This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:19] Amber Brzezinski: Hi everyone. I am gonna do most of the talking today because Heather is still kind of under the weather. I'm not Heather, I'm Kathy Bates. I had a server at a restaurant the other night tell me and my mom he didn't realize that I had laryngitis. He thought I was soft spoken. So when I told Amber that, she laughed her ass off. Just like I did. So I'm gonna try to let Amber take the wheel here and be driving Miss Heather. So um I'm gonna just kind of be uh walking, talking, well, walking whispering commentary tonight. So don't adjust your ears, your eyes. This is in fact Heather and Amber. We are the Broadway Fan Club. Uh and thank you for the flexibility and Amber and everybody else. Um, because I had no voice. I've been on vocal rest for two days to get this voice.

[1:26] Heather Bedor: You're welcome. And everyone, as usual, if you see the bottoms of our head right now, it is because we are tagging our groups, we are telling everyone to join us live so they can pop in and chat with us like they do every week. So we are just diligently working and getting that done quickly.

[1:54] Amber Brzezinski: That's right. So far, so good. Everybody should ask how you feel about me not this week. You can get don't uh feel free to give us a hand, share the podcast your favorite groups. We would love that. So we should be done with this in just a second, and then we will get the action going. We just need to bring on an intern.

[2:22] Heather Bedor: Chris Levy. It's the Broadway Fan Club page. Of course it is. But that's the only way that we uh provide it out. I love you, buddy. Yes. So Chris, we're one of my favorite gingers.

[2:39] Amber Brzezinski: A group and a page. That's right. And the podcast streams on the page, which we share to the group. And we've dealt with this. It's a very silly little thing that Facebook makes us do. Um, we have StreamYard, and we dealt with it for quite some time, where it was um, you know, would only let us do uh on YouTube. So we want to bring its people that one might not want to go to YouTube to watch us, but we're gonna have a good time regardless.

[3:13] Heather Bedor: Um I'm sure you can hear the thunder rumbling in the back. Um, so that's gonna be fun, and uh we're gonna have a good show. So thank you everybody again. Um, for those of you who are first joining us for the very first time ever, this is not my voice. This is not Heather's voice. This is not a voice. This is what prevented us from doing our usual day episode. We needed a couple days for Ursula to return a little bit of a fraction of some voice.

[3:48] Amber Brzezinski: So it reminds me. Did you ever watch Daria on MTV in an age of it?

[3:52] Heather Bedor: Of course.

[3:53] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. So I always feel like I sound a little bit more like Quinn, Daria's like cheerleading sister. And now I'm very much Daria.

[4:03] Heather Bedor: Yes, definitely. But I very specifically had to tell everybody. And I'm telling you guys, I have had family.

[4:18] Amber Brzezinski: Yes. Yes, mom, that's weird. Um, there's a local thrift store. I'm at my mom's house. That's why the background looks different. Uh, there's a local thrift store which gets lots of cool stuff from Disney since they're so close. And they actually support um it's not goodwill, it's not salvation army, it's called New Beginnings, and they do um like they help rehome the homeless and give them jobs that are really incredible, and uh but very religious.

[4:44] Heather Bedor: I'm not very religious, and like even the manager who's like super religious, yes, thank you, Chris. Now I can do all the Kathleen Turner roles, that's right. Um Kathy Bates, Kathleen Turner, it's gonna be all of them, it's gonna be great.

[4:59] Amber Brzezinski: Um the Kathleen Turner is right. Um, but I was there and the manager goes, Oh wow, you got that soft, graspy, sexy voice. I'm like, this is awkward. And I hung up friends the other night like this, and as I drank my bourbon and whiskey.

[5:21] Heather Bedor: That's great for the throat.

[5:21] Amber Brzezinski: It is great, it is great. Um, it doesn't hurt guys I'm not in pain, I'm not sick, I just have no voice but um I'm sitting there and everyone's like oh it's like only fans it should be only voices and I was like what about my face but okay that makes sense all right yeah enough enough about uh the voice let's enough about Heather here I'm gonna change it to just Kathleen Turner that's my that's my name tonight thank you for asking uh we have a big show because we've got a lot to catch up with um in fact where will I be a week from now she will be in New York City hosting Broadway well hosting uh trivia at Broadway Card yep and a couple of other surprises that are gonna be coming a couple of other surprises that are coming also at this time and you can hear the thunder rumbling out here I hope the weather holds out I will have been at Broadway in the Park at Bryant Park and going live so you guys can see that I am so excited Amber's been doing this really incredible job of keeping you guys posted every week for every Thursday's performances um couldn't ask for a better business partner better friend a better co-host so thanks Carl yes I will hopefully be getting the performances from today which were uh today's theme was Disney in Bryant Park how did I miss that how did I miss that Aladdin Frozen and the Lion King did some performances.

[7:04] Amber Brzezinski: So hopefully we'll be able to find some recaps on the online that we can share with everybody.

[7:11] Heather Bedor: Amber has a new co-host.

[7:13] Amber Brzezinski: I do. I have two new co-hosts.

[7:17] Heather Bedor: Um they are Harley and Ozzie.

[7:21] Amber Brzezinski: Cute. Aww Ozzy is over crying by the door.

[7:27] Heather Bedor: So you just had to get well get rid of you had to return Christina the pit bull to the foundation.

[7:33] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. Yes.

[7:34] Heather Bedor: And now I am dog sitting for a friend.

[7:37] Amber Brzezinski: Um so hopefully Christina gets adopted very very soon.

[7:42] Heather Bedor: Yeah I hope so because you've been doing a lot of fostering for Connecticut Humane Society.

[7:47] Amber Brzezinski: Yes absolutely amazing.

[7:50] Heather Bedor: So yeah let's put our seatbelts on kids I've got my water I'm going to stay hydrated.

[7:56] Amber Brzezinski: Uh we are all in the hands of Amber.

[7:59] Heather Bedor: Yeah. First why don't we just start off by saying if you're not giving us a follow over on Instagram so please go check us out at the B Way fan club.

[8:11] Amber Brzezinski: That's at the B Way fan club. We would love to see you there. You can uh you know get uh up to date info on all of our giveaways on our information that we post like Broadway and Bryant Park you know just happenings in Broadway we're usually posting news and just fun facts.

[8:31] Heather Bedor: We just want to no it's right we want to keep them updated sometimes it's hard you don't want to come on Facebook because you don't want to do scroll that's why we have our Instagram we might copy some information or share something different but it's just to make it easier at your fingertips.

[8:47] Amber Brzezinski: Absolutely. And um over on Instagram, we also have been sharing, which we do share in our groups as well, um, some uh different uh covers that have been going on, some different understudies that have been going on. So definitely want to follow us there if you if you want to stay in the know with all the Broadway business that's happening.

[9:13] Heather Bedor: I like that the Broadway business. Speaking of Broadway business, Amber and I'm I'm sure you have it way down in the schedule but Amber and I had the pleasure of attending um from Ken Davenport yesterday the state of estate of Broadway.

[9:29] Amber Brzezinski: And that was really cool. I don't know if anybody else had the opportunity.

[9:33] Heather Bedor: Did you we did we I know we're gonna move the scheduler on because I'm an asshole.

[9:38] Amber Brzezinski: No that's okay. Yes I can say asshole so um I have gaga for insta but I tried to create it together somehow whenever sorry I'm reading Chris's name see yeah no insta can be insta it's just a matter of we want to make sure people get the information they want so we're here and Chris we're glad you're here yeah we're everywhere you can find us where your most comes from fringe and local Orlando theater we love it okay awesome all right we love fringe around these parts we love fringe around here so yeah so a state of estate of Broadway it's very cool it was a free program that Ken Davenport offered and it's kind of for every base level of are you investing in theater as a producer are you a performer are you just a fan are you trying to do influencing are you somebody like us that does a lot of marketing for shows um and it was really informative um we learned the billion dollar corporation yes billion uh is um i think they said we're down like four percent from last year right but he said that is normal because of 120 bucks yeah uh ticket average prices were 120 and they talked about all the new shows coming up what I took away from it and I thought was pretty impactful even though it was something we already kind of knew is that in 2019 the average age of a theater goer like Broadway theater goer they said was 40.4 so somebody it was just about 40. um and now five years later in 2024 the average is like what do you say 23 years old that's amazing for shows that are approaching like the younger generations which is great but um you know these are people and this is directly from Ken's mouth which I thought was so appreciative because it really kind of gave Amber and I the big whole old hug of yeah you guys are doing the right thing is these are the kids that grew up on screen screen time with with you know talking through chat rooms and everything else so with that instant gratification oh yeah and that's my soapbox but it's an instant gratification society absolutely um which is great because those are the people we want to approach too because we want everything for Broadway to be at your fingertips.

[12:15] Heather Bedor: So right away accessible. What did you get a chance to take away from it yesterday?

[12:21] Amber Brzezinski: I thought something that I just found in general very interesting was that fact where he said it's generally expected to be kind of a lower year because of the events, yeah.

[12:34] Heather Bedor: In the world because of the election, because of the Olympics.

[12:38] Amber Brzezinski: And he said one other reason that it's typically lower, but I can't think of what it is.

[12:44] Heather Bedor: But we're having all three of these events.

[12:47] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, a leap year.

[12:49] Heather Bedor: Right. He said when it's a leap year, and we have we happen to have all three of them in one year.

[12:56] Heather Bedor: So it'll be interesting to see what the numbers are like next year for sure.

[13:01] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, so many shows.

[13:02] Heather Bedor: And he also took away how he was discussing the regions around where people are coming in from to see shows, whether they're local, suburbanites, locals, or tourists.

[13:22] Amber Brzezinski: And he said those suburbanites, we gotta increase our numbers.

[13:25] Heather Bedor: So that's me. I gotta go to the city and see more shows.

[13:28] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, you gotta stop dog sitting so you can come see shows with me when I'm in town.

[13:32] Heather Bedor: Yeah. I don't know. I don't think I can consider myself a tourist.

[13:37] Amber Brzezinski: I don't live in New York, I live in our window, hence why it's raining.

[13:41] Heather Bedor: Um, but I mean it rains in New York too, but not this often. But I'm in New York every month, trying to get you guys content, trying to build the Broadway fan clubs, trying to do whatever we can to bring this and make it accessible to you guys.

[13:57] Amber Brzezinski: And okay, the lights just flickered, so if the power goes out...

[14:01] Heather Bedor: It'll be the Broadway fan club in the dark edition.

[14:04] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but I go, I have my places I like to go. I have my people I like to see. Um, Amber has a ghost, it's fine.

[14:14] Heather Bedor: Um, but you kind of get to this pattern. But I always what?

[14:20] Amber Brzezinski: That was a big thunder.

[14:22] Heather Bedor: Oh, you can hear it?

[14:24] Amber Brzezinski: I just heard that one.

[14:25] Heather Bedor: Oh, okay. Yes, it's the raspy sexy voice and the thunder.

[14:31] Amber Brzezinski: It's like you're paying me.

[14:33] Heather Bedor: Right. This is like really setting the mood. I'll turn my light off.

[14:38] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna turn the light off.

[14:40] Heather Bedor: Oh yeah, it's like, yep, okay, we're gonna stop. People just tuning in, this is not a different show. This is just us being ridiculous.

[14:54] Amber Brzezinski: Because I haven't been able to talk to Heather most of the week with Speak, because this is the most week.

[15:00] Heather Bedor: I've missed you.

[15:02] Amber Brzezinski: I know we don't really talk every day.

[15:05] Heather Bedor: Multiple times.

[15:06] Amber Brzezinski: Well, it's all right. But um, yeah, no, it was interesting too, because Ken was talking about the staples and like different Broadway shows.

[15:16] Heather Bedor: Like people are saying, if the phone rings, do not answer it.

[15:20] Amber Brzezinski: Hold on. Thanks, Chris. If the phone rings, do not answer it.

[15:24] Heather Bedor: My phone's on silent, so I will not.

[15:28] Amber Brzezinski: I am a spirit, spooky girl. It's fine. I might answer it and ask them what's going on.

[15:33] Heather Bedor: Um, anyways, but Ken had talked about different shows and saying, like, we need a really big blockbuster, like Wicked, like Les Mis.

[15:42] Amber Brzezinski: Like, because this is a Hamilton.

[15:44] Heather Bedor: Right. This is our first year without Phantom in 30 years.

[15:48] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[15:49] Heather Bedor: Wicked's been here for 20. And um, Cats, like we've we now have this reinvigoration. Um, and he said Lion King, Lion King is as um, what was the word he used? Pretty much like Lion King, the Statue of Liberty or Lake the Saint, right?

[16:05] Amber Brzezinski: Longevity, a longevity, like a mainstay in New York.

[16:08] Heather Bedor: And I agree, and that show's amazing. If you have not had the opportunity to see it, do it. Um, it doesn't matter what age you are, but it was really interesting. But there are a lot of new shows coming.

[16:21] Amber Brzezinski: Um, everything from you know, IP that we're familiar with, like Death Becomes Her, which I'm super excited about.

[16:29] Heather Bedor: Um, like Betty Boop, come on. Betty Boop, that's cool.

[16:35] Amber Brzezinski: Uh, we've got the new Gatsby, Cassie Art. We've got um Swept Away. We've got I mean, we've got all these great shows that are coming.

[16:44] Heather Bedor: Um, and then we've got stuff that had a smaller start but a very popular following, like maybe Happy Ending, right? Which just delayed their opening because they have such an intricate and tech-heavy set, right?

[16:59] Amber Brzezinski: So um, what shows are you looking forward to coming, Amber?

[17:03] Amber Brzezinski: Um, I as you mentioned Death Becomes Her. I'm definitely looking forward to that one because I love that movie, it's one of my all-time favorites.

[17:14] Heather Bedor: Um, I'm looking forward to Boop.

[17:17] Amber Brzezinski: I'm kind of looking forward to Tanny Faye.

[17:21] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[17:21] Amber Brzezinski: Because she's another one of like the icons that I love.

[17:28] Heather Bedor: So that again for those of you that are listening. Amber is shaking her head and the butt on top of her head just made a weird okay.

[17:35] Amber Brzezinski: Um, she has actually, you know what shows and drag, drag's not coming to the mainstream, Drag the Musical.

[17:42] Heather Bedor: Yes, that'll be so fun.

[17:44] Amber Brzezinski: I just like a fun show, so she says that and then she's like and I cry the entire time, and I cry the entire time, right? And then I go to like Sweeney a hundred times.

[17:58] Heather Bedor: I mean, Sweeney is a fun show, like yeah, and it's like a purpose. We just sit there and smile and more blood, yay.

[18:09] Amber Brzezinski: Right. We do need kind of a spooky show.

[18:12] Heather Bedor: I'm looking forward where that becomes our force.

[18:14] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[18:15] Heather Bedor: Um that I've like commandeered that conversation.

[18:21] Amber Brzezinski: No, actually, to piggyback on that, just wanted to say that the maybe Happy Endings now opening on the 16th at the Belasco Theater. So if you already purchased your tickets, not July 16th.

[18:35] Heather Bedor: No, no, October 16th, yes. If you already purchased tickets for prior to that, please reach out to your ticketing company and they will discuss your refund options because you will not be attending the show, it will not be starting until October 16th.

[18:54] Amber Brzezinski: But I think it is responsible, and they're giving you guys three months to know that it is delayed, and it is just due to the availability of what's needed for sets and props because it is a tech-laden show.

[19:09] Heather Bedor: Because if you guys don't know about the show, it's about help robots, it is like Android.

[19:15] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, picking robots, yeah.

[19:17] Heather Bedor: So you can't pick on it. I know there's gonna be those mainstay people that are like, I don't like a tech-heavy show. No, you're literally going to a tech-heavy show for a tech-heavy subject. That's really fascinating. And encourage you guys to take a look at it as well.

[19:31] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, absolutely. It looks amazing.

[19:34] Heather Bedor: And Darren Criss, I mean, come on.

[19:37] Amber Brzezinski: I do love Jalen and Helen Shen.

[19:41] Heather Bedor: Do you remember when I oh my god, can you hear that one?

[19:46] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[19:47] Heather Bedor: Do you remember so I walked in rain like this in New York? Covered.

[19:52] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, I do remember that. Yes.

[19:54] Heather Bedor: Um, because I wanted to go see Little Shop. Now I've seen Little Shop nine times. Pretty much every new cast. Plus, I was there previews. Um, I've had the opportunity to see some really incredible. You know, though, I've never seen Jeremy Jordan and it ain't that weird.

[20:12] Amber Brzezinski: But Jonathan Groff has.

[20:14] Heather Bedor: Um, but I was desperate to go see Darren Criss because um a friend of mine, Max Adler, uh, was Dave Krowski in Glee, and he is very uh...

[20:14] Amber Brzezinski: Did we just lose Heather?

[20:37] Amber Brzezinski: Can anyone else see Heather? Just checking in. Chris, are you still there?

[20:46] Amber Brzezinski: All right, well, I guess we will just move on. She is definitely frozen.

[20:56] Amber Brzezinski: All right, thank you, Mitchell. While we figure out what's going on with Heather. Uh, just want to shout out some really awesome Broadway debuts that we've had this week.

[21:08] Heather Bedor: Sorry, my dog are barking over there.

[21:11] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, bye. The power went out and knocked out the Wi-Fi.

[21:16] Heather Bedor: I figured as much.

[21:20] Amber Brzezinski: So hello.

[21:22] Heather Bedor: Hello, welcome back.

[21:25] Amber Brzezinski: And I see I'm frozen.

[21:27] Heather Bedor: I froze.

[21:29] Amber Brzezinski: Uh yeah, no. The lights flickered and all the lights shut off, and then it was like your studio.

[21:38] Heather Bedor: I assume because that boom was so loud.

[21:42] Amber Brzezinski: It was loud.

[21:44] Heather Bedor: Um, I completely broke my train of thought.

[21:47] Amber Brzezinski: Um that's okay. I was just shouting out some debuts that happened over the last week on Broadway.

[21:55] Heather Bedor: Nice.

[21:55] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, there's a lot of them.

[21:57] Heather Bedor: A lot of them, yes.

[22:00] Amber Brzezinski: We had Danny Quadrino, who made his debut in Tommy.

[22:05] Heather Bedor: Yay! Congratulations.

[22:08] Amber Brzezinski: We have Sean Stack making his Jacob debut in Water for Elephants.

[22:13] Heather Bedor: Yay!

[22:15] Amber Brzezinski: We had Alex Spinoy making his middle Noah debut in The Notebook.

[22:21] Heather Bedor: And he loved the fact that we posted it online.

[22:23] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, we loved it.

[22:24] Heather Bedor: You did, yes.

[22:25] Amber Brzezinski: Alex Pracken, who made his Jay Gatsby debut in The Great Gatsby, yeah.

[22:32] Heather Bedor: And then Cabaret was loaded with debuts.

[22:37] Amber Brzezinski: Amazing.

[22:39] Heather Bedor: Loaded.

[22:40] Amber Brzezinski: We had Paige Smallwood who made their debut as Sally.

[22:45] Heather Bedor: We had Barty Lauder, aka Marsha Marsha Marsha, who made their debut as the MC.

[22:53] Amber Brzezinski: That's your favorite.

[22:54] Heather Bedor: We have Natasha Diaz, who made her debut as Fraulein Schneider. And I believe she is on again this evening as Fraulein Schneider.

[23:04] Amber Brzezinski: So I'm hoping that BB is okay since she's been out since yesterday and today.

[23:11] Heather Bedor: BB might have what I'm dealing with.

[23:13] Amber Brzezinski: She might, yeah.

[23:15] Heather Bedor: Yes, I'm representing today with my Central Park show.

[23:18] Amber Brzezinski: I'm very happy.

[23:19] Heather Bedor: I love it.

[23:20] Amber Brzezinski: Very cute.

[23:21] Heather Bedor: Very, very cool.

[23:23] Amber Brzezinski: It's gonna be my day today.

[23:25] Heather Bedor: Yay.

[23:27] Amber Brzezinski: Yay.

[23:29] Heather Bedor: This is not an advertisement for subgirls, but if you'd like to sponsor the show, we'd be happy to.

[23:35] Amber Brzezinski: Yes. Speaking of sponsoring the show, sponsors, you can check all of our groups out.

[23:42] Heather Bedor: Amber, would you like to showcase our groups? Are you able to do that on your phone?

[23:46] Amber Brzezinski: Or drive.

[23:48] Heather Bedor: Actually, okay. Look at this technology. Yeah, so if you want to go to the broadwayfanclub.com, it'll take you directly to our link tree. It'll show you all 50. Yes, I said 50 groups that we are currently running.

[23:52] Amber Brzezinski: If you want to go directly to our link tree, you can go directly to Linktree slash the Broadway fan club.

[24:14] Heather Bedor: And if you want to go check out our merch and go directly to merch and get a discount, you can go to the BroadwayFanClub.etsy.com and check out all the cool stuff that Amber has been making and rocking and rolling.

[24:27] Amber Brzezinski: As my phone falls down. Hello, everyone's on my keyboard. It's great.

[24:32] Heather Bedor: Um, you've been a very busy girl.

[24:34] Amber Brzezinski: I have. I actually just made a ton of bracelets to send with Heather to BroadwayCon, so she'll be there to trade.

[24:45] Heather Bedor: So find her. Come find me Friday at 5 p.m. next Friday. I'll be hosting Broadway Trivia. I don't know the room yet. Um, but it is the only trivia for the entire weekend. We're gonna have some great prizes from Second City. Um, we're gonna have our own prizes, we're gonna have some hydration packages.

[25:06] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna die now.

[25:08] Heather Bedor: Um, but you can go to the BroadwayCon or BroadwayCon's website, BroadwayCon.com and enter promo code TBFC. That's T the B Broadway F fan C Club TBFC for a discount on your ticket.

[25:29] Amber Brzezinski: So go ahead and check them out. And then by next week's show, Monday. Hey, you guys get us within a couple of days of each other. It's great. We might have even more exciting news for you that we're currently waiting to be able to announce. That'll be occurring at BroadwayCon, but I promise you it's really cool.

[25:48] Heather Bedor: So with that being said, I'm gonna once we can announce it to you, we will let you know as soon as possible.

[25:55] Amber Brzezinski: It requires me to have a new outfit, and you know I had a good time putting it.

[26:02] Heather Bedor: Oh, absolutely.

[26:03] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna go on mute and try to not hack up a lung.

[26:07] Heather Bedor: I'm gonna let you talk.

[26:09] Amber Brzezinski: Sure, absolutely. Um, so another thing that was announced this week was Broadway in the Park, which is a free Monday night concert series that plays at Hudson River Park, and that started this last Monday, July 15th.

[26:30] Heather Bedor: Correct. That will run through August 5th at Hudson River Park, beginning each Monday from 6:30 to 8:30.

[26:40] Amber Brzezinski: So Broadway is always looking for ways to give you guys free ways to see different performers and different things.

[26:48] Heather Bedor: I love that. I love that whether it's Times Square, Bryant Park, the waterfront, like there's so many opportunities. And it's a great like commercial, but also a great way of it. If you need a little bit of theater, go get some.

[27:04] Amber Brzezinski: Go get some if you can. But if you can't, we're gonna do our best to bring you those videos as well.

[27:09] Heather Bedor: Do you hear us outside? It's very loud.

[27:12] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[27:13] Heather Bedor: I'm being punished. Mother Nature is punishing me because she's like, no, Heather, you're supposed to be on vocal rest.

[27:20] Amber Brzezinski: I can't. I can't. Y'all think that it's easy for me to shut my mouth and not talk. You don't know me at all.

[27:29] Heather Bedor: Right. Yes. Um, another event that was announced was the Broadway Flea, which is one of our favorites.

[27:40] Amber Brzezinski: That was announced for September 22nd. So, guys, mark.

[27:44] Heather Bedor: I'm gonna go so broke.

[27:44] Amber Brzezinski: You are going to want to be there. It is such a fun event. Um, for those that haven't been there, it is basically where they set up tables out in front of the theaters, and you get to bid on their merch, there's size.

[28:05] Heather Bedor: It's two blocks in Schubert Alley.

[28:08] Amber Brzezinski: And Schubert Alley, yes. Um, it's my favorite time of year because I spend way too much money. Um, and I've had the fortunate opportunity to be a proxy, meaning people say, hey Heather, I would love for you to pick me up something.

[28:14] Heather Bedor: Last year, it was a lot of Phantom. Heather, can you pick me up any kind of costuming piece from Phantom? Absolutely. So get their budget. We found um Madame Giry's leggings. Um, we found cool stuff from um, uh, the Michael Crawford Foundation.

[28:42] Amber Brzezinski: I actually picked up for my mom the Phantom of the Opera Barbie dolls signed by Michael Crawford. Um, they have oh yeah, they have actual set design, like the candlesticks, or um, like uh, Hadestown has the poets, um, like the book that he uses.

[29:02] Heather Bedor: Yeah. Um, or they have like Our Lady of the Underground candles, which are not fun to get into your carry-on bag. Um, but most of it is autographed, they have autograph sessions. Um, I'm gonna be there again this year. I believe they had the um cutting board that they used in City Talk.

[29:27] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, cutting boards bigger than the screen.

[29:30] Heather Bedor: And we know people who had to take that home with them on the subway. Um, my favorite to see from Sweeney last year, um, was like the mask of Magdalene where Sweeney does this to the cloth and it's just the blood.

[29:45] Amber Brzezinski: Um, those went for like $500. Not everything's that expensive. I was able to find stuff from the pit um at Phantom and actually Sweeney, it was like a uh orchestra pit button for like a dollar. Or these places have like the dollar bin or like Creative Goods merch will have like boxes of shirts and stuff of shows that have closed.

[30:11] Heather Bedor: Um, or you know, stuff that's older stuff. It's gonna be a big boom. I know it's coming. Um, the whole my phone is vibrating, and Chris is in Orlando, so I'm sure he's getting this too.

[30:25] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but they'll have like shirts for like five bucks, Water for Elephants before they even came to Broadway, set up a table last year.

[30:35] Heather Bedor: It's a tiny little thing, um, just to sell stuff from Atlanta. Um, so that was my first interaction with them.

[30:43] Amber Brzezinski: And um, yeah, it takes up two blocks, no rain in oh geez, Chris. I'm in Claremont right now. It's crazy.

[30:50] Heather Bedor: You're getting it, buddy. Um, but it takes up two blocks in Schubert Alley. They also have the auction, so cool.

[30:59] Amber Brzezinski: Um, lights of Broadway cars. I mean, there's just so much. Um, if you're claustrophobic with people, I am claustrophobic with people.

[31:11] Heather Bedor: You gotta have a figure way to get out.

[31:14] Amber Brzezinski: It's a lot of people, but it's definitely worthwhile. It's very organized. You'll get a map, and we'll definitely talk about it as it comes. I'll be offering my proxy services again.

[31:26] Heather Bedor: But yeah, I'm super excited. It's usually the third or fourth uh Saturday or Sunday of September.

[31:32] Amber Brzezinski: And as Heather said, it is now September.

[31:36] Heather Bedor: Um, September 22nd.

[31:40] Amber Brzezinski: September 22nd. Let's put that date in the calendar.

[31:43] Heather Bedor: Come on up, it is hot but it is not unbearable and you will spend a lot of money.

[31:43] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, absolutely. Um, let's see general Broadway news. The only other thing oh actually how did I miss this um I don't know that the Wiz did an NPR Tiny Desk.

[31:43] Heather Bedor: Oh yeah, who watched that NPR Tiny Desk? I loved it. Now explain to people who might not know what the Tiny Desk concerts are.

[31:43] Amber Brzezinski: So the Tiny Desk concerts are um a little I guess thing that is brought to you by NPR where they bring a little concert into their office. They have a band, they have it's usually a partial band, um they have microphones, singers, performers, and they do a like a miniature version of the show in their little office, so it's like a cubicle, like an open cubicle.

[31:43] Heather Bedor: Yeah, it's amazing. It's unbelievably cool. And so they usually come on and do like four or five songs. Um, and the Wiz just recently went on and did their uh Tiny Desk concert and it was incredible. Um, I enjoyed it so much I watched it and it uh oh fly up Sunday morning and spend money.

[33:20] Amber Brzezinski: I see that, Christopher. Um, but it's just a fun way to get I again another free way to see content from shows that you love.

[33:36] Heather Bedor: Yep, that's absolutely right. And that's just one thing I love about the Broadway community is that they're always trying to make these shows accessible in one way or another to the fans.

[33:50] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, and talking about accessibility, Heather and I are gonna do something cool this weekend, aren't we?

[33:57] Heather Bedor: We are, we are, we are going to have our own watch party.

[34:02] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, hold on. There's a big boom coming.

[34:06] Heather Bedor: Nope, lots of lightning.

[34:08] Amber Brzezinski: Um, nope, there it is. Okay. Um, it's like an emphasis. It's great. It's my own special effects. We're gonna have our own watch party between her and I of Bonnie and Clyde.

[34:19] Heather Bedor: Uh, the person of Bonnie and Clyde from the West End. So we're super pumped for that.

[34:25] Amber Brzezinski: Um, making it accessible. We'll also make sure to post the link so you guys can access that as well.

[34:32] Heather Bedor: Um, I believe it's like 15 bucks, no commercials, and you have 72 hours to watch it for like $10 and get you quite commercials, and it's all theater-related stuff.

[34:43] Amber Brzezinski: And it's like one or two, so I think that's fine.

[34:46] Heather Bedor: But I'm excited. We'll let you guys know what we think next week.

[34:51] Amber Brzezinski: I missed the chance to see that show on Broadway, but a podcast that I listened to actually exposed me to the soundtrack.

[35:00] Heather Bedor: Oh, yeah, fantastic order. From the cast album, it's so good.

[35:03] Amber Brzezinski: Yep.

[35:06] Heather Bedor: Oh, yeah.

[35:07] Amber Brzezinski: So I can't wait to see it.

[35:10] Heather Bedor: Yes, we'll still see it. There is absolutely nothing about it. I pay for Broadway HD.

[35:16] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[35:16] Heather Bedor: Which is like five bucks a month. And it's totally worth it. Everyone's like, oh, there's not a lot of new stuff in there. I'm like, there's plenty on there.

[35:25] Amber Brzezinski: And you can just did you see.

[35:28] Heather Bedor: I did not, Chris. I would have loved to.

[35:31] Amber Brzezinski: Um hold on. Let me pop that guy up there.

[35:35] Heather Bedor: I would have loved to. Uh, but I'm excited to see this version.

[35:39] Amber Brzezinski: Um, very much because I always love a story of Bonnie and Clyde.

[35:44] Heather Bedor: All right. What is next on the agenda, Miss Buzz Driver?

[35:48] Amber Brzezinski: Well, actually, speaking of accessibility, that brings us to our next topic, which is accessibility in the theater.

[35:56] Heather Bedor: All right. I love it. Um, so are any of you guys familiar with the accessibility options that they have at the theater? Because they do offer lots of options.

[36:07] Amber Brzezinski: We talked about it a couple of episodes ago, too.

[36:11] Heather Bedor: Which is great. But we always want to bring this back up. We notice within our groups, people do tend to generally tend to ask the same kind of questions, which is fine. That's what we're here for.

[36:22] Amber Brzezinski: So yeah, let's kind of start it off, Heather.

[36:26] Heather Bedor: So um, some options that they offer are specific seating. They have wheelchair accessible seating and um, a company for guest seating, so you can have uh your wheelchair um sit next to the person who is assisting you.

[36:46] Amber Brzezinski: Um, they also offer captioning devices at the theater.

[36:51] Heather Bedor: Now there's two different actually, there's three different ways of captioning depending on the show.

[36:57] Amber Brzezinski: Um, there's audio where you can have earbuds in. It's quite loud. I actually sat behind a woman who had it at Moulin Rouge.

[37:04] Heather Bedor: And it's literally the whole show just in your ear instead.

[37:10] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, oh yeah, exactly. And then there's the visual one, which you can read the show, correct?

[37:19] Heather Bedor: Yes, it's a caption device. So it uh, it's basically like subtitles on your TV, right?

[37:27] Amber Brzezinski: And then there's the um audio description, which when I get my voice back, I'm gonna start training and doing local theater. Here I have several friends that do it, where you're actually having somebody that's in you have an earpiece, and they're actually describing everything to you.

[37:45] Heather Bedor: So, you know, character A crosses to stage right and picks up a glass of water, right? It's very, it's really cool.

[37:56] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and a lot of these theaters are doing um like what was the terminology? I know we're getting into it, but there's different terminology for like autism friendly shows.

[38:08] Heather Bedor: Um, yeah, that was the next thing we were gonna talk about, which is brought by TDF, and they actually just announced it's almost like they knew we wanted to talk about it because they announced their 2024 2025 season yesterday.

[38:42] Heather Bedor: Always, always. They do a lot of ASL with The Lion King as well.

[38:47] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[38:54] Heather Bedor: MJ and Juliet and Hamilton. So it's really stacked this year for the autism friendly performances. It's really cool. Now I'm gonna try to remember off the top of my head, and I know you've got the whole list. So for an autism friendly performance, um, the lights are brighter in house, so it's not as dark. Um you can have your devices available if need be. Um it's also more comfortable for people that they're not having to explain it. The theater is actually doing that for like people who are not on the spectrum or who are not attending it specifically for the autism friendly performance. Um there's a whole write up of like this is an autism friendly performance, is what it is. The decibels of sound are different. Is that correct?

[39:41] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. Yes. Um, what am I missing? I know I'm missing a few.

[39:44] Heather Bedor: I think you just covered it all. Um the sound doesn't exceed the 90 decibels. The lights are dim to half instead of a full blackout. Um, so in the audience where it streams onto the audience, it's only a half blackout. And then the strobes and the flashes are all removed.

[40:07] Amber Brzezinski: That's right. I know here a lot of local theaters here actually encourage people to like wear their pajamas to the show. I think it's really cool. And then, like you were saying, they are sometimes offered like educational material or different like sources that they can kind of review beforehand to give them an idea of the plot and characters to just kind of help them learn in advance. So this way they have a better understanding when they go to the show and have a better overall experience. I think it's so cool that TDF is doing that. Um, I know there's more information on TDF.org.

[40:49] Heather Bedor: Um I like when theater is accessible to so many people. Like me personally, I suffer from PTSD, um, which we've kind of talked about a little bit. Um, so there are some times where there's shows that um I get a little anxious at. Um, and it's okay. I'm putting myself into the theater to be in it. Um, but even and this is something I'm gonna bring up because I don't think we've talked about this before. Um, the lines, and do not take advantage of this because they're giving you this information, but truly, the lines waiting to get into the theaters, you always want to get there early, that's clear. Um, some people I know like to come super late because they can't wait on a line. Me personally, um, I have seen some weird shit happen online.

I have seen somebody like block a woman in an ECV, just bad stuff, and it gets cramped because you're waiting on a New York City sidewalk. Some theaters, for example, are fans at Waterfall Fence at the Imperial, they have a like a construction site, but you're waiting off to the side and you're on the sidewalk, but there's also limited walking for other people, but they're kind of stanchioned off.

[42:11] Amber Brzezinski: Security does the best they can, but if you are somebody like me that has really bad anxiety, you can't stand and wait on the line for a limitation of some sort, or say you're in a wheelchair and it's uncomfortable because you know, people are pushing into you or being rude. You can go to the front where the security guards are, where the uh metal detectors and they're doing bag checks. You can go right up to the stanchions in front of the theater and ask security for an accessible entrance.

[42:48] Heather Bedor: 99.9% of the time, it's right there, or they'll have you walk two feet to your right. They will open the stanchion up for you, and then you can go in. Now it is not for your whole party. So if you go to the theater on your own, you're fine. Or if you have people that are waiting, you might be able to get one guest, but you are able to go in, get yourself acclimated, get a drink, go to the bathroom, get your merch, get to your seat, and be okay. I've used that a couple of times because some people are just crazy. Um, and sometimes the lines are insane, and I just have a little bit too much anxiety.

[43:32] Amber Brzezinski: Um also utilizing accessibility in the theater, and Heather, definitely feel free to add on to this too. There are accessible restrooms in every theater. That does not mean again, I'm never gonna tell somebody what they can and can't do, but don't be that dick and go, oh, I don't feel like walking down, or I don't want to wait online. If you need the assistance, there is an accessible bathroom. It is one stall. Nine times out of ten, there's a line. It's a lot of older people with your caregivers. That accessible stall is also available for somebody who is trans that they might not feel comfortable utilizing a men's or women's group.

[44:24] Heather Bedor: These theaters are doing as much as they can. If you were delayed getting back into the show, um, for example, Moulin Rouge, they actually have a large video screen, probably about an 80-inch. That if you're standing in that line, you can watch the show from there. And if you're delayed going back in, they will escort you back to your seat. So it's pretty cool.

[44:49] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, hi, Cheyenne. Uh, you late. I hope you're feeling slightly better.

[44:54] Heather Bedor: Thank you, Cheyenne. Um, that's okay. I called this episode our white rabbit episode because we're late for a very important date. So you're totally fine. I feel fine. I just sound like this.

[45:11] Amber Brzezinski: I guess I'm gonna stop rambling about accessibility. Heather, please, you I'm gonna, I'm just gonna sit and let you drive and I'm gonna let the rains go a little bit.

[45:23] Heather Bedor: Let's see, what else is on our list tonight? Um, we kind of touched on it, but I just wanted to re-mention that last week was the first week of the performances of Broadway in the park, and we did go ahead and share as much as we could in the Broadway fan club and in the appropriate group. So if you missed it and you were trying to see those performances, definitely look back in those groups.

[45:54] Amber Brzezinski: Um, because you can see performances from Tommy, Water for Elephants, Hell's Kitchen, Um The Wiz. I want to say that's who performed all last week.

[46:07] Heather Bedor: And I posted them all, like I said, in the Broadway fan club. So you can go back, uh, just scroll back a little bit, and you should be able to find those performances. They were amazing. And if you're attending those performances, do not hesitate to put them up in the group.

[46:22] Amber Brzezinski: We'd love it. You can even live stream if you want. Please be our guest.

[46:26] Heather Bedor: Absolutely.

[46:30] Amber Brzezinski: Christopher said, I was so happy to see that. I think it's the shoe bear theaters that are labeling the restrooms as use whichever one you feel comfortable in based on your gender identity.

[46:42] Heather Bedor: Yes, I am very happy to see that whenever I see that in features as well.

[46:49] Amber Brzezinski: I posted that up about 30 seconds ago.

[46:51] Heather Bedor: You must have the full screen up.

[46:53] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, I must have, yeah.

[46:56] Heather Bedor: Yeah, I agree a hundred percent.

[46:59] Amber Brzezinski: Definitely.

[47:01] Heather Bedor: Um the next thing on our list.

[47:08] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, this one is a very interesting.

[47:12] Heather Bedor: I like when you I like when you get excited and like, oh, like surprised by your own list.

[47:20] Amber Brzezinski: It's by my own list. It's my favorite thing.

[47:23] Heather Bedor: You're like, oh wait, oh yeah. Ooh.

[47:27] Amber Brzezinski: Ooh, I did a good thing.

[47:29] Heather Bedor: Yes. This one is a little exciting, but it's also it has a little bit of a um, you know, unfortunate a note behind it as well.

[47:40] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[47:41] Heather Bedor: Um be stepping into the role of Myrtle in the Great Gatsby. She started on Monday. And the reason for that is because she is covering for original Broadway member, Sarah Chase, who um was is on a leave of absence through the summer uh because she was diagnosed with cancer.

[48:04] Amber Brzezinski: So she is unfortunately taking some time off, which is completely understandable. When I saw Gatsby, Sarah had started the first half, and then after intermission, she had her swing come in.

[48:18] Heather Bedor: And it's hard, but good for her for taking her time to be able to test.

[48:24] Amber Brzezinski: Absolutely. Um, we've had several members who have reached out to us on our great Gatsby group of how to reach the computer to send their well wishes, um, and a few people who want to kind of organize that. If you guys have any interest in doing that, whether it's sending a get well card or signing a digital card, please don't hesitate to reach out.

[48:46] Heather Bedor: You can find all of our groups on the Broadway FanClub.com. Scroll to the Great Gatsby.

[48:52] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, exactly. We would love um, you know, for you to reach out to us, and then we can help direct you to the correct spot to get that information there for Sarah.

[49:06] Heather Bedor: I think we only have a couple more topics left.

[49:14] Amber Brzezinski: This isn't our usual topic, but I just wanted to bring it up because it is on my to see list.

[49:22] Heather Bedor: Uh-oh.

[49:25] Amber Brzezinski: Oh Mary opened at the Lyceum Theater last week. So congratulations to them.

[49:32] Heather Bedor: And I'm not usually a big play person, but I feel like I need to see this show.

[49:37] Amber Brzezinski: Well, Cola Scola is getting a lot of attention for Vez.

[49:42] Heather Bedor: And they are non-binary people.

[49:45] Amber Brzezinski: And I think Chris actually brought this up last week. Like, is it too early to say like best actor, best performer?

[49:52] Heather Bedor: Um, very interesting.

[49:54] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, it's not our usual stick.

[49:56] Heather Bedor: We're usually not play people.

[49:58] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but Heather, I was thinking maybe we do start an Omary group.

[50:05] Heather Bedor: Oh, okay.

[50:06] Amber Brzezinski: I'm thinking that might be a good idea.

[50:09] Heather Bedor: I think that might be our next one.

[50:10] Amber Brzezinski: So we'll be at 51 groups.

[50:13] Heather Bedor: 51, yes.

[50:15] Amber Brzezinski: But yeah, I'm really excited. I'm gonna try to get into it.

[50:18] Heather Bedor: Um, and I I'm sure Amber can tell you about the plot of the story.

[50:23] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, it is about Mary Todd Lincoln and the weeks prior to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and it is her dealing with how she is apparent. This is just from what I've read, I have not seen the show. It is just her trying to figure out how to get through life as a cabaret singer functioning alcoholic.

[50:55] Heather Bedor: So that's really what I've been able to gather comedy that's the best way of putting it a dark comedy I'm gonna pull up the exact description online um I am working on double things oh wait oh hold on stream yard might be back up hooray because my phone is on fire uh let's see am I gonna have Heather and Heather too screen yay all right standby and then I oh oh oh echo echo echo