and not like towards each other, but like outsiders who like watch performing arts and like know that you do that, and like I don't know why, but like people just try to put you down because you're a performer, and I don't under I've never understood that.

[53:50] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, it's like a jealousy, almost like competitive nature that people have like that to each other.

[53:56] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, it's like super unfortunate. It's also a bit of fragile masculinity for like the men.

[54:01] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, yeah.

[54:02] Zell Steele Morrow: So yeah. Um because it is a lot of like, you know, your quote unquote jocks that uh end up doing the majority of this.

[54:13] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yes, I know.

[54:14] Zell Steele Morrow: I'm getting a little a little um too too into it here, but uh yes, I I'm saying I understand.

[54:21] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: We're getting too much.

[54:22] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, I I this is supposed to be light, but it's not working.

[54:27] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, so like it's so important. Like my public policy right now, you guys know what that is. You go to my school.

[54:32] Zell Steele Morrow: Um that's what my Oh my god, yeah now.

[54:36] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, oh my god, not happy about it.

[54:38] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god!

[54:39] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: What is it?

[54:40] Zell Steele Morrow: What is on?

[54:41] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: It's on like mental health in the performing arts, and it's like a lot to do with like you know, how the the statistics of bullying in when you're a performer and you're in the industry, and it's a lot about how you know, even when even like people you don't know, like the media who come to review your shows and you're like, Oh, they're not good, it's not gonna make it and stuff like that, like it's like that's not what our industry is about, and I've always have been so confused about why that's the case and why more people don't lift each other up.

[55:16] Zell Steele Morrow: And uh so that's what my policy is about without getting too much into it.

[55:20] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I don't know, when I saw this and I remembered that I mean this was a long time ago, but I remembered it because it always stuck out to me. Um and it meant a lot to me. And so I I had to bring it up, uh, because you know, everyone I feel like everyone has had a moment in time where they've been a victim of bullying. It may not have been like really bullying, but like you could have felt it, you know, like everyone has their own um perspectives on things.

[55:49] Zell Steele Morrow: So it's definitely something important, and just to see like a bunch of Broadway kids and like you guys, my friends and everything come together to raise awareness and kind of speak out about it. It was really cool to see, and I definitely wanted to ask you guys about it.

[56:02] Eli Tokash: Um, but yeah, so you guys have like constantly been working. Like ever since, like, you know, Matilda really, like, you may have had that one year break, but that's kind of it in the past like seven years. Um, one of the two of you have been working, and like even now, like it's COVID, so like Broadway's not running, but like Madilyn, you're working, and you're gonna do a short film. So, like, there's always something in the Morrow household.

[56:30] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Um, how how what has that been like to you know have siblings that kind of do the same thing? I mean, your poor mother is running everywhere with at least one of you. Uh like how do you just like deal with all of that?

[56:42] Zell Steele Morrow: She she's great.

[56:44] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, um, she we're I think we're such a good team.

[56:48] Zell Steele Morrow: We're organized.

[56:49] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, we are on top of it. We yeah, I think that when we moved back, I was turning 15, I was getting older, so I started taking myself to you know my own auditions, but um obviously he still needed to be taken. So I mean it was a little easier because I I was a little bit more independent because of our age difference, but no, we're a really great team.

[57:10] Zell Steele Morrow: Like, there were been many times where my mom was at work and I you know I had to pick him up from the theater or drop him off or feed him.

[57:18] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, it also helps that we're like right in the heart of literally everything.

[57:21] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, we're very lucky to live close.

[57:24] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah.

[57:25] Zell Steele Morrow: I so like we can just like walk to the theater and we'll be there on time.

[57:30] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: It's amazing.

[57:31] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, yeah, like leave five minutes before your call.

[57:34] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And like that's the best.

[57:37] Zell Steele Morrow: Unless you're Matilda, and then you get there three hours before.

[57:40] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Right.

[57:41] Eli Tokash: Um, but no, seriously, I totally get that because when I moved to the city, I moved to like 47th Street and like 9th Avenue, and it was like it was so easy. Like everything, yeah, it it's a dream.

[57:55] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So I totally get that, and like huge pro.

[57:58] Zell Steele Morrow: And now thankfully, like obviously, like maybe not yet, but like at least both of you now are kind of getting older, and you guys will be able to like do more things, you know, help each other out.

[58:09] Eli Tokash: Um, I know Madilyn, like you were also like playing the role of his mom a lot too. You know, you're a good big sister, and you take him to his call and everything like that.

[58:18] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And you guys worked at like the same place for for a lot of it. You guys both worked at Harry Potter, so that was probably helpful.

[58:25] Zell Steele Morrow: I know, yeah.

[58:27] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So funny.

[58:28] Zell Steele Morrow: That's so close.

[58:29] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: That's so close to what our dream is. We were so close.

[58:31] Zell Steele Morrow: If only I was like in the show.

[58:36] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, right.

[58:37] Zell Steele Morrow: I tried.

[58:38] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I would hang out with her backstage.

[58:40] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, we would hang out backstage though.

[58:42] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god, that's awesome.

[58:44] Zell Steele Morrow: It it was as if you were in the show.

[58:46] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, just like go to work he was like, hey.

[58:49] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god, that's he would bring me like he like brought me fruit one time.

[58:54] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god.

[58:55] Zell Steele Morrow: I I like forgot fruit somewhere, and then he got it for me.

[58:59] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: It was like I made a video with auto.

[59:01] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god.

[59:01] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Okay, first okay, that's a whole different thing.

[59:04] Eli Tokash: Yeah, so for those of you who like don't know, Madilyn was working in the Harry Potter like merch store that they have at their theater while Zell was in Harry Potter, so they were both like working in the same building.

[59:17] Zell Steele Morrow: So they have worked together.

[59:19] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I'm like reminding them, they don't even know it, but thank you for reminding us of the events of our lives that you've forgotten.

[59:27] Eli Tokash: I mean, like, I'm I'm happy like that's what I'm here for. I'm like a really good friend.

[59:30] Zell Steele Morrow: I think that's all that like that has to say.

[59:35] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Um words of my mouth.

[59:40] Zell Steele Morrow: Wow, okay.

[59:41] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: There's no need to throw shade.

[59:43] Zell Steele Morrow: There's no need.

[59:44] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: But we talked a lot about how we've gone to like the same school. We go to a performing arts school. Do you think like for those for those listening who are like aspiring actors, uh would you recommend them to go to performing art school or like like how has it benefited you guys?

[1:00:02] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, I think I would recommend it to anybody.

[1:00:05] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I think that um Huh?

[1:00:07] Zell Steele Morrow: It's a definitely like yeah, you get to do performing arts and academics, you know, in one curriculum, which is great, but I think it's more about like the energy of of a performing arts school, you know, it's just super creative and I think I mean unless you're being thrown in a trash can.

[1:00:25] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Um warm and everybody is like really scan was warm.

[1:00:31] Zell Steele Morrow: Oh my god.

[1:00:33] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Oh my god.

[1:00:34] Zell Steele Morrow: I that's like TMI.

[1:00:36] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: That is TMI.

[1:00:38] Zell Steele Morrow: I thought you said there was just paper in there.

[1:00:40] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: No, it was I was I was adding on to what we were saying.

[1:00:43] Zell Steele Morrow: Right, I know.

[1:00:44] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: I know it was a joke, I know.

[1:00:45] Zell Steele Morrow: That was really good.

[1:00:50] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: No, but like it makes sense because like you know, we're all kind of doing the same thing. It's as if like we talked about earlier, you know, like having that support there who um like when you're in a show with a bunch of kids, you know, like they're all kind of going through what you're going through and you're all have the same like interests for the most part and like all of that.

[1:01:09] Zell Steele Morrow: So it's definitely like great to in having that supportive community sometimes.

[1:01:14] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Yeah, and then that and in like classes too, like academics, you know, we incorporate the performing arts into it so it's not just like sitting in a math class, sitting in a history class, right?

[1:01:23] Zell Steele Morrow: You know, and staring at a board for two hours.

[1:01:25] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: You know, we like we sing, we like you know, create skits and we we kind of take it up a notch in a sense, so that you know it's just a lot more fun.

[1:01:35] Zell Steele Morrow: Being surrounded by people who have the same interests as you, especially doing theater, because like like you said before, people get bullied for liking theater, and I had to go through that when I went to an elementary school.

[1:01:45] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: Like I remember I literally being pushed around the courtyard while they screamed at me because theater it was ridiculous.

[1:01:52] Zell Steele Morrow: And so to go to a place where people where I didn't have to be afraid for like what I liked to do, it just was a relief for me.

[1:02:02] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: And I just felt so lucky to be able to have that experience.

[1:02:05] Zell Steele Morrow: And I definitely recommend going to performing arts school if you're ever considering it, because it's just yeah, for sure.

[1:02:12] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So much more welcoming than a regular school. At least in my life.

[1:02:16] Zell Steele Morrow: Yeah, and and you d like not only do you will you get that support and you'll like meet new people that you necessarily wouldn't have, um, it's also great they teach you a lot about your craft that you you know, like your voice, your acting, your dancing, everything, they'll improve everything.

[1:02:34] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: It also is like it does teach you like when you go to a performing art school, you know, they treat it as if it is a professional environment and they do treat it as if like you know, this is this is what we want to do.

[1:02:48] Zell Steele Morrow: So they try to prepare us for like the future, like that's what school's for.

[1:02:52] Madilyn Jaz Morrow: So th it there's a lot of benefits that go into going to a performing art school. So if you are considering it, like Zell said, uh definitely consider that.

[1:03:00] Eli Tokash: Well, with that being said, like thank you guys so much for coming on. This was a blast. Um, I hope you guys had fun. But yeah, this has been great. You guys I love hearing your story, and I love hearing what you guys all had to say. For those of you listening, if you guys are like a producer or whatever, you know, hire me, hire Madilyn, hire Zell, you know, do all the things, and we're gonna all be in one show together, and it's gonna happen one day.

[1:03:30] Eli Tokash: Thank you guys for doing this, and uh we'll do this soon.

[1:03:33] Zell Steele Morrow: We'll do it again.

[1:03:34] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone.

[1:03:38] Eli Tokash: Take about Madilyn Jaz and Zell Steele Morrow. Oh my goodness. I was so excited to be able to talk to them. They are so fun to talk to. I'm glad to bring on some kids again. Not that they're kids, we're all kind of kids, and uh, but young adult performers, and just to talk to them about their experience uh was really cool. Um I think we all know what Zell's favorite part of that interview was. It was probably either uh Ethan Slater or talking about Harry Potter. Regardless, it was a blast, and I just love what they had to say. I mean, they talked a lot about um the sibling on Broadway dynamic and just like what they had to do to take each other, like figure out how to manage call times and auditions and everything, and you know, like as two kids needing to be in a bunch of different places at once.

Like it was probably definitely very tricky. So just hearing how that all worked and how they've had to work together as a team as a family, and it's just really cool to hear about and um see how that all worked, and I love what they had to say about bullying uh in the performing arts industry and everything like that. I think it meant a lot to me to talk about that, and I'm hopefully uh you all learned a lot about that and can continue to have conversations like that. Talking to Zell was actually also really cool to me. I mean, it's not cool, but like it's unfortunate what had to happen, but it was just interesting to hear from someone that was working a lot and had a lot of uh projects kind of in the works before COVID had hit, and the fact that he was on Broadway when it was shut down and all of these things, like uh it was really cool for me to talk to him about that and kind of hear his experience and how he dealt with that.

So it was a really great episode and I enjoyed it so much. And a fun fact about how they kind of like lived in New York, they moved here, and the three of them, Zell, Madilyn, and their mother, they all lived in this studio apartment for like the longest time, and they just recently moved into a one-bedroom. So Madilyn and Zell, you know, they have their room, and then the mom sleeps in the living room and everything like that, and it reminded me of my experience. So after analyzing Madilyn and Zell's experience in the entertainment industry, I'll talk about my experience in the entertainment industry. So let's turn it over to the triple E segment, Eli's entertainment experience. I'll never forget it.

When I moved to New York, there's a lot of sacrifices that need to be made. Both of our families, in a way, we both had to move to from different states and leave some family behind and everything like that. And you know, coming from somewhere that you have a house in and everything like that, to a place like New York that's super expensive. You know, my dad had to quit his job and everything, and I'm sure their mom had to do the same, and then to come to here with super expensive rent and everything, it gets challenging. So when I first moved to New York, I was living in this like studio apartment that was literally a closet. The kitchen, the bathroom, and the living room and bedroom were all one room.

It was insane. It was on 47th Street, and it was honestly like a highlight of my experience for me because it made the whole thing just fun, like in a lot of ways. Like you can just, it's like a weird situation to be put in that you're living in this small like house with no privacy with your parent, especially like going through puberty and everything at the same time, like it's a lot, and you just have to like make the most of it because like they've given up so much for us, and you just have to look at it as a positive way, and just make the most of what's in front of you. So, my dad and I lived in this small, small apartment, and like I'm telling you, we lived on in 1A on 47th Street in between 9th and 10th, and we smelt everything that the street was smelling through our air conditioning and our closed windows that were never really closed.

Um, the air was always freezing, and the smells and everything, uh it was crazy, and the amount of like cockroaches that would like run across the floor, and the rats that we would hear in our walls, and like it was just it's crazy. It's crazy what people do to just continue their dreams, you know. So, just hearing about you know their lifestyle and how they lived and how they share a room and everything like that. Like it reminded me of um the time where I moved to New York, and slowly but surely we have now I've literally gone through every tier of an apartment. So like studio to one bedroom to two bedroom to three bedroom. Um so it's really interesting. And slowly but surely, seven years later, um, here we are in a three-bedroom apartment, and I get to share a room with my brother still.

I've never had my own room, and uh yeah, that's that's kind of where we're at, and it's it's just so fun. That's why you see these bunk beds for the Patreons who watch this video, or for anyone who follows along on Instagram and sees those clips. But it's always fun, and you know, you just make the most with what you're given. Your family sacrifices so much for you to not only like if you come from away, but also like if you live in New York, they still like they take you everywhere, they take you on any audition they you need to go to, you know, they get out of work early so you can make your call time, like you they do all of these crazy things for you just to live out your dreams and hopefully um have a career in the business.

So it's hard for you to like complain, you know, as the person that everyone is supporting you and just trying to make everything work. It's hard for you as a person who who's going through all of that, just uh complain and take it as a bad way. So I've tried to be super thankful and stayed super positive throughout my experiences in moving to New York in a tiny studio apartment, and I'm sure like that's relatable to like everyone who's like not from New York, uh and even if they want to be a performer or not, like I'm sure that's relatable that everyone starts out in these like tiny tiny apartments and you know they just try to make the most of it. Um it's really fun, and it's literally like my dad and I were like roommates, like college, like we were like dorm mates, like I don't know.

It was just it was fun, and uh it really helped our relationship. Um I'm closer to my dad than pretty much anyone really, and it's just it's been a blast, and uh I it was crazy at the time, but like at the same time, I would do anything to go back to that. It was just it was a blast. But anyway, that's enough about my rambling and my first apartment. But you know, moving to New York isn't really all that glamorous as people may think it is, so it's definitely something to think about, and uh just to have that prior knowledge, I think would definitely help a lot of people. So yeah, there it was. So let's talk about some news going on this week. As I mentioned earlier, Ellen Stardust Diner will be having a virtual benefit concert, so please go check that out on April 18th at 7 p.m. I'll remind you all next week, uh, because I will have another episode before that airs.

Um, but I definitely want to push that on onto everyone because if you can make that, it's a really important thing to um help out and donate to and support. So there's two re events that I'm really really excited about, and I hope that you will all will tune in to them this week, Monday, April 12th. Arts for Autism is going to be hosting a wonderful uh live stream, kinda cabaret virtual cabaret, as all of these fun events have been, and it's going to be featuring some of our favorite Broadway stars, and when I say favorite, I mean it because we're gonna have Tony Award winner, Kelly O'Hara, who was a guest on Take A Bow. Um, we're gonna have Jackie Burns, Adam Jacobs, Elizabeth Stanley, and so many more.

Uh, and what they're gonna be doing is they're gonna be performing and they're gonna be spreading awareness and inspire compassion and kindness, um, and understanding for those affected by autism. It's free. It's a free concert. So check it out. It's Monday, April 12th at 7:30. Um, it's free. So I mean, just check it out. Go to artsforautism.net, and uh you can they have a link for your tickets, and it's a free thing, so you do have to reserve a ticket, but it's free. So go check it out April 12th at 7:30. Support Autism and see your favorite Broadway celebrities. Another really cool event that is gonna be happening is this new event. Arts for Autism is a reoccurring event that usually happens like every year, once a year.

Uh, but this one has happened through COVID, and it's remember Broadway question mark 2.0, because it's their second installment. Um, but this is gonna be so fun. It's an interactive Zoom party uh that's gonna be like games and like Broadway trivia and like live performance from Broadway stars. So like these stars will be playing games with you. Um it's gonna be Eden Espinoza, Matt DeAngelis, I know, talking a lot about Matt DeAngelis today, which is Christine Dwyer's husband who was on our show. So he's awesome. He was in Waitress and Hair and all those fun things. Um, Mary Kate Morrissey, Jelani Remy, Demarius R. Copes, who was in Hamilton. This is going to be a $40 event that you will be able to play games and do some Broadway trivia and all the fun things with your favorite Broadway celebrities.

Um, but here's the thing it's also on April 12th at 7. Okay, so it's from 7 to 8:30. So maybe after this, you can go over to Arts for Autism. I don't know uh necessarily how long the Arts for Autism is gonna be. It just says at 7:30 it starts. Um, but we'll see. I would recommend going to Arts for Autism. It they have an incredible lineup. Uh you're gonna be supporting autism and you're gonna be learning a lot, and it's free. But if you do want to have an interactive experience uh and play some games and you're willing to pay $40, um, go for it. I'm not gonna hold you back. Um, I will probably be at Arts for Autism. Um, so yeah, I hope that everyone participates in these fun events that are happening this week.

And um, with that being said, I'll see you next week for another event that's gonna be happening, and then and that's the 47th episode of Take A Bow. You know how it is. Um, so that's gonna be Thursday, as you know. Um, and yeah, I can't wait to see you all then. And until then, I hope you all have a wonderful week, and thank you for your continued support in listening to these episodes. Bye everyone.

[1:15:14] Eli Tokash: For this episode's curtain call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow. This podcast would not be possible without the help from Dory Berenstein, Brittany Bigelow, Katie Rosen, Alan Seales, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network. Next in line to take the bow is Tessie Tokash, who edits the audio and all the visuals for this podcast. A special thanks to patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners at PCC, as well as all the other patrons for their continued support. If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to patreon.com slash TAB. And if you enjoyed this week's episode, don't forget to subscribe on the platform that you're currently listening to this on. Also, feel free to give us a follow on Instagram at Take A Bow Podcast. Take A Bow's logo is designed by Giselle Bustos, and the music is by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinon. Bye everyone. Hope to see you next week.