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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 92 of Take A Bow.

[0:04] Eli Tokash: I'm your host, Eli Tokash, and we have another incredible guest tapping off the Black History Month tribute for this month's podcast episodes.

[0:14] Eli Tokash: Um it's been such a great time hearing all of the stories from these incredible black artists and our chat with Janine Scott, who's the head of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Broadway League.

[0:27] Eli Tokash: Um, it's just been some wonderful conversations, and we cap it off with Kaci Walfall, who is currently playing a superhero on CW's Naomi.

[0:37] Eli Tokash: Uh this chat was incredible.

[0:39] Eli Tokash: This talk was such a great time.

[0:41] Eli Tokash: We talk about Aiden Gem for those of you who are Finding Neverland fans.

[0:46] Eli Tokash: Uh we talk a little bit about Lion King and her time on Broadway and how it kind of prepped her for the TV, I guess, industry and kind of how all that stuff works.

[0:46] Eli Tokash: So it's a great conversation that you definitely want to tune into.

[1:00] Eli Tokash: So stay tuned because first, as always, we're gonna talk about some Broadway news, shall we?

[1:06] Eli Tokash: There's been a lot going on.

[1:08] Eli Tokash: Uh West Side Story, you know, they set their planned date to release on streaming platform.

[1:15] Eli Tokash: So that's coming to Disney Plus on March 2nd, which is very, very exciting.

[1:20] Eli Tokash: Um, I think we already knew this from last week, but I just wanted to make sure you all knew again because that's gonna be before the next time that I see you.

[1:29] Eli Tokash: And then it was announced, uh one of the major news as well was that Newsies is actually gonna be reopening in the West End.

[1:36] Eli Tokash: So there's gonna be a West End production of Newsies.

[1:39] Eli Tokash: Maybe that's making a little comeback, maybe a chance for a Broadway revival.

[1:42] Eli Tokash: I'll get those fansies talking, I guess.

[1:45] Eli Tokash: Um, which is very exciting.

[1:47] Eli Tokash: I love Newsies, and I didn't get a chance to see it on Broadway, so I really do hope that it comes back to Broadway.

[1:53] Eli Tokash: And Ariana Grande came and visited Wicked on Broadway, which was a big news piece this week in the Broadway world.

[2:01] Eli Tokash: Um and like I get it because she is about to be Glinda in this new Wicked movie that they are making a live movie of, which is very exciting.

[2:11] Eli Tokash: Um, but it was just funny like how much press she was getting because of it and how big of a story that was in the Broadway news.

[2:18] Eli Tokash: Uh apparently she went to Wicked, she loved it.

[2:20] Eli Tokash: Uh she saw Brittany Johnson, which was really, really cool.

[2:24] Eli Tokash: Um I believe she saw her first performance, who I mentioned is the first black actor or performer to play Glinda full time.

[2:33] Eli Tokash: So that's very exciting.

[2:34] Eli Tokash: And apparently Ariana was incredibly kind.

[2:37] Eli Tokash: Uh took the chance to say hi to everyone before the show.

[2:41] Eli Tokash: Um went backstage and they were all able to chat and Brittany and her had a chat about playing a role and everything like that.

[2:49] Eli Tokash: Um so it was just a very cool thing to see, and uh that's I guess it's just creating a bunch of buzz for the movie as well.

[2:55] Eli Tokash: Uh because of course, like, look at me now, I'm talking about it on a podcast.

[2:59] Eli Tokash: Um so yeah, that's another fun thing.

[3:02] Eli Tokash: Newsies will open in London in twenty twenty-two, which I already mentioned.

[3:07] Eli Tokash: Um Zachary Noah Piser will be taking over the role of Dear Evan Hansen.

[3:13] Eli Tokash: Both Jordan Fisher and Gabriella Koruba announced that they were gonna be heading out of the show.

[3:17] Eli Tokash: Uh Jordan kind of came last minute.

[3:20] Eli Tokash: Uh I guess to the press at least.

[3:22] Eli Tokash: Uh and I guess the word got out fairly recently.

[3:26] Eli Tokash: Maybe this was planned.

[3:28] Eli Tokash: Um, I don't know.

[3:29] Eli Tokash: But uh Jordan Fisher actually had his last performance already this past Sunday.

[3:35] Eli Tokash: Um and Zachary Noah Piser will be coming in to take over the title role in Dear Evan Hansen.

[3:41] Eli Tokash: Um and then the spring, the show will welcome back Ben Levi Ross, who did the first national tour after understudying the role on Broadway.

[3:51] Eli Tokash: Um and then this is like a whole Evan Hansen carousel.

[3:56] Eli Tokash: I love it.

[3:56] Eli Tokash: And then following those two, Sam Primack, who began as the understudy on Broadway and is currently the alternate Evan Hansen on tour, will take over the role in the summer.

[4:09] Eli Tokash: So right now it's Zachary Noah Piser until March 20th.

[4:13] Eli Tokash: So he's gonna be in it for about a month.

[4:16] Eli Tokash: Then Ben Levi Ross is gonna come back to the show.

[4:19] Eli Tokash: Then in the summer, it's gonna be Sam Primack.

[4:24] Eli Tokash: So it's a whole Evan Hansen carousel, very exciting stuff.

[4:27] Eli Tokash: Um it's a huge, huge, huge kind of deal with all of these new Evan Hansens.

[4:34] Eli Tokash: I mean, everyone who plays Evan Hansen is just like a powerhouse and it should be noted everywhere.

[4:40] Eli Tokash: Um, but of course it's also interesting to see this whole carousel shift in seeing the Evans play the role with less longevity each time they include and hire a new Evan.

[4:55] Eli Tokash: Uh because obviously it's a very demanding role, both vocally, physically and emotionally.

[5:00] Eli Tokash: Um so maybe this is something that we're gonna see more often.

[5:04] Eli Tokash: Maybe they're gonna really have to alternate that a lot more, or maybe it's gonna become like a child labor law thing.

[5:10] Eli Tokash: I mean it obviously it's not a child labor law thing, but it's gonna be something like that where maybe they'll get like an alternate and they'll do a more of four of four and four shows or maybe like a six and two.

[5:22] Eli Tokash: Uh maybe they'll start doing that so that they can continue to have more longevity with performers playing the role.

[5:22] Eli Tokash: Um anyways very exciting stuff for all involved and then Gabriella Caruba, as I mentioned earlier, will play her final performance on May first so crazy stuff going on but that's kind of like the whole spiel on Dear Evan Hansen that was a huge, huge kind of newsworthy noteworthy thing on this past week obviously and then the last piece of news that I'll offer you all this week is that Mrs. Doubtfire actually extended their hiatus from March 14th until April 14th.

[6:04] Eli Tokash: So they extended it a month and they say that they're gonna come back.

[6:08] Eli Tokash: If they do no one's really quite sure um that does seem like that's where it's heading I actually texted a former Take A Bow guest who was on the podcast Analy Scarpaci and um she believes that they're going to be reopening and it sounds like that it is and I actually have her coming on the podcast for next week's episode and she's gonna kick off our Women's History Month.

[6:34] Eli Tokash: Um so very exciting stuff she's up to incredible things too her she has a wonderful album out called Pathetic Little Dreamer.

[6:41] Eli Tokash: Um it's on all streaming platforms and we'll talk about it obviously next week and uh that'll be a fun episode so stay tuned because it's gonna be our first reoccurring Take A Bow guest.

[6:41] Eli Tokash: Um and that's all the news I have for you folks this week.

[6:57] Eli Tokash: So uh let's turn it over to the drama dictionary shall we?

[7:00] Eli Tokash: So this week's drama dictionary word of the week is going to be Button.

[7:04] Eli Tokash: And for those of you who may not be in the theater and more of like a theater fan, you're probably like a button, like the button I wear on my shirt.

[7:13] Eli Tokash: Uh no, not quite.

[7:15] Eli Tokash: Um a button in the musical theater world in the entertainment industry.

[7:19] Eli Tokash: Um I will start out by saying what a button is on in musical terms first.

[7:26] Eli Tokash: A button is the last note and the last lighting cue and last word and everything in between for a musical number or a scene for that matter.

[7:39] Eli Tokash: And that's kind of like the general term.

[7:40] Eli Tokash: Like, so just because in musical theater terms, the button is the last dun in like a song or something, it can also be a button on a scene, which is the last part of the scene that's kind of like the end of the scene, and it moves on to the next section of your story and then the next arc or whatever it may go into, or maybe it's like for TV and film, it's gonna be the last like crazy piece of evidence that's revealed before the TV show goes to commercial or something, and it's like, oh, I wanted more, and then that's what keeps you watching after the commercials.

[8:15] Eli Tokash: So that's what a button is.

[8:17] Eli Tokash: It's like a musical theater term for the bump at the end of the song that it also like allows the audience to know, like, oh, this is when I applaud.

[8:27] Eli Tokash: This is like okay, they're done.

[8:29] Eli Tokash: You know, we're moving on.

[8:30] Eli Tokash: Um, if they feel inclined to.

[8:33] Eli Tokash: Sometimes they don't always.

[8:35] Eli Tokash: Um, but it's like usually like I said, like a light cue or a final music note or something in that matter, and then on TV or film, it's kind of the same kind of deal, just without that musical song.

[8:46] Eli Tokash: Um, so yeah, that's what a button is, and that's this week's drama dictionary word of the week.

[8:52] Eli Tokash: Um, I think that that covers everything for this week.

[8:55] Eli Tokash: And I don't want to keep you all waiting because this episode is so great and so fun, and I love the conversation that I had with Kaci.

[9:03] Eli Tokash: So without further ado, let's turn it over to the interview.

[9:06] Eli Tokash: Kaci Walfall, curtain up.

[9:25] Eli Tokash: Okay, so this week we have both a Broadway and TV star on the show.

[9:31] Eli Tokash: You may have seen her in Lion King on Broadway or in TV shows such as The Equalizer, Modern Love, Person of Interest, and so many more.

[9:40] Eli Tokash: Right now, you can currently see her as Naomi McDuffie in Naomi on the CW where she plays a superhero.

[9:48] Eli Tokash: It's so cool, it's so fascinating.

[9:49] Eli Tokash: Uh, everyone, welcome to Take A Bow, Kaci Walfall.

[9:55] Kaci Walfall: Hi!

[9:55] Kaci Walfall: Hi, oh my god, this is so exciting.

[9:58] Kaci Walfall: It's so good to see you.

[9:59] Kaci Walfall: Um, I'm so happy that we were able to do this.

[10:02] Kaci Walfall: I've been watching Naomi a lot lately, and I cannot uh I cannot wait to just talk to you about it.

[10:08] Kaci Walfall: Uh before we do that, let's talk about you and like your start and why you know what inspired you to get into this industry.

[10:18] Kaci Walfall: I started, people ask me all the time, like, how long have you been acting?

[10:22] Kaci Walfall: And truthfully, I've been acting my whole life.

[10:25] Kaci Walfall: Really?

[10:26] Kaci Walfall: I bet you could say that too, you know, always putting on performances and stuff like that in my house, but nobody in my family was ever an actor or ever in the entertainment industry.

[10:35] Kaci Walfall: So when I was about um, I tried a lot of sports, my parents were convinced I was gonna play sports, but when I was about seven, my mom put me in an acting class, and that's where I really like honed in on my craft for the first time and really like truly enjoyed something.

[10:50] Kaci Walfall: And um, from there I've just been I did a lot of stage when I was younger, and then I did a little bit of TV, but now I'm getting more into the TV and film world.

[11:01] Eli Tokash: Well, that's actually interesting that you bring that up.

[11:04] Eli Tokash: Like when you were younger, was it always like did you ever think that TV and film was like ever a possibility, or did you kind of view it as like I like theater and I'm a theater kid?

[11:14] Kaci Walfall: I mean, my first ever job before I it was kind of sort of the opposite.

[11:19] Kaci Walfall: Oh, really?

[11:20] Kaci Walfall: Ever um job was a TV show.

[11:23] Kaci Walfall: I was on I played a reoccurring role on a season show, sadly their last season, but then I had done a couple other stuff.

[11:31] Kaci Walfall: I did a lot of commercials when I was younger, and I remember I would I would sing act and dance, but I wouldn't combine them together.

[11:37] Kaci Walfall: I'd never thought of that.

[11:38] Kaci Walfall: So um my agent sent me to an audition for The Lion King when I was in third grade.

[11:45] Kaci Walfall: And I remember just going in and I had a lot of fun and I made it to the final round, and they were like, You're too short, come back next year.

[11:53] Kaci Walfall: So then next year, and that was for the tour, and then I came back in my fourth grade year, and then that's when I booked Broadway.

[12:00] Kaci Walfall: Um, but it was almost it was almost like that.

[12:02] Kaci Walfall: It was very theater-ish, doing off Broadway, Broadway plays.

[12:06] Kaci Walfall: Um, and then I was kind of like, Oh, I really, really like this, and I never thought that I would do this, and then I studied musical theater in high school, but I think acting specifically has really taken a lead in my career.

[12:20] Eli Tokash: So does that mean you made your Broadway debut at like seven or eight, like in that area?

[12:25] Kaci Walfall: I made my Broadway debut when I was nine.

[12:27] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, that's insane that was like around the same time as like myself like when I made my debut like that's crazy right right but I I mean yeah that's crazy I guess I never really thought about that what a what little did we know then what a what a big deal that was and like what it would lead to um that's crazy so like in when you were doing Lion King and and then you went on to do the Matilda tour and everything like was there like theater is like my passion or was there always like I do want to go back to TV.

[13:05] Kaci Walfall: I think that there's I think at that time it was like theater is my passion.

[13:11] Kaci Walfall: And I was so young that it was like um it's still always so fun but I was so young that it wasn't like I need a job.

[13:19] Eli Tokash: Exactly it was it was very fun.

[13:22] Kaci Walfall: So I think that that time especially especially when I was in middle school in the beginning of high school I was convinced that I was only going to do theater and only um go to college for musical theater.

[13:33] Kaci Walfall: And then once I think I you know I had audition for TV a lot but I was studying that in school and I think once COVID honestly hit which wasn't too long ago but um I kind of went through like the actor's dry spell before that after like middle school like ninth grade to tenth grade I just was ninth grade tenth grade and a little bit of eighth grade too I was just like did I would just constantly go on auditions and not book anything.

[13:56] Kaci Walfall: But I think that's where I really really found love in not having it not having like a job at you know every day waking up and going to set.

[14:03] Kaci Walfall: Um so when I when COVID hit and musical theater kind of stopped and film and TV kept going, um I kind of found a love a little bit more there.

[14:15] Kaci Walfall: But theater is still my passion, and I still feel so inspired every time I go see a show.

[14:20] Eli Tokash: Oh, for sure, for sure. It's so funny because like you mentioned earlier, like, you know, we don't have to worry about doing uh doing theater and having a job consistently to like pay the bills or anything, but I always feel like as a child performer, it's just like we do it for fun, and then as but like it's it could be like more time consuming for child performers to be on Broadway because they have to go to school and do the auditions and do the shows at night and like barely have time for homework. But then as an adult, they don't have to worry about that, but they have to worry about the bills and everything. So it's a very different and interesting dynamic that each like stage of your life you have to think about uh different things in like in this industry, I guess. Um, anyways, well what was it like to make your Broadway debut?

[15:06] Kaci Walfall: I mean, like you said, you you know, you kind of found theater uh in like an acting class and everything like that, and then you were nine years old and you step out on a Broadway stage and the Minskoff is like no joke. That's a big theater. So like what was that like? I just remember like stepping on stepping onto the stage, but I really heavily remember the audition process as like like after the audition process, like rehearsal process. Um I there was nobody, as I said before, there was my first ever like theater audition. I hadn't done any local theater, anything like that. And I remember as I said, nobody in my family was in the entertainment industry. So I actually went to my brother's best friend's dad who knew how to play piano, and that's where I practiced for the audition, truly.

[15:52] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[15:53] Kaci Walfall: And then he wasn't even a like a vocal coach. We just needed someone to play it, and then I rehearsal process, it was really it was really cool. I think that the Lion King, you know, the costumes just really help you set into character. And I specifically remember there's this like um number in the show called Chow Down. And I remember when we were doing our um when we were doing our tech or our like first dress rehearsals, um, me and the other film that went in. I was so I was nine, so I was so genuinely scared of these actors with this costume on that I and the character was super scared. So I rem I will always remember that I wasn't acting until I truly like because the choreography is you're running away from you're running away from them, and I was truly running away from them.

And um I just remember the feeling the Lion King is so different than any other project that I've ever done because it's very family oriented, everything's family family oriented, but people in the Lion King have been there since it's it's been on Broadway for so long, have been there since the like it first came out on Broadway. So I just remember being very grateful, learning something new every day, and I still keep in contact with a lot of you know, my cubs or some of my good friends and a lot of the people that were in the ensemble.

[17:11] Eli Tokash: Oh, that's awesome. And so after Lion King, you went on tour with uh Matilda, and uh I mean, first of all, Lion King and Matilda is a very different show. Um but then you also add in the the whole like aspect of like touring, and like you know, on on in on Broadway, you you get to have your Mondays off, but then you like go to school, so like is it off? But then on tour, it's like again, is it off because you're traveling. So, like, what what was the dynamic of tour life and like what what kind of like how did you personally like balance school and traveling and doing the show and everything like that?

[17:51] Kaci Walfall: That really prepared me tour life really prepared me for Naomi and doing school and doing school because I I had still attended regular school while I was in the Lion King. Um and I was still attending my regular school but they were just sending me work and I had we had like tutors. When I was in Lion King I never had a tutor. Um and so I Lion King Matilda are very different shows like they're just different shows. Matilda you're on stage 247 a lot of being out of breath you're on stage the line yes come on the lines is like if you're not going on you can if you're not like um because they alternate if you're not going on you can leave at intermission. So Matilda is like totally different than that in so many ways.

Um but I remember you know going on tour was also so young and it was the beginning of the tour. So we would we wouldn't leave you know like once tours go on for a while they'll leave quickly but the um Matilda we would stay there for like a month. So it wasn't as bad as you would think it was um but I went with my grandmother which was different because my mom and my dad couldn't take me. So I went with my grandmother on tour and um that that was just there's just so many great memories about being on tour but balancing school was a little was a little bit hard. Sometimes you had to we were on Duolingo a lot because we didn't have to support it. So we were learning like French all the time. But oh wow has a very special place in my heart.

[19:18] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure. And you said that that helped you for Naomi and which is the project that you're currently working on. Um is that because of the whole like tutor life and you know blocking out times and like understanding the whole like banking thing where you could do a couple extra hours of school and stuff like that. Is that kind of how that helped?

[19:37] Kaci Walfall: Yeah, it didn't necessarily help with the banking thing. That thing's me. Um it's still kind of communicated. Um but I it it it did help. It helped um one with school skills because in Naomi I'm the only I'm the only minor. So I'm the only one doing school. Um so everyone else is 18, 19, 20, so I'm the only person still in high school. Um so having to do that, but also Matilda also helped me because we our work ethic and our schedule in Matilda was like we worked very, very hard at very young ages. You know, we had rehearsal, then we had warmups, which took like were so much, and then we're on the stage, and then you go home and then you wake up and you do school in the morning. So it that routine of just consistently doing something and also having leadership skills and also being super professional, because I think stage actors are some of the most professional people in the business.

[20:33] Eli Tokash: Absolutely.

[20:34] Kaci Walfall: Um but yeah, it it it helped with school. It definitely.

[20:39] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I mean, hey, it's understandable. Um well, I wanna I want to talk about Naomi now that we're kind of on a con topic of it. Um again, addicted. Uh I'm obsessed. Uh especially because you're in it with Aiden Jem, who's like, I heard he's like okay.

[20:58] Kaci Walfall: If Aiden ever listens to this, um on the on the set, we always make fun of him because he's from upstate.

[21:03] Eli Tokash: Oh my god.

[21:05] Kaci Walfall: I love Aiden Mark. He's such a goober. It's the best. He and now to see him like play like I mean, nut like for lack of a better term, like a nerd. Like it's like hilarious because he's totally like he's into basketball and caught cross-country and all these things. And now to like hear him talk about science, I'm like, oh my god, I can't. This is too much. The one person makes me break.

[21:19] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, I bet. Did you know like Aiden going in to set?

[21:33] Kaci Walfall: No, I didn't. I didn't know him. And I remember I'm only met him at the table read. He was the only regular that I didn't have a chemistry read with. So I met him on Zoom at the table read, and he actually just had me laughing so much. Like have like the you have the network on, and I'm just like it was hilarious. But um then we uh start I started talking to him and he was telling me about Finding Neverland, and I was like, Do you know Eli? And then he started talking because he's been in a show, so I didn't know him before, but I'm a friend now.

[22:04] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I love him. I was just did you know like anyone before, like before we're going into Naomi?

[22:11] Kaci Walfall: I didn't know I didn't know any of the cast members. I've had mutual friends with them. So like was that like an added thing? Like, I don't know, like when you go to set and everything and you're like you're first of all, you're the star of the show. So like I'm sure there's some sort of like nerds pimped up like into this. Um was there like an added layer like not knowing like who these people were and like meeting all these new people?

[22:40] Kaci Walfall: Yes, it w it was interesting because it was casted I got casted with four people. It was like the first four, and then like it was somebody else to get cast, and I was consistently doing table reads. Like I would go to set to do um lessons on uh you know all of the the the physicality in the show, and then I would go home and do chemistry reads with everyone. Um I didn't know anyone, but we did do the younger cast and I, since it was COVID, Miss Ava wanted to host a dinner, but we couldn't do that. Um any of us got COVID. So I had a Zoom with Mary Charles Jones, who plays my best friend in the show, because it's really hard to being best friends with someone and your first meeting on the day of set, like your first meeting, your first working together.

Because it wasn't like we were having contact, like COVID, we had to stay away from each other. So we had a we had a zoom and we stayed on Zoom for I think like an hour and a half and really clicked, and then we did a zoom with all the younger adults, and that went really well because we we had to be friends, and um it we all click really well, and I still everyone in the cast is so great at their job, but they're all truly kind people. But as far as like my parents, I had got casted with um Cranston who plays Zumbato and Alex, who plays D, very early on. So we already have that relationship of being like in the first four, maybe three weeks before we started shooting. So I had had that relationship closer than you know, my parents, which I was pretty nervous about. Um, but the day that I met Barry and Malzam, we just clicked. We just click, so it's it's it's great when you can work with people who are great at their job but are also just good people, right?

[24:24] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that's awesome because that's what like it's blowing my mind right now. Like that wasn't even like one of my questions, but it's just blowing my mind. You guys have such great chemistry on camera that it's like, I can't believe you don't know these people. It seems like you've known them your whole life, which is great because you're doing your job right. Um so how do you, Kaci, relate to Naomi?

[24:45] Kaci Walfall: I relate to Naomi um because she has a great sense of drive and passion. And when people tell her no, that doesn't mean she's going to stop. And although it depends on the circumstance for me sometimes, I try and keep that mentality, you know, whether it's, you know, in the business, no doesn't mean you have to stop. Never. Um, you know, there's very few yeses, but one yes can change your life. So I would say I relate to her sense of drive and passion.

[25:16] Eli Tokash: Interesting. I would have said it was your fashion, your your fashion skills. I think both of you have some very high fashion. I love it. It's it's so cool because it's literally like seeing you up there. Like it looks like you're Kaci. Like, cause it's just like normal clothes and everything. And you know, you kind of talked about it with like Lion King, like those really helped you like get into those costumes. But in Naomi, it feels like you're just wearing your clothes. Like, I wouldn't be surprised if they took some of that stuff out of your closet.

[25:44] Kaci Walfall: Listen, I'm glad that it translates that way. Because the because Cairo, who's our um costume designer, she pulls together looks that I'm like, I could never ever come up with this. Like I'll the great thing about being the great thing, I could, but the great thing about being an actor is like you go to set, and I'll go to set and like crocs every single day. And um people will come in like onesies, and then you get into these clothes, and I think the clothes help your confidence. So I I try to, you know, make it look like something I would wear so it doesn't look awkward, like I'm just putting it on for the show. But um Sure.

[26:22] Eli Tokash: Yeah. No, you have a great fashion sense. I was like, Kaci, you can totally pull this stuff off. I love that. So um I don't know, like I we kind of talked about this, but like, do you feel like being like a young performer in general, like not just throughout your time in Matilda, but just like a young performer just going to school, going through auditions, maybe do a show at night if you're in one and stuff. Like, you know, you kind of live an alternate life from like other people at school and stuff like that, and you're kind of living with like an alternate life with superpowers, you know, like with your friends at school. So like, do you feel like you know, that's something a relationship that you've been able to like tap into and kind of relate to Naomi as far as that aspect is concerned?

[27:08] Kaci Walfall: I think when I was younger, I never I saw it as it was almost as if even when I was on Broadway, I was saw it as my sport. You know, you're constantly working, but I didn't have I now I have the outlook like I worked so many hours when I was younger. Right. But I I I never had that because my friends would go and you know there were sort of different things, like I couldn't I had to not balance being in like fourth grade and having FOMO um about the sleepovers and stuff like that. But I I um I saw it as a sport for so long and just like a hobby and activity that I did. And um I think what I really related to Naomi has to balance superpowers and um school and her home life. I had to balance when I was shooting first season, I had to balance um being the lead of a show, being a senior in high school, and then also not being in New York. Um I almost I almost tapped into that, which was great because it was something that I was going through while I was filming it.

[28:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that's awesome. That's really cool. Um, but like, so so let me see here. Uh oh, what is it like to like just film a character like with superpowers? Because like obviously you can't do it, but like what is it like to like film it and then like what is it like to see like the after effects?

[28:30] Kaci Walfall: I have to use my imagination as actors; we have to use our imagination all the time. But I think that that is a circumstance where you definitely have to use your imagination. Um, when I was filming the first couple episodes of the show, I was putting a lot of like physical restraint in my shoulders while I was doing my powers. Um, and then I saw it in post and I was like, oh, this is all like VFX. This is all the effects. So I don't need to put so much, you know, strain on myself, but I also think that made a little bit of my performance better as opposed to like getting my powers and knowing exactly how to use them. ISKC had to figure out the physicality of my character, which translates to be also like figuring out how to use her powers.

So as you see the show, it gets more grounded and it gets more natural with her body because that's something that she's been doing, and I was also I kept doing it, but it's cool because she gets Naomi has a lot of powers, and almost every episode she discovers um newer ones. Um, so it's cool to see it in post. Um, but I honestly think it's really cool to do it because sometimes you'll be shooting things out of your hands and there'll be like stunt guys like flying.

[29:37] Eli Tokash: That's amazing.

[29:40] Kaci Walfall: I was like, I've always wondered that because like I watch all the other like shows on CW, like Flash and all of that, and like just to like how do you film like running fast, you know? Like, I don't know, like oh yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, like it's crazy. I mean, um, I know uh Grant shoots it on or used to shoot it on a treadmill.

[30:02] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I did know that.

[30:04] Kaci Walfall: It's fascinating how they like find ways to do it. And I love that like you know, you're kind of learning it as you go, is just like Naomi is so like it's very cool. Um, I don't know, like what is it like to have we kind of talked about this too, but like now that everything's kind of opening back up, like with COVID and everything is concerned, like what is it like to film in this day and age where people are still like figuring out the guidelines even two years later and all of that with COVID and especially like with your younger cast members and and finding your chemistry and finding your your kind of niche with with each other.

[30:44] Kaci Walfall: Filming in COVID with our show, it actually I had done that that was my third show. So I did a first show in COVID, which was like they were just using shields, but they weren't using masks so that it wouldn't mess with your hair and makeup, and then I did another show where you had to use the shield and the mask, but it all really depends on the studio too. Um, so this was a this is a Warner Brothers show, so the Warner Brothers has certain guidelines. Um, but you know, you test in different zones, you have zone A that tests, but um it's really just honestly back to the leadership skills. Like if in between takes, if I put my mask on and there's a in say let's do we're doing a bunch of scenes with a bunch of extras, or any of the you know, the series regulars put their mask on, you know, that's even if somebody says it's a completion to put your mask on.

So always making sure that you're aware and also just making sure entertainment is super important, but health is super important. So you know, don't go partying out on the weekends, stay inside, because that that will help everyone. So it it was it was it was great that we had a great COVID team, and it it was hard, but it wasn't the hardest show that got hit with COVID, definitely.

[31:58] Eli Tokash: Right. Are you guys still filming?

[32:01] Kaci Walfall: No, we wrapped season one on You wrapped it.

[32:04] Eli Tokash: Yes, uh two weeks ago.

[32:07] Kaci Walfall: Oh my god, that's amazing.

[32:09] Eli Tokash: I didn't even realize.

[32:10] Kaci Walfall: So you are you back in the city then?

[32:12] Kaci Walfall: I am back in New York for a little bit.

[32:14] Eli Tokash: Yeah, I'm amazing.

[32:16] Kaci Walfall: I went to school yesterday for like the first time. I thought that was exciting.

[32:21] Eli Tokash: Yes, yes. Um, do we know anything about a season two or no?

[32:27] Kaci Walfall: Not right now. Um, we are, you know, right now when we're filming this podcast, we are on only on episode four. So that would be around um midseason, which is episode seven.

[32:43] Eli Tokash: Wait, so how many episodes are in this season?

[32:46] Kaci Walfall: Thirteen.

[32:47] Eli Tokash: Oh, 13. Okay, great.

[32:49] Kaci Walfall: Yeah, because this will come out when episode uh yeah, after episode five is already out. Um, which is yeah, with do with that what you will. But I've only seen episode four for anyone listening to after episode five. So sorry there's no episode five spoilers. Um anyways, do you watch the show? Like are you one that can like watch yourself, or are you someone that's just like no?

[33:08] Kaci Walfall: No.

[33:16] Eli Tokash: Okay. Um, I think you know, I I've seen the first episode of Naomi, and I've seen a little bit of the second episode. I've seen I watched the I actually sat down and watched the third episode. Um, because the episodes were coming out while we were still family filming. And I don't like to do that necessarily because I I'll change what I do and then it'll even if I change what I do because I'll a lot of my nitpicky stuff isn't the character, it's my little things that I do where I'm like, no, don't do that. Like I don't like how you stood in that scene. It wasn't convincing me. So, you know, whether people are like it or don't like it, it's truly for myself that I have to pass my own test. Um, and when I pass my own test and I say that something's good, something's good, and then when I don't pass it, um I get in my head.

So I try not to watch it when I'm filming. But um I will sit down one day and watch all the episodes. I did enjoy three. I watched three the other day, but um I think being on the stage and growing up on the stage, you never really have to come in on time. So it's it can be an odd thing to watch yourself now. But I appreciate everyone's work. It's just if I watch it, like I can't really can't really escape myself or you know I get it. I have said multiple times that that is actually like one of my biggest phobias. Like I just can't. I just can't do it. It's not it's not okay for me, and it's not okay for anyone else watching. We're way too hard on ourselves. We're our biggest, you know, we're our biggest critics, so like why put us through that.

[34:50] Eli Tokash: Anyways, talk to me about like what it's like to collaborate with Ava. Like she's iconic. So I I want to hear like some of the stories and like what it's like to really collaborate as the lead and kind of figure out this whole story together.

[35:06] Kaci Walfall: I have always looked up to Miss Ava, as you said. She's iconic. And um when I first met her on Zoom, I was a little bit nervous. Miss Ava has this certain aura to her. Um, you know, if you come and if you anyone ever comes into contact with her, they'll understand. It's almost as if like um she just she's just such a good person and surrounds herself with so much love and gives so much love. So I was really nervous in the audition waiting room on Zoom, and then I got in. And some people will say, Okay, next, okay, hi, whenever you're ready. How are you? Whenever you're ready. She came in and she said, Hi, Kaci, how are you? And it was really like she was putting, I think just also her knowing my name and saying she watched my tape and all of that, and not feeling like I was the favorite, or feeling like she had already casted someone, and it was just to like finish the auditions.

It just felt like I was doing better audition, but it was I think I finished and I was like, Thank you for your time. I was just so grateful. And from booking it to even down to the audition process, we were collaborating in the waiting room in the Zoom room. We were talking about the character and my thoughts and my perspectives, and she welcomed that. And it wasn't just her vision. And when we sat down in Atlanta for the first time while we were shooting the pilot, I sat with her, the other co-creator Jill Blankenship, who worked on um Arrow for a really long time, and Miss Ava. And we sat down and we talked about the character. And I think I had this green notebook that I take around on set with me, my character book.

It's almost like my diary for the character. And um Miss Ava, I was talking to her, and I was like, I think Naomi, I this is just reading the pilot. And I was like, Naomi's a people pleaser. Remember, she was like, No, she's not. She's not a people pleaser. Like, I don't I don't imagine her as a people pleaser. And I was like, no, Miss Ava, I I believe she's a people pleaser. And I said, why? And that changed her perspective and also her talking to me about why she doesn't think she is, changed mine. And then we deeper into the show go into that and go talk about that for so whether it was something like that, or whether it was something, you know, with possible costume or just storyline questions that I had and perspectives that I had throughout everyone.

Miss Ava's leadership and welcoming that welcomes everyone to be open to that, along with directors and you know, because actors people write the characters, but actors know their character the best. Um she helped me so much with collaboration process, leadership skills, acting, being a better person. Um, so she really guided me on her vision while allowing me to have a lot of creative freedom.

[37:49] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that's awesome. Cause I I really appreciate the way that she's written this this show, Naomi, and because like I've seen the other shows on CW and I'm obsessed with them. Like I watch Supergirl, I watch Flash, I watch Arrow, I watch them all. DC. Um, and like Flash is my favorite, so I'll use this as an example. But like it seems like in the first episode, you know, the particle accelerator explodes, and then he like has powers, and then he's off fighting villains. But you like you have this fool, we're four episodes in, uh, by the way at the time we're recording this, and we're still learning your origin story, and I appreciate that. Like, does that help you as an actor really understand who Naomi is that you're given all of this information and nothing is really being rushed for like you to get into combat or anything like that?

[38:39] Kaci Walfall: Mm-hmm. One I love, I love the Flash. I love the Flash so much. Um I would say what I really do appreciate there's a lot of unique things about the show, but I really do appreciate what what Jill and Ava did with it is because it's grounded in normalization. Although we as people don't have superpowers, if I were to get superpowers, I don't know if the first thing I would do was go out and peep fight villains and know how to use my powers and truly truly understand them. It would take a the first thing I would have is questions and I would have denial. I wouldn't integrate it into my life. I would it would I would question so many things. So what I loved about that was that it was grounded in normalization.

It's a unique take on this superhero world that just not you get your powers and you're a superhero. It's that you have to ask questions and then you also have to believe in yourself, you know. It's you know, believe that you can do this, especially at the age of 16. Um, yeah, it it did help me. And then the comic book only has one book. It's like the fastest um book to adapt in. Cause the I think the book came out in 2019. So the sh TV show is out in 2022. Um, and The Flash, for example, has like 70 years of comics or something like that. So um it is great because it allows me to have a lot of creative freedom being the first person to ever portray the character, um, but also that the show is grounded in normalization.

[40:09] Eli Tokash: Speaking of, like, talk to me about like what it's like to to be a black artist and performer and actor and be able to lead a show at such a young age and kind of be that face for I mean, you're all over New York. You're on buses and billboards and everything for other like young artists like you, like that would want to do this and that are interested in do this, but believe they they can't.

[40:36] Kaci Walfall: I'm an example that it's possible. You know, I got the audition and I just remember I had never had the opportunity to audition for anything like this. And especially for the role to be a black girl wasn't just open ethnicity, was a character in the comic that actually reflected my skin tone and looked like me. And was the lead of a show, you don't see that. You don't see that, and you don't see it with a project that like you truly, truly, truly care about. Um and so it's a testament that it is possible. And I think um I'm so grateful for that for that because I didn't think it was. And for people to look up to me and look up to the role that I'm playing, because the great thing about the show is it's grounded in normalization.

Its agenda isn't to, you know, say this is a black girl who's playing a superhero and um you guys are gonna love it just for that. Um more than that, you know, which a superhero story, but it's putting a young woman of color to the forefront because that's the stories that we haven't been able to tell. So I'm grateful for the people who have paved the way, and I'm grateful to be one of the first in this position, and I hope that there are many more in the future.

[41:49] Eli Tokash: Yeah, absolutely. I I love it, and it's honestly like you said, it's so much more than that. And it's not like there it's just so um dynamic the show. There's so many storylines to follow, and there's so many things that you can fall in love with. Um, that like that's just one of the one of the things that you can fall in love with, you know, that they are they are they are offering to to audience members. Um I want to ask you, do you have like a favorite episode or a scene or like a like a storyline? Like and if it's like an episode or something, it could be like one that hasn't come out, but don't tell me anything.

[42:24] Kaci Walfall: Okay. Um the ending ones. I love I love episode seven, just the way that it was written was great. And I love episode 10, and I love episode 13, which is the final one.

[42:44] Kaci Walfall: Oh my god. Love them killing me. I love them because they stretch different dynamics of Naomi and different characters, and Naomi in the way that we haven't been able to see her before. So I've been able to play and things pick up fast. After like things pick up very, very, very, very, very, very fast. So it was fun to play with that and fun to play with new storylines. So I would say the end of the season is my favorite part of the show. You're killing me because I can't even talk to you about those. You know, I'm like, what is it? You know, like whatever. It's fine, it's fine. I understand. Okay. Um, I will patiently wait, I guess, um for those episodes. Um, but uh I want to know, like, Kaci, from you as a fan. I don't know if this is too much. Let me know if this is too much. Are you team Anthony or Team Nathan?

[43:40] Eli Tokash: I honestly um I have a different opinion every episode. I have I listen, I love all the three people that play her love interests. What I think is best for Naomi, personally, in my own circumstance, if I were Naomi, they're great people. But with what she has going on right now, I would say the best for Naomi is Naomi. You know, it's only gonna complicate things more. But I understand why she did it. I truly had to like you know do the work to understand why she did it so that she can make a decision for herself when all these other things are making decisions for her. But I would say I am team Naomi.

[44:22] Kaci Walfall: I love that. You know, you are a strong independent woman. That is that is it. That's period. Um because the last episode, that's what happened. Uh you you finished and you were kissing Nathan. And I was like, whoa. Um, it was like, this is a lie. I was like, this is too much for me. I don't know whose team I'm on yet. Um, and I was like, okay, go off. Um was that like your first like on person, like on screen kiss? Like, is that like awkward? What is that like?

[44:54] Kaci Walfall: It was it was my first ever on-screen kiss. Nothing that I ever no project had ever called for that, nor had like a scene in school ever called for that. So I um remember turning to Daniel Puig, who plays um Nathan, and I said, like, is this your first on-screen kiss too? When he was like, No, I've done so many of these, and I just were like, oh, okay. Um, but it was great because we could work the team together. Um, and uh, we had an intimacy coordinator that choreographed everything we did in the kiss, and honestly, um Daniel's like a he's sort of like a big brighter than me to me, so it wasn't it was awkward in that sense, but it wasn't awkward because we were we're good friends and we we were super comfortable with each other.

Um, but the honestly, one of the worst parts was that we had to put mouthwash each take that we did it in our mouth for 30 seconds so I could help like because mouthwashes obviously you want to put mouthwash and you're doing a kiss with someone on camera, but um you want to put it in your mouth so that it can kill the bacteria. So we have the worst part, and it really burned. It really burned. Um yeah, it was great because everybody on the no nobody was crowding the set. It was sort of like um we were shooting on a field and they were going around us, so no one could be directly on set except the camera operators and the boom. So everybody was watching was off of the field, so it wasn't like took a little less pressure off.

[46:24] Eli Tokash: Yes, it took a little less pressure off you, definitely. Okay, that's good. Was the whole mouthwash thing because of COVID, or was it just be just like cuz?

[46:33] Kaci Walfall: I don't know if people, as I said before, I never done an on-screen kiss, so I don't know if that was a thing before, but I definitely know it was the COVID team administrating it because I guess it helps with like interesting the bacteria in your mouth or something like that.

[46:47] Eli Tokash: Wow, okay. I never heard of that. Interesting. Was that wasn't your first like kiss, like was it?

[46:54] Kaci Walfall: No, thankfully it was not on screen kisses are definitely different than anything because it's very visual. It's you know, it it's very like um choreograph. You're really thinking about the choreography of it, truly.

[47:10] Eli Tokash: Right, right, right. Yeah, absolutely. That's totally fair. Um, well, this was I mean, that's kind of like all the questions that I have for you. That I I love Naomi and I I could talk about it all day. Um is there anything like you want to mention that like did like you haven't mentioned or you want to talk about that you have we haven't talked about just like with you as a person or you as a performer?

[47:36] Kaci Walfall: I would just say that I'm really grateful for my theater training and coming from that, and I think you could totally speak to that too, of course. But like having that background and then going to do something like TV and film is very helpful because you are always prepared, and um I'm gr very grateful for Broadway roots and also musical theater school roots. Um that has helped me truly so much in this project.

[48:03] Eli Tokash: Well, do you find there's like a difference of like you know, on screen and then on stage acting?

[48:10] Kaci Walfall: Yes. Yes. Honestly, I and it's so funny because I while I was shooting the show, I went to, you know, see um a production of a show, and um it it it inspired me. Because the thing with the difference between TV and let's say stage is when you're on it, even film, like in film, you're in a movie theater. On TV, you're in someone's living room. It's like you're a part of their it's like you're a part of their family. They have you on their screen. It's you're you're a part of their family. And a lot of times TV is more grounded because you're part of their family, so you want to seem like you they know you and you want to seem like you're truthful real person. And theater is to entertain, everything is to entertain.

But theater is to entertain. And it's the thing that you know, what I love so much about going to the theater and seeing shows is no one is ever on their phone, for example. You know, phones are not prohibited. And that's because the performance is so entertaining. And a lot of times on TV, that can look, since TV is something that is on a TV and it's not live in front of you. Can you know, you wanna truthfully believe the person on there. They're there to tell a story, they're there to entertain, but they're there to tell the truth. And you can tell the truth in so many different ways. But when you're on the stage, you're there to entertain. So you're gonna want to bring everything up. Um so there are differences within the two.

[49:39] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure. And then like you kind of alluded to earlier, like I totally agree, like coming from your theater roots and the life lessons that you kind of learn and how that's like how you learn to become a professional and all of the things like that, it w helps you tremendously when you the first time you step on set, you know, and all of that. But like when it comes to the performance aspect and everything like that, it's a whole new ball game and it's a whole new world. Um, you know, because you're playing to the last person in the balcony on in theater, and now you just gotta play to a camera that's like foot in front of you, and so you can't be like, you can't have those like crazy facial expressions that like on camera, you look like a crazy person, you know.

Like so I it it's very interesting the two dynamics and just like finding finding that balance in and being able to to tell the story truthfully and when you get used to doing it in a theater uh setting, um, and just finding how you can relate that and take things from that, but also do it in a toned down world that then can um I guess a tribute to successfully uh on this on the screen. Um it's very, it's very interesting. Cause like you said, I don't know, I'm rambling, but I like it is so it is so um relatable, but yet so there's a lot of similarities and a lot of differences at the same time.

[51:05] Kaci Walfall: Um yeah, anyways. I'm uh going on and on, so I'm cutting myself off.

[51:11] Eli Tokash: Anyways, thanks again, Kaci, for doing this. Um before I let you go, I I want to give you the opportunity to like drop your social media so that the listeners can follow you and keep up with like new episodes and anything else you may have coming out.

[51:25] Kaci Walfall: My Instagram is my name, Kaci Walfall. So it's just K-A-C-I-W-A-L-F-A-L-L. And or sometimes people like to call me Waffle, but that is not my Instagram. Um uh my Twitter is also just the same handle. Those are the two social medias that I'm active on.

[51:46] Eli Tokash: Amazing. Yeah, for anyone listening, like if you thought her middle name was Waffles in the introduction that I had, I'm so sorry.

[51:52] Kaci Walfall: Oh my friends called that.

[51:54] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah, I mean, when you look at it like a quick glance, it's totally like waffles.

[52:01] Kaci Walfall: I love it.

[52:02] Eli Tokash: Um, but no, seriously, you're the best. I appreciate you for your time, and I can't bel I can't imagine. I'm glad that uh you you guys have wrapped up and the show is looking amazing, and uh hopefully you'll get some time to to catch up on rest and all the all the fun things that uh you kind of were taken out of when on set. So thanks again for doing this. I really appreciate it.

[52:22] Kaci Walfall: Thank you.

[52:25] Eli Tokash: Yeah, and it was so good to catch up with you. Take about Kaci Walfall. Um, Kaci, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. I know you're insanely busy right now. Uh was a blast to talk to you. Uh, she just finished wrapping uh season one of Naomi on the CW. I know for this interview, of course, you you know, you kind of have to watch a little bit of Naomi to know what we're kind of talking about. Um, but hopefully at the same time that also entices you to watch it and you really enjoyed the conversation, even though you may not have it uh understood completely what we were talking about. Uh, but I think it was it's all still like interesting and relevant, and I think you can catch on pretty quickly.

[53:06] Kaci Walfall: Um, but anyways, thank you everyone for listening to that wonderful interview with Kaci. It was a blast. Uh as like I said earlier, I absolutely love watching Naomi. I love watching her and Aiden Gem uh on my TV screen. It's kind of like my new favorite thing. And they come out with new episodes every Tuesday at 8 p.m. So that and that's on the CW channel. So highly recommend what checking that out. If you like musical theater, there's a lot of musical theater people who pop in and out.

[53:34] Eli Tokash: Um, so and two of them are series regular and they're kids. So like that's also exciting from from uh especially my perspective. Um just someone who's like uh teenager in the industry and you know it's your friends and everything in between. And I'm really happy that I was able to get a chance to talk to Kaci about it here on the podcast. So uh thanks again and thanks everyone for listening.

[53:56] Kaci Walfall: I have another piece of news that I want to share with you all before I head off this week. We have officially launched our tickets for the Green Room 42 show that Take A Bow will be doing. Uh, we will be doing a take about live. For those of you who didn't listen last week, we will be doing a take about live show. It's gonna be a little bit of a pod beret, uh, which is a podcast cabaret, and uh we will be doing that on April 18th. Go check out the Green Room 42's website for more information, and uh the ticket options will be available there. Just a note with your the purchase of your ticket, you will be getting a $10 food and beverage voucher.

[54:35] Eli Tokash: Um, and then there's all kinds of different prices. So depending on where you want to sit, the prices vary, and it varies from uh I believe $29 to uh $5. It's like $49, really. It's like $29 to $49. Um, and then there are like uh there are special options that uh with cheaper tickets, and uh right now I have not revealed the our special guests for the pod beret. Um, but that will be coming soon. We are working on that now, and uh we have some very exciting guests already lined up. So you're gonna wanna stay tuned, and you're gonna want to get your tickets and grab those uh before it's too late.

[55:21] Kaci Walfall: And uh I really look forward to to meeting you all and hopefully be able to chat with you all after the show and and get some audiences involved in the podcast that we will be doing live. So uh you're definitely gonna want wanna come. It's definitely not gonna be something you want to miss, and uh, I hope to see you there.

[55:41] Eli Tokash: And I also hope to see you next week. So I will see you all right here wherever you're listening to this podcast, whether it's Apple Podcasts, Spotify, whatever it may be, BPN, uh Broadway Podcast Network, uh wherever it may be. I look forward to seeing you all same time next week. Let's do it again, shall we?

[56:00] Kaci Walfall: Alright. I'll see you all next week. For this episode's curtain call, I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow. This podcast would not be possible without the help from Dory Berenstein, Brittany Bigelow, Katie Rosen, Alan Seales, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

[56:14] Eli Tokash: Next in line to Take a Bow is Tessie Tokash, who edits the audio and all the visuals for this podcast. A special thanks to patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners at PCC, as well as all the other patrons for their continued support. If you're interested in becoming a patron, go to patreon.com slash TAB. And if you enjoyed this week's episode, don't forget to subscribe on the platform that you're currently listening to this on.

[56:40] Kaci Walfall: Also, feel free to give us a follow on Instagram at TakeABow Podcast. Take a Bow's logo is designed by Giselle Bustos, and the music is by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinov.

[56:51] Eli Tokash: Bye everyone. Hope to see you next week.