This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:01] Salisha Thomas: Hey there, listeners. Welcome to The Broadway Exclusive. I'm your host for this episode, Salisha Thomas, and I'll be bringing you along to Broadway's biggest events. From opening nights and celebrations to exclusive deep dives. This is your one-of-a-kind red carpet ticket.

[0:24] Salisha Thomas: Hello, what's up? It's me, Salisha. I'm Salisha Thomas here with the Broadway Podcast Network. Tonight is opening night on Broadway for SUNSET Boulevard. I'm so excited for this. Everyone's gonna be coming out, and we'll be talking to all the stars on the stage, off the stage, the cast, the creatives. So stay tuned.

[0:42] Fabian Aloise: I'm Fabian Aloise. I'm the choreographer of the show.

[0:45] Salisha Thomas: Hi, Fabian. Congratulations. So I've heard a little bit about you pulling Choreo from Nicole's life into this show.

[0:54] Fabian Aloise: How can you not? She’s a superstar. You know, this is, she's a superstar, and you've got to dive into it. I did so much research, and when I started to kind of YouTube stuff that I had never seen before, and then I came across the fact that she won Dancing with the Stars, and I was like, wait, I didn't realize she won Dancing with the Stars.

[1:15] Fabian Aloise: Yeah, I'm pretty sure she won. And she did the tango, and I was like, we are using that. Like that, we're using that. Look at those what those legs can do. So I pulled and pulled. There's a couple of really nice little Easter eggs for some true Pussycat Doll fans in the show, scattered in the show. So how could you not? I mean, it's Nicole Scherzinger. I mean, she's one of the things that I think everyone's gonna be really, really um surprised, pleasantly surprised, is that she's so funny. She's probably one of the funniest people I've ever met. I mean, I keep hearing these stories of her sighting in the blood and everything. That's pretty fantastic. Yeah, she's epic and she's come to slay.

[1:53] Salisha Thomas: Have you choreographed any of the Broadway shows?

[1:55] Fabian Aloise: No, this is my debut. This is my debut. My Broadway debut.

[1:59] Salisha Thomas: Congratulations. And I hope that you have a fun night, that you can actually enjoy it.

[2:04] Fabian Aloise: Thank you. I'm sure I will. These guys are awesome.

[2:06] JoJo Levesque: Hey, I'm JoJo.

[2:09] Salisha Thomas: Okay, y'all. We are here with JoJo, like the JoJo. It is cool to meet you.

[2:13] JoJo Levesque: It’s cool to meet you.

[2:15] Salisha Thomas: You look so wonderful. I love your outfit.

[2:18] JoJo Levesque: Oh, we grew up together. I was just a fetus. Also, congratulations on Moulin Rouge.

[2:22] JoJo Levesque: Thank you. I wish I got to you. It was so much fun. Getting to do it with Aaron Tveit was wonderful. And I just continue to learn so much every time I step on stage.

[2:31] Salisha Thomas: Was that your Broadway debut or no?

[2:32] JoJo Levesque: Last year, yes, my Broadway debut was at Moulin Rouge last year. I did a limited engagement and then got to come back this year.

[2:39] Salisha Thomas: Hey, congratulations. Was it what you thought it was going to be?

[2:42] JoJo Levesque: It was so much more. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy the consistency, the discipline that it requires, the humbleness, and the community aspect is my favorite part of all. So I'm definitely, I'm here to stay. I love it.

[2:59] Salisha Thomas: And one last thing. Do you have any advice for people coming up after you?

[3:04] JoJo Levesque: My advice is do listen to that little voice inside you, that internal guidance system that you might be afraid to listen to, but that is gonna guide you in the more appropriate direction for you than what anybody else's opinion could do.

[3:19] Salisha Thomas: You could drop the mic.

[3:22] JoJo Levesque: Thank you so much. Have fun tonight.

[3:23] Skylar Astin: Hi, I'm Skylar Astin.

[3:25] Salisha Thomas: Oh my goodness. Hi. And I'm here at the SUNSET Broadway opening. Um, it's so exciting to talk to you.

[3:32] Skylar Astin: I am a fan of so just Twitter painted.

[3:36] Salisha Thomas: What's the first Broadway show that you've ever seen?

[3:39] Skylar Astin: My first Broadway show was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I was five years old, and it blew my mind.

[3:48] Salisha Thomas: What was your favorite Broadway show that you've ever seen?

[3:51] Skylar Astin: Ever? Oh my god, that's really hard. You know, there was a production of The Pillowman that really blew my mind.

[3:58] Salisha Thomas: Pillowman.

[3:58] Skylar Astin: I know this is the weirdest answer you're gonna get. That's really the one that shot to my mind only because it was a play, and I've never seen such a thrilling piece of theater like where I was like, there's not even, I'm, I don't even need music. This is just blowing my mind. But yes, the more traditional answer.

[4:15] Salisha Thomas: It doesn't have to be a traditional.

[4:18] Skylar Astin: We can just go with The Pillowman.

[4:20] Salisha Thomas: And out of all of the things that you've done, yeah, you're not blowing it. You are so not blowing it. What is something that you're the most proud of?

[4:30] Skylar Astin: Ooh. I got a really cool and unique opportunity to sing my songs from my favorite musical Sunday in the Park with George at the Hollywood Bowl in a celebration for Stephen Sondheim. And the cast was so stacked. It was like Brian Stokes Mitchell, Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster, Sierra Boggess, and then me. And then I was tasked with some like some of my favorite kind of dream role things and sings, and I was able to do that kind of like in its magnified way. And it was really, I mean at the Hollywood Bowl, hello. It was epic, it was really special.

[5:04] Salisha Thomas: Any advice for people coming up after you?

[5:06] Skylar Astin: Oh my gosh, just don't say no. Like you never know where accepting that ensemble role or helping out a friend's short film will lead you. And you don't do it for that reason, but you just also never know. I can't even tell you how many things that people were like, you don't need to do that. And I did it to help a friend out, and maybe that helped bring that success or me success, or if you're, you know, if you stay open, like everyone wins. And also just like, you know, um like train. Like keep understanding that you're always a student of this. You never kind of like are done learning.

[5:43] Salisha Thomas: That's great advice for a wise man.

[5:46] Skylar Astin: So wise.

[5:47] Salisha Thomas: From The Pillowman himself.

[5:49] Skylar Astin: From The Pillowman.

[5:50] Salisha Thomas: Thank you for joining us and have fun tonight.

[5:52] Skylar Astin: Thank you so much. What a delight you are.

[5:54] Jessica Vosk: I'm Jessica Vosk, a crazy person.

[5:58] Salisha Thomas: A crazy talented person with...

[6:00] Jessica Vosk: Okay, fine. That's very nice of you. I'm so excited for you. Aren't you about to go into Hell?

[6:05] Jessica Vosk: Yes, I am.

[6:06] Salisha Thomas: The kitchen of Hell.

[6:07] Jessica Vosk: When?

[6:07] Jessica Vosk: December 12th, baby.

[6:09] Salisha Thomas: Not the kitchen of Hell. But in like the best kind of Hell. Do you know what I'm saying?

[6:11] Jessica Vosk: It's the best kind.

[6:13] Salisha Thomas: Oh god, I really hope so. I ha I'm so excited. I'm so honored. And um, it was not on my 2024 bingo card.

[6:20] Jessica Vosk: Oh.

[6:20] Salisha Thomas: And I get to come back to Broadway. It's wild.

[6:23] Jessica Vosk: Amen to that. It's wild.

[6:24] Salisha Thomas: Are you training your voice with anybody right now?

[6:26] Jessica Vosk: Um I usually, if I do, her name is Susan Eichorn Young, and she's an amazing vocal coach. She just understands a woman's voice. The fact that I love, you know, I'm a classically trained gal, but if I couldn't sing classically trained, the belt doesn't work. So that's just the little tip.

[6:42] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[6:42] Jessica Vosk: Oh yeah.

[6:44] Salisha Thomas: Oh yeah. Ooh, we're getting the secret.

[6:47] Jessica Vosk: There's so, but one of my best friends taught me a riff that goes with that when there's like a, you know, something that you don't expect, like when I said I was classically trained, right? And you went, what? The roof is. Whoopah, bubble, bubble who, and you can do whatever you want at the end. But you have to start with whoopo boo-boo. That's what you have to start with.

[7:06] Salisha Thomas: It's hot.

[7:08] Jessica Vosk: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Down the octave. And it's slow. I'll toe. She's an out. Ooh!

[7:17] Salisha Thomas: Delicious. You're making me hot.

[7:18] Jessica Vosk: I'll take it. I'll take it. Also, you look so fab. Love this denim moment.

[7:22] Jessica Vosk: My little Zach Posen, who is now the creative director at the Gap, sent this over, and this is just a bad. I don't know, somebody designed this who's not Zach, but he sure designed this bad boy. And Denim's in. She's cute.

[7:36] Salisha Thomas: I hope you have the best snack. So nice to meet you. And also, welcome back to Broadway.

[7:40] Jessica Vosk: Thanks. Thank you.

[7:41] Jasmine Amy Rogers: Hi, I'm Jasmine Amy Rogers, and I'll be playing Boop in the Betty Boop musical coming in the spring.

[7:46] Salisha Thomas: You guys. It's Jasmine. It is the star Boop. You've seen her on Black Hair in the Big Lakes. And we are here with the Broadway Podcast Network. You look so hot.

[7:56] Jasmine Amy Rogers: Thank you. So do you in this pantsuit, baby.

[7:58] Salisha Thomas: Okay, let's talk about this last photo shoot though. You were looking cute and then giving lifting.

[8:03] Jasmine Amy Rogers: We said the girls were out.

[8:06] Salisha Thomas: The girls were out in this tattoo.

[8:08] Jasmine Amy Rogers: Thank you. It's yeah.

[8:09] Jasmine Amy Rogers: Where did she come from?

[8:10] Jasmine Amy Rogers: I've had this for years. I think I got it in like, oh my gosh, maybe 2021. But I've had it.

[8:17] Salisha Thomas: You look stunning. We've seen you from a mile away, girl. We said we gotta get her up over here.

[8:23] Jasmine Amy Rogers: It's hot in here.

[8:26] Salisha Thomas: Okay, have the best night. You look so good. I'm so excited for you.

[8:30] Jasmine Amy Rogers: Thank you, you too.

[8:32] Mandy Gonzalez: Hi, I'm Mandy Gonzalez.

[8:34] Salisha Thomas: You look stunning.

[8:35] Mandy Gonzalez: Thank you so much. Okay, what is this look?

[8:38] Mandy Gonzalez: So this is my stylist, Jake Sokolov. This is a Marquesa. And we thought tonight, since it's SUNSET Boulevard and we're on the Broadway Boulevard, that we have to bring all of it.

[8:49] Salisha Thomas: Baby, she brought it. Okay, okay? She brought it.

[8:51] Mandy Gonzalez: Thank you. And the glam, the hair, the curls.

[8:55] Salisha Thomas: Thank you, thank you. You're guest starring in this, yes?

[8:57] Mandy Gonzalez: Yes. So I'm guest starring on Tuesday nights, Tuesdays at Norma's with Mandy Gonzalez. So I can't wait. My first night is this coming Tuesday, and today is the 20th. So it's in two days. Yes, so that's my first night, and I can't wait. My whole Broadway family is coming, my family, and it's gonna be a real celebration.

[9:17] Salisha Thomas: Are you ready?

[9:18] Mandy Gonzalez: I'm ready for my close-up, baby.

[9:20] Matt Rogers: Hi, this is Matt Rogers. Uh, and I'm here at SUNSET Boulevard and very excited.

[9:25] Salisha Thomas: Do you know anybody in the cast?

[9:26] Matt Rogers: I can't say that I know anyone personally, but I have been a fan of Nicole Scherzinger's for as long as I can remember. I actually was watching her audition for the show Pop Stars when I was a kid.

[9:37] Matt Rogers: And I certainly respected her all the way through since Buttons and all the way to the West End when I saw the show the first time. So I'm a big supporter.

[9:45] Salisha Thomas: Your favorite songs of hers?

[9:46] Matt Rogers: Oh my god. I would have to be a must stick with you.

[9:50] Salisha Thomas: No god me at all. I also know her whole solo catalog, but we won't get into it. We'll be here all day.

[9:56] Matt Rogers: I'm ready for my close-up.

[9:58] Linady Hanao: Hi, my name is Linady Hanao. Are you friends with anybody in the cast tonight?

[10:02] Linady Hanao: Yes, I am. Raul Contreras. Um, all of Andrew's team, really useful group. Um, I'm just so excited. Do you have any advice for people coming up after you?

[10:12] Wendell Pierce: Oh gosh. I mean, uh, easier said than done, but stay true to yourself. Don't forget where you came from, you know, your values, your morals. Uh yeah, right on. Thank you so much. Hopefully, tonight, great, thank you. So, this is Wendell Pierce, actor and producer. Out of all the things you've done, what are you most proud of? Uh, since we're here on Broadway, I have to say, uh, two years ago, um, Death of a Salesman, uh, it's the highlight of my career. It's uh something I did in London and got an Olivier nomination and did it on Broadway and joined that small company and got a Tony nomination, and I feel as though it's a high water mark in my career. So, uh, I think when I come to Broadway openings like this, I'm always reminded of that night for me.

What have you learned about yourself out of the decades you've been in this industry? Uh, you can always learn, and you can always get better. And um, the performances that will last, the performances that touch you are always the last best performance. It's always my favorite, you know. And um, right now I'm riding on a high with Mia Farrow's performance in The Roommate. And uh, the production of the cast, there's a production, Bad Creole off Broadway right now at the signature theater. That's absolutely beautiful. Um, and so those are the performances right now that uh are affecting me, and I'm thinking about and seeing how I can incorporate that in my work. You know, I'm looking forward to tonight.

[11:46] Salisha Thomas: Oh, I'm so excited. Yes, I cannot wait to see this as well. Yes. Do you have any advice for people coming up after you?

[11:52] Wendell Pierce: Uh yes, always be a student of your craft. Uh always be a student of your craft, and employment does not define you as an artist.

[12:01] Salisha Thomas: Can you say that for the people in the back?

[12:03] Wendell Pierce: Yes, employment does not define you as an artist. But it works both ways. When you're unemployed, that does not mean you are less of an artist. But also when you're employed, and a lot of people are saying, Oh, you're the best, you're the best, to thine own self be true because you could be doing some bullshit. Right? And if it is not real, uh that employment doesn't define you as a great artist.

[12:25] Salisha Thomas: Amen.

[12:26] Wendell Pierce: So um, and the greatest, the last thing is the greatest relationship you'll ever have is the relationship with your work.

[12:35] Salisha Thomas: Wait, I need you to break that down.

[12:37] Wendell Pierce: Um, always be working, always learn about yourself as you evolve, how to deal with text, how to deal with another actor, how to listen better. I'm trying to relax. I still haven't relaxed.

[12:50] Salisha Thomas: You feel relaxed though.

[12:52] Wendell Pierce: Yeah, right now, but I have the tendency to right when I'm working.

[12:56] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[12:57] Wendell Pierce: And uh no matter how big the role, your responsibility is not to yourself, but to be there for the other actor. So if you're playing King Lear, the one person that comes in and says, Kent, my lord, and leaves, your responsibility of King Lear is to make sure you're there for that actor in that moment, and that's it. Take that responsibility off your shoulders, and it'll loosen you up. That's what I'm trying to learn more and more.

[13:24] Salisha Thomas: This is great words from Wendell Pierce.

[13:29] Wendell Pierce: You better one look and turn the stage.

[13:33] Salisha Thomas: Just one look, blah blah blah.

[13:37] Wendell Pierce: No, no, no. I can't wait. Tonight is going to be killing.

[13:43] Salisha Thomas: I can tell. It's one of my favorites. Thank you for talking. You're awesome.

[13:46] Caroline Bowman: Hi, I'm Caroline Bowman.

[13:48] Austin Colby: And I'm Austin Colby.

[13:50] Salisha Thomas: You guys look so beautiful. I've been wondering all night who is that lady in red, and here you are.

[13:56] Caroline Bowman: Who's that lady?

[13:57] Austin Colby: Lovely lady.

[13:59] Caroline Bowman: That's me. How are you feeling tonight?

[14:01] Caroline Bowman: I'm feeling excited. I'm gonna, I'm gonna watch this phenomenal cast and support my company that I get to be a part of.

[14:08] Salisha Thomas: Is she breathing easy tonight?

[14:10] Caroline Bowman: She's breathing easy tonight, because you know what? Nicole is a badass. She's gonna kill it, and I'm so honored I have her back. Her and Mandy's back. I have their backs, and they're both incredible, and I'm happy to be here.

[14:25] Salisha Thomas: And I've never been a standby before, so right.

[14:27] Caroline Bowman: I was wondering like how is the psyche going?

[14:29] Caroline Bowman: Yeah, it's I mean, it's a journey. I'm like learning what it is to learn such an iconic and powerful role and then kind of just be ready at a moment's notice.

[14:38] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, that's kind of wild.

[14:40] Caroline Bowman: So I'm meditating a lot, working on it. And also, like it's a party.

[14:50] Salisha Thomas: I was like, I hang out.

[14:51] Caroline Bowman: I know, I'm so sorry to interrupt. Stunning, you look stunning.

[14:55] Alex Newell: Special guest appearance by Alex Newell.

[14:57] Caroline Bowman: Also, I want to commend you because my husband understands what it feels like to be the husband of somebody who's understudying a role. How's it been going for you?

[15:05] Alex Newell: Absolutely. I mean, it's a great honor, and um, and we're a team no matter what, and it's been a treasure, and we care about each other, and like slightly second to that is we care about this industry, and we want to put good work out there and contribute, and it's great to have a partner to do that with.

[15:28] Salisha Thomas: Sure.

[15:29] Cheryl Thomas: Hi, my name is Cheryl Thomas, and I'm the hair and makeup designer for SUNSET Boulevard.

[15:35] Salisha Thomas: This is very exciting because Cheryl and I are cousins.

[15:37] Cheryl Thomas: My name is Salisha Thomas.

[15:39] Salisha Thomas: See there, see that, I found my cousins all over. This theater is very special to me because when I first came to New York, I came on a leap of faith. And I was walking down 8th Avenue, and I saw a billboard with the Broadway show, A Leap of Faith. And I said, I don't know how I'm gonna work on that show, but I'm gonna work on that show.

[16:01] Cheryl Thomas: Is that your first show?

[16:02] Salisha Thomas: That was my first Broadway show, and I was a hairdresser.

[16:05] Cheryl Thomas: So 12 years later, I'm back as the hair makeup designer.

[16:10] Salisha Thomas: When you see the show tonight, how do you anticipate yourself feeling?

[16:14] Cheryl Thomas: I put tissues in my purse. I put tissues in my purse because I love this company and I've loved the cast and everybody and Nicole is so amazing. Everybody is so like the atmosphere is so positive and the spirit is so wonderful.

[16:33] Salisha Thomas: Good.

[16:34] Cheryl Thomas: And it's just good. It celebrates everybody. It's such a diverse cast as well. And it's not only did I do hair and makeup on this show, but I also did skin and hair consulting to make sure that skin and hair consulting.

[16:48] Salisha Thomas: Yes, to make sure that there's more, please.

[16:51] Cheryl Thomas: That their skin was right, that their hair was right, that they make that they get products.

[16:57] Salisha Thomas: Broadway, are you listening?

[16:59] Cheryl Thomas: They get, you know, for everybody, it's across the board that your skin is being taken care of while you're doing the show, and that in this show there are no wigs, but let's talk about the products that you're using in your hair. Are they full of chemicals or are they actually doing what they say they're gonna do?

[17:17] Salisha Thomas: I'm gonna need you backstage in every Broadway show. Please, Cheryl. Incredible. Incredible. I love it. I absolutely love it.

[17:25] Salisha Thomas: Okay, well, I am wishing you the best night. I hope you have so much fun and congratulations.

[17:30] Benita DeWitt: Thank you so much. That means so much to me. My name's Benita DeWitt, and I'm the U.S. Associate Director on SUNSET Boulevard.

[17:35] Salisha Thomas: Congratulations.

[17:38] Benita DeWitt: Thank you. Oh my goodness. Okay, so why this show for you?

[17:42] Benita DeWitt: I mean, there are so many things about this show, but particularly about Jamie Lloyd's work that first drew me to it. I think that he is the most exciting theater director working today. Everything that he does is so it's always in collaboration with the audience.

[17:56] Benita DeWitt: One of the things that people talk about, you know, obviously his aesthetic is very sparse, but it's because he leaves so much room for imagination and so much room for co-authoring. And I find that really true in the process as well. He trusts his creatives and his actors more than any director I've ever met.

[18:11] Benita DeWitt: When you're in the room, all ideas are in play, and it's really magical.

[18:16] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, it really is.

[18:17] Benita DeWitt: I just see him like hiring people he believes in and continuing to support them. And then magical things happen because you have all these brains in the room getting excited together.

[18:26] Salisha Thomas: So it was partly sounds so refreshing.

[18:31] Benita DeWitt: Not every team is like that.

[18:32] Salisha Thomas: No, of course.

[18:34] Benita DeWitt: No, and then that on this musical, he has such an edgy fun aesthetic, and then it's like, okay, what is he gonna do with SUNSET Boulevard?

[18:42] Peppermint: My name is Peppermint, and I am here for the show.

[18:48] Salisha Thomas: You go, you look so awesome. Have fun tonight.

[18:51] Peppermint: Thank you, gorgeous.

[18:52] Salisha Thomas: Thank you.

[18:53] Salisha Thomas: Hello, Salisha Thomas here with the Broadway Podcast Network on the red black carpet for SUNSET Boulevard on Broadway. I'm so excited. They're literally dimming the lights on the sidewalk. They're like, everybody, get inside. We are starting this show right now, whether y'all are in your seats or not. So we will be back after this show. We get to meet the cast. So ow, ow, ew. We'll be right back with the Broadway exclusive on the red carpet.

[19:19] Salisha Thomas: And we're back with the Broadway exclusive on the red carpet. My name is Brendan Lavar.

[19:24] Loretta: That's my mommy.

[19:27] Salisha Thomas: What's tonight?

[19:28] Brendan Lavar: Everything you wanted?

[19:29] Loretta: Everything and more.

[19:30] Brendan Lavar: Everything and more. This dream. This show is just such a it's such a revolutionary show, right? It's making history on so many different fronts. It's bringing downtown theater almost to the mainstream.

[19:44] Brendan Lavar: The walk around is already making history in its own respect. Jamie is just brilliant. And um, his vision is just so raw and bold. And I think that's exactly what Broadway needs at this moment. Just something new, inventive, fresh, raw, bold, and let's just do it.

[20:01] Brendan Lavar: So it's to be in a show like this is nothing but a dream come true, first off. But also to share it with the masses and have people.

[20:11] Brendan Lavar: Yeah, and it's conceptual and it has people to it has people thinking and it is very polarizing, right? Um, but I think the point of art is to have conversation. And whether you like it or whether you don't, you're gonna have a conversation about this production.

[20:27] Raul Contreras: You know what I'm saying? So thank you for listening to my Ted Talk. Thank you. Have the best night. Congratulations. I'm so happy for you, and you look so great.

[20:36] Raul Contreras: My name is Raul Contreras, and I am a cast member from SUNSET Boulevard. Woo! Congratulations! Thank you! No, how did tonight go?

[20:45] Raul Contreras: Oh my god, tonight was opening night. Opening night, right? Have you heard of her? Um my god, it was just crazy. I've literally never felt what I felt tonight. It was, and I'm not even joking. I'm not even exaggerating. The feeling that I had tonight, I've never had in my life. It just felt so out of body. That opening number, I really felt like I blacked out, and it was just so, so such a cool feeling. What a cool opportunity.

[21:15] Salisha Thomas: Do you think you'll remember everything? Or were you able to be present?

[21:19] Raul Contreras: Um, I think so for the most part. Definitely the opening number, I was like, what's going on? But then we dropped in. But then we were there. Great. Congratulations, thank you so much.

[21:30] Raul Contreras: No party. Thank you. Yes, I'm on. I need a martini right now.

[21:35] Rixie Terry: They, he pronouns. I'm wearing a really, really large pant, a corset, and this stunning blazer. Cute! Thank you, thank you. How did tonight go for you?

[21:50] Rixie Terry: Um tonight was sensational. I was a swing, so I got to just watch it from so many different corners and got to live my theater kid dreams off stage left, watching as if we never said goodbye. And um, but just opening nights are such a feel like a celebration of the collective and of every part in the machine. And um, yeah, I've been dreaming of this for a while, so this has been awesome.

[22:11] Salisha Thomas: Have you gotten to swing on during previous?

[22:13] Rixie Terry: I did. How did it go?

[22:14] Rixie Terry: I did a mid-show swing on. Okay. I did a week and a half ago. Um not a mid-show, who did that too. A mid-show. No, no, no. Who did that to you? But yeah, a mid-show, and then I was on for like a week, and um oh yeah, it was such a, you know, not the most conventional way to make a Broadway debut, but that was God. I felt so lucky. This company is yeah, sensational.

[22:33] Salisha Thomas: Your Broadway debut is a mid-show swing on.

[22:36] Rixie Terry: It was, yes. It was, it was, but like truly, it was like one of the best nights of my life. Um my heart is stopped for you right now.

[22:45] Salisha Thomas: It's incredible.

[22:49] Rixie Terry: Thanks. Thanks. Story for the book.

[22:51] Rixie Terry: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm telling my kids about it for sure. I was a swing before, and I'm like, no way.

[22:55] Salisha Thomas: Yes.

[22:55] Rixie Terry: Oh my gosh, it's crazy.

[22:56] Salisha Thomas: It is.

[22:57] Rixie Terry: You were like it's crazy. I'm so excited for you. Hopefully, you got to like relax tonight.

[23:01] Rixie Terry: Oh, yeah, tonight was awesome. Great. Yeah, great. Nick, go to the party. Go get a drink.

[23:05] Salisha Thomas: So nice to meet.

[23:08] Diego Andres Rodriguez: Hello, I am Diego Andres Rodriguez. That's my full name that I use for equity. And uh I am uh playing Artie in uh SUNSET Boulevard, Jamie Lloyd SUNSET Boulevard here at the St. James. Let's go! Congratulations, how did it go for you tonight?

[23:23] Diego Andres Rodriguez: Oh, it was fantastic. I mean, it was one an electric crowd. So many people were here dressed to the nice. I heard great things. And it's in really beautiful, and I mean you know, one thing that made it awesome for me, very grounding is my mom's here, and so I gotta perform for her. She's right behind you. She's feeling like hey mom! But it's been really a really great night, really beautiful, and I'm happy that everything went very well. You know, it was a beautiful show. It's the first one. It's a thing.

[23:48] Salisha Thomas: Congratulations.

[23:49] Diego Andres Rodriguez: Thank you so much, Salisha. Thank you.

[23:51] Justice Moore: Hi, I'm Justice Moore. This is the one and only Justice Moore. Y'all y'all follow her on the TikTok and the Instagram. She'd be like, oh, what is a what is a wine look like in a dance? Well, what are all the things you do? Animals, furniture, pasta, whatever you want, I'm a dance like it. Maybe she can dance her butt off. And if I know that's if I didn't know her, but I do know her because we did once upon one more time. Okay. Broadly sister. She said, how many Broadway shows can I get in? How was tonight?

[24:24] Justice Moore: It was wonderful. It was exhilarating, it was overwhelming, overstimulating, but I feel so honored and proud to be a part of this project, this dream.

[24:32] Salisha Thomas: Were you able to stay present?

[24:34] Justice Moore: I was actually. It's so interesting because in the dressing room, usually we blast music, and today we had to get ready in silence. We were like, let's just focus. Let's just do our makeup. Let's just put a little lash on. Let's just, you know what I mean? It was like very, very chill vibes because the energy is so hype, you know what I mean?

[24:52] Salisha Thomas: Yeah.

[24:53] Justice Moore: And so we literally got ready in silence. Which I think is the one to lead the cast in a breath and inhale.

[24:59] Salisha Thomas: No, it's actually Christina, our beautiful dance captain.

[25:03] Justice Moore: Okay. She's like, everyone, let's send her out. Take a breath.

[25:07] Salisha Thomas: Okay. Wherever I go, I do that because of you.

[25:10] Justice Moore: Yeah, thank you. So my name is Pierre Marie, and I'm born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa.

[25:11] Salisha Thomas: South Africa?

[25:15] Pierre Marie: Yeah, yeah. That's right. When did you come here?

[25:17] Pierre Marie: I came here 13 years ago now. I was like right out of high school, and I had to move right to New York City.

[25:22] Salisha Thomas: You've been in New York City for thirty For 13 years, yeah. Good for you.

[25:25] Pierre Marie: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It looks like you were made to be here.

[25:29] Salisha Thomas: Oh my gosh, thank you so much.

[25:30] Pierre Marie: I've like, I my so my parents, they were circus performers, and so I grew up watching them in the circus.

[25:35] Salisha Thomas: Circus performers, yeah.

[25:37] Pierre Marie: They were in Ringling Brothers and traveled the world. And so they're my biggest hero, so I have to shout them out. They're the best. And so I came here 13 years ago, like inspired by you know the work they were doing. And I didn't want to be in the circus, but I did just want to be a performer, so here you are on Broadway. Congratulations, had a good night.

[25:53] Pierre Marie: It was great. Oh my gosh. I mean, opening night audiences, there's nothing like it. I just think it's such a love, this, you know, it was like a love letter to us, the way everyone was responding. It was unbelievable.

[26:02] Salisha Thomas: Yeah. That sounds like a really beautiful way to put it. Can you tell me about this gorgeous suit you?

[26:07] Pierre Marie: Oh my thank you so much. This is a client Epstein Parker suit. I was styled by Bethany Tessarg. Work. Uh who is actually my partner. Uh she's a broad performer and a stylist, and it's actually six people on this carpet that are styled by Bethany Tessark, so I hit her up because you said let me say her name again. Bethany Tesla, she's going off. But the kind of cool thing is on the inside of the suit, it's got all these little like film strips, which I thought like this was the reason to wear this suit. It's sort of like a 70s inspired cut with a little silk on the inside that I just like I couldn't as soon as we saw it, I was like, that's the suit I'm wearing.

[26:38] Salisha Thomas: You look perfect.

[26:39] Pierre Marie: Thank you so much.

[26:41] David Thankston: Hello, I'm David Thankston. I play Max Vaughn Mailing in SUNSET Boulevard. How did it go?

[26:45] David Thankston: It was great. Wonderful. Yeah, pretty cool.

[26:46] Salisha Thomas: How do you feel? You seem so at peace and calm and grounded.

[26:51] David Thankston: Uh yeah, it went really, really well. These things are always like a bit crazy opening nights, but it went, I think, as well as it could. It was, it was, yeah, it was very cool.

[26:59] Sydney Clark: My name is Sydney Clark. Hello. I'm in SUNSET Boulevard. In the ensemble as Joanna slash guard. Congratulations on tonight.

[27:09] Salisha Thomas: Thank you. Can you tell me about your outfit?

[27:11] Sydney Clark: I am dressed by John Bird, Olivier Atelier. He designed this and made it for me doing finishing touches this morning. Oh my god. Um I just thought honestly, it's maybe easier to well, maybe it's not easier necessarily, but like, let me just send somebody some pictures of what inspires me and like let them make a dress rather than be like, let's search the internet. You know what I mean?

[27:32] Salisha Thomas: Yes, yes. Good for you.

[27:35] Sydney Clark: Thank you. And also these blonde braids.

[27:37] Salisha Thomas: Thank you.

[27:39] Sydney Clark: I auditioned this way, and yeah, they were pretty much like, how do you want to have your hair for the next nine months? And I was like, well, I think I would prefer a protective style versus just having my curls out. And I was like, if you guys want my curls, I would prefer to have a wig because maintenance. Um, but they were like really happy to have me have braids, and they love like the silhouette they create and whatever. And they also, Suther was like a majority of the people on stage are brunettes, except kind of me and Emma, I think. Um, so she's like, if you can stay blonde, that would be great.

[28:11] Salisha Thomas: Oh, we love it.

[28:15] Tom Francis: Hello, my name is Tom Francis. I uh play Joe Gillis in the new revival of SUNSET Boulevard.

[28:21] Salisha Thomas: Yeah, he is starring in SUNSET Boulevard.

[28:25] Tom Francis: Whoa. Yeah, whoa. You're bigging me up. I mean, it's is it not? How are you? How did it go?

[28:30] Tom Francis: It was oh, it was breathtaking. It was such a good it was such a good night. I literally had the best time of my life tonight. Oh my god. It was so good. It was so good.

[28:40] Salisha Thomas: This is not your first show.

[28:42] Tom Francis: No, no, no, no. I did it this back home, and I did a few other things back home. But this is like uh, yeah, this is this humble brag right now. This is this is so humble. This is a this is a pretty big one. This is pretty good. So it felt pretty amazing tonight.

[28:56] Tom Francis: I'm ready. Hang on. No, am I? I'm no, I am ready. I'm ready for my close-up.

[29:03] Nicole Scherzinger: Um it's Nicole Scherzinger here, and I am making my Broadway debut on my opening night here um in New York City for SUNSET Boulevard. I have to know have you been signing in blood and barefoot at the stage door?

[29:17] Nicole Scherzinger: Sometimes you gotta do it, babe, for the love. We love that, and you look so fan-freaking-tastic.

[29:25] Salisha Thomas: Thank you. Can you walk us through who is she? What are you wearing?

[29:27] Nicole Scherzinger: I can walk you through, but I can barely walk in this. Um, I am wearing Dolce Gabbana and uh Creoni um earrings and Bulgari bracelet and necklace. Thank you for chatting with us.

[29:46] Nicole Scherzinger: Thank you so much. Have a good night. Thanks, babe. Congratulations.

[29:48] Salisha Thomas: And that's a wrap here on the Red Carpet for SUNSET Boulevard on Broadway. Until next time, thanks for joining me, Salisha Thomas on the Broadway Exclusive, live from the Red Carpet. Be sure to follow Broadway Podcast Network on Instagram and TikTok for even more behind the scenes moments, including my hot takes on Red Carpet Fashion. And be sure to listen to my podcast, The Salisha Show, at bpn.fm slash the Salisha Show. And follow me on Instagram at The Salisha Show.