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[0:00] Heather Bedor: What did it do?

[0:01] Amber Brzezinski: Oh no.

[0:02] Heather Bedor: Something just went wonky.

[0:04] Amber Brzezinski: We lost our opening music and we're live.

[0:07] Heather Bedor: Hello.

[0:08] Amber Brzezinski: I think it might be the storm.

[0:11] Heather Bedor: I have no idea.

[0:13] Amber Brzezinski: But hello.

[0:14] Heather Bedor: How's it going?

[0:16] Amber Brzezinski: This is the funniest thing ever. It's just a I just watched the replay on Instagram and it's literally like this, and then it is you appear.

[0:27] Heather Bedor: That's fine. It's my magic trick. I was doing it on purpose.

[0:34] Amber Brzezinski: You did such a good job. Good job, Amber.

[0:37] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[0:38] Amber Brzezinski: Thank you very much. Well, happy freaking Monday.

[0:41] Heather Bedor: Oh my god, how did the Tony's already come out?

[0:45] Amber Brzezinski: Happy post Tony's Monday.

[0:48] Heather Bedor: Post Tony's part of depression.

[0:51] Amber Brzezinski: Which is to anyone who knows, knows it is a that is a tough Monday for anyone.

[0:56] Heather Bedor: That's a tough uh it's a tough Monday, and we'll get into it. But thanks for joining us Monday evening on the Broadway.

[1:03] Amber Brzezinski: Mostly because it's like the jet lag of the Monday, you know what I mean? Like there's you're not traveling anywhere that you have jet lag.

[1:11] Heather Bedor: What do you mean the jet lag?

[1:14] Amber Brzezinski: Like there's so much like hype of like you're like a buildup to the day that like you're so I'm so tired.

[1:26] Heather Bedor: Yeah, and it's gone. Like I it's like it's a very tiring day.

[1:31] Amber Brzezinski: It's so like in the Comic Con world we call it postcon funk. And like when it's done with fringe, we call it like the fringe funk.

[1:40] Heather Bedor: So is it the Tony's trouble?

[1:45] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, Tony's trouble. The trouble with Tony's is I'm gonna start going into uh dancing through life, apparently. That's my brain.

[1:52] Heather Bedor: I got to spend so many hours with Michael about Joe last night. Love him, and you got to have your nice little video chat.

[2:00] Amber Brzezinski: I did, yes.

[2:02] Heather Bedor: Yes. And um, yeah, it was just me and some of my favorite people in a very chill little evening, and Chris Levy, whether he's joining us or not, he's like showing me like the page doesn't tell me, so I have to wait for the link.

[2:17] Amber Brzezinski: Whether you were Amber are sending the link over, and I'm like, it says that you're part of it though.

[2:22] Heather Bedor: I don't know. Um, but yeah, so he made these really delicious, like gypsy themed Philly cheesesteak egg rolls that were delicious, and then um these maybe happy ending inspired raspberry bites, and he made oh I have one of my oh, I should eat it now.

[2:44] Amber Brzezinski: He had these um Buena Vista Social Club created like Cuban sliders, and he made sangria, and Michael brought cupcakes, and there may have been some schmackeries amongst the travels, and so I just sat there eating and drinking and hanging out.

[3:01] Heather Bedor: So that sounds like a great time.

[3:06] Amber Brzezinski: And can I tell you? And I've already shared this with Larry. Um, I cried when he was on stage.

[3:13] Heather Bedor: Oh, precious.

[3:14] Amber Brzezinski: Well, it was the very end of the show, and I'm like, oh my god, I hope he's gonna make it. And all I saw, I already knew he was wearing like the jacket. I knew here he was sitting, and he was on the first mess, but they have to have everybody like in the lobby to get ready to go onto the stage, like when it's like CoPros and like big shows.

[3:32] Heather Bedor: And he was like, and they locked people, and um, but he made it.

[3:37] Amber Brzezinski: He made it, and I just saw the jacket and like the the black head covering, and I was like, it was it was fun.

[3:43] Heather Bedor: So yeah, so yeah, it was it was uh it was a hell of a Tony's experience. I know you and I even talked about it too.

[3:53] Amber Brzezinski: Is that we were nervous this year? I don't think that's happened to us, but like we were nervous for friends of ours and like for shows that we run the groups of, I think with just cause too.

[4:08] Heather Bedor: Oh, Casey, we'll talk about that Hamilton reunion hashtag needs more Jonathan Groff. Um I we have some groups who I totally love their passion, but like, come on, y'all.

[4:25] Amber Brzezinski: We've gone over it on the podcast. Boop didn't get an invite. It wasn't because they didn't want to pay to play because it's not something that exists, it's okay, yes, but it had been so much cooler to see Jasmine do her thing and do you know anything from Boop?

[4:41] Heather Bedor: Yes, was she in a nominated category that would have allowed that?

[4:45] Amber Brzezinski: No. Um, did other shows perform that weren't nominated?

[4:49] Heather Bedor: Yes, but it's a special circumstance, so it's just like and then people said that Death Becomes Her got snubbed.

[4:58] Amber Brzezinski: No, they didn't, they won a category or two. We can go over all the lists.

[5:03] Heather Bedor: Um there's a lot of shows that got quote snubbed, but unfortunately and fortunately, this season was packed.

[5:12] Amber Brzezinski: I know I was like laying in bed last night and thinking like I was like, I was like, I feel like I'm like the girl in freaking mean girls who's like, I wish we could bake a cake with sunshine and rainbows and give it to everybody, and then everyone can have a piece of it, and then everyone gets rid of Tony, and then everyone can have a little bit, and then it could be like Tony superlatives instead of Tony Awards.

[5:46] Heather Bedor: No.

[5:47] Amber Brzezinski: No, I know, I know. I was being ridiculous.

[5:49] Heather Bedor: I was just having a moment.

[5:54] Amber Brzezinski: And that's been kind of a thing I wanted to talk, you know, with our groups too. Is like, guys, nobody got snubbed. This was a stacked competition.

[6:04] Heather Bedor: Stacked.

[6:05] Amber Brzezinski: So stacked. Do Heather and I, and do you guys have your favorites? Absolutely.

[6:09] Heather Bedor: But does that mean that they're going to win? No. Do I agree with all the wins? Absolutely not.

[6:15] Amber Brzezinski: Was I yelling in the middle of Chris Levy's living room? All sorts of expletives? Yes.

[6:21] Heather Bedor: Did I cheer when the people I liked won? Yes.

[6:25] Amber Brzezinski: Did I grumble grumble when people I did not necessarily the people didn't like, but I didn't think that that show specifically, whatever show it would have been, should have won that specific? Yes.

[6:35] Heather Bedor: But that's what happens. It's the highs and lows of it for sure.

[6:39] Amber Brzezinski: Chris.

[6:40] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[6:41] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, you were.

[6:42] Heather Bedor: We can confirm.

[6:43] Amber Brzezinski: That's correct. Um, between myself and then Michael across the way. Just we're all emotional, we're all crying, we're all this, we're all that.

[6:56] Heather Bedor: Like, it was a lot.

[6:58] Amber Brzezinski: It was a lot. Do you have the list of winners in front of you? Do you need me to pull that up?

[7:04] Heather Bedor: Um I don't have the list of winners, but I can pull it up.

[7:11] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, okay. Um, and yes, I saw Jeffrey posted how Harvey Fierstein's Lifetime Pre-Show speech was great, by the way.

[7:19] Heather Bedor: The community theater, he mentioned gallery players in Brooklyn. I have been a subscriber for 20 years.

[7:24] Amber Brzezinski: That's awesome, Jeffrey. Harvey Fierstein made just I think there were some really impassioned speeches. Some of them weren't necessary, some of them were 100% necessary, or some of them, you know, thanks, TiVo on Grindr, like go cola scola.

[7:40] Heather Bedor: Um, we we love that for you.

[7:43] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. All right, I have the list.

[7:45] Heather Bedor: Same, but okay, Chris says, same, but also not purpose no merry or like apples and bridges, not even the same genus.

[7:52] Amber Brzezinski: Ooh, Chris Bebe. You get in there.

[7:54] Heather Bedor: Um, I will tell you as much as I I love my friends, they are so freaking intelligent and smart. But if there was something happening, all I had to do is like, what is that? What's going on? Because I was just up and down and bouncing around.

[8:09] Amber Brzezinski: Did you find it, Amber?

[8:10] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[8:12] Amber Brzezinski: Gone with reading the list.

[8:21] Heather Bedor: Well, where would you like me to start?

[8:23] Amber Brzezinski: Start at the very beginning.

[8:27] Heather Bedor: It's a very good place to start.

[8:32] Amber Brzezinski: Do you want me to pull up the list?

[8:34] Heather Bedor: Well, do you want me to business dead air? This is what do you want me to start with like the big shebang, or do you want me to start with like the I don't know?

[8:45] Amber Brzezinski: Start with start with like go in order of how are they listed?

[8:51] Heather Bedor: I don't know. I don't let's put it to a vote comment section. Do you guys want to talk about the big shebangs? Or do we want to talk the little little bit ones like more of a techie stuff first?

[9:01] Amber Brzezinski: I'm curious what they think.

[9:03] Heather Bedor: Yeah. I would just I don't know. Do we want to do we want to do we want to talk about the big guys out of the way?

[9:11] Amber Brzezinski: Presentation order.

[9:12] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[9:14] Amber Brzezinski: Presentation order.

[9:16] Heather Bedor: I say presentation order.

[9:18] Amber Brzezinski: I kind of agree.

[9:19] Heather Bedor: And the list that I pulled up was in order of the big shebangs, which is why I was like, uh I don't want to read this list.

[9:29] Amber Brzezinski: Huh.

[9:30] Heather Bedor: The bottom.

[9:41] Amber Brzezinski: She's so angry that she has to go to the bottom.

[9:44] Heather Bedor: Oh, do you want to talk about uh your new furry friends while you're doing that?

[9:49] Amber Brzezinski: Oh sure, I'll actually go get them.

[9:52] Heather Bedor: So Amber has, and I'm sending emails as we speak. Amber has been um you know, puppy sitting, and she had the chihuahuas that we affectionately called Oliver and Claire, and then she has been uh fostering new giant fluffy puppies that she is about to retrieve.

[10:11] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, they're even cuter IRL.

[10:16] Heather Bedor: These are the fluffs and Amber's cleavage for those of you watching.

[10:21] Amber Brzezinski: You're pulling your best Jennifer Savard.

[10:23] Heather Bedor: Hi, that was rude.

[10:27] Amber Brzezinski: But anyway, so these are the fluffs.

[10:29] Heather Bedor: Hi, fluffs.

[10:30] Amber Brzezinski: We are lovingly calling them Raul, Christine, and the Phantom.

[10:36] Heather Bedor: Yes, we are. You have to repeat that louder into the laptop.

[10:41] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so Amber and I, when she first picked up the puppies, the puppies technically have names. And um, we were like, well, no, we need to do this like trend of you know, Broadway puppies because hello, everybody, and even the cats, the cats got in on it too.

[11:00] Heather Bedor: Because you have her um herbine, but uh she was like, what if we did this? What if we what was the first one you said?

[11:09] Amber Brzezinski: Norma, Max, and Joe, which I think is brilliant, because there's two boys and a girl, but they're fluffy and cute, and then you think Sunset Boulevard, like blood and darkness, and especially Jamie Lloyd, like very like artistic.

[11:30] Heather Bedor: And I'm like, I would see like Doberman's being named after Sunset Boulevard, but I'm like fluffy little cloud puppies need like cute names, and um then I started being really facetious because Amber was like, what if we just did Christine and Raul and Phantom?

[11:48] Heather Bedor: And I was like, Yes, and she goes, but I thought that that's too dark because they need to be cute names, and I was like, nope, that's a total exception. And then I went straight down the rabbit hole of well, what if we did Toby and Sweeney and Nelly? What if we did this and this and this? And then so I'm very appreciative that the puppies are affectionately being named after the Phantom.

[12:13] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, so that's right. Franklin, Charlie and Mary, up.

[12:16] Heather Bedor: Oh, we missed a Marilee option.

[12:18] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, that would have been cute.

[12:20] Heather Bedor: This is why we keep Chris Lee around.

[12:22] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[12:23] Heather Bedor: That's a cute one. That might have to, I don't know. I'm gonna leave that. That might have to be the replacement.

[12:24] Amber Brzezinski: That might have to be the one.

[12:30] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[12:32] Amber Brzezinski: That might be more fitting for them.

[12:34] Heather Bedor: Or making the executive decision.

[12:36] Amber Brzezinski: Franklin Charlie.

[12:37] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[12:38] Amber Brzezinski: Executive decision.

[12:39] Heather Bedor: Fine. It's overruled. I appreciate it anyways.

[12:42] Amber Brzezinski: Is it Chris City? You just need to be the official dog and cat namer.

[12:46] Heather Bedor: All right. Back to the case.

[12:48] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, she is going for the knuckles.

[12:49] Heather Bedor: All right, go on.

[12:50] Amber Brzezinski: Back to the listed hand. So we start with best sound design of a play, which went to Paul R. Diddy, Stranger Things, The First Shadow.

[13:04] Heather Bedor: They did good last night.

[13:06] Amber Brzezinski: They did really well.

[13:08] Heather Bedor: Absolutely. They did great.

[13:11] Amber Brzezinski: Then we had Best Book of a Musical, which went to Maybe Happy Ending.

[13:16] Heather Bedor: I'm sure.

[13:19] Amber Brzezinski: Who by the way. I think I read their stats last night. Maybe Happy Ending was nominated for 10 and won six.

[13:26] Heather Bedor: Six.

[13:26] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, correct.

[13:29] Heather Bedor: And Darren's little outfit.

[13:31] Amber Brzezinski: Amazing.

[13:32] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[13:33] Amber Brzezinski: He looked like a band leader.

[13:35] Heather Bedor: Yes. Um, then we had best sound design of a musical, which went to Jonathan Dean's Buena Vista Social Club.

[13:43] Amber Brzezinski: Which was incredible.

[13:44] Heather Bedor: Their performance was beautiful.

[13:47] Amber Brzezinski: Beautiful.

[13:48] Heather Bedor: I grew up in South Florida, so like going to Cuban clubs and stuff like that is the vibe.

[13:54] Amber Brzezinski: 100% the vibe.

[13:58] Heather Bedor: Best Orchestrations went to Marco Paglia, Buena Vista Social Club.

[14:04] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm.

[14:05] Heather Bedor: Best choreography, Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club.

[14:10] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, a different person than I am.

[14:11] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[14:14] Amber Brzezinski: Best lighting design of a play, John Clark, Stranger Things, the first show.

[14:20] Amber Brzezinski: Agreed. Because again, magic on stage. And if you guys haven't watched the Netflix documentary of how Stranger Things was made, like they did a full thing over in the West End. It is incredible. And I just I cannot wait to see it. Cannot wait.

[14:42] Heather Bedor: Yep. Which is interesting. And I'm gonna interrupt you for a second.

[14:46] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[14:49] Heather Bedor: I know you are a massive Sunset fan.

[14:52] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[14:52] Heather Bedor: I was shocked. Now let's let's read down the list of who is possibly of it, like who is a nominee. Jack Knowles of Sunset Boulevard, Tyler Mikkelow with Buena Vista Social Club, Scott Zelinski and Hubie, Hubie, she is Louise, Ruby Horn's son for Floyd Collins, Ben Stanton for Maybe Happy Ending, and Justin Townsend for Death Becomes Her.

[15:15] Amber Brzezinski: I would have put money on Death Becomes Her for lighting simply because of the freaking stare scene where they have you know the full stunt flipping upside down and it's flashes and strobes and beautiful sunset to me with no disrespect to Jack at all was lighting.

[15:39] Heather Bedor: Here's my camera in my face, here's the camera here. I'm driving a car, here I'm switching. Like it's really cool film noir style, but I never would have put that to a lighting category. I think lighting is the only element, yeah, fair of stage, yeah, set element that you have, it kind of forces you to tune into it more, yeah, because it's literally it's like a whole other character in Sunset, right?

[16:24] Amber Brzezinski: And guys, feel free to make comments in the comment section about what you thought for sure. Um, and to answer Jeffrey Cohen's question, I am hoping to see it in the next couple weeks because I will be up for um an event for Joy the Musical. So you'll hear more about that next week. But go on, Amber.

[16:44] Amber Brzezinski: And then we had Best Scenic Design of a Play, which went to Miriam Weather and 59 of Stranger Things, the First Shadow, which totally sense because everyone was like, Oh, it's gonna go for the picture of Dorian Gray. There's no set, there's no scenic design, right? It's video screens, which clearly they want a whole shitload of other stuff, but yeah, for sure.

[17:11] Heather Bedor: Yeah, absolutely, best scenic design in a musical, shocking design of a musical. We had staying laughing, maybe happy ending, category, yes. What if it's the social club, Death Becomes Her in just in time, and the winner was maybe happy ending, and I worked my way through each one, and I still am struggling.

[17:35] Amber Brzezinski: So Derek McLean and Justin Time, gorgeous set, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, but it's stationary, and you're essentially in that club surrounding, and there's not a lot that's happening, so it's stationary.

[17:47] Heather Bedor: Right. Um, Buenavies' Social Club, very similar aesthetic. It reminds me of a Cuban version of Shocked, swept away. My obsession with the boat, and your obsession with the boat, and feeling the wind and the gust coming through while you're sitting in the sea and watching a giant ship flip over in the middle of a long acre, and the way that it was facilitated with the SS little boat, like that blew my mind, but also I can see from a perspective of that's the only set design that you have.

[18:20] Amber Brzezinski: Right. Death becomes her, where Derek McLean comes in, multiple set changes. So I thought that was a high contender and maybe happy ending. Again, one of those things, like once you and I talked about it a little bit, I was kind of shocked. Um, about what actually is going on behind the set design. So, like what we see on stage is just the forefront of everything going on backstage, just like a network behind the stage. So I think that's cool, right? But and like Brian was showing me like all the other stuff, and like this is how it's made.

[18:57] Heather Bedor: Um, and Chris Levy, since he's very active in our comment section right now too, says if life were fair, Rachel Hawk would have won for swept. I would have loved to have seen Swept take something because those boys have worked their asses off. Um, but also we can talk about um I I you and I have talked about this with maybe happy ending with some of our members stating this is what they've heard, maybe happy ending. This is the canon, this is what people believe. So a lot of people believe with maybe happy ending, either Claire and Oliver are right brain and left brain. So you're literally watching a brain network.

[19:33] Amber Brzezinski: Or I've heard the most popular one is that it's a couple who's met later in life, and this is how they see themselves and they're suffering through dementia, very similar to the notebook. Um Chris can actually touch on that too. I'm threatening to have him on the show one of these days. But um, as far as like, well, but why is Claire coming over again to get a charge? Didn't she hardwire her her charger?

[19:57] Heather Bedor: Spoiler alert, didn't she hardwire her charger into her room? So you can't like forgetting memories doesn't change physical stuff. And I was like, oh, that's a good point too. But I personally my favorite part of the maybe happy ending scenic design is when Des randomly pops up from places.

[20:22] Amber Brzezinski: Right. That's that's can't go wrong with like a sexy man and a smooth jazz voice popping up in places. I'm gonna sing now. Um but one of my favorite moments from this past season was what they did on the Tony's, but you know, at the theater where they have the piano raised from the center and the orchestra is on that spin table. That's beautiful. The you know, firefly is in the audience, and I'm glad that they showed Des with the wand with the light, even though it did seem maybe you'll concur, but there was a little bit of a a technical difficulty with the the firefly in the jar. Did you notice that?

[21:05] Heather Bedor: Yeah. Because it turned on if it turned off, and like you could see Darren's face and him and Helen were trying to hold it. But um yeah, it was just uh it was an interesting okay, cool. So I wasn't Casey said we noticed that too. Um Chris, hold on. I what did you say? I feel like on the Tonies we saw what the Maybe Happy Ending tour will look like.

[21:29] Amber Brzezinski: I agree. 100% agree. It makes sense, and I think it translates well. Um, but yeah, ultimately it went to maybe happy ending. All right, let's move on because I've I interrupted no numerous times at this point. Um then I'm uh we have best costume design of a play, which went to Marge Horwell, the picture of Dorian Gray.

[21:55] Heather Bedor: Which I mean, there's no I was just gonna say there's like a hundred freaking costumes in that show. Yeah, there's no question that that should have that that was correct.

[22:06] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. Best costume design of a musical, which also was correct. Paul Taswell of Death Becomes Her.

[22:14] Heather Bedor: Very correct. I am stuck on Chris's comment.

[22:17] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna post this and I'm gonna let you let that settle in. Chris Levy with the zingers tonight. Also, if John J. Gallagher hadn't dissed Nicole Scherzinger, he'd still be alive today. This one will take a while. I'll wait.

[22:30] Heather Bedor: Go on, moving on.

[22:37] Amber Brzezinski: Um best original score went to maybe happy ending, Will Ironson and Hugh Park, who again is single.

[22:53] Heather Bedor: But also, here's my question on this one. I'm gonna question every single decision. And I saw Patty posted it, one of our members, and I agree. To me, best original score should go to the show that I cannot stop singing songs, and then have memorable songs. I have a couple of songs that play constantly in my head. Definitely Death Becomes Her. Mince Meat. I didn't get the opportunity yet to see real women have curves. Um the other shows had more standout music that I can play on, you know. You know, like I don't know. I I didn't I did not agree with this one. I knew it was coming, but I didn't agree with it.

[23:42] Amber Brzezinski: I don't know. Maybe happy ending was like an earworm in my head for a very long time.

[23:46] Heather Bedor: Well, you could not freaking wait. Could not wait. So yeah, so I mean I can't I can't disagree.

[24:00] Amber Brzezinski: No, I again different strikes for different folks. But go on, what's next?

[24:06] Heather Bedor: Um, best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play went to uh of course Sarah Snook in the picture of Dorian Gray.

[24:16] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, it did.

[24:18] Heather Bedor: So I did best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play.

[24:26] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, went to Francis Hugh in Yellow Face, yeah, which well deserved for sure.

[24:32] Heather Bedor: Well deserved, and that tuxedo he said he's had for like 40 years.

[24:36] Amber Brzezinski: Is that what he said?

[24:38] Heather Bedor: Yeah, I think so.

[24:40] Amber Brzezinski: Crazy.

[24:41] Heather Bedor: All right, Chris. Are you ready?

[24:43] Amber Brzezinski: Chris, are you ready?

[24:47] Heather Bedor: Is he ready?

[24:48] Amber Brzezinski: What?

[24:50] Heather Bedor: Best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical.

[24:58] Amber Brzezinski: Went to Jack Malone.

[25:04] Heather Bedor: Operation mints me.

[25:07] Amber Brzezinski: I mean the crowd went wild.

[25:12] Heather Bedor: And the crowd went wild. So and also I don't know if anybody knows this.

[25:19] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but I happen to be scoping out Tom Di Angora's um Facebook reels, because why not? He always has the best pictures.

[25:25] Heather Bedor: Jack's suit was all parts of the Deer Bill letter. And so it was embraced. And his dog, it had a uh his Italian greyhound on it as well.

[25:38] Amber Brzezinski: Yep.

[25:41] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[25:42] Amber Brzezinski: Um, first of all, Jack Malone is just a fabulous human being. One of those individuals that is just a an all around good person.

[25:58] Heather Bedor: Which was evident by that beautiful, beautiful speech.

[26:06] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm. Beautiful speech.

[26:12] Heather Bedor: I think that was to me the top speech of the night.

[26:17] Amber Brzezinski: Jack's speech?

[26:19] Heather Bedor: I think so.

[26:20] Amber Brzezinski: I love Jack's speech, but I also love Duran's speech, and that he wants to be around the theater people and raising Helena, but Jack's was the most heartfelt.

[26:28] Heather Bedor: I think I liked Jack's more.

[26:29] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[26:30] Heather Bedor: Wait, you didn't love Cole's?

[26:32] Amber Brzezinski: I loved Cole's, but I Jack's, I think, just really was the speech for me last night.

[26:40] Heather Bedor: It was like the speech that checked all my boxes.

[26:44] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[26:45] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[26:45] Amber Brzezinski: And Harveys didn't.

[26:47] Heather Bedor: Well, Harvey's was like a specialty speech.

[26:50] Amber Brzezinski: That's a different category of speeches.

[26:53] Heather Bedor: Fair enough.

[26:54] Amber Brzezinski: Alright, moving on.

[26:56] Heather Bedor: Moving on.

[26:56] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. But yeah, that was a beautiful moment. Very happy for Jack Malone. Very happy for Operation Minsley. Very happy just in general. Congratulations. Bravo.

[27:09] Heather Bedor: Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play.

[27:13] Amber Brzezinski: Went to fourth second year in a row winning a wonderfully well-deserved Tony.

[27:23] Heather Bedor: Kara Young in purpose.

[27:25] Amber Brzezinski: And I believe, if I'm not mistaken, it's either her fourth year or fifth year nominated in the same category.

[27:33] Heather Bedor: I believe her fourth year, yes.

[27:35] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[27:36] Heather Bedor: So like phenomenal.

[27:38] Amber Brzezinski: I am just this is gonna happen. Um talking about Cole's speech.

[27:44] Heather Bedor: Chris says, can you get that guy from Grinders?

[27:46] Amber Brzezinski: I guess.

[27:47] Heather Bedor: We'll try.

[27:47] Amber Brzezinski: Where's Tebow at?

[27:49] Heather Bedor: Right. Absolutely.

[27:55] Amber Brzezinski: An Operation Mince Meat shirt was pretty cool. Love that.

[27:58] Heather Bedor: I know I saw it in the um in our video chat.

[28:02] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, you did.

[28:03] Heather Bedor: It was great.

[28:03] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, yes, you did.

[28:05] Heather Bedor: That's good.

[28:06] Amber Brzezinski: Alright, moving on.

[28:08] Heather Bedor: Um next up we have Best Performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical, which went to Natalie Venetia Belcon, Bonavista the Social Club.

[28:21] Amber Brzezinski: Congratulations, Avenue Q fame.

[28:23] Heather Bedor: Hello.

[28:24] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, that was a very stacked category as well. So, like that, congratulations to her.

[28:31] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[28:31] Amber Brzezinski: Oh no, a hundred percent.

[28:34] Heather Bedor: But we were talking about, um, at the party with Chris. We were talking about would you guys have ever thought that she would have been the that somebody who's on Avenue Q would have won that category and that it would have been her?

[28:46] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, a hundred percent.

[28:48] Heather Bedor: Yes. Um, would I have loved to have seen Gracie win? Yes. I think Gracie's wonderful. Justina, I think that category should have been Justina's, Justina Machado. Um, Joy Julia Niddle as well pulled a lot of different characters out in Dead Outlaw, but again, I'm not a Tony's voter for a reason, so they seem to gravitate towards a couple of shows like they usually do, and then there were a couple of little surprises along the way, but I think Natalie definitely kicked some ass in one of us to social club for short.

[29:27] Amber Brzezinski: Definitely.

[29:28] Heather Bedor: All right, what's next?

[29:30] Amber Brzezinski: Next up we have best play, and the winner of that was Purpose.

[29:37] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[29:39] Amber Brzezinski: Which I think surprised a whole bunch of people.

[29:44] Heather Bedor: Yeah, absolutely. Then we had the best revival of a play, which went to Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector.

[29:54] Amber Brzezinski: Which I will say Chris called and is reading the book.

[29:58] Heather Bedor: So the book of Eureka Day is very fascinating too. I want to send me the link of the list that you're reading through because mine is all over the place different.

[30:07] Amber Brzezinski: I'm on Playbill.com.

[30:09] Heather Bedor: Oh, and I'm on CBS. How dare they not have the correct information, like in order for me?

[30:14] Amber Brzezinski: Shame, shame.

[30:16] Heather Bedor: All right, moving right along. Oh, I mean says I thought best play would have gone to O'Mary. I definitely think that was a contender, but it is very hard as a comedic show to win best play.

[30:30] Amber Brzezinski: It's kind of rare.

[30:33] Heather Bedor: Right. It's kind of rare.

[30:34] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[30:36] Heather Bedor: It is. Yeah, absolutely. I agree.

[30:41] Amber Brzezinski: No, pretty crazy. Sorry, the puppies are up to no good.

[30:46] Heather Bedor: Well, they are adorable and they are now named different names, so now you've confused them.

[30:51] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. Actually, you talk for one second. I'll be able to I have to talk for one second.

[30:57] Heather Bedor: Just one second. Please, I do so much talking. Um, but yeah, so I'm hoping that everybody had I saw some pictures and some menus of people, um, and having their Tony's party. Um, Amber said she was doing her own little pity party, so it was great. But it's been really interesting this year for sure, because it's so stacked, but I think we very much all had our favorites. I see Olivia, you're posting about Natalie and Nicole, and I agree. Like, um, Nicole's performance last night, and I will say that the people that were at my party, we were kind of diverted.

[31:23] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, good.

[31:23] Heather Bedor: We were kind of split between Nicole and Audra's performance, and I think even between Amber and I, we were split. It was hard to hear Audra. She seemed slurry and drunk character wise. And I saw a lot of people posting on main pages, and I've seen a lot of people in our groups posting, but 90% of the performances that they saw during the Tonys last night, including people that are in our chat right now, did not, uh, it didn't encourage people to want to go see the shows.

[32:09] Amber Brzezinski: So I'm messaging Casey is hiding in the in the our back room here. Um, so she just messaged me. She's making adorable faces. We can see her, that's the best part. She just you guys can't see her. Um, anyway, back to where we were. Oh, excuse excuse me. We have to wait to comment on Nicole and Audra, which is gonna be oh no, that's okay. Um, we can also talk about the in memoriam because it was I'm I'm gonna talk about this for a second. I'm gonna get on my soapbox, and I did it last night. First off, love Cynthia Erivo for host. It felt very SNL to me, which is a little bit weird. Uh, Ariana DeBose hardly got any kind of applause when she walked out to do the presentation, which was weird.

[32:56] Heather Bedor: Um, the costuming designs for Cynthia were very unique on this press tour with a second part of Wicked, and this is something Michael and I were talking about. Uh, we're talking about the Ruby like the Ruby slippers. So generally she's wearing a lot of red. Her and um, Ariana Grande are wearing a lot of stuff that's meant for the second act um of Wicked. But the dress that she came out with in the beginning was what a lot of people online said was grown up little orphan Annie.

[33:27] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, agreed.

[33:29] Heather Bedor: It was a weird intro. And then in the in memoriam, they say the sun will come out tomorrow, which is to me, I didn't think of it as an in-memoriam song.

[33:41] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[33:43] Heather Bedor: And then they kept taking the parts. Her and Sarah Bareilles sounded gorgeous.

[33:47] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[33:48] Heather Bedor: It was just a little weird. And I was kind of distracted. And then, of course, I always feel, and this might be a me thing, and if you guys feel like this too, please post. I feel awkward when there are different amounts of loudness of applause for other people that have died. So and so died. Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. Oh, and then somebody else golf clap. And then of course they end with Gavin Creel, which just brings the whole house down, and then get Cole set up to do you know their speech. And I think the in-memoriam should either be something that's light and a beautiful, you know, not a spectacle, but a presentation to honor people. But I think everyone should shut the fuck up.

No applause, no booing, no nothing. Just let it happen. Because I feel awkward clapping that yay. Oh, they died. And I know that you're not clapping for them being dead, but you're clapping differently for different people depending on your relationship with them. So that's always something for me to struggle with.

[35:03] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, Stacey, that's a great point, too. Thank you for that. That's something I didn't think about. Stacy says, I feel like it was to pay tribute to Strauss, the composer to Anna who passed this year. I think that is probably a hundred percent correct. Thank you. But yeah, I think everybody is saying it should be a moment of silence. Leave it alone. Even Chris made the announcement because some people amongst our little party were very talkative, and it wasn't me, really. Um, but was like, and we just all stop talking right now. Everyone quiet. And I think that's how it should be. It should be like a moment of respect and a moment of silence, just like you do at like a baseball game, or you know, it's it's a moment to stop, look at those that have passed and appreciate. And if you want to applaud at the end for the performance, I think that's okay. I think that that's okay. But the rest of it, not okay. But that's my little speech.

[36:00] Heather Bedor: All right. Moving on. Where are we at?

[36:04] Amber Brzezinski: Best direction of a play.

[36:07] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[36:09] Amber Brzezinski: Which one to Sam Pinkleton?

[36:13] Heather Bedor: Oh Mary. Woo woo woo-boo. Or if you're looking for his Instagram, it's Pam Stinkleton.

[36:22] Amber Brzezinski: That's a fun fact.

[36:23] Heather Bedor: It is fun. That is fun. Um, yeah, there's there's a couple of people that are going across um for different direction, and it's like, what's he's doing? Was it Sam? Somebody is like Queen of Versailles. My brain's not working today. Queen of Versailles. Um, Lost Boys. Like, it's it's amazing how they stack their seasons up. And then we can talk about Beetlejuice in a little bit.

[36:51] Amber Brzezinski: You know who else has a really fun Instagram handle from this season?

[36:57] Heather Bedor: Soda Scout.

[36:59] Amber Brzezinski: No.

[37:00] Heather Bedor: That's a TikTok handle.

[37:02] Amber Brzezinski: I know.

[37:04] Heather Bedor: Who?

[37:05] Amber Brzezinski: What?

[37:05] Heather Bedor: Uh Andrew Durand.

[37:08] Amber Brzezinski: Oh.

[37:09] Heather Bedor: It's like Dorandrew.

[37:11] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[37:12] Heather Bedor: And I think that's I think that's brilliant.

[37:15] Amber Brzezinski: I like it.

[37:15] Heather Bedor: I mean, whatever. Whatever makes.

[37:19] Amber Brzezinski: You know, people.

[37:20] Heather Bedor: Dorian.

[37:21] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[37:22] Heather Bedor: Andrew. Dor Andrew. All right. Anyway, next up. Amber and I are tired. Best direction of a musical went to Michael Arden.

[37:33] Amber Brzezinski: It's Michael Arden.

[37:34] Heather Bedor: Maybe happy ending. By the way.

[37:37] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[37:39] Heather Bedor: Front of the pod, Michael Arden.

[37:42] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I wish.

[37:46] Heather Bedor: I'm on Playbill and I'm so twisted. I'm just gonna let you read the recipe as name.

[37:51] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[37:53] Heather Bedor: Following up, we had Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play.

[37:59] Amber Brzezinski: Oh yeah.

[38:01] Heather Bedor: I mean, Well, who is nominated? You had George Clooney going for the E got.

[38:06] Amber Brzezinski: George Clooney going for the E got.

[38:08] Heather Bedor: Which, if you don't know what e-got is, it's Emmy Grammy Oscar Tony. Um, and there's I think a handful of people that have egots. We've talked about that in a previous episode. You have Cola Scola from O'Mary, John Michael Hill from Purpose, Danielle Day Kim from Yellow Face, Harry Lennox from Purpose, which is always fun when you have two people from the same show in a category, and Louie McCartney from Stranger Things. Um, and do you want to make the announcement?

[38:35] Amber Brzezinski: And the winner was Cola Scola for O'Mary, our favorite little Christmas tree.

[38:43] Heather Bedor: Which made history as the first non-binary performer to win in a featured category, I believe.

[38:56] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, yes, first non-binary actor um to win the award of actor in a leading role.

[39:04] Heather Bedor: Correct. Yeah, so making history and also talking about grinder in their Tony speech.

[39:05] Amber Brzezinski: Talking about Grinder in their Tony speech, yeah, absolutely.

[39:16] Heather Bedor: And also the dress that Cole wore was an homage to Bernard at Peter's Tony acceptance dress in 1999, and it is so cool.

[39:25] Amber Brzezinski: I love it.

[39:26] Heather Bedor: Yes, I love it. And did you see they were interviewed for like one of the groups on the red carpet, and they were like, What do you have to say to LGBTQ youth? And Cole was like, You're right, they're wrong. And I just loved that. I was like, you tell them, Cole, like you tell them.

[39:50] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, it was it was Cole's speech, was something else. There was there was some shade thrown around last night, too.

[39:58] Heather Bedor: Yeah, absolutely. Cole threw some shade. Um, Natalie threw something like in here, just like, oh, shots fired, shots hurt. It was crazy.

[40:08] Amber Brzezinski: Um my god, Jen Smart literally held up some shade.

[40:16] Heather Bedor: Yes, I thought you said Jen Smart, and I was like, Gene Smart, you mean Jennifer Samard? I was like, Jen Smart.

[40:21] Amber Brzezinski: Um, let me tell you, wearing glasses at the Tony's, genius.

[40:27] Heather Bedor: Right. I don't know if you saw Jen's post, but she was like, with um and Toronto, yeah, Michael Kors. Yeah. And it's a picture of the three of them, and I was like, it's smart though. It's so smart, but they were perfect.

[40:42] Amber Brzezinski: Right. Now, here's something before we get into the deeper dive of the bigger categories. And again, comments section, the peanut section, feel feel free to dig in here too. And this is a conversation we had at the party, too. Why when you have a show nominated for best musical, why not show off your cast? So, yes, for the gays is a hysterical and wonderful, can't be as shit production for Death Becomes Her. A lot of other people thought they would do Tell Me Ernest or something else. Some people thought that Jen was gonna come out in the middle of For the Gays and do her That Was Rude thing that's gone viral. Um, but I noticed that with the other show, and Floyd Collins did a great job of it, but I noticed it with a couple of other shows is they are not showing off their entire like maybe happy ending.

Yes, it's traditionally Claren Oliver, but Des could have taken over and done something too. Um, because realistically, and I'm really appreciative that Operation meant to meet knocked out the fucking park. Um, but realistically and traditional, part because I have hiccup. So realistically and traditionally, when performances are happening at the Tony's, again, they're not paying to perform on the Tony's, they are required to pay for the production cost, new set design, new costumes, new, you know, musical, you know, because you're consolidating like a mixtape, etc. etc. Um, so you're paying for all that plus hair and makeup and travel and whatever. But they use a lot of the digital screens this year, which was cool.

It gave us a great idea, especially like with Pirates of Pen Zance musical. It looked just like the set, but it was digital screen. But also, why are you just not showing off your whole show? It is your opportunity to have direct marketing to get new seats. That's how I found out that I wanted to go see Hades Town when it first came out.

[42:51] Heather Bedor: They did a performance and they had the swinging lamps, and I was like, I need to go see that show.

[42:57] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[42:59] Heather Bedor: And yes, James, the digital screen worked fine for America.

[43:02] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[43:02] Heather Bedor: Or Operation Mids Meet.

[43:04] Amber Brzezinski: That's so funny, Chris and I talked about that last night.

[43:06] Heather Bedor: My mind's yes, for Operation Mint Smade, it worked perfect, James, because that's essentially their set design.

[43:12] Amber Brzezinski: Anyways, it just was digital.

[43:15] Heather Bedor: Um, I think it worked great. I think it's cutting costs for a lot of productions to be able to perform, which is better because it can be a lot of money.

[43:24] Amber Brzezinski: But do I agree that it would have been cool to see Boot perform? Absolutely. Were they invited to perform? From my understanding, no, because they're not in the categories that get to perform.

[43:38] Heather Bedor: I just want people to be able to tune into the Tonies and almost have like an earlier version of the Thanksgiving Day Parade where they can figure out what shows they're gonna see during the summer because now we're off season.

[43:51] Amber Brzezinski: And now we have to wait for the new shows to start coming out.

[43:55] Heather Bedor: What are you doing, Amber?

[43:58] Amber Brzezinski: I don't know.

[44:00] Heather Bedor: You don't know, yeah.

[44:02] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, I cannot stop.

[44:04] Heather Bedor: Speaking of freaking boop, I cannot stop.

[44:08] Amber Brzezinski: Cannot stop walking around quoting, we should say boop.

[44:13] Heather Bedor: Do you know what I'm talking about?

[44:15] Amber Brzezinski: No.

[44:17] Heather Bedor: Alright.

[44:18] Amber Brzezinski: Well, never mind.

[44:19] Heather Bedor: No, now I need to know.

[44:22] Amber Brzezinski: Um, Hannah Solo, the O Mary Um Standby.

[44:31] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[44:32] Amber Brzezinski: Posted like a story that she had to post on her reel because so many people were like, or on her feed because so many people were like, you need to post this post this on your feed.

[44:44] Heather Bedor: Where she was like, I am working on this new character that I saw based on this guy that I just saw walking by in Times Square.

[44:53] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, okay.

[44:54] Heather Bedor: And she just goes, Oh, we should say boop.

[45:01] Amber Brzezinski: And that's it.

[45:02] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[45:03] Amber Brzezinski: But now I get that, and that's terrible.

[45:05] Heather Bedor: The vi the the um audio is going viral, and I can't stop.

[45:12] Amber Brzezinski: I can't stop saying we could see boop.

[45:17] Heather Bedor: I'm gonna I'm gonna pull it up. I'm gonna do it.

[45:20] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna I'm gonna go in with it.

[45:31] Heather Bedor: Don't sigh at me.

[45:33] Amber Brzezinski: You need to tell us because my friend Jake made we could see boop cupcakes, and I don't get it.

[45:38] Heather Bedor: I didn't get we could see boop cupcakes.

[45:41] Amber Brzezinski: Chris, did you take them and not share them with the rest of the class?

[45:44] Heather Bedor: How rude.

[45:46] Amber Brzezinski: Yes. Amber and I are so very drained.

[45:46] Heather Bedor: So very drained.

[45:52] Amber Brzezinski: Um I am desperate. Let's let's while you're looking up Tony stuff, let's put it this way. Um, I happen to be going to New York when it's first preview for Heathers.

[46:02] Heather Bedor: I was like, oh, another party, excuse me, Chris Levy. Um, but I was like, well, I really want to go to Heathers. I really want to go to Heathers.

[46:10] Amber Brzezinski: Y'all, all the tickets are sold out. $700 for freaking ticket to go see Heather's at New World Stages.

[46:20] Heather Bedor: Resale. That's all.

[46:23] Amber Brzezinski: What?

[46:25] Heather Bedor: Uh I'd say, what? Like, what?

[46:27] Amber Brzezinski: It's insanity.

[46:29] Heather Bedor: Heather's nation is.

[46:32] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but I do have, I don't even think Amber knows at this point. Amber, guess who I talked to today.

[46:38] Heather Bedor: I saw it.

[46:42] Amber Brzezinski: Um, Andy Fickman, the one and only incredible director of just so much, but right now actively directing Heathers.

[46:52] Heather Bedor: Um, is potentially gonna be a guest once they open, so we're very excited. Um, and Chris Levy, he threw his own party that was rude.

[47:00] Amber Brzezinski: That it, but we weren't there, so it doesn't matter.

[47:03] Heather Bedor: Elliot, we were in New York City yesterday to see Sondheim's old friends, which was outstanding. We meandered over to Radio City to see the activity. Lots of limos and tuxedos.

[47:14] Amber Brzezinski: Oh yeah.

[47:15] Heather Bedor: Um last year I was sending pictures and videos from when it was at Lincoln Center because it's crazy over there, the whole complex.

[47:23] Amber Brzezinski: And because Lincoln Center is surrounded by like all sorts of crazy, they had all the streets blocked off, and you had like the media row, which is where all the television stations and radio stations and like the talent tents.

[47:37] Heather Bedor: Um it's always really fun. Um because it's the red carpet. This is our Super Bowl, our Oscars or whatever you want to say.

[47:47] Amber Brzezinski: So it's really kind of fun and fascinating. Um especially when you have friends on the inside who were sharing pictures and you're just like, hi, I am very jealous.

[47:58] Heather Bedor: Um, Elliot asked, was Bernada at the Tony Awards? I didn't see her, did you, Amber?

[48:03] Amber Brzezinski: I did not.

[48:05] Heather Bedor: So I don't know. Um, and something that also I don't know if a lot of people know the Tony Awards, even if you're nominated. Now, here's the traditional stance of it.

[48:16] Amber Brzezinski: Every ticket at the Tony Awards has to be purchased. Whether the producer of the show is purchasing it for the staff, like the cast, the crew, the production and creative, or you are responsible for it on your own.

[48:30] Heather Bedor: You have to purchase a ticket for each and every one. There's really no discount. Um, you know, nominees are gonna be there, clearly, that's a thing.

[48:37] Amber Brzezinski: But like everybody else, that's why a lot of shows do like a cast party and they watch and then everybody goes parties afterwards.

[48:46] Heather Bedor: So um, I don't know, but I will say I would love to find somebody who won the lottery. It was like 500 bucks. I think Ariana or Ariana Geez Louise, Cynthia was up in like the rafters when she was presenting that giant pink sequin puffball dress, um, where she was like a glamorous flamingo.

[49:09] Amber Brzezinski: And um she I think was up at the rafters, and it seemed like those could have been some of the lottery winners because they were like way up at the Tippety Top of Radio City.

[49:18] Heather Bedor: Yeah, $450 lottery. Still crazy, and it's black tie, and of course, but the better part is once you're not in the orchestra, if you're in the mezzanine, you can come and go as needed because the TV, like the cameras scan over you.

[49:32] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[49:33] Heather Bedor: So all right, moving right along, Amber.

[49:36] Amber Brzezinski: Move right around. Next up, we have Best Revival of a Musical, which went to Challenge Boulevard.

[49:48] Heather Bedor: Uh, excuse me, it's Boulevard.

[49:51] Amber Brzezinski: No, it's Boulevard.

[49:52] Heather Bedor: But Tom Francis thinks it is Boulevard.

[49:55] Amber Brzezinski: He does not.

[49:58] Heather Bedor: He does.

[49:58] Amber Brzezinski: Did you find that video by the way?

[50:00] Heather Bedor: I'm like trying to get it to open, but my computer seems too.

[50:05] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and the nominees for that category were Floyd Collins with Tina Landau, um, for the book, um, Adam Goittel, um, Gypsy and Pirates.

[50:16] Heather Bedor: Um, which I personally I enjoyed Pirates of Pen Dance musical. Did they pick the right song to perform?

[50:27] Amber Brzezinski: No.

[50:27] Heather Bedor: Yeah, it was a little lackluster.

[50:30] Amber Brzezinski: Lackluster for sure.

[50:32] Heather Bedor: A little lackluster for Chisel. Um, yeah, I just said could they have done Pirate King? Absolutely. Could they have done the Made or Major Modern General? 100%.

[50:42] Amber Brzezinski: Um, David Hyde Pierce was there.

[50:45] Heather Bedor: Like he was in that character, ready to go with all the daughters, and I was a little bit shocked that that's not what they performed.

[50:54] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but they did a good job. Jinx didn't get the laughs and applause like they usually do act the actual show, and they're like, maybe I'm just a jinx.

[51:03] Heather Bedor: Right.

[51:04] Amber Brzezinski: And speaking of Jinx Monsoon, did you see the um rumor that is circulating amongst our Braddy Curls Club and O'Mary?

[51:14] Heather Bedor: I don't buy it.

[51:16] Amber Brzezinski: So it is rumored that Jinx is going to be taking over Mary Todd Lincoln uh for Cola Schola and Titus.

[51:23] Heather Bedor: So we'll see what happens. It'll be interesting.

[51:28] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, it's funny. Olivia says, Sons of Boulevard, when I went yesterday, I sat on Orga Shar Rogee where Tom comes in for act two.

[51:36] Heather Bedor: Yes, Olivia. Um, I don't know if you got a chance to listen to our um show Crash Months Ago, but Amber very specifically purchased the two aisle end seats right at the entrance and was like hyper ventilating.

[51:54] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, I'm shaking because we were watching the whole thing, and they walked in, and you know, Tom's right there, and everybody's right there to the point where like I waved to the ensemble members that are part of our group as the doors closed, but it was really cool.

[52:10] Heather Bedor: It's kind of a very interesting take. All right, what's next?

[52:16] Amber Brzezinski: Next up is best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical, which went to none other than Darren Chris, and that category was massively stacked.

[52:33] Heather Bedor: You had Andrew Durand from Dead Outlaw. Um, I think the flash year shows are not really getting a lot of love this year. Like that's kind of what I saw.

[52:41] Amber Brzezinski: It's more of the broken down shows.

[52:45] Heather Bedor: Tom Francis from Sunset, Jonathan Groff from Justin Time, James Monroe Eichelheart, which is surprised for a lot of people for a wonderful world, the Louie Armstrong musical because it was such a short run.

[52:55] Amber Brzezinski: And Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins.

[52:59] Heather Bedor: So yeah, Darren won. I think they said was it the past three years?

[53:04] Amber Brzezinski: There's been three each year for the past three years, a glee alum has won because three years ago Alex Newell won for Shocked.

[53:15] Heather Bedor: Last year, Jonathan Groff won for Marile, and then this year Darren Chris won for maybe Happy Ending.

[53:22] Amber Brzezinski: So it's kind of cool.

[53:24] Heather Bedor: Oh my god, I didn't get a notification on my post. Cheyenne cook, I'm gonna throw you up here. Girl, they start at 8 o'clock every Monday night unless otherwise noted.

[53:33] Amber Brzezinski: Always eight.

[53:34] Heather Bedor: So if you guys don't get a notification for something, just know that you can find the Broadway Fan Club podcast on our Broadway fan club page, on Facebook, our group on Facebook, on YouTube under the Broadway fan club, or on Instagram at the B Wave fan club.

[53:51] Amber Brzezinski: So we're constantly out there.

[53:56] Heather Bedor: Oh, Chris Levy, I would love to say I agree. Um Chris Levy says next year will not be Leah Michelle.

[54:02] Amber Brzezinski: I said what I said.

[54:03] Heather Bedor: I I would love to agree with that, but I cannot confirm nor deny.

[54:07] Amber Brzezinski: Um before we get into well, let's do best performance by an actress in a leading role.

[54:13] Heather Bedor: And then before we go into best musical, um, I want to talk about the Jonathan Groff moment, but we'll wait.

[54:21] Amber Brzezinski: Let's go over Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.

[54:25] Heather Bedor: Uh the nominees were Meghan Hilty for Death Becomes her, Audrey McDonald for Gypsy, Jasmine Amy Rogers for Boop the Musical, Jennifer Smart for Death Becomes Her, and Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard.

[54:37] Amber Brzezinski: The winner was Nicole.

[54:41] Heather Bedor: I said about the Audre performance from Gypsy.

[54:49] Amber Brzezinski: But the controversy that's kind of been around was everybody has been petitioning. There was an actual petition put around for Jasmine to perform from Boop, which I think would have been amazing.

[55:01] Heather Bedor: Huge ensemble though. I don't know how I don't know.

[55:04] Amber Brzezinski: But every actress in a leading role except for Jennifer Simard performed because Megan performed for the gays.

[55:11] Heather Bedor: Audre performance Rose, like Rose's turn. Jasmine hadn't performed, but nothing was performed by Boop.

[55:17] Amber Brzezinski: Nicole obviously sang her knock the house down solo.

[55:22] Heather Bedor: And Jen didn't get a chance to perform because they did for the gays.

[55:26] Amber Brzezinski: So I see people's options of being upset, but it's kind of it is what it is.

[55:36] Heather Bedor: We're not there. It was done for a reason.

[55:39] Amber Brzezinski: So but yeah, let's talk about good old Johnny Groff.

[55:44] Heather Bedor: Wait.

[55:45] Amber Brzezinski: What?

[55:47] Heather Bedor: Please hold.

[55:49] Amber Brzezinski: Did you find the video?

[55:52] Heather Bedor: Are you ready?

[55:53] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm.

[55:55] Heather Bedor: Character I created based off of a man I saw in Times Square.

[56:00] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, well, we could see boop.

[56:07] Heather Bedor: I mean, I love staying in the theater district and walking around because you just hear the silliest things or like oh god, what was it?

[56:18] Amber Brzezinski: I heard a couple of couple of weeks ago.

[56:20] Heather Bedor: So Hannah Solo is brilliant. Like I just need to preface that.

[56:24] Amber Brzezinski: Like Hannah Solo is brilliant.

[56:27] Heather Bedor: Brilliant, a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant comedian.

[56:31] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[56:33] Heather Bedor: Brilliant.

[56:34] Amber Brzezinski: And I'm so happy.

[56:36] Heather Bedor: I can hear somebody in Times Square saying, Well, we can see boop.

[56:40] Amber Brzezinski: I mean, I can definitely see that.

[56:42] Heather Bedor: And I'm so happy that it's getting its flowers.

[56:48] Amber Brzezinski: It's going viral.

[56:50] Heather Bedor: It is it's I'm hoping they do a pro shot. I really am.

[56:57] Amber Brzezinski: Um let's talk about another thing that went viral yesterday, Amber.

[57:05] Heather Bedor: Yes. Since the puppies had been renamed, I had to come up with a better segue.

[57:10] Amber Brzezinski: Um, the one and only freaking Phantom of the Opera made an appearance on the red carpet.

[57:16] Heather Bedor: Are you kidding me?

[57:18] Amber Brzezinski: And it was just so it's believed to be Derby Stoll, who's America's one of America's favorite phantoms. Um, and literally, I will try to find the video unless you want to. The Phantom's there. He's in his cape, he's in his mask, he's in his hat, and he just walks behind everybody on the red carpet. Just doesn't stop for the cameras, just walks like he owns the place, because he probably does. Um, and it made my little Phantom heart so happy, and I posted it to our Phantom group, and I posted it to the Masquerade group, which by the way, um, it's interesting. A lot of our members don't know that we run a hundred and four fan groups. Most of them can be found on www.thebroadwayfanclub.com. Um, we have so many.

And if there's a group that you're like, hey Heather, do you guys have this group? We don't, but we can make one. It's not that hard. Not that hard. But um, yeah, so the Phantom was there, and then also the first presenters of the evening after the first act, freaking Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter for Waiting for Godot, which is hysterical that everyone keeps saying Godot, and even Michael Drillet last night was like, wait, have we been saying this wrong? It's God. But they presented and it was so cool, and we have a Waiting for God show, uh, show group, fan group. Um, but also Jonathan Groff, I think lived his best Hedwig life last night because he totally pulled a car wash on Keanu Reeves, and I made a comment, a very craft comment in our Justin Times Blush Splash group chat, and I said I didn't have Jonathan Groff teabacking Keanu Reeves on the Tonies on my bingo card, but here we are.

Um, and our group members, I think needed a whole different level of respect for me from what I understand. Um, and Keanu Reeves's reaction was just the best reaction. It was the best reaction. We'll post that video link too. But yes, um, because we're wrap towards wrapping up. Uh, do you want to announce? Which we obviously very much know what the best musical was. We can go over the nominees.

[59:39] Heather Bedor: The nominees for Best Musical are Bonavista's Social Club, Dead Outlaw, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending, and Operation Mince Meat. So you have a show that's based off of an original IP for Bonavista's Social Club. Dead Outlaw, which ran off-Broadway and was a huge success. Death Becomes Her, pre-existing IP, Intellectual Property. Maybe Happy Ending, which is an original show, and Operation Mince Meat, which started off as a fringe show, went over to the West and came over here as a limited run. So very hot, heavy contenders, all in their own right, and Maybe Happy Ending took home the Tony for that too. So it was definitely almost it was almost a clean sweep. They got 60% of the awards that they were nominated for.

[1:00:24] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[1:00:27] Heather Bedor: Why did Jesse?

[1:00:28] Amber Brzezinski: Oh yes.

[1:00:30] Heather Bedor: The list of that. Um, Maybe Happy Ending took home six. Bonavista's Social Club took home four. Stranger Things took home three, Dorian Gray, two, Purpose two, O'Mary, two, Death Becomes Her one, Mince Meat one, Yellow Face one, Eureka Day one. Yep. But I mean, there are so many shows missing off that tally. When you what did they say? There were 89 shows that came up this past season. Three, six, ten shows got Tonies this year. You know, like open up a little bit of diversity.

[1:01:11] Amber Brzezinski: Uh, Catherine is asking why Justin Time and Real Women Have Curves got performance slots. Um, we discussed this a couple weeks ago, Amber. Do you remember how I broke it down?

[1:01:24] Heather Bedor: Um, vaguely, but I you can do it again if you'd like.

[1:01:28] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, that's so kind of you. Um, I am trying to pull it up. It has to do with what featured categories they're nominated for that includes the entire cast and not just a specific performer, for example. Um, Best Direction, Best Orchestration. Um, they don't really go into like the really stuff like the single or the scenic or whatnot. So they were invited there to showcase because they were nominated for larger categories. Um, and it kind of just goes down the list from there. Let's see. I'm going down our comments before we end our call.

[1:02:19] Heather Bedor: So DV for one second. Speaking of the gays, Cheyenne Cook is so far behind. We're talking about Harvey's acceptance speech.

[1:02:25] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, I talked about that the top of the hour, and it brought everybody to tears. Um, and I just love him, and I still can't think of anything, you know, remotely besides Edna and when he did Mrs. Doubtfire.

[1:02:39] Heather Bedor: I was gonna say when um, I obviously watched it with Jimmy and he was like, I don't know who that is, and I was like, You do know who that is, Mrs. Doubtfire's brother.

[1:02:50] Amber Brzezinski: He goes, Oh and I was like, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know exactly who that is. But yeah, um, what was they saying, Amber?

[1:03:02] Heather Bedor: That they had I I have this whole thing, and then my brain goes whoosh out the window. Um, what did we say?

[1:03:10] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, do you want to talk about the Tom Francis or Tom Felton drama?

[1:03:18] Heather Bedor: Not really.

[1:03:19] Amber Brzezinski: I don't really want to give them more attention.

[1:03:22] Heather Bedor: Okay. Totally understand. Um, we will post it for anyone that's interested. I will gladly share it uh to make people aware. But we were also talking about how many viewers the um Tony's brought in. Do you have those numbers in front of you?

[1:03:41] Amber Brzezinski: I don't, but I can Google Tony viewership.

[1:03:46] Heather Bedor: Um, so it was 4.8. 4.85 million viewers, a 38% increase from that last year. And it's a significant increase on since it's uh the streaming audience on Paramount Plus, it was an increase up 208% year over year.

[1:04:03] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[1:04:04] Heather Bedor: So but they also said this was the most lucrative season of Broadway in history, and then you have to wonder, is it because of tickets like Othello tickets that are like 800 bucks?

[1:04:15] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[1:04:16] Heather Bedor: They're going to the theater more. I will say the houses have been really full.

[1:04:22] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[1:04:22] Heather Bedor: Really, really full. Um, so that's kind of encouraging. So it'll be really interesting to see how next season plays off because there's a lot of 80s stuff, like Heather's Lost Voice, Mystic Pizza, if it finally transitions over.

[1:04:36] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so I'll be really curious. Plus, I'll also be curious to see what happens with Wicked's people are still leaving Wicked after the first act because they don't want to ruin the movie for themselves.

[1:04:45] Heather Bedor: I can't.

[1:04:47] Amber Brzezinski: I can't either.

[1:04:48] Heather Bedor: Can't either.

[1:04:50] Amber Brzezinski: But um, we have already run over time. We have so much more to talk about. Thanks to Casey in the corner over there, um, sharing to all of our wonderful fan groups. Don't forget, guys, again, you can check out all of our groups on the BroadwayFanClub.com. You can also get yourself some blink. I she's on top of it. Go to the Broadwayfanclub.sc.com and buy yourself or your friends or your family or your neighbors or your enemies or your state stores some custom bracelets. What's your favorite one that you have on there right now, Amber?

[1:05:20] Heather Bedor: Um, honestly, I don't think there's one that I have on here right now. That's my favorite one. I think they'll take one off and show a close-up of one. But I don't have one that I that like that's on here that I'm that I'm feeling.

[1:05:35] Amber Brzezinski: I think I'm like really feeling like the um the sample viva um Death Becomes Her gem one, right?

[1:05:45] Heather Bedor: Which they are sold out right now, but I can make new ones and then drop away. But yes, check out the Broadwayfanclub.etsy.com. It is how we make money to pay for our streamer to keep this show going. So if you love us, uh buy a bracelet, they are ten dollars right now. And you can get them custom, and they don't even have to be Broadway related. You can as Amber dies, they can be birthday, anniversary, wrong pipe.

[1:06:12] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, that's not good at all.

[1:06:14] Heather Bedor: Um, and then also I have to add the additional one. Um, on top of our wonderful hotel partners at the W Times Square and the Weston Times Square, where you can enter the promo code E7103. We are proud to announce that we are bringing in a new hotel, which I stayed at last time, which is the Element Times Square, right off of 39th. Um, our promo code is like three letters. Let me pull that up because I was not prepared. Uh shame on me. It's five, like the number five LC.

[1:06:51] Amber Brzezinski: So um, like LC moo moo mamoo.

[1:06:54] Heather Bedor: Um, and you will make the they will give you a great discount on top of it. So check out we have three different hotel partners. If you're looking to travel, I have personally stayed at these hotels so I can tell you how incredible they are, how close they are to the theaters and how safe they are. Um, and comfortable beds and good sized rooms because I am claustrophobic. But go check them out, check us out. Um, we are here every Monday, unless for some reason we can't be, and we always let you guys know.

[1:07:23] Amber Brzezinski: So Cheyenne Cook put us down on the books.

[1:07:26] Heather Bedor: Um yeah, next week we'll be right back to our regularly scheduled routine of Broadway news and all sorts of fun stuff. We'll make some announcements as far as some guests and what the next couple of weeks will bring. Amber, do you have anything to add?

[1:07:42] Amber Brzezinski: No, I'm taking a freaking Tony's nap, man.

[1:07:44] Heather Bedor: I'm Tony's tired.

[1:07:47] Amber Brzezinski: Tony's tired.

[1:07:50] Heather Bedor: Aw, this is we're just gonna come up with our own category of just weird shit that happens to your body after the Tony's.

[1:07:56] Amber Brzezinski: It's a lot, and we weren't even there this year.

[1:07:58] Heather Bedor: We'll be there next year for sure. But congratulations to those that were nominated, the winners, um, our friends, our our chosen family that was there, um, and everybody in between. It is hard putting together a Broadway show because you can open one day and then you don't do the sales, and you've worked your ass off for six months, nine months, nine years, and nothing.

[1:08:24] Amber Brzezinski: Nothing, and you have to close.

[1:08:26] Heather Bedor: Like, look at these beautiful shows. Limpica closed early, Tammy Faye immediately closed, Wonderful World.

[1:08:33] Amber Brzezinski: Swept away.

[1:08:34] Heather Bedor: These shows all closed, and they didn't get the opportunity to be able to make it to gain or garner a huge audience, but they have a cult following.

[1:08:45] Amber Brzezinski: Heather, what it's like you're in my brain.

[1:08:50] Heather Bedor: Why?

[1:08:51] Amber Brzezinski: Because you just said Limpica.

[1:08:53] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[1:08:54] Amber Brzezinski: I was just about to say, and also shout out to Amber Amon for continuously having the best Instagram feeds, navigating these like events and these like these um, you know, things because she was at the Tony's last night, obviously sitting behind Gail and Oprah, and her coverage on it was just out of this world.

[1:09:25] Heather Bedor: Also, can I say Gail's neon green dress obsessing?

[1:09:29] Amber Brzezinski: Um, the choices, and I'm just gonna go into this for a moment. I have a problem if you're a costume designer and you are not properly wearing your costumeslash outfit for the night. Some of them did some really good stuff, some of them didn't. I will not be calling out any names.

[1:09:47] Heather Bedor: Also, can I just say, since we just talked about different people in the audience, freaking Adam Lambert, oh my god, I love him. The initial singing and kicking some ass, and then presenting with Charlie D'Amelio, which I didn't think she needed to be on the stage.

[1:10:04] Amber Brzezinski: She does it like speaking publicly, and she's in on and Juliet.

[1:10:08] Heather Bedor: Um, I love Adam. People are like, why is he there? It's just Adam Lamborghini. I was like, well, one, he was the MC. Two, he's doing Jesus Christ Superstar with Cynthia Erivo in LA.

[1:10:21] Amber Brzezinski: So he's gonna be there.

[1:10:22] Heather Bedor: Also, our little baby Ali was there doing the presentation too. So it was nice to see literally our friends up and doing category representation.

[1:10:31] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[1:10:31] Heather Bedor: Some camera presentation for sure.

[1:10:34] Amber Brzezinski: Definitely for sure. Um, so we'll see what next season brings.

[1:10:38] Heather Bedor: But we will see you guys next Monday. So when Broadway's dark, we keep that ghost light burning.

[1:10:44] Amber Brzezinski: But check us out.

[1:10:45] Heather Bedor: Yes, we have so many more new group chats amongst our fan groups. If there is a fan group you're part of that doesn't have an active chat, reach out to me or Amber. We will start one for you guys right away. Thanks always to Casey. Um, we appreciate you. We love you.

[1:11:00] Amber Brzezinski: And Amber, you're just the worst ever.

[1:11:03] Heather Bedor: I'm gonna eat a sandwich.

[1:11:05] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna go eat a sandwich.

[1:11:07] Heather Bedor: Um, and then some leftover melting pot.

[1:11:09] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[1:11:11] Heather Bedor: Love you guys. Um, have a great week. Hit us up if you need us. You know, we're always available. Um, let's see what happens next season. I'm curious, but have a great night, everybody.

[1:11:22] Amber Brzezinski: Ciao for now.