This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:01] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 68 of Take A Bow. I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and today we have a very exciting episode for me because I have one of my greatest friends on the podcast. Um, but also it's the first producer on our podcast. So I'm very excited, and you should be too, because she is not your ordinary producer, okay? Abby DePhillips is a concert producer, is known for her concerts. Um at so she's um actually very well known at 54 Below in all kinds of uh venues like that. 54 Below, of course, is the most famous concert venue in New York, um, where she's hosted people like Sierra Boggess, she's hosted Jeremy Jordan, she's produced shows uh by literally all of your favorite Broadway stars, and uh I I was very excited because this allows an opportunity to not only talk to a producer, but it also leaves room for uh another producer to come on and share completely different stories because it's just a different side of producing, and of course, uh just a different side of um just the entertainment industry that we have not really talked about a lot, and I see I have been seeing a trend a lot lately with the whole concerts and 54 Below shows going on.

So I figured this would be a perfect time to release this episode. I've kind of been sitting on it for a while, and now that I am coming from you live at college, uh I was like, you know what, we're gonna we're gonna release this episode, and I'm very excited about it, and she's fantastic, and you're gonna learn a lot. Um, the fun thing about this episode as well, um, not only do we talk about concert producing, but we also just talk about Broadway. And we also just talk about Broadway's return and what we love about it, and we also share like our first experiences on like back to Broadway. Um, so I I think it's just gonna be a great episode. It's good, it's completely different to what we're used to.

It's not as like um it's completely different from what we're used to. So I'm excited for you all to listen to it and just listen to friends catch up. So uh it's gonna be a good one. As always, I want to start off these uh segments that I kind of go into. Well, not as always, because it's only been a week, but uh now that we're getting Broadway back, I want to start out and say happy opening because the next time I'm gonna be talking to you all, these shows are gonna be open. So happy opening to Wicked, Hamilton, and The Lion King, as all three of those shows will be opening on Tuesday. So very exciting stuff. Happy opening to the all of the incredible casts, which are all very large. So congratulations to literally every single person in the cast and the creative and everyone involved in the shows.

Very exciting stuff, and those are like some of the most instrumental musicals on Broadway today. So that's when you know Broadway is back. Uh so I'm very excited. Happy opening. Hope it's gonna it's gonna be amazing. It just is. It's just it doesn't even like luck, it doesn't even need like hope. It's just gonna be amazing. And Broadway's coming back, y'all. Um, speaking of another instrumental show on Broadway that uh has kind of had a long stint on Broadway. Uh Come From Away is coming out on Apple TV tomorrow. So if you have Apple TV Plus, uh well, first of all, if you have an Apple TV, get Apple TV Plus and uh watch Come From Away. The reviews they got, so the reviews came out, and they actually ever they're getting rave reviews.

Everyone is saying that the cinematography is great. It didn't take away anything from the show or anything like that. They didn't commercialize it. I guess like not commercialize it, that's the wrong word, but they didn't like do go overboard with like making it a movie. You know, they just kind of did their thing on the stage and they captured it, and they're gonna be sharing it with Apple TV Plus and uh the rest of the world. So I'm very excited. Come From Away is literally one of my favorite musicals, and uh Come From Away on the Apple TV Plus will also include more of the original cast that uh you will see on Broadway when it reopens. Um so that that's uh that's a thought for you. Um it's obviously ch cheaper than a ticket to their show, and uh you're gonna be seeing more of the original cast.

Um, and yeah, it's just gonna be really cool. They film during COVID. I would love to get one of them on the show. Maybe that's what we'll do. Um, try to get someone. But uh with that being said, go check it out tomorrow. That's very exciting. Tomorrow it comes out. All of these wonderful shows on Broadway currently are coming out with movies, and I'm just really excited about it. But that's another conversation. So, what else do we have going on? Well, you know Broadway is reopened when you see headlines of Broadway smashing box office records. You know, we always said during the pandemic that we were gonna be coming back stronger and better, and we're living up to that expectation. Waitress literally smashed box office records at the Ethel Barrymore Theater, okay?

It literally surpassed, okay, it surpassed the uh previous leader, Betrayal, uh by 13 over $13,000. So, um, congratulations to Waitress and congratulations to all of us, because that's when you know, like that's when you know like Broadway is back, first of all, but also like how excited we are to have Broadway back in our lives and live theater back into our lives. As um, you know, there was always that second guessing of oh, like, are people gonna want to go out? It's still it's still going on, like, but this is just proof that it's it's evident, and it's just evident that we need it, and it's just evident that people want it, and uh everyone's on the same page, and I it just makes me so happy.

So, congratulations, Waitress. Of course, your your show is literally one of my favorites of all time. Also, another fun thing happening this week, okay, is Bloomingdale's is going to be opening on 59th Street, and they're hosting an opening night celebration, and uh everyone, it's today. Go to Bloomingdale's, drop what you're doing, no school, no college for you. Um, go go to Bloomingdale's on 59th Street, and uh you're we're gonna have a special event hosted by Michael Urie, who's going to be in Chicken and Biscuits, and uh the Broadway productions uh who are performing are gonna be Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, The Lion King, Aladdin, and Diana the Musical. So they're gonna be popping up at Bloomingdale's. Um, it doesn't really have a time.

I just assume that. Oh, just kidding. It does have a time. The curtain opens at 6 p.m. and the performances will take place throughout the evening. So uh yeah, head over. It's six it's six p.m. Um Bloomingdale's is very exciting. Uh that event is gonna be even better because there's gonna be Broadway and it's gonna be free to watch. Um so yeah, go to Bloomingdale's today at 6. Or like yesterday if you're not listening to this on Thursday, and if you are, I'm really sorry. No, I'm just kidding. I just appreciate that you're listening. Anyways, uh next topic the Trans March. Thank you to everyone who showed up on Monday. Um that that march was so incredible, and uh what it did was kind of amazing.

It got a lot of attention, and I think that's what it needed, and I think that it started a lot of conversations. So I'm very happy with the outcome of the trans march. There's still a lot of work to be done. Um, but thanks to everyone that showed up, and uh, I'm glad it was a successful march. And um, yeah, there's pictures and videos if you if you missed that uh online. So go check those out and go show your support. So um that's it for the news this week. Uh very very exciting stuff with three Broadway shows opening af uh it within the time that I'm gonna be talking to you all next, and it's actually really all in one day. So like amazing. Times Square. I I took a walk there two days ago on Tuesday.

Um, and I was like, it's coming back. Like you can feel it. Like it's it's just getting crowded again, and it's not like dead. So uh very exciting, if you ask me. New York is coming alive, y'all. Um anyways, let's turn it over to the drama dictionary. I'm rambling. Um let's turn it over to the drama dictionary, and today's drama dictionary award of the week is going to be Invited Dress Rehearsal. Okay, so some of you may know what this is, some of you may have actually attended one. Um, but if you have not and you don't know what it is, an invited dress rehearsal is the so I I I I I wanna give a little backstory first, actually. I'm doing this this um word because or I guess this phrase because everything is reopening, like I said.

So I'm seeing on Instagram a lot of um posts about invited dress rehearsals. So I figured if um anyone didn't know what an invited dress rehearsal is and you're seeing these on your uh on your Instagram feed of like celebrities that you follow, um, well, here's your answer. An invited dress is a it's interesting because it's a rehearsal, but you treat it as a show and it's your first time with a live audience. So any time that you're gonna be opening a show, whether it's a revival or not, so even like Waitress and and so like that basically saying Waitress is gonna do it and it's like was just on Broadway and it's reviving, but so is Six, and that's a new musical. So literally every musical does it.

Um it doesn't matter. Every play does it too. Um, it doesn't matter. If you're opening on Broadway, you're gonna have an invited dress, and it's just gonna see like for the writers one last time to like have a live audience in front of you before you open, before you even start previews or anything. Uh, and that invited dress is obviously uh invitation only, and so your friends do it, uh go to it, your parents go to it, or like your families go to it. Sorry, I'm a kid, so I just immediately refer to my parents. Um, but like whoever, like you usually get tickets as a cast member or a crew, um, and then you're allowed to invite friends and invite whoever you want to come watch the show uh before they put it up to paying consumers.

So, with that being said, that's what an inviting dress rehearsal is. And I just wanted to clarify all of that for you, just in case you were kind of confused on uh why you were seeing all of these posts about invited dress rehearsals because even I was like, what that's happening again, or like that's happening right now. Like, I don't know. It was just like I had multiple reactions to it. So I was like, Oh, I wonder if everyone knows what this is. Anyways, that's what that is, and without further ado, because otherwise I'm gonna talk the entire time. Let's turn it over to our guest, Abby DePhillips, curtain up.

[12:12] Eli Tokash: Okay, this week we are joined by one of my favorite people. Everyone here knows I always talk about how I wanna have a producer on the podcast, and now the wait is over. Like, we're doing it. Uh this producer is most well known for her wildly successful shows at 54 Below and she was Miss Teen USA, which I had no idea about. Um so everyone welcome to Take A Bow, Abby DePhillips.

[12:39] Abby DePhillips: Hi gosh. I'm so excited for this. This is long overdue. Hi.

[12:48] Eli Tokash: Yeah yeah me too. And everyone listening, like don't be surprised if somehow we start talking about hockey which is totally not Broadway but yeah it it may happen with that um yeah it happened.

[13:02] Abby DePhillips: Uh so the way I usually like to start these episodes and whatnot is kinda asking my friends what kind of got them into theater. So what was that experience for you?

[13:11] Abby DePhillips: Yeah so my mom was an actress so w when I was like itty bitty I was like coming to rehearsals and like after she stopped performing she started directing at a high school and my like earliest memory is like bopping around this like tap rehearsal of Into the Woods at a high school on Long Island when I was like itty bitty and I was like giving people notes like a little monster top part. Like I was walking around and I was like I don't like that the light is on the baker when the baker's wife is talking and my mom was like here's your milk like please relax. And I went up to like Rapunzel and I was like I like when you touch your hair on this part but not on this part. Like fully giving notes. Since then like my whole life I've just been in whatever rooms I can possibly get into where theaters like being made and I just love it so much. It's it's all I remember.

[14:08] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, so it's like in your blood, it's just like what you've grown up in, right?

[14:13] Abby DePhillips: Like it's just a part of you.

[14:15] Eli Tokash: Literally.

[14:16] Abby DePhillips: That's amazing. I love that.

[14:18] Eli Tokash: Okay, so now like when you were that young, like what kind of steered you into the direction of producing? Like, was that music the thought?

[14:30] Abby DePhillips: No, I always wanted to perform, but then like looking back, I think when you're a kid and you love theater, that's kind of like the segue. Like you're like, great, you love theater, so let's audition for this musical. It's not like you're not learning about all of the other parts of theater. So I just I think like my whole life I just assumed and I loved acting. I really didn't like singing, but I loved musicals. So when like teachers and stuff would be like, cool, like let's do like the TV route, I was like, I don't really want that. I want to be on Broadway, and they're like, but you don't like singing. And I just wanted to do musicals, like plays were fine, but it was just like it never really made sense.

And then I was helping out with the first Broadway Princess Party, and I had like an epiphany halfway through the show where I was like, oh my gosh, like people are like laughing at like lines I got to write and like costumes I got to suggest and things like that, where I was like, oh my gosh, like I like making the thing that's exciting to people rather than being the thing that's exciting to people. So I still didn't know that that was producing until probably about like a year after, and then I was like, oh, I wanna like put the things together for people. So it took a minute.

[15:47] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, I love that. I mean, it makes sense when you're given notes as a toddler. I mean, you're kind of developing.

[15:54] Abby DePhillips: Like, oh yeah, I was a control freak and wanted to be in charge of this. That's all it was.

[15:58] Eli Tokash: Right. Exactly.

[16:01] Abby DePhillips: Um, so like you said, your like famous, like I guess outbreak into the producing world was like helping out with the Broadway Princess Parties, and then of course the success of the Pronoun Showdown.

[16:15] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Um, so that's kind of like your thing, the Pronoun Showdown, right?

[16:21] Abby DePhillips: So it's me and Kimberly Jenna Simon, who's my co-producer.

[16:25] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[16:25] Abby DePhillips: Came up with it together, and then it just kind of took off, which was awesome.

[16:29] Eli Tokash: Yeah, like I mean, how do you think about that? I mean, it's something so genius, and they have like miscasts and stuff, but they've never done something like this.

[16:36] Abby DePhillips: Yeah, I mean, okay, this is like probably like the worst timing ever because we were just talking about it where we were like, this was a really good idea. Like, we just got caught in like the last like two days, so I'm like, actually, yeah, it was really kind of brilliant. It happened like on accident, but like looking back, and I think now that we're working on like an upcoming show, we're like getting to like actually break it down again, and I'm like, oh my gosh, this was like really clever. Like Kim was working on another show where they were talking about like she and another performer were talking about um songs that like change gender and like what the different meaning of the song becomes if it's like a guy singing a girl song, and not so much miscast, but like truly like full change of character perspective, and then I was gonna produce that show, and then the show kind of fell through, but then we kept talking about it and just like Dead Girl Walking from Heathers.

Like, as a woman, it is empowering. It is like she is like, this is how this is gonna go. And if a guy is like, hey, I just like climbed up your window, I'm taking off the lock, and here's how this night's gonna go, it's a much different song. It gets real short, and the police. So we were like, oh, that's kind of interesting, actually like songs that fully just take a turn and like the with the change of a pronoun, how much can be different there? So we were like, well, like, let's just do it. And then I mean, I remember the point of when we were like, what if we got to do like a second show? Like, what if we sold out well enough that we got to like do it again? And now we're on this is technically number ten. We're calling it nine point five.

[18:17] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[18:21] Abby DePhillips: But we're like, okay, this has been a minute. Like we've gotten to do this a lot now. So it's been really crazy.

[18:28] Eli Tokash: That's insane. Are the shows usually like the same, or do you come up with new sets either each time?

[18:36] Abby DePhillips: We it's almost always new songs. There's a few songs that we'll keep a song, but it'll change who's singing it. Like we've done um, like On My Own. We've done it where Marius is singing On Your Own, where he's like letting Eponine down slowly, and then there's like Cosette singing On Your Own, and it's like this is my boyfriend, please stop singing about him in the streets at night. So it's like there's definitely songs that have stake with us, and then there's songs that we've like done once, and we're like, that was great, and we don't touch it again, and then there's like songs that we'll do that we really loved, and then the audience really likes, and we're like, okay, we'll bring it back.

So it kind of depends. But this was exciting because there's songs that like a song that came out last fall, I think. It's a Taylor Swift song, and I was like, I need a Pronoun Showdown so that we can do this specific song, and since like last December, we've been waiting on doing it. So there's songs like in this next one that I'm like, no one's seen this. It's so exciting. But usually new.

[19:43] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I love that. And you always have like an incredible cast with you too. Like who's performing these songs?

[19:51] Abby DePhillips: We get stressed. The casts are sick.

[19:56] Eli Tokash: Literally. So I mean, do you have did you announce the casts for this installment yet or no?

[20:02] Abby DePhillips: We actually haven't. There was one show, I think it was like five or six, where not for God, but we just never announced it. Like we just it like got close enough too, and they were like, hey, you're almost sold out, and we were like, okay, then we'll just wait and see what happens. Like, we just won't tell anybody. Because it is like we always have a few surprises, but it is like really fun when the music starts and everyone's like, who is singing this? And then like Derek Lena's at the bar, and you're like, what? So we're kind of like waiting for we've also honestly we only have like five songs like locked down on this next one. We're just being like very particular about what is in this show because it's been so long, so we like want to do it like very slowly. But I have friends that are like, am I singing? And I'm like, I'll let you know.

[20:58] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, I love that. But yeah, we've gotten so lucky. I like look back at photos from shows and I'm like, we had like this group of people, that's insane.

[21:11] Abby DePhillips: Yeah, literally. So you and your co-producer, do you kind of like do the rewrites or is that kind of the music director?

[21:18] Abby DePhillips: We do all of it. Um we are like very particular about it. So we'll like literally go like word to word to word to word, and we're like, this one changed this. Should we keep this one? This so that this makes sense. Should we wait for this person to change it on this one? Like we we're we're a lot when it comes to the weird changes. Luckily we have an MD that's very patient with us, and it's just like, just let me know and I'll just do the harmonies. Like, just like you guys do. And he's great, like too, and the rehearsal he'll help us with changes, but Kim and I are definitely it like 4 a.m. we're like, should we go back through everything and make sure we like it? Or should we like wait for this show so that could be a duet? Like it's a whole thing.

[22:05] Eli Tokash: Oh my gosh, I can't imagine. What like what goes into like being a producer and like producing a show at like 54 Below or something? Like, how does that even work?

[22:17] Abby DePhillips: It's so awesome because 54 does give you like a lot of freedom in terms of like they're not you know, they're not like suggesting Instagram posts and things like that. So you really like have a lot of space to like how do I want this to look and what do I want this to be? And I mean setting up like the set list and the cast list, like I it's so important to us that it's not too many ballads in the same show, and it's not too many, like when the songs change, we're like how many of these are like funny, cocky, confident songs of like you're hopelessly devoted to me. Like that can't be the whole show with like the same vibe. So it's like we have a whole spreadsheet where it's like um potential performers, the specific song, like what the type is we're looking for for this casting, and then like the tone of the song.

Is it like sweet? Is it encouraging? Is it sad? Is it like does it end on a happy note or a sad note, an empowering note? Like we go through all the things, and then we pick um a color for each show where like the cast will like wear the color. Um, so then we're also like figuring out like how we want to promote it, where we can use the color, like on paper, you're like the set list, and then like when you're actually doing it, it's like, oh, there's like so many other things than like how you want to announce the cast and how you can announce the cast in a way that the cast also wants to announce themselves because it's a pretty graphic and things like that. Like there's it's a lot, but it's it's so fun. I'm so lucky that I get to do it.

[23:58] Eli Tokash: It's so Yeah, that's so fun. Do you have like so do you plan on announcing the cast, or are you kind of wanting to keep it a surprise?

[24:07] Abby DePhillips: I think so. I think so. I can well, I can tell you like a couple. But but it's you, so I'm like, if I'm gonna say it somewhere, I can say it to you, and we will probably announce at some point, but I like Christy Altamar's in this one.

[24:26] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[24:27] Abby DePhillips: And Samantha Pauly from Six is in this one.

[24:30] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[24:31] Abby DePhillips: And Katie Rose Clark.

[24:32] Eli Tokash: I was just gonna We have some fun ones.

[24:35] Abby DePhillips: What did you say?

[24:36] Eli Tokash: The who who was the last one?

[24:37] Abby DePhillips: Katie Rose Clark.

[24:39] Eli Tokash: Oh, okay. This one's that's fun. I was just gonna say, like, now with like everything with like Six and everything, I feel like there could be like some really cool, like like the six wives or whatnot, if you like change I don't know. It was it's like fun. We've talked about having it. So we did a few concerts ago. We had Joe Kenosian, who's like an incredible composer. He came and performed Cellblock Tango, but he was all of the deceased husbands. And so we are also like, is there like a six opportunity with him, like with Jazz Henry? Like, maybe. But we're like, is there something there? Is there something there? It's fun.

[25:25] Eli Tokash: There's gotta be.

[25:26] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, I love it too. I'm like, oh my gosh, give us all of that music in any context ever.

[25:34] Eli Tokash: So good.

[25:34] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god. Do you want to talk about brilliant?

[25:37] Eli Tokash: Beyond. Just absolutely.

[25:39] Abby DePhillips: Yeah. Who would have thought that like Henry the Eighth's sixth wife would be like interesting?

[25:46] Eli Tokash: I don't know. I saw and I was like, what is this? Like I saw like I was like, this looks so cute. And then I saw it and I was like, are you kidding me?

[25:55] Abby DePhillips: Right. Texting friends and like, you need to go in for this queen, you need to go in for this. I was like, this show is everything. I want it everywhere.

[26:02] Eli Tokash: It is everything. It is. I'm so excited for it to be back. I was like, this is one of the shows that actually needs to come back.

[26:11] Abby DePhillips: Yes, like now. It was supposed to be.

[26:15] Eli Tokash: Um, okay, well, for everyone listening, the Pronoun Showdown is currently selling tickets on the fifty-four below website, and that's on October 19th, the show. You can buy tickets now if you're interested, and they're actually like at an affordable rate, so go check it out. 54 Below, it's iconic. And Broadway shows are gonna be opening up, so even if you're like a tourist coming and you're gonna go see a Broadway show, go see the Pronoun Showdown as well. Very exciting stuff there.

[26:44] Abby DePhillips: Um, I wanna talk about you, because you also have like a little like brand, I guess you could say, going for yourself. You know, you have this like shop, the Shop Revival on your website where you like upcycle Broadway merch. So like what it what like first of all, like what was the thought process in like doing that and like bedazzling them too and then like selling them?

[27:13] Abby DePhillips: Well, I it was like during a pandemic, I was like, I need some sort of a creative outlet, and my creative outlet in the past like five or six years has been concerts, and I was not really feeling the virtual concert thing. Like I was like, this just isn't really what I wanna be doing. So I was like, okay, just like need something else I can like put my energy into. Like I operate well with a project. If I don't have a project happening, I am like not nailing life. So I'm like, okay. And then I I have so many old like Broadway t-shirts just from like shows I've seen. Like just, you know, from like being a kid and being like, and I need the shirt. And I was like, this would be like a fun thing to do to like cut it up and bedazzle it and like put like sparkle stars on like the sleeve and things like that.

And then I was like, well, like let's just see if this is like something people are interested in. And I mentioned it to like honestly, like two friends where I was like, I think I might do this. And they were both like, you need to do that. And I was like, okay.

[28:19] Abby DePhillips: So I just like kind of dropped it, and then like a lot of like my close friends were texting me, and I like I'm big on announcements, so if I'm doing something, fifty people on the street know about it before I announce it, because I'm like walking down the street like that's what's happening, guess what I'm planning? And like so many of my friends were like, Oh my god. And I was like, wait, good, okay. And then the next day everything went on sale and it sold out like immediately, and I was like, Oh, okay, I can like do this. And I haven't done a collection in a little bit, but I have things that I like need to sell. It's just now that I'm like kind of back in the city and I was doing out of my parents' house, so I like things there, but it's been really fun, and it's so fun seeing like people wear them now. Like, I'm like, oh my gosh, like now that I'm like out in public again, like safely at 54%. Right for like wearing the shirt, I'm like, I made that. I did that. Oh my god, I love that.

[29:17] Eli Tokash: I love that because like a lot of the merchandise on your store is actually of shows that are closed, so you can't even like get that merchandise anymore.

[29:28] Abby DePhillips: Yeah, that's so true. So yeah, I thought I saw that and I was like, This is brilliant. Like, I was like, Mary Poppins, I would have Mary Poppin' shirt. Right, and it's like, where can you get that stuff now? You know, like there's all kinds of it's been like thrift stores and things like that, but it's also been like a lot of people that did these shows that are like, I have volume of merch. Do you want it? And I'm like, Yes. Yes, I do. I know. That's what I was thinking. I was like, I feel like I have some merge that I could just like give her seriously so many literally boxes. I'm like I'll take it I'll happily take it.

[30:02] Eli Tokash: Right. It's so right. Oh my god that's brilliant. I love that 'cause then after you're like I have one I sleep in. Like I don't need six phantom t shirts. And I'm like I do. Right.

[30:18] Abby DePhillips: Yeah literally. Or if you're in my case you just like grow out of it 'cause you've grown so much you know like child in the show anymore.

[30:26] Eli Tokash: Right. And the pandemic, you know, like maybe you put on a little bit of weight and like that's okay. You know, like not myself. Yeah, so you just grow out of things.

[30:36] Abby DePhillips: Yeah. Um well I love that and I there's all kinds of fun stuff on your website. So go check that out if you guys are interested in Broadway merch. I mean who isn't that's listening to this right now. I mean we're all Broadway geeks. Um speaking of Broadway geeks, you're like okay, so like how would you like kind of describe yourself? Like what do you say like what you are? Cause like I feel like you're like a producer, you're like you make merchandise, you're you're a Broadway like fanatic, like we're so many things here.

[31:07] Abby DePhillips: Yeah I usually I feel like instinctively I usually like introduce myself as like a Broadway super fan and then like usually someone else will be like no like she also like does this and people are like oh okay and I'm like oh yeah like I guess like bleeding with fan but I I'm like I am at a core of it that's what it is. Like the concerts I'm doing and stuff it is literally because I'm a fan of these people and I want to hear them sing songs. Like that's that's all it comes down to. And I think growing up a Broadway fan, there's definitely things when doing these concerts now where I'm like, if I was at a concert, how would like how would I be reacting if this person was singing this song? So like at the end of the day, I'm like, I'm still super fan.

Um, someone also recently, not recently, it was like a few years ago, but referred to me as like Broadway's little sister, which I was like, that's kind of hilarious because that is I like literally just like everyone's so amazing and like you guys are so cool. But I'm like, it's it's so true though.

[32:09] Eli Tokash: And it seems like everyone in the Broadway community like knows you, you know, like you're literally like best friends with everybody.

[32:17] Abby DePhillips: I definitely feel like I have inserted myself in yes in the community in like such a funny way too, because people ask, like, how are you friends with these people? And I'm like, that's just such like a weird question because more often than not, it's like someone's birthday party, and then you hit it off with like someone at the bar, and you're like, we're best friends now, and then they're like, I'm in this show, come meet so and so, you're gonna love so and so. Like, I'm like, it's the same as if we were like all at school together, like it just like you hit it off with who you hit it off with, and like I'm very lucky that like a lot of my friends that I have hit it off with are also very talented, like just very very good at their time.

[33:00] Eli Tokash: I love that. It's so true. I love that little reference. What did you say? It I but it's still a fan, like I'm still a fan of everyone, it's just the difference you're like, can you watch the self tape and like check it out for me? And I'm like, oh my god, you're so good.

[33:15] Abby DePhillips: Right, right. I love the the analysis that you've kind of like brought out. I feel like in a way, Broadway, the Broadway community is just a bunch of like preschoolers just like having fun, you know, at recess.

[33:30] Eli Tokash: Yeah, 100%. That's why everyone's like friends. Right. That's why you're friends with people in the community. You're like, because this is like really fun to be part of.

[33:39] Abby DePhillips: Yeah, exactly. No, it's a Exactly. Literally. I love that.

[33:45] Eli Tokash: Um, so talk to me because I I I j I just didn't know this, I guess. Like, I went on your website and I was like, Oh, let's see what I should ask her. And then I was like, Miss Teen USA of 2014. What is what is that even like how? How d what what was that like? Take me through.

[34:04] Abby DePhillips: It was the best ever. So when I was like seventeen, eighteen, mm, probably still seventeen, um, I was like babysitting, and the one I was babysitting for was like, oh, like Miss USA is on tonight, like if you and Gracie wanna watch it. And I was like, Okay, cool. And we like watched it, and then she came home and she was like, You need to do a pageant. And I was like, Oh, I mean it like looks really cool, but I don't even like know anything about it. She's like, No no no, like you need to do this. And I was like, Okay, like, sure. What? I was like a pretty dress, like why not? And it was like the book ever. I won Miss Teen New Jersey, and then the following year I won Miss Teen New York because I was then going to school here, and then I went to nationals and then United States, which was like the craziest like whirlwind, like what just happened situation.

And then the following year when I gave up my account, I also gotta compete for Miss Teen World, which I did not win. But I was top and I was like, this is like not Oh my god. It was like the craziest experience. It was the nicest girls I've ever met. Like it was people were like, oh, is everyone catty and all the things? It was the nicest girls. It was all like at that level too. Everyone there is like it's like the girls that like skip prom to like volunteer at this event. And like the girls that like start anti-bullying at their school. Like it's not it was like the least like shallow, like it it was just the best experience ever that I was like, when when else like would this have ever happened in my life?

And I had the best time. And then when I gave up my crown, I was like, everyone was like, Do you want to compete for another system? Do you wanna like wait for Miss? Because I was like in the teen category, so it was like you can, you know, next year miss. And I was like, I think I'm good. I had the best experience, and I was like, I don't wanna taint it, like I don't want I just like it was like the perfect like little like three year dream boat situation of my whole life. It was it was the best, but it's so random because I forget about it too, and then I'm like, Oh yeah, that fully happened for the whole chapter.

[36:16] Eli Tokash: Right. That's and that's something like that that's pretty big.

[36:28] Abby DePhillips: Yeah. I mean, that's huge. Um you're saying really cool. Your first pat pageant wasn't until you were 17 years old.

[36:38] Eli Tokash: Yes, which also is weird for people because I think so many young.

[36:43] Abby DePhillips: But I think that's why I like liked it so much, because I I didn't have or I don't know, because I competed with girls that had been competing since they were like three. But it was nice because I felt like I was making my own choices and like I was like the one that was like, Bomb, can you drive me to this? Like I like it, it was like all on my own, like it was all my decisions. Like I didn't have the period of like competing in pageants where I was like, but I just want to hang out with my friends. Like I was I was in high school, like I was like, I can make my own schedule, you know. It was kind of odd to start that late, but it was the best. It was the best time ever.

[37:21] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I think that's crazy. I mean, I don't know, like, like you said too. I guess there's like this stereotype when you're like thinking about like pageants and stuff that they've been doing it their whole lives. So to hear like you were doing it and then you won New Jersey, New York, and then state, like it's crazy.

[37:38] Abby DePhillips: Yeah, I got so lucky. It was really nuts. It was so much fun.

[37:42] Eli Tokash: You're a natural, what can you say?

[37:45] Abby DePhillips: Thank you. Just because some girls, like any of the girls I know that got like tripped up on stuff, like it and it's like not anything on them, it's just like training wise, like they were like, Okay, I have to like hit this and I have to hit this, and I have to make sure that I get to like say this in my interview, and like this is really important here, where I was just kind of like, What's the question? Like, what do you guys want to chat about? Where I think they were like, Oh, she's like she's like not good enough at trying that like we feel like we're like we know her, I think, but it's weird, weird world.

[38:23] Eli Tokash: I would totally say that's like a strength of yours too. Like, you're just such a personable person and like outgoing.

[38:30] Abby DePhillips: No, literally, like I mean, I mean, look like you're literally like you have everyone I talk to is like, oh, you know, Abby, and I was like, Yeah, I do. That's crazy. How did you know that? Like, yeah, you know, like I was like, everyone knows who you are, so like obviously you're doing something right, you know.

[38:47] Eli Tokash: Like that's really um well, okay. I wanna talk about like some Broadway stuff. Okay, so you have a dog and his name is John Beljohn.

[38:59] Abby DePhillips: Where where why first I guess I love Wiggly Blonde. Like that's my jam. So for so long I was like, I need a chihuahua. Like kind of half joking. My family has like English Springer Spaniels, like bigger medium dogs, like we're not a small dog household, but I would always joke about it. My dad would be like, We're never getting a small dog, and I'd be like, I just like need my like like little chihuahua with like a super butch name. And my dad was like, What butch names do you know? Like what when you say butch, what are you thinking of the cruiser? And I was like, like, like Jean Valjean, like as a joke, but then it became like a thing of like, oh yeah, chihuahua named John Valjean. And then one Christmas Eve, they surprised me with like a little pink crate with a little perfect chihuahua, and it said Jean Valjean on his collar, and I was like, We're doing this, okay?

Here we go. Stop it. He's my little JVJ, little Jean Valjean. It's kind of hilarious because people don't really know often, and then you'll like have one person in the dog park that is like, Did you just do you just call him John Valjean? And they're like, Oh my god, and we're like, uh-huh. No shame in that at all.

[40:15] Eli Tokash: That's uh hilarious. I'm obsessed with that.

[40:21] Abby DePhillips: Right. Yeah. Like my sister is like Bower, which is like one of our other dogs, and then like I am Johnny. Like everyone kinda has their person.

[40:29] Eli Tokash: Wait, I'm obsessed. Bauer? Like the hockey brand?

[40:34] Abby DePhillips: Okay. Yes, and because we are a big 24 family.

[40:41] Abby DePhillips: Oh, okay. But the character Jack Bauer on the show was because Keeper Sutherland was a hockey guy. So like the power is in there, but we also like we're like, it's also Nike Bauer. We have like all my god like double meanings. Like our our sweet dog that passed a few years ago was Brody. And it was like because it means brother, but also like Brodour. And then we keep saying like the next dog. We also have Bo, which is like nothing, but we keep saying like the next dog we're gonna do um Brock. Brock, oh my god, genius. What a name. Man Rocket. Like we we got a Brock Tover all year round.

[41:27] Eli Tokash: Yeah. A hundred percent. I love that. I was gonna say like Ilya or something, but Brock bees. Oh my gosh, that would honestly be amazing. Like you have Jean Valjone and Ilya, like what is happening? Literally. Your little Russian dog. When I can get my own puppy, like I just I don't want a dog in the city. Like I love dogs, but I'm like I travel a lot and it's just like but you can like dog sitters and stuff. I'm like, it's just like the life I'd want to give a puppy is like not a life that I can do right now. But I keep saying like my first like solo dog is Flurry.

[42:01] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, stop. Like I'm gonna cry. Um, first of all, there's just so many problems. There's it's it's a sensitive topic. Um no, I've I've always said I I've always said that I want a dog named Marc Andre, not Fleurry. I just think Marc Andre is like sick. Oh my god, the dog Marc Andre Fleury. Right, right.

[42:28] Abby DePhillips: Literally, I think Mark Andre would be like the coolest dog name. I don't know why. I would never name my kid that I would 100% name my kid.

[42:36] Eli Tokash: Exactly.

[42:37] Abby DePhillips: Like I was like, I can't name a child Flurry. I'm aware of that, but I'm like, as a dog. Marc Andre is so cute.

[42:45] Eli Tokash: I know, right? My little like Canadian dog.

[42:49] Abby DePhillips: Truly. My French Canadian dog. Um, yes, anyways, back uh of course the happy it needed to. It was good for our it was good for our uh souls there. Um but no, so talk to me, because we talked about six and everything. Talk to me about what Broadway show that you're most excited to see when Broadway reopens.

[43:19] Abby DePhillips: Which sounds like such a good answer, but like that to me, like is Broadway. And like I went to Dallas to see the tour open.

[43:28] Eli Tokash: Right.

[43:29] Abby DePhillips: Which was like insane, and I just being there, I had in my head, I was like, I'm not really gonna cry, which is not accurate. Like I should have known I'd sobbed because everyone I've said this to has been like, you cry at any like I cry at Strangers Broadway debutes. Like I don't need to know the person, and they're like, they're being clearing you, and I'm like, No, they're not. Like, I lose it.

[43:55] Eli Tokash: So going to Wicked in Dallas, I was like, this is gonna be good because it'll be a good like prep for Broadway, but I won't like be a mess.

[44:04] Abby DePhillips: And I walk in and they like hand me the playbill and I like burst into tears. I was like, oh my god, I'm at a show. Like this. No, can we can we talk about this? Can we keep talking about this for a second? Like that's a very real feeling.

[44:17] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[44:18] Abby DePhillips: When I I went to Passover.

[44:21] Eli Tokash: Oh, yeah.

[44:21] Abby DePhillips: And literally the night of Antoine.

[44:24] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[44:25] Abby DePhillips: Yes. Yes. And then Ran to Antonio's show that everyone heard that story because that was just I was sweating and I was like, hi, like hugging you guys in our body. You're all so happy.

[44:36] Eli Tokash: Right.

[44:36] Abby DePhillips: I was like, oh my god. Um, but yes, so I literally like they checked my like vaccine card and my ID and whatnot, and I was like, Oh great, this is great. And then they scanned my ticket, and I'm like, still going great. And then, like, literally, like, my foot like step into the lobby theater and it just hit and it was like it was in the floodgates.

[45:02] Eli Tokash: Right.

[45:02] Abby DePhillips: It was like the smell, it was like the everything. I was like, I didn't even know this was like an emotion that I could be feeling right now. Like, it was so crazy. And that was like Dallas. Like, I was like, okay, like it's not going to feel like as emotional as it could, because I'm still flying home to New York where there's no Broadway.

[45:25] Eli Tokash: Like, Passover opens later.

[45:26] Abby DePhillips: So I was like, I'm still coming home to an empty Eighth Avenue. Like, it's not the Gersh. Yeah. It's not like it, you know, it's not like the dressers that I'm like looking for in the wings that I know like if you're sitting in this specific spot, you can see Tracy from like that window. Like, I the Gersh one is like very much only. And I was like, I don't know Dallas. Like I was like, it's totally different. I'm like here for a few friends, like it's it's not the same.

[45:50] Eli Tokash: And then just being there, I was like, it actually like doesn't matter. Like it's people that are like everyone was like so good with their masks, like they were like, no warnings, like if you have your mask below your nose, like we're just gonna remove you. And no one was right about it. Like I think everyone, it just felt like everyone like wanted this to work so badly.

[46:10] Abby DePhillips: Yes.

[46:11] Eli Tokash: That I was like so emotional, and the music starts and people start cheering, and then like I was so prepared since like beginning of the pandemic. I was like, the moment Glinda appears in the bubble and says it's good to see me, isn't it? After at the time after a bunch tattoo almost. I was like, that is going to be the most like unbelievable feeling in the world.

[46:36] Abby DePhillips: And then like the show starts in Dallas and the ensemble runs like towards the front stage and then they sing good news, and I was just like, That is, it really is. Like a whole show.

[46:49] Eli Tokash: The whole show.

[46:50] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god. She like slowly stands, like the audience lost it. And I was like, I'm not ready for Broadway. Like I was like, this is gonna be September 14th. I have tickets for Wicked's first night. I am like No. I'm gonna lose No way. I'm gonna lose it.

[47:17] Eli Tokash: Like I God. I can't wait to wait town again. Like there's so many Right. So many So Wicked isn't your favorite Broadway show, it's legally blonde.

[47:27] Abby DePhillips: It's legally blonde, but I do love Wicked.

[47:31] Eli Tokash: Right, okay. Which is honestly like kind of hilarious because I do like consider myself not a full feeder snob because I really do like love a lot, but I'm like very picky with shows. And I'm like illegally blonde. Like I get how it works. But I just love No, I mean, I think we're due for a legally blonde revival, in my opinion.

[47:53] Abby DePhillips: I'm trying. That's my dream Really?

[47:56] Eli Tokash: That's my dream.

[47:58] Abby DePhillips: Stop it. Okay, I could see it. So whoever's listening, you already have an uh producer on board, so me.

[48:08] Eli Tokash: Right. Let's let's get this going. Well I in the next five years. I co-produced Fifty Four Sings Legally Blonde, like two weeks.

[48:16] Abby DePhillips: Right though. And we had like Alex Newell was gonna be our palette.

[48:21] Eli Tokash: And it was like Stop it. The I'll I'll text you the rehearsal videos because it was unbelievable. And then like three days before the show, Alex booked um Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist.

[48:31] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god.

[48:32] Eli Tokash: It was like that show.

[48:35] Abby DePhillips: So we were They're so good on that show.

[48:37] Eli Tokash: Yes, and we were like, okay, like that was the gig you were supposed to be at, but honestly handled so well too. Like I always say that whenever I get the chance. But Alex was like, Do you need help finding a replacement? I'm trying to get the slight move, but if I can't, I don't want you guys to be blindsided.

[48:53] Abby DePhillips: Like it was there have been situations where people like drop out and you're kinda like, ah and this was like one where we were like Alex was so transparent and like so helpful and was like, Do you want me to to announce? Do you guys want to do it? Like, do you want me not to say anything? Like, what do you need from me? And we were just like, nothing. Like, thank you so much for just being wonderful.

[49:15] Eli Tokash: And Haven Burden, who was a Margo on Broadway, like she filled in. Like, it it was great, but Carrie St. Louis's El Woods is something we need eight shows a week.

[49:26] Abby DePhillips: Actually, maybe give her an alternative if she wanted it. But as many shows a week as she was willing to do, I want.

[49:34] Eli Tokash: I feel like you need to come out of retirement, maybe a couple voice lessons, and like get yourself in love with your with singing again, and then you can be the alternative.

[49:44] Abby DePhillips: I'm like, hey guys, I'm Elle Woods.

[49:47] Eli Tokash: Right. If you don't like to sing, maybe we can get like someone singing in the wings and you could just be lip syncing. Like it we could figure this out.

[49:56] Abby DePhillips: Okay. So like not only are you the producer, but you're the star.

[50:00] Eli Tokash: Right. Literally. You know, the girl who actually like runs the Broadway podcast network is Dori Berenstein.

[50:08] Abby DePhillips: And she was the producer for Legally Blonde.

[50:12] Eli Tokash: So listen, Dory, we need a revival.

[50:16] Abby DePhillips: I'm such a Dory fan, and Dory doesn't know me, but I know Dory.

[50:20] Eli Tokash: And oh my god. She's really close with Haven actually, and Haven is always like, Why do you like talk to Dory about this? I'm like, I can't. It's too much.

[50:28] Abby DePhillips: What? Why? I am like, I will go up to most people and be like, there's like certain people that I'm like, I I cannot. Like if I saw them all, I'd be like, I can't.

[50:41] Eli Tokash: No.

[50:42] Abby DePhillips: Like this is just Dory is actually like the nicest human being.

[50:47] Eli Tokash: Like hearer.

[50:49] Abby DePhillips: She literally, okay, like we like met like very briefly, like throughout my time, like in Neverland and whatnot.

[50:59] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[51:00] Abby DePhillips: But then we came to her with this and I kind of reached out to her. Somehow we were Facebook friends. I don't know how or why and I don't even know why a nine year old was using Facebook.

[51:10] Eli Tokash: Anyways, um right.

[51:12] Abby DePhillips: And people I'm like just accepted me.

[51:15] Eli Tokash: Right. We're literally the same person.

[51:18] Abby DePhillips: Um then and then I was like Dory I have this idea for a podcast and like ever since then like she helped me like make my decision on where to go to college.

[51:30] Eli Tokash: Like she w she's yeah like she took time out of her day to like talk to me for like an hour to just like talk to me.

[51:38] Abby DePhillips: Yeah like she's honestly the nicest person and like is fully on board like she invited me to like go be at the red carpet at her premiere for like a movie and I'm like oh that's amazing yeah one of the like just a sweetheart and literally like wants to help everyone so like I just she's very approachable.

[52:00] Eli Tokash: There's just some people like that in this industry that I'm like like looking like even still now but just like looking back where I'm like I literally was like a kid in middle school at the stage door and you were like willing to like mail me and like take me to lunch and like help me and just like the amount of people truly that were just like what do you want to be doing? How can I help? I'm like what like what?

[52:26] Abby DePhillips: People like there's so many people and I'm just like you are so good like just good and helpful and wonderful.

[52:34] Eli Tokash: That I'm like, oh my god, if I have any power, you will never be unemployed. Like, give me like 20 years. And I I just wanted all the people that have been so wonderful. I'm like, let's just like lift up everybody.

[52:46] Abby DePhillips: That's amazing that she's that way. That's so happy here.

[52:50] Eli Tokash: Cause I'm just like idolized.

[52:51] Abby DePhillips: No, literally. So the next time that you see her, oh my god, you must. You must talk to her.

[52:59] Eli Tokash: Yes, literally. She's the best. But yes, a a legally blonde revival is in the near future, if you ask me.

[53:06] Abby DePhillips: So badly. I have like all these like stupid ideas for it where I'm like, we could do that and we could do that. We want like um animal shelters at like Sunday matinees at intermission.

[53:17] Eli Tokash: You can like me with puppies at Intromission and then like we can get like dogs adopted.

[53:22] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, I'm obsessed with that. That'd be so cute. I love that idea.

[53:26] Eli Tokash: Yes. We need to contact the ASPCA.

[53:30] Abby DePhillips: Right. But I'm like we're getting ahead of ourselves. Like I'm like, so here's what we do on Sunday. And now I'm like, okay, I need to like me maybe have more of a game plan.

[53:43] Eli Tokash: Right. Let's get played.

[53:44] Abby DePhillips: Right. I mean, listen. It could happen.

[53:46] Eli Tokash: If some if you want something to happen, you can get it to happen, you know?

[53:50] Abby DePhillips: Like there is manifestor.

[53:52] Eli Tokash: I'm like, we're just saying it until something happens.

[53:56] Abby DePhillips: It's possible. I really do think it is. And I think it's a great idea. I would if I had the money, I would help produce it.

[54:03] Eli Tokash: Thank you. We'll just get you a job in the show. Like, I'm not worried.

[54:07] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god. Yeah. Right. Um, but I asked you, like, so what musical do you want to see? But what in that was obviously wicked, but what do you want to see that's new?

[54:17] Eli Tokash: Like, what are you most excited about with these new shows?

[54:20] Abby DePhillips: Well, I can't wait to see six here. Um I have tickets for Doubtfire.

[54:26] Eli Tokash: Oh.

[54:27] Abby DePhillips: Really excited to see. Um, I'm really excited to see Little Shop, because I did not get Oh my god. And I cannot wait to see that one.

[54:34] Eli Tokash: I tickets to see Jeremy like a week after um the shutdown.

[54:39] Abby DePhillips: So I didn't get this.

[54:41] Eli Tokash: No way.

[54:42] Abby DePhillips: Yeah. I was so that I was so excited that I was like, oh, Jeremy Jordan is like one of those people that like it it's like a Dory Barron scene moment.

[54:54] Eli Tokash: Like, you know, like we actually were in the greatest showman readings together, Jeremy and I.

[54:58] Abby DePhillips: No, I'm and like I I just couldn't talk to him. Like I it I we were like in the same room and we were performing together, but I I just couldn't like get myself to like approach him.

[55:12] Eli Tokash: You guys didn't do Neverland together.

[55:15] Abby DePhillips: No, because he did it in ART and I joined in Broadway.

[55:18] Eli Tokash: Damn.

[55:19] Abby DePhillips: Okay. So he's so And I feel like that's why I'm so like tense w around him. Cause like you know, like he he did a show that like I was in, but like did it in ART and like that's like he like started it, and I'm like, wow, that's like so wait, that's actually funny because I had a full conversation with his wife about how good you were that show.

[55:45] Eli Tokash: Oh god.

[55:46] Abby DePhillips: That's why I was like, I feel like always didn't do it together, because I was like that here. And I remember like pulling a photo of like it was you and someone I don't remember who else was in the photo, but I was like, this is like the kid. And she was like, Oh my god, oh my god.

[56:02] Eli Tokash: It was Kevin Kern.

[56:03] Abby DePhillips: It was Kevin Kern. Broadway's Kevin Kern.

[56:06] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, I thought you were gonna be able to do it.

[56:07] Abby DePhillips: Broadway's Kevin Kern so much.

[56:09] Eli Tokash: You too.

[56:09] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, he's such like, This is this is the duo. This is it.

[56:14] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. He's a dream. I was like, Kevin, just tell me whenever you're on, and if I can get there, I will.

[56:20] Abby DePhillips: So he would like text and be like, No pressure, I'm on. And I'd be like, I'm walking in the theater. Like I was like, I'm back.

[56:26] Eli Tokash: He was just so good in it. I was saw it with him, and I think I saw it. I think I probably saw it like 20 times.

[56:34] Abby DePhillips: Only with Kevin on.

[56:36] Eli Tokash: What?

[56:37] Abby DePhillips: I never saw Matt Morrison.

[56:39] Eli Tokash: Wow.

[56:39] Abby DePhillips: So you never saw like Tony Yazbek, Matthew Morrison, Alfie Bo.

[56:45] Abby DePhillips: I never saw anybody.

[56:46] Eli Tokash: None of them?

[56:47] Abby DePhillips: Wow. And he was actually at a point that Kevin was like, you should see someone else for like just to see someone else.

[56:53] Abby DePhillips: And I was like, no. But because if you know what you like in the show, you're like, why would I like choose not to see him on?

[57:02] Eli Tokash: Right.

[57:02] Abby DePhillips: I loved him in it so much. No, Kevin Kern.

[57:06] Abby DePhillips: He was like so playful.

[57:07] Eli Tokash: Kevin Kern.

[57:08] Abby DePhillips: Like I was like, you know he's a dick.

[57:10] Eli Tokash: Right.

[57:10] Abby DePhillips: Like he screams.

[57:12] Eli Tokash: Exactly.

[57:13] Abby DePhillips: He really embraced the dad figure, I guess, in the show for sure. But literally, any time Kevin was on, it was just ten times more fun.

[57:25] Abby DePhillips: You know, like there's just something about Kevin. Like you could just see him on the stage, and he was a swing for anybody who doesn't know.

[57:32] Abby DePhillips: And so like he wasn't on every show, and he would cover all the principles. I always forget technically he was a swing.

[57:39] Abby DePhillips: He was on every show, basically, but like technically he wasn't, so you may not have seen him, which is a really which is a bummer, if you ask me.

[57:47] Abby DePhillips: But he was he was covering like all the principles, and literally, like, even when he went on for like Josh Laman's role.

[57:54] Abby DePhillips: Like it was just hilarious. Like literally, like anything, he he was covering, it was like it was just a it was just a m more fun show that you could just tell that we were like playing on a stage and like with him and like it it could have been his first time in the role and like you just could not tell and like he was just like out there he literally just goes out and performs to have fun.

[58:20] Abby DePhillips: Like that's that's Kevin Gurk. Like for you to say it on stage with him, but also from someone in the audience, I'm like, you're doing your job correctly.

[58:31] Eli Tokash: Exactly all in the building, like on the same page.

[58:34] Abby DePhillips: Yes. And it was something where like Kevin Texter was like, I think I'm I think I might be on like no pressure, like like we'll know soon.

[58:47] Abby DePhillips: I was like, okay, and I was like, I I guess I was like near the theater and it was like twenty minutes later or whatever, and I was like, let me just like see, and I went to the box office and I was like, hi, I was like, I was like, Do you know if like Matthew Morrison is in tonight?

[58:59] Abby DePhillips: And they were like, He's not, but you sh really should get a ticket. You will love this guy. He's so good and like they started like selling him, and I was like, No no no, I'm like no no offense, Matthew Morsa, but I was like, No, I wanna go if Matthew Morrison's not on.

[59:13] Abby DePhillips: Like I was like, I want to see Gavin Curtain.

[59:16] Eli Tokash: Right.

[59:16] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, and they were like, We'll get you a really good seat. Like they totally hooked me up, but they were like, Oh really, really good one, he definitely was like still worth seeing, and I was like, We're all on the same page.

[59:27] Eli Tokash: We're all the same page.

[59:28] Abby DePhillips: We're all the same page. I do have to say that like I was there for like a year and a half, maybe, maybe a little longer.

[59:39] Eli Tokash: We're definitely the longest, right?

[59:42] Abby DePhillips: Uh I wasn't there the longest.

[59:44] Eli Tokash: Didn't you?

[59:45] Abby DePhillips: What's that?

[59:46] Eli Tokash: Did you start with all of them?

[59:51] Abby DePhillips: No.

[59:52] Abby DePhillips: You aged into them.

[59:54] Abby DePhillips: Wait, where you stopped doing the youngest?

[59:57] Abby DePhillips: Like, I remember Kevin being like, Abby, he's growing.

[1:00:00] Abby DePhillips: And I was like, no! I was like, Stop.

[1:00:04] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god. I actually started as just Jack.

[1:00:10] Abby DePhillips: And that was like the the third youngest. And then all of a sudden, like Aiden left.

[1:00:18] Abby DePhillips: We actually had seven kids. We actually had seven kids, and then one of the kids left and they just didn't get a replacement.

[1:00:26] Abby DePhillips: And they were like, Yeah, we want you to step into it. And I was like, great, where's the seventh kid for the rest of us?

[1:00:34] Abby DePhillips: Um, but no, that it just didn't happen. And for the rest of the run, we had six boys.

[1:00:40] Abby DePhillips: Um, and yeah, so then I did Peter and then I went up to George as well. It was wild.

[1:00:45] Abby DePhillips: And I was the only one who like actually played all four of them. I was never supposed to play Michael, but I played him for a show and a half, and highlighted my career.

[1:00:56] Abby DePhillips: Highlighted my career. I was the tallest one playing the smallest one.

[1:01:00] Abby DePhillips: It was it was iconic.

[1:01:03] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, and you record at all.

[1:01:06] Abby DePhillips: I did, oh my god, I did that. Like, no, yeah, because again, having seen you in it, I was like, of course, they're just like, it's fine, we'll just make it work.

[1:01:09] Abby DePhillips: We'll just make it work.

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

[1:01:17] Abby DePhillips: Well, honestly, like, if Kevin Kern wasn't doing the tour, I don't know if I would have done it.

[1:01:24] Abby DePhillips: It's and like it it it's true, right? Like, if there wasn't like like 'cause it was it was something the tour was a very odd experience for me.

[1:01:34] Abby DePhillips: Like it's not something that I always talk about because like I went to like be like a wrangler in a way and like kind of like 'cause someone got fired yeah and then I like was brought in yeah they needed someone to like learn from and I and they gave me like a show a week and I was like this is really weird like I'm kind of just like backstage not doing what I want to do.

[1:02:04] Abby DePhillips: But I was like you know what like Kevin's there like his kids are gonna be on tour so I'm gonna be able to hang out with his kids and he always brought his kids to the dressing room so like I would have someone to like hang out with and then I was like well if I could like help Diane Paulis I will help Diane Paulis like you know like if she wants me to like you're not really like no literally because I said no and she w and they were like Diane's calling and I was like yeah I'll do it.

[1:02:34] Abby DePhillips: Yeah you know I mean you don't have to twist my arm if Diane's calling.

[1:02:39] Eli Tokash: Yeah really doesn't works.

[1:02:41] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god okay that's so easy then yeah so did you but honestly Kevin or did you have Billy at all?

[1:02:50] Abby DePhillips: No Kevin. And then I left before Kevin.

[1:02:53] Abby DePhillips: So I was there like literally until they could find someone to replace okay and the other reason I went was because w like literally like the third or second stop was in Pittsburgh.

[1:03:07] Abby DePhillips: So I was like, I'll go home. So that was like there were like stuff that there was a couple things that kind of aligned that I was like, if it happens, like it's not the worst thing.

[1:03:18] Abby DePhillips: Plus I it kept me like doing something because I wasn't doing anything, you know.

[1:03:22] Eli Tokash: Sure.

[1:03:22] Abby DePhillips: Sure.

[1:03:22] Abby DePhillips: But okay, but a lot of than being every single person on Broadway.

[1:03:28] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:03:29] Abby DePhillips: Right.

[1:03:29] Eli Tokash: We need you in cracks.

[1:03:31] Abby DePhillips: You and Kevin.

[1:03:32] Eli Tokash: No.

[1:03:33] Abby DePhillips: Right.

[1:03:34] Abby DePhillips: Literally.

[1:03:34] Abby DePhillips: Kevin Kern.

[1:03:36] Abby DePhillips: Oh, what a guy.

[1:03:36] Eli Tokash: And now he's like a real estate agent.

[1:03:40] Abby DePhillips: I know videos always crack me up. I'm like I keep poking because where he lives in Jersey is like so close to my parents.

[1:03:48] Abby DePhillips: And I like through the pandemic especially, I just have been babysitting all like my Broadway friends that now I've seen. Like because everyone just has babies.

[1:03:57] Abby DePhillips: So it's like Uh-huh. And they're like, it's a pandemic, and we're not really like looking to like find a stranger right now.

[1:04:04] Abby DePhillips: So I've just been like babysitting all over Jersey.

[1:04:07] Abby DePhillips: And every time Kevin posts, I'm like, one of these times I'm just showing up at an open house.

[1:04:12] Eli Tokash: You should.

[1:04:13] Abby DePhillips: I've thought about it too.

[1:04:14] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god. My my family actually was like looking for houses in New Jersey and we contacted Kevin.

[1:04:21] Eli Tokash: Stop!

[1:04:22] Abby DePhillips: Yes. Oh my gosh.

[1:04:23] Eli Tokash: We're in Jersey, like Maplewood South Orangey.

[1:04:26] Abby DePhillips: Well, so that was the thing. So we were like looking like in a point pleasant beach area.

[1:04:31] Abby DePhillips: And then we saw the beach house.

[1:04:33] Eli Tokash: Stop it.

[1:04:38] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, that's weird actually.

[1:04:41] Abby DePhillips: Literally. So we were like, oh, do you like do anything like in that area? And he was like, no, I'm kind of in like other areas, or we're like, and he was like, but I can refer you to like someone down there because that's just the type of person Kevin is, you know.

[1:04:46] Abby DePhillips: He was like, but I'll still like help you out. And like if you really can't find anyone, I'll make the trip down there, and we can look at some houses, and you're like, Kevin, you don't have to do that.

[1:05:07] Abby DePhillips: Like, he's like, I can build you one, I can learn.

[1:05:10] Eli Tokash: Yeah, literally.

[1:05:12] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, I would know love Kevin. This has been uh Kevin fan page for the past ten minutes.

[1:05:18] Eli Tokash: But I would not live in a house like Kevin Grand Bolt.

[1:05:23] Abby DePhillips: I'm so sorry, Kevin.

[1:05:27] Abby DePhillips: No, right. After what happened last night with that like torrential rain, I was like, I would not I would not live in the house.

[1:05:36] Eli Tokash: I think she'd be like no.

[1:05:38] Abby DePhillips: Right. He would have him and like Clover like built it with him, and I'm like, no.

[1:05:44] Eli Tokash: No.

[1:05:47] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god. He's he's a dream, but yeah, okay, so that's great. Love those answers.

[1:05:52] Eli Tokash: Going back to your answers with six and everything.

[1:05:57] Abby DePhillips: Um this is I yeah, I mean, come on, six is great, and doubt fire. I want to see doubt fire, it's gonna be so good.

[1:06:04] Abby DePhillips: Rob McClare is a is a genius. Um but yeah, I've taken up enough of your time and I've got all the questions that like I I feel like this has been like like a catch-up, like you know, like this is like more for us, and I'm like, I'm here for it.

[1:06:20] Abby DePhillips: Um it was so great to talk to you. Um, I love all of your like little stories that you kind of had surrounding the producing and how you got there and everything.

[1:06:30] Eli Tokash: And reminder for all the listeners, go check out the pronoun showdown on October 19th.

[1:06:36] Abby DePhillips: And tickets are on sale, so go check them out if the people are below.

[1:06:40] Eli Tokash: And uh, yeah, if there's anything else, go ahead and plug it. And uh, but if not, thanks for coming on.

[1:06:45] Abby DePhillips: Yeah, oh my gosh. I know I feel like we got revival, we got pronouns.

[1:06:49] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:06:50] Abby DePhillips: We checked off all the boxes.

[1:06:52] Eli Tokash: I I try, I try.

[1:06:54] Abby DePhillips: Yeah, you did so good. But yeah, like that's all that's all the things.

[1:06:58] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god. So much fun. There's so much to talk about.

[1:07:01] Eli Tokash: So thank you for joining us and uh I hope you had a good time.

[1:07:05] Abby DePhillips: I did. Thank you for having me.

[1:07:07] Eli Tokash: Of course, of course. Take about Abby DePhillips.

[1:07:11] Abby DePhillips: Oh my god, that was a blast for me. I don't know about all of you, but I enjoyed every second of that.

[1:07:16] Eli Tokash: I know like there wasn't um s uh as much talk on concert producing because literally the second that like we were done, I was like, I I just kept getting like lost in conversation and just like kept getting like keep kept asking questions that were kind of just part of the conversation and it wasn't so much like scripted um or like my bulleted, I didn't follow my notes as much as I usually do.

[1:07:44] Eli Tokash: Um and that and that's on me, but literally as soon as we were done, I was like, oh, I wanted to ask her about this, this, this. Um but anyways, thank you, Abby, for coming on and explaining what concert producing is, explaining um kind of your journey and the routes that you took to get there.

[1:08:03] Eli Tokash: Um I know this is this is I don't know, there there's this has gotta be interesting to to some people. I know it's interesting to me, so hopefully it's interesting to you guys as well.

[1:08:15] Eli Tokash: Um, but I think producing of any capacity is really cool, but uh but I think uh when we think about producing, we think about like a ginormous play where you have to raise thousands and thousands of dollars, uh hundreds of thousands of dollars even, but like there's also other ways of producing, and I just think that's really cool.

[1:08:35] Eli Tokash: And Abby's been able to make a career out of it, and she's also like super young, so it's definitely watch out for her. She's gonna be a star one day, a star producer.

[1:08:46] Eli Tokash: Um like she said, Legally blonde revival. Let's make it happen, y'all. Um, anyways, that was that was a blast.

[1:08:53] Eli Tokash: We talked about a lot. Sorry about the sports chatter. I know there was a little bit of that going on, but um we tried to stay on topic as much as we could.

[1:09:01] Eli Tokash: Um, but yeah, her stories as well of like seeing a show again, like even though it wasn't like on Broadway, just seeing being in live theater again was awesome.

[1:09:12] Eli Tokash: Uh I I loved sharing stories with that, and uh and I really enjoyed reliving those moments and sharing them with her and of course all of you.

[1:09:21] Eli Tokash: Um I loved the fangirling over Broadway, I guess we could say, where we were all kind of just sharing our favorite Broadway shows and just talking about Broadway and how much we missed it.

[1:09:31] Eli Tokash: Um so I really think this was just like a fun episode, kind of light, um, and uh yeah, that's kind of it. And I kind of summarized it at the beginning as well, but anyways, I just wanted to say thank you, Abby, for coming on.

[1:09:44] Eli Tokash: Thank you all for listening, and uh I hope to see you all next week.

[1:09:48] Abby DePhillips: Okay.

[1:09:49] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone.

[1:09:51] Eli Tokash: For this episode's current call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a vow. This podcast would not be possible without the help from Dory Barenstein, Brittany Bigelow, Katie Rosen, Alan Seals, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

[1:10:04] Eli Tokash: Next in line to take the Bowl 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.

[1:10:18] Eli Tokash: 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.

[1:10:30] Eli Tokash: Also, feel free to give us a follow on Instagram at TakeA Bow Podcast. Take a Bow's logo is designed by Giselle Bustos, and the music is by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinon.

[1:10:41] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone. Hope to see you next week.