This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Macon Prickett: Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the fabulous 54 Below.

[0:03] Macon Prickett: Before we get started this evening, just a polite reminder, please take this moment to silence your cell phones and also there's no flash photography, please.

[0:15] Macon Prickett: Welcome to the 54 Below Podcast.

[0:18] Macon Prickett: I'm Macon Prickett, the club's assistant programming director.

[0:21] Macon Prickett: Our guest today is singer songwriter Kylie McNeill, who starred as the English singing and speaking voice of Belle Suzu in Mamoru Hosoda's Belle.

[0:30] Macon Prickett: Back by popular demand, after a sold-out 54 Below debut, she'll be singing songs from the hit anime feature along with some unreleased originals.

[0:40] Macon Prickett: Kylie McNeill, welcome to the podcast.

[0:42] Kylie McNeill: Hi, how are you?

[0:44] Macon Prickett: I am wonderful today, Kylie. How are you doing?

[0:46] Kylie McNeill: Good, thank you.

[0:48] Macon Prickett: Awesome. Well, we were really excited to have you back at 54 Below. Your debut show in January was awesome.

[0:55] Macon Prickett: I was there for it. It was a really special night. I remember it was fully sold out, which is really exciting here in the club.

[1:03] Macon Prickett: When that basement is packed full, it's a great feeling for both us and I'm sure you.

[1:08] Macon Prickett: So how does it feel preparing this show, preparing to come back to 54 Below?

[1:12] Kylie McNeill: I'm so excited. It's coming up so soon. I've been really looking forward to this for a while to come back.

[1:20] Macon Prickett: Awesome. Can you tell us a little bit about the preparation for that show back in January and what we can expect for this upcoming performance in September?

[1:29] Kylie McNeill: Sure. Well, in January, I was like terrified. So I was just running songs every day for in preparation, writing my little script that I of things that I say constantly. And I mean, it just ended up being so much fun. So I think this time, because I did it once before, I'm a little more confident and a little less like horribly terrified. Um, I'm more like excited to come back. And this show, you know, I sing all of the songs from the Belle movie, and I sing some of the same unreleased originals with a couple more that I've never sung before, and songs from a musical I'm writing that I've never sung before. So it's a bit of a different approach just because there's new material.

[2:13] Macon Prickett: Yeah. We're definitely gonna have to get into a little bit of details about that musical you're working on later. I definitely would love to talk a little bit about that. In talking about musical theater and your performance background, you know, I know that you went to the professional performing arts school here in New York, which is really exciting. I mean, did you feel like you were living your like fame fantasy or like was every day like an episode of Glee? Like, what was that like?

[2:36] Kylie McNeill: Oh my god, totally. Um, I mean, it was a great experience going to high school there. It was upsetting though, getting the COVID moment at the end of my senior year, upsetting for everyone, obviously. That kind of put a damper on my musical theater dreams. Um, but like um we all relate, no worries.

[3:01] Kylie McNeill: No, totally, totally. Yeah, I loved, I loved going there. When did the performance bug bite you? When did this kind of all start for you? How young were you? Were you always into musical theater, or was it more music performance? Can you give us a little bit of detail about that journey for you?

[3:19] Kylie McNeill: Well, my parents were huge like musical theater fanatics, and they're actors as well. So we would always have like cast albums around in the house. So I was like singing Wicked at like three. I was singing like Avenue Q at like three as well, like, which is a problem, but like that's kind of what my household was like. And my mom's dad was a flamenco singer, so there was always just music in my house. So yeah, he was always singing, and I always took inspiration from him. And so I think music has always been a part of my life. And then I like went to a really academic middle school and I was like miserable there. So when I went to apply for high school, I was like, I have to get in for musical theater at PPAS.

And somehow miraculously it happened. But then of course, like when you're in high school, you're like, oh, I don't want to like do the thing that everyone's doing. So I was like, I don't care about musical theater anymore, like now that I'm here. Um, but eventually that went away, and my love for it came back.

[4:22] Macon Prickett: Amazing. So you, I take it, were you a born and raised New Yorker then?

[4:27] Kylie McNeill: Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm born and raised in Manhattan.

[4:29] Macon Prickett: Oh, cool. And your parents are actors. That must have been like really fun to grow up with like lesbian parents.

[4:36] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, totally, totally.

[4:39] Macon Prickett: Did you have to audition to get in? I don't really know like much about the process for that performing arts high school here. What is that application and audition process like?

[4:49] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, I did have to audition, and there was a round of callbacks. I think there was only one round of callbacks. I don't even remember. Um yeah, it was really nerve-wracking because I hadn't like really performed in front of people before. So to like audition in front of other kids and faculty members. I was like, oh my god, what a nightmare. This is so scary. But yeah, I think it was like an audition and a callback.

[5:20] Macon Prickett: Yeah. Wow. And they had you audition in front of each other, like the other students.

[5:24] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, I mean, there was like a dance call, I think it was just the teachers for the singing portion or something like that. But I was like not a dancer, so I was really scared.

[5:35] Macon Prickett: I can imagine that would be like mortifying for late in eighth grade, like preparing for that high school. That's all such a horrible time for so many kids as well. I guess yeah, I can't imagine going through a dance call at that age. Wow. Do you remember what you sang for that audition?

[5:55] Kylie McNeill: I think I sang at some point in the process. I sang "On My Own" from Les Mis.

[6:03] Macon Prickett: Love it.

[6:03] Kylie McNeill: Which I definitely like cracked on the last note, and the teacher was like, Oh my god, don't worry, like take it again. And like was just like supportive of me.

[6:12] Macon Prickett: Oh, love that. Love him.

[6:15] Kylie McNeill: Yeah.

[6:16] Macon Prickett: Will we love a Les Mis moment? The perfect like go to audition song for an eighth grader. You know, like you, I'm sure you killed it.

[6:23] Kylie McNeill: Thank you. That is so funny. What was going to that high school? You know, you were there just pre-COVID, and then obviously your senior year when all of that hit. But what were your performance opportunities there like?

[6:37] Kylie McNeill: Well, most notably my senior year, like literally the day like COVID hit. We were doing this musical. We were doing Pippin and I played Catherine. And that was like maybe the most fun I've ever had. Like it was just, it was such a wonderful experience working with all the people on that. But yeah, it was cut short literally like that week because of COVID. Like we were in the middle of our run. And of course, you know, it's like 20 something musical theater kids like having their show canceled. Like that's a nightmare. Like everyone was really upset. So drama of it all.

[7:13] Kylie McNeill: Drama was crazy.

[7:15] Macon Prickett: Yeah. Well, but at least you had to do a few performances of it then.

[7:21] Kylie McNeill: Yes, yeah, absolutely.

[7:23] Macon Prickett: Wow. Had you seen the most recent revival when that Pippin revival?

[7:27] Kylie McNeill: Yes.

[7:28] Macon Prickett: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[7:29] Kylie McNeill: Yeah. It's one of my dad's favorite shows. So when he took me to it when I was like, I don't know, maybe like 11 or something to that revival. I was, yeah, I was so moved because my dad loves it.

[7:42] Macon Prickett: Yeah, I saw it. Um, did you so you grew up listening to these cast albums and just music in general, but did you you? I'm assuming you grew up going to see Broadway shows as well.

[7:51] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[7:53] Macon Prickett: Oh wow. Do you remember your first one?

[7:55] Kylie McNeill: Yes, I do. I believe it was Grey Gardens.

[7:59] Macon Prickett: So yeah, totally great for young child.

[8:04] Kylie McNeill: Wait, um like younger than five, something like that. Because I remember, like, specifically the lady at the box office when my mom was trying to buy tickets, she was like, Are you sure you want to bring your daughter to this show? And my mom was like, Yeah, she's really like well behaved, she won't like make noise. And I was just like, Okay, but I remember I think I like cried after that interaction as a child because I was like, She doesn't think that I could like not be loud in Grey Gardens, like I don't know what was happening, but I think I ended up seeing it twice.

[8:39] Macon Prickett: Oh, wow, family's so funny.

[8:41] Kylie McNeill: That is so funny. That's one of my like I love that show so much, and so imagining like baby Kylie just sitting there watching that is really funny to me.

[8:51] Macon Prickett: No, it's hilarious.

[8:53] Kylie McNeill: That's that's great. All young children should see Grey Gardens.

[8:57] Macon Prickett: Yes, at an early age, yeah. What were some of your other favorites that you saw growing up?

[9:03] Kylie McNeill: Oh, that's a good question. I remember seeing the Disney shows like The Lion King, Little Mermaid. I was obsessed with Sierra Boggess. Oh my god, still am.

[9:11] Macon Prickett: We all are that we love her at 54 Below. How could you not be like, she's the best?

[9:18] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, she's awesome. I oh, I had a whole Wicked phase. Like everybody, but I saw it like maybe seven times, something like that at one point in my life.

[9:30] Macon Prickett: Yeah. It's amazing. So now I need to know when was the last time you saw Wicked?

[9:36] Kylie McNeill: That's a good question. I think it has been well, I think it's only been a couple years. Because I went with my like immediate family, my mom, dad, and brother, and we had like somehow a deal on like closer seats, and that was like a couple years ago.

[9:52] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, I saw it, I saw it many times. I love that.

[9:55] Macon Prickett: The Wicked phase is so important for young theater kids.

[9:58] Kylie McNeill: It sure is. It's so important, it helps propel you into life, prepared. I fully believe in that. It was my first Broadway show, so I'm like, I'm right there with you. It's very, very important. There is no shame there.

[10:11] Kylie McNeill: No, I love it so much. Awesome. Well, let's kind of jump in to Belle. Were you familiar with this film at all before being involved in it?

[10:17] Kylie McNeill: Were you familiar with any of the previous works by the director? Like, what kind of was the very beginnings of your experience with this piece?

[10:31] Kylie McNeill: I had been a fan of like all of the Studio Ghibli films for like my whole life and My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, like Kiki's Delivery Service, like all of that.

[10:41] Kylie McNeill: This is so good. I remember checking that film out, like at the Blockbuster, like the VHS when I was a kid. Yeah, like I was so drawn to that, and I never understood why.

[10:55] Kylie McNeill: And now I'm like, it's an amazing film.

[10:58] Macon Prickett: Right.

[10:58] Kylie McNeill: Yeah.

[10:59] Macon Prickett: Oh no, I love that.

[11:00] Kylie McNeill: Cool.

[11:00] Kylie McNeill: Oh my god, that's like won't. And I had seen by Mamoru Hosoda, who's the director of Belle, I had seen his film Mirai, which like is such a beautiful film. It made me cry, like nonstop. So I knew his next work was of course gonna be very interesting to me, regardless of if I got the role or not. But like if I got an audition for it, and I, you know, they sent me some materials. They told me like it got a standing ovation, like 14 minutes long at Cannes and they sent me like a some sort of trailer or music video of something, and I was like, oh my god, like this is just like visually gorgeous already. But yeah, going into it, all I knew was that Suzu was like this shy singer-songwriter, and I was like, oh, like that's valid. That's totally valid.

[11:52] Macon Prickett: Yeah.

[11:53] Kylie McNeill: You were like not hoping that they typecast, but if they did, yeah, but if they were to, yeah, perfect. No, I love that. So you from the job, you know, you saw yourself in this character, and what exactly because I am so unfamiliar with that world. What is the audition process like for voice acting like that?

[12:13] Kylie McNeill: Oh, well, I got an email from my agent. I got like a little script, and I literally sat on my bed to record the lines, like just like, you know, these quiet like lines of being like nervous and whatever, like and then they had me sing a Kelly Clarkson song because they couldn't release like actual materials like song-wise from the movie, so I just sang Because of You by Kelly Clarkson. And I like recorded that in the bathroom, like because like acoustics, but looking back, it just sounds like I'm inside of a tin can. But yeah, so I just recorded that and sent that to my agent, and then I like I got a call back. Like I got a call from my manager at like 11 p.m. And she was like, Did you audition for something called Belle? And I was like, Yeah. Then I zoomed with the dub director, and we did a couple scenes, like dubbing the scenes live.

[13:09] Macon Prickett: Right.

[13:09] Kylie McNeill: Wow. So when you're working on dubbing those scenes, what's like going through your head? You know, you're working with this director, you're going through these scenes. You were familiar with the scenes, obviously, because you had the material, but what is the actual like artistic process of getting into character and everything for like an animated role like this?

[13:30] Kylie McNeill: Ooh, I mean, I think context of the scene is definitely very helpful, which I think the dub director tried to like give me an end to what was happening, even though I couldn't see particular parts of the movie or anything like that. But yeah, I guess I just sort of tried to tap into what the emotion of the character seemed to be, even just visually, like how she was drawn, like how her facial expressions looked, how she's moving in the scene, and how the other characters were talking to her as well that I wasn't dubbing, kind of all that context is helpful.

[14:09] Macon Prickett: Yeah, so you were able to see a little bit of that without seeing obviously the big picture.

[14:14] Kylie McNeill: Right, right, right.

[14:16] Macon Prickett: Okay.

[14:16] Kylie McNeill: Okay. So yeah, I'm sure that that was helpful. Interesting. This world is so fascinating to me because as theater actors and concert performers, that live energy you get from an audience and that you get from your scene partners is so important to the process, both in rehearsals and on stage. But what is it like? You got the role, you're recording these scenes with your co-stars. How does that differ from theater? Obviously, without that live energy, though you are still all there in person, you know. Are you there together? Are you secluded in a studio? Tell us a little bit about the actual like recording process.

[14:53] Kylie McNeill: Well, actually, I didn't get to meet anybody that worked on this film. Oh, oh my god. Literally until like now. I got to meet the dub director, obviously, Michael and I. We basically it was just us and the studio manager Clark. Like we were just like in a little studio together for like a month and a half. And I got to work with the composers that came from Japan to work with us. So that was like an honor and a privilege. And to get to sing their music in front of them was terrifying and amazing. So I got to work with those three guys in person as well. But regarding like other characters in the film, when I first started recording the movie, barely anybody else was recorded. So I was talking to the Japanese voices.

And so that was a little like strange and difficult, but it was fun. But then eventually, as time went on, more and more people got recorded. And I came out to LA earlier this year and finally got to meet like my co-stars, the woman who played my best friend, the man who played the little boy in it, like finally getting to meet everybody was great.

[16:07] Macon Prickett: Wow.

[16:07] Kylie McNeill: A year and a half later, you know?

[16:09] Macon Prickett: Yeah.

[16:12] Kylie McNeill: Going back just a bit, what was it like when you got that call that said you are going to be playing this role? You know, you got the job. What can you tell us a little bit about that moment?

[16:21] Kylie McNeill: It was actually an email. And I was like, I think I was having a terrible day for some reason. I have no clue what was going on that day. But I was like in my room, like, like the room was dark, and I'm like having a bad day, like like mental health day. And then I get like a on my phone, and I'm like, what? And I think I turned to my mom and I was like, oh my god. And we just started screaming. I was like, I don't know what's happening. And yeah, it a bad day turned into a pretty pretty good day. I would say you'll remember that bad day for like the rest of your life.

[16:58] Kylie McNeill: Totally. I don't know what was wrong though, but doesn't matter, I guess.

[17:03] Macon Prickett: Yeah, nothing else mattered at that point.

[17:06] Kylie McNeill: Wow, that's that's so funny. Did you go into rehearsals for it at all? I mean, I know you were working with the dub director, but what were the like rehearsals like for that?

[17:17] Kylie McNeill: Rehearsal-wise, I mean, they just gave me a super secret copy of the subtitled version of the movie in Japanese, and I like watched that, and they gave me a copy of the ADR script, which like everyone was like actively collaborating on, like the ADR writers and everything. So I before I would go into session, I would just like unnecessarily, but I would just read it and like prepare what I was going to do for that day and like try to rehearse myself, but nobody was like, you must you must rehearse. I just was like, you have to like do this right or else.

[17:51] Macon Prickett: Right.

[17:56] Kylie McNeill: Did you find that as someone who you studied theater and were you know you were working on all of these theatrical projects throughout your childhood and through high school? Were you being asked to pull back to tone it down to or since you do relate to the character of being, you know, the shy, you know, like were you able to just kind of tune right into it, or were you ever asked to, you know, like this is film, this is different, we should you know.

[18:24] Kylie McNeill: I mean, honestly, I think it was more like, could you speak up like into the mic? Because I was so scared, and like I'm playing a character that's super shy, super, you know, having some inner turmoil that she can't verbalize, but I was dealing with that the first day I went in, I was like, I couldn't find her voice yet. Like I didn't know what she sounded like, and so basically I was just like whispering, and though I kind of whisper through like most of the movie, like it was even a it was even yet different. Like I needed to like experiment with what Suzu sounded like for a while before I found it.

[19:06] Macon Prickett: Was there a particular moment where you knew that you had figured it out? Were you like, this is it, this is the voice, this is that moment?

[19:13] Kylie McNeill: That's a good question. I'm not even sure. I think it just was a process. I think as I kept recording each day, it would change and get more right in a way. And we actually got to like go back and watch the whole movie with all of my takes and like change things. And in my head, I'm like, you can still hear the transition between me on my first day and the beginning of the movie, and then towards the end, she gets stronger. But I think that also is I think helpful for the character just because she has that arc. So maybe it's not so bad that I was audibly terrified. But yeah.

[19:56] Macon Prickett: So you're like this character already when you are beginning the process, but in a way, you're kind of like developing with this character throughout the film. I mean, that's kind of awesome.

[20:05] Kylie McNeill: It's very much a mirror of what's going on in real life versus in this beautiful film. So that's kind of awesome.

[20:13] Macon Prickett: That's so sweet.

[20:14] Kylie McNeill: Yeah.

[20:15] Macon Prickett: What about when you saw it for the first time in its full like completion? What was that? I mean, was that terrifying for you? Or were you just thrilled? Like, how was that?

[20:26] Kylie McNeill: Well, I went with my best friend in the whole world and my parents and my little brother to the AMC theater, and we sat there and watched it. And I think I just I just was like, God, I hope they like it. Like, I don't know. I was just nervous. But I didn't get to see it with anybody that I worked with or anything like that. So it was just, it was a very strange experience. COVID, like omicron or something, had really exacerbated the fact that like no one was going to the theaters. Like everything was shutting down again. And so I think it was a scary time, but it was beautiful just to have it so intimately with my family. But hearing yourself in a theater, like is just weird. It's just like that's my voice amplified like that. Like, oh my god, I don't know.

[21:17] Kylie McNeill: Around sound every yeah, every breath I take blasted through the speakers. So it was definitely intense.

[21:25] Macon Prickett: Yeah. I know a lot of performers kind of cringe when they have to watch their own film and TV episodes or even like listening to their own albums. I know a lot of artists who come through, they're like, I've never listened to that cast recording I was on. Did you find that a bit difficult? Or at this point, was it like, were you comfortable with it?

[21:46] Kylie McNeill: I think it took time. I was uncomfortable with it at first.

[21:50] Kylie McNeill: Like in the studio, we would play things back, or we would listen to the recordings. And I was like so uncomfortable the whole time. But eventually, like seeing the movie a couple times and being able to have access to the album on like Spotify or whatever, I got more comfortable over time, and I'm really happy with how it came out. And I mean, they're just like it's beautiful music. Like the composers really put their hearts and souls into that. I love it now. It just took me a minute. It really is beautiful. When you were here in January, I remember hearing your show, like your sound check and then the show, and a lot of the staff here at the club wasn't familiar with the material, and everybody was like, What is this?

Like, this music is gorgeous. Like, why are we not all like, you know, bobbing to this? Both, I mean, your originals, obviously, but the music from this film, you know, a lot of people were not aware of it. So it's gotta feel, you know, kind of crazy to have all of these like new fans, people who are fans of the film, and then people who are now going to be fans of you for being a part of this film who will then follow your career to wherever it goes, you know. That's how is that feeling for you?

[23:10] Kylie McNeill: Oh man, it's so wonderful and strange. When I did my first show last year at a different venue that I won't mention, is I like people came that I didn't know, and I was not expecting that. Like, I was expecting like, oh, my couple family members are gonna be in here with me in the small room, whatever. Like it'll be fun, and we'll all have a great time. Then I was like, who are these people? Like, who are they? And some of those people that were at my first show ever were like have come to my other shows too, and like have followed my cabaret act moment, and I love those individuals so much, and I I'm so like it's a mix of like confusion and like gratitude of like, oh my god, thank you, but like what?

Like thank you for coming to see me. Like, I don't understand. I think this movie, Belle really hit people though, in a way that like only anime movies can like it, it's like a super emotional experience, and I think a lot of people relate to the character of Suzu and Belle. And I mean, I'm just so honored that they like want to come hear the music live. It's the best feeling ever.

[24:27] Macon Prickett: Yeah, well, we are again, we're thrilled to have you. Um, we're gonna take a quick break for a few short messages, and we are gonna be right back with Kylie McNeill.

[24:39] Macon Prickett: And we are back with Kylie McNeill. Welcome back to the 54 Below podcast. So now we're gonna be talking all about your upcoming encore performance at 54 Below on Wednesday, September 20th. You're gonna be singing songs from Belle. You're gonna be singing unreleased originals and your own, you know, unique spin on some covers, I hear. Can you tell us what to expect without spoiling anything?

[25:04] Kylie McNeill: Well, I mean, I maybe we'll be singing some songs from Belle. I'll be singing all of the songs from Belle. There's only four, but I will do all of them. And yeah, there are some unreleased moments. I mean, I really need to release stuff. For people who are returning, there will be new music that I've written. So the show's a little bit different, but it'll always have that core few songs that I always sing. Yeah, it'll be a fun time.

[25:31] Macon Prickett: It absolutely will be the most fun. Everybody's gonna not take that some. So, Kylie, when you are writing your music, whether it be this musical that you're working on or your solo stuff as well, can you tell us who you kind of look up to for inspiration, whether it be, you know, pop recording artists or musical theater writers? Like who inspires you when you're writing?

[25:54] Kylie McNeill: I love like Billy Joel and more recent artists. I'm obsessed with Phoebe Bridgers. And I think a lot of musical theater is like edged into my brain. And I think I kind of songwrite with a character arc. I love Sondheim, Steven Schwartz, I mean, all those people are definitely inspirations.

[26:17] Macon Prickett: Nice. Well, well, kind of piggybacking off of that. Can you tell us? I don't want you to give things away, obviously, since you're working on it, but can you tell us anything about this musical that you're working on?

[26:27] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, I mean, like, I can't even believe that I've just like set I've just said it like I'm working on this because I'm like a god I hope I finish it. Um well it's kind of just loosely like it's based on my time waiting in line for a concert once. Um so it's about kids yeah waiting online for a rock concert. So you'll hear some songs from the perspective of those kids at the show. Yeah I mean that's pretty much the concept.

[26:52] Macon Prickett: Well we're excited to hear more of that in the future for sure. Taking a step back and going back to the musical theater of it all I know you were involved with the Runaways at New York City Center and the public. Can you tell us anything about that?

[27:08] Kylie McNeill: I saw it and I loved that I saw it. I loved that production I thought it was wonderful. I had no I knew nothing about the show I was going with a friend she was like come with me to see this show I was like I'm off let's go and I saw and I was like how have I A never heard of this and B like why are people not doing this show? Like why in like community theater educational theater all throughout my upbringing why had no one ever done it and I know it's a really interesting piece but can you tell us a little bit about your journey with that production and how you feel about your work with that as well?

[27:31] Kylie McNeill: I believe I was 14 I think and yeah it was me and like 24 or something other kids. It's an ensemble piece about obviously, runaways living on the streets of New York. And it's like a quilt of music and perspectives of each of those kids, written by Liz Suedos, and what a genius she was. Yeah, working with all those people was so amazing. Everyone was so uniquely talented and like perfect. It was so much fun because we really all got to like dive into some really important topics while also like totally letting loose and going crazy on stage. And the director Sam Pinkleton, who I will like forever like idolize and look up to was so amazing working with all of us. It was so fun.

[28:43] Macon Prickett: Yeah, seeing it as someone who knew nothing about it, you know, it was like there are all these kids on stage and they're just like playing, but then it would take this turn, and you're like, oh my gosh, wait, this music like was inspired by real stories and like this moment that happened in the history of the city. And so it was, yeah, I was really kind of blown away by it. I just first of all not knowing anything about this story or this musical, but then seeing it and you know, loving so much of the music. It was, yeah, that was a really special production.

[29:15] Kylie McNeill: Yeah, yeah, it was it was amazing. And we got to do it again two years later in the park at the Delacourt Theater, which doing it like in the heart of the city, like outdoors was was amazing experience.

[29:29] Macon Prickett: Yeah, I love seeing shows out there, so I can only imagine what it felt like to be performing on that stage and also like you said, it in the middle of it all. That's that's incredible.

[29:41] Macon Prickett: So moving forward, you are writing this musical, you're writing your solo stuff. What are your biggest aspirations for the future right now?

[29:50] Kylie McNeill: I mean, obviously, we all have to take it day by day, but like let's let's look 10 years down the road. Like, what are you what are you thinking? What are you planning? What's what's the plan?

[30:00] Kylie McNeill: I feel like I have so many plans and I have no plan at all. Um that right there means that you were a senior in high school when COVID happened.

[30:10] Kylie McNeill: No, that's so true. No, now I'm like, oh yeah, like everything. I'm like, ah, well, you know, something terrible might happen. Like I like, I feel like that's everyone's viewpoint now. Like, all right. Here we go. I want to keep writing. I want to try directing. I want to do more acting. I want to do more music. I want to do everything. I'm like, I like I don't even know like how to do all that, but I'm just gonna try.

[30:40] Macon Prickett: Yeah. Well, hey, I I believe that it can happen for sure. What about theater dream roles? What's the one? There's gotta be the one or the three, you know?

[30:49] Kylie McNeill: Oh, totally. I mean, I would love to be in Wicked. I'm still in my phase, not to lie. Um, Alpha Bug, Linda. Oh my god. I I mean, Eurydice in Hadestown. I love Hadestown so much. Who else? I don't know. I love like Once Upon a Mattress. I would love to play the main girl in that. And maybe when I'm older, I'd love to play Catherine again. That was really fun.

[31:15] Macon Prickett: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Why not? I mean, by then it'll be time for the next Pippin revival.

[31:20] Kylie McNeill: Yes, no, exactly. Call Kylie McNeill.

[31:23] Macon Prickett: Yeah, call me.

[31:25] Kylie McNeill: Yes. No, I love that. Awesome. Well, Kylie, this has been a blast. I'm so glad you were able to like sit down and talk with us about this upcoming show. You are back on our stage. Wednesday, September 20th, 9:30 p.m. in your the reprise of your solo debut with 54 Below. We're so excited that you're gonna be coming back. Can you tell us where we can find you on social media? Where can we follow you and get the latest updates?

[31:49] Kylie McNeill: Sure. On Instagram, I am at Kylie McNeill. Unfortunately, there are three L's in my last name as opposed to two because someone else has at Kylie McNeill. But yeah, just look up at Kylie McNeill on everything. That's me. I'm so excited to come back.

[32:06] Macon Prickett: All right. We are no, we are so excited to have you for real. We can't wait to see you in September. And everyone, get your tickets. If there are any left, they're gonna be selling fast. So make sure to get those tickets for Kylie's upcoming show. We want to thank all of our listeners, and we hope to see you in Broadway's living room soon. Thank you, Kylie.

[32:24] Kylie McNeill: Thank you.

[32:26] Macon Prickett: You've been listening to the 54 Below podcast, part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Subscribe and rate us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. To find out more about our upcoming shows, visit us at 54below.org.