This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hey everyone and welcome back to episode nine of Take A Bow Podcast.

[0:05] Sydney Lucas: I'm Sydney Lucas.

[0:07] Eli Tokash: I love how in each episode we get progressively like higher and higher every time we like say the say the the number of the episode.

[0:17] Sydney Lucas: Episode eight, episode nine, episode ten.

[0:22] Eli Tokash: No, yeah. I mean it's a good one. We're just amazed by it.

[0:24] Sydney Lucas: Like we did like how, like we did this, and we did this with the help of Broadway Podcast Network, the most amazing network.

[0:31] Eli Tokash: We literally couldn't have asked for a better network. They're so incredible.

[0:35] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, very, very helpful, very insightful, and very like just easy, just easy to talk to.

[0:41] Eli Tokash: And like yeah, right. And it's also like our first solo endeavor, like doing something like this.

[0:47] Sydney Lucas: And they understand this, so they understand it's a very special moment to teach us about you know everything, like uh how to how to do this, how to how to run something like this.

[0:57] Eli Tokash: And so they're doing an incredible job teaching us and supporting us and listening and and yeah, they're fantastic, they really are.

[1:05] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, so uh today we have a great interview. It's really fun.

[1:07] Eli Tokash: Uh it's with Jeremy Villas.

[1:11] Sydney Lucas: Jeremy is 16 now, because we're 17, so he just has to be 16, right?

[1:17] Eli Tokash: Yeah, he's 16. I'm pretty sure he's 16.

[1:20] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, yeah, he's 16.

[1:20] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[1:22] Sydney Lucas: So he stops by today and he talks about his time in Kinky Boots on Broadway, as well as being a dancer for you know, Alvin Ailey. You know, no not a big deal.

[1:29] Eli Tokash: Casual, no big deal. Jeremy is a very dear and close friend to Eli and me.

[1:36] Sydney Lucas: We went to school together, we went to uh middle school, and we literally knew each other. We all knew each other, uh we all met each other when we were 11, and we were all in our own respective Broadway shows.

[1:47] Eli Tokash: Then I was in Fun Home, Jeremy was in Kinky Boots, and Eli was in Pippin, and we all went to the same school, and then we went through all of the years in middle school together and went into high school, and yeah, so we pretty much grew up together.

[2:01] Sydney Lucas: It's funny, one of my first experiences with Jeremy, like that I remember was like him being really shy with me and then later finding out that he had a crush on me.

[2:12] Eli Tokash: Like literally within the first couple days of middle school.

[2:15] Sydney Lucas: So I was so like ever since then, that's adorable. I've always kind of like held a special place in my heart for Jeremy.

[2:22] Eli Tokash: Um, he also makes like the best first impressions.

[2:27] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, I know, right? Um I mean with those suspenders, like how can you not like you know, you just fall in love immediately.

[2:35] Eli Tokash: And in the actual interview, we'll talk about the exact first impression we're talking about.

[2:39] Sydney Lucas: So we have some exciting new news for our podcast.

[2:44] Eli Tokash: We are you can now find us on Patreon, and you can find us at patreon.com slash take uh T A B capital T A B, which is like take a bow.

[2:55] Sydney Lucas: Um and you know, we're offering some fun things for you to do, and it'll allow you guys to have more of a relationship with Sydney and I as we will begin to talk to you via chats on Patreon.

[3:10] Eli Tokash: Um you there's opportunities to do virtual calls. Even uh even a personal relationship.

[3:15] Sydney Lucas: So basically what Patreon is is there are different levels of patrons. So for example, for a five dollar fee, um a monthly fee of five dollars, you get specific benefits from us.

[3:29] Eli Tokash: So like um, for example, the five dollar fee is really cool because not only do you get a shout-out on the Take A Bow Instagram, but also you will get access to exclusive episodes that Eli and I will produce twice a month that only you have access to.

[3:47] Sydney Lucas: The public doesn't have access to it, and that's only for a fee of $5 a month.

[3:52] Eli Tokash: And then um for each level you go up, there are more and more uh benefits that you can have.

[3:58] Sydney Lucas: And what's even better about this is for each level you go up, that level also includes the benefits of all of the tiers below it.

[4:07] Eli Tokash: So if you are a $25 patron, your benefits also include everything in the $20 patron, the $10 patron, and the $5 patron.

[4:16] Sydney Lucas: So it's the coolest thing in the world. Go check it out. And it's also, you know, it helps us continue doing this.

[4:22] Eli Tokash: So if you like it and you want to support the podcast, go check it out. We have some really cool stuff.

[4:28] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, so like Eli said, it's a great way just for us to interact with you guys and get to know you all more.

[4:35] Eli Tokash: Um, but it's also a great way for us to continue to make episodes, as Sydney um kind of touched on.

[4:41] Sydney Lucas: And you know, we know like it's hard and everything right now, but on Patreon you'll find that there's literally a budget for anyone for as low as $5 to $75.

[4:57] Eli Tokash: Um so just feel free to go check it out, see what kind of benefits include. There's actually some really cool ones, you know.

[5:05] Sydney Lucas: You have the opportunity to have a virtual call with us, you have an opportunity to actually be on the podcast. Um, you'll have the opportunity to come watch us do a podcast.

[5:15] Eli Tokash: Um there there's just really cool things that when it's safe in in the in the studio.

[5:20] Sydney Lucas: Right. When when it's safe.

[5:21] Eli Tokash: Um so there's gonna be some cool things, and you you have some opportunities to have some fun with us.

[5:29] Sydney Lucas: So uh feel free to check it out. It's on patreon.com backslash T A B.

[5:35] Eli Tokash: Um is it backslash or forward slash?

[5:37] Sydney Lucas: I don't know. It's this slash.

[5:41] Eli Tokash: Thank you so much.

[5:44] Sydney Lucas: He literally just did a diagonal line with his hand.

[5:47] Eli Tokash: I'm pretty sure it's forward slash because I don't think I've ever seen any URL that has so is a forward slash the one that starts here like to the right and then ends to the left.

[6:00] Sydney Lucas: No.

[6:01] Eli Tokash: What's fun?

[6:02] Sydney Lucas: A forward slash is one that it that starts to the left and tilts to the right.

[6:05] Eli Tokash: It's tilting forward.

[6:07] Sydney Lucas: It's tilting to the right.

[6:10] Eli Tokash: Tilting to the right.

[6:11] Sydney Lucas: It's tilting to the right.

[6:13] Eli Tokash: Okay.

[6:13] Sydney Lucas: So wait, wait, wait.

[6:14] Eli Tokash: So from the top to the bottom.

[6:16] Sydney Lucas: Oh my goodness. Okay, yes.

[6:19] Eli Tokash: From the top or for the bottom?

[6:21] Sydney Lucas: From the top.

[6:22] Eli Tokash: From the top, it's tilting right.

[6:26] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, it's so if you're looking at it, the bottom is m is furthest left and the top is furthest right.

[6:35] Eli Tokash: Great. That's what it is.

[6:36] Sydney Lucas: So forward slash.

[6:38] Eli Tokash: Forward slash.

[6:38] Sydney Lucas: Forward slash T A B.

[6:41] Eli Tokash: Patreon.com forward slash T A B.

[6:44] Sydney Lucas: Um Thank you, Sydney. I'm so sorry that you guys had to listen to that.

[6:50] Eli Tokash: Those are a lot of Sydney and I's conversations.

[6:55] Sydney Lucas: But yeah, there's some fun things on there. So, you know, feel free to check it out.

[6:59] Eli Tokash: And if not, we understand. Um, but yeah.

[7:02] Sydney Lucas: But yeah. Than thank you so much for your support, anyways. Just, you know, every time you download and listen to an episode, and every time you, you know, follow us on Instagram and comment, it truly means the world.

[7:13] Eli Tokash: So thank you.

[7:14] Sydney Lucas: Yeah.

[7:14] Eli Tokash: Another thing I wanted to say was we're like, I miss Broadway so much. I don't know about you.

[7:20] Sydney Lucas: You know, I just miss going like not that I like went every night or anything like that. I'd probably go like once or a month or so.

[7:29] Eli Tokash: Uh, but I try to go as often as I can. And I just like miss it.

[7:34] Sydney Lucas: You know, it just like the city itself seems so dull without it. It's like an energy that it provides to the city.

[7:40] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and I'm j I literally just can't wait to have it back. And the other thing is too, is like I'm glad that odds are it wouldn't be working right now on Broadway if Broadway was running.

[7:51] Sydney Lucas: So I'm glad that like this is another opportunity to just like continue having fun and working, kind of um and talking about what what I love, you know, and just Broadway and having fun and you know, reconnecting with Broadway actors and yeah, especially in a time where we feel so distant, like it's just great to reconnect with people.

[8:12] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and we're glad that we can, you know, sort of bring Broadway to you.

[8:16] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, and we get to connect with you through through Instagram and also through Patreon.

[8:21] Eli Tokash: So once again, go check it out. Quick plug.

[8:24] Sydney Lucas: Um, but like not even like just in your ears, you know, like uh I uh although we may not, you know, be able to see your reaction and stuff like that.

[8:35] Eli Tokash: Um it still just means a lot. And if you i if there's a way, just like reach out to us if you feel free. We're we're always down for a chat.

[8:45] Sydney Lucas: Yeah.

[8:46] Eli Tokash: All right, everyone. We hope you enjoy this episode. We definitely did. So, Jeremy, take it away.

[9:17] Sydney Lucas: Today we have a true triple threat from his dancing, his voice, and his acting. He has professionally conquered it all on Broadway and at the top dance studios in New York. Welcome to Take A Bow, Jeremy Villas.

[9:33] Eli Tokash: We're excited because this is the first interview that Sydney and I know you just know the guest.

[9:39] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, like both, like both of us know you equally. Because either either Eli knows the guest and I don't, or like I know the guest and Eli doesn't, but this you're the first guest that we both know equally.

[9:49] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[9:50] Sydney Lucas: So mind you since like sixth grade.

[9:53] Eli Tokash: So for like six years we've known you. So we're so excited. Let me let me paint a picture here.

[9:58] Sydney Lucas: 2014. We were all 10 to 11 years old. It was our very first day of middle school. Then all of a sudden, a kid walks in the doors. He is wearing the brightest clothes.

[10:11] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[10:12] Sydney Lucas: This is and glasses and a bow tie. He has the brightest, most enthusiastic smile, and he walks with an energetic bounce.

[10:24] Eli Tokash: So excited to meet everyone, and he captivates absolutely everyone in the room. His name is Jeremy Villas, and everyone was so excited to be his friend.

[10:33] Sydney Lucas: That was our first impression of Jeremy, and I just think everyone needs to know. But anyway, yeah, no, we've all known each other for six years, which is crazy.

[10:43] Eli Tokash: We went to middle school together, we went to high school together. We're about to delve into so much information we would have never previously known about you if it weren't for this podcast. Are you ready?

[10:54] Jeremy Villas: Yes, I am.

[10:55] Eli Tokash: Jeremy is is like the most triple threat, triple threat I have ever met. But let's start let's start off with like the obvious. Jeremy's a human rubber band.

[11:05] Sydney Lucas: He's so flexible.

[11:07] Eli Tokash: Everywhere he goes, he's in like some kind of contortion or or stretch, whether it be the splits or extensions or whatever. He's very bendy.

[11:15] Sydney Lucas: And he's genuinely the best dancer I have ever met in my entire life. Jeremy, did you start out dancing? Like out of acting, singing, and dancing, what was the like the first thing that you got into?

[11:26] Jeremy Villas: Okay, so I feel like it all started when I was three years old. And there was like a little dance program right around the corner of my um house, and like I would always dance around the house, and like my mom didn't really think of anything, but she was like, Okay, I know this little dance school, so let me just take him there.

[11:44] Jeremy Villas: I was there for about a year, it was fun, but then I stopped. I was like, No, I don't want to do this anymore. So then a good like four years, there's like a huge gap where I just didn't dance at all.

[11:57] Jeremy Villas: And my mom still wanted me to like stay like active or whatever, so she put me in the YMCA and I did swimming and the whole and then I did karate and I didn't like karate at all.

[12:10] Sydney Lucas: It's good, you have to be flexible for karate.

[12:14] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, but definitely wasn't for me. Um so like a few years later, I was still kind of interested, so I kind of mentioned it to my mom, and then she was telling me how there's like a theater arts program in Queens over the summer, and I was like, Okay, I want to go there because I did not like going to summer camp at all, because I would do like school there too, or it's like the school in the in the in the morning and then like activities at the end. I was like, No, I'm not doing that.

[12:39] Jeremy Villas: So I went to performing arts um camp in Queens and I had a lot of fun, and that's like really where everything sparked. Like I was like, Oh my gosh, wow, this is so fun, like being on stage and dancing with everyone. I was like, Oh my god, this is what I want to do.

[12:56] Sydney Lucas: How old were you?

[12:57] Jeremy Villas: I was about eight, seven or eight and I did that for two summers, then I was like, No, I really want to do this. And so the director um thought I was really talented and reached out to my mom and was like, Oh, um, I think it'd be really great if we signed him with like a manager or something like that.

[13:16] Jeremy Villas: And like at the time my mom and I weren't really so like educated on everything in like the Broadway field and everything. So we were like, Okay, we'll just like go on board and see where it takes us. So then I was a part of the Little Angels management company and that's where yeah yep, and then with that I got into Kinky Boots after like auditioning for a lot of things.

[13:42] Jeremy Villas: So I had an agent as well after I got my manager. There was a person in the theater company over the summer who also had a child who like danced at Ailey, and so then that's how I got into dancing as well.

[13:54] Jeremy Villas: So I started when I was nine and I was dancing and I had a manager. And then Kinky Boots came.

[14:00] Eli Tokash: Yeah, okay. And were you still with that, you know, agent manager?

[14:06] Jeremy Villas: Well, I did Kinky Boots for a year and I had a manager and an agent, but then after I kind of dropped my manager 'cause I felt like it was just better just to have like an agent. I didn't want to have like two different like so I just had an agent after that.

[14:22] Eli Tokash: But Okay, so let's let's dive in. So you started dancing first, right? And then what was that initial, you know, light bulb in your head that was like, okay, I can do this dancing, but now I want to do more and I want to be on stage and sing and act at the same time as dancing.

[14:42] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. So when I was three I stopped. I didn't like it. But then when I went to do like the performing arts program, I did singing dancing and acting, but dancing was very heavy because we had to do like a lot of dancing numbers, and so just like being a part of the space and like being with my colleagues and doing the choreography with the costumes and everything, like it just made me feel like so happy just to like express myself fully, and that was like really heartfelt and important to me, and I was like, wow, this is like amazing, like having the spotlight on me and just singing and just having a lot of fun.

[15:18] Jeremy Villas: Um, it wasn't like mom, I want to do this professionally because I wasn't really aware of like Broadway. Oh, I did know what Broadway was, but I just like something didn't click in my mind that like I could do this professionally. I wasn't like on your radar. No, not really. I was just like, Yeah, like doing this like every summer, like it's fun. Um, but luckily the director like reached out to me and was like, Oh well, you're very good and like you c you should do this professionally, and that's where he connected me with like the manager and everything, and that's how I branched out into like the Broadway field. But um definitely when I was like eight or seven doing the performing arts program, that's when everything really sparked for me.

[15:58] Eli Tokash: Okay, so what was that feeling that Kinky Boots gave you because you were really like able to express yourself, you know, and that story and being with that show for your Broadway debut. Like that's something so special. Kinky Boots is such an uplifting show. Like it's it's a show about love and acceptance and understanding being who you authentically are. What was it like having first of all being like how did that impact you being in a show like that? And also how did it impact you having that be your Broadway debut?

[16:28] Jeremy Villas: I'm extremely lucky to be a part of that show and I definitely felt like it was a good show for me to be opened up to 'cause at the time when I was younger I was very sheltered, but being a part of that space kind of just like pushed me into everything and I was like wow so this is really what the world is. This is how people really love each other and I think that was like a really like important part for me in my childhood. So in and like everyone in in the space in the cast is so like fun and accepting and loving and like the Broadway theater family is so close and every gent everyone just like loves and like hugs each other a lot. So I think it was really great to be a part of that space, definitely being my first Broadway show. And I did have a lot of fun.

[17:13] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, I think one of my favorite parts about being a child actor is is I mean first of all the Broadway community is being a part of that family because it truly is a family. And also the fact that you're growing up and you have so many people around you who um you know teach you how to be just more professional and more mature but also teach you how to love like they're they help to raise you. So I I almost feel like being a child actor. It makes us grow up a lot faster, but I I mean especially in theater, I think I think it's in a good way. I think, you know, we learn to like all of our our our friends are are the people we're working with. So we have all of these amazing talented adults who are literal icons and we're getting daily master classes from these people. Kinky Boots is such a special show and and I think being being in theater as a child in general is such a huge blessing and I think it it it definitely like changes you for the better.

[18:12] Eli Tokash: So going back to dancing just for a sec, Jeremy is constantly in dance classes and in and intensives. You go to Ailey, right? Didn't don't you like dance Ailey?

[18:21] Jeremy Villas: Oh my gosh. I've been dancing there since I was nine and this will be my sixth year dancing.

[18:29] Eli Tokash: Oh my god mah.

[18:34] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. Seventh year everything is definitely stopped because of COVID. Um so I don't really know how that's gonna work for my senior year, but it's been like really, really great um being with them and I've learned so much. Ailey dancers are like no other truly.

[18:51] Eli Tokash: Yeah. And what's so crazy is like you're constantly working because not only do you have school and not only do you have these dance classes that after school you go like immediately to these dance dance classes, but you also have auditions that you go to and you are a working actor. What is a day in the life of Jeremy Villas?

[19:18] Jeremy Villas: Well, first having dance classes a lot twenty four seven and auditioning was definitely hard because it was really hard to like prioritize things and like oh if this audition was at this time, maybe have to run over there really quickly, maybe I'd have to be a little late. Um I'm definitely lucky because Ailey was very lenient with that at times because they know that I was a working actor. But on a typical day, I would wake up at six o'clock in the morning.

[19:46] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I wake up.

[19:48] Jeremy Villas: Jeremy does not go to sleep early, so that's like that's another thing that's like you know you may think six o'clock in the morning isn't too bad if you like go to bed early, but he doesn't get to bed early. So no, he goes he goes to bed at like two or three a.m.

[20:04] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, that was a lot. So I'd wake up at six, leave the house at six thirty, I'd get to school around like eight fifteen because I live in Queens, but my school, PPAS, which we all go to, it's in midtown, so with like a very far like your commute is like one of the longest out of any any of the students.

[20:24] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah, don't you have to like take a car and then a subway or something?

[20:28] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, well, my mom usually drives me and I take the train and then I take another train and then walk there. But now I just take the Long Island Railroad because Queens, like I'm like it's not it, it's not even like I'm close to Queens, like I'm basically in Long Island. Like I'm a six minute walk from Long Island, so I'm like the farthest away from Queens and everyone. So it was a long commute. Um when I was doing Kinky Boots, of course we'd have matinee shows, so I would leave for my two o'clock shows, I'd leave around like one or one fifteen, so I'd stop school like not halfway, but towards the end of the day.

[21:06] Jeremy Villas: What's so great about PBAS though is that they're very flexible. Like, like there are a lot of child actors go to PBAS because they're only performing art schools that like lets kids actually work fully. Like single only one. It's the only one. So I'd have my matinee show, and then of course I would like eat or like do homework during the break, or sometimes I wouldn't, and I would just break up home. But every day during the week, I'd have my eight o'clock show or seven o'clock show. And of course, like the show ends around like 10 30. And then I would get home. The commute's still extremely long. So I would get home around 11 30, 12 o'clock, still have to pack and get ready for school, wash up, do my homework, study for a test, do a homework assignment, and then really I wouldn't go to bed until like one or two. And then I'd wake up at six and start everything over again.

[22:01] Eli Tokash: So and it's hilarious because at PPAS, we're dancing there too. So like literally, I was done after two and a half hours, and then this guy was going to another like five hour dance for everyone. I was like, oh my god.

[22:15] Jeremy Villas: But go new. When I did do Kinky Boots, I actually had to stop Ailey because everything was just getting like extremely complicated for me. So I'd only dance maybe on like Saturdays or like Sunday or something like that. So I did stop for a year, but when I did stop Kinky Boots, I would um go to dance regularly, and then I would go to auditions, and that's how sometimes that would get a little messy as well. But I think it's always just about like prioritizing everything and being responsible. Like definitely me, I'm like a type A person, so everything has to be like organized and like tidy. So I feel like for that, like for me specifically, it was not easy, but it was not that hard to like work out everything um with time and like auditions, but it was definitely a lot. Like I was always constantly on the go for years.

[23:05] Eli Tokash: And not only not only that, but on top of that, you don't get a day off because you have a two show day on Saturday, you have a matinee on Sunday, and then you go back to school Monday, which is the theater day off. So you get no days off. You're working literally seven days a week doing so much.

[23:23] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, it's not easy. You know let's say on the dancing subject. Like I know now you're in the process of you just had an audition for s uh it was it Juilliard?

[23:37] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, I had my audition in February. I know this is one of Sydney's questions, but since we're I'm kinda on the topic, what's the end goal now? Like, so we're looking at colleges and stuff like that. Are we looking for musical theater? Are we looking more dance? Like what what do you want to end up doing?

[23:55] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, what comes what comes after this? So long term after college, I wanna get into a concert dance company. And basically that's just like like an actual dance company like Alvin Ailey or like Netherlands Dance Theater in Europe or something like that. And then after I wanna branch off into commercial dance, which is like dance music videos, um, and then do Broadway after. So that's definitely the long term goal. And so for that to happen, it's imperative that I have an intense amount of dance training, which is why I have to go to college for dance if I wanna do like a dance company first. Because Broadway I can do like until I'm 80. Like there's a huge amount of Broadway stars, but dance especially, like it's important that like I keep that up first.

[24:43] Eli Tokash: Um especially in your prime.

[24:45] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. Yeah. And I I can definitely come back to like singing and acting, but for dance, like I just have to keep on doing it over and over. But the nice thing too is about like you know, with dance, you have to exercise those muscles every day. And similar to singing, you you can just do that like on your own time though.

[25:03] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure.

[25:04] Jeremy Villas: Like people need a lesson or something like that.

[25:07] Eli Tokash: Right.

[25:07] Jeremy Villas: So it's good to you can easily just stick with it.

[25:10] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, it's definitely something I'm gonna keep up with when I do go to college.

[25:14] Eli Tokash: Yeah, hopefully. Cindy and I have kind of run through to our listeners what goes on at a musical theater audition, but what entails the dance audition? Like what what does that entail?

[25:27] Jeremy Villas: Well, for dance, it's usually like everyone goes into one room and they have like a choreographer and they might give out choreography and then you have to execute it while there's like a huge amount of people like on a panel in the front of the room watching, and it's kind of similar to musical theater, but the only difference is that for musical theater, if you're like going like to sing or act, like it's usually like a one-on-one thing, and you'll have like someone who reads the sides with you, and then it's like that interaction to see how that is. But it's definitely similar, and of course, for musical theater auditions, if there's like a big dance call, it would be the same thing, and everyone would just come in one room.

[26:05] Eli Tokash: I I know you've mentioned wanting to after you do dance, like going into Broadway. Would you ever be interested in going into TV or movies?

[26:13] Jeremy Villas: Yes, I I would I mean, if it comes up, I'm definitely not gonna like go crazy over it. But if there's definitely like a big movie that my agent mentions to me and I really like the story and and um what it tells and what the the sides are, it's definitely something I would look into, but it would definitely change the route of like my paths for sure. Um but it's definitely something I'd want to do though. It's very fun.

[26:39] Eli Tokash: Yeah, who knows? It'll open more opportunities, new opportunities.

[26:42] Jeremy Villas: For sure. You may know Jeremy from Kinky Boots, but he also was in uh Your Good Man Charlie Brown off Broadway, and he was in Chris Kringle, the musical off Broadway. But he was also in the lab for The Music Man that is coming to Broadway. Were you able to work with like Sutton Foster, Hugh Jackman and like that team?

[27:02] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, well, for the first two I think it was three weeks. Well, for the first two weeks or two weeks and a half, um, we were definitely just working on choreography and a lot of dance numbers. And then Sutton Foster was able to come for the last two days. But at the time Hugh Jackman couldn't come because I think he was rehearsing or doing something on tour. So he couldn't come, but Sutton Foster was definitely there and she What what was your reaction like when you first saw her?

[27:28] Jeremy Villas: Because the after I have a story that I want to tell. Well, I have a whole bunch of Broadway cards.

[27:33] Eli Tokash: Oh yes!

[27:36] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, definitely like also things, right?

[27:39] Eli Tokash: Yep.

[27:39] Jeremy Villas: Um Dory from the Oh everyone was obsessed with Broadway cards at the time. Like, I wanna buy a pack, I wanna buy a pack. So I did have Sutton Foster in my binder, and when I heard that Sutton Foster was gonna come, I was like, Oh my gosh, I have her as a Broadway card. So I went to get my card and I brought it over to the theater when I got there, and I was like, Oh my gosh, I love you so much. Um, can you please sign this card for me? And also I didn't meet her because she came to see Kinky Boots, and I got a selfie with her. So I was like, This is our selfie. Do you remember me? And she was like, Oh, yes, I do. So um, but she signed my card, and it she and she's such a great performer. Like, it was a dream to watch her on stage, like so mesmerizing. But um She's also like the like the kindest, like she's so warm.

[28:35] Eli Tokash: Oh, she's so cute.

[28:36] Jeremy Villas: No, that's so cute.

[28:39] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, but it was definitely so fun working on that show.

[28:42] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I I remember so I cause I was in the all three labs for The Greatest Showman, right? And so one day I like literally just walked in, and actually at the time, it was Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. So Sutton Foster was playing charity, the Partnum's wife.

[29:04] Jeremy Villas: Oh my god.

[29:04] Eli Tokash: And I walked in because I was gonna go sing with Pasek and Paul, like the Million Dreams, and all of a sudden, like they're standing there, and I was like freaking out, and and I knew like Pasek and Paul, and so I was like comfortable with them, and I was like, guys, I I don't know if I want to sing right now, you know. Like I I just can't like I don't I can't do this with them here.

[29:28] Jeremy Villas: So not okay, so wait, so they talked me into singing, but not only was I singing in front of them, then all of a sudden they started singing with me during their parts, and I was like, What is happening?

[29:40] Sydney Lucas: Like, I didn't know that was a thing. Like, I get no warning, but so I know what that must have been like when you that initial reaction of like seeing her in the room, because like you know, it's she's Sutton Foster, like wow, you you're automatically starstruck, you know.

[29:57] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[29:58] Sydney Lucas: Also, also like Jeremy is like the most confident person I've ever met. Like, Jeremy, I don't know if you remember this, but there's a memory I have of you so vividly. Do you know in our school, uh this the stairwell that we we go to when we want to go to the auditorium, like in the back of the school that is like near the transit that we're not supposed to go under any circumstances, otherwise it could set off an alarm.

[30:24] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[30:25] Sydney Lucas: I have a memory so vivid. I think we were waiting for acting class, and I think we had to do some kind of like audition, like some kind of singing audition. And you were trying to figure out what song you were gonna sing, but you didn't know, so we we were we you were like, hey, come here, I want to ask you a question. You're like, please help me figure out what song I'm gonna sing. And I was like, okay, so I sat down, and then you ended up singing three songs front to back, full voice, full commitment, and then at the end, so casually asked, So which one? Which one should I sing? As if you didn't put on this glorious concert for me.

[31:09] Eli Tokash: Oh my goodness.

[31:13] Sydney Lucas: Wow, that's so I have no doubt in my mind that you made such an incredible impression because you always can we take a moment because I'm I'm getting this picture, and just because I knew Jeremy in middle school, like he was like the cutest little thing, like, and I I don't mean to like say anything because we are the same age, but like at the same time, like I was kind of like a foot taller than you, so like I didn't know that you were always in my class, and like it was just like your eyes were like so cute and like big, and like you always had like this cute innocent face on you. So when you when literally when you said so which one, like I like thought of that with his old high-pitched voice. It was just like with his eyes just like looking at you, just like it's so cute.

[32:02] Jeremy Villas: I love it.

[32:03] Sydney Lucas: I love that. I was so amazed because you had literally sang three songs for me, just without like back to back without stopping. His voice was high confidently.

[32:18] Jeremy Villas: I love it. What a story. I love you, Jeremy so much.

[32:21] Jeremy Villas: I love you guys too.

[32:24] Jeremy Villas: I'm in middle school. Those are the days.

[32:27] Sydney Lucas: I don't miss middle school, but I I miss hanging out with you guys.

[32:32] Jeremy Villas: You don't miss middle school.

[32:33] Jeremy Villas: I have to say, I miss middle school after going through high school.

[32:37] Jeremy Villas: Really?

[32:38] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. Middle school was so much worse for me. Like, I mean, well, granted, obviously, like for all of us, it was very like middle school was weird because like in sixth grade, like we said, where we were all in shows. So like I was I was in sixth grade for half of the year, and then the other half of the year, I was pretty much like not in school for most of the six months, and then seventh grade, I was in Texas. I didn't even go to school, and then I came back for eighth grade, like midway through the year. So middle school is weird. I didn't like it. It was just a really bizarre thing, and and it's bizarre, like trying to balance school and and theater, obviously, when you're a child actor, but luckily the school we went to is like very flexible.

[33:21] Sydney Lucas: I love your nails.

[33:23] Jeremy Villas: I know. I got them done uh two weeks ago.

[33:27] Sydney Lucas: Oh, really? Wow, there they're they stayed well.

[33:31] Jeremy Villas: Well, they're kind of chipping, but oh my bad. Um did you see Sydney's nails?

[33:35] Jeremy Villas: I picked them out.

[33:36] Sydney Lucas: Thank you. Oh, I changed them again.

[33:39] Jeremy Villas: That's so pretty. I love it.

[33:42] Sydney Lucas: I'm sorry, I really need to be able to play guitar and and my long nail I can't like do my long nails. So I so I know I asked Oscar for my my third most recent nail color, and then I asked Mahi I asked you for my next most recent, which weirdly Mahi I was asking Mahi what color he wanted me to do. He picked the same exact color that you did. He went sky blue, that one, and I went, that's the one I'm wearing right now.

[34:10] Jeremy Villas: Thank you. I love, I love.

[34:15] Sydney Lucas: Yeah. They look great. Such similar taste. This is this is staying in.

[34:20] Eli Tokash: Um sorry, we're just talking about nails. So Jeremy, let's talk a bit a little bit more about like what it's uh what it's like to be a child actor. There are things called child wranglers, right? Can you explain for someone who may not know basically what a child wrangler is and and what they do?

[34:39] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, well, a child wrangler is essentially like your babysitter while you're in the show. Um they kind of just like walk with you around everywhere to make sure you're like safe, then just making sure that like you're on like the right track or like on the right side of a wing before you go on, or like make sure you're dressed, or make sure you're um doing something on the right cube before you go on. Um also parents aren't allowed backstage, so they're they're kind they kind of act as the um the I guess the the guardian or the parent backstage.

[35:13] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, by like half hour call you can go up, but like five or ten minutes before the show, like all the parents have to leave.

[35:20] Eli Tokash: What did you do in between shows? Because there we have two show days. Were your two show days Wednesday and Saturday?

[35:27] Jeremy Villas: Yes. So did you ever go to the Broadway park?

[35:33] Jeremy Villas: Oh my god. The iconic Broadway Park.

[35:37] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. So basically on half shows, I mean on um like in between I'd be like, oh yeah, I'm gonna do my homework. This that and the third. Yeah, I would definitely not do my homework. Um I would either go out to eat or go to the movies or s or something if it's like a short like film, and then or before or after, I would go to the Broadway park, and that's just where like everyone would go and hang out and just have fun and mingle with all the other Broadway kids. It's it's literally where every single Broadway kid like met each other and and played with each other.

[36:14] Sydney Lucas: Does anyone know the address of the Broadway park? Or should we like give that away?

[36:18] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, it's on 43rd and 9th, like by by the corner. Yeah, it's like in between eighth and ninth. It's on that same avenue of that dollar pizza place.

[36:25] Sydney Lucas: It's great. Yeah, it has swings. We would have all stopped there on our way to the park.

[36:30] Jeremy Villas: And then you have like the Matilda kids.

[36:33] Sydney Lucas: Yeah.

[36:34] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. And it has that like twisty thing that you where you just go round around and around. And you would always get dizzy and no, yeah. Definitely a lot of nostalgia with that. Nothing like getting dizzy before an evening show.

[36:46] Eli Tokash: Let's talk about you mentioned the Broadway card and then you mentioned like the Broadway park. So it was cool because we all had we all have like different memories with each other from like being on Broadway just because it's small, especially the kid community. Jeremy, share one of the stories either from like the Broadway park or from even like the fundraisers that we did where we decorated like the bags at the Lion King Theater and stuff like that.

[37:12] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. Do you remember were you guys there when we decorated like clay butterflies?

[37:16] Sydney Lucas: Oh yeah.

[37:17] Jeremy Villas: Is that a thing?

[37:18] Sydney Lucas: Oh yeah.

[37:19] Jeremy Villas: So basically, like in Thanksgiving, um, we would like all the Broadway kids would like come to the Lion King Theater because they were kind of like organized everything, and we would just like create bags for like the people who are like homeless or um don't have and it was like a really great time because like all the broad like literally every single Broadway kid was there and just coming together and doing something positive for the community.

[37:45] Sydney Lucas: I actually have a photo with Liliana who was doing it's right here.

[37:50] Jeremy Villas: Oh Broadway serves, yes.

[37:52] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, oh my god. That's so cute. Those were insanely fun. Um but it's definitely a great time.

[38:01] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, so but the great thing about that were the adults on Broadway all got together to get the kids on Broadway together, you know, and like have the opportunity to like hang out, have some fun, but also do like great things. So that they were really the ones that got the kid community so close, you know, because we met each other through there, and then we would all be like, Oh, do you guys go to the park? Like, you should come to the park. We would create like play dates.

[38:29] Sydney Lucas: Yeah. So much fun. And for those of you who don't know, Lion King, every single Broadway kid went to Lion King for Halloween. Like they would create this haunted stuff. We would do trick-or-treating there. Um because oftentimes I I didn't we have to do it. Didn't we all have to do a show on Halloween?

[38:48] Jeremy Villas: Always.

[38:49] Sydney Lucas: And it was always and it was like always, I don't know why, but it was always a I'm saying Halloween always fell on like a uh on a night show. Like it was never on a Sunday where we had like just a matinee or anything. It was always exciting on the in-between shows on the Saturday, the light of the week of Halloween, Lion King always did that. It was so thoughtful of them because they knew we wouldn't be able to trick-or-treat, so they just they'd made their own like haunted house and and just trick-or-treating the color.

[39:14] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, and not only was it right, and cause not only was it a haunted house, but it was also like a little place where we could trick-or-treat. Yeah, and they had like pizza for us, and like yeah, they were the best. And it was the same people that hosted the Broadway serves too.

[39:31] Sydney Lucas: So yeah, they're they're awesome. We were so that like we still keep up with like each other now, like because we were like able to meet everyone.

[39:40] Jeremy Villas: Right.

[39:40] Jeremy Villas: So we can hit them up on direct message and be like, hey, what's up? And like I feel like those type of relationships are very good, especially because we're most likely still gonna be in the field when we're older. I mean, some some of them did stop performing, but a good bit of them are like still trying to audition and stuff, so it's definitely good to have those connections still.

[40:00] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, and plus we all need to like stick together and support each other, you know. Like that's what the community is. So even if it's like not in a field, like and they're like, hey, come see me and my swim meet. I'd be like, Yeah. Yeah, you know, like just anything.

[40:13] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, super supportive.

[40:14] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, totally.

[40:16] Eli Tokash: Can we can we play a game?

[40:17] Jeremy Villas: A game?

[40:18] Eli Tokash: Okay. I like it.

[40:21] Jeremy Villas: You seem very unsure.

[40:22] Eli Tokash: I've never played a game before on um on a Zoom, so it should be fun.

[40:26] Jeremy Villas: Well, there's the first time for everything.

[40:28] Eli Tokash: There's no pressure. I promise we'll we'll try to make it easier for you.

[40:32] Jeremy Villas: No, it's the greatest. So we have this game called Illicit. And it's kind of like our names combined. Eli Sid. But illicit basically means illicit response. So it's basically gonna be a fast round game. So we're gonna ask you a question and you're gonna answer it as quickly as possible. Super fun. We have 10 questions for you. Are you ready?

[40:50] Jeremy Villas: Okay.

[40:52] Eli Tokash: Take a break. Take a breath. Okay, number one. Which actor would you most like to work with?

[40:58] Jeremy Villas: James Monroe, I go heart.

[41:00] Eli Tokash: Oh, yes.

[41:01] Jeremy Villas: One of my favorite Broadway shows is Aladdin, like seeing him on stage. Like just seeing him with like so excited and having so much energy, like I just loved it.

[41:09] Sydney Lucas: So that's so funny. So my next question is what's your favorite musical?

[41:13] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, Aladdin, definitely. Um The Revival of Carousel.

[41:18] Sydney Lucas: Oh yeah, that was a great musical.

[41:21] Eli Tokash: Okay, my next question which dancer would you most like to work with?

[41:27] Jeremy Villas: Oh my god. Fast face, fast face. First one is okay. Jermaine's fivey. He's like a really um famous uh contemporary artist, and I definitely relate to him a lot.

[41:39] Sydney Lucas: So we've mentioned that you're a triple threat, you know, to the T. But what other talents do you have that you know others may or may not know about you?

[41:49] Jeremy Villas: Oh well, when I was younger, I used to knit a lot, like in sixth grade at the end. I guess not like a hidden talent, but it's something that I know how to do.

[41:58] Sydney Lucas: Oh, especially like follow up. Where did you learn how to knit?

[42:01] Jeremy Villas: At PPAS, like Jack told um Oh, right. They were all good at it. So I was like, okay, I'll just follow the trend.

[42:10] Sydney Lucas: Aww. That's where that started. Shout out to Jack. Um, next one, it's kind of similar, but if you weren't an actor, singer, dancer, what would you be?

[42:22] Jeremy Villas: I'd want to be an obstetrician.

[42:24] Sydney Lucas: Really? Why is that?

[42:25] Jeremy Villas: I always wanted um, like when I was younger, I was definitely into science. I love science a lot. And my mom like worked in a hospital, so like definitely being a part of that, I can like easily get into like a medical school or something like that. But I just like I think the idea of like bringing babies into the world is like such a beautiful thing. So I definitely want to be an obstetrician.

[42:43] Sydney Lucas: Wow.

[42:48] Eli Tokash: Like look at you.

[42:50] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[42:51] Sydney Lucas: That's so fun. What show are you what TV show are you currently watching?

[42:55] Jeremy Villas: Disney Plus Wizards of Waverly Place.

[42:57] Sydney Lucas: Yes. As you should.

[43:00] Jeremy Villas: That is like the 2000s.

[43:03] Jeremy Villas: Rain?

[43:05] Sydney Lucas: Rain?

[43:07] Jeremy Villas: It's like uh it's R-E-I-G-N. It's like the royal rain.

[43:10] Sydney Lucas: Yeah, rain.

[43:11] Jeremy Villas: Oh, how's that?

[43:12] Jeremy Villas: It's really good. It's has a lot of seasons, so I'm not even close to finish. But I kind of just jump around.

[43:18] Eli Tokash: What is the best compliment that someone can give you?

[43:21] Jeremy Villas: Um when people say I'm very mature.

[43:25] Sydney Lucas: Oh.

[43:26] Jeremy Villas: Really? I don't know. I just feel like people I I I really appreciate when people think I'm mature, because like I feel like because of like my high spirit or like me being short, like people might like not assume, but I don't know. I just feel like it's nice when people like see me as like very like mature, like how I uphold myself in a setting or something like that.

[43:46] Sydney Lucas: You are very mature and you're very responsible. But the thing is what's so great about you is you're not only mature, but you are so outgoing and energetic. You combine the two perfectly.

[43:57] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[44:00] Sydney Lucas: And you're very well spoken.

[44:02] Eli Tokash: Yeah, like this has been really great so far.

[44:05] Jeremy Villas: Okay, good.

[44:05] Eli Tokash: Yeah, no, you're don't worry about it.

[44:07] Jeremy Villas: Okay, we have three more questions. I promise these aren't gonna be too difficult. Um, what is your go-to shower karaoke song?

[44:16] Jeremy Villas: Say so by Dozie.

[44:18] Sydney Lucas: Oh, do you have to do the TikTok dance with it?

[44:21] Jeremy Villas: She's kind of like prob yes, I do. She's kind of problematic, but you know, it's okay. But I love I love that song a lot.

[44:30] Eli Tokash: It's a good song.

[44:31] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, yeah, it's catchy.

[44:32] Eli Tokash: What is one thing you wish you'd known before you became a child actor?

[44:39] Jeremy Villas: Just understand like you're already in your career, and like the people that you're with are people that you're going to know for a very long time. So just to like be nice to everyone. I mean, I definitely think that like I was a good person at the time, but I know just like keeping up that idea of being nice to everyone.

[44:57] Eli Tokash: Oh, that's perfect. That's actually like the best advice that someone could give a child actor. Like if you do anything, be nice to every single person.

[45:06] Jeremy Villas: So much like childhood tea with like a lot of the Broadway kids. But yeah, definitely that's fine.

[45:13] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it's important because like we get told all the time that like Broadway is a small community, but like it kind of is. Like obviously there's a lot of people, but like a lot of these people literally know everyone. Like they all know each other. So it's so important to make a good impression and like, you know, just stick with it and have positive vibes.

[45:36] Eli Tokash: Um, okay, last one. So you were in Kinky Boots when you were 10, right? When you were 10 or 11.

[45:42] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, ten eleven.

[45:43] Eli Tokash: Eleven. Okay. So at eleven years old, this guy was walking in heels on stage.

[45:50] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[45:51] Eli Tokash: Did you ever have like a stage like an on stage mishap or anything like that?

[45:56] Jeremy Villas: No, I actually didn't.

[45:58] Eli Tokash: Ooh.

[45:59] Jeremy Villas: Wow. You had some practice there, eh?

[46:03] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I guess so. Okay, bonus question. Would you ever want to play adult Lola?

[46:10] Jeremy Villas: Oh my gosh, I would love to. That would be if there was ever a revival, I would definitely go to that audition because that show like is so fun with all the quick changes and it's gorgeous. Everything, yeah.

[46:22] Jeremy Villas: But my voice definitely probably a little too low for uh you have some time.

[46:29] Eli Tokash: Don't count yourself out.

[46:31] Jeremy Villas: We'll see. But I would definitely want to be um older Lola in Kinky Boots in the future.

[46:36] Eli Tokash: I would buy tickets for that in a heartbeat. And wouldn't you be like the only person who played not only child Lola, but also...

[46:38] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, right?

[46:44] Eli Tokash: Yeah, so cool. Like a cool like news thing.

[46:46] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[46:47] Eli Tokash: So Jeremy, you have done some work with Jordan Matter.

[46:51] Jeremy Villas: Oh yeah.

[46:52] Eli Tokash: So for those of you who don't know who Jordan Matter is, he is this amazing photographer. He works with dancers and gymnasts and all kinds of like acrobats and whatever. And he's very famous on YouTube. And Jeremy actually worked with him. And you can if you go to Jordan Matter's Instagram and YouTube, you can find videos and pictures of Jeremy and all of his...

[47:16] Jeremy Villas: Oh, several.

[47:17] Eli Tokash: Yeah. How did you guys get connected? Like how did you know each other? How did that work out? And just how is it like working with him?

[47:25] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, um, so when I was younger dancing at Ailey, Jordan Matter wasn't as big as he is now, but at the time he was definitely just going around like America and like just going to like dance schools and being like, hey, could you like take a few of your kids and have me work with them and we can take photos or whatever? So he went to Ailey, and the people on the faculty at Ailey were like, okay, let's have Jeremy come. And so, of course, I came with my suspenders and my iconic sixth grade, seventh grade look.

[48:00] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[48:02] Jeremy Villas: And that was like the first photo shoot that I ever had with him.

[48:07] Eli Tokash: And that was in sixth grade, you said?

[48:09] Jeremy Villas: Like six or seventh.

[48:11] Eli Tokash: Yeah, around that time. And you still do stuff with him, right?

[48:16] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, not as often. I think the last time I worked with him was like a year ago.

[48:20] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I love it. I can't believe you're doing a toe touch in literally a button down and suit pants and suspenders and a bow tie. Like you amaze me.

[48:32] Jeremy Villas: Thank you. Yeah, so Jordan Matter wanted to work with me in the future, and then after that, we just would always DM each other because he lived in Ayack, it's in New York, kind of far, but it was still able, it was still easy for me to like commute and like go over there and take photos. And I did a 10 minute challenge with him.

[48:50] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[48:51] Jeremy Villas: How many photos I can take with him in 10 minutes? And I did the Starbucks 24 hours.

[48:57] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[48:58] Jeremy Villas: Thank you. And like going to a whole bunch of Starbucks in this city and taking photos. So I met up with him in his shoot. So yeah, it's been a blast working with him, and he's so he's he's actually crazy. Like the way his mind works and like being so spontaneous about like go over there and do this or go. I'm like, oh my god, okay. So I'm like running and like panting. It's like a lot, but it's a lot of fun.

[49:20] Eli Tokash: He has an incredible eye for photography.

[49:22] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[49:24] Eli Tokash: And the fact that like he's able to like, you know, just like coordinate that with dancers is just like another level of, you know, just imagery and what goes on inside his head. It's great.

[49:35] Jeremy Villas: Because it's one thing to like take a picture of like this cool building and whatnot, but it's also another thing to add a person there and a dancer telling them what dance move to do. Like, yeah, I don't know. It's just like it's crazy.

[49:48] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah. It's awesome. Petition for Jeremy to do more stuff with Jordan Matter because I love when you guys collaborate.

[49:57] Jeremy Villas: Thank you. Jeremy, thank you so much for sharing your light and wisdom with this podcast. We love you so much and we miss you.

[50:06] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, this was so much fun.

[50:08] Eli Tokash: It was so fun. I'm glad I was able to do it because like I was having a lot of things I think. I was like, uh, I don't know.

[50:13] Jeremy Villas: No, you were great.

[50:15] Eli Tokash: Thank you. Yeah, no, no. I know people will like this one for sure. Especially because like it was just like chill, you know, it was just kind of fun, and we were just like getting not only were we getting to know you, but also the listeners were too. So I learned so much more about you.

[50:29] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, literally. I love that you're wanting to be an obstetrician. Like, what?

[50:36] Eli Tokash: Go to you.

[50:37] Jeremy Villas: That would definitely be a lot though, because like everything in like the medical field, like it takes a long time to like get there. And I'm very social, and usually people who are obstetricians aren't as social in their own little bubble. But I can just a ma I can just picture you just like being so talkative, like doing your so like how is your day? What's going on?

[50:58] Eli Tokash: But I think that would be great because like it makes people feel so comfortable.

[51:02] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, I was just gonna say, like, people are like so like tense and everything that like that gives them an opportunity to like feel at ease, you know.

[51:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah.

[51:10] Jeremy Villas: Yeah. So Dory, you have you have so many things going for you. I would want you to be my doctor.

[51:17] Eli Tokash: Whoever if you ever were. Take a bow, Jeremy Villas. We love him so much. He's a dear friend of ours. We've known him for six whole years.

[51:25] Jeremy Villas: We've known him for as long as we've known each other.

[51:31] Eli Tokash: Yeah. So it was it was super nice um, you know, connecting with him and and Eli, you you go to school with him right now, so you you do get connected, but we learned a lot about him that we didn't previously know.

[51:44] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, and it's so nice because like literally just recently Jeremy and I are starting to get like more and more close. Like we were always kind of close, but we were never as close as we are now. And so now like from being in school with him and like learning more about him, even from this interview, like it was so nice to have him on, and like I'm so happy to like have him in my life, you know, because he's just such a special person.

[52:07] Eli Tokash: Yeah, he's he's one of my favorite people.

[52:09] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, seriously. He's also like w like from the get-go when we announced that we were gonna be doing this podcast, he was like our first fan, like he was our first supporter.

[52:19] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[52:20] Jeremy Villas: And he like seriously immediately followed us on it on Instagram on the Take A Bow podcast Instagram, and it was just really nice to have him on. And thank you, Jeremy, so much for being so supportive, and we're just really, really, really grateful for you.

[52:36] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I don't know if 'cause like remember when we were going through that phase of like we were still trying to think of a name and get a logo and stuff like that. And we literally had like twenty different logo options just like between colors and between the style of it and all that. Thankfully we ended up figuring it out. But a big portion of that boost.

[53:01] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, but also like Jeremy was not only like the first follower and stuff like that, but he was also like helping me. I was going to him in school and being like, So what do you think about this? Like and he would always help with everything that like was going on. So it was cool. And I'm glad that we were able to have him on for our ninth episode.

[53:20] Eli Tokash: Wow.

[53:21] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, and even like after the episode, once it ended, we legit spent like an hour and a half on hanging out and he gave us like I he was like, Oh my god, what if you like do this? And guys, he may come on to be an honorary co-host, which would be really fun and really cool.

[53:40] Eli Tokash: Yeah, if you enjoyed this episode, please like let us know because we kinda are really wanting him to come back more often. So and you guys can hear more about Jeremy so he'll be back.

[53:49] Jeremy Villas: He'll be back.

[53:53] Eli Tokash: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he can come back anytime. Anytime he wants to do a podcast, Jeremy just like reach out to us and be like, Hey, can I like join in on this one?

[54:01] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, seriously. I loved the whole you know, we talked about theater, we talked about dancing, but we also talked about like so many other things and we talked about, you know, the casualness of going to school and we talked about what he wanted to be when he wasn't an actor. He wants to be an obstetrician.

[54:16] Eli Tokash: I would have never in my entire life guessed that.

[54:23] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[54:24] Eli Tokash: So Jeremy V is an obstetrician. I'm glad we were like able to like revisit the, you know, just our time on Broadway when we were all like together and doing Broadway serves and doing the Broadway park. Weird coincidence that when we were eleven we were all on Broadway.

[54:38] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, right?

[54:43] Eli Tokash: So we're pretty cool. Yeah. So we could empathize with each other and and you know, the school that we go to, um, it's a performing arts school, so there are a lot of kids there who are on Broadway or TVs or movies, and it's an amazing school, very flexible. Not not everyone is a professional actor, but a but like a lot of kids are, and it's kind of this unspoken camaraderie with all these people because they like understand what you're going through, going to school, going to Broadway, going to auditions, going to classes to constantly keep your thing up.

[55:20] Jeremy Villas: Not just between the students, but also between the teachers.

[55:23] Eli Tokash: Like a lot of them understand too. It's just like everyone has like a um unspoken sort of respect for each other.

[55:32] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, where absolutely we we don't talk about it, but we'll show it with our actions and just support and all of that. So it's really...

[55:38] Eli Tokash: Yeah. And also Jeremy's such a hard worker.

[55:42] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[55:43] Eli Tokash: He's he is constant like he so in high school we would do the academics in the morning, and then we would have a very small like 30 minute break where we had to transport ourselves to another building and do um either it depended on the day of the week. We had to do either acting, singing, or dancing. Dancing was a couple days a week, singing was a couple days a week, acting was um a couple days a week. But Jeremy, like we would we would have a couple hours of that and like full full like when it was a dancing day. It was it was a like it was a lot for me because I'm not I'm not like a dancer.

[56:27] Jeremy Villas: Right.

[56:28] Eli Tokash: But then he would he would do a full day of that. We would end at 3:30, and then he would immediately go to another two, three, four, five hour dance lesson.

[56:44] Jeremy Villas: Yeah.

[56:44] Eli Tokash: And I'm like, my legs are already cramping. How could you go to another lesson right now? Who are you? Are you human?

[56:53] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, I mean, he literally he's literally never home. Because like not never not only does he like so he's in the city doing dance lessons until like easily eight or nine, and then you know, he also has like voice lessons, and he also has you know, just homework and other things he has to catch up on. Like I mean, he does his homework on like the train ride home.

[57:18] Eli Tokash: Right.

[57:19] Jeremy Villas: And like yeah, it's crazy. He's he's really cool, and we're we're very excited that we got him on. And if you didn't know him before, like I hope you guys are fans of now, you know, because he's pretty cool. He's he's gonna be big. I know it. He's gonna be something really big.

[57:34] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Yeah, well, thanks again, Jeremy, for coming on, and we're excited because next week is our tenth episode, so wow.

[57:46] Jeremy Villas: I know, right? I we were like just celebrating over like five or something. And now we're like, now it's ten, and we're like, oh wow, like that's kind of like an actual accomplishment.

[57:55] Eli Tokash: Is it so how did that happen?

[57:58] Jeremy Villas: Yeah, um, so yeah, thanks for listening again, and I hope you enjoyed this episode, and next week's episode is gonna be pretty pretty fun.

[58:06] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and stay tuned for future episodes because Jeremy will most likely be coming back to be our honorary co-host, and it's gonna be so much fun. So stay tuned, keep an eye out, and keep your ears open.

[58:19] Jeremy Villas: And uh, like always, we love you so much. Thank you so much for supporting. Stay safe, stay sane. Come back next week.

[58:28] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone. Sick beat him, alright? Special shout out to Nikki Torcha and Cormac Colinon for our amazing intro and outro music.

[58:37] Jeremy Villas: Thank you so much for listening to this week's episode of Take A Bow. We hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to subscribe and leave a rating on whatever platform you're listening to us from.

[58:46] Eli Tokash: And tune in next week for another episode. This podcast wouldn't be possible without the help of Dory Barrett Stewart, Alex Seals, Brittany Bigelow, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network. To learn more about this podcast, visit BPN.fm forward slash take a bow and follow us on Instagram at Take A Bow Podcast, where you can contact us with any feedback, suggestions, or questions, and keep up with all things Take A Bow.

[59:11] Jeremy Villas: See you next week.

[59:13] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone.