This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:15] Heather Bedor: I don't know why technology hates me so much today. It's uh, it's today. Like Mercury must be in like, I don't think I'm gonna look it up. Is Mercury retrograde or whatever? Hold on. Mercury's in Gatorade. I don't know. Is my Mercedes in Gatorade? Um, I need to know. Hold on. No, Mercury is not currently in retrograde. The next time it'll be in retrograde is March 15th to April 7th. So, oh no. Pat says it's the next time, but that's a 2025, which was in the past. I just code at www.ismercuryandretrograde.com and it will little. Is that a website? Wait, hold on. The whole website will say yes or no. I swear. Hold on. It'll just say yes or no on the video. Wait, how do I not know that this is a website?

It's Mercury in retro. It's been a day. It has been a day. But happy Monday. No. Something else must be bombing you up. This is the best website in the entire year. I'm like, I'm like, you literally just have to type in the words. Like that's all you have to do. I did. But Google was telling me it's happening in 2025, which was in the past. I don't know. Right. That's like on Friday. Um, when Alan was hanging out, and he was like, there's the 99% off clearance.com. I was like, the what and the who? And it was like, what was the weird one? They're all weird ones. He like a wood chipper. There was fossilized dino poop for 99 cents. Oh, you could name um an extinct worm. Yeah, but you had an answer it was weird.

Anyways, you don't give that privilege up to the internet because then you end up with like worming it worm face. Okay, but let's be real here. Do you know that Macaulay Culkin just announced again what his real name is? No, so apparently several years ago when Macaulay Culkin was doing something for PR, he asked his fans what he should be naming himself. Like should he change his name? So his, oh yeah, it was like Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Coley Culkin. Yeah, it's Macaulay McCauley Culkin Culkin or something and I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, yep, no, I did actually know that. I did, I did in fact know that. Anyways, this is not the random shit we talk about Monday show. This is the Broadway Fan Club podcast.

It's been a day though. Amber and I have had a day retrospectively. Um, and yeah, I don't know, it's something in the air clearly. My Mercedes is not in Gatorade. Um, yeah, so but Amber, your hair, like we've been talking hair, um, your hair looks so pretty today.

[1:55] Amber Brzezinski: Well, thanks! I just showered voluntarily. Yeah, um, I went to a new salon so my hair's very straight and I feel very dark and mysterious, but I also forgot to bring my shampoo into the shower, so I used my dog sitting people's shampoo. So that could also be at least it wasn't the dog shampoo because that's they did have some of that in the fridge, but I did not use it.

[3:28] Heather Bedor: In the fridge? I meant shower. Listen, it's not a day. I'm sharing, I'm multitasking. I just gotta pop up at the downloads done. Like it took me a second for me to even want to question it. Um, AS has been breaking out left and right. I honestly though, I think it's because of all of the crazy BS that's been going on the last couple of days. Like we have this holiday week, right? Like everything's great, and you and I were talking during the parade too. So for those that don't know, I'm in Orlando, Amber's in Connecticut, and we were watching the parade, and I'm like, it feels like there's way less performances because there were three. You have Ragtime, Limited Run, you had Just in Time, and you had Buena Vista Social Club. And Amber's like, I think we're both crazy because they only had three last year, and I'm like, well, what about the year before? There were six. Yeah. And I'm like, are they trying to phase out Broadway shows? I don't know what's going on.

[4:31] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I thought I was like losing my mind. It was really weird. It was very weird, but we had a couple of friends that were either, uh, which one that I just said. I thought it was talking in my own, but I said, I said, uh, when you were listing shows, Ragtime, Just in Time, and Buena Vista Social Club time. Yes, and I was thinking it as I was saying it, and I'm glad that you caught on to it. And I was like, something, something else time, Little Shop of Horrors time. Time, yeah, everything needs to be time, everything needs to be time.

[5:09] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I mean, it was interesting. I just don't know if they're phasing out Broadway shows. Oh, thanks, Olivia. Yes, I mean I appreciate it. Shiny, it looks healthy. I need a haircut, but I love Amber's hair because the pink is really bright tonight. Um, I don't know. Amber did something, she washed it. Good job. Also, congratulations on your new pup. Welcome to the Broadway Fan Club fam.

[5:31] Heather Bedor: Yeah, Milo Pup. Yay, puppy. We do love our pups over here. We do. We love our fur tacks. But yeah, um, so I don't know. If you guys are listening live and you want to comment in, like, do you think that they're trying to phase out Broadway? Um, but also I had this conversation with a couple of people, and including our wonderfully loved Chris Levy, who I got to have Friendsgiving with on Friday, um, who makes the most incredible food ever, and I was spoiled rotten with your cranberry deliciousness that I want to eat in a spoon. Um, but like off-Broadway, why do we not have off-Broadway shows performing?

[6:13] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. Like we could have had Heathers, we could have had Spelling Bee. I mean, could have had anything that's just, you know, Romeo and Michelle just closed yesterday, R.A.P. Romeo and Michelle. But there's so many different things, and I just, I don't know. There's like a weird hierarchy of stuff, and it's like kind of stressing me out, and I don't like it. And I'm whiny, and I can hear it in my voice that I'm whiny. Um, and I don't like it, but yeah, it's been um, it's been an interesting, interesting weekend.

[6:47] Heather Bedor: Um, and then in the performance um for Thanksgiving, you had Jonathan Groff, who came out, did it live, which is so unheard of because it's, you know, everything's pre-recorded, they're gonna closer for, you know, parade route ways. You just turn your whole screen just went off. That was fun. Um, Amber and I have been having StreamYard issues. It's been great. But um, if you saw this is something that I always like to say, like people are like, Oh my god, I want to sit right in Herald Square because then I can see all the performances. No, you see the backs of everybody because everything is a TV screen and the reflection monitor, so people can see what's actually happening, right? Um, but you could see it when the uh Stranger Things float pulled up, you could actually see the reflection of screens and they pan away from the Rockettes.

But Jonathan Groff did this like live little snippet. He did the dance that he usually does at the end of Just in Time with Bo and Yang in the beginning, and immediately my social media, everyone's like, Did Jonathan Groff sound flat?

[7:51] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, he was definitely off key. Oh blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then the next day. And then the world opened up and all hell rained down upon us. I mean, I knew that the Jonathan Groff lovers.

[8:10] Heather Bedor: Oh, Amber, are you there?

[8:11] Amber Brzezinski: I am here.

[8:11] Heather Bedor: Your whole screen just went blank.

[8:15] Amber Brzezinski: That's weird.

[8:16] Heather Bedor: That's fine.

[8:17] Amber Brzezinski: I know what you look like.

[8:18] Heather Bedor: That's fine. We'll just post a photo of you.

[8:19] Amber Brzezinski: It's very strange.

[8:20] Heather Bedor: Hold on.

[8:21] Amber Brzezinski: Hold on.

[8:21] Heather Bedor: I'm seeing it back in my screen.

[8:25] Amber Brzezinski: Nope.

[8:26] Heather Bedor: She's gone, everybody.

[8:28] Amber Brzezinski: That's okay.

[8:30] Heather Bedor: Welcome back.

[8:33] Amber Brzezinski: I don't know. My camera's literally X'd off.

[8:37] Heather Bedor: Let me leave and come back.

[8:39] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[8:40] Heather Bedor: I'll just be here.

[8:42] Amber Brzezinski: Um, trying to not cry. But yes, um, all hell seemed to break loose because of all the Jonathan Groff supporters, which we love. Um, and we run the Just in Time fan group. My mouth does not want to work today, but um, it was really interesting because everyone started to go crazy. And Matt Magnuson just made his Broadway debut in Just in Time to be able to do this. Um, it is his first time coming into the show because Johnny has not missed a show, which has been really impressive and kind of beautiful to see.

[9:17] Heather Bedor: Yeah, Lisa, he did sound flat because he was sick, and I'll tell you, a lot of people were like, oh, well, he shouldn't have done the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and he shouldn't have done this. Well, but this is the kind of love to the cuff these performers have, and it's not just like, oh, I'm gonna show up and perform. They spend a lot of money, and we've talked about it on the show before. Um, generally when we're talking about the Tonys, because shows pay a whole hell of a lot of money, like a lot, because they have to come in, they have to build a new welcome back, Amber.

[9:51] Amber Brzezinski: I don't know. She's here, but she's not here.

[9:54] Heather Bedor: I don't have a camera plugged in, but I have a, I have a camera on my laptop.

[10:01] Amber Brzezinski: Cute.

[10:02] Heather Bedor: Okay, well, we'll just keep you as you're gonna be the mysterious woman tonight.

[10:07] Amber Brzezinski: Guys, I don't look like me anymore.

[10:11] Heather Bedor: You're just, you're gonna work, you're yeah, you're uh, you're in hiding.

[10:15] Amber Brzezinski: I was just talking in the I am Audrey too. I'm just sharing to our little shop group right now. And I am Audrey too. I am in the plant on the stage, just know I'm here, even though you can't see me.

[10:30] Heather Bedor: You're the nool, you're the new, you're the new Noel McDonald.

[10:34] Amber Brzezinski: I am, yes.

[10:35] Heather Bedor: That is me.

[10:36] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, coming at you live from inside Audrey, Audrey on stage in the rest of the other.

[10:42] Heather Bedor: Yes, that's me. Hello, hello, everyone.

[10:44] Amber Brzezinski: Anyways, I was venting about people saying, well, that Just in Time where the show shouldn't have performed at the parade. And I was telling people how that shows actually pay to perform in that or the Tonys. And you know, it was such an incredible thing to have Matt make his, you know, debut and to get out and to do his incredible performances. But people were like, I want to go see Jonathan Groff. Well, cool, but you're going to see a show. There's never guarantee of a performer. But like support Matt. And he has been doing a killer job.

[11:23] Heather Bedor: And yeah, I don't typically like to subject people. However, swoon, he is so freaking handsome. Like, I can't even stand it. Can't stand it. I sent him a message when he opened on Friday when he went out on Friday. And I was like, just so you know, everybody's kind of obsessed. Um, because I've had him on my socials for a bit, and I'm like, that's great. This is great. But yeah, he's Johnny's a very handsome man, mad like they did perfect casting, but like I am gonna get on my damn high horse and be like, guys, stop complaining about I get it. You you were specifically coming to go see this person. I get it. I've been there, I've talked about it on the show when I went to go see Sutton Foster do Sweeney Todd, and she was out slick, and I came back the next day. But it's hard. I get it, a hundred percent get it. But the last thing we want to do is offend people who are doing something really incredible.

[12:28] Heather Bedor: So I always say just try to show as much support and the old adage if you can't say anything nice don't say anything nice at all exactly um and that's kind of where it comes down to but yes everybody was saying Amber's gone again Amber's back again I was just trying to see if what I did maybe fixed it oh and Lisa agrees with you she says Matt is so handsome um Jeffrey is still uh uh Michael Baker is it still possible to get tickets while Megan is playing probably I don't know I I believe so yeah I mean there are tickets available um it's not always sold out don't forget Russian lottery are also really big things too yes Lisa the complaining about it is so upsetting and we have it a lot um we had it at oh we had it at cabaret with the Kit Kat Club and this is an event session but like when Adam Lambert wasn't on like all hell broke loose and you know we have to play the bad guys Amber and I are literally like calling each other at 11 o'clock at night going all right can you take the next hour and watch and make sure that like nobody's saying something stupid um yeah it just it it hurts and it and I do want to emphasize this like I I've said this I've I've typed out this comment at minimum 57 times in the last 48 hours we are not trying to censor you if you have feelings about a performance you are allowed to feel the way you want to feel about a performance.

[14:04] Amber Brzezinski: However, when you are a member of a community, and in that community, there are friends, family, cast members, um, producer, producers, uh, crew, ushers, someone's grandmother, someone's mother. Um, it's just that is the reason that we allow what we allow to be expressed in the groups.

[14:34] Heather Bedor: Feel free to go on your own timeline and express whatever you would like about someone. However, if it's not something you would say directly to that performer's face or their mother, right? Probably don't say it in the group. I mean, but I will say some people are pretty damn brazen and they might have no problem saying it. And that's fine too, but you know, but it's not the kind of communities we try to create in our masquerade group today. There was somebody who apparently posted a comment in another masquerade phantom group, and that comment got taken down, so they came to our group to complain about it. And the person who created the other group is one of our members, and was like, What do you mean?

Like, that's not what happened. It's too much drama, so much drama, guys. You don't need it, you don't need it. We need to support our friends, we need to support the shows, we need to support our community. We need to just understand we were just doing an interview. Oh, sorry, sorry.

[15:37] Amber Brzezinski: And we're having having a good old time. Well, that kind of aligns with what I was just saying is we just completed this really wonderful interview with Steve Morgan of Straight No Chaser, and we were talking about trying to get the tech ready.

[15:46] Heather Bedor: You're fine. No, you're fine. But it costs nothing to be kind, and you can 100% say, you know, I didn't enjoy this or have a side conversation, but like please just be mindful. And I think that's that's not even just across our 154 fam communities. That's just across in general. Like you never know. Seriously, you never know. If you're out at a restaurant, you never know who's walking up behind you or who's you know what who's listening in on a camera. Like Big Brother is always watching, which is a terrifying thing to think. But we just ask everybody to be kind, and that's what we expect. And if that makes us the bad guys, then that makes us the bad guys.

[16:32] Amber Brzezinski: Um can I can I highlight this comment really quick?

[16:37] Heather Bedor: Yeah. Oh, where's the best to buy if I'm from Canada? So this was in regards to a comment that Jeffrey had previously making about wanting to see Megan that we had just talked about a few minutes ago. And we see this comment a lot. And I just want to let people know that the best place to buy tickets for each individual show is going to change because some shows are hosted by certain like networks, others are hosted by other networks.

[17:07] Amber Brzezinski: So the best way to make sure you are getting official tickets for most likely the best price without those extra fees and nonsense if you are is to go directly to the ticketing stores.

[17:22] Heather Bedor: It is broadway direct.com. Exactly. Um, so the best way to do that is to go to the website for the show, and then go to the get ticket options for there, and that will always, no matter what show it is, show you where the original point of purchase for those tickets are. And I feel like that's not very well known. So thank you, Jeffrey, for asking that question.

[17:49] Amber Brzezinski: Right. We get the question a lot. And it's like, oh, we'll use this website or this app or this third party. Honestly, guys, there's no control over those. And I have personally been scammed. I know Amber's had issues. Um, unless you were buying directly from the show or are standing at TKTS, which is run by the theater development front fund, either at Lincoln Center or Times Square, or you're physically at the ticket booth, you know, at a theater, or you're standing in a rush line, you're not gonna get ripped off that way. Um, tdf.org, if you have access to that, that's great. But um, I'm not gonna throw out any different apps or websites that have had issues, but just be aware, it is always, as Amber said, the best way to buy something direct, um, because that has become an issue in the last couple of weeks with a lot of people trying to scalp and ticket uh ticket scammer.

[18:44] Heather Bedor: Yeah, if like for example, something happens, whereas this week weekend where the headliner who is billed above the title is out of the show.

[18:56] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, great point. You have decided that you would like to request a refund, which you are entitled to if or a post headliner who is above the title of the show is not on that day, you will most likely only be able to exchange your tickets at the box office.

[19:15] Heather Bedor: Oh, it's not just most likely, it's if the opportunity to exchange the ticket for another date, which is post-dating, or to get a refund, it is only buying it direct. The third party is only buying it direct. The third parties will not reimburse you if, say, for example, you go to the show, Jonathan Groff is out and you would like a discount. That will not happen if you got it through a third party.

[19:41] Amber Brzezinski: So it's the name above the marquee. Um but TKTS will also honor that because they work directly with the shows. This is so weird talking about it. By the way, Amber.

[19:51] Heather Bedor: I'm sorry, I'm I'm like, I keep playing around. I'm trying to like figure out what to do, and it's just like it's it literally says, like, you have no camera. And I'm like, the camera is built in to my laptop.

[20:06] Amber Brzezinski: Jeffrey says, Okay, I'm gonna go get my tickets, lovelies. You're the best ever.

[20:10] Heather Bedor: We try, we try so much. Thank you. Um, no, we're here for you. But yeah, and this is definitely like overlooking information that people think everyone just assumes that people know, but they don't so it's definitely and it's it's come up a lot, especially this weekend with the just in time situation. People I saw several comments that people said I couldn't exchange my tickets because I bought it because on Friday, too, when Johnny left in the middle of act one and Matt came in, people were like, Well, I'm gonna get my money back at the end of the show. Well, no, you didn't leave right then and there, which also super messed up. I mean, people do it, but like if a performer comes in and swings in in the middle of a show, freaking stay, but also I'm so irritated by it.

The New Yorkers coming out of me. But you know, if you're gonna try to get a refund, you've just seen a whole show. But oh no, Jonathan Groff wasn't in it, or Aaron Devate wasn't in chat, whatever. I'm not saying that's happening. My goodness, I'm not gonna start a riot, but as I'm dying, just support the show. Go to I'm gonna I'm gonna rephrase everything. Go with the intention to support a show and see an incredible show, and then you can say, Oh, so and so is performing in the show.

[21:30] Heather Bedor: Perfect, perfect example. I love Heathers, we all know this. I know every cast member, the producers are incredible. I love them so much. This entire run has been incredible. And I was offered a gift of a ticket, which was very kind and very appreciated because I'm obsessed. And I walked in going, Heathers is one of my favorite shows. I literally listened to the cast recording probably four or five times a week because it's just on autoplay on my Spotify account. Um, and I can sing along to it, and I love it because selfish reasons, but also I was so excited to go to see Heathers, and it was 90% understudies, yeah. Well, let me tell you, holy crap, super incredible, and it was a unique opportunity to see somebody and somebody in our group, and we've talked about this before, but I was glad somebody posted it.

Was hey, you never know who you're going to see. If you think about it, Jonathan Groff started off as an understudy, he never actually sung on, he was still an understudy. Jeremy Jordan started as an understudy and moved in. Um, and we were just talking with Steve, huh?

[22:47] Amber Brzezinski: Exactly. Yeah, yeah, we were just talking with Steve Morgan, the street no chaser, which we're gonna pull up that interview in just a few minutes. But Steve was an understudy for Skye in the original cast of Mamma Mia, and guess what? He swung on in a swing shift. He did it, and then he was a replacement. Look at Steven Tukesberry, our friends to did the same thing. You never know who's going to be coming into a role. Stay and watch, especially Matt, because Matt Starr is shooting very high.

[23:19] Heather Bedor: Absolutely. Absolutely. I think on that note, we can just roll roll out the app. I mean, I think we're good with it. So, right now, what we're gonna do is we are very fortunate to spend a little bit over an hour with Steve Morgan, who is a founding member of Straight No Chaser. If you're not familiar with Straight No Chaser, they're an acapella group that has been around since the 90s. Um, I first found out about them because my stepdad and my mom saw them on a cruise ship, and they're an incredible a cappella group that I really think started the a cappella movement that made Glee really popular and Pitch Perfect really popular, and they're funny, and they have an incredible voices and great stage presence and an incredible vibe. Um, they're still on tour.

[24:05] Amber Brzezinski: Um it's oh I'm looking at Olivia's post. Yes, fun fact John Travolta was an understudy for Greece on Broadway before he did the film. Damn right. But yeah, so Steve is an incredible person. We learned a lot about Straight No Chaser. Amber's gonna try to go see them, I think Saturday. Right? To go answer everybody's questions because I know they keep getting asked, and Jeffrey just asked again. I will be in the city Saturday through Wednesday because guess what? Next Friday is my birthday, so it's my birthday trip. Um, and Amber and I will be posting live on the 9th, as long as everything falls into place from our very dear friends over at Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS has again extended an opportunity and invitation to us for us to join them at the Red Bucket Follies for the second day, which is in my opinion the best time to go because then we get to learn about all the shows who have raised all of this incredible money to help support Broadway Cares.

[25:09] Heather Bedor: Um, special shout out to our Justin Time members since we're on this just in time movement, um, who donated last week $10,000 at Sinead, yeah.

[25:25] Amber Brzezinski: Sinead, we are here for you.

[25:28] Heather Bedor: Absolutely.

[25:57] Heather Bedor: And I think they like every once in a while, like three thousand dollars, or they have two donations of four thousand, whatever it is. Um, but Sinead had was like, I don't even want the bow tie. I didn't need anything, I just wanted to donate that money because it's such a great organization.

[25:57] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, Sinead.

[25:57] Heather Bedor: She's incredible.

[25:57] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and said, Hey, I didn't even want to do it. They saw the show the day before, went home and researched Broadway Cares, found out how wonderful the organization was, and they uh immediately had to go back the next day.

[25:57] Heather Bedor: And generally, so what Justin Time has been doing is they've been auctioning off Jonathan Groff's bow tie that he wears for the show.

[25:57] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, for sure.

[26:14] Amber Brzezinski: And I guess from what I've seen, Heather, I don't know if you saw anything different. The show did a special song for them.

[26:21] Heather Bedor: Yes, and there was like there was an opportunity for drinks with Jonathan Groff and Bowtie.

[26:27] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, for sure. I mean, just so incredible.

[26:29] Heather Bedor: So generous.

[26:29] Amber Brzezinski: So generous.

[26:29] Heather Bedor: So generous.

[26:29] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna put money in it right here, right now. The Justin Time is going to be the top um earner.

[26:40] Heather Bedor: I agree.

[26:40] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, 100%.

[26:42] Heather Bedor: Um, and I really am morbidly curious, and I keep saying this, our members are so generous and kind. I'm morbidly curious about how much of that is from our members because just selfish reasons.

[26:55] Amber Brzezinski: Um also if you guys are feeling like being generous, um, I guess we can promote ourselves here for a second. We do have our Patreon up um where we will be doing some very private uh that sounds really inappropriate, but we'll be doing some more talkback stuff, more um personalized introductional stuff. You'll be able to come on to the podcast.

[27:19] Heather Bedor: You can check out patreon.com slash the broadway fan club. Um if you are listening to this or watching this after our live stream, which again goes on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, eight o'clock every Monday evening Eastern time.

[27:32] Amber Brzezinski: Um, unless we have a special edition.

[27:35] Heather Bedor: Um, you can also catch us anywhere that you can get your podcasts, Spotify, Apple, um, iHeart Media. But if you want to go directly to our website for our podcast and listen to any previous episodes, it is www.onlybroadwayfans.com.

[27:43] Amber Brzezinski: If you want to check out any of our actual fan groups, which are so many of them, you can go to www.thebroadwayfanclub.com.

[28:04] Heather Bedor: But we are so happy to be on the Broadway Podcast Network. Um, we'll be hanging out with Alan next Tuesday.

[28:10] Amber Brzezinski: And Heather and I are still gonna try to figure out if we have a show coming up next Monday or not.

[28:14] Heather Bedor: Um, I know a lot of you guys were hoping to see Ginger Minch night due to a scheduling conflict that did not happen, but Ginger will be joining us back on the show.

[28:22] Amber Brzezinski: Um, I believe it'll be December 15th, which is in two weeks.

[28:27] Heather Bedor: So super excited for that. Um, so I did want to mention I did hear through the grapevine, Jeffrey, that the cast of Bat Boy is hoping to record the album.

[28:40] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah, for Bat Boy.

[28:42] Heather Bedor: Yeah. So let's pray to the off Broadway gods that that comes to fruition.

[28:47] Amber Brzezinski: Uh, because that show has been very well received and I know very well loved from many of you all.

[28:55] Heather Bedor: It's a cult classic, just like us.

[28:59] Amber Brzezinski: And to answer Jeffrey's question and Olivia's question, um, Jeffrey, what are you seeing? What's your schedule?

[29:04] Heather Bedor: I have no idea. Um, all I know is I would like to get in to see chess spelling bee, little shop because Andrew Durand, hello.

[29:14] Amber Brzezinski: Um, uh O'Mary, because I need to go visit with Cheyenne and um probably Heather's again, and I don't know.

[29:21] Heather Bedor: I have no idea, but I will be going to Didi Soup Dumpling. If anybody ever wants to join, it is my favorite place to go grab soup dumplings with freezing cold out.

[29:30] Amber Brzezinski: Um and Olivia says, when will you do another schmackeries?

[29:33] Heather Bedor: Olivia, every day that I'm in the city, I go visit our friends over at Schmackery's.

[29:37] Amber Brzezinski: Um, yes, it's a very healthy option for me.

[29:43] Heather Bedor: But and then Amber and I will be um in the city on the ninth.

[29:48] Amber Brzezinski: So Tuesday the ninth for the matinee for Broadway cares and probably doing something extra awesome and special because Amber's birthday, my birthday, and Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and everything else.

[30:02] Heather Bedor: So yep.

[30:03] Amber Brzezinski: That's some uh some building uh business bonding, yeah, workplace environment.

[30:10] Heather Bedor: Times all right. So this is gonna be very interesting because I'm just looking at the I'm excited to see if it's gonna work out.

[30:17] Amber Brzezinski: A timing is not gonna work out well for me, and I'm gonna have to leave this place very soon.

[30:23] Heather Bedor: Oh my goodness. I'm gonna have to go probably on my hot spot while I drive home.

[30:33] Amber Brzezinski: And good thing you all can't see me because we'll be mobile.

[30:38] Heather Bedor: So we'll see how it goes. Because we pre-recorded the episode with Steve because uh time differences and stuff like that.

[30:46] Amber Brzezinski: So what you guys are about to watch is gonna be really exciting. It is our full interview talking all about Straight No Chaser.

[30:53] Heather Bedor: Amber is going to try to get it to work on our end. Are you ready for this, Amber?

[30:59] Amber Brzezinski: I feel like drum roll.

[31:02] Heather Bedor: And just to preface this, there are tech issues happening now. There have been tech issues happening since we've signed on.

[31:07] Amber Brzezinski: Tech issues happened in the middle of Steve's episode.

[31:11] Heather Bedor: So that is why our Mercedes is again, in fact, in Gatorade today.

[31:18] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, and I like the blue Gatorade better.

[31:21] Heather Bedor: So um, so yeah. So good luck, everyone. Let's let's say say prayer.

[31:26] Amber Brzezinski: Let's try this out.

[31:27] Heather Bedor: All right, Amber. You got it?

[31:30] Amber Brzezinski: I got it out.

[31:32] Heather Bedor: Okay.

[31:39] Steve Morgan: Well, hello there.

[31:41] Heather Bedor: Happy, happy Monday.

[31:42] Amber Brzezinski: Happy Monday, as always.

[31:45] Heather Bedor: Happy Monday after a holiday, too.

[31:49] Amber Brzezinski: It is like the Mondayest of Mondays.

[31:51] Heather Bedor: Of all Mondays.

[31:54] Amber Brzezinski: So we'll be fine.

[31:56] Heather Bedor: But I'm so excited for this Monday.

[31:58] Amber Brzezinski: And I've been looking forward to it since I was told about this Monday.

[32:03] Heather Bedor: Um, like jumping. Always excited. Always excited.

[32:05] Amber Brzezinski: Always excited, but this one's got a special meaning to me.

[32:09] Heather Bedor: It really does. Um, but first and foremost, the lovely lady to my side is the one and only Amber.

[32:15] Amber Brzezinski: I am Heather. We are the Broadway Fan Club Podcast.

[32:18] Heather Bedor: Uh Amber's dog sitting, so she has to say you might notice it's another surprise environment for me.

[32:26] Amber Brzezinski: I mean, it's totally fine. It's great.

[32:28] Heather Bedor: But um, no, tonight's guest. Uh let me tell you, I have a love affair with this acapella group, um, which surprises me when people don't know.

[32:39] Amber Brzezinski: And I'm like, do you know who Straight No Chaser is?

[32:41] Heather Bedor: And they're like, I don't know, and I'm like, geefered them. Like, just trust me.

[32:46] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but my love affair with the group started for my stepdad, who most of you guys know is a hospice.

[32:52] Heather Bedor: Um, and I was talking to my mom about it last night, and I was like, I wish that he could hear us because he would be through the roof.

[33:00] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and we are so very honored to have the one and only Steve Morgan join us from Straight No Chaser, Broadway guy, Disney guy.

[33:09] Heather Bedor: We love it. Um, we're so excited. Um, I think we should just bring him on. What do you think?

[33:14] Amber Brzezinski: Let's do it.

[33:15] Heather Bedor: We love it. All right, Steve. You ready? You good, ready to rock?

[33:18] Steve Morgan: I got thumbs up, perfect.

[33:23] Heather Bedor: It's like a magic trick.

[33:25] Amber Brzezinski: You didn't know. We are also magicians.

[33:27] Heather Bedor: I love it.

[33:28] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, I like that. The magic, the magical Broadway podcast.

[33:32] Heather Bedor: Yep, surprise.

[33:33] Amber Brzezinski: Um, well, welcome so much to the show. This is uh truly an honor, especially because you're on tour with 500 million locations on tour.

[33:42] Steve Morgan: Give or take, yeah.

[33:44] Heather Bedor: I how many you said you have 50, 60 something?

[33:47] Steve Morgan: We're doing 62 shows and I believe 60 cities.

[33:51] Heather Bedor: So, you know, just your average fall.

[33:55] Steve Morgan: Sleep all the time, yeah.

[33:57] Heather Bedor: That's the beauty of the tour bus. We get to sleep as we as we go from place to place.

[34:01] Steve Morgan: Yeah, but I mean, tour bus, a bunch of guys, like, does it work? Or is it like, is it like frat house good or like animal house bad?

[34:11] Steve Morgan: I would say I don't know if we I don't know if frat house good has ever been described as everything.

[34:17] Heather Bedor: Um I I you know, I I think things have definitely changed over the 15 years really that we've been out doing these fall tours of 60.

[34:26] Steve Morgan: Sometimes I think they started uh the first one they I think they did was they started in like uh in September in 75 or 80 shows.

[34:33] Heather Bedor: So uh certainly now everybody uh we are we have settled into maybe we've matured, we're aging like fine wine, we hope.

[34:46] Steve Morgan: That probably or like funky cheese, one or the other.

[34:50] Heather Bedor: Oh, you've smelled the bus.

[34:51] Steve Morgan: Okay, oh yeah, I've been I've been on many a tour bus with different groups, and you're just like, do you smell that?

[34:58] Heather Bedor: Um, but I'm sure, like to me, and this is gonna sound so bizarre, but I would imagine the Straight No Chaser tour bus is gonna smell like Christmas trees and cinnamon because I just in your dreams in your hopes and dreams, right?

[35:11] Steve Morgan: And my dreams.

[35:12] Heather Bedor: So am I am I really off?

[35:13] Steve Morgan: No, no, you know what? We do decorate the buses.

[35:16] Heather Bedor: Um, because you know, we are we are away from our families during the holidays, so we want to bring a little bit of the holidays in for ourselves.

[35:24] Steve Morgan: We I mean, we it's really cool that we get to share it with so many other families.

[35:28] Heather Bedor: Um, but yeah, it's definitely consolidated because we we take uh four days for Thanksgiving, three days for Christmas to be home with the families.

[35:36] Steve Morgan: So, you know, we we try to pack in as much holiday spirit as we can in that time, but we like to get a little bit of our own on the buses too.

[35:42] Amber Brzezinski: And I but I'm so glad to hear that because and you guys are so family focused.

[35:46] Heather Bedor: Like I've always kind of gotten that read.

[35:49] Amber Brzezinski: It's so important because there are people who will tour all the way through the holidays and they kind of forget it.

[35:54] Heather Bedor: But you have small kids, you know, you've got families, and I think it's so important to still show that honor to your family members.

[36:02] Steve Morgan: I mean, your band becomes your your family too, but it's a very different kind of survival rate of holidays.

[36:10] Heather Bedor: Yeah, on that same note, I know you guys will be coming to my home state, Connecticut weekend.

[36:19] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, and two weeks according to Heather, make the best chocolate chip cookies around.

[36:25] Steve Morgan: So if you're if you're looking for a little home touch, you just hit me up and it's an hour away, but I'll I'll get to you.

[36:32] Heather Bedor: I assure you, we're always in the market.

[36:34] Amber Brzezinski: Oh no, I mean the last because Amber's in Connecticut, and so the last time I visited, actually the last two times, she has chocolate chip cookies ready for me, and she made them purple because why not?

[36:47] Heather Bedor: And they're the best.

[36:48] Amber Brzezinski: And I just are you gonna Amber, are you bringing me some next week?

[36:52] Heather Bedor: I will, I will probably be making some on the sixth, and then I'll save a batch to bake off on the ninth, yeah.

[37:00] Amber Brzezinski: You guys have cookies coming your way.

[37:01] Heather Bedor: So don't mind if I do.

[37:02] Amber Brzezinski: Thank you, Amber.

[37:04] Steve Morgan: Now this tour's been really special too because you have your first single out now with Hunter Hayes, but it's also Holiday Road, which is your first length in what five years that you guys had these albums, which is nuts.

[37:18] Steve Morgan: Um I know I know the last time we did this was actually uh during the pandemic with Social Christmasing was the last full length album.

[37:25] Steve Morgan: Yeah, so it's been a while. Uh we did a we did a Christmas EP a few years ago, a couple years ago. Um, but yeah, when you really get to dig in, um it's it's fun to really flesh out the full album. Um we took a lot of the lessons that we learned from Social Christmasing because that one we had to record remotely from home. We brought we were really upped our technical game in that one, and so we used those skills and recorded Holiday Road on the road this summer in dressing rooms, bathrooms, hotel rooms. That's the best.

[37:56] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, that's amazing.

[37:58] Steve Morgan: Treated all the screens. Yeah, and not not necessarily like for the worst because everyone's learning these new skills of like right. Oh, you don't have to go into a recording studio to do this, you don't have to do multiple sessions. Now, did you guys have a competition of like who had the weirdest place to record?

[38:16] Steve Morgan: Um, we were all together for the most part, so if one of us won, we all won. Um, yeah, we but you know, you learn how to treat a shower by bringing in the extra comforters and deadening everything, so you know, we we got we got into it, and and it but at the same time being able to use that technology to our benefit allowed us to do some of these collaborations with people remotely. Um, like we we didn't we weren't in the same room with Hunter when we he laid down his track but then we got a chance to um he he popped into our show in Nashville at the Ryman so we got to do you know a pop in show we didn't didn't promote it didn't just just made it a special event for the people that were there it was incredible it was incredible but meanwhile we were when we were out in the Philippines in the spring we were in the studio with Jose Marie Chan who is the king of Christmas there and it was I mean just the those incredible humble guy we got done he he walked us out to the van and was waving as it was like it was like saying goodbye to your grandpa he was just the incredible incredible guy so it it was really really neat um how how we were able to to use the technology to our advantage to to work make some of these collaborations come to life five years later is a very big difference between I mean you were almost you're forced to do something so unique and different and now you're learning that that's a benefit and I think it's important I think we just all have to be like how do I put it we have to show like honor to like the BS that we've been through in the past to be able to kind of grow with it.

[38:40] Steve Morgan: So I think it's important. I know Amber and I both have some crazy questions for you and before we got started we started talking a little bit about your Broadway roles we want to talk about that for a little bit sure I was a proud ensemble member of a couple of Broadway shows so yeah that's good ensembleist we'll give you your snaps you have to know many tracks you know what I mean like you're in the show the whole time you're one of the hardest working people out there for sure.

[40:15] Steve Morgan: Multiple costume changes. That's oh, yeah. That was well, my first my first job on Broadway was in Good Vibrations, where I was a swing, so I wasn't on every night, but I had I was actually the a cappella back. Arguably hard harder, yeah. It was the acapella, of course it was. It mean it definitely helped. When I went in for the audition, we're singing, you know, I sang the bass part and I'd go sing the tenor one part, and just I sang every part. And every time she our Sue Drauss was our music director who was incredible. Every time she said, Who wants to sing this? I'd be like, I'll go, let's go. Just site read a bunch of stuff. And then when we got into into the show, um, you know, if if somebody if anybody was having trouble learning their music, I was like, Hey, I got I can help a little bit. I I got a little background in this. So, you know, that was definitely uh one of my footholds to get onto the Broadway stage. And that was what 20 years ago.

[41:08] Steve Morgan: Yeah, you're welcome. 2005. Yeah, it was probably 2004 that all the auditioning was going down. So yeah, yeah, it's been a minute. Um, and then you went into Mama Mia.

[41:19] Steve Morgan: Yeah, I was lucky enough that um well, our music director or um the guy who did all the uh arrangements for Good Vibrations, he was also the standing music director for Mama Mia, David Holsenberg, another IU guy, so strong IU ties there. And so uh, you know, it helped uh to know somebody in the room, and certainly when and the audition came down. And uh I when I was going in, they were telling me that oh, yeah, this we think this is for uh Sky in Vegas. And I was like, Okay, I was also kind of a challenging track because he's got kind of a bad rap.

[41:51] Steve Morgan: Yeah, no, I mean it was it was it's it's honestly it was such it's it's like a day off when you get to be Sky. You're on stage for 12 minutes, you get a solo bow, it's beautiful. Love Princess Track, yeah. But I was also getting ready to get married, and uh, you know, my wife and I were just had our place in New York, and then so they it ended up being the the understudy for Sky. Went out to to Vegas, Patrick Saar, great guy, who I met a few times beforehand and after. Uh, and uh then I got to take over his role uh in in New York. So I think everybody was a winner there.

[42:27] Amber Brzezinski: I mean, I saw the original cast. I might have seen you on there.

[42:29] Steve Morgan: I had to have been. I well, I came in uh about five years. So I I was there a lot. Five in 2008. Yeah. I mean, there I've got a I've got a number of friends who you know, over the years I've met, and they said, Oh, you were Mama Mia, when were you there? And I told them years ago, oh gosh, I think I saw you. I don't know. Have you seen the most recent cast? I know with you being so busy.

[42:53] Steve Morgan: Have you I've not been out there, but Erica Mansfield, one of my good friends who was uh she was she was on the tours and then would come in to Broadway to swing. I think that was her first role, who's gone on to do a million shows since then, but she's on there, so I catch up with uh her Instagram. I I see all the all my friends who went for um for the dress rehearsal. I mean, that was that looked like a just a big family reunion. So it was cool to see. I mean, it's always been such a fun show, and you know, this kind of translates into SNC too, because it's like you guys have such a loyal following, and people are standing and dancing, like you're not just sitting in a chair, you know, everyone's up and moving around or singing along, and like in the theater world, it's a little bit harder because you're like, Can you please stop singing? I didn't come here to hear you sing. But at a concert, you know, it's it's gotta be like yeah, yeah.

[43:46] Steve Morgan: I think with our show, it it's in the same vein as Mamma Mia. We are trying to give you escapist joy for two hours. We want to put a smile on your face.

[43:54] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, hold on. I'm taking that terminology because that is the most perfect way.

[43:57] Steve Morgan: It's escapist joy. That that perfect. I've never heard that terminology for it. Okay, go on. And that's why you know, there's there's we're we're not talking about current events, we're not talking about anything that's going on in the world. We are gonna make the world right here. We knock down the fourth wall, we talk to the audience, we get out there with them, and you know, everybody always says, Man, you guys look like you're having a great time. I said, Of course we are. We have to have a great time, or else you can't have a great time. So and and the beauty of our show is if there's something that's not working, we just take it out. It's not a Broadway show. There's right. We can we can eliminate uh you know uh a Sondheim flaw or whatever the fatal flaw of one of his shows are and put in a different song. How dare I know? How awful.

[44:44] Steve Morgan: But no, I mean, I think it's it's so impactful to be able to go from something and create that environment because it is that great escape. Like you're there, you're creating joy. People might be having the worst day out in the world. They come into a show, whether it's on a stage, you know, in a theater or it's in an arena, and it's you're feeling everybody around you just having that joy and singing, um, singing familiar songs, singing new stuff, just performing. But to see performers that are actually enjoying themselves, you feel that deep inside. You're not just like, oh wow, they're smiling, they look happy. You're like, I can feel the love that they have for the fans, and and vice versa. So it's a very symbiotic relationship for sure.

[45:27] Amber Brzezinski: Communal. It's why it's it's why nothing can replace sorry, you are.

[45:32] Steve Morgan: You are, I was gonna say to literally steal from Hamilton, you get that feeling of being in the room like where it is happening.

[45:39] Amber Brzezinski: Right. I I feel like Lynn Manuel said it best in that situation. Like there's just so much energy about that room itself, that moment, that room, and it just it's electric.

[45:52] Steve Morgan: Yeah, yeah. And and we'll be live streaming our show on December 23rd, uh, from Dayton. And it's and it's great for the people who can't make it, but it's you know, it's still gonna be different, you know.

[46:03] Amber Brzezinski: Of course, like the communal aspect, just there's there's no there's no replacing that.

[46:07] Steve Morgan: But that accessibility is so key. We always talk about that. Like it's so important because people that can't be there or couldn't afford it for whatever reason, or broke their leg, gosh knows who, whatever.

[46:18] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, but it's accessible, they're able to enjoy it.

[46:21] Steve Morgan: It might not be the same, but it's to them, it's even more important and more special.

[46:26] Amber Brzezinski: Right, they do all get to have that moment, yeah.

[46:29] Steve Morgan: Yeah, right. So it's really beautiful to see. Now we're talking a little bit about the audition process um for Good Vibrations. Um, talk us through with Straight No Chaser, like how you became part of the group, um, and then how you guys have like accumulated all these like brothers in arms, um and like any kind of give some insight.

[46:52] Steve Morgan: I I'm like just morbidly curious. Like, really, when I tell you my mother and stepfather discovered Straight No Chaser on a cruise ship.

[47:00] Amber Brzezinski: Oh wow, okay.

[47:01] Steve Morgan: Uh like long time ago and just 2012. Uh probably longer than that, maybe like right as the beginning.

[47:08] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[47:08] Steve Morgan: Um, so it's been like fascinating. I'm like, just give us all. I want all the details.

[47:13] Steve Morgan: Yeah. So I our story goes all the way back to 1996. Uh, we started, we were a part of uh show choir called Singing Hoosers there at on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and uh it's about 110 guys, yes, oh yeah, and and we were the the Singing Hoosers were the some of the biggest ambassadors of the school. They would we would go on road shows uh across Indiana, across the states, they they'd done international shows in the past as well. And um so we we started just came out of that 10 or 11 guys who wanted to sing for basically to get into shorties. What higher calling could it a young college gentleman have? Um and so we started it to be a legacy group because there wasn't really that uh kind of the East Coast um legacy groups that you know of as the Whiffin Poofs and some of those, you know, where they would rush uh a cappella groups.

[48:06] Steve Morgan: And they talk about the Wiffin Poofs all the time and Gilmore Girls and Amber won't watch the show, and that's all I think of when you say but go on.

[48:13] Steve Morgan: Sure, sure, sure. So we were trying to start something in in that vein. And um, you know, now the group we we had to take the name uh Straight No Chaser with us when we went professional. Um, but uh the group Another Round still exists, still rocking on the campus. They're having their own moment uh blowing up on socials, and they turn the you know, so that entity turns 30 years old next year, which is incredible. And there's still three of you guys that the are the original founder still performing to this day, right?

[48:45] Steve Morgan: That's right. Three of us are from the original group. Um, everybody but Freedom Young was a part of the group during their time at Indiana, and uh Freedom knew one of our members, Tyler, because they had sung in kind of a collegiate all-star a cappella group out in Hyannis, the Hyannis Sound. Okay, so they knew each other from that. And so when we were auditioning for somebody who could beatbox along with sing, uh, we brought him in and we're like, oh, he's good. But we always we always said, Oh no, no, no, we have to be Indiana. Like, eh, maybe we can make an exception here.

[49:16] Steve Morgan: Yeah, yeah. So um, but then we added our our newest member um two years ago, um, probably two years after Freedom came in and uh as a bass, uh Luke Bob Robinson. And you know, he he was born two months after we started this group in 1996. Wow, no, that hurts.

[49:34] Steve Morgan: Yeah, I know. I was like, oh gosh, twist the knife there, dude. But he has to pay dues. Oh yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. But he but he's a he's a great guy, good and an old soul, so he fits in well with us.

[49:49] Steve Morgan: Yeah, yeah.

[49:50] Amber Brzezinski: And like, how do you how do you how do you even like begin that process? Because in my mind, I'm seeing like, you know, this like fraternity style where you guys like go in the middle of the night and like sneak in and be like, You made the group, like you're in and you have to do all these challenges.

[50:08] Steve Morgan: Drink the blood of 20 virgins.

[50:13] Amber Brzezinski: What is that?

[50:14] Steve Morgan: I mean, whenever they fit. Well, it's yeah, that's that's an excellent point because it was more than just singing, it was also there is just a part of the callbacks was always bring everybody into a room and just chat for a minute and just try to get a vibe. Because we're gonna be spending, I mean, certainly with this group, we're gonna be spending a lot of time together. And so when we would have auditions, we would have them in for a chat just to get to know them a little bit better, and then we'd have a hang at night, go to a bar and just have everybody hang out, everybody who was auditioning, and just be like, All right, can we can we do this for what's five months out of the year?

[50:52] Amber Brzezinski: Right, yeah.

[50:54] Steve Morgan: I had an interview one time where they had everybody go out and play like bar trivia.

[50:58] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah.

[50:59] Steve Morgan: That was extensive. But yeah, I mean, it makes sense because you guys are on the road so much that you have to make sure that the personalities fit.

[51:07] Amber Brzezinski: Sure.

[51:07] Steve Morgan: Um, but how now are people and there's like open casting calls, but you guys must have a list of five miles long of people who are just dying to get in or do something with y'all.

[51:19] Steve Morgan: Well, and honestly, we've only done audition. Well, first off, we only do auditions as infrequently as possible. That you guys are like looking.

[51:27] Steve Morgan: No, no, it's it's it's really only when somebody has to step away for family reasons. Right. That's really been all the only reason people have left. Um, and when we do, it's by invitation. And like I said, you know, there's 30 years now of Straight No Chaser slash Another Round members to consider. And then if there's something especially skill, like we like again, we didn't have anybody who we knew of who was really, you know, a beatboxer extraordinaire. So reached out to Freedom Young and he's just fit like a glove.

[52:01] Amber Brzezinski: Do you think that some of the guys are starting to, and I can only imagine it happens naturally that everyone's like, Oh, I want to start to learn how to beatbox, and then you guys all pick up like these individual talents that makes it more whole, or we've had some who said I can beatbox, and they try and like you cannot.

[52:19] Steve Morgan: You can um yeah, you can soil a mic, but I'm not sure mic coverings are really important for that.

[52:28] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, exactly, exactly.

[52:29] Steve Morgan: No, it you realize that I mean also with Freedom and when Tyler used to do a lot of the beatboxing, and Don Nottingham before him, they would just spend a lot of time kind of making the noises and practicing the noises and trying new noises. And you're like, it's not just something you pick up because you heard it once in a, as Freedom mentions in a police academy movie. It's it's something that you it's a it's a craft that has to be honed.

[52:57] Amber Brzezinski: Well, it's playing an instrument, it's just an instrument. You don't have to go out and buy, but you have to invest in it, you have to tune it, you have to put the time in.

[53:05] Steve Morgan: Absolutely.

[53:06] Amber Brzezinski: Um so I'm kind of dying that with this new video that came out. Can I can I show this video, Steve?

[53:13] Steve Morgan: Please do.

[53:14] Amber Brzezinski: I haven't told you what video this is yet, and I'm kind of excited. It just came out what two weeks ago.

[53:21] Steve Morgan: I believe so.

[53:23] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so for everybody tuning in, I'm so excited that we've been given permission to show this. It is the Straight No Chaser version of Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

[53:36] Steve Morgan: Um and set in to a scenery or thematic of Clue.

[53:43] Amber Brzezinski: Well, we were going knives out, but yes, same.

[53:45] Steve Morgan: I was told Clue, Knives Out the same thing.

[53:48] Amber Brzezinski: I know. I mean half doesn't the other.

[53:50] Steve Morgan: Uh knives out works even better.

[53:53] Amber Brzezinski: All right, let me see if it's more contemporary.

[53:55] Steve Morgan: Yeah, yes.

[53:57] Amber Brzezinski: It's for for the youngins.

[53:59] Steve Morgan: All right, hold on a second. Let's get this all beat up.

[54:03] Amber Brzezinski: All right, hold on. Here we go, everybody.

[54:29] ♪ Musical number: "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" — performed by Straight No Chaser ♪

[57:20] Steve Morgan: I just here's my thing. So many people think all these acapella groups are so serious and so straight-laced.

[57:37] Amber Brzezinski: And then oh, as I still playing on my side of screen.

[57:43] Steve Morgan: But everyone thinks you guys are so straight-laced and so focused and serious. But Straight No Chaser is like humorous and comedic, and you guys focus on like I mean grandma's life just intolerant. Come on, like it's just so much fun. I was like, I was like, wait a minute really started to become like pop culture phenomenon then you had shows like Glee and movies like Pitch Perfect that are really pushing and highlighting a cappella groups and singing competitions and The Sing-Off and there's so many things apps where you can like a cappella with yourself like that became like a thing for a bit but I think it's just so incredible what you guys have managed to create that's gotta be like really rewarding feeling but is it overwhelming to you like oh my god what is this monster we've created or no because every I mean these are the things we dreamed of and never thought possible so you know we always say we take the music very seriously we just don't take ourselves very seriously and at the end of the day our job our goal is to entertain everybody there in every way possible so if we were just sitting there with our you know beanies and and blazers oh I kind of now just want to see the little with the little candle hell yeah yeah right I mean there there's a place for that there's certainly a place for that and we can do that within a show but if it's the whole show we don't feel like we're entertaining to the best of our ability so we try to use everything that's available to us that's humor that's um lighting it's the I mean we play that video at the coming out of intermission going into act two to kind of set the tone for for what's coming and what to expect of the crazy and chaos yeah and because that that arrangement there it was Mike and and Freedom kind of collaborated on that and just said all right if we're gonna do this let's go all the way and it and it's it's a little dark sure oh yeah of course but then so is the song too but right but the original song was grandma got run over by it right now right how happy should we be about this is more like but it's so good it's so good and then one of the really cool things was the guy who wrote the song came to the show in Dallas Randy Brooks uh wrote it I think 1979 and he was like this guys this is great I love this and so he was fully on board we got a picture with him he was he was awesome great guy and and so it you know it's it's cool to make again make those little connections because of uh because of a cappella music it's it's so cool because you guys really do just bring the party um and you can bring all of the party which I love um you specifically love to dance and don't stop moving and I've seen numerous a video um how do you have the energy for this please tell me while singing while doing everything you're just bouncing um just pure joy.

[1:01:42] Steve Morgan: Yeah, I I mean I I don't drink I don't drink caffeine I just just I I got I got energy share please share I mean I I I like to I like to exercise to make sure I keep the energy and so yeah all those things that add up like I'm trying to imagine like an a cappella workout something specific you like to do or the guys like to do in general on it.

[1:01:42] Steve Morgan: If you if you warm up your bottom, we do a symptom to make sure that you know everybody's hearing what they need to in or in here. Um before every show circle up notes from in the hanging, just to make sure the pressure models. Uh there's yes, like I have to do this, I have to do that, I could do this.