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Hey. Hey. Welcome to Tea Time with

Mikayla I am Mikayla and this is Tea Time. And this is Emma Flynn. Hi guys. I'm so happy to be here. And for me, it's technically coffee time. it's actually coffee time for me too. Iced coffee in this cup.

It's fine. We're gonna get through. Yay, I'm so happy to have you on the show. I am so happy to be here.

So are you in Glinda mode yet or are you in Emma mode because it's your day off? I mean they're not that different, if I'm totally honest. I feel like

me and Glinda are closer than I'm even comfortable being. Like I'm like, my gosh, she is just inside of me, isn't she? but I'm always a little bit in Glinda mode now nowadays.

and I'm always a little bit in Cher mode and you know. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I want to talk about all of that. I'm curious. What do you do on your day off?

Okay. I love to sleep as late as humanly possible. My days off lately have been quite full, which is exciting of beautiful things like, seeing people's

shows and supporting my friends which has been amazing. but today my day off consists of

Loving my foster dog, Scout.

Scout. shout

out to everybody who fosters and adopts out there. this morning, we woke up, we went for a long walk in Central Park.

we played fetch. It was a really lovely day. And the great thing about fostering dogs as like a hobby is that they can't speak. So it's okay if I'm on my rest. Like I mean, I do like you know, we do have to talk like a little bit to them, but pretty much I'm silent when I'm with the dogs and it's just like a great

way to fill my

time. But I love going for walks with the dog. I love

I don't know. I just love like being calm on my day off and decompressing. fostering's been kind of taking up the other half of my life. So I think that's just, yeah, that's it. Well, I love that you're using your platform for good. Tell me more about how you got into fostering.

Had had you done it before Wicked or had you always wanted to?

I've well, I've always wanted my own personal dog, but it's just hard

with the long term like not knowing what's gonna be the next thing, you know, what country I'm gonna be

in. Yeah and everything like that. And I but I love dogs and I was like, you know, I've been thinking so much about the

gift that is the platform of Wicked.

Yes.

And, you know, I used to pray like, God, if you if you give me like a Broadway show, I promise I'll do something good with it.

And now I feel like I was just in the middle of the night, like a couple of months ago, just being like I just was so

overwhelmed by just life and I was like, I just wish I had just like a little dog or something. Like you know, just something to like nurture and love. And then I was just like, it would be

It would be great to foster and just see how I do. And then when I got my first foster, I just like fell in love with him. And also like with the process of fostering, the first couple of days are really hard, but then you get to watch the dog come out of their shell and like show their true personalities and

learn to love you and trust you. and then you have the very hard thing, which is giving the dog to its new family. But it's it's so incredible and I'm confident that I would not have had as many applicants for this.

If I hadn't had the gift of Wicked and the platform that Wicked's given me. And I'm just, you know, I think.

I think as my career continues, I think more and more about like, okay, how can I be charitable as I'm given this blessing that is employment

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I

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I just hope that I can get as many dogs to their families as possible this year. I already have an applicant for Scout,

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I

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which is so incredible, and they're a

great family. And I'm actually gonna meet them right after this. my god. It's just it's been the greatest joy

and also th Wicked is about saving the animals.

Liter

How did I not put that together until just now?

it felt really meaningful and it's it feels really meaningful every day and it's really taken me out of myself and my ego,

which is really important, I think, in this career because it can be so about yourself and it's almost like suffocating how much it can be about yourself. And so

to be able to give to this little thing that needs me and is so, you know,

scared and transitioning and going through so much and then to be able to

let them decompress and love them and

show them that you know people are trustworthy.

It's just a great it's a great thing. It blessed me so much. I could talk about it all day, but I I spiter in the wood. I

no don't spare me. But I'm

watching him right now on the monitor. And he I he is he still by the door? He is. He's just sleeping by the door. He wants his foster mom

How long is the commitment for each dog? Is there a time limit or just until they find an owner?

Well, the limit really there's usually a two or three week minimum because for dogs, it's like three days to decompress, three weeks to kind of come out of their shell, and then three months to to be back to their normal self. So like maybe we do try to give a show. I know we do try to give them at least

chill because they've been through so much. Like these dogs specifically come up from Texas. Okay. And so they're on a van traveling up from Texas in crates and they come this is terrible, but they come just like completely filthy.

no, I hear you. And

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they've

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and you have to, you know, give a good rinse off with some Dawn dish soap. the the

time.

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gone through so much and then you don't know where they came from. They could have been strays, they could have been owner's surrender, which is just, you know, heartbreaking but it happens all the time.

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So yeah, but it's

it's

just amazing. And I highly recommend if you're thinking about getting a dog, it's a two week commitment. That could just completely change your life and also maybe open your heart up to, you know, giving back in a way that you never imagined.

'Cause it doesn't take as much monetary means as you think. It just takes a lot of your heart and your I know.

It just takes a lot of love and patience and nurturing, which I think like is just good for us to practice. So and that's actually great to know because I think people think it's more of a commitment than it actually may be to foster a dog. Like so many performers, like I'm in the same bucket. I love dogs so much.

when I started to foster, I was really open about the fact that I was starting for the first time with nothing.

So many people. my gosh, I could cry. People in my building, my neighbors, I love New York City. They all came together. They brought me food, treats,

toys. my gosh. pee pads, leashes, harnesses.

Like people showed up for me in ways that were so beautiful. everything about life the past two years has just been

generosity after generosity My whole story is about people being generous. And so it's just been amazing. Like even as I'm fostering this dog, like I'm just amazed by the generosity of like my neighbors, the people in my life, my friends

showing up to help me with the dog, to watch the dog from me, to like it really it, you know

You

know, as long as you love that baby, they're gonna be happy.

You gotta love the babies.

Anyways, back to Broadway, but that's just my little spiel.

I love the spiel. Okay, well this is actually a fun segue, talking about support and your team.

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your

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your

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we could go two ways with questions like who's on your team, who are your friends, your supporters, slash

I feel like you've gotten into the Dan story a bit, but I I work with Dan, I love him, so I wanna talk about that too. Well, that's been like the whole I feel my entire journey has been built on just

People's incredible generosity, like Dan's incredible generosity, you know, not knowing me, not even knowing like anything about me, but seeing, my information and just bring me in for a lesson, even.

know, most music directors on Broadway are so busy and they probably get a million inquiries. So it was just I still to this day can't believe that, you know, he was kind enough to to do that and then ultimately to help me on my journey to Wicked. And

also

like the people at Tara Rubin

Taking a chance on a person who you know at an EPA and bringing them in for this incredible project that changed my life.

it's amazing. And I think like in my own personal life, like my husband's generosity, coming wherever I need to go and being my support system, my my parents, my family, my best friends, Katie and Emily and and just all my friends, Juliana and Michael, and even like my personal, you know, my agents and manager, like everybody in my life really is

Like an incredible, incredibly generous person. And

I think that makes me want to be more generous

and help the next person elevate

because you know, I always say like I wouldn't be here without the incredible generosity of others. And I think it teaches you the kind of person that you wanna be known as in the industry. And of course, like, you know

There are still hard days, but then it it kind of

every time I think about it, it reminds me why I'm doing this. and even the experience of Wicked getting to play Glinda, it's of course like a dream come true for me personally. Like I never thought that I would get to do this. Like I genuinely never thought that I would ever get to do this and experience this. And it's like seriously every day it's like Christmas. But

even deeper part of it is like

it's such a amazing thing for the people around me to get to experience too. Mm-hmm. And like even just to bring the kids that I used to nanny full time backstage I had one of the girls I actually lived with them for a while when I was between apartments and jobs and all this stuff. They actually allowed me to stay with them in their home. when I could I I remember I like I think I couldn't afford to move back to my apartment and I was like, Can I just live with you guys? And they said yes. And and so I lived with them for

And the little girl I was nannying

came backstage when I was at Wicked and she like put on my ball gown. I don't know if that's allowed. So it's, you know, for the sake of how just incredible that was to witness. It was like there's my little person that I got such a part in raising and now she's putting on, the gown of my dream role, like my

little bubble dress. And it's

amazing, all the connections in my life. I just feel like everything has been just so intentional.

and for a long time my life was

a waiting game. Yeah. And that's really hard. but the wait was if I think about all the blessings I have now, I'm so glad that it didn't happen

Then I'm so glad I had this incredible journey because then I know everything that's happening in my life, it feels so intentional and it feels like a really big blessing, and I'm aware of it now, I'm more aware of it than I think I would have been if I

was like straight out of college. And not that that's a bad thing, it's a beautiful thing when that happens to people, but I think for me, it's like I've grown on this journey and all the things that happened.

But it sounds like that is your whole friend group and your whole team, and that is what everyone really wishes for.

And that speaks

more to you as a performer, as

A person, like

thank you. You're the kind of person people want to work with. that's beautiful because I hope so. You just see that in the way that you're celebrated for this huge win. I was like really blown away. Like my opening night in Wicked was March 3rd, and that was like such a personally significant day, and quite literally everyone I knew was there.

It was like

The biggest it felt like a wedding day. It was like the most incredible experience. Just all the love that was poured into me that day,

it seriously changed me, like as a person, just to see, you know, you second guess yourself so much as an actor. You can go, to such I think like dark places.

But then just to come

out of stage door and see everyone I've ever, you know, loved

there supporting me. It was just

I was so thankful. And even just like coming down the bubble for the

first time.

Wait, tell me about that moment. are you up in the fly? can you see the audience before they can see you? Like, what's happening?

I can a little bit. I can see like two rows.

Okay. If I look

down. I was so nervous that day. but

there's a message that someone left up there for me, and it's a picture of the whole cast,

and it's like, don't worry, we are literally all here, down here to catch you. my

Every day I just get chills and

it's I'm always nervous, you know, every day and I had to learn how to like center.

but the first night I just remember how electric the audience was and it just gave me such confidence. And ever since then it's just

Like it really has never gone away. I feel like every day when I'm in the bubble and I hear the downbeat,

I'm like, Holy crap, like I'm going in. And it feels like you're like you really are going to do this giant thing every single night in front of two thousand people and you know, this like iconic show. And I feel the weight of that. Yes. For sure. Yes. my gosh. It's really fun to last time I was there, I think actually it was your first week the last time I was there. so yeah, which yay. Yeah, you did such a good job.

but I it's always really fun to see Dan. I know he's not there anymore, but like the conducting where just a little whoosh, like I was like, gosh, it's so awesome. I love it. I've always wanted to sit. Dan offered this to me and I I never had the time to make it happen, but like sit in the orchestra and watch him conduct and like watch what happens in the orchestra because it's

just otherwise you're just locked in on the monitors because you've got to like look out, right? yeah.

It's so crazy.

but yeah, it's incredible. And everybody at Wicked is like

The best of the best, which is also crazy.

Cause every when I look at I'm like, you're the best at what you do and that's crazy and so cool. and the dresser, even the dressers,

the wig pick everybody, it's like incredible.

So tell me what was the first moment where you processed that you are playing this role, maybe during rehearsals or trying on costumes? When did it fully click for you?

I don't know if it has. Okay. I actually think about that.

I'm like, do I know what I'm doing? Like do I

realize that I am doing Wicked. It's crazy. And to this day, I will be like, there's no way that they let me do this. Like it's like it's it's so cool and it's so yeah, no, I I don't think I ever processed it.

I will say when I first got the call

I remember processing it even a little bit that day.

Cause I was just like, if this is real,

because I thought it was a prank call at first. I was like, there's no way that they're actually giving me this role. but I was like, if this is real, this is the craziest thing ever. Yeah. And I remember thinking like

I'm gonna be at the Gershwin. Like I I used to walk by the Gershwin and be it'd be so cool to work there. Yes. and then a little bit, you know, when you go to your first fitting, you're like, my gosh, it's happening. but I still can't believe that I'm doing it. And I still don't know if I've fully processed it.

That's fair. Well, sometimes it's such a whirlwind. I haven't been in your shoes like that, but just being able to process something that has brought you so much joy and has been such a dream, but then you're in like business practical mode.

And I'm

I'm sure there's a lot to learn and well how long did you have what what was your rehearsal process like for this? gosh, I don't remember. How long? Okay. So that's a lot. And then probably press, right? So that's a lot.

I feel like when you put your business hat on, it's like you're not

At least for me, I am present, but I just am very pragmatic.

Yeah. And then you

got you don't push the emotions aside, but it's like you're just using a different side of your brain.

Yeah, 'cause you're in rehearsal and then you realize like, wow, this is just like all the other rehearsals I've been in. Right. All right, like it's hard to believe that it's Wicked on Broadway because the rehearsal process is like kind of, the same or similar to things that you've done in the past.

I think the only thing that's a little bit different is it is like a really fast thing. you have your rehearsal.

Two times. Okay. And then you have your put in. And then so it's a little bit more isolated of an experience replacing. Right. Than it is building a show from scratch or, starting a show with an entire ensemble.

Like when you're replacing, it's a little bit more like you and the stage manager.

Yep. Which feels kind

of bizarre because you're like, wait, am I gonna be doing this with everyone? But then you know, after your first put in you're like, I know what I'm doing. And I think

the thing that helps is just knowing that it's literally the same as

any other job.

That you've ever done, just you walk out of the stage door on 51st Street.

Yeah. You

know, and I think actually Ellen said that to me. Ellen who plays Madame Morrible she said it's just it's community theater that has a stage door on 51st Street. Wow. And when she

said that, it really helped me, yeah, you know, ground myself and be like, yeah, I know actually what I'm doing, and I don't need to second guess my knowledge and my skill.

it's all,

Not the exact same, but it's like all the same. Yeah.

You know? And it

and you can believe in yourself that way that even though it's bright and shiny and new and it's a big thing to have your Broadway debut be like a principal.

Yes.

Especially Glinda, because it's like so many expectations and so many things. And if you think about that, you'll go crazy. But if you think about it being like, I am doing this show that

you know, it could be anywhere, but it just happens to open up here. Right. You know? Yeah.

Tell me more about your audition process and you can go into as much of like

what do you think going through this audition process

You went in for the audition with Dan and then that happened and then three years ago three

years ago I first met Dan, because his neighbor gave

Him my information, which was like

so crazy. I love that. and he was like, Have you ever been seen for Glinda? And I was like, No. I was like, I've never been seen for anything on Broadway practically. And I, you know, definitely not Glinda. So he brought me in and

I was just it was my first big audition. Yeah. And it was in person. And it was in person. my god. And actually Lisa wasn't even there. It was just Dan and I think somebody from Telsey Casting. So it was like really low, like chill. Yeah. And they I think they had set up a

camera

but I was just I was so nervous and I was so green that I think I walked in and I just couldn't even even breathe.

You know when you like lose your breath because you're so nervous and then you're trying to sing soprano but literally you can't. Yes. it's like a hope and a prayer when your throat locks up. my gosh and I will say since then I have worked with Matt Farnsworth who I work with him too. He's Matt or with okay okay yes so I'm with Matt and

And Matt has completely changed my life. And my voice. He's like an incredible mentor, but he's also just an incredible voice teacher. And he opened up my soprano with me over the last three years. And I think he's the reason that I can do this show. I love that. Do you know what I mean? And Dan actually introduced me to him.

Dan is amazing. I love him so much. So

I owe so much of my

Life to Dan. Like I I really do. And I I just think,

I don't know that I would be here without him. I don't think I would.

don't think I would be here without Dan. I don't think I would be here without Matt. Both of them have changed my life like deeply and also my voice a lot. Yes. so

like my first audition, I was so nervous. I obviously didn't get called back. And then Dan was like, Listen, go do Clueless and like

Come back in next year.

Yeah. I

went back and I did Clueless and then it ended up being that I couldn't come back in because I was gonna move to the West End with Clueless, which was amazing. and then I remember Clueless

closed early. Okay. And I was like

my gosh, like what am I gonna do to my life? I picked up everything and I moved to this new country and now my show's ending early. And I remember feeling like,

okay, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna go back to New York and I'm just gonna audition for Wicked. You know what? Yes. That was the only thing I thought about.

And I remember the second my show closed, I was like, Okay, but did Wicked have auditions yet? I'm gonna audition for Wicked.

Just calling the team, like, hey. I literally

did. And I was like, I need to get in for Wicked. And

like I think I had a self tape.

Request.

And I

had pneumonia, which was horrible timing because I was flying back and forth from London to New York to do a lot of like work business things. And

that's so hard on your voice too like at

the elevation. Yeah. And so I'm I'm going

back and forth from New York. I have horrible pneumonia, but I'm like, lock in.

I get on antibiotics. I have the self-tape

request. And I'm like, I think I submitted it like the day it was due. I went to London and my two friends, Isaac and Max, my best friends, they went with me to like an attic of a studio in London and

we were

recorded it and I was I think I was on antibiotics and I was barely awake and I I was just like okay this is it so I submitted it and you

know I went back in for Lisa the director and

I was between countries and I didn't have all my clothes with me. And so I remember I got the in-person audition request and I was like, my gosh, I have nothing to wear. I need to find a dress. I went shopping all over New York City. It

was the fall, so there was nothing pink. And I was like, my gosh, like what am I gonna wear to Wicked? Yeah. My friend Abby

I think I posted on my story like does anyone have anything that I could wear to an audition that's pink? Yes. And

my friend Abby was like, I have got you. She her whole wardrobe is pink.

Love that. And so she was working. I think she was like in a meeting and she like left three pink dresses in a target bag outside her door. And then I

wore her dress and I literally like again, the generosity of the people around me, it's insane. So I go into the

audition and Lisa actually

says she's like, I love your dress. Okay. Yeah, I'm so nervous. I'm like, it's not mine. Like, thank you so much. Abby is a top tier friend. Yeah, she really is.

And I actually like after I I got the job, I was like, I have to own that dress. So I went and bought it.

my god, yes. but yeah, so that was my audition experience. I went in for Lisa and Dan again and I did the packet and I left and I was like my gosh, I I don't know how that went.

Like Did they make you dance?

No.

Love that for you. Not for Glinda. And honestly, if I'm totally honest,

I was waiting for a call back. And I was like, is there gonna like I was like, surely

they'll call people back. And then a month went by and I was like, I

didn't get a call back. So I guess I'll try again next year. it wasn't meant to be all this stuff, and then it comes to November, and then I get a call from my agent and I'm like, Hi, is everything okay? And he's like,

You're the new Glinda on Broadway. and I was like

like, you know, lost. 'Cause I was seeing people getting callbacks and I like, I guess I don't know if it was for Glinda, but it you for other had for other roles and stuff and I'm like, Okay, so you know, it's not meant to be. Right.

No, they just saw what they needed to see. Yeah,

exactly. And so I just think I just think that was a lesson for me and trusting

Like because

we do our work and we overthink it, and my god, we drive ourselves crazy. We're like, I shouldn't have said that and I shouldn't have done that. Yeah.

And then you realize, like, actually, you could have booked it. You don't know. And so

and so don't don't judge yourself too harshly. I think this year has been all about, you know, being gentler with yourself and remembering what's really important. Right. And part of that was my audition process.

So okay, well tell me,

the self-tape for the packet it is so

like when I am doing in-person auditions, you can just be fully present, let it go. What happened, happened, what didn't, didn't. You walk

Give that to the universe. But self-tapes, you watch it back, you play it back. You have to pick a take. Like and the Glinda stuff, I was talking to McKenzie about this. It's like you are not in the bubble, but you are presenting to the Aussians. The popular, there's a bed. There's all like how do you create that space within the confines

of a tiny phone camera? That's what I mean. I think partially it was that I didn't know Wicked very well before. I

that's a little embarrassing.

No, I think that I didn't revere Wicked. I've

always thought it was like incredible, but I didn't know like the ins and outs as much as the next Linda. Fair. I'd watched, of course, some bootlegs and but I'd only seen it once, I think. Okay. Or twice maybe. And you know what, girl? I saw McKenzie Kurtz do it.

T. And that's that's all you need to see. That's all you needed to see. And I was like, God.

She is that girl.

She is that girl. And I I remember

seeing her and being like, Nobody does it like that.

I just was like, she's incredible. I love McKenzie. I'm a huge fan. And one time I saw her at the Girls Swin and I totally fangirled. So And now people are fangirling over you. Okay. I can't even believe that. That's not even true. I'm like that's so crazy. Okay, so let's talk about this. People are saying that you are Kristen Chenwith, like reincarnated,

No, I'm so honored, and I have actually told Kristen that this is such an honor. I sent her a video being like, I love you, like and you know, I'm honored that people are even putting me in the same category as you. no, she created the role and I have like so much reverence for her and like admiration. I

don't think I'm anything like her, but I like

believe that so many people are saying it that I'm like, okay, it must be true. But I feel so different from her. Mm-hmm. I don't know. She's just so funny. Like, you're funny. No, no, no. I you know, I know. No, I'm just kidding. No, but she's just so

she could literally stand there and people would laugh. And I just think she's got such a gift and she's also tiny. she's quite a bit shorter than me. So I'm How tall are you? I'm five five.

Do I

look shorter? You don't look shorter in a bad way. No, but people I would say you're like a solid 5'3.

Like I think I'm shorter. And I was like, I think it's because I got a big head. Stop. I know. No, but I'm serious. I'm sorry, I was just looking at No, I love it. No, I am so honored that people think that. I do think we have a similar

cadence of speaking. Fair. Okay.

And I think that she's just very matter of fact as Glinda. And I think

Watching all of the bootlegs and being like, I have to do this. You're bringing what you have to the table.

I do think that helped me a little

bit because when I thought about Glinda, I was like, my gosh, she has to like silly and off the walls and goofy, and I'm just not that. Like, I'm just different in that way. I think Glinda, as I start to have more fun with the cast, is becoming more like that, you

know, a little bit. I have to tone it down a little bit sometimes. but I think what helped me is like when I look at the story, you just

Say the words and you mean

it. Yes. And

like you tell the story. I know that's so like basic, but the director often comes back and she's like, just tell the story.

Yeah.

and it's about that internal life. And it's it's hard when you've watched something so many times to think about it.

in like a more

internal way because you've watched it and you kind of can't help yourself. Yeah. You know, and I even found myself like the more I would watch of people trying to learn the show, trying to listen to the show to learn it,

the harder it was to sort of organically find Glinda. What really helps me is when the director comes back and we do some scene work with her, it's always like keeping the tempo up. Right. And when we start bouncing back and forth, it'll surprise me the things that come out. Yeah. So it's fun. Like I feel every day like I'm doing the show for the first time and I discover so many things every time I do it, especially with Keri who's such a phenomenal actress. And all the actors are just so great. Carl

my gosh, like everybody I get to work with is so good that it's like if I just stay present with them, then my Glinda comes out because I'm listening to them. And it's like, honestly, people always say, like, just literally be yourself and you will be her. Yes. And that was a hard thing for me to like grasp, but the more I just am myself, yeah, and

the more I'm just truly listening and truly responding, it's so basic, but.

the funnier it is, the easier it is, the more grounded it is. And so yeah, I'm still learning every day. I don't even feel like my Glinda is fully realized in in like three months in. That's I'm I feel like every I don't I people say this, they're like, you will still feel like you're working at the end of the contract. Like you will still not feel like it's done. Right.

I love that about a job. I do. I kind of feel like that's the dream is to keep working and keep it never gets boring because every day I'm like, I gotta, you know, think about this and I've gotta be present. Yes. And when you're present, you just can't be going through the motions. You're always, you know, finding new things. And some days we're tired and some days we're, you know, surviving. But either way it's still honest. You're bringing your full self to the stage. Yeah, and maybe Glinda is a little, you know, different that day because of whatever energy that you have. And we can't be peppy all the time, listen.

Yeah. I feel like when you're trying to be something, it's harder to access. But if you just allow yourself to be in it, I don't know. Like allow yourself to be in the story, then it just flows, doesn't it? But it's hard to do. And I'm really hard. Is it easier? Not easier, but is it better to ground in and lock in with the different stage elements, like wearing the costume and having the lights? Like I we're this whole episode is gonna be about Dan

But like I'll go in and coach with Dan. And he's like, listen, he'll do mock auditions with me. And he's like, the way you just came in the room was frenetic. You're not like that in a normal conversation. You're way more grounded, but you put a hat on a hat when you get nervous.

And it's like, how do you find a way or a means to lock in, get your two feet on the ground, and let that go the moment before? And sometimes it's the elements of the stage that really help you, but if if you're just

In

an audition room in Pearl Studios with the fluorescent lights, you're like, no. Yeah,

I almost have to treat it like a panic attack. I'm like, I you know, performing is so anxiety inducing and I think it's really easy to

to put a hat on a hat, especially when you're a naturally I can tell you're kind of like me where you're a naturally up person. Yeah. And that was it's a hard it's a really hard thing to ground yourself. I've had to do I'm still doing a lot of work on grounding myself. Part of it is working with the dogs. That's been really grounding. a lot of it is rest. Yes. I think resting and taking time to be quiet and time to breathe. but I also have practical tools that, you know, I've learned

Like different breath work and stuff. For me, it's really like physiological. My energy, like I get really nervous, and then my breathing is fast, and then my talking is fast. So less caffeine, more water. I can't do that. No, it's okay. Me neither. Me neither, if I'm totally honest. I think,

I think

taking breaks too. I think that is a little bit taboo, but I really think

We need breaks in life and sometimes that means saying no to something, outside of work or maybe even taking a day off from work to just decompress.

And because you can't if you're going in and you're stressed every single day and you're bringing that energy in, Glinda's gonna have a panic about her. So that was hard for me at first. I was coming in every day like I, Emma, am so, you know, I want I want to do such a good job, and I'm so anxious to do that that it was like, Glinda could be quite panicked. But the more I ground myself in my real life and I get my two feet on the ground, like you said, and so it it's not perfect every day. I think

Breath work is really important.

I love in for four, out for six. Yes. I also love like doing like there's five things you can see, four things you can yeah. So it's like things like that just to get present. but also just like chilling. And I love spending time with the cast. I love the cast so much and I love my dresser, Kashish. Yes.

And I love all the dressers. Leah, I love that dress me and Jessica, the Elphaba dresser, like I just love talking to them and like and just being around people and that grounds me. Yes. Yeah.

What's your favorite outfit to wear? I have to ask.

Thank you for yellow. Thank

you for saying that because I think it's beautiful and I feel like the yellow dress does not get enough credit. I love the yellow dress. I love it because I feel really Glinda, but I also feel like myself. I love wearing yellow, and yellow is kind of my signature color. Okay. Like yellow is to Emma what pink is to Glinda. Like you're thinking. I love yellow. It makes me feel like bright and energetic and like myself. So I really love that. And I also love

In act two, when I put on the thank goodness outfit, I feel like

Political. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like I'm ready for Act Two. Assembly Woman. And Act Two is just so well written and thank goodness it's so well written. I love putting on that dress and being like, we're gonna go do Act Two. Yeah. Like it just feels exciting.

I want to ask you more about how you take care of your health and sustainability

For eight show weeks. Like, what does that look like? What is in your dressing room?

We talked about breath work. are we magnesium? Are we vitamins? Are we steaming? Like, we're doing it all. allergies have been a real problem for me this year. I have never struggled with allergies like I have this year seasonally.

And I've I I tried one medication, it made me feel like I was on horse tranquilizer. And I was like on Reddit, like, has this ever happened to you? And you know

I think it's really hard. Allergies have been my downfall this season. But in terms of longevity of vocal health, I think having a really great team, getting a really good ENT, and having a really good teacher who knows the body and knows the voice really well and knows the physiology of, you know, how everything works and and that can work with your ENT. Yeah.

at this level. I like when you're working on the Broadway principal level because you're using your voice in such an enormous way. that's really important. People love Sarah Brown. I work with Matt Farnsworth. I also love Sarah Brown. I've never worked with her but I've heard she's amazing. The last Glinda worked with her. Allie.

Yeah, she's amazing. And I think I go to the ENT once a month. and that works really well for me. And I take breaks when I need it. for me, there's no shame in preserving your long term health. Heard. Like I will always take a show off if that's what's best for me.

Not always. Sometimes you push through. I'll go into work sometimes and I'll push through a weekend 'cause it's Sunday. And then I always end up regretting it. 'Cause it's like, Okay, now where am I gonna where am I gonna give and where am I gonna take? So I think the biggest thing you can do is rest. Yes. Rest your voice, stop talking.

I am you. I sleeping, resting your voice, drinking lots of water. Yes. And not getting too reliant on prednisone Cheers. Listen, I know it's hard, but try I'm really culprit of this too, where where it's like you can get reliant on something. I love bromelaine. I think it's super great. And I love my nebulizer. But honestly, the best thing is water and sleep. And rest and stopping talking. Like if you keep using it and you keep pushing through.

That's where you get really

struggle. and yeah, just like get more comfortable being silent. It's hard for me, but you know, I'm working on it. And I think dealing with your allergies, dealing with reflux is really important. late. Yes. I think going to the ENT is huge. Just go. Honestly, that's the best way you can take care of yourself because then you can see the cords and know that you're taking care of them. Who's your auntie? This is for me. We don't have to air it, but no, it's fine. I go to Rosemary Delow.

her. I've been to all of them though. I I love Dr. Pitman. I've been to Dr. Dahl. I know that people really like Dr. Salika. but honestly,

Mikayla Closeup EF (36:23)

Desloge

Tea Time With Mikayla: Broadway Podcast Network (36:23)

I love Dr. DeLoge.

And she's been great for me throughout Wicked. And also Dr. Pitman and Doctor Desloge they work in cahoot sometimes. So if I couldn't see Dr. Desloge she would send me to Pitman. Perfect. and maybe vice versa, I don't know. so yeah, it's really great. And there's so many great ENTs. We have the best medicine in the world in here in New York City. So Yes. It's so great. And if you have health insurance, even better. Go.

Yay, I love that. He's asleep. I love him. So a good boy. Is he still sleeping by the the door? Yeah, he like got up and barked at the door I saw. But okay. But he got up and barked at the door and cried a little

But now he's sleeping again. I love that. So you what I'm so proud of him? Baby boy, Scout And it's so much on these dogs. Like it really is. But the if you can get them to decompress, that's everything. If they start to sleep, my gosh, that's so good. my gosh, just like me. I am literally that dog. okay, well tell me a little bit about your influences, people that inspire you, shows that inspire you, music,

What comes to mind? my gosh. So I'm so inspired by all the previous Glindas, especially the mothers who have gone on and become mothers and are still doing amazing things. I look up to Katie Rose Clark so much, just as an actress, but also like as a person and a woman. I feel like I look up to so many people. I'm trying to think of people that I look up to and I look up to the girl who played Glinda before, Allie. she's just a wonderful role model and cares very

Deeply about the world. I look up to my parents a lot, and I look up to my husband's parents a lot, especially the mothers. Like, I look up to my mom and his mom for being able to manage, you know, being an incredible wife and mother, and also having big careers, yes, and doing big things. my mother was a doctor, and then before she started staying home, I'm one of nine children. So she did what number are you in the order? I'm number three. Okay. So I'm the first girl, and then I have.

five little sisters and a little brother and two older brothers. my gosh, what was that like? Amazing. Yes. I love coming from a big family. It's a fun fact, but also it was just like every day is a party.

And it's like kind of the best ever.

I love my siblings so much and I feel like we have this like army of support around us all the time. And I could literally not that I would want to, but I could go through the rest of my life with no friends and just have my sisters and I'd be so happy. Yes. I love that. So I think that's a huge blessing. And I like,

you know, hope to have children someday. you know, God willing. But

I think it's just amazing to see

women doing incredible things with their lives and their careers and like being great people. and that's really inspiring to me. Jennifer who plays Glinda and Switzerland. We love her. She's constantly Yeah, we love you. she's constantly uplifting people. Yes. And she's a great mother and she does Wicked.

I'm like, my God, I'm sorry. I'm sick and you have this, like, whatever. And she's so gracious and she's so generous. Like today I said, my gosh, I might need someone to come and sit with my dog because I don't know if he's gonna be okay alone. And she was like, What time? She's just like a really generous person. I'm inspired by people like that. And I think I'm really inspired by Joshua Henry.

I know. I'm so we're filming this the day after the Tony Awards. I'm really inspired by all the moms at the Tony Awards. Yes.

And all the dads too. I'm

really inspired by parents specifically, people who you know, not just parents, but people who live these like but for me that's so cool that they've built these huge, enormous careers.

just watching Joshua's process.

And talking about how he had to practice like the Sarah come down to me, how he's practicing behind the scenes all the time. Like you really do have to lock in and practice on your own. Not in a way that is like giving yourself internal pressure, but just

Him sharing his process it doesn't just like come out naturally. That actually it takes years of of building to get there. He has been an enormous inspiration, I think, to everyone, but I has been a huge inspiration to me, especially because I resonate so much with what he says about failure. And like, you know, that is almost more important than succeeding, because it teaches you so much about perseverance and just like his journey, like, like how he was supposed to.

Broadway with Hamilton and then it didn't happen and like

things happen like that, but now look at the glory that is his success because of because of failure, you know, and I I think about that for myself too. Like so many things didn't work out. and I thought my life was over. And then it's like, look how big and beautiful my life is now and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm so grateful that it happened the way that it did. And

I hope it's encouraging to people that like, I failed failed, you know, for a really, really long time. And I was so scared.

That you know, am I doing this in vain? But you just have faith, and then you know, that's been so inspiring. I, anyways, I'm so inspired by that and like all the mothers who won last night. And just, there's some really good people on Broadway. There's some great people, and I look up to them a lot. Yes. There I could talk about that forever. I also look up to Dan Matt Farnsworth so much. I look up to both of them as people, very generous people.

Very big careers. Yes. I a great example, like Dan has a child Dan is an incredible father. He's got this incredibly big, beautiful life, and he gives so much to every part of it. You know, his career, his family, his home life, himself even. And it's just like I hope he gives to himself. But he seems like he does.

Yeah, I'm just inspired by people who figured out that balance. Yes, and being in service to something bigger than yourself. it's hard we were talking about ego earlier. It's like hard because from a pragmatic point of view, you have to know what your strengths are and you have to look for that. But then you also don't want to gas yourself up or

you know, be too critical of yourself. But just knowing what your strengths are and being in service to the industry and the community is so special. And seeing all of these people do that is like

And it's it's so great. you know what someone said to me one time that really helps me when I'm in a space where I'm like, my gosh, like I'm nervous about myself. What are they you know, whatever? How can I make this other person feel more comfortable? How can I make the other person in the room feel more at ease? And I think we can think about that in audition rooms. Like how can I make them feel more at ease? how can I make this interviewer feel more comfortable and at ease? It's like I think that's really helpful too when it comes to ego is taking

it you know, off yourself 'cause, it really is about how you make the other person feel. Yeah. And I think like we make

Hopefully the audiences feel great. I think that you do. Yeah. I really do.

what are the things that get you in a good mood instantly? Girl, I love going on my little my tiny screen and scrolling. I but do you know what I love? What? I just love animals.

I

love watching silly animal videos. I love to watch just animals being silly, silly cat videos, silly dog. That's so stupid. But it does make me really happy instantly. And I think also just like joking with my friends, my silly friends backstage. And I think also like gratitude, instant mood switch, being like

Look at the things that I have. I'm so grateful. That always puts me in a better mood. no, but honestly, laughter I feel like is huge huge. And I think that is an instant mood switch. Just if you're in a bad place, finding a way to have humor about it is everything and I think will carry you through that moment. Agree. Yeah, and a lot of that is like having great friends around. we can always laugh. We always can find a way to laugh.

I've been watching cat chiropractic videos. Have you seen these? Yes. I can't stop watching them. Have you seen dog ones? Yes. Yes. Because the dogs, like, I've gotta like do it here. The dog will get its back cracked and it just goes, mm-hmm.

Mikayla Closeup EF (43:57)

mm-hmm.

Tea Time With Mikayla: Broadway Podcast Network (43:57)

Like

their eyes pop out of their body. It's so sweet. Sometimes they're like they've been in a lot of pain and then they're like instantly. And then they're like happy, they're good boys

is there anything about the business side of theater that you wish you knew earlier

in life? Yeah, there is. I wish somebody had told me about taxes. Girl. I think financial just financial literacy in general. I'm just learning it now and at my ripe old age. And I think

If you're an actor and you're still in school or you're fresh out of school, get yourself financially literate and like educated and make sure you understand how to function when jobs are they come and they go. Yeah. So it's like you could be making a lot of money in one moment of your life and then be unemployed for two years. Like you just don't know. So it's

Becoming smart in a way that, you're prepared for the ebbs and flows of the industry. Mm-hmm.

And I think diversifying your skills. Yes, definitely, is important. And being open to different mediums of acting and performing. yeah, the business side is really hard. I think learning how to function is difficult, but I think also we're all just real people.

Mm-hmm. And remembering that is huge. And remembering that, like

the people that you're so scared of are also just people. Yes. So that's been really huge. But I think, financial education is huge and I don't think we get very much of it in BFA programs. And I think even just learning about health insurance. Yes. basic things like that that seems so, you know, whatever, that's boring. That is so important and it's going to define so much of your stability. So if you can figure out a way to become

wise in that way. That's that's my encouragement to you. I also have I've I have finance people. So like I have a tax people. I have a bookkeeper.

That's really important. Especially, you know, if you need to outsource

outsource things. Like if you don't be ashamed if you don't know how to do something outsourced. Like please go get a tax person. Yes. If you're nervous and you're on tour and you have taxes in every single state, get someone to do your taxes. It's it'll be worth it and then you'll save yourself a lot of stress. I am the queen of outsourcing I love that. When I need to and I think it saved me a lot of stress. Yes.

Because there are so many things especially like expensing things off your taxes, depending on what kind of contract you have and how you're being paid out.

I like that you would never even consider that some of these things

do. If you're an actor, you can write off so many things. Yeah, write it off a bit. And if you know, and people in the industry taught me about incorporation, incorporating yourself. Yes, like I'm making yourself a business. And at a certain point, you have to learn about that. So there's lots of different

businessy things that are important. And I encourage you all to educate yourselves. Yes. what keeps you well, what keeps you grounded when life?

Life gets surreal.

Mikayla Closeup EF (46:45)

lean on

Tea Time With Mikayla: Broadway Podcast Network (46:46)

God a lot. I think it's got me through a lot of things and it's connected a lot of dots through me and made me, realize sort of the bigger picture of my life. That I'm not just here to like be a giant success, but like I'm also here to like love other people. Like that is my mission. And so I think it's given me, in those moments where it wasn't all going my way, my deeper like that had deeper meaning in my life. That I could

I think thinking about 'cause I personally for me it's Christian faith, but I think for someone else it could be something totally different. but I just think having some sort of

higher power is really helpful in this industry and just in life to help you process like the highs and lows of things. and for me it's God and I think it's just helped me

To know that I can glorify God in my life even if I'm just quote unquote a nanny. But you know, there's so much purpose in taking care of this family's most prized possession, their child, and that maybe my purpose in that season, maybe that family needs me. And that's been true,

in my life where a family really needed me and I was able to be there for them when they were going through a really difficult time. And that gave me so much so much purpose in a time where I wasn't working theatrically and I thought my life was over. but actually

Like I look back on those times and I'm like, thank God I had that perspective because it really carried me through and gave me, made me feel good in a different way. Yes. And I think my faith is really grounding, and I do go to church every Sunday. Yes. And I haven't missed a Sunday in years.

And your priests blessed your dressing room. He did. Father Jonah. and my priests have been incredible mentors, incredible people to me. They constantly are texting me, I'm praying for you.

I love my cast. I love my faith community. I love my neighbors. I feel like I'm surrounded by I'm really lucky. I feel really surrounded by incredible love and support from all

all parts of my life. And definitely my faith community is huge. I love the church churches that I go to really. And the people even

people on my team, one of them goes to my church. So that's been like a really beautiful connection and I think has just kind of deepened like, you know, my

My love for them and I think it's also my faith gives me deeper purpose in everything that I do. Like at work. Like, you know, even when I go on stage as Glinda, it just feels like it has, because of my faith, like a much deeper purpose. And yeah. it's great. Yeah,

and I love connecting the dots with serendipities. I just got back from my friend's wedding and she had met her wife on the Fourth of July, which was her dad's birthday, and he had passed away and she was like every fourth of

July, she was so sad because she was missing her dad, and something in her was just like, Hey, go on this date, get out of the house. And that is the day that she met her wife, and she was like, I trust that this is all God's plan. This brought me to where I need to be. Every time I'm feeling low, like you just take it outside of yourself, you listen to your intuition, and you know that people are watching over you in whatever way that means, to whatever modality of faith that you have, and just like seeing so many things that it is like you, it's not a coincidence.

No, I think there are no.

No accidents and no coincidences with God. And I think like even like my life, I'm like, my gosh, like look at how all these things are connected and how all these things wouldn't have happened without that other thing. And it's so beautiful, you know. And when you when you believe in something bigger than yourself, it's kind of kind of beautiful and fun to see all the

ways. Like I always say, like, look at God's track record whenever you're nervous about what's next. and that helps me a lot. Like, even not knowing what's gonna happen next after this job, it's like, but look.

at how good you know God has been to me already and I can trust that, you know, if all these things have happened, like something even more exciting is waiting on the other side of the unknown of life. And I think that helps me. That helps me.

Grounded yes. Yes, ground. Yes. I hope I haven't been too woo woo. No, no, we love woo-woo here. All sorts of woo-woo. I'm all about it. I'm writing down my intentions. I am doing all the things. I just think like the more you can be in tune with like that, it's like the easier life is. Yes. And so many people say, again, regardless of like modality of faith, that you have to be a little like Dululu allowing yourself to believe that you deserve it and leading

With confidence and leading with love, but also leading out of like I am in service to something bigger than myself. And I feel like faith is like such a great way for you to ground in and get out of your own head a lot of the time. totally. I was gonna say something profound and then I forgot what I was gonna say. That's a story in my life. you know what? Someone's my mother said this, and she is right. She's like, I'm always, you know, because I'm a worry wart, and sometimes when I would get really worried about the future or whatever, she would be like, Allow yourself to also imagine the best case scenario because you're only allowing this worst

Worst case scenario, but what would happen if you allowed yourself to imagine that actually the best thing is gonna happen? Just picture it. Picture both of them. You know, if you're gonna picture the worst case, allow yourself to also picture the best. And it really, you know, helped me because the more you can meditate on the best case scenario, the you know, the more at peace you'll, I think, be.

That's beautiful. I love go mama. Go mama. Good mama, I have a really great mom. She's the best. Yes, amazing. I love her already. how

does it feel with people

developing a parasocial relationship with you too. Like I'm like, I love your mom. I don't know her. Do you feel excited that like so many people are now getting to know you?

Really? Like I don't know. I feel like it's really such a privilege to be someone that people want to have that kind of connection with. I'm like, me? I think it's beautiful having people feel connected to you.

I and like

They can see parts of themselves in you and their journey in you. I think a lot of people can relate to sort of my journey here. And maybe they're in the part of their life where they haven't made it yet, but hopefully I can help them be encouraged that if it can happen to me, it can happen to them. So

I think there's a lot of beauty in that. And I think, I don't mind. I don't mind. I mean,

you hope that people aren't crazy and they won't follow you home. I mean. and of course some people are. but in general, it's a really amazing.

amazing thing at stage door when someone says to me, I've watched your videos and it really means a lot to me, you know, that you're a person of faith or that you are, you know, that that your journey here was so long. And you know, things like that. And it has really a deeper meaning when it touches someone's heart like that. So that's beautiful. Okay, I'll end on two more things. Mm-hmm. What kind of work are you dreaming about doing

But

I am so present and I'm so happy to be at Wicked, and I feel so incredibly blessed. However, I also can't wait for what's next. I feel like.

Excited for whatever life has for me. I'd love to do another Broadway show. I'd love to do another show on the West End. I could totally see that. I just got my five year visa. You got it. Yes. Global talent. Yes. I love that. I'm so excited to to potentially go back to London and do another show. I would love to do another new work. I love working on new musicals so much and I love developing.

So that would be incredible. I would love to do some screen work. I would love to do some have a film.

No, and every time I'm thinking about like kind of transitioning over, then something incredible happens in my theatrical career, which I'm so thankful for, but it just hasn't been like the right time to completely dive in. Yeah. well one hand will feed the other. Exactly. And I I feel so I'm so happy that this is how I would never trade this. and I think this is just such a a gift, and I'm really trying to like sit in the present of it. But I also am like,

how exciting that the next thing could be is something totally I'm encouraged by

the way that life has happened and I know that like I just can't wait to see what what happens next and hopefully it's something awesome. But you know, even in

I I'd be just excited to do anything. So yeah. I love that. Yay. So many good things are coming for you. I can feel it. thank you. You know, and I hope I can do more work with the rescues that I'm working with. That's also a hope of mine. And I'm gonna put it in the show notes so people can find out more about it. that'd be great. That'd be great. I'll send I'll send you a list of a couple of really good rescues in the city. And also yeah, I just hope I just hope to be come, as my career continues to also be able to lift up these charitable

things as well. having this platform, but I also love being able to like to be able to like use it. It's been so awesome. You're so dreamy. I love it so much. well, you know. Thank you. Yes. Okay. Last thing, and this is for me. Yes. Can you teach me how to toss toss? my gosh, of course. So I have thought so deeply about this because

I don't know. At first I was like how 'cause how do you toss toss? Is it with two hands? 'Cause so at first I was giving it a toss toss. Yeah, I thought it was like toss toss. Yeah, which I think is totally valid. Okay. And I think you can use like the front of your hand, toss, toss. Or you can even use, you know, the back toss toss. but for me, I realized in my own life, like, I don't even use my hands. So I have a I have a look ma no hands, toss, toss. Let me see. And I just give it a little toss toss. my gosh. And then like

And like for me it's just

it's it's more subtle. Yeah. It's more I don't know, it's hands less. Well it's like the cadence, the toss toss. Like that's very soft. So I feel like the toss toss is So you keep toss toss. I definitely think it's soft and I think it's I think it's fast and I think it's you know, I don't think it's too big. I think it's actually quite small. So I think it's like a little bit of a ooh toss toss. But your hair is also beautifully layered, so I feel like it like the toss toss fares well. Listen, if your hair is too long, I encourage

You to use your hands. Okay.

Tust. I I look like I have a neck problem. You know what, too? It's like it's about the eyes, you know? I could do that. Like, yes. Hands out. Because we're flirting. Like, we are we are out there playing the game. Tustas. Yes. That was gorgeous. Okay. I'll take it. I'll I have to work on that. For me, it's just a little tustos.

And

and

it's not about the hair going back necessarily, it's just about like, you know. Ha ha ha ha. It's gentle. Okay. That was beautiful. I feel like I'm getting it now. I'm The more you do it, the more I'm like, should I use my hands? I feel like it's

But it can be anything you want it to be. Yeah, it's about the intention. It's about the intention. Yeah. Okay, well, I learned so much. I am so happy you came on the show. God, I'm encouraged. That was like a good uplifting interview. Yes. Yay. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I hope I didn't talk too much. No, my God, please. A as long as your voice feels fine, that's all I care about. She's good, honey. We're going to the auntie later. Yes, Auntie. Yay. I encourage you all to go. Well, you can see Emma in Wicked through March. Through March.

Great. Yay. Bye guys. Thanks