This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:18] Heather Bedor: Are you okay? There has to be a way to turn this down. There has to be a way. I mean, it was so loud. I'm hiding my face so the world can't find me right now. I can't help. It was so loud. Oh, what you guys are missing is Amber making the most uh when our music started and it's not like rock music.

[0:46] Amber Brzezinski: No, it was like it's like elevator music, but it was so loud.

[0:51] Heather Bedor: It's a loud elevator, very loud elevator. Hello! If you didn't know, this is Heather, because I'm in complete disguise. Wait, ready? Hold on. I'm here. Okay. We are having all sorts of tech issues. I dropped my computer last week, literally two hours before my flight. So my computer is crazy. So we're updating and downloading and uploading and discomfob. I don't know. I'm just here. Hi.

[1:26] Amber Brzezinski: Are you there?

[1:27] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[1:31] Amber Brzezinski: That's great. I love it. Um, giggly kind of a night tonight. Um, Jeffrey Cohen, we're gonna get to all sorts of fun stuff about masquerade. You just strap yourself in there and have a fun time. Um, well, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome to the Broadway Fan Club Podcast.

[1:51] Amber Brzezinski: Yay! It's fun. It's been a really fun, drama-free day.

[1:55] Heather Bedor: Yeah, right. Any days if it ends in Y, it has drama. Hi, Olivia. Um, so we had to start a little bit late because just all the technological things. And um handling handling some questions in our in our group chats and all sorts of stuff. I'm just here, we're gonna have a good time. Um, Instagram didn't work for me, so it's gonna be one of those fun nights. Um, but we've got a lot to cover because somehow I managed to go to New York for four days and get stuff done, and it felt like it happened like 30 years ago, and also like it hasn't happened at all, which is crazy.

[2:36] Heather Bedor: Um, it's the weirdest feeling. So um, for those of you that couldn't tell from the incredible mask. I don't know if you guys can see this. It's like beautiful. Um, I did get an opportunity to go to masquerade, and holy cow, um, so incredible. Oh, those inside out. It's even better this way. And then they have this cute little um, like, I don't know if you guys can see this. So you can adjust it on the back of your head. Um, so it doesn't hurt. It's actually quite nice, it's embroidered lace. I love it.

[3:09] Heather Bedor: Um, but I started out my week. I met up with my friend Mark who came in from Indiana. We ran around um and we got to hang out with the one and only Alan Seales for a little bit over at um the podcast studio in Times Square, which is so much more information that I'll provide about that. Um, then we did Operation Mincemeat, and guess what, Amber?

[3:34] Amber Brzezinski: What?

[3:35] Heather Bedor: I didn't even go to Didi's soup dumplings this past week. Why I was just that crazy busy. Um, I had pizza once, which makes me very sad. Um, I don't even remember really eating last week. I remember two places. We went to the Russian tea room before Masquerade, which shout out to Gabby and the whole team over there. Um, Jasmine was our server. Some of the nicest people in the most beautiful spots. Um, Russian tea room, and then Hamilton had a street party after the 10th anniversary show, and we got hot dogs and pretzels and cookies and water. It was very nice.

[4:20] Heather Bedor: Um, yes, Olivia, I went to Schmackery's. Um, I did talk to Shawnee over at Schmacks. Um I would be the one. Any any Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fans in the house over here? Yeah, no, we're not doing hot dog, hot dog, hot, hot dog, hot dog. Okay, no, no, we're focusing on Broadway. We do have at least one of us sit besides me and that focusing here, focus, focus the attention.

[4:48] Heather Bedor: Anyways, so um, yeah, oh, and Amber, if you could post um the links to our group chats and masquerade, that'd be great too. Cause you know, why not? Um, so yeah, so ran around like a crazy person. Um, my lift canceled on me because quote, it's only a mile. Yeah, for somebody in my my uh TBI's every kind of nerve pinched owie um to go 15 blocks was a challenge. Um, but that's not what you guys are here for. You guys want to hear about masquerade? We want to talk Broadway news because holy crap, is there a lot of it holy holy crap um so yeah um are you done sharing all the fun stuff you want to get right into it um i mean i'm still sharing but we can still get into it she's slacking slacker um trying well what do we want to talk about first what kind of broadway news is on your mind today i'm trying to be thorough um uh do you want me to do you want me to be uh or do you want to live in a household of truth and honesty or do we wanna talk about Broadway news I can out of your family do I want to live in what a household of truth and honesty or do we want to talk about Broadway news yes I'll be above well not last weekend just like as in like a couple days ago but the weekend before that Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert they did a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar and I'm just not over it yet either I'm just not yeah I don't think there's people in this world that don't know that especially if they follow you on social media or follow our original Broadway Fan Club group because you had one post that you made of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cynthia Erivo like just talking and I think we have like a hundred and twenty two thousand follows, like likes on it.

[7:02] Heather Bedor: I just like I'm just still not over it. Like, I can't believe that was only like one week ago. Like, like 10 days ago, basically. You can't believe that your world changed technically eight days ago. Right. It was like technically like 10 days ago, 11 days ago. Like something, something a little yes. I just can't believe that that happened. And then we're going to be able to do it. Well, and it's interesting because now we did start a Jesus Christ Superstar fangroup as per requested. And we're supposed to just move on from this news and talk about different news. We are going to because we have a lot to cover in very little time.

[7:40] Amber Brzezinski: What?

[7:41] Heather Bedor: I know. What do you expect from me? I'm only human.

[7:44] Amber Brzezinski: I'm only human.

[7:45] Heather Bedor: I'm only human.

[7:47] Amber Brzezinski: I don't think you're really I don't think you're human.

[7:49] Heather Bedor: Superhuman, maybe.

[7:54] Amber Brzezinski: But um, okay, well, what other news besides Amber is obsessed with Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert?

[7:59] Heather Bedor: Hello. Also, special mention of Brian Justin Crum. Shout out to Brian Justin Crum because I freaking love him. And he's not getting any love about the show. And he kicks a major button, tucks in names, and holy crap, I love his voice. Um, there was like a little small teensy, teensy meansy, tiny tiny winesy little announcement.

[8:23] Amber Brzezinski: Tiny C wine?

[8:25] Heather Bedor: Which announcement?

[8:26] Amber Brzezinski: There's a couple.

[8:35] Heather Bedor: But it's pretty cool. It is um something that I think might trickle down to us in due time.

[8:46] Amber Brzezinski: I don't think that's gonna happen.

[8:49] Heather Bedor: Olivia killed it in the comments. Should should we say it at the same time?

[8:55] Amber Brzezinski: No, you say it first.

[8:57] Heather Bedor: Okay. Holy shit. I can't even curse away. I really want to. The freaking West End is getting Eva.

[9:10] Amber Brzezinski: Reba.

[9:11] Heather Bedor: And Reeve.

[9:13] Amber Brzezinski: Riva.

[9:15] Heather Bedor: In Cabaret in the West End. Holy shit. I am dying. First off, love Eva. I have had the opportunity of spending some time with her. And Reeve is one of the most incredible human beings in the entire universe. They really are like the cutest thing ever. Um I knew when I saw her at Sally Bowles, I was like, she's not done with this.

[9:40] Amber Brzezinski: But also, how cute would it be if Reeve was MC?

[9:44] Heather Bedor: And then magically we get this like cute little video um released from the West End. Like Eva on the phone. I'm not done yet. I'm not done yet. And I have this great idea for how cute was that.

[9:59] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, it's adorable.

[10:00] Heather Bedor: Um the height difference on the two of them.

[10:04] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[10:05] Heather Bedor: Like excessive.

[10:07] Amber Brzezinski: So I'm a little bit like I'm literally like waiting to just go. I'm going to hitch a ride. I'm gonna hold on for dear life. I have really immense upper arm strength, apparently in my mind. I'm gonna like wrap my arms around like the wing of a plane because I'm also a giant, and just ride the plane over to London.

[10:28] Heather Bedor: I have friends that are about an hour away from the West End. Um, so Sarah, prefer prepare yourself for your couch to be taken up because I will find a way to go see them because I love them both together.

[10:41] Amber Brzezinski: And how amazing up to that, yeah. Incredible, and I wish that we had that embracement, and I we're not going to any of the politics, but like I really am so excited to see Helen J Shen with Andrew Barth Feldman because so cute a little couple too, and like I just want the world to embrace these like couples that are starring together or having the opportunity to do that because that is so hard.

[11:09] Heather Bedor: These little showman's not even showman's, it's like romance before the show, so it's like right excessive, like, and like you know that you have to really truly love each other because when you're doing a show 10 times a week, not only are you doing rehearsals and fight calls and stunt calls and dance calls and warm-ups. I mean, you're doing the entire show, and then you're going home with each other, like you are literally on top.

[11:38] Amber Brzezinski: If you live together, which both of these couples do, um, if you live together, you can be like, Okay, well, I'll see you later. I'm gonna go do my show. Okay, I'm trying so hard not to sneeze because I've got my mouse sneeze.

[11:58] Heather Bedor: Sorry, anyways. Um, this is fun. So um cucumber.

[12:05] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, just don't get an opportunity.

[12:07] Heather Bedor: What cucumber?

[12:09] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, that's that's the thing you say.

[12:11] Heather Bedor: I don't know. I was like always upset.

[12:14] Amber Brzezinski: I mean, cute cucumber.

[12:19] Heather Bedor: I will say I didn't I managed to not sneeze or cough during all of Masquerade because it was so quiet at times, and I was like, I was trying to not cry because I felt like that I did.

[12:33] Amber Brzezinski: Um but I felt like the sound of my tear rolling down my cheek would have broken the silence anyways.

[12:41] Heather Bedor: Anyways, so yeah, I'm like super obsessed with Riva being on the West End in London for cabaret. I would have loved to have seen them here. Um I'm still holding out on that that they might possibly figure out how to do uh like a pre-London show here, but that's just wishing for the best.

[13:02] Amber Brzezinski: We're not gonna get into that because we did that last week.

[13:06] Heather Bedor: So what is next on our Broadway news agenda tonight, ma'am?

[13:11] Amber Brzezinski: Um I just like closed out of my screen because I'm stupid.

[13:19] Heather Bedor: I mean, you said it's you're so smart, you're one of the smartest people I know.

[13:27] Amber Brzezinski: Um no dead air is great.

[13:35] Heather Bedor: Dead air, dead air, dead.

[13:40] Amber Brzezinski: No, we're not gonna dead air it.

[13:42] Heather Bedor: Anyways, uh Jeffrey says Olivia, they say he will return.

[13:45] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, so Jeffrey, you're correct. So Olivia's talking about seeing maybe happy ending before Darren leaves. Darren's only gone like two months. Andrew is literally scheduled from the end of September to November first.

[13:57] Heather Bedor: So he's like sneaky.

[14:00] Amber Brzezinski: It's like a month and a half to two months of Andrew, and then because Darren's going on to work, from what I understand.

[14:05] Heather Bedor: Right.

[14:05] Amber Brzezinski: So I don't know.

[14:06] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[14:08] Amber Brzezinski: Um anyway, so what's next?

[14:11] Heather Bedor: Um I mean, are we saying are are we staying impartial because then maybe happy ending thing or we can stay impartial?

[14:22] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but we can talk about I know exactly what you want to talk about.

[14:25] Heather Bedor: The letter.

[14:26] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[14:27] Heather Bedor: Yeah, talk about the letter. I think it's important for sure.

[14:30] Amber Brzezinski: Okay. Um, so there has been a letter that is circulating which has over 2,000 signatures um of people, you know, denouncing this casting decision of Andrew Barth Feldman as Oliver.

[14:55] Heather Bedor: Um, I just think you know, this was something, you know, like you said, important to bring up that this letter is going around, it had garnished a lot of signatures.

[15:07] Amber Brzezinski: A lot of people feel very passionate about it. It's you know, something that people think is, you know, change things moving forward, I think.

[15:21] Heather Bedor: Well, there's also been a casting. There's been a scholarship created because of it.

[15:26] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[15:29] Heather Bedor: Yes, and that was created by Conrad Rickamora.

[15:34] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[15:35] Heather Bedor: So that's very cool. Um, there's all I mean, there's the comment section I can see on both sides.

[15:44] Amber Brzezinski: So some people are like, wait, why is there an issue? Because like traditional roles that are traditionally played with Caucasian performers are being played by different nationalities and hair, you know, etc.

[15:56] Heather Bedor: So I see it from both sides, but yeah, I think it's important. The letter is important because it's when the community is cut.

[16:01] Amber Brzezinski: I'm losing my voice.

[16:02] Heather Bedor: When the community is coming together for something, I always think it's important to celebrate that because it's so hard.

[16:07] Amber Brzezinski: Um, I mean, there's another um letter and petition going around with like a ton of people that are signing through the Broadway League for the casino that they're saying no to the casino.

[16:18] Heather Bedor: Right.

[16:18] Amber Brzezinski: Um, for those of you that don't know, there is a casino that has been proposed by Caesars Entertainment.

[16:23] Heather Bedor: Um, that would be literally right where the marquee is, essentially where the Minks Goth Theater is, um, all the way down to Juniors would be like renovated into a casino where they're gonna host monthly job fairs for people in Broadway, and like the community does not want it.

[16:41] Heather Bedor: It's like it's I don't think it's necessary, but we're gonna let you guys become the judges of that too.

[16:46] Amber Brzezinski: But I think it is important to celebrate when a community comes together, um, regardless of the outcome.

[16:52] Heather Bedor: I think is important to show strength.

[16:53] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, absolutely. I totally agree, totally agree.

[16:56] Heather Bedor: Well, what's next on the uh news bus here, man?

[17:00] Amber Brzezinski: We finally got a little announcement on the national tour cast in Water for Elephants.

[17:12] Heather Bedor: We did.

[17:12] Amber Brzezinski: I I knew you wanted to talk about that.

[17:14] Heather Bedor: It'll be interesting because it's non-equity, non-equity, and it'll be led by Zachary Keller as Jacob, Helen Krashinsky as Marlena, Robert Tully as Mr. Janekowski, Connor Sullivan August, Javier Garcia is Camill, Ruby Gibbs, Barbara, Grant Honeycut, cutest name ever, and Wade and Tyler West as well.

[17:38] Amber Brzezinski: I have a friend named Cameron Honeycutt, also the cutest thing ever.

[17:41] Heather Bedor: So yeah, I get it.

[17:42] Amber Brzezinski: So yeah. Wishing them all the success in the world.

[17:47] Heather Bedor: Yeah, and I hope that I hope that the tour does something for their careers to, you know.

[17:52] Amber Brzezinski: Right. The Water for Elephants fans are very, very specific.

[17:56] Heather Bedor: And I guess. Um, so I think it's very important to just remember to support people.

[18:00] Amber Brzezinski: Even if it's not a name you're familiar with, it's a beautiful show. It's coming here to Orlando.

[18:04] Heather Bedor: I'm very excited to go revisit our friends.

[18:07] Amber Brzezinski: Um, what else is next so many news?

[18:11] Heather Bedor: I've got my stuff. I'm ready.

[18:11] Amber Brzezinski: I'm on like chopping up the bit.

[18:14] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[18:15] Amber Brzezinski: I mean, we finally had the live streaming of our next Floyd Collins.

[18:27] Heather Bedor: That's my best um yodeling.

[18:30] Amber Brzezinski: It was very beautifully done.

[18:32] Heather Bedor: I think you did a bit on the picture.

[18:35] Amber Brzezinski: Thank you. Um, we finally got our um streaming of I think Friday, Friday, uh, Floyd Collins became available for streaming, which um is very cool.

[18:48] Heather Bedor: I know a lot of people really fell in love with that music and like the history behind that music.

[18:54] Amber Brzezinski: So um, very excited. Very excited for me.

[18:57] Heather Bedor: I just sent Heather that I just signed up for because I usher my local theater.

[19:06] Amber Brzezinski: Um, the Jeremy Jordan is coming to my local theater, and I just signed up to potentially usher the nights that he'll be there.

[19:15] Heather Bedor: That'll be fun.

[19:16] Amber Brzezinski: He does such a great cabaret. I just want to see him do it with Aaron.

[19:20] Heather Bedor: Like him and Aaron doing a cabaret together, I think would be genius.

[19:23] Amber Brzezinski: By lottery only, because of course you can't just sign up because it's Jeremy Jordan and he's that big of a deal.

[19:31] Heather Bedor: So they're picking Ushers by lottery.

[19:33] Amber Brzezinski: So I had to enter the lottery to work the Jeremy Jordan event.

[19:37] Heather Bedor: So you'll be fine.

[19:39] Amber Brzezinski: I don't think for no change.

[19:42] Heather Bedor: Everybody wish me luck.

[19:43] Amber Brzezinski: Everybody wish me.

[19:43] Heather Bedor: I wish you luck.

[19:44] Amber Brzezinski: You mean break a leg. We don't say I wish you luck in the theater world.

[19:49] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[19:52] Amber Brzezinski: Um let's um well.

[19:54] Heather Bedor: Can I bring up some cool news?

[19:56] Amber Brzezinski: I think it's really like did you hear oh Aaron Amper's gone.

[19:59] Heather Bedor: Here you go. You're welcome back.

[20:01] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so Ariana DeBose is um going to be starring in classic stage companies, The Baker's Wife.

[20:08] Heather Bedor: I think that's really cool.

[20:10] Amber Brzezinski: Um music and lyrics by Steven Schwartz.

[20:13] Heather Bedor: Um, it'll be directed by Gory Greenberg, is coming to CFC.

[20:18] Amber Brzezinski: Like that is huge.

[20:20] Heather Bedor: Um, because that is a big show for Ariana take on, and I'm very excited for that.

[20:24] Amber Brzezinski: Um we also have some other cool theater news.

[20:28] Heather Bedor: Can I talk about it?

[20:30] Amber Brzezinski: Or do I have to give away my shot?

[20:32] Heather Bedor: Talk about it.

[20:34] Amber Brzezinski: September 5th, Walt Disney Pictures is re-releasing Hamilton into actual movie theaters.

[20:39] Heather Bedor: I think that's so cool.

[20:40] Amber Brzezinski: And they've also released a lot of publicity photos and all sorts of fun stuff from Himmel 10, which I had the opportunity to attend.

[20:47] Heather Bedor: Thank you Broadway Podcast Network last week.

[20:50] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so super excited about that.

[20:52] Heather Bedor: I did post a video of the curtain call where the man, the myth legend, Lynn Manuel Miranda just came out and freaking drop a bomb.

[20:59] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and just lyrics and 86 plus original cast alum current cast performed on the stage at the Rogers, which was insane to be in that room where it happened.

[21:11] Heather Bedor: Like, I'm not even trying to be facetious.

[21:12] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and I did get this really cool.

[21:18] Heather Bedor: I put out from the list.

[21:20] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[21:22] Heather Bedor: This is so cool.

[21:23] Amber Brzezinski: So they hosted a competition for people to design the Hamilton play bell.

[21:29] Heather Bedor: So this was the winning design.

[21:31] Amber Brzezinski: And then what I thought was really sweet is that on the inside it actually shows all the other winners and their submissions.

[21:39] Heather Bedor: So it was a really great way to celebrate that.

[21:41] Amber Brzezinski: It was 10 years, and then they have each one individually done.

[21:46] Heather Bedor: Um it was such a cool moment to be there.

[21:48] Amber Brzezinski: I know Jeffrey Seller, so he was obviously up there doing the full introduction.

[21:52] Heather Bedor: Fane was running around like a crazy person.

[21:55] Amber Brzezinski: Um, I had just left masquerade, which we'll get into in a moment.

[21:58] Heather Bedor: That's pretty new.

[21:59] Amber Brzezinski: And um Faye running around like a crazy person.

[22:05] Heather Bedor: That's right now.

[22:06] Amber Brzezinski: I know, like just Fane trying something new on for size.

[22:11] Heather Bedor: There's a delay.

[22:13] Amber Brzezinski: Hello.

[22:14] Heather Bedor: Oh, there is such a delay right now.

[22:16] Amber Brzezinski: I don't know if it's from the rain.

[22:18] Heather Bedor: I'm so sorry.

[22:22] Amber Brzezinski: That's so crazy.

[22:26] Heather Bedor: Amber Banana Banana.

[22:32] Amber Brzezinski: I didn't even hear.

[22:33] Heather Bedor: No, my god.

[22:34] Amber Brzezinski: So your mouth, it was Godzilla.

[22:35] Heather Bedor: Anyways, we're gonna see if it catches up.

[22:37] Amber Brzezinski: This is gonna be fun.

[22:40] Heather Bedor: So yeah, I ran around like a crazy person.

[22:44] Amber Brzezinski: I left Masquerade and my dear friend Jason and Mark in the lair.

[22:50] Heather Bedor: Um, at Masquerade, and Halda's massive um hike was Nick Walker, who likes snuck onto the stage at the very last moment.

[23:01] Amber Brzezinski: Shout out to Nick.

[23:02] Heather Bedor: Um, but it was just a lot of fun to see that.

[23:05] Amber Brzezinski: And then I walked out of the theater, and there's just a bajillion people on the street because they were hosting a street party, and it was so much fun.

[23:17] Heather Bedor: They had hot dogs for us, the pretzels, cookies, like shoved into this tiny space of like a sea of people, and there was a great DJ playing.

[23:29] Amber Brzezinski: If you've ever looked at the front of the Rogers, there's like a whole balcony, and Lynn Mill Miranda's playing, and they did this very cool light show on this on the side of the building, and I'm standing there, and I think Jason met up with me if he yes, S U G S it is the Phantom He followed me home.

[23:43] Heather Bedor: I would be so lucky.

[23:44] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but met up with Jason for a little bit, he can attest it was absolutely insane.

[23:49] Heather Bedor: But I turned to the right and I see like the Diangoras, and I was like, oh my god, hi.

[23:54] Amber Brzezinski: And then I went over and I got my hot dog and I looked up and I saw Justin Sargent, which hello, I love Justin.

[24:00] Heather Bedor: I already knew he was gonna be there, but to find him in the crowd of a thousand million people was great, um, especially because I got to see his show the following day.

[24:08] Amber Brzezinski: But if you guys want to check out the video of the full curtain call, um we'll post that on our main group group for the probably if they do have the link of TikTok and Instagram for our um the full Lynn Mill and Miranda uh epic rap battle.

[24:29] Heather Bedor: I will just leave it at that.

[24:31] Amber Brzezinski: So it was great.

[24:33] Heather Bedor: That is great.

[24:34] Amber Brzezinski: Are you with us?

[24:37] Heather Bedor: Maybe.

[24:38] Amber Brzezinski: Now I can.

[24:40] Heather Bedor: Oh, good, perfect.

[24:41] Amber Brzezinski: Hello.

[24:42] Heather Bedor: Hi, awesome.

[24:44] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, you can hear me now.

[24:45] Heather Bedor: Hi, welcome back.

[24:47] Amber Brzezinski: Hey.

[24:48] Heather Bedor: So great.

[24:49] Amber Brzezinski: It's great to have you here.

[24:51] Heather Bedor: This is what it comes down to.

[24:53] Amber Brzezinski: Gotta love technology.

[24:55] Heather Bedor: So um, yeah, it was a lot of fun for Hamilton and to celebrate was just like so much fun.

[25:00] Amber Brzezinski: Um, what other news we want to get into before we get into masquerade?

[25:04] Heather Bedor: Because my oh my, I've got so much to say.

[25:08] Amber Brzezinski: Um, realistically, it's kind of masquerade adjacent.

[25:13] Heather Bedor: There is a I mean everything in the world should be.

[25:17] Amber Brzezinski: There's a North American Phantom Tour casting.

[25:21] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[25:22] Amber Brzezinski: Us fans have known about this for a very long time.

[25:25] Heather Bedor: Oh, yeah.

[25:27] Amber Brzezinski: Yes.

[25:27] Heather Bedor: So are you excited about it?

[25:29] Amber Brzezinski: Tell me how you feel as our Phantom fan.

[25:33] Heather Bedor: Resident fans.

[25:35] Amber Brzezinski: Resident fan looking at her Christine mask right in front of me.

[25:38] Heather Bedor: Um, yes, no, I'm dying.

[25:41] Amber Brzezinski: Um, the very fun fact the very first show that ever opened up, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts here in Orlando, um, was actually Phantom of the Opera.

[25:51] Heather Bedor: So I'm intrigued to see it.

[25:53] Amber Brzezinski: It's not coming to a theater near me, so I will be finding a way to see it.

[25:58] Heather Bedor: Um, I think this is just the full epic return of Phantom in the best way possible.

[26:02] Amber Brzezinski: Andrew Lloyd Weber is doing everything he can with every one of the shows, and I hope that it's just here comes Phantom.

[26:09] Heather Bedor: I'm just ready for it.

[26:11] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[26:12] Heather Bedor: And then honestly, my last bit of news is just like the cool fun fact that we shared in the Mamma Mia group that's one of our new group.

[26:21] Amber Brzezinski: Join Mamma Mia group.

[26:22] Heather Bedor: Feel free.

[26:23] Amber Brzezinski: Mamma Mia, Mama Mia.

[26:24] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[26:26] Amber Brzezinski: Um, no one actually knows who the girl is on the podcast.

[26:32] Heather Bedor: Oh yeah.

[26:33] Amber Brzezinski: That's been a lore for a long time.

[26:36] Heather Bedor: Yeah, that's so crazy.

[26:38] Amber Brzezinski: Like, that's do you want to share that?

[26:43] Heather Bedor: Um, yeah.

[26:44] Amber Brzezinski: So basically, like people think it's like the original Sophie.

[26:52] Heather Bedor: They think it is like Broadway uh veteran Gen Gambatese.

[26:59] Amber Brzezinski: They think it's Rose DeWitt Becator, just kidding.

[27:03] Heather Bedor: Um they think yeah, they think it's just like random people.

[27:10] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but apparently it is a mystery French model named Emma.

[27:17] Heather Bedor: So they have been trying to figure this out because they had no idea, and it's just been this ongoing thing.

[27:23] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, so it's been really fun to see.

[27:25] Heather Bedor: Yeah, very cool stuff.

[27:27] Amber Brzezinski: I will tell you, I tried to rush Mamma Mia on Tuesday, and tickets were gone, and I mean gone, completely sold out, which blows my mind, but also like incredible for them to be able to do that because I got to see that show in that theater years ago with my mom who's a huge AVA fan.

[27:43] Heather Bedor: Love the show, would have loved to have the opportunity to go, but like that makes me so nervous for when Beetlejuice comes back because I'm like, oh, we need to get on it.

[27:54] Amber Brzezinski: We need to really get on it.

[27:56] Heather Bedor: Yeah, absolutely.

[27:58] Amber Brzezinski: Jeremy Sharp, Jeremy Sharp said to have a fantastic night.

[28:01] Heather Bedor: Thank you so much, you two.

[28:03] Amber Brzezinski: Um, should we get into Masquerade?

[28:05] Heather Bedor: Because I feel like I just need to.

[28:07] Amber Brzezinski: Just do it.

[28:08] Heather Bedor: Pull that in.

[28:10] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, so all right.

[28:12] Heather Bedor: First off, no.

[28:15] Amber Brzezinski: Tell the people what you did to me.

[28:19] Heather Bedor: I knew that was coming.

[28:21] Amber Brzezinski: I didn't do it to you.

[28:22] Heather Bedor: So Amber goes, so I was kind of nosy, and I think there's something you need to tell me.

[28:27] Amber Brzezinski: And I mean, like, when one of your best friends goes like that, you're like, oh shit, what did I do?

[28:33] Heather Bedor: Like, what did I what did I do? How did I mess up? What did I do?

[28:36] Amber Brzezinski: And I'm like, what did I do? Did I did I not tell her that I'm going to Schmackery's?

[28:41] Heather Bedor: Did I like run over her like first grade teacher?

[28:45] Amber Brzezinski: Like, what did I do?

[28:47] Heather Bedor: And she goes, I was really nosy.

[28:50] Amber Brzezinski: How dare you?

[28:52] Heather Bedor: And when Amber says it, she has a very specific way of saying, How dare you, where you're like, I'm sorry, whatever I did, I'm so sorry.

[29:00] Amber Brzezinski: She goes, You didn't even think to tell me, and I'm not gonna give away, but our loyal members will know what your password was for masquerade.

[29:10] Heather Bedor: You didn't even think that that was important.

[29:13] Amber Brzezinski: And I'm like, I mean, it has to do very much with our show, our podcast.

[29:20] Heather Bedor: Um, whether that was done intentionally, because the group over at Masquerade is absolutely incredible, and I love every single one of them.

[29:28] Amber Brzezinski: And I will talk about them exclusively in a minute.

[29:31] Heather Bedor: But literally, she goes, they had to have done it because it was you, and I'm like, no, no, but I will totally take that honor.

[29:38] Amber Brzezinski: Um, regardless.

[29:40] Heather Bedor: So that's how it started.

[29:41] Amber Brzezinski: We do it every week.

[29:44] Heather Bedor: Every weekend we'll do it again tonight. So you guys will know exactly what we're talking about. Um, but yeah, so I had the lovely opportunity to go with my friend Jason and Mark. I haven't seen Jason in a couple of years, and he lives 20 minutes down the road. Mark, I see intermittently, but he lives in another state, and so we had this lovely dinner from um New York Western Week over at um the Russian tea room, and had a cocktail and tea service and delicious food. My stomach is growling because it was the best, best. And then we took less than a two-minute walk right over to Louise Art Shop, so where Masquerade is, and it was so organized. Um, being somebody who has attended both Life and Trust and Sleep No More numerous times in immersive theater, and you're trying to get so what Masquerade does is they have 15 minute intervals of windows for you to enter, and they're called pulses.

So you get there 15 minutes before your pulse, and then you're just in. There was no just standing, like I have a really hard time um to openly share with my PTSD and anxiety and like with my pinched nerves and stuff. It's really hard for me to stand in any line. I get anxious. I'm like, I don't like it's hard for me to like have that concept, but um, which is fine because I didn't even notice it. Um, I immediately ran into um one of our members who's a friend of mine now who's wonderful Kendra. Shout out to you if you were being my venting post this week, um, who happily tied my corset because don't ever trust two boys to try to tie a corset for you. It doesn't work. Um, and then went on to this uh I can't even call it a line.

Just this line, um, where immediately you're checked in. They do have um shout out to my like bestie over at Masquerade. We just met for the first time, but Maddie, holy cow. Like I got the warmest welcome from every single person that was uh that I've been talking to. She was over taking care of the masks, but like I'm not how do I put it? I don't like to be the center of attention. Shocking, I know. Um, but Amber and I do the same thing when we go into shows is that we're like, hey, we run the fan group, like so nice to meet you guys. We're really excited to be here. They knew I was coming, they knew which pulse I was coming to. I had just talked to Maddie and Abby and everybody else or Gabby, um, the entire time.

And I'm going to be sending this link to them, so I better not mess up anyone's name. Talk to Charles today. I had the warmest welcome. I wasn't doing it, and I'm also wearing my masquerade shirt. Hello. Um, but I had the warmest welcome from everybody. Um, like unexpectedly. I didn't, I don't not unexpectedly because everyone was so warm and genuine. It was just a lot of attention I wasn't expecting to get, and it was just so kind. And I was thanked, and I'm like, we do this, like you and I do this because we want to create a sense of community and welcoming. We have had people that have met their friends through our groups, loved ones, you know, significant others. I think we have a baby, not us, but a baby that has come out of our fan groups.

Like, it's so cool to see that. And um, anyways, so I got my mask because um this you have the opportunity, get your this is a mask that's included. It's beautiful, it has this like phantom on the front. Um, and it's very comfortable. And then you are checked in. Um, you go through a very quick and easy process of walking up. You go right into where bag check is. There's no fee for bag check, which I thought was fantastic. Um, and then everyone's kind of seeing that hallway shop where everybody is. Oh, and I forgot to mention there's a really wonderful photographer outside who's taking everyone's photos from what we've been told this will be going onto social media. But you get into this hallway and you're just surrounded by fans.

And I mean, it's a little bit tight, tight close quarters, but you're not in that area for too long. And then you're just ushered right into the very first scene. Um, and I'm going to save us as openly as possible. I openly wept. Like, I'm not a big crier, but like I just stood there and it was like the energy and the I'm trying to not get emotional now because it was such an incredible moment. I'm getting teary-eyed. This is great.

[34:20] Heather Bedor: It's like okay, best way to describe it as and maybe it's because I'm a Florida girl. The minute that you go from it's oh my god, it's so hot, and you open up a door and you get that blast of air conditioning to you, and your whole body is like or like gasping or like having like this like nice fresh breath of air, like it was just this hit of just this incredible intoxication of surrounded by people who are truly fans and in a beautiful way of doing art, but nobody is really talking about. Yes, we have a spoiler chat, but nobody is being disrespectful about it. Um, I cannot believe I'm getting emotional. I cannot believe I'm getting emotional. This show touched everyone that was there so differently.

You're you're um escorted through, so it's not this what they call the sandbox. Oh, can you hear me? The thread just dropped. Can you hear me? Amber. Okay, you can hear me. Okay. Um, so um, but you're escorted through and you're not just exploring on your own, but there are areas where you're being escorted where you can take a moment to look at something in a little bit deeper way, but it's just this really smooth flow from scene to scene and set to set, and you're encountering different characters along the way. Um, Jeffrey Cohen had asked, is the music pre-recorded? Some of it, yes. Um, it'd be kind of impossible to fit an orchestra in the space. Um, but you don't even notice it. The live singing is incredible because it is like in your face.

Um there is some live music aspects as well, so prepare for that because it will literally touch your soul incredibly. Um, nobody was overly intoxicated, nobody was shoving or pushing. Um, everybody was just kind of up and go. There's plenty of opportunities to sit or lean in each scene or set. Um, I'm trying to like not give anything away. And I was talking to Charles the box office today about it. I'm going to encourage anybody that's going. I see a lot of people in our group are like, okay, I'm really afraid to go by myself. You kind of are. And I only say it as every single person is going to experience this differently. And I encourage you to take that self-journey through it because Phantom means something different to every single person I've ever encountered.

So go for it as that solo journey. If you're going with your friends, your loved ones, totally fine, but like don't hesitate to like drop their hand or walk to another side of the room or like wait and hang out. Um and like experience something different because you're going to get something totally different and unique every single time that you're going through these scenes.

[37:15] Heather Bedor: And I mean, even talking to Jason and Mark afterwards, we all experience something very different. Um, Jeffrey, I see you're asking about the running time of the show. So our poll started at 7 15. We got out just at about 9 25. So it's a little bit over two hours. Um, I struggle again, like standing for a long period of time. Um, stairs are not really easy for me to navigate all the time. Um, but I will say did not struggle with it. They do have an elevator available for those people that need it. And something that I find that's really helpful and a lot of people not, I wouldn't say a lot of people were um, but there were people that were able to utilize the service that Masquerade provides where they actually have like what they call their butlers.

Um, a butler would move somebody that needed extra assistance from scene to scene, and they were navigating it so smoothly. Um, and they were in the best spots. I did have somebody that had mentioned in our um ADA group chat, um, but they're fully blind and they're wondering if the interaction between the cast and the the people for the immersive experience, like the the attendees, if it starts because generally with an immersive experience, you kind of get that acknowledgement like eye to eye, like, okay, cool, like I'm good to play. Um, like, was it like were they looking at you? No.

[38:30] Heather Bedor: Um, there's nothing to worry about there, and especially reaching out to the access email access at masquerade nyc.com. They are so helpful there. Um, even for me, I was like, hey, I just want to kind of give you guys a heads up. Um, you know, this is what I've got it going on. So I had the opportunity, if I needed it, that I could use an elevator. I didn't need it. But they are so knowledgeable there, and they truly care about every single person that's coming in. Not only does the crew care, but the cast cares too. And I was sitting back, and then there were some scenes that I'm not gonna give them away, but I was kind of sitting back and taking it all in.

[39:19] Heather Bedor: And uh-oh. Can you see me? Can you hear me? I feel like Tommy right now. No, nothing. You can't hear me. I can't hear you at all. Can't hear you. Hello. Can't hear you. I'm gonna leave and come back.

[39:31] Heather Bedor: I can't hear you even when I'm out of a studio. Can you hear me? Oh no. You're gonna go. Great. Jeffrey can hear me. Shine, okay, good. It's not me. It's it's Amber, okay. Can you guys hear Amber now? Amber say something. Take your headset out. Welcome to live streaming, folks. Thank you for your patience. See, everyone can hear me. All right. Amber, say something. Speak Uboo. Oh, I hear noise. Say something.

[40:52] Heather Bedor: Speak to me. No, you're on mute, babe. Hold on. Say something. Oh, there you are. I can't hear you though. You can't hear me. No. You just heard me. If only I can read your lips. I could read your lips. Oh no. Well, they can hear me. I'm gonna go through this. Um, and then let's see what is happening here. And if we need to restart, I think, number. I'm gonna mute her again, everyone. It's okay. This is what happens. This is what happens.

[41:41] Heather Bedor: Try to reconnect. Oh, okay. Oh, see, I can hear her too. Say something, Amber. No.

[42:00] Heather Bedor: Um, okay. Um, so yeah, it was really smoothly done. Um, I will say there were some people that were dressed very casually. Um, and I don't know how. I don't know either. She said no. She's frozen.

[42:27] Heather Bedor: Anyways. Oh, she said damn it. Okay. Naughty girl. I can hear you. Okay, make that's progress. All right, okay. Um just lost my train of thought. This is great.

[42:46] Heather Bedor: Anyways, um, somebody catch me up, thank you. Okay, you can hear me both now. Great. For technologically advanced society as we are. Yes, Cheyenne Cook. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing a podcast on a calculator. I feel like I'm doing it on a notepad sometimes, like the ones that you write. It's okay. Technology is fine. We're just so you guys know, we're going to be getting rid of StreamYard and moving over to a different platform. And this is like the precipice of why.

[43:15] Heather Bedor: Anyways, moving on. So everybody is quite kind. Everybody is lovely. Um, they really truly care. The cast cares. Um, oh, I was telling you, so I I would sit back in a scene and watch our small group. So they do have about 60 people per pulse. I would sit back, Amber. Are you okay? Oh, you're moving fast. Okay. Um, and I would watch everybody watching the scene. And maybe it's like from a production thing, because I love doing that. It's kind of like if you've ever gone to a wedding and everybody is watching the bride come down the aisle. I always like to look at the groom. Um, because there's just a little bit more magic to that too, like an unexpected, like not all eyes are on there.

[43:58] Heather Bedor: Um, so my god, you say Magna Doodles. Cheyenne. Um, so I think it's just really key, like be present. I did oh, I was talking about people being casual. This is my brain. This is my brain of concussion. So people were dressed a little bit more casually, but not a lot. There was a guy with a baseball cap, there's another guy in like black jean shorts and a like nice top. You get out of it what you put into it. I was on a corset and ball gown. Um, both of my friends were in like proper suits. Mark actually had a three-piece suit on with an ascot. Um, Jason was in just an all black, nice like business attire.

[44:35] Heather Bedor: And I will tell you, the cast constantly commented on my outfit, and it was just you get that kind of like excitement and the exuberance from the cast, and they see that you're being present, you're there, you want to be there, you're taking it seriously.

[44:49] Heather Bedor: And I think if you're dressed casually, I think that might take it out of there. I will say the guy wearing the baseball cap, and we visited it, it wasn't for religious purposes, but it was kind of like distracting because he had the bill sticking out, so I was like having to look around something sideways.

[45:05] Heather Bedor: Um, but I don't think that he had it on when he came in. I think he slipped it on when he went inside. But also don't hesitate if you see a butler or you need assistance with something. Um, me personally, like because we were all off on our own thing, I couldn't find my friends. So I actually walked up to someone who was like, Hey, can you help me find them? I have trouble seeing sometimes in the dark.

[45:26] Heather Bedor: Um, it's not that it was pitch black, it's just my own personal vision issues. And they were immediately on it. They were walking around the room and they actually helped me find my friends, which is so awesome. Um, there's some really beautiful moments that are not part of any show, and it makes its own something unique, but just explore and enjoy the magic of it is all I ask of you.

[45:47] Heather Bedor: Um, but it's true. Like I really just want people to go in and experience it. But please, please, please, please, please. Every single crew member you see, please make sure you say thank you to them because they are working so hard to make this experience happen for you guys.

[46:03] Heather Bedor: I am devastated because um I didn't plan it myself properly to get over to the Rogers um without the lift canceling me on top of it. So I had like two seconds in the lair and I would have spent the entire night there. Um luckily Mark was able to grab my shirt for me because that's also where you get your merch. If you're worried about having to go back and get your purse, it's not like you have to go all the way around if you've done something like life and trust or sleep no more.

[46:30] Heather Bedor: Um, I had my phone on my bra strap, to be honest. But um the the um baggage chat is gonna ask. I was gonna ask about that. What? Um that how they said like you know, like how you have to check all your stuff if if the secret booby pocket was allowed.

[46:41] Heather Bedor: Secret booby pocket was fine, but they do give you a sticker. Um, it's literally like a red sticker that has writing from OG on it. And um, so cover it up, like, you know, no no love, no glove, no love kind of thing. Like respect the show. Um, if any other one person asked me for um like a bootleg of the audio, I'm like, I'm so freaking lately not. I'm going to murder you.

[47:17] Heather Bedor: Um, I will not murder anybody, we'll make that very public. I'll murder them in my brains. That sounds also awful. Anyways, go into the experience, experience it for what it is, but take that as this unique something you've never experienced before. You can ask a million questions and feel like you were so prepared for it, and you are not.

[47:37] Heather Bedor: Um, but I will say, I'm gonna show something off. Amber, I don't even know if I told you about this. Did I?

[47:45] Heather Bedor: Amber, we've lost Amber. Amber, are you okay?

[47:51] Amber Brzezinski: I'm here. I'm here. Hello.

[47:54] Heather Bedor: How are you doing?

[47:56] Amber Brzezinski: I'm here. Hi.

[47:59] Heather Bedor: You're here. You are okay. You were like slow motion on your phone. It was really strange. Anyway, yes, Jeffrey, just like the kickback clips. But I don't know if I told you this. I was gifted something, and Sadie, like, thank you to every freaking person there. They found me at the end of the show, and they presented me this program, which everyone can get at baggage check.

[48:26] Heather Bedor: But it's signed by my pulse cast. Guys, I literally cried, and I'm still tearful of it. They sign next to everything. I even got like a love you, Heather. Like, I'm so emotional because like people are like, oh yeah, you guys are just doing this. No, we literally like I'm such a fan, and the immersive part of this was so beautiful. Like, I came from Florida to see the show, and god, I hope that the show sticks around that I can see this a million more times.

[48:57] Heather Bedor: Um, so thank you, thank you, thank you to Masquerade. I felt so bad having to leave. I had to leave. Like, I literally cried that night going, I had to leave. I would have spent the entire time there talking, Amber, okay, talking to everybody and just I'm gonna kiss a fool or get into a fight. So I don't want to do either.

[49:17] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, well, don't do either of those.

[49:19] Heather Bedor: Um, but thank you so much to everybody over at the show um for your generosity, your kindness, your openness. Um, and also for putting up with me because I literally, guys, I don't know who knows this, but because we run the masquerade group, I do speak to the box office pretty consistently asking questions to make sure I'm providing the best answers possible.

[49:41] Heather Bedor: We're not hired by the show. We do this, we do this out of love for the show and for our community and for the fans of the show. Um, and shout out to my members who have an apartment directly above the rooftop, who sent us all a photo looking down. Um yeah, I I think I threatened them in the nice way possible and said, Don't be surprised if we show up and have a members only party in your apartment.

[50:08] Heather Bedor: Right. Um it happened to work out for them because they didn't know it was coming, but they're also Phantom fans, and they had I think it was Phantom in the Moulin Rouge or Phantom of the Moulin Rouge was their wedding theme in Paris. Like I watched you guys, yes, anyways. So that was Masquerade in Hamilton, um, which was Wednesday, because I did mince meat on Tuesday, and thank you very much.

[50:34] Heather Bedor: Had this entire lovely cast, and we had a lovely understudy who went on. Um, the one and only Jessie Kurtley went on as Jean Leslie, and Jesse's whole family and friends were all there to say hi to see Heider at the stage door, and it was so cute. Love that. It was adorable. Oh, and that was also the day I forgot to mention that um I saw Wayne, so I was walking to Schmackery's.

[50:58] Heather Bedor: Oh my god, wait. But that reminds me. I just got like right when we started the show. I got a I got a message from Jack.

[51:08] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, did you?

[51:11] Heather Bedor: I'm scared.

[51:12] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[51:13] Heather Bedor: I did, yes.

[51:15] Amber Brzezinski: Um, he posted an Instagram story this morning of him just smooching his dog Dracula like a hundred times.

[51:22] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[51:24] Amber Brzezinski: So naturally, me being myself replied to the story and said, Yes, hello. I legally represent this dog, and I am here to inform you that the kisses quota has unfortunately not been met. He requires at minimum one million more, or else my firm, Legal Beagles, will be filing an immediate motion with the courts. Thank you for your time.

[51:55] Heather Bedor: I fucking love you so much.

[51:58] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, what did Jack say back to you?

[52:01] Heather Bedor: He wrote in all caps, you're out of order. Let me tell you, I love the minced meat cast. We will be having a cast member on the show coming up soon, just so you guys are aware. Not today, but in a future episode. But I will tell you, so that stage door, everybody is such a huge fan. They've all seen the West End show talking like, and they're so polite.

[52:28] Heather Bedor: So they're coming out for everyone that doesn't know the stage door for mince shares like Gypsy and half of the outsiders. It's massive. And so everyone's just coming out, and people are thinking that weird aisle. Like it's a weird aisle. Yeah, it's like in between. It's yeah, it's like a massive hall. Um, where it's very cool and historic, but like people aren't sure, like, because a lot of stage doors people are like, Woo, I love you, and people are like, because they're afraid to like.

[52:58] Heather Bedor: I don't know, like they're just like, I don't know, it's an interesting group of people, but everyone came out. I did tell Jack how obsessed we were with his outfit from the Tonies. Um, holy cow, like that was amazing. Um, and I told Davey the story about our members, which I don't know if I've shared on air. Um we had a member who was actually waiting, wait. New segment alert. New segment alert.

[53:26] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah, I guess we could do this as a new segment.

[53:29] Heather Bedor: And we just want to go the I want to have a new segment, you guys, where we talk about like our favorite group posts of the week. And yeah, Heather mentioned that this was hers. So this is this is the first intro to our group. No pressure, all right, no pressure here, no pressure.

[53:51] Heather Bedor: So I recapped some of our favorite posts from our groups, or our favorite interactions, because this was kind of all the above. Drop the beat, okay. Uh so I thought that was terrible. I'm very much a basic white bitch. Um, show's gonna run over tonight, and I'm okay with that. So we had somebody reach out who didn't know about the group but was googling because his stepmother's father was part of Operation Mince Me.

[54:20] Heather Bedor: Hello, that's freaking cool. And he was super sweet, super sweet, um, and very British, and sent me voice text, and I was like, You're so cool, I love you. Um, but was trying to find this documentary that actually featured his his like step-grandfather for all intents and purposes in this documentary that the BBC had had on air several years ago that was on YouTube.

[54:45] Amber Brzezinski: What are you doing, Amber?

[54:47] Heather Bedor: I just like found this, and I don't know where Amber. Okay, moving on. So focus, girl, focus. This is a serious thing. Amber is sitting on her floor now, and that's why it's I sit on my floor now. It's your life, anyways.

[55:04] Heather Bedor: So he had reached out and he said, Do you think there's anybody that can assist me or can you help me find this documentary? And I was like, you know, let me post it in the group. And I'm gonna say within maybe 20 minutes, we had another member who stepped up and was like, I'm pretty sure this is a link to the group. Here you go, or the link to the documentary, here you go.

[55:25] Heather Bedor: And I mean, this other member was like, I don't know, we've looked through like 30 different documentaries, and we can't find it, they're not the right one. I don't know. And this documentary that this other member shared for them to see was it, which is nuts. So I got them in touch, and like we got his mom, like his stepmom in touch with this guy, and like they're just the loveliest people, and like that's what we do, that's why we do it.

[55:54] Heather Bedor: Not to be thanked and to be said that we're heaven sent hello, we both are, but simply because we have this huge reach of people, we want to have these people help each other, and it was within 20 minutes, something that someone has been searching for for over a decade, was able to be found. And his like 90 something year old mom was able to finally see her father after several years of not seeing him in a documentary that the BBC did. Like that blew my mind.

[56:27] Amber Brzezinski: So cool.

[56:28] Heather Bedor: So um, but I told Davy this. I actually told everyone in the cast, and I may have gotten some tears at the stage door, but just saying. So yes, and mince me. So Mark Mark summons me for the first time, and um was like, I love the show. I just love the show. I'm like, it is such a good show. Anyways, moving on.

[56:49] Heather Bedor: So Thursday. I was invited to go see Rolling Thunder. It's the only way I can say it. So it's Justin Chargett, dear friend. Um, who I saw the night before and was so excited, all planned and premeditated. And I got to take my friend Katie with me. Katie came from Orlando to hang out with some friends, and our schedule is lined up enough that we were able to see it.

[57:15] Heather Bedor: So the best way of explaining the show, and I'm gonna read it directly from their description in the in the brochure in the program. It's on the stage light because it's off Broadway at New World. Rolling Thunder is primarily set in the 60s, a time of unrest, political upheaval, and momentous social change. The characters are composites of real life people, their essence and personality is distilled from research, actual letters and interviews with Vietnam veterans.

[57:44] Heather Bedor: Holy crap. So had no idea what to expect, except anything that Justin Sargent's in, he's usually a soldier or military, and he uses his freaking power. Oh, what? Or king. Or king. Royalty, military obsessive, anyways. And always has his powerful freaking rock star voice being shown off. Spider-Man, uh, Rock of Ages, like incredible, incredible King George.

[58:17] Heather Bedor: Um, I do it like that, no big deal, but he was just King George and the indulgator. It was concert style with these vignettes, and it just freaking hits you. Because it's something that happened relatively soon. We have members of our family that were in the Vietnam War. There's things that are people are suffering from. The music is classic. And yes, Jeffrey saw it. Um, he's like, when are you gonna see it? I loved it, I loved it. I love the show.

[58:44] Heather Bedor: Um, they do songs like All Along the Watchtower, Black Magic Woman, Born to Be Wild, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Eve of Destruction, Get Together, Gimme Shelter. I mean, this classic 60s style rock, all these ballads. Yeah, so much fun. And what I thought was really cool too is their merch, if you spent I think it was $20 on merch, you would actually get um a free hat.

[59:11] Heather Bedor: So I bought a mug to get a hat, and I'm gonna pull up because I want to make sure I'm quoting it right. Hold on. So a portion of proceeds will go to the American League. So if you and here's this cute merch. So they have um a tote and a mug and the hat and the magnet.

[59:28] Heather Bedor: I got a mug because I loved it, and I was like, I'm gonna keep it on my desk. And I love that they're here's the free cap. Like, that's so cute. Um, plus it was also fun to be in the theater directly next to Heather's. Right. Have to see some of our friends over there, so that was fun. Um I was like, do I buy the mythic bitch shirt now or later? Right. Um, but yeah, we had a great time. Um, thank you, Rolling Thunder, for the invite. Um, that was just so much fun. And then so I had rushed that morning, and I was like, um, Hades Town has our 2000s show, and like I'm invited for the curtain call through BPN to cover it, but like I kind of want to go see the show because hello, Ollie is in it.

[59:56] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, exactly.

[1:00:22] Heather Bedor: Um, who was Tommy, by the way, if you guys don't remember that, and he is incredible as Orpheus. Oh my god, I was dying. I was dying, I was dying. So I rushed it going, these tickets for resale are insanely priced. Um, I can't believe I'm losing my voice. Insanely priced, but I'm gonna go check out the box office. And I'm very happy that I did because guess what, guys? They had four freaking seats left for the entire theater at the time that the box office opened. I bought a seat, I sat in a great seat, I didn't even have to worry about getting the media access because I was even closer. And I saw Andre de Shields, he was coming in, and he sat a couple of rows behind me, and I sat I happen to sit like a group of people that happen to be like high schoolers that had performed or were performing something from Hades Town.

[1:01:11] Amber Brzezinski: Amber, are you good? You're looking down over there. You alright?

[1:01:15] Amber Brzezinski: Just had a thought.

[1:01:16] Heather Bedor: Oh god, scary.

[1:01:19] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I know.

[1:01:20] Heather Bedor: Um, I'll share my thought after.

[1:01:23] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[1:01:23] Heather Bedor: When she has thoughts, she gets quiet and I get worried because then I'm like, uh oh. Oh, my heart skipped a beat. It's okay, go.

[1:01:29] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, you have a heart still? That's incredible.

[1:01:34] Heather Bedor: But I have to show off. This is like the craziest thing, and I don't even think I told you this. So I got my playbill, and also they have these really sweet like totes on everybody's bag with celebrity of the 2000. Do you see anything wrong with my playbill?

[1:01:51] Amber Brzezinski: Off center.

[1:01:53] Heather Bedor: It's completely cut at an angle. Yeah. And I mean, like, completely cut. So I was I got a Merrilly playbill in the mail that's like completely like folded over. It's like so shitty. I don't know. But um, so I was able to get another playbill. But I'm sitting there and like due to my needs, um, I had to use the accessible restroom, which happened to be very close to me, um, which is also by the stage door, so it was a good sweet spot and a good ticket for a great price. And so I went in, I used the accessible bathroom, and um it came out and it's Andrew De Shields going into the bathroom, and I'm like, at least I kept it clean, I'm so sorry. Um but sitting there watching one of my favorite shows, like I really do love Hades Town, and Jeffrey Cohen says, I loved Hades Town, saw last year before COVID shut down.

Hades Town was the last show I saw during Broadway Fleet in 2019 before the world shut down. So it means so much to me, and it's such a beautiful story. It's one of my favorite Greek myths, too. But like they have these lovely touching moments. So during the show, when they raise a glass and they do a toast for cups, um, they are usually toasting each other, but the whole whole cast, everybody pivoted and turned out to the audience to toast the audience.

[1:03:17] Amber Brzezinski: And I I know there were people that have seen the show before, but nobody really made a noise. They just kind of accepted it. But I'm sitting there and I've got my freaking cup, and I I toast it to Persephone because she was right in front of me, Lana Gordon in my face. I toasted her and like four hours back, and I have this like lovely touching moment of it, and I was like, that was really cool. Yeah, they did some things to celebrate the show during the show, and then they were like, Oh, by the way, we're gonna bring out some people. And so Reva came out, right? They brought out like all the OGs, they sure did Patrick Page, Andre DeShields. Um, it was so nice to see, and there's so I have photos I'll be sharing throughout the week that are just so lovely and touching because you can tell this cast loves each other so much, but it was such a good show. I will say the only part oh it's a problem. The only part that was disappointing to oh, oh my computer is doing something fun. Okay, stand by hold on.

[1:04:18] Amber Brzezinski: Uh Amber.

[1:04:20] Heather Bedor: I was pretending I was frozen.

[1:04:23] Amber Brzezinski: No, it's my computer, it's stuck on something.

[1:04:27] Heather Bedor: Can you hear me?

[1:04:28] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[1:04:31] Heather Bedor: Okay. It was asking me to change my name to Amber. That was weird. For those of you that didn't hear, I dropped my computer last week and it's doing Amber Two. Um, it's doing it again. Display name. No, I don't want to change my name to Amber, but thanks. Uh, there can only be one.

[1:04:48] Amber Brzezinski: Anyways, um, but nobody came out for the stage short, everyone was standing there. But I'm gonna say it wasn't even a problem. Um, the whole street team came out and they had the red carnations or the red flowers, which I love, but people were so nice about it. Usually if people don't come out from the stage or because none of the casts came out, as they should not have because it's a big celebration, but everyone was like, Oh, okay, thank you. I have been at stage doors where like one cast member comes out and the rest of them don't. People are freaking rioting. Hades talent people were like, thanks, appreciate it, which was completely as a juxtaposition to last year when I saw it when I saw it with Philip Wycan, um, because of the Hintons.

Hello, Hintons, love you guys. Um, where we got accosted verbally by a woman who came over to us because they were in cosplay and complained that none of the casts were coming out for the stage door, and she didn't understand it. She was disappointed because she paid for that. So it was just so lovely of an experience.

[1:05:50] Heather Bedor: I'm gonna answer Jeffrey Cohen's question. Did I get my daisies at Rolling Thunder? I sure did. Um, there's a scene where they toss out flowers and I was sitting front row center, and Justin tossed daisies across like six people's laps, so I have it. Sure do. If if you're gonna know anything about Heather, and she's gonna get the thing at the show. If there's a thing at the show that you can get, Heather's gonna get the thing.

[1:06:15] Amber Brzezinski: That's not true.

[1:06:16] Heather Bedor: That's not true because in Masquerade there are things that can be gotten. Um, and I did not get any of those. And I was okay with that because I was having a sign thing with the things and the sign thing. Thing with a sign thing without a letter. You gotta fold it. I mean, I did get it. If there's a thing you can get from the show. Heather's gonna get the thing. I'm just putting that out there. It's offered, it's offered.

[1:06:43] Amber Brzezinski: Alright.

[1:06:47] Heather Bedor: Anyway. Moving on. So Hades Town was beautiful. And then Friday I went to go check our theater out for nothing like Broadway, um, which is on the upper west side, 64th, and had a really nice time spending some time with the Y over there. So and I walked past Central Park and it was lovely.

[1:07:05] Amber Brzezinski: And I bought a Lefufu.

[1:07:08] Heather Bedor: Did you?

[1:07:08] Amber Brzezinski: Which one?

[1:07:10] Heather Bedor: Um, I don't think it actually exists in real life. It's a purple like Bat Dragon one.

[1:07:15] Amber Brzezinski: Cute.

[1:07:16] Heather Bedor: I knew it was fake. I intentionally went to because I wanted a fake one, but it was cute. That's very much my speed. I like it. I'm I'm into it. Um, what I gasped, like what I like had like a momentary heart attack about was when I like looked at the date, and I realized that today is August 11th.

[1:07:41] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:07:45] Heather Bedor: Go on.

[1:07:51] Amber Brzezinski: That means I I'm looking at every single one of you guys, all you people, all you people out there, you only have six more days, six days to go to the majestic theater and to experience what Audrey McDonald, what Audra McDonald is putting out there. She's doing that. She does that on like like a Tuesday night, like a like a random matinette. She's just doing that for for all to see, and you only have a week left to go see it. There's lots of shows that are going to be closing.

[1:08:38] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[1:08:38] Amber Brzezinski: But you only have a week left to see Gypsy, so go get there.

[1:08:41] Heather Bedor: Well, you know what else closes in six days?

[1:08:45] Amber Brzezinski: Joy the musical.

[1:08:46] Heather Bedor: Because I saw Jeffrey talked about the miracle mop. Yes. Yep. The musical closes in six days. Um, and there's lots of shows that are closing in early September. I mean, there's lots of things because we're in that weird transition time where things were left over from last season um that are still continuing out but are closing, and then things that are starting to open up or limited limited release, like Mama Mia or Beetlejuice. Um there's a lot.

[1:09:14] Amber Brzezinski: There's a lot coming.

[1:09:16] Heather Bedor: So much. Um, I'm ready for only have six days to hear Joy Woods momooing.

[1:09:23] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[1:09:24] Heather Bedor: Or Betsy Wolf talking about the captain of her ship, because I love Betsy so much.

[1:09:28] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[1:09:29] Heather Bedor: But go support the shows while you can. You know, I always like to tell our members and our listeners if there's a show you want to go see, go see it. If the lead isn't there, that's okay too. Go support the show. Go support the show. Otherwise, I'm gonna become like the ghost of Broadway past. I'm gonna like haunt you.

[1:09:47] Amber Brzezinski: You already do that.

[1:09:52] Heather Bedor: Oh god, that is terrifying. Terrifying. Yes, John Proctor is closing shortly. Absolutely. Most of the cast, most of the cast of Hades Town is leaving at the end of August and coming in for a whole new set of people.

[1:10:07] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[1:10:07] Heather Bedor: Um, it's gonna be crazy. Um, I wish there were some people that would leave other shows. I'll keep my mouth shut before we get in trouble.

[1:10:19] Amber Brzezinski: Anyways, we've got over time because I sat here and just really showed all the love I I can't even express for masquerade. Like, I'm just gonna sit here and enjoy my like beautiful mask. I'm gonna put it back on. Can I put it back on?

[1:10:31] Heather Bedor: So weird, yeah. And I just also want to put it on record. The masks are very glass friendly.

[1:10:40] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah.

[1:10:41] Heather Bedor: Very friendly. We love that. We love that they're glasses friendly, and also have the the people have been speaking. Do not resell your tickets.

[1:10:58] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah.

[1:10:59] Heather Bedor: Don't do it. That's a great that's a great thing to remind people of. Um we don't want it, we don't want it in the group. It's a bad thing. And it's not because we just don't want it, it's because as of right now, it's not allowed. That is specifically from the show. They'll allow you if you can find someone to trade your ticket with, then you can do a trade sees, but you cannot sell tickets. So there are several people that are buying resale tickets, and Amber shared this um Reddit thread section. Go ahead, Amber.

[1:11:36] Amber Brzezinski: Where some guy was like, I bought a resale ticket, and I was like, it was like allowed, but barely, so like probably don't do that in the future.

[1:11:45] Heather Bedor: Yeah, they were like, they were kind of given permission, but not really. My mom is calling me.

[1:11:50] Amber Brzezinski: It's kind of okay.

[1:11:51] Heather Bedor: Okay. Tell your mom that she needs to give you two seconds. Um, but Jeffrey said you do not see reviews on show square. It's not officially open yet. It is in free. And with Amber's mom calling, that means it's the end of our show. Um, we really appreciate you guys tuning in, turning up. Um, we are going to have some special guests coming in the next couple of weeks. Some I am like ecstatic for, others I'm even more excited for. No, we're happy that we can always have our great members join us, our listeners, our followers, and some very special guests. So we really appreciate you guys giving us your time on Monday. Today was one of those weird technologically challenged days, but we're getting rid of StreamYard. Yay.

[1:12:37] Amber Brzezinski: Um, also, Amber, do you want to talk about what you've finished?

[1:12:41] Amber Brzezinski: Um, yeah, there's lots of new bracelets on the shop. Check up the shop, new bracelets, masquerade. Do you have them in front of you?

[1:12:47] Heather Bedor: Yes, sir. Are you gonna post pictures of them later?

[1:12:49] Amber Brzezinski: I don't have them, but you can check them out on the website, the website.

[1:12:53] Heather Bedor: Um, oh, and my computer's doing the weird thing again. So I'm gonna try to pop up our Etsy shop, the Broadway FanClub.etsy.com. That is how we pay the bills for our uh platforms, like our virtual platforms, like our studio right now that wants to be crazy. Also, for those of you guys looking for places to stay in the city, we always suggest the W Times Square and the Weston Times Square with coupon code E7103. One of our members is like, you guys must be getting so much money from all these hotels. And I was like, we don't get anything. It is an offer to our members. We get them, we pass it on to you. We don't get anything from that except the joy of knowing you guys are staying in someplace safe that treats our members great.

So we really appreciate our partners there. Lots of other fun things coming up. If I can ever get my computer to go, because right now I'm frozen um but we'll see you guys next monday night i'm you're you're gonna have to kill the stream amber because my screen is just shocking and going crazy um just remember that when broadway is dark on mondays we keep the ghost light burning oh no it was ghost light by the way it shut up don't tell that to everybody oh my god they found you good night everybody thanks again to everyone bye.