This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:17] Amber Brzezinski: Well, Instagram always makes me so nervous. Did I tell you this?

[0:21] Heather Bedor: No.

[0:22] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. So before we ever get started, I have to go into Instagram, obviously to Tommy Bracco's Instagram page.

[0:30] Heather Bedor: Right.

[0:31] Amber Brzezinski: As one does.

[0:33] Heather Bedor: As one does.

[0:34] Amber Brzezinski: But like, okay, so with StreamYard, you have to copy like a streaming thing from Instagram and put the key into StreamYard. But then you have to go back to Instagram and you wait on the screen as it's doing our little elevator music countdown. And then like two seconds before we actually go live through StreamYard on Facebook and whatever. But it never like automatically like opens up and saying I'm like, come on, come on.

[1:06] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[1:07] Amber Brzezinski: That is super annoying.

[1:09] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[1:10] Amber Brzezinski: Hello. Happy, happy Monday.

[1:13] Heather Bedor: It's a Monday, and we're doing our show on a Monday.

[1:15] Amber Brzezinski: What? Happy Monday.

[1:17] Heather Bedor: Happy Monday.

[1:18] Amber Brzezinski: Well, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, whatever sex, shape, size, color, origin, I don't know, Hogwarts house, Pokémon team. I don't care. Happy freaking Monday. It is the Monday before the Tonys.

[1:35] Heather Bedor: And what?

[1:38] Amber Brzezinski: And what?

[1:39] Heather Bedor: And what?

[1:44] Amber Brzezinski: Happy freaking Pride.

[1:46] Heather Bedor: Oh, jeez.

[1:48] Amber Brzezinski: I was like, there's so many things. And the audience transforms. And the Drama Desk Awards and more Soda Scout stuff. And Patti Freaking LuPone. Like, I'm like, and what? You know, it's Pride Month.

[2:02] Heather Bedor: It is like a very amazing month.

[2:06] Amber Brzezinski: Yes. And I'm gonna get all the Pride playbills I can.

[2:09] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[2:10] Amber Brzezinski: So, like, first off, my favorite time of year because the playbills go rainbow, which is like love to see it.

[2:18] Heather Bedor: Love a rainbow playbill.

[2:20] Amber Brzezinski: Um, love when the playbills go off the chart anyway, in any way, shape, or form. Did you see our little friends on the Kit Kat Club complain that the cabaret I should have been rainbow?

[2:37] Heather Bedor: No, but I agree.

[2:41] Amber Brzezinski: I agree. The more rainbows, the better.

[2:43] Heather Bedor: Okay, but like, as I like get like this up close, trying to grab my box of playbills. Um, I uh, I don't know how I feel about that. I have a Pride playbill from Eddie's Run. Um, I don't know where my Pride playbill is right now, but you know what I just came across. Don't judge me. This sits next to me at all times. Do you see this?

[3:05] Amber Brzezinski: But do you see where it's from?

[3:10] Heather Bedor: It's very cute. It's French. This is a French version of Avenue Q.

[3:15] Amber Brzezinski: We yes, Avenue Q in Paris.

[3:19] Heather Bedor: We, we showing off my job. Well, welcome everybody to the Broadway Fan Club podcast. Uh, your one-stop shop.

[3:27] Amber Brzezinski: Like, rap. You're like, welcome.

[3:32] Heather Bedor: I was like, oh, we're like, I mean, I have been okay. My lighting is all crazy. I have been watching a lot of Glee. Like I've been binge-watching Glee again. Um, probably because of Darren's, since it's been like, you know, a hot minute. Um, but why also my not? Um, so but um, yeah, they're doing like their stomp episode right now at the end of season four, and I'm like, oh, but it's like all the babies like baby Lea Michele, baby Darren, baby Johnny Cross.

[4:06] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[4:07] Heather Bedor: Absolutely. I've been enjoying it. Um, I'm texting Casey. Um, as I was saying about Pride, I just want to try to, you know, enjoy your playbills, but also like take a peek in your community, see if your community is doing anything for Pride and like join them. Like, maybe they're doing like a drag queen like storybook hour, and maybe they're doing like a little Pride parade. Maybe that they're just doing like a little like seminar, like whatever they're a flag raising. I mean, I live in like the capital of Pride, like Orlando Pride goes all freaking out.

[4:49] Amber Brzezinski: Out, and I love it. I can't even talk about my city. We'll talk about it on a different pod. Uh, we had the flag raising last year. They decided to stop doing it. It's very confusing.

[5:01] Heather Bedor: Uh, boo.

[5:17] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, let's hope. Oh my god, are this little puppies?

[5:21] Heather Bedor: I have little puppies, yes.

[5:23] Amber Brzezinski: They're sleeping.

[5:25] Heather Bedor: Oh, wow, boo. Do you want to talk about the fur puppies? Or are you uh ready to just get into all of the drama literal drama that happens?

[5:33] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I mean, y'all, I have some puppies. I'll show them it before the end of the episode. I don't want to wake them up prematurely if they're sleeping right now. Um, but as you know, I'm a foster, so like when I get the call from the organization that I work with, and they say, like, can you do this? I'm usually like, I'll be there. So their names are really cute too. They gave me a call. They said, Can you come get these guys? They're so cute. That's Martha and Guillermo, um, whom I love. Guillermo is the tiny little one, and then Martha is the bigger one.

[6:12] Heather Bedor: Do we think that they named Guillermo after Kieran from What We Do in the Shadows?

[6:17] Amber Brzezinski: You know, I don't really know.

[6:20] Heather Bedor: Okay. Well, we can give them new Broadway names. If you're joining us right now, in the comments, let us know what names Amber should call the puppies, whether or not that's gonna happen. I was thinking like a Claire and Oliver kind of.

[6:33] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, freaking do it.

[6:37] Heather Bedor: Claire and Oliver, hashtag Fireflies, hashtag so cute. Like some little Claire and Oliver babies, because like done.

[6:47] Amber Brzezinski: That's adorable, right? Done. Done. Close that book. But if you have any other suggestions that beat Claire and Oliver, which I don't think you're gonna be able to do, throw them in the comments for sure. Try me.

[7:01] Heather Bedor: Oh, she's feisty. She's a feisty girl tonight.

[7:04] Amber Brzezinski: I am feisty. I love this time of year because every five seconds it's something else going crazy. Um, did you hear about the letter? Well, which we'll go into a little bit during our news section. The letter that originally was released to the public that is like, oh, it's 500 signatures, hit 6,000 signatures.

[7:26] Heather Bedor: I did not hear that.

[7:30] Amber Brzezinski: I heard that people are freaking jerks. Because I heard originally that it was like a Google Doc for people could go in and like sign it, and then people went in and were like putting like stupid things in there too.

[7:55] Heather Bedor: Well, that's what happens.

[7:57] Amber Brzezinski: It's hard. So do we want to get into like that? Like some people got a hold of it, not that like industry professionals were that like people got a hold of it and were putting like stupid like ridiculous things in mixed with it, and that people had to go through it.

[8:17] Heather Bedor: Right, like ridiculous things that needed to be pulled out, yeah.

[8:21] Amber Brzezinski: But that's just what I heard. Well, do you want to get directly into Broadway news? We could kick off the hour with our Patti LuPone niches, niche, nonsense issues.

[8:34] Heather Bedor: That's a new word, nissues.

[8:36] Amber Brzezinski: Um, we can talk about what's coming up on the Tonys, as we see in our comment section. The one and only Jeffrey Cohen said that they disclosed what shows be performing.

[8:45] Heather Bedor: Yes, they sure did. I have my thoughts. I am sure Amber has thoughts, and I am sure all of you guys out there also have your thoughts.

[8:52] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, but like my favorite, I'm gonna have to just say it now, and please, if you hate it, I'm sorry, Jonathan Groff performing both in Justin Time and in Hamilton. Done! Love it. He's just the best.

[9:06] Heather Bedor: Um, yeah. Give me a double scoop of that saliva.

[9:13] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, think what's the grossest thing that's ever come out of your mouth to me. Just ever. You know? I'm on a rare form.

[9:20] Heather Bedor: That was pretty gross, babe.

[9:23] Amber Brzezinski: Thank you. Thank you. Um, I one of our Justin Time members said the other day um that their partner that was sitting with them, quote, would have paid double because they didn't realize how close they were in the splash zone and they would have paid double for the tickets. I was like, people are freaks.

[9:41] Heather Bedor: No, no kink shaming.

[9:41] Amber Brzezinski: But also, like, I don't know.

[9:45] Heather Bedor: No what?

[9:47] Amber Brzezinski: I just want to put this out there. I did see a couple of photos, courtesy of Lea Michele's Instagram story. So thank you, Lea Michele. Um, I just really hope that Jonathan had a great time at Keoncé. He deserves it. And I know he got his life. And I just hope he had a great time.

[10:11] Heather Bedor: Uh-huh.

[10:12] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm. That's what I'm saying. That's all I have to say about that. I just hope he had a good time. I just want, I just want, I just want him to have a I just want a good thing for him.

[10:21] Heather Bedor: You know, that's very nice of you to do that. I mean, he did make everybody freaking cry during his Tonys acceptance speech last year. Um, speaking of people that make people cry, no, I'm just kidding. I was talking about enjoying and deserving to have a good time. Um, you know, you and I were talking about it. I think we wanted to maybe start a new smash group tonight, yeah.

[10:45] Amber Brzezinski: You know, I like I said, the member did reach out to me and said that they had a lot of posts that were pending. Previous information for those of you coming into the conversation, Amber and I had been asked by a member of ours to create a smash group like eight months ago. And um, then that person never did anything with it. So Amber and I are like, hey, we want to do this, and hey, we wanna do this, but like it's your group, like it's not ours. We're just kind of helping you facilitate it. And the person kind of like ghosted us, and we're like, hey, like there's a lot of people, people are asking questions. We wanna be able to do this. That's very the Broadway Fan Club-esque, but like your group, your thing, like we don't want you to feel like we're taking it over.

That person then blocked both Amber and I and removed us from the group. But we had a couple of members that have reached out asking if we have a group, and a specific member today reached out to Amber and said that they had a ton of posts pending. Um, and the reason I bring it up on air, not for any drama, but because um there is a new group or new um Broadway sessions. I can't even talk. New Broadway sessions that's going to be happening. Um, so there was supposed to be a Broadway sessions by our dear friend Ben Cameron, who's literally texting me. That's why I thought of it. Um, but he and it was supposed to be a real women have curves show. And because of the Tonys and everything, now Thursday, June 5th at 10 p.m., which is like a couple days from today, Ben's Broadway sessions is going to not only feature Smash, so performances from the cast of Smash, but also this the quote fabulous standbys from the Bo the Musical, um, which I cannot wait to find out more about.

Um, but there is a slew of people that are performing out of Smash. So if you guys want to check that out, hit us up. Um, you can purchase them at the Green Room 42. But please don't miss out because Ben hosts like I personally have been to the Broadway sessions. They are so freaking much fun because it's just hanging out, but it's like a talent show meets like exclusive performances, meets like like fun like talk show games, meets live music, meets just good personalities, good people.

[13:16] Heather Bedor: It's an intimate setting without feeling overwhelming, it's just so lovely.

[13:20] Heather Bedor: So um, and Ben did not pay us to say that. I just really do love Ben. Um, so if you can go check that out on Thursday, please go and do because that's fun. But also, guess who I talked to today, Amber?

[13:30] Amber Brzezinski: Um, yeah, no.

[13:43] Heather Bedor: Uh that would be, I would be like, oh my god. Also, I realize my shirt makes me look like a new Belupa today. It's totally great. Um, no, I talked to our dear friend Fran over at Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. Love us and Fran. Um Broadway Cares. We if we just adore Broadway cares so much. And Stan Fran. We're we are Fran stands. Um, but do you know where I'll be at the end of June?

[14:17] Amber Brzezinski: I'm assuming in New York.

[14:20] Heather Bedor: I'm gonna watch a bunch of really gorgeous and talented people bear it all for Broadway Bears. So I'm super freaking stoked. Yeah, it's gonna be incredible. Um this year, I want to say the official title. I'm gonna find it for y'all. Um, because it was stupid cute. It's so it's quote 200 of New York City's. I cannot read tonight at all. Yes, so it is come out, come out is the official title. It is a Wizard of Oz freaking themed Broadway Bears. Um, if you're not familiar, oh yeah, if you're not familiar with Broadway Bears, it's 200 of New York City is Miss Dazzling Dancers. It is a full out larger than life production. Um there's musical numbers, but y'all, they are just burlesque, gorgeous bodies.

I'm so freaking excited. Um, so I will be right there. Um tickets are still available through Broadway Cares. We'll post those pictures up on our page. But let's get into the nitty-gritty. Um, now that the fun stuff's out of the way, we're talking about gorgeous people getting very close to being naked. Um, and do we get artistically enough? I want to go back to the Smash thing. Um like I like we were saying, so I got a message, and this person was basically saying like they had all these pending posts, and they were wondering like what was going on with the group because they were like they thought we ran the group. We're like, that's like not like you guys, and I was like, I'm so sorry. Like, like we're actually like not affiliated with this group anymore.

Like, right? This is what happened. And they were like, Oh, like that's really unfortunate. Like, will you let me know like if you guys ever start a new one? Because like we're really like looking for like a community, like, and I was like, and they know that we run so many. I was like, Well, I guess I guess we're guess we're restarting smash. Bye. We also don't like to step on toes, however, I don't think it's stepping on toes if people are being left on red, essentially.

[16:31] Amber Brzezinski: I agree.

[16:32] Heather Bedor: If the group isn't being um like taken care of, I feel like people need an outlet. Yeah, yeah. No, I agree. So hopefully you guys are okay with that. But I think to kind of kick it off, too. Um, for the first 100 members that join by Friday, so what is that? The sixth standby.

[16:54] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I think so.

[16:56] Heather Bedor: Yeah, I just yeah, look at me. My concussion's getting better. I'm excited. Yeah, so for the first hundred people that join um by Friday, the sixth, um, you guys will all be entered into win a poster in spectacular form that was donated by one of our members um from opening, like the opening night with like the bombshell with the glitter. It is freaking gorgeous. Um and it'll be yours. So join us as long as we get to 100 by Friday. The first 100 members will get it. We will post the link um across the way and on our website, which I could throw up right now. Then we're gonna get to Minnet Gritty, but make sure you go to the broadwayfanclub.com uh to check out all of our groups, and we'll make sure we add that one as well.

[17:41] Amber Brzezinski: So moving right along, because we got a lot to cover, my friend.

[17:41] Heather Bedor: A lot.

[17:47] Amber Brzezinski: Move right along. Do we want to get into the Patty drama like deep deep into it now?

[17:52] Heather Bedor: I feel like we should just cover it.

[17:54] Amber Brzezinski: We should just get it over.

[17:55] Heather Bedor: Just go over it. Just talk about it. Just get it over with. Talk about it.

[18:00] Amber Brzezinski: Sounds fine.

[18:02] Heather Bedor: All right. So do you want me to kind of run by a little bit of what's been going on with dear old Patty LaPone?

[18:10] Amber Brzezinski: Well, we talked about it a little bit last week. So if people should remember, you know, we did talk about we did talk about the situation last week.

[18:20] Heather Bedor: Yeah, not as much as it's exploded. There was the initial conversation of Patty made some really not nice comments to Keisha Lewis and Audra McDonald. Um it has now turned into the numbers I read were over 6,000. I don't know which ones are the Bart Simpson-esque or not. But Tony winners, including James Monroe Eigelhart, freaking love him, Malaya Joy Moon, Wendell Pierce. Um, they have all attached themselves to a letter. Um, the letter, just so you guys know, goes to the American Theater Wing and the Broadway League, along with just the greater theater community in general. For those of you that do not know the American Theater Wing and the Broadway League are the ones who bring you the Tony Awards, these are the the producers of it. So I I can read a little bit of it. I don't want to read the whole thing. Are you good with that, Amber?

[19:21] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, don't read the whole thing.

[19:22] Heather Bedor: Okay. Well, no, I'm saying, are you good with me reading part of it? Um, I'll kind of cliff notes it for you. That shows my age right there. Um, so it starts open letter from the Broadway Theater Community on May 30th to the American Theater Wing, the Broadway League, and the Greater Theater Community. This is not a petition. It is an open letter, a collective call into our community. We write not to shame or isolate, but to speak with honesty, clarity, and care. This is a call for accountability, justice, and respect, rooted in love for the art form and for the people who make it possible. We believe our community can do better. We believe it must do better, especially when harm is done to those who have given so much to this industry.

So it goes into what we just discussed. Patty has made deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments about you know Audra McDonald to Keisha Lewis. Uh, the exact terminology that was uh phrasable, we'll put it is um she was called a bitch, and essentially there was some racialized disrespect amongst it, um, with a little bit of weight thrown about it. We'll just leave it there. I can post a link about the letter as well. But what they are looking to do, and the call to action that anybody that is signing this letter is asking for the call to action is to validate diversity, celebrating stories as diverse as the American people, champion creative expression, advocating for artists' rights to speak through their work, support growth and create connection, nurturing and respecting artists at every age stage of their careers, make excellence knowledge.

I can talk excellence known and inspire artistic greatness. So this is all essentially the values of the American theater wing, but they are trying to call them on for it now. The additions that they're asking to take immediate action, um, are kind of interesting. So individuals, quote, including Patty Lepone, who use their platform to publicly demean, harass, or disparage fellow artists, particularly with racial, gendered, or otherwise violent language, should not be welcomed at industry events, including the Tony Awards fundraisers and public programs.

[21:41] Amber Brzezinski: Now, let's touch on that for a moment.

[21:45] Heather Bedor: Being somebody who's in a lot of industry um events and whatnot, I can see where it makes some people very uncomfortable that you know Patty is somebody that they've been like really offended by, whether personally or or you know, in association with, and they're really upset. So, do they want to be a celebrating and they're like, oh my god, Patty LaPone is there? And they're gonna be concerned that Patty is gonna be like turn down the music or get off the red carpet. Like, what do you guys think? What do you think, Amber?

[22:15] Amber Brzezinski: It's a lot.

[22:22] Heather Bedor: It's a lot. I and that's just the first call to action. There's two. I think it's deeper than just Patty LaPone, to be honest.

[22:36] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[22:36] Heather Bedor: I think if you look and like go so hard on Patty when there are doing many men who do terrible things, um, and are still, you know, she is just the biggest target. She is exactly Broadway, Diva, Broadway, royalty. Um, and to people, and you know, am I a huge Patty LaPone fan? No, my uh do I like her? Yes. To me, this would be like if Kristen Chenoweth, you know, did this, which I can never imagine to happen. Um, but they are up there, like Adina and Kristen and Patty and Audra, like these ladies are up there and they have these huge targets on them because they're supposed to, you know before. But do I still think you should be a respectable human? Yeah.

[23:35] Amber Brzezinski: Well, now here's a here's something. Um Olivia, our dear dear girl Olivia states part of me is like, did she apologize because of a letter she saw, or is she sincere? Olivia, um, the nicest way of putting this is that it has come to the attention that it was done via her press team and public relations team. So I mean it was of course it is. It was in response to a letter. But at that point, like Patty LaPone is damned if she does, or damned if she doesn't. Like she is damned if she does release a response. She is damned if she does not release a response.

[24:14] Heather Bedor: Yeah. The only person who she truly owes responses apologies to are um Audra McDonald and Kesha Lewis. Those are the only two people that she owes genuine verbatim words out of Patty Lupone's mouth. Like at that point, do you even want to hear it? Because you know, sometimes you get to a point where you're like, I don't even fucking care. I don't. I don't care. I don't even want to hear it. I feel it's disingenuous, like what Olivia says. Is it is it real or is it not real? You know, there's a certain level of respect. Let's move on to the second call to action.

[24:57] Amber Brzezinski: Um, participation, recognition, and attendance in high profile events must be contingent in conduct that conduct that reflects community values. This includes completion of comprehensive anti-bias or restorative justice programs.

[25:13] Heather Bedor: So pretty much rehabilitation into the community before re-entry into public facing spaces. And theater institutions must adopt and enforce clear, transparent policies for addressing harmful behavior, regardless of an individual's fame or tenure in the industry.

[25:30] Amber Brzezinski: That went a hundred percent. I don't care who you are.

[25:33] Heather Bedor: Well, I'm getting angry. I don't, I don't care who you are. You are part of the community. First and foremost, do it to not be a dick. Sorry to call Patty LaPone or anybody else a dick, but really like do it because you want to be a good person in your industry and support your community. Don't do it because you know it's I don't know. I don't know how to wait for this to bubble to the top. I don't know how to like ask people to like be a good person. Like, I just don't know how to do that.

[26:06] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, that's a great way of putting it.

[26:08] Heather Bedor: I don't know how to ask somebody to be a good person for sure.

[26:13] Amber Brzezinski: It's stupid.

[26:14] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[26:17] Amber Brzezinski: All right, let's keep—there's almost—there's a couple more.

[26:21] Heather Bedor: Um, I what I really appreciated that they put in here. Our industry is under threat, the arts are being defunded, theater programs are disappearing, and artists are being pushed to the margins. We need each other now more than ever. We need community, we need leadership, and we need accountability. To the Cashes and Audras of our past, present, and future, you are the soul of this community. We honor your brilliance, your resilience, and your impact. You deserve more of an applause. You deserve protection, you deserve respect. To the leaders of our industry, a belief in justice, equity, and inclusion must mean something, not just in statements, not just in programming, but in how we act when those values are tested. Accountability is not an attack, it is an act of care.

[27:09] Amber Brzezinski: I agree.

[27:13] Heather Bedor: Hold yourself accountable. We are calling for action not to punish, but to protect, not to divide, but to strengthen. Stronger, healthier, more equitable Broadway is possible. One where all artists are treated with dignity, safety, and respect.

[27:29] Amber Brzezinski: Now, is it ever gonna be to the point where people are gonna be like, oh hey, I'm a nice person, and then just act like a dick? Or are we finding a point where—I don't think it's ever gonna be the point where everybody is in one harmonious glow.

[27:45] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[27:46] Amber Brzezinski: So unfortunately, I'm gonna pull up the list to see how many people—just if you guys ever open up the—like sign the letter. It says since LuPone has issued a statement of apology, we will be closing collecting names for the letter.

[28:03] Heather Bedor: Okay, so officially Broadway individuals for the Broadway community, list of 700 just Broadway community. So you have performers, lighting designers, casting directors, stage managers, dressers, engineers, video designers, actors. And then they actually have the email for Theater for Change, and you can read through all of it out there and see who signed up. So, um, yeah, I think that it just—I think we should always be holding each other accountable.

[28:32] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but in what aspect you have to kind of question it. Is Patti being ultra-targeted because it's Patti freaking LuPone?

[28:41] Heather Bedor: I think so. Did she make—and I'm not dismissing it—I I'm not gonna win people over either way. I think what she did was really inappropriate and uncalled for, and she should be held to the highest level of accountability.

[28:55] Amber Brzezinski: But has this been happening with other people all the time?

[29:00] Heather Bedor: Absolutely. Why is it coming to light in the community right now? Because it's Patti LuPone. You would think after 30 plus years in the industry, she would know not to do this.

[29:14] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, and I—and like you said, um, you know, it's not that like it's that she's under more scrutiny because she's Patti LuPone. I think she should be held to a higher standard because Patti LuPone.

[29:30] Heather Bedor: I agree. Set the example for everybody else.

[29:33] Amber Brzezinski: Set the example.

[29:34] Heather Bedor: Yeah, lead, lead, lead by example, lead by example, exactly. If I always said, like, so you know when they say like a smile is contagious?

[29:44] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[29:44] Heather Bedor: Like absolutely if somebody's having the worst day, and this is just good food for thought for everybody out there. If you're in a bad mood, smile. It literally triggers your brain to put you in a better mood. But if you can—if you just smile, like I used to work at Disney a long time ago, and I just got off a Disney cruise this morning, um, where I was very stressed out because of my mom, which is fine, not to call my mom out. But you know, I could see myself stressed out, but there were parents with screaming children and couples fighting. But at Disney, they had the 5'10 rule, or the 10-5 rule, whatever they called it. If you're within 10 feet of somebody, you acknowledge them with a wave or a smile, something like you're close enough. And then if you're within five feet, you say hello, hi, how's your day going? Just giving a little bit of interaction for people is really nice.

[30:36] Amber Brzezinski: I think that needs a 10-5 rule of just like, hey, here's this thing. You're a good actor, you're known for this, you're known for this. Don't be a dick. Just no, plain and simple.

[30:51] Heather Bedor: Chris Levy, why did you tell me you were on a cruise? I would have never run up your Wi-Fi in time.

[30:57] Amber Brzezinski: Chris, I had asked you all about the cruises, and I told you, I thought I did, and you didn't run up my Wi-Fi.

[31:02] Heather Bedor: I was paying through your ATT.

[31:07] Amber Brzezinski: So, but yeah, um, last minute, like literally, my mom and I booked Wednesday. We left Friday out of Fort Lauderdale, we came back. So, but yeah, um, just lead by example. And you know, if you feel like it's unfair to you, and I'm not talking about the Patti LuPone throw, I'm talking about anybody. If you feel like that's too much pressure, then like kind of self-reflect because you shouldn't have to work hard to be a good person. It should naturally happen.

[31:31] Heather Bedor: All right. What do we want to move on to? There's a couple of fun things to talk about. Some awards, some weird stuff.

[31:40] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, hold on, I'm gonna read Olivia's comment because she's there.

[31:44] Heather Bedor: To me, oh come on. To me, someone like her, quote Patti, should be held more accountable. She is someone people look up to and needs to be a role model. I get there, they are human. We all have our bad days, but never an excuse to be rude.

[31:58] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[31:58] Heather Bedor: I just think it's don't be a dick. Sorry, Patti. But don't be a dick. Plain and simple.

[32:05] Amber Brzezinski: All right. What are we moving on to?

[32:08] Heather Bedor: You're driving this bus tonight.

[32:10] Amber Brzezinski: I mean, uh, should we talk about the Drama Desk Awards?

[32:14] Heather Bedor: I have the whole list pulled up. Is that what you want to do?

[32:16] Amber Brzezinski: Sure.

[32:17] Heather Bedor: We can talk about it.

[32:19] Amber Brzezinski: So, um, what would you want to talk about?

[32:22] Heather Bedor: Let's talk about it.

[32:23] Amber Brzezinski: Drama Desk.

[32:24] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[32:25] Amber Brzezinski: So the 69th annual, hey, uh, was just hosted by Debra Messing and Titus Burgess.

[32:33] Heather Bedor: Love.

[32:34] Amber Brzezinski: Um.

[32:35] Heather Bedor: Love.

[32:36] Amber Brzezinski: Um, pretty much a predecessor to the Tonys.

[32:41] Heather Bedor: Um, it's really fascinating.

[32:44] Amber Brzezinski: And really fascinating because they have gender-neutral performance categories.

[32:49] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[32:50] Amber Brzezinski: I'm looking at dates of stuff.

[32:51] Heather Bedor: Gender-neutral categories.

[32:53] Amber Brzezinski: They have the best like.

[32:56] Heather Bedor: Yep.

[32:58] Amber Brzezinski: They have like more like part, like if you have a good scene partner, like Megan Hilty and Jennifer Smart.

[33:03] Heather Bedor: Um, but their season ends a little bit differently.

[33:07] Amber Brzezinski: So the season is determined. It ended as of April 27th.

[33:12] Heather Bedor: And this for this year, and productions must run for 21 or more live performances to even be considered eligible. Meaning, like last year, Cabaret wasn't—I don't think Cabaret was eligible because they opened like four days before the Tony Awards.

[33:26] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[33:27] Heather Bedor: Or before the cutoff. So really interesting.

[33:30] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[33:31] Heather Bedor: Um, but is it kind of like a—you know, hey, this is who was it? We think's gonna win the Tonys too. Sometimes is it all the time?

[33:43] Amber Brzezinski: No.

[33:43] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[33:44] Amber Brzezinski: So let's go over for outstanding the award winners um for outstanding play.

[33:50] Heather Bedor: Um, or I'll just go over the list of who was there. Blood of the Lamb, Deep Blue Sound, Grangeville, Your Favorite, John Proctor is a Villain, Liberation and Purpose and Purpose One.

[34:02] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so that's—and I think Fletcher Rashad is uh producing it or directing it for Outstanding Musical.

[34:09] Heather Bedor: It was between Boop, Death Becomes Her, Justin Time, Maybe Happy Ending, and Music City, which I've never heard of.

[34:19] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but Maybe Happy Ending took that one.

[34:22] Heather Bedor: Outstanding, of course, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Eureka Day, Garside's Career, Home, Wine in the Wilderness, and Yellow Face, and Eureka Day took the best revival.

[34:34] Amber Brzezinski: For Outstanding Revival of a Musical, I—which I have a feeling is gonna—well, it's between two for me for the Tonys.

[34:41] Heather Bedor: Wait.

[34:42] Amber Brzezinski: Um, well, uh, but it was between Cat's, Angelico Ball, Floyd Collins, Gypsy, Once Upon a Mattress, See What I Wanna See, and Sunset Boulevard, and Gypsy took that.

[34:55] Heather Bedor: Um, they also have a lot more people in the categories because, like when Amber said, it's gender neutral.

[35:01] Amber Brzezinski: So outstanding lead performance in a play.

[35:04] Heather Bedor: Um, as we are primarily play people, most of your—his names don't look familiar.

[35:10] Amber Brzezinski: But uh, Laura Donnelly of the Hills of California and Sarah Snick, the Picture of Dorian Gray were the winners of that.

[35:16] Heather Bedor: Outstanding lead performance in a musical.

[35:19] Amber Brzezinski: Uh, it went between Tatiana Cordova from Where Women Have Curves, Darren Chris, Maybe Happy Ending, Sutton Foster, Once Upon a Mattress, Tom Francis, your boy, the one and only Soda Scout from Sunset Boulevard.

[35:34] Heather Bedor: I love him so much.

[35:35] Amber Brzezinski: Jonathan Cropp, Justin Time, Gray Enson from Elf, Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins, Audra McDonald, Gypsy, Jasmine, Amy Rogers, Boop the Musical, Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard, Helen J. Shen from Maybe Happy Ending, and Jennifer Samard from Death Becomes Her.

[35:51] Heather Bedor: And the winners for the best or the outstanding lead performance in a musical were Audra McDonald from Gypsy and Jasmine Rogers from Boop.

[36:00] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding featured performance in a play.

[36:02] Heather Bedor: The winners went to Amalia Yu from John Proctor's Villain and Carrie Purpose.

[36:10] Amber Brzezinski: Um Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, which I think it was a bit surprising to some.

[36:28] Heather Bedor: How do you say his last name?

[36:29] Amber Brzezinski: Ashmanskis.

[36:31] Heather Bedor: Yeah, I believe so from Smash.

[36:34] Amber Brzezinski: Um, Nicholas Barash from Pirates of Penzance musical, Andre De Shields from Cat's Angelico Ball, John L. Jor from We Live in Cairo, uh, Jason Gaute from I'm So Tired, My Eyes Really Crossed, from Floyd Collins, Gracie Lawrence, Justin Time, Jack Malone, um, the standout, my god, um Dear Bill kills me every time from Operation Mince Meat, Leslie Margarita, our girl, Dipsy, Zachary Noah Piser from See What I Wanna See, Jenny Leith, Stern from Forbidden Broadway, who we had on our show.

[37:08] Heather Bedor: Michael Ure, love him, Once Upon a Mattress, and Natalie Walker, The Big Cay Jamboree, and the winners from that were Brooks Ashmanskis from Smash, Jack Malone from Operation Mince Meat, and Michael Ure from Once Upon a Mattress.

[37:23] Amber Brzezinski: Went to Andrew Scott from Vanya.

[37:26] Heather Bedor: I mean, hello.

[37:28] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding direction of a play went to John Proctor's Villain.

[37:31] Heather Bedor: So when they're a surprisingly over the Picture of Dorian Gray, but I could see where that goes.

[37:38] Amber Brzezinski: I don't think it's a surprise to anybody.

[37:40] Heather Bedor: Michael Arden from Maybe Happy Ending took that.

[37:44] Amber Brzezinski: Damn Fireflies.

[37:46] Heather Bedor: Right.

[37:46] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding—speaking of jam fireflies. We have now just created our AI bot in that um group and maybe a beginning group.

[37:55] Heather Bedor: And I named it Fireplot Firefly.

[37:58] Amber Brzezinski: And it's a robot firefly cartoon character. So it's really fun.

[38:02] Heather Bedor: Remind me to talk to you about AI after the show.

[38:05] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, okay.

[38:06] Heather Bedor: Well, it's a Facebook AI, so I'm not terribly worried about it.

[38:12] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but outstanding choreography went to exactly who I thought it would be, which would be Jerry Mitchell from Boop the Musical.

[38:19] Heather Bedor: They were against Gypsy, Pirates, Ain't Done Bad, Cats, which, you know, pretty intelligent, and Real Women Have Curves.

[38:26] Amber Brzezinski: Um, Outstanding Musical, uh, you shocker, Will Aronson and Hugh Park from Maybe Happy Ending.

[38:33] Heather Bedor: They were against David Foster for Boop, uh, Real Women Have Curves, The Lonely Few and We Live in Cairo.

[38:39] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding Lyrics, Maybe Happy Ending won over yes, Everybody.

[38:44] Heather Bedor: Outstanding Book of a Musical.

[38:46] Amber Brzezinski: Hmm.

[38:47] Heather Bedor: Maybe Happy Ending took that one too.

[38:49] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding Orchestrations, Justin Time.

[38:52] Heather Bedor: Andrew Besnik and Michael Thurber for Justin Time took the category for Outstanding Orchestrations.

[38:58] Amber Brzezinski: 100% agree.

[39:00] Heather Bedor: Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play, they got from Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which I cannot wait to see.

[39:07] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical went to Maybe Happy Ending because it includes video design, which is very much a part of the show.

[39:15] Heather Bedor: Outstanding costume design of a play went to *Our Town*.

[39:18] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical, *Boop the Musical*, which I already knew.

[39:23] Heather Bedor: There was no way. It went against *Death Becomes Her*, which we talked this whole thing out last week.

[39:29] Amber Brzezinski: Just in Time, uh, *Cats Dilkabal*, *Gypsy*, and the *Big A Jamboree*.

[39:34] Heather Bedor: Outstanding lighting design of a play went to *Stranger Things*.

[39:37] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding Lightning Design.

[39:38] Heather Bedor: Now I hear the babies.

[39:39] Amber Brzezinski: Uh-huh, I can hear them too.

[39:40] Heather Bedor: Outstanding lighting design of a musical.

[39:42] Amber Brzezinski: If you're just tuning in, she means the puppies, not real babies.

[39:46] Heather Bedor: Um, but outstanding lighting design of a musical. To me, it's surprising when to *Sunset Boulevard* because it's just that film noir, but I can see why it happened.

[39:56] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but it went up against Philip S. Rosenberg with *Boop the Musical*, which that act two opening scene that we showed on last week's show that the call for that stage management is insane.

[40:08] Heather Bedor: Outstanding sound design of a play went to *Stranger Things*.

[40:11] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding sound design of a musical went to *Just in Time*.

[40:15] Heather Bedor: Outstanding projection and video design, which is a newer category, went to *The Picture of Dorian Gray* because Sarah Snack goes through 92 different costume changes between videos and has full-blown conversations with herself on screen for on stage.

[40:29] Amber Brzezinski: Sorry, cool.

[40:30] Heather Bedor: Outstanding wig and hair, which I love that they do that.

[40:33] Amber Brzezinski: *Duck Becomes Her*.

[40:34] Heather Bedor: Why are we not surprised whatsoever?

[40:36] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding Puppetry, *Becoming Eve*.

[40:39] Heather Bedor: That's something you don't see at the Tonys.

[40:41] Amber Brzezinski: Outstanding Fight Choreography, shocking their *Pirates of Penzance* musical.

[40:47] Heather Bedor: Um, Outstanding Adaptation went to *Pirates*. Outstanding Review went to our friends over at *Forbidden Broadway: Marily*.

[40:54] Amber Brzezinski: We stole a song.

[40:55] Heather Bedor: And unique theatrical experience, which is probably my favorite Drama Desk category because it's something that I always strive for when I do a show. And what went to *The Picture of Dorian Gray*.

[41:06] Amber Brzezinski: Then they had special awards for ensemble. We had the Sam Nork and Off Broadway Award and then additional special awards.

[41:13] Heather Bedor: So it was pretty good for our friends in all of our shows. But like, yeah.

[41:17] Amber Brzezinski: So all right, moving right along. What do we want to talk about?

[41:20] Heather Bedor: I feel like since it is coming up, we should talk about where everyone is gonna be watching the Tonys.

[41:32] Amber Brzezinski: Um, well, um, I was very fortunate um that Chris Levy, dear friend to the show and to moi and Amber.

[41:43] Heather Bedor: Um, I am going over to Chris's house.

[41:46] Amber Brzezinski: Um, I'm going, you're gonna get very jealous when I say this next word.

[41:51] Heather Bedor: Hell I know.

[41:52] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, puppies are barking at the storm.

[41:56] Heather Bedor: They're crazy. But the one and only Michael Drole, our little lone Bach, um, is going to be my plus one.

[42:04] Amber Brzezinski: Um, yeah. So we're gonna go over um to Chris's house, and then um one of my best vieves, Brian, is also going. So it's gonna be me and a bunch of so cute boys just sitting and watching the Tonys and Chris is cooking and I'm making food and we're just gonna sit around and I'm gonna be in heaven and I'll probably like video chat you because are you watching them at home?

[42:27] Heather Bedor: Oh, I'm having a date for one. It's gonna be me, myself, and I'm going to every moment of it.

[42:34] Amber Brzezinski: Don't forget Claire and Oliver, cannot forget Claire and Oliver.

[42:37] Heather Bedor: Um yeah, I just like I read this online and I wanted to make sure that the people knew about this because I was like, oh, this is like an important like addendum to this like little like note so you can watch it on CBS and you can stream it on Paramount Plus, right?

[43:02] Amber Brzezinski: Which they always seem to change. You can only stream it on Paramount Plus if you have the subscription that includes Showtime.

[43:15] Heather Bedor: Yeah, yeah, it's a little bit.

[43:17] Amber Brzezinski: If you don't have that subscription, you can only watch it on demand on Paramount Plus, like after the fact, right?

[43:29] Heather Bedor: Which is so crazy. Um make sure you know that fact.

[43:35] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, because like I have Paramount Plus, but like I have the Showtime one, and I was like, I've been fucking pissed. Like I'd been pissed.

[43:44] Heather Bedor: I mean, yeah.

[43:47] Amber Brzezinski: I'd been real mad. Luckily, I don't have to worry about any of that. That happens all to Chris Levy.

[43:53] Heather Bedor: So hopefully he's still watching. The only reason I have it is for *Yellowjackets*.

[43:59] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. Fair. Fair enough.

[44:02] Heather Bedor: Um.

[44:04] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so the last couple of years, well, let's see. Last year I was at the American Express party at Lincoln Center, like at the park, um, hosted by Skylar Aston.

[44:15] Heather Bedor: And that was so much fun. Still one of my favorite things I've ever done. I even changed my profile picture um to get back to my when I wassed my Tony's my choose, choose the ride um necklace made from one of our members over at the Big Top for *Water Elephants*.

[44:32] Amber Brzezinski: And um, but the couple years before that, I've been going to the triad in the Upper West Side to Seth Rudetsky's party, which I saw Olivia's going to.

[44:42] Heather Bedor: Right.

[44:42] Amber Brzezinski: And um, yeah, like so very fun, very intimate, like we talked about last week. And I was trying to check. I think Seth is still offering the streaming option as well.

[44:54] Heather Bedor: Let me double check. Um, yes, there just still does have a live stream option.

[44:59] Amber Brzezinski: So, but that is live stream of Seth's party. Meaning, and I've sat there with Alan, love Alan, uh, the producer of that show, um, at the triad.

[45:12] Heather Bedor: And they are literally live streaming from smart devices and the Wi-Fi can go crazy. But you can watch the party of Seth, and then they will cut to the Tonys in between.

[45:26] Amber Brzezinski: So it's kind of like when you're watching the Super Bowl and you're not watching the game itself, you're just watching the commentary.

[45:32] Heather Bedor: Um, there will be some there, but it's not gonna be too much. But yeah, the 78th annual Tony Award ceremony.

[45:39] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and it's finally freak finally breaking back your Radio City Music Hall.

[45:43] Heather Bedor: Finally, and then yes, as we mentioned last week, *Good Night and Good Luck* is gonna air live on CNN the night before, live at 7 p.m., which is like a historic first, the first time a Broadway show has ever gone like live on public TV ever.

[46:03] Amber Brzezinski: So, like, yeah, tune in everybody because like the more people that tune in, the more people will see like this is a good idea, we need to do this more.

[46:14] Heather Bedor: Well, we used to have it. Do you remember when Fox did the live versions and NBC around the holidays?

[46:20] Amber Brzezinski: But that was like live made for TV Broadway show, right? Now, I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, you can also watch *Good Night and Good Luck* on CNN.com.

[46:31] Heather Bedor: I'm not sure. Let me check because I personally don't have CNN.

[46:37] Amber Brzezinski: All right, while I do this, what is our next topic?

[46:42] Heather Bedor: Um, our next topic.

[46:46] Amber Brzezinski: Um I actually kind of forgot what I was gonna say. I like had it and now I like lost it.

[46:52] Heather Bedor: We can talk about Ham4Ham.

[46:53] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah, so correct. So it is streaming live from the Winter Garden Theater, live Saturday, June 7th at 7 p.m. across CNN, CNN International, and streaming on CNN.com.

[47:05] Heather Bedor: This announcement marks a historic Broadway first. Never before has a live play ever been re uh what did they put?

[47:13] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, televised. I can't read right now. I have been up way too long without a nap.

[47:26] Heather Bedor: But what are you doing?

[47:32] Amber Brzezinski: Trying to remember. I lost her. I'm frozen.

[47:39] Heather Bedor: Too bad the TV's on in the back.

[47:43] Amber Brzezinski: Well, we can talk Ham4Ham.

[47:45] Heather Bedor: Oh, you know what we forgot to talk about? Which shows are performing at the Tony Awards.

[47:50] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, we didn't forget to talk about it. We used to have a lot to cover about the Tonys, but we can go into that.

[47:56] Heather Bedor: Um, while you pull up the list, I texted Chris to be like, hey, did you hear all of that of what you have to have?

[48:02] Amber Brzezinski: We make next. Making sure that you know it's like important.

[48:06] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[48:06] Amber Brzezinski: And his exact response. I love you, Chris. I know you're still listening.

[48:10] Heather Bedor: I think so. Been listening for a while as we had our dinner.

[48:13] Amber Brzezinski: So I feel like I was just a dinner with Chris and Ned.

[48:16] Heather Bedor: I love that.

[48:18] Amber Brzezinski: I do too. And then he goes, How about the mashed potatoes, Chris?

[48:23] Heather Bedor: But I do have Paramount Plus with Showtime for exactly this reason.

[48:27] Amber Brzezinski: Also for *Elspeth* and *Murder She Wrote*.

[48:30] Heather Bedor: So he on top of it. I don't need to worry about it.

[48:35] Amber Brzezinski: So yes, it's always really funny when I can uh just tune in, or my friends can tune in while they're eating dinner.

[48:45] Heather Bedor: It's bizarre, but it's the best.

[48:47] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, all right. I have the list.

[48:50] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[48:51] Amber Brzezinski: So this is the list of musicals performing at the Tonys.

[48:56] Heather Bedor: This the list.

[48:59] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. So as we discussed last week, there's going to be a reunion of sorts. A *Hamilton* reunion.

[49:09] Heather Bedor: It's not a reunion of sorts. It is the reunion.

[49:12] Amber Brzezinski: The reunion. It's gonna have like so many original company members. Ten years.

[49:20] Heather Bedor: Ten freaking years. Do you want to know what happened? What the first time I like read through all the original company members?

[49:23] Amber Brzezinski: What?

[49:28] Heather Bedor: I completely missed Fane's name in the list. And I was like, what? They're getting together. And Faye is not going to be a part. He has been with *Hamilton* since the beginning of time.

[49:41] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[49:52] Heather Bedor: And he's going to opt out of this experience.

[49:58] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[49:59] Heather Bedor: Yeah. But then I saw it. And all was right in the world.

[50:03] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[50:04] Heather Bedor: So yeah, that's gonna be so cool. I am very excited to see that.

[50:10] Amber Brzezinski: I just love our little thing. Love it.

[50:13] Heather Bedor: So, um, and you know, Jeffrey Cohen posted something, and I'm gonna kind of approach that. So let's go over the let's go over the list, um, and then we'll talk about the fact that *Boop* will not be performing.

[50:24] Amber Brzezinski: There's a couple of reasons, but why don't you go over the list of musicals performing at the Tonys?

[50:30] Heather Bedor: Alright. So we will get to see performances from the best musical nominees, *Wannabe's the Social Club*, *Dead Outlaw*, *Jess Becomes*, and I wonder who you maybe *Happy Ending* and *Operation Mince Meat*.

[50:51] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm.

[50:52] Heather Bedor: Plus, we will also get to see performances from the best revivals of musical *Floyd Collins*, *Gypsy*, *Pirates of Penzance*, and *Sunset Boulevard*.

[51:07] Amber Brzezinski: There will also be some bonus performances with some performances from *Just in Time*.

[51:14] Heather Bedor: And *Real Women Have Curves*.

[51:17] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm.

[51:18] Heather Bedor: And a special appearance from the 2019 Tony Honor recipient, Broadway Inspirational Voices.

[51:26] Amber Brzezinski: Which is incredible.

[51:28] Heather Bedor: Okay. And that's it. So to answer Jeffrey's question, I'm going to really cannot talk right now.

[51:36] Amber Brzezinski: So Jeffrey said, I posted it. No *Boop*. They did not want to pay. A bad sign.

[51:40] Heather Bedor: Okay. So a couple of things there. If you were in the best musical category, you are opted if you want to perform or not.

[51:53] Amber Brzezinski: The only musicals nominated for best musical this year, *Operation Mince Meat*, *Maybe Happy Ending*, *Death Becomes Her*, and *Dead Outlaw*, and *Wannabe's the Social Club*.

[52:03] Heather Bedor: So *Boop* is not part of that. They're not a revival.

[52:24] Heather Bedor: So you don't have to pay to put your show into the Tonys. The production itself, like the show, you don't have to pay for. You have to pay for the expenses that are required to make the performance happen on the broadcast. Meaning it's usually a new set that's being built, all rehearsal costs, all music costs, all union benefits, etc. Sometimes it's different costumes, the cost of rearranging the music for the certain amount of time allotted, which is usually quite expensive because you have to cut and splice material from different songs if you're doing a medley, and all the cost for the musicians for the pre-recording and simulcast and syndication, meaning the costs are astronomical. It could cost between $300,000 and $500,000 for one four-minute spot on the Tonys.

But the show doesn't have to pay the Tonys anything. The Tonys gets, um, reading what the Tonyist gets to do is that they then turn around and sell advertising using the shows specifically in their show as a means to get viewers in on their ads. So they're basically getting to produce a show where they don't have to pay for any of the performances.

[53:49] Amber Brzezinski: Does that make sense? So like you don't have to pay as a show, you just have to pay the stuff in the background, but you're only paying for that if you're invited to do it as best musical or for something special like the revival with Gypsy or something even more special like the tenure reunion of Hamilton, which is also why Ham for Ham has been coming back. So I don't think at all it has anything to do with them not wanting to pay. I don't think they were invited to perform, to be very frankly honest. Um, which is sad because I want everybody to see that show. We had a member, um, that I was so happy, like took my advice and actually reached out in one of our chats and was like, hey, because you told me I should go see the show.

I did, and I loved it. And I think her exact words stand by. Please stand by because it was so sweet. Uh please, everybody enjoy my singing. Um she said, uh, we saw Boop based on recommendation. It was the best. I smiled through the whole thing, and then she said I wasn't expecting much and smiled so much through the whole thing. My cheeks hurt. It's just, and you think about it. There's no villain of the show. It's self-reflection, it's a gross. Um time. Time is the villain, and I think that's just it in general.

[55:13] Heather Bedor: Yeah. All right. But yeah, so all right. What's next? We didn't talk Ham4Ham.

[55:17] Amber Brzezinski: I was gonna say, I have like two quick, quick. Oh, get it in left. Little news, get in the little news. Well, we have um couple of digital album releases coming this Friday.

[55:33] Heather Bedor: Oh yeah, uh Boop, Buenavista Social Club, and we'll we'll ribbon.

[55:43] Amber Brzezinski: Try it again. Real Women Have Curves, all digitally releasing their um albums this Friday. So make sure to uh pre-save, you know, do all that good stuff where you get your album, where you listen to music, do all that. So um, that will be very exciting.

[56:05] Heather Bedor: Yeah, um, make sure you save all that. And then uh this week we're having like a really cool week at Real Women Have Curves.

[56:14] Amber Brzezinski: They're doing a like fan week.

[56:19] Heather Bedor: Yeah, I mean John Proctor is a villain did it.

[56:22] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, John Proctor keeps doing like spirit weeks, but um I love it. But you know who started all of that was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, yeah. Tomorrow night, uh Cantina night, there'll be a giveaway from Siete and Bogo's curve-themed cocktails at Freedman's. Wednesday night is a night of joy, an exclusive post-show performance by Joy Huerta. Thursday is a night of 200 dresses, fashionable giveaway plus clothing drive in partnership with Bottomless. Bring clothes to donate at the theater to help. Love a good donation moment. Friday is the cast release night, so celebrate their album release of a post-show performance by Joy and a listening party. Saturday is a surprise gift, is a special thing for you to their audience, and same with Sunday. I love it. I love it.

[57:20] Heather Bedor: I'm gonna answer Jeffree's Jeffrey Cohen's question again. Why was Real Women Have Curves invited?

[57:26] Amber Brzezinski: Because if you're best original score nominee, you were also invited. Um, but because pretty much the best original score category is filled with the nominees for best musical outside of Real Women Have Curves. Um, that would be the only reason.

[57:46] Heather Bedor: So it's gonna be, let me tell you, it's gonna be a hell of a night. There's 11 shows performing live on the Tonys. Cynthia Erivo is hosting it. I know there are massive amounts of people saying if Tom Francis does it, walk in through the Tonys and this big thing, and I was like, I want to see Cynthia Erivo do that. Holding a soda.

[58:07] Amber Brzezinski: Do you know that people, okay? So listen, this is getting out of hand. This is getting out of hand. People are like, people need to play sodas like in the alley for the walk, like strategically play sodas. People all over the comments on any video on his post. People are like, is this Soda Scout? But did you notice his new sign on Soda Scout? And then he pops his mouth. And then anything that Soda Scout posts, they're like, is this Sunset Boulevard's Tom Francis? So like the people are, it's just like a, it is, it is just, uh one ball, one mission, let's crack it open.

[58:49] Heather Bedor: What you're saying is, oh Olivia, do you not know about Soda Scout?

[58:56] Amber Brzezinski: Olivia, Olivia, our dear friend. We talked about this last week, Olivia. I don't know, she's slack and slack another retention of knowledge. Uh but I wore a sandworm shirt because there is impending news.

[59:14] Heather Bedor: Oh yeah, go on. I know you've been dying.

[59:18] Amber Brzezinski: There was some Instagram movement.

[59:24] Heather Bedor: Do it again.

[59:24] Amber Brzezinski: Your eyebrows left your forehead.

[59:28] Heather Bedor: Instagram movement.

[59:30] Amber Brzezinski: There was.

[59:31] Heather Bedor: Which is rare when a show is just on tour.

[59:35] Amber Brzezinski: The rumors are circulating, so we shall see what happens.

[59:40] Heather Bedor: These are the rumors circulating.

[59:43] Amber Brzezinski: What were the rumors?

[59:47] Heather Bedor: I don't want to say them.

[59:48] Amber Brzezinski: What if we're wrong?

[59:50] Heather Bedor: They're not our rumors. We're just reciting information from Instagram.

[59:55] Amber Brzezinski: True. Um well if we're right.

[59:58] Heather Bedor: That Beetlejuice is making a return to Broadway, like a tour stop.

[1:00:04] Amber Brzezinski: Um, kind of similar to what Annie did at Madison Square Garden, but the tour stop will be at the Palace Theater in between Glengarry Glen Ross and Lost Boys.

[1:00:18] Heather Bedor: Um, yeah, which I'm totally okay with. Like go from real estate to spooky shit. Done. Totally done.

[1:00:25] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, that theater.

[1:00:27] Heather Bedor: Oh my god, can you imagine?

[1:00:29] Amber Brzezinski: Let's see, let's say they bring back, well, they can't bring back all the original cast.

[1:00:34] Heather Bedor: But the rumor is what is it Alex or is it just, well it's gonna have to be Alex.

[1:00:42] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, so we'll see.

[1:00:43] Heather Bedor: It would have to be, and then they could do it.

[1:00:46] Amber Brzezinski: Um in my head already, they could do it because Heather.

[1:00:48] Heather Bedor: And Teeth are Heathers too.

[1:00:51] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, so they could do it after Heathers is done and bring back most of the original cast, if not all of it.

[1:00:57] Heather Bedor: Yeah, Rob McClure better come back.

[1:01:00] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, let me some Robert.

[1:01:03] Heather Bedor: Because David, who replaced Rob, is touring as Doc Brown on Back to the Future.

[1:01:14] Amber Brzezinski: Which I am working on Thursday. Yay!

[1:01:17] Heather Bedor: Oh, and you've seen it, right?

[1:01:19] Amber Brzezinski: I have not.

[1:01:21] Heather Bedor: Oh, you're gonna go back in time.

[1:01:24] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, I am so excited. I love that show.

[1:01:26] Heather Bedor: Yes, hopefully, I get a cool job where I can see the show.

[1:01:30] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, oh, for sure.

[1:01:32] Heather Bedor: For sure.

[1:01:33] Amber Brzezinski: Um, yeah, no, okay.

[1:01:36] Heather Bedor: So if you're still tuning in and you're listening through our ramblings, we're so very excited because there's so much stuff happening.

[1:01:42] Amber Brzezinski: We didn't even go over the audience choice awards.

[1:01:44] Heather Bedor: Do we want to go over those really quick?

[1:01:47] Amber Brzezinski: If you want, sure.

[1:01:49] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[1:01:49] Amber Brzezinski: I'm good for whatever.

[1:01:50] Heather Bedor: I gotta eat dinner still, so there's no shame in not eating um for five more minutes.

[1:02:00] Amber Brzezinski: Stand by one minute, right?

[1:02:15] Heather Bedor: Can I tell you I'm gonna just be that girl? So I played trivia last night um on the ship.

[1:02:23] Amber Brzezinski: It was Disney Tunes trivia where they had a piano player played like the smallest snippet of a song.

[1:02:29] Heather Bedor: Why are you typing in my ear?

[1:02:31] Amber Brzezinski: Girl, Google it.

[1:02:33] Heather Bedor: Mute yourself.

[1:02:34] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna mute you.

[1:02:35] Heather Bedor: Goodbye.

[1:02:37] Amber Brzezinski: Uh but there was a piano player, and it was like the quickest snippet, and I was playing by myself. There's a girl playing by herself, and I was like, Do you want to pair up? Because like on Disney Cruise sides, you've been like a rubber medallion with a character. It's hysterical.

[1:02:53] Heather Bedor: Um read Chris's comment in a section.

[1:02:57] Amber Brzezinski: Seconds, I can't talk.

[1:02:59] Heather Bedor: Second.

[1:02:59] Amber Brzezinski: Anyway, so I pair up this girl, and we're like, oh, where are you from? I'm like, I'm from Orlando, where are you from? She's like, I'm from Lake Mary, which is 15 minutes from my house. I'm like, oh my god, amazing. And we're talking. She's like, What do you do? And I'm like, um, I host a podcast with my like best friends, and we run this company called the Broadway Fan Club. She's like, You're the Broadway Fan Club, and I was like, Yes.

[1:03:23] Heather Bedor: And then hold on, hold on.

[1:03:26] Amber Brzezinski: Get and make that you can you're off mute now. And I was like, Yes. And she goes, Okay, I'm a middle school drama teacher. I teach chorus and I teach musical theater. And our kids listen to you guys, and I listened to you guys.

[1:03:28] Heather Bedor: Oh my god.

[1:03:28] Amber Brzezinski: And I was like, ah, that's funny. It was so cool, but I was like, we were destined to meet them. Um shout out to those kids.

[1:03:52] Heather Bedor: Yeah, shout out to the middle schoolers. Whoop-whoop.

[1:03:55] Amber Brzezinski: Uh Chris Levy. I'm sure they're really enjoying us saying the F bomb all night.

[1:04:00] Heather Bedor: Um, Chris goes, how sad is it that my first thought wasn't Amber is singing Six, but Amber is singing Mickey Joe Theater's theme song.

[1:04:09] Amber Brzezinski: It was um let's let's get into Broadway.com. We'll finish that up with the 25th annual Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards, which is the only major theatrical awards where the nominating jury and voting committee.

[1:04:24] Heather Bedor: I am putting you on mute if you keep going.

[1:04:26] Amber Brzezinski: I'm looking I'm pulling up the the the McFinks.

[1:04:29] Heather Bedor: I have it.

[1:04:30] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, the Mc the McFings, the Mickey Joe Theater's theme song.

[1:04:34] Heather Bedor: The McFangs.

[1:04:36] Amber Brzezinski: Uh it is the only magical you can you guys can tell when we're both tired, it's so so fun. The only magical I feel like I'm on something and I'm not.

[1:04:48] Heather Bedor: I just I had uh cupping done at the physical therapist, and I think it's turned my brain into Morgoo.

[1:04:55] Amber Brzezinski: It is the only major theatrical awards where the nominating jury and voting committee is made up entirely of regular Broadway fans. Meaning 98% of the groups that we run that we have contact with the theaters, like general management production team, marketing, whatever, have been blowing me up, going, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, can you tell your members to vote for us?

[1:05:17] Amber Brzezinski: Hey, hey, don't forget to. I'm kind of glad that's over. I love them so much, so much. So um, I can summarize it. The can't be horror comedy, Death Becomes Her is the most awarded show with six wins, um, including Favorite New Musical, favorite leading actress in a musical for Megan Hilty, and favorite on-stage pair for both Hilti and Jennifer Samard.

[1:05:41] Heather Bedor: Kit Connor, who made his Broadway debut in Romeo and Juliet, was the most awarded performer overall, with three wins, including in the leading actor in a play category, with his co-star Rachel Zegler, who won leading actress in a play, while the play itself, directed by Sam Gold, was named Favorite Play Revival, picking up five awards.

[1:05:59] Amber Brzezinski: Meanwhile, your boy Cola Scola's anti-historical farce, Oh Mary, was Broadway.com reader's favorite new play, and director Jamie Lloyd's radically reimagined Sunsible Award was named Favorite Musical Revival. So here are the audience choice awards that took place on my mom's birthday last Thursday.

[1:06:19] Heather Bedor: So Favorite New Musical Death Becomes Her. Favorite New Play Oh Mary, favorite musical revival, Sunsible Award, favorite play revival, Romeo and Juliet, favorite long-running show, Wicked shocking. Favorite tour, Wicked, shocking. Also keeping in mind Broadway.com is a lot of a younger generation. So whether that has to be deal with it or not, not sure.

[1:06:41] Amber Brzezinski: Favorite leading actor in a musical, Darren Chris from Maybe Happy Ending, favorite leading actress in a musical, Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard. Favorite leading actor in a play, Kit Connor for Romeo and Juliet. Favorite leading actress in a play, Rachel Zegler, Romeo and Juliet. Favorite featured actor in a musical, Christopher Siever with Death Becomes Her.

[1:07:00] Heather Bedor: Favorite featured actress in a musical, like every single freaking person on Death Becomes Her, except Josh. Michelle Williams that becomes her. Favorite featured actor in a play, Kieran Culkin, Glengarry Glen Ross. Favorite featured actress in a play, Zoe Deutsch, Our Town. Favorite Diva performance, Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard. Favorite funny performance, Jonathan Groff, Just in Time.

[1:07:24] Amber Brzezinski: I could see that, but also it's Johnny. Favorite on-stage pair, Megan Hilty and Jennifer Samard with Death Becomes Her. Favorite Breakthrough Performances, Male, Kit Connor. Favorite breakthrough performance, female, Jasmine, Amy Rogers getting some freaking love for Boop the Musical. I'm so happy.

[1:07:44] Heather Bedor: Guys, these are the categories that they do, and I freaking love it. Favorite replacement male, Adam Lambert, Cabaret. The Glamberts have been back on our cabaret group for a little bit. Favorite replacement female, Eva Noblezada, Cabaret. Favorite new song for the gays, Death Becomes Her. Performance of the year, Megan Hilty. Performance of the year for musical. Performance of the year for play, Kit Connor.

[1:08:08] Amber Brzezinski: So again, that breaks Death Becomes Her six, Romeo and Juliet five, Sunset Boulevard three, Cabaret two, Wicked two, Boop the Musical one, Glengarry Glen Ross one, Just in Time one, Oh Mary one, Our Town one. Um, here's my problem. It's not a problem, but it's something to you guys. Dead Outlaw is not there. Gypsy isn't there. Um, you know, shows that are really resonating with a lot of people.

[1:08:38] Heather Bedor: Is it because of the demographics that are going on Broadway.com for the Audience Choice Awards? Or is it just missing the boat altogether? I sent you my favorite award recipient video on Messenger for you to play for the people because I can't open it up on my computer for you to open it up to play for the people.

[1:08:57] Amber Brzezinski: I was wondering why I had a picture of somebody's cleavage in front of me. Whose cleavage do you think it is? It's mine. It's the one, the one and only cleavage. I love her so much. Hold on a second. Stand by. Oh my god, let me let me open this up. Stand by. Oh my god. I love her though. I love her. I'm so glad that Halloween costume worked out, too. This is the funniest thing.

[1:09:10] Heather Bedor: Hold on a second. Ready? Yes. Hold on. Let's show this cleavage. I'm sorry. Like, look at that. Oh, I'm not while you're on scrolling. It's not, it is, it's unmuted. That's why I went down there, but I was like, yeah. You had to. I had to. All right, ready? Ready? Thank you so much to Broadway.com and my fan for my audience choice award, along with my burling up co-star Megan Hilty, yes, favorite on-stage pair.

[1:10:02] Amber Brzezinski: But do not tell my art. Thank you so much to Broadway.com and my fan. Okay, so first thing my favorite part and my fan. And my fan. My one fan. My one fan. That's you. Do not you're the one fan because he wasn't here for Halloween. But do not tell my because they will be pissed off. Like I can't. Because they're the best on-stage pair. Like, I know. That's the best part. I love her so much. Great acceptance speech. Bravo.

[1:10:40] Heather Bedor: Bravo. So my hand has been like jacked up since my nerve test, and it's hard for me to clap. So I've been trying to snap, and it hurts, but then I've just been doing this. So this has been my thing since Fringe. If you see me doing this, I'm clapping. Oh, also, we almost forgot to shout out our favorite one to study. Carl Skye Urban. That was only things we're gonna talk about it.

[1:11:13] Amber Brzezinski: As emergency cover. Emergency, emergency. Are you gonna tell the people? Tell the people. You go. No, I'm pulling up the video or the picture. There's no picture. No, there was a picture backstage. Um emergency cover. Mimi had to go on as Schneider's. Mimi normally plays Texas. There wasn't no one to go on as Texas. Carl steps in, saves the day, went on his own.

[1:11:43] Heather Bedor: Well, you wanted to know why though, right? He's that dance captain. He's a dance captain. Yeah, you're right. Yeah. Cooking dance captain. I am sorry. I would have just stood up and clapped every time he was on the stage. As freaking Texas. As Texas, yeah. Absolutely. I uh to be in that room. In Cabaret. I know. Brilliant. A brilliant move. But also, he's the only one that knows that track.

[1:12:13] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, he's the only one that knows that track. So maybe Mimi does a great baby Schneider, though. Yeah. Maybe that's do a great baby Schneider. Yeah. Yeah. No, yeah. No, I thought we were gonna give a shout-out to Schmackery's for getting me some cookies. Um that I shared with Chris Levy. So shout out to Schmacks. Uh, there's so much. We've already run over time, but like there's so much Tony's talk.

[1:12:38] Heather Bedor: I know. So don't forget, guys. This Sunday, it is our Super Bowl, it is our everything. Tune in for the Tonys, not only because you're watching the Tonys, but tune in to support theater. Um, I will tell you, check out your local theater if you're still looking for a place to see. Sorry, I'm posting this one up. Heather is a goddess.

[1:13:00] Amber Brzezinski: Well, yes, thank you, Chris Levy. Uh but check with your local theaters too. I know here in Orlando, um, the Shakespeare Theater used to do a really fun Tony's party that was free. So you might be able to find something at your local theater or even one of the bigger theaters. You might be doing a Tony's watch party. Do something, make it special for yourself.

[1:13:23] Heather Bedor: We don't care what's going on the gram, but you know what? Share your photos. We'll probably start a thread on the Broadway fan club group, um, where you can share all of your photos. Don't forget, guys, you can find and we're gonna be updating it, meaning I will be updating it as Amber cooks um a thousand million miles away. Um, and I know what you're gonna go do now.

[1:13:43] Amber Brzezinski: Uh, but make sure that you guys check out www.thebroadwayfanclub.com which will show you a hundred and three different fan groups that we run as amber shows you can we just call them Oliver and Claire at this point go put the tea on Oliver it's you again Oliver family which one's which is the girl or no okay this is the girl this is the boy and what are they actually what kind of puppies are they're chihuahua they're just pure are they apple hatchwells I don't know I don't know if they're so how old are they talk about them six weeks old okay and where if people are interested in adopting them they have to grow more and they can contact the Connecticut Humane Society in several weeks or reach out to me or Amber and we'll help you get all that information too but look at the cute little baby puppies and they this is clearly this is what I'm gonna be doing for the next hours.

[1:14:49] Heather Bedor: Well you can't cook with puppies like that. True takeo you're gonna have to like use one hand to order I have no debit card oh no yeah Amber got uh got fraud fraud on her account so feel bad for her but support us because Amber had fraud happen you can go to the Broadway fanclub.etsy dot com because the shop is back open after vacation uh to get all of your custom bracelet needs.

[1:15:20] Amber Brzezinski: Amber would, wow, you're popular. Amber would pull up the giant sleeve of bracelets, but uh she has puppies to attend to that are you can't do anything. Um I personally will be going up at the end of this month. Oh my god, it's already June. How did this happen? I'll be going up at the end of this month for Broadway Bears, um, and all sorts of fun stuff, but to be to be announced later, but I will be at one of these hotels, the W Times Square or the Weston Times Square, because they offer us incredible discounts, plus they take very good care of our members with their exclusive cluster code E7103.

[1:16:00] Heather Bedor: Um, they do not pay us to do this, we just love them so much that they gave us our own codes. So go support them like they support us. Um, and Olivia wanted to know, Amber, do you have your own dog as well?

[1:16:14] Amber Brzezinski: I do not. I lost my own dog several years ago. And after that, I started working with the shelter and fostering friends in his memory.

[1:16:26] Heather Bedor: But you can find us Remy's friends.

[1:16:28] Amber Brzezinski: Which you could find on Instagram as Remy's friends. Yep, yep, yep.

[1:16:35] Heather Bedor: So uh thank you guys for joining us for an hour and 17 minutes of listening pleasure about the Tonys, all of the Patti drama and everything else.

[1:16:43] Amber Brzezinski: And we ended it on a happy note with puppies.

[1:16:47] Heather Bedor: Puppy.

[1:16:48] Amber Brzezinski: I love it. Casey is in the booth right now clapping. I can still see you, Casey, even though you don't want to be on camera. Yay!

[1:16:55] Heather Bedor: I love babies. I love these little squirrels. And you might not be able to get rid of those, especially if you've named them Claire and Oliver. You just need to get the new like costumes. I don't know.

[1:17:06] Amber Brzezinski: But thank you guys for joining us each and every Monday, most of the time night. Uh, next Monday, we will be talking all wow, that's a truck outside. We'll be talking all about what happened at the Tonys.

[1:17:19] Heather Bedor: Um I will also post like a Tony's uh checklist so you guys can play different games or just keep track, see who's going where. Um, we cannot wait to see who wins. Go celebrate, celebrate theater, celebrate pride, get out there, celebrate community, celebrate the people that you are surrounded by or the people you want to be surrounded by.

[1:17:40] Amber Brzezinski: And remember each and every Monday night, just because Broadway is dark.

[1:17:44] Heather Bedor: You know, we keep that ghost light burning. We keep Broadway here all the time. We want to just be here for our community.

[1:17:50] Amber Brzezinski: And we have puppies.

[1:17:52] Heather Bedor: And happy pride and happy pride, and bye to newly deemed Claire and Oliver.

[1:17:58] Amber Brzezinski: And thank you to Casey. Casey in the corner. Um hang out with us.

[1:18:03] Heather Bedor: Um, and she's commenting on the thread while she's on the back end of things. So we love it. Uh girl power.

[1:18:09] Amber Brzezinski: All right, y'all have a great night. Here comes the Southern because I'm tired. Um, and we'll see you guys next week.

[1:18:16] Heather Bedor: All right, bye y'all.

[1:18:17] Amber Brzezinski: Bye for now.