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[0:21] Heather Bedor: Holy crap. That's when I'm gonna start with the show today. Holy crap. Alright. So I think we need to take a collective giant deep breath. Are you cool with that?

[0:35] Amber Brzezinski: Always cool with a collective deep breath.

[0:38] Heather Bedor: Alright, let's see how our lungs are powered right now. You ready? Let's—I didn't even want to let it out, just wanted to keep it there. Yeah, that was good. Oh my god. What a week. What a week. Um, wow. Smells like thunder. It's actually been snowing and it's like no one saying it's a typing. I'm just, you know, typing our but I'm so happy that you're back this week.

[1:14] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I was really—

[1:16] Heather Bedor: Guys, I have been through like really, really struggling. And I have to tell you, the massage that I had, it was great. I feel like helped more than anything that has helped me. I am a fan of massage therapy. Like some people are like, I don't like other people to touch me. I'm like, uh, do it. I don't care. I will cry, I will be bruised. I got one last Wednesday from the now massage in downtown Orlando. Let me tell you because I die and cough. Um, it was beyond relaxing and I went to my chiropractor the next day because I'm still treating for my car accident and he was like—I was like I couldn't even put my bra on because I'm like ow it hurts it hurts it hurts.

[2:03] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[2:03] Heather Bedor: Like the last couple days at work, like last week I was like I can't—I like have to not wear a bra right now like I can't even have anything on my shoulders. My trapezius was like squishy from all the lactic acid. I felt like my shoulders were literally inside my ear canal like I was like so that's how I feel now tense but now look at how they have a neck look less—I you can't really see mine because I'm wearing a dark shirt and there's a shirt that the chair. Anyways, well welcome to a really weird episode of the Broadway Fan Club podcast. I am Heather, uh, your very stressed out co-host and to my side is my very lovely friend Amber, also the very stressed out co-host.

[2:03] Amber Brzezinski: Less stressed, still stressed but less stressed.

[2:03] Heather Bedor: We'll take that. Should I just like put the whole thing out in the world right now to get it over with because a couple of our friends and our members have been reaching out and I should probably let everyone know.

[3:08] Amber Brzezinski: Whatever you feel comfortable with, this is your information.

[3:15] Heather Bedor: Safe space, cool love. Um, for those of you who usually tune into the show and watch us, um, if you see my background, if you've been hanging out with us for a while, you can see if it's just my mother's house still decorated for Christmas apparently. Um, I am here right now because, uh, yesterday, Saturday morning, my stepdad passed away, so um, it's been tough, emotional. Um, it kind of is what it is. Um, very appreciative. My older stepbrother is here from New Jersey. If you guys remember when Amber and I interviewed Jeannie Jackson, um, and I was in the creepy basement, that was his basement. Um, so we're just going through the process, and so I'm a little scattered. Umlivia, I appreciate it.

Um, but yeah, I'm good. Um, I'm I'm so much like a get my shit and go kind of thing. And I've unfortunately, um, due to my work with Pulse and the aftermath of that, um, here in Orlando, I very much know how to plan a funeral very quickly. Um, so just trying to be a chaos coordinator and kind of do all the things and the stuff. And um, but I really did mean it like theater heals. Um, you know, Amber and I have talked about it all the time. Um, and Amber, you and I have talked about this like after your accident, but like even during COVID, like we were like almost two years without real theater, right? It felt like a piece of me was missing I didn't even know was there. I just felt weird.

[4:51] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[4:54] Heather Bedor: And then friends of mine were like after I went to my first ship back, which is at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, which was this—we frozen on Broadway, which I already seen and I loved, um, and the curtain raises and my tears are streaming down my face. It's a very cathartic kind of thing. And um, I even had a talk with my mom today about like immersive theater. My mom's like, because I was like, oh, we're gonna go to masquerade because we're gonna—we're planning on scattering my stepdad's ashes um in different places in New York because he's born and raised in the Bronx. And I was like, Oh, I'm gonna take him a masquerade because she loves Phantom, and um I think she even saw Phantom in the West End.

And I'm still getting over the stupid alley um, but um she's like, No, you love that stuff, but like that's just for weird people who love to be like they want to be actors, and I'm like, no, immersive theater is not for people who want to be actors, it's a very different kind of art. Like you were submerged and like you're completely immersed in this entire universe of, you know, phantom leading you through, or you know, with life and trust and sleep no more. It was a little bit more like you know, oh hey, I want to participate, but I think immersive theater is really starting to make a turn for the better. Um, yeah, I'm just excited to see the history uh coming to life through different shows and what's gonna be the next immersive experience. But how do you feel, Amber? Talk to me.

[6:27] Amber Brzezinski: Um, I mean, it's not like immersive immersive per se, but I feel like we're getting like a—I don't want to say more interactive, but I feel like we're heading in that direction with like Cats, the ballroom, yeah, with like Jelly Ball.

[6:56] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[6:56] Amber Brzezinski: And even like with Stranger Things, like we're—I was gonna say Stranger Things where they're going through the audience.

[7:03] Heather Bedor: Per se or but like they are interactive in a lot of people.

[7:07] Amber Brzezinski: Well if you—I don't know if you ever saw the original run of Cats, but like Cats they literally crawled out into over your—

[7:07] Heather Bedor: Yeah, for sure.

[7:18] Amber Brzezinski: And I just—I remember like Hedwig and Grange and like the, you know, car wash like that was a thing. Like those are still things I think they're getting more brazen with participation for sure.

[7:31] Heather Bedor: Yeah, absolutely. But even like with—I mean granted Just in Time is a little more immersive than other things but like Just in Time having that moment where like a stage member and even like Spamalot has that moment with like a stage member or an audience member. So like I just—I just think it's cool when these kind of nuanced situations happen in these specific shows that really kind of give you that extra bonus.

[8:04] Amber Brzezinski: I one could even argue it was similar with like Sunset like with the people in Shubert Alley like being able to have that moment of the show without even being like at the show.

[8:17] Heather Bedor: It's just still—Amber, if I was one of those people to just tattoo random stuff your face as the doors opened is gonna be like—

[8:17] Amber Brzezinski: Well no, but I mean you're speaking the truth and like I don't know if—I don't want to say jaded is not the right word but here are like in central Florida with like dinner shows and stuff I'm so used to participating in different things like and I was talking to our dear friend Chris Lady um earlier this week, and we were talking about almost like we're spoiled in Orlando. Like we're so used to being around so and so of this boy band or this performer came from here. And this is like we're very spoiled on that aspect. But I think that being in Orlando nearly 26 years has kind of shaped me into this like approachable theater person.

[9:07] Heather Bedor: Yeah, for sure.

[9:08] Amber Brzezinski: But speaking of approachable theater people, do you want to hear what I did this weekend?

[9:12] Heather Bedor: Sure.

[9:14] Amber Brzezinski: Um, so I was super excited. Central Florida Comic Con, which is in Lakeland, invited me out. Uh, they would have invited Amber out, but she's, you know, in Connecticut like in negative degrees weather, but that's okay.

[9:29] Heather Bedor: Like a time.

[9:32] Amber Brzezinski: So it's like freaking—

[9:34] Heather Bedor: I know my mom was like, the dogs won't go outside, it's too cold. I like send her pictures. My brother had to put like blankets and stuff over the trees in my mom's house. But to be fair, um, so Central Florida Comic Con invited me out um to go get some coverage because they not only had our lovely friend Noel MacNeil um there, if you recall our interview with him. If you guys have not watched that interview, guys, he's even nicer in person all the time. Just I explain how he is to people, like Noel is a hug.

[10:09] Heather Bedor: Like his own. I have to tell you like with this gig, we get like a lot, we get to talk to a lot of cool people, right?

[10:16] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, no, we actually one of the people that I brag about talking to, you know what I mean? I'm like, I know someone on Sesame Street, like I know Bear in the Big Blue House. Like Noel, I feel like puts me at like another level, like knowing Neil. Like Noel is that good.

[10:42] Heather Bedor: But I'm also gonna say Noel was one of the first people that I introduced myself to, though.

[10:49] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[10:50] Heather Bedor: It was at the very beginning of the Broadway Fan Club. When the podcast had just gotten started, I was still pitching it to the network. It happened to be at Broadway Con. You heard the story with the Hintons and what we had Kara on. And Carol was like Austin, who's um her adult son. Um, like he had these night terrors, and like the goodnight song was like the song to get him to calm down, but like they're too nervous to go talk to Noel. And Noel happened to be—you are thunder right now, ma'am.

[11:19] Amber Brzezinski: Thunder, thunder.

[11:21] Heather Bedor: I'm just deleting, or I just—I typed the wrong thing for a share. I know I can't put a typo. Um, but he happened to be at like the lights at Broadway tight table, and they're like, Heather, go do your Heather thing. And I'm like, I have no shame. I will literally introduce myself to anybody, walked up to Noel. I didn't grow up on Bear. Um, I grew up on Sesame Street, but also I was like, whatever, some cool puppeteer guy friends in no big deal. Walked over, immediately like was like, Hey, so this is what's up. Like, do you mind coming over and saying hi when you get a moment? He immediately packed up his stuff, moved over, and spent probably about 40 minutes talking to them and taking Bear out, taking photos, and just—

[11:53] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, he is like that with everybody.

[12:05] Heather Bedor: Yeah, and just so lovely and such a big supporter of ours. And when I found out he'd be at the show, I was like, Oh my god, I'm coming to see you. What does this have to do with Broadway, Heather? You may ask. Noel was uh recently in Rob Lake's the uh magic show that had um the Muppets in it for 10 minutes. Probably uh Rob Lake's magic show. Um, but he is also in Little Shop, and just insider information. Nobody tell anybody.

[12:35] Amber Brzezinski: Umel will be back in the West Side Theater within the next week.

[12:40] Amber Brzezinski: And when we say in the West Side Theater, we mean in Audrey II in the West Side Theater.

[12:50] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, so we, and yeah, so like you might not, you might be like, where, how, where have I seen him? In Little Shop of Horrors, inside of that giant creature as it grows?

[13:05] Amber Brzezinski: Noel is responsible for all of those little pieces and nuances and everything. That is what goes into it, so that is where you will see our wonderful friend.

[13:17] Amber Brzezinski: So they hadn't, so Noel came out, um, and we hung out for a good while, um, talking all sorts of chatter, and he had Bear Pain in the back.

[13:27] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but the people were coming up, you had adults, you had stormtroopers, it was so cute. But there were little, little kids. There was a six-month-old baby that came over, Emmanuel, and I took this really cute picture, I'll send it to you.

[13:41] Amber Brzezinski: Okay, and a friend of mine is calling me knowing I have my podcast, love that. Um, but Emmanuel was the tiniest little chubby baby, and I got this really cute picture of Bear, like saying hello to him, and his eyes were lit up, and then there was a sweet little girl, Lily, who's autistic and like obsessed with Bear, like that's the only way to get her to like smile and calm down.

[14:03] Amber Brzezinski: And her mom made her this cute dress that had Bear embroidered on the front of it. It was so sweet.

[14:08] Amber Brzezinski: I know, like obsessed. Um, but I was happy to see that. But guess who else was there besides all the voices of a teenage mutant and shirtless and you know, whatever.

[14:21] Amber Brzezinski: Is this like a real guess or is this, you know, they were there, but I'm trying to get you to guess.

[14:28] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, okay. Um, rhymes with Mesley Mitzer.

[14:38] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, yes.

[14:40] Amber Brzezinski: Wait, I wanted to be trying the third name for that.

[14:50] Amber Brzezinski: Madrigas, Madrias. Um, then and then Brandon.

[15:02] Amber Brzezinski: I don't remember which one. One of the millions.

[15:06] Amber Brzezinski: So, um, they had the panel yesterday, which I live streamed, um, to our page. Um, was a hell of a hotel, so it was Hell of a Boss and Has Been Hotel combined.

[15:17] Amber Brzezinski: So Brandon Rogers and Leslie Fitzer. Um, and I was super excited because before they went to QA, which is kind of the thing, especially when they have bigger stars, before they even went to the QA, they launched and talked about Beetlejuice and how different Beetlejuice was.

[15:34] Amber Brzezinski: And before Beetlejuice, so when Beetlejuice is up at the Winter Garden, Leslie was Miss Argentina, right?

[15:41] Heather Bedor: Right.

[15:42] Amber Brzezinski: And then, which is crazy, like one of the craziest quick changes. Holy crap.

[15:47] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[15:47] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but she pulled it off. And then post-COVID, when it moved over to the Marquis Theater, she was just Delia.

[15:49] Heather Bedor: Right.

[15:49] Amber Brzezinski: And then she did not get a chance to see the new one. And now that track is officially not the same track. Like that track has no longer been the Delia track with also Miss Argentina.

[16:08] Amber Brzezinski: Like from that day forward, they have been making a track. That was a crazy track. Crazy.

[16:15] Heather Bedor: And you have to be blue.

[16:17] Amber Brzezinski: You have to be blue.

[16:19] Heather Bedor: I mean, it's like a teal, but yeah.

[16:21] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, but yeah, whatever. No, it, so I got a chance to sit through their panel. I didn't stay through the QA because you never know what's gonna happen there.

[16:31] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but Brandon like spoke so highly about Leslie, and you know, he hasn't done Broadway, but he has done TV shows where he plays like a Broadway wannabe. And he's just wonderful.

[16:41] Heather Bedor: So I really want to see when he's gonna hit. And I mean, it's gonna be phenomenal.

[16:47] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. But um, but yeah, so after their panel, I visited over with Leslie at her table for a little bit. We talked a little bit about Spamalot because she was Lady Lake.

[16:57] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and we were talking about because I had met her when the fan club, I mean before the fan club, I had seen her after the fan club had been created, and I was like, yeah, hey, so um, we're at like seven million members now, and she's her jaw dropped.

[17:12] Amber Brzezinski: So it's fun to kind of catch up with like our industry people who have seen us from the very beginning to like where we're at now. And yes, that number is real, guys. Like 155 fan groups, our numbers are counting.

[17:25] Amber Brzezinski: Um, I will say that um, we are going to start to post more content directly to Instagram. So, like this past week I went live on Instagram, which went over to Facebook.

[17:39] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but I did the J Zeam Broadway concert series over at Epcot um this past week that was featuring Adam Jacobs and Isabel on call. Uh, but all has, I cannot talk right now, is call up. Those are your words.

[17:53] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and then this Tuesday, it'll be Jelani, Remy, and um, Sierra Bojis. So I'm super excited for that.

[18:02] Amber Brzezinski: Um, but make sure you are following our Instagram for even more content. Um, our Instagram is super easy. I don't know why all of our stuff keeps getting deleted through StreamYard, but that's okay.

[18:14] Amber Brzezinski: Our um, our Instagram is really easy. It's the B-Way Fan Club. I'll put that in the bottom of the screen.

[18:22] Amber Brzezinski: So at the B-Way Fan Club, if you want even more detailed information and behind-the-scenes stuff and to join us before the show starts and catch up with us and get some VIP invites, definitely go check out our Patreon too.

[18:36] Amber Brzezinski: Patreon.com slash the Broadway Fan Club. Um, you're gonna get a lot more information there than just here or following our groups.

[18:43] Amber Brzezinski: So we want to give you guys as much opportunity to interact with us as possible because we love you guys.

[18:48] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[18:49] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. What did you do this weekend?

[18:53] Heather Bedor: Uh, I really just love, I just reset. I really needed time to reset.

[18:57] Amber Brzezinski: Sounds lovely.

[19:01] Heather Bedor: Yeah, I would like to do that.

[19:04] Amber Brzezinski: Um, like I would really love to do that, but you know, never a dull moment, right?

[19:10] Heather Bedor: Yeah, for sure. Never a dull moment.

[19:12] Amber Brzezinski: But yeah, um, there's some Broadway news coming today.

[19:16] Heather Bedor: There is so much Broadway news.

[19:18] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, I was like, there's a lot. I'm just trying to figure out to wait, narrow it down, but you know what? I think I'm gonna let you drive the bus.

[19:25] Heather Bedor: Yeah. I mean, first off, we'll just like, we'll start with like the topic of casting because there's so much casting information going on right now.

[19:39] Amber Brzezinski: Yes. Let's just like go across the board, all the casting, and I want to touch on that for a moment too when we get to it. But go ahead.

[19:48] Heather Bedor: First off, Betsy frickin' Wolf.

[19:53] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, we talked about it first. Coming in performance here.

[19:57] Heather Bedor: Yes, uh, uh, Madeline Ashton, and it went phenomenally. Everything that I heard.

[20:03] Heather Bedor: Something that I've always loved that Death Becomes Her has done since the beginning is they really show those first bows of those special moments, they show those, you know, encore applause and everything, and they really celebrate each performer has their moment on stage, and the clips I saw of Betsy's first bow were truly just beautiful.

[20:31] Heather Bedor: It looks like she was welcomed so warmly into the Death Becomes Her family.

[20:36] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah.

[20:37] Heather Bedor: And I think that's just absolutely incredible, you know, to step into the role of Madeline Ashton, who was originated, of course, by Megan Hilty, and has had such a historical figure publicly because of the movie and everything. So it's like it's huge shoes to fill.

[21:00] Amber Brzezinski: And she has those leopard print thigh-high boots going, and I want them.

[21:05] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[21:07] Amber Brzezinski: I need them for sure. So that's like our first big casting change. Check one.

[21:13] Heather Bedor: Uh, casting two.

[21:17] Amber Brzezinski: We have new Six casting.

[21:20] Heather Bedor: And it's getting a lot of news and attention.

[21:23] Amber Brzezinski: And Amber will touch heavily on that one.

[21:26] Heather Bedor: And attention. So starting February 16th, we have new cast members that are some old, some new.

[21:42] Amber Brzezinski: We have Adriana Hicks and Anna Usley will return, who were original cast members.

[21:50] Heather Bedor: Then we have Olivia Donaldson, who just recently played last year. I think she was one of the tour queens that got moved on to Broadway, and now she's returning back to Broadway.

[22:03] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[22:04] Heather Bedor: And we also have Dylan Mulvaney making her Broadway debut as Anne Boleyn.

[22:12] Amber Brzezinski: And this is epic because Dylan was a musical theater performer pre-transition. She actually was a cast member in the Book of Mormon tour.

[22:25] Heather Bedor: But now that she, you know, has been living authentically in her natural self, she's now able to kind of go back and focus on her passion, which is musical theater in her new authentic life that she's living.

[22:43] Amber Brzezinski: So she just did her one-woman show, and now she has this opportunity to, and, and you know, I gotta say, I get sick every morning. It's just a thing that I do, which has been better as a super cute, um, and I like the news flow.

[23:00] Heather Bedor: And it's not morning sickness, guys.

[23:02] Amber Brzezinski: No, like this is just like my, like I've been happening for five years straight. So if it's morning sickness, something wrong.

[23:11] Heather Bedor: Um, but I saw the news like flash on my screen as I was like running to the bathroom to get sick, and I was just like, it's Anne Boleyn, I know it's because I just feel like that fits her vibe so well.

[23:11] Amber Brzezinski: Like, I was just like, I can see her with the space buttons and the green, like I just see it.

[23:31] Heather Bedor: Like that's just, that's where I see her.

[23:34] Amber Brzezinski: And for people who go, Dylan Mulvaney, my name sounds really familiar. So Dylan is a popular trans influencer, female identifying.

[23:44] Amber Brzezinski: Um, in 2023, if you guys remember the Bud Light controversy where Bud Light did like the cool custom rainbow like pride can, and people started to lose their ever-loving shit because of it, it was because she featured it on her socials first and foremost.

[23:59] Heather Bedor: Right.

[24:01] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and then if you've ever watched, there's a TikTok series called Days of Girlhood, which is what her, um, transition basically documenting her transition, yeah.

[24:12] Heather Bedor: Correct.

[24:13] Amber Brzezinski: So, um, yeah, but it's really cool to see her. I mean, there are still people out there who are like being really nasty.

[24:20] Heather Bedor: Um, and let's just put it out there. If you are rude on social media and it follows you into our group, like if you're gonna put someone on blast and be like against like our feelings, and like purposefully misgendering them in a hateful way.

[24:36] Amber Brzezinski: Like it's one thing to not have the same opinion as someone else, but if I say to you, like, hi, my name is Peggy, and you're like, okay, Jeremy, like that, you're purposely, yeah, purposely doing something harmful to someone.

[24:56] Heather Bedor: That's purposely causing harm.

[24:58] Amber Brzezinski: It's bullying, and it is bullying. And not only do we not allow it in our groups, but Facebook and you know, Meta, like anything, Instagram, like they will block you.

[25:08] Heather Bedor: So, like, we just, yeah, as Olivia says, I've been seeing the comments, it's brutal.

[25:14] Amber Brzezinski: And it's I will very happily say, knock on wood, it has not infiltrated our groups yet.

[25:19] Heather Bedor: I haven't even seen any comments that I've had it turned down, but I've seen on the original announcement through Playbill and on Broadway World, people are just keyboard commandos.

[25:29] Amber Brzezinski: So, you know, we just say be kind, it doesn't cost anything to be kind to and remember who works in theater and who works hard to put themselves out on stage because a majority of people who are in this community are somehow tied into the LGBTQ plus community, whether they're allies or identify as such, but it's it's the hate is just not welcome in any in any way, no matter what you agree with, no, agree with it in an unhateful or disagree in an unhateful and an unmean way.

[26:13] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[26:14] Amber Brzezinski: So um, what should we move on to next?

[26:17] Heather Bedor: Still more uh you you think I'm done with gassing?

[26:21] Amber Brzezinski: No, I'm saying we're talking about six.

[26:23] Heather Bedor: Let's move on from six because there's a lot.

[26:29] Amber Brzezinski: Well, I wore this.

[26:34] Heather Bedor: Okay, I love it.

[26:35] Amber Brzezinski: Ethel and Angela and Tyne and Bernadette and Patty and I can't see the bottom.

[26:41] Heather Bedor: Audrey.

[26:42] Amber Brzezinski: Because you know, people who are listening to us on the podcast network are not seeing us right now.

[26:46] Heather Bedor: Audra.

[26:47] Amber Brzezinski: I wore my gypsy space shirt because my girl Jordan is going back to Broadway, y'all.

[26:55] Heather Bedor: So we have new casting for Hades Town, which ties in with our last uh speech of Hades Town.

[27:07] Amber Brzezinski: We have Jay Harrison Gee as Hermies, which is the first I love ya.

[27:13] Heather Bedor: Alan and I already talked about this last week.

[27:16] Amber Brzezinski: You just wanted like upstage Alan.

[27:18] Heather Bedor: I do.

[27:19] Amber Brzezinski: But I was reading a lot of comments that said I would like to see Jay Harris and Ghee as Persephone.

[27:27] Heather Bedor: And I was like, you know what?

[27:30] Amber Brzezinski: You know what? That is casting that I would love to see right there.

[27:36] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[27:38] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[27:39] Heather Bedor: So my girl Jordan.

[27:41] Amber Brzezinski: And you know what? I just I want to whisper something out into the universe.

[27:46] Heather Bedor: Oh no.

[27:48] Amber Brzezinski: Please call John Cardoza before the end of our run to be on.

[27:55] Heather Bedor: Heady sound, please, please call John Cardoza to be Orpheus, please.

[28:01] Amber Brzezinski: What was that?

[28:02] Heather Bedor: Did you did anybody hear the wind video?

[28:05] Amber Brzezinski: No, but I feel like he he would be a little bit older than the young Allie and Noah together.

[28:13] Heather Bedor: I know.

[28:14] Amber Brzezinski: I know.

[28:15] Heather Bedor: I think that I just live my life later.

[28:20] Amber Brzezinski: You live your life.

[28:21] Heather Bedor: We'll just have like fantasy theater football.

[28:24] Amber Brzezinski: Alright, and then last but certainly not least, we have our newlyweds taking their next step of their honeymoon.

[28:34] Heather Bedor: Because apparently, honeymoon's things of the past.

[28:39] Amber Brzezinski: New thing.

[28:41] Heather Bedor: Headlighting shows with your honey.

[28:47] Amber Brzezinski: So the infamous Reeva will be crossing the pond again after headlining in cabaret over there.

[28:56] Heather Bedor: Coming back to Gatsby.

[29:00] Amber Brzezinski: It'll be interesting.

[29:01] Heather Bedor: Because there's a whole like Jeremy with Eva and Eva was so unsome.

[29:07] Amber Brzezinski: Right.

[29:07] Heather Bedor: Like everyone's trying to play collection.

[29:10] Amber Brzezinski: Collect them like Pokemon.

[29:11] Heather Bedor: Yeah, like Eva comes back and will perform with Jeremy for a bit.

[29:15] Amber Brzezinski: And then Ryan's gonna come back in for a little bit.

[29:17] Heather Bedor: So Eva will perform with Ryan.

[29:20] Amber Brzezinski: Which is great.

[29:20] Heather Bedor: And then I think both of us pairing.

[29:22] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[29:23] Heather Bedor: And then Reeve will come in.

[29:25] Amber Brzezinski: So it's like everybody every like you said, everyone gets a turn.

[29:28] Heather Bedor: Like everyone's just having a little bit of a turn.

[29:30] Amber Brzezinski: Don't say it out too loudly that everyone's getting a turn with Eva.

[29:34] Heather Bedor: But no, I mean like the the cast pairings.

[29:37] Amber Brzezinski: I know.

[29:38] Heather Bedor: But yeah, like it's just it's just just crazy talk that uh what's happening over here.

[29:46] Amber Brzezinski: And like I said, like honeymoon sh money moon.

[29:48] Heather Bedor: Like, like let's just let's just lead shows across the freaking world.

[29:53] Amber Brzezinski: Power couple.

[29:55] Heather Bedor: I'm here for it.

[29:56] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[29:57] Heather Bedor: I'm here for it.

[29:58] Amber Brzezinski: So that's that's pretty um pretty exciting.

[30:04] Heather Bedor: Coming up.

[30:05] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, we have the Heathers casting, which I don't know what well, obviously I was like sick and dying, but like I have to get there before Jakeira Davis leaves to see her because I love to cast with her.

[30:17] Heather Bedor: Do we have any other casting news?

[30:19] Amber Brzezinski: Um I think that's can I talk about something I know because we're really no?

[30:25] Heather Bedor: What?

[30:25] Amber Brzezinski: There is more casting news.

[30:27] Heather Bedor: There is more casting news.

[30:28] Amber Brzezinski: I totally forgot.

[30:30] Heather Bedor: Oh my god.

[30:30] Amber Brzezinski: We have Bob the Drag Queen coming in to Moulin Rouge.

[30:35] Heather Bedor: Yes.

[30:36] Amber Brzezinski: Um, who is one of my personal favorites?

[30:39] Heather Bedor: Uh we have Jinx returning or returned to O'Mary.

[30:44] Amber Brzezinski: Um, and then we have um Chicago Wicked, they both announced new casting.

[30:53] Heather Bedor: Yep.

[30:54] Amber Brzezinski: I think Aladdin, uh maybe Happy Ending announced the final days of our current casting, but the replacements have not been announced yet, right?

[31:07] Heather Bedor: But there are lots of dates to see.

[31:09] Amber Brzezinski: They have the covers stepping in as the leads for several months or several weeks, so you'll be able to see the covers um as they're in the principal roles, which is absolutely amazing.

[31:24] Heather Bedor: Um I can't believe I almost hurried.

[31:31] Amber Brzezinski: We're saying goodbye to the Brits.

[31:34] Heather Bedor: Mm-hmm.

[31:35] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, but you're missing something that's really important.

[31:39] Heather Bedor: But that casting also hasn't been announced yet.

[31:42] Amber Brzezinski: The replacement casting, correct?

[31:43] Heather Bedor: You're missing something really important.

[31:46] Amber Brzezinski: I don't I don't know.

[31:47] Heather Bedor: MM, Wicked Will.

[31:49] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[31:51] Heather Bedor: Matt Magnuson with a lot of confusion around this.

[31:56] Amber Brzezinski: Like, because I think Playbill posted a kind of misleading article.

[32:00] Heather Bedor: It was okay.

[32:02] Amber Brzezinski: So the title of the article is Jonathan Groff almost never calls out of Justin Time, but when he does, Matt Magnuson is ready.

[32:09] Heather Bedor: I don't think it was misleading.

[32:11] Amber Brzezinski: I think that because Matt is a standby.

[32:14] Heather Bedor: Right.

[32:14] Amber Brzezinski: So he has had his opportunity, and this was a pre-determined leave of absence for Johnny.

[32:21] Heather Bedor: This was Jonathan's planned vacation.

[32:23] Amber Brzezinski: He does every show he does.

[32:25] Heather Bedor: But I think they were essentially saying like Matt's main role during the show is if Jonathan calls out, but he's on standby.

[32:33] Amber Brzezinski: I don't think it was misleading.

[32:34] Heather Bedor: I think it was just um misinformed readers at some points.

[32:39] Amber Brzezinski: But yeah, Matt's been kicking butt and taking names, and people are stating that he should be the one to take over once Jonathan Croff leaves.

[32:48] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[32:49] Amber Brzezinski: Did you hear the rumor?

[32:52] Heather Bedor: The pot a little bit.

[32:54] Amber Brzezinski: Maybe.

[32:56] Heather Bedor: Of who people spotted incognito at just in time.

[33:02] Amber Brzezinski: I did, but now I don't remember who it was.

[33:06] Heather Bedor: Uh it would be somebody that I have personally met who was the very first Glee member that I met on my Glee bingo, Matthew Morrison.

[33:18] Amber Brzezinski: Another one.

[33:18] Heather Bedor: Yes, yes, yes, okay, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[33:22] Amber Brzezinski: So two nights ago, our members were loving Matt Magnuson, and they're like, well, and Jonathan Gross leaves.

[33:28] Heather Bedor: Now keep in mind, we don't know if the show is extending past Johnny.

[33:28] Amber Brzezinski: We don't.

[33:33] Heather Bedor: There's been no news about it.

[33:34] Amber Brzezinski: All we know is this is a date that ends when somebody says, and you have to believe it.

[33:38] Heather Bedor: Look at you know, Conformity Gate with Stranger Things, we won't go there.

[33:42] Amber Brzezinski: But a lot of our members in our Justin Time fan group, they saw Matthew Morrison like straight up incognito, like hat, mask, like hiding mustache, like the whole nine.

[33:55] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[33:55] Amber Brzezinski: I mean, he's very noticeable.

[33:58] Heather Bedor: Um, but they saw him intently watching the show, and I'm like, that's a really interesting jump from like an attendee and like a patron of a show, especially because he's been friends with Jonathan Groff for so long because Jonathan was in Glee.

[34:14] Amber Brzezinski: But also I'm like, you know, I could 1000% see Matthew Morrison play that.

[34:22] Heather Bedor: If you go, oh Matthew Morrison, Glee, I remember he's the teacher in Glee, guys.

[34:27] Amber Brzezinski: Like he's real like that's I could see it.

[34:33] Heather Bedor: I don't know how it's gonna go, but that's there.

[34:36] Amber Brzezinski: Um, those are the rumors in the rumor mill today.

[34:39] Heather Bedor: Those are the rumors.

[34:41] Amber Brzezinski: Can I talk about something that I think is really cool?

[34:43] Heather Bedor: I haven't seen the show.

[34:44] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[34:45] Heather Bedor: But I thought this was cool.

[34:47] Amber Brzezinski: I saw it come up the other day, and I was like, that's really cool to show.

[34:52] Heather Bedor: So the new show Liberation, which by the way, the entire opening scene is the entire cast being fully nude.

[35:00] Amber Brzezinski: Completely nude.

[35:01] Heather Bedor: They are holding us for calling if you if nudity freaks you out, not the show over you.

[35:07] Amber Brzezinski: But it's the the best wool play.

[35:10] Heather Bedor: It's at the James Earl Jones Theater, which I love that theater so much.

[35:13] Amber Brzezinski: Um I can see.

[35:15] Heather Bedor: You know I love the theater.

[35:16] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm.

[35:17] Heather Bedor: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[35:18] Amber Brzezinski: Uh that's why I said Gutenberg.

[35:19] Heather Bedor: Um, but they are hosting what they're calling a Broadway babysitter matinee.

[35:24] Amber Brzezinski: So this I've never heard of anyone doing this.

[35:26] Heather Bedor: Shame on me.

[35:27] Amber Brzezinski: On January 25th, they are hosting a Broadway babysitter matinee.

[35:31] Heather Bedor: A limited number of attending families will receive free in-home child care from a Broadway babysitter.

[35:40] Amber Brzezinski: It's in partnership with a parent artist advocacy league for the performing arts and media.

[35:45] Heather Bedor: Families can request up to five hours of free child care for up to three children.

[35:50] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, that's amazing.

[35:52] Heather Bedor: Like, that's insane.

[35:54] Amber Brzezinski: So the show is originally supposed to run through January 11th.

[35:57] Heather Bedor: It's been extended through February 1st.

[36:00] Amber Brzezinski: It's about um a group of women who gather to talk during the second wave feminist movement of the 1970s about changing their own lives and the world.

[36:10] Heather Bedor: It's insane.

[36:12] Amber Brzezinski: Like I don't know how many they're gonna do, but imagine you get five hours of free child care so you can go see a show.

[36:20] Heather Bedor: Yeah, that's amazing.

[36:21] Amber Brzezinski: That's beautiful.

[36:22] Heather Bedor: So I thought that was really cool.

[36:25] Amber Brzezinski: Um also should we talk about like the sad part of announcements in the past week?

[36:32] Heather Bedor: We were gonna get there, yeah.

[36:33] Amber Brzezinski: Okay.

[36:34] Heather Bedor: Well, I'll let you pick the next topic.

[36:36] Amber Brzezinski: You weren't here last week, so you get to really drive the bus this week.

[36:39] Heather Bedor: Go ahead.

[36:41] Amber Brzezinski: Um well it has been announced that Hell's Kitchen will be playing its final show on Broadway.

[36:56] Heather Bedor: Which honestly, I don't think is that sad of news, because this show had a really incredible run.

[37:05] Amber Brzezinski: And as we've been talking, shows aren't meant to live on Broadway forever.

[37:11] Heather Bedor: No.

[37:13] Amber Brzezinski: And it opened on April 20th in 2024.

[37:19] Heather Bedor: And it's will be closing on February 22nd.

[37:23] Amber Brzezinski: So that's almost huge.

[37:25] Heather Bedor: Two full years on Broadway.

[37:27] Amber Brzezinski: Like that's incredible.

[37:29] Heather Bedor: Of course, it always saddens me when a show closes because that means people are out of a job in so many capacities.

[37:37] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, absolutely.

[37:38] Heather Bedor: However, I think in this theater economy, where we have been talking about how difficult it is for shows to come on and succeed, they really accomplished something.

[37:56] Heather Bedor: Yeah.

[37:58] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[37:58] Heather Bedor: Absolutely.

[37:59] Amber Brzezinski: And they'll be they'll have a national tour. Um, I think they're gonna do some international productions. I think another another South Korea transfer because that is apparently like the mecca of musical theater right now is like Korean productions of shows.

[38:19] Heather Bedor: So yeah, um, sadly that show will be closing, but they should be really super proud of the run that they um that they had.

[38:31] Amber Brzezinski: Absolutely. Do we also need to make the other sad announcement that was announced?

[38:35] Heather Bedor: Yes, we do. The Hamilcast, Hamilton Podcast.

[38:39] Amber Brzezinski: Yes. On their last last run, last episodes, after 10 years and 500 episodes, it is coming to an end with the last couple. Um last was a fun last time. The final episodes will feature Lynn Minwell Miranda. So that's pretty cool to like end on that. But 10 years, 500 episodes. I have to tell you.

[39:14] Heather Bedor: So like it's a small world out. Whatever.

[39:18] Amber Brzezinski: Um anyway. When I was like really big into dog spotting, because Jillian loves dogs. I mailed her a dog spotting shirt. I was like, here's a dog spotting shirt. You nerd.

[39:30] Heather Bedor: Yeah, nerd. I love it. I think it's great.

[39:34] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. Speaking of shirts. Do you know that we're gonna have some new merch coming out?

[39:38] Heather Bedor: I did not know. Tell me more.

[39:42] Amber Brzezinski: So with our new logo, we're gonna have some new merch. We're gonna have some shirts, we're gonna have some pins, and my favorite thing, we're gonna have logoed sharpies.

[39:52] Heather Bedor: Yeah, that's gonna be amazing. Super excited. Um, so and we're gonna have a new website. Did I tell you that?

[40:01] Amber Brzezinski: No, you did not.

[40:03] Heather Bedor: So the wonderful Alan Feels is going to build us a new website. But until that, make sure you know where to go for a website, which is www.thebroadwayfanclub.com.

[40:14] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. Love it. You want to go on you want you want to get on a plane?

[40:20] Heather Bedor: Yeah, yeah. Fly, flying. What's up?

[40:26] Amber Brzezinski: Uh we have to we have to talk about a little bit of news that dropped across the pond.

[40:32] Heather Bedor: Oh, there's like a lot of news across the pond, but go on.

[40:37] Amber Brzezinski: Something wicked is transferring on Sunday in a park.

[40:49] Heather Bedor: Does anybody with George?

[40:53] Amber Brzezinski: Yes. So we've been getting these little teasers here and there, but it has officially been confirmed that Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey will be starring in a revival of Sunday in the park with George in the West End.

[41:12] Heather Bedor: Yeah. Which of course makes sense with the trajectory that Ariana wants to focus her career at this time.

[41:22] Amber Brzezinski: Right. I completely see her, you know, as dot in that role. Like I I see it. Um and I can only imagine the pandemonium.

[41:37] Heather Bedor: Pandemonium's the big word.

[41:39] Amber Brzezinski: Around ticket sales, ticket strapping. And you know they're gonna have yonder bags there. You know that.

[41:45] Heather Bedor: Yonder pouches, yeah. Like the whole, yeah. So that will be in the summer of 2027. So we do have quite some time for things to change.

[42:00] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. But so far, that is what we know. So we are sharing it with you. And I like I see that being wonderful for theater, but also she stopped talking.

[42:21] Heather Bedor: She's gathered. Also prohibitive in the same way it has been on Broadway with the major star stunt casting, like Jake, Denzel, Clooney, where tickets are so astronomically priced and unattainable with this star billing.

[42:45] Amber Brzezinski: Mm-hmm. That now it's it's also gonna start happening in the West End. Like I it just it seems like it's snowballing, and now this is just something that we're not gonna be able to put back in any way. This is just the gonna be the new normal, like these high high billing, so like top of the line, yeah, everything.

[43:07] Heather Bedor: Yeah. Yep. But that's just that's just my opinion.

[43:13] Amber Brzezinski: Jeffrey is asking why yonder.

[43:15] Heather Bedor: So if you're familiar, and I I guess I can kind of explain the under pouches too for those that don't know it. I know Jeffrey knows because he goes to a lot of shows.

[43:22] Amber Brzezinski: So the yonder pouch started, gosh, I'm trying to think of when they started the first show. Um, do you remember the first show?

[43:30] Heather Bedor: I don't know. I've only I've used them for like stand-up comedians.

[43:34] Amber Brzezinski: So like if you go to see a stand-up comedian, for example, I saw Pete Davidson and I saw him on his Netflix special. I feel like it was like freestyle love supreme was the first one I remember it really being like out there for, and then Othella started to use it.

[43:47] Heather Bedor: So they're lockable cases, so they're a pouch, you lock your phone away, you keep your pouch with you, and you can unlock them in like designated spots. Sorry, I've really got hiccups. Designated spots across the theater, but generally you can't unlock them unless it's intermission. You have to put it back. Like they are checking for them.

[44:07] Amber Brzezinski: And then they're doing the Jeopardy said Sunday has no nudity.

[44:11] Heather Bedor: No, it doesn't. That we know of.

[44:14] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, this version.

[44:17] Heather Bedor: Yeah. Um, but it's actually if this is actually Sunday in the dark with George. That's not appropriate.

[44:27] Amber Brzezinski: Nope, nope, we're going down a very dark rabbit hole here. Uh oh man, I need a nap.

[44:34] Heather Bedor: Um, but yes, yonder pouches are generally something you lock. You can access them in an emergency situation, but you cannot have your phone active on making any sound, it blocks everything. It is keep your phones away, be a good you know, member of the audience, and pay attention to the damn show.

[44:54] Amber Brzezinski: Right. Um, so why no yonder bags or why no phone and with a yonder bag? Because you've got Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey in a show in the West End, which those theaters are pretty like I want to say intimate, but they're pretty intimate. You know, people are gonna be trying to get all sorts of sign tutorials and bootlegs and be the first one to post about this and look at this, like no, none of those.

[45:19] Heather Bedor: Right. Um I like the yonder bag option, like, unless I'm covering a show and I'm like, I don't care about the curtain call every single time.

[45:28] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, but like going into like the Rob Lake magic show that was just here with the Muppets, like, and I'm I'm gonna go on a a a soapbox for a moment here, and Amber, I'm gonna ask you these questions too because I think it's important. Would you have gone gone the way that it was originally announced? Rob Lake has this awesome magic show featuring the Muppets. What would you think?

[45:53] Heather Bedor: I think it's gonna be Rob Lake with Muppets doing magic.

[45:58] Amber Brzezinski: So, yes, initially, yes. But it's that's what's getting people in, right?

[46:05] Heather Bedor: Right. And then when we found out because of social media that it's the Muppets for less than 10 minutes or 10 minutes. Right. Then I think it definitely hurt the show. So, like, yes, social media, hello, is so impactful, but I feel like we need to use our superpowers for good. Support the show, talk about the positive stuff. Don't go, well, the Muppets are only in it for 10 minutes. This is bullshit. That that's not how we work here.

[46:32] Amber Brzezinski: Like, Amber and I strive to try to get the most positive things going and to keep things success. See, Olivia just posted for Rob's show, the Muppets were only on the show for like 10 minutes, but still you're going to a Broadway show to see a magician and the Muppets. Like, that is a truly unique opportunity.

[46:50] Heather Bedor: Yeah. It shouldn't matter if it's 10 minutes or the whole damn show. I honestly would probably be bored if it was the Muppets the whole show.

[46:56] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, and I love the Muppets.

[46:58] Heather Bedor: Yeah. But I think in that same regard, this is just like something that we repeat all the time when people are like, oh, so I like I'm not allowed to have like an opinion in the group about this performer, about this, whatever, about this. And it's not that like your opinions aren't valid and that we don't welcome them. But again, it goes back to the just being kind. If your opinions are coming across in a mean spirit or negatively, just know you could be typing your comment along next to that person's grandmother or that person's mother.

[47:36] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, you're muted. I can't hear you.

[47:38] Heather Bedor: Um I was getting angry. I was like, especially in our groups, like right. So like that's why we that's why we don't allow that type of discourse in our groups, simply because if you wouldn't speak it to that performer's face or family, it's just not an appropriate environment to say it there.

[48:01] Amber Brzezinski: Right. Like celebrating that, like, in just in time, like Matt Magnetson is in our group, right? That's and it it's very well known, and his family and his friends, and 99% of people are like, oh my god, Matt, Matt, he was phenomenal. We wanted to take over for Jonathan Graff. And then you have the one percent who are like, nope, it's Jonathan Graff's role only, like he is great, but like it's only Jonathan Groth, and like that hurts, right?

[48:29] Heather Bedor: I think that really hurts.

[48:30] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, and we saw that a lot with Adam Lambert on Cabaret. Like it was like, and it's like these people are giving just as much, if not more, because they think they have something to prove to you because they're not the person whose name is on the banner.

[48:56] Heather Bedor: Yeah, yeah, I think so. And to still come back with just disparaging things to say, I just again, it's just not kind. Like it's just not kind. Again, I and I really just want to like tattoo this across everybody's face. It costs nothing to be kind, and like I'm even gonna make it a personal thing. Like, we have people who don't like me. They don't like Amber, they don't like Casey, who's our awesome moderator who helps the show. Like, and I will tell you, and I don't know if you and those Amber, like Casey probably messages me two times a week. People are messaging her super angry and pissed off because we had to remove a comment or their posting, or like they're scammers or hackers.

[49:39] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[49:40] Heather Bedor: Reach out. You're gonna, I was always taught you get a lot more with honey than you do with vinegar.

[49:44] Amber Brzezinski: Right, for sure.

[49:45] Heather Bedor: Be nice. Reach out. Hey, can you please help me understand why this happened? Or I totally disagree with what you're saying, but help me understand your reasoning behind it. Here you go.

[49:55] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[49:55] Heather Bedor: And again, like you are allowed to love Jonathan Groff's performance so much that you just don't think that it is as good as it could have been a Jonathan Groff. However, don't be a dick.

[50:14] Amber Brzezinski: I think that's gonna be our next merch shirt.

[50:16] Heather Bedor: What do you think, Amber?

[50:17] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, like Don't be a dick.

[50:19] Heather Bedor: Yeah. I think it's just I mean, we say it all the time.

[50:22] Heather Bedor: That's that we should just change the name of our show to don't be a dick.

[50:22] Amber Brzezinski: Don't be a dick.

[50:28] Heather Bedor: Yeah, I like it.

[50:29] Amber Brzezinski: Perfect.

[50:30] Heather Bedor: Don't be a dick. Um my goodness. Yes. Oh, but you know what? We're coming up to the end of our show, and we haven't done your favorite segment.

[50:37] Amber Brzezinski: I know. I you know, I have really I don't even know if I've got I don't even know if I've gone over the the sign language post. Like it's all it's the only content that I've strictly consumed from our groups. Like I even shared it to my own feed so it would show up in my memories annually so I could re-watch it annually. I was like, this is very, very so for those of you who don't know. Amber several shows ago said, I want to start doing this new thing where we start to celebrate our members on the podcast and highlight our favorite posts from the previous week.

[51:31] Heather Bedor: Sometimes you have some like serious ones.

[51:35] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. Um, I mean, really, I think just the thing that has stood out to me most this week is how much like Betsy welcoming content there has been. Like the people in the Death Becomes Her group. I don't want to say it's a fandom because it like exceeds like we have people that have like a fully decorated Death Becomes Her hallway, and they have updated the poster to be Betsy now. It's like we have people that have recreated the chandelier. I think we have like a dozen people that have made their own versions of the chandelier that hangs in their house. Like the creativity alone that oozes from the Death Becomes Her group, I think is going to be my favorite post of the week.

[52:30] Heather Bedor: It's like the amount of art, the amount of just creative, like the creative juices in that group are vast to quote my friend, my friend, my dream friend Broadway legend Ellen Marie Marsh my dream Broadway friend um I would say I have two posts um one is from Nick Walker of Masquerade and got everything else and it was the announcement of the lights of Broadway card with Masquerade cast that's as I always say it ain't official till the squig says it is not there's fairness as we lose our first two members tonight love y'all more than Star Wars and the card it was so freaking cool um and I was talking to my buddy Jim this week about Nick because Nick is like just one of the most delightful people um Alan and I talked about it last week where Nick's whole thing now is that he's keeping applesauce packets in his outfit the entire run during masquerade to keep himself you know going he's so kind and he's so sweet and he's just delightful and very freaking talented holy crap but he's known as like the angry fandom like the angry very passionate like scary phantom that cracks me out that is and then we did have a really fun post that Janet Moskowitz posted on our just a regular the Broadway fan club what are you typing now?

[54:02] Amber Brzezinski: I'm just looking I'm trying to find I'm trying to find Jeff Creedy posted oh yeah because all of the phantoms were just they just did a news interview like another one of the morning shows.

[54:16] Heather Bedor: Oh, yeah, I shared it.

[54:17] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, it was all the phantoms. Let me let me go to Janet's post because I want to ask you this and I'll throw it to our comment section too. Guys, also remember if you're watching the show and you want to talk, throw something into the comments. You're not gonna throw off anything. If Olivia posts five comments, it's okay. She'll let you post one more. Like, don't be afraid. Um, and it's okay. Like, we love when people interact with us because we're just hanging out. That's the whole vibe of our show is we're just hanging out. But it's so funny. The meme that he shared was the Spider-Man meme where they all point to each other.

[54:47] Heather Bedor: But I want to get back to Janet. We're celebrating our member. We don't care about Jeff right now. Let me get to the memory. Okay. I start, she finishes. I love it.

[54:56] Amber Brzezinski: Well, you cut me off about the meme. Because I was talking about Janet.

[55:00] Heather Bedor: Yeah, no, go on.

[55:01] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, Janet. So Janet Moskowitz, she had asked everybody's favorite overture. So, do you have a favorite overture?

[55:13] Heather Bedor: We know, I know. Tell everybody else. Tell the group, share with the rest of the class.

[55:18] Amber Brzezinski: Bub bum bum bum.

[55:22] Heather Bedor: So let me entertain you.

[55:27] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. I gotta say, like I'm a sound time girly through and through, and it's definitely either between the Merrill Lee overture or the gypsy overture.

[55:37] Heather Bedor: I don't think this will shock you that mine is the phantom or something about the hype of it. Like the it just like get into it.

[55:48] Amber Brzezinski: What is it, Julia?

[55:50] Heather Bedor: It goes like I feel like it's it's peaks and valleys. It's peaks and valleys, you know, where I feel like you're like, oh my god, this is oh my god, it's happening. Oh my god, oh my god.

[56:00] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah. So like yeah, no to that.

[56:03] Heather Bedor: Yeah. Yeah.

[56:04] Amber Brzezinski: So sound off in the comments, even if you're watching the show and it's not live, we'd love to hear what your favorite overture is. Um, I'm gonna think I'm gonna sing up the answer. I'm gonna keep an answer.

[56:14] Heather Bedor: Yeah, okay, yeah, I mean, I when when she asked that question, it immediately was like, Phantom, no newsies, no phantom. But like you can't be the news is good too.

[56:24] Amber Brzezinski: Newsies is a good one too.

[56:26] Heather Bedor: Short is yeah, it's short is um but the meme was the Spider-Man meme with all of the Spider-Man named as all the phantoms. So it had like Telly, it had Nick, it had Jeff, it had everybody, and I'm all pointing at each other, being like, you, you, you, you, you, because like they're obviously all phantoms, so like amazing.

[56:50] Amber Brzezinski: Absolutely. And for those who didn't understand what Nick was saying about two leaving, so Jeff and Anna just left the show a couple days ago. Um which is so sad. So happy trials to them, but bigger and brighter coming.

[57:05] Heather Bedor: Yes. Um, and also in more phantom news, do you know what today is?

[57:10] Amber Brzezinski: I don't.

[57:11] Heather Bedor: It is Michael Crawford's 84th birthday.

[57:14] Amber Brzezinski: Happy birthday.

[57:14] Heather Bedor: Oh, I did know that. I did know that.

[57:16] Amber Brzezinski: I did not. I thought I knew there was another lottery for Phantom that's soon.

[57:21] Heather Bedor: I was like, February, I believe lotteries or lot six six six, I believe, has been announced.

[57:28] Amber Brzezinski: I will tell you guys in a moment.

[57:30] Heather Bedor: Has been announced. I want to say it's February. I think it's February second, something like that.

[57:36] Amber Brzezinski: Maybe February 2nd sounds right.

[57:39] Heather Bedor: But yeah, that's what I thought. That's what I thought your your that's what I thought it was.

[57:44] Amber Brzezinski: No, I was like, it's always phantom news. There's oh I I mean that oh, but six six six is February 1st matinee in person, sixty-six dollars and sixty cent tickets. Um, and that will be for February 1st. So lineup starts at 11 a.m. for the drawing at 12.

[58:01] Heather Bedor: Did you also see the other very cool lottery that's happening? One of your favorite shows.

[58:11] Amber Brzezinski: I think so.

[58:13] Heather Bedor: The $15 Book of Mormon tickets.

[58:15] Amber Brzezinski: Yes, I was gonna make I was gonna say if anybody's gonna go see the Book of Mormon like soon. Can you please can you please give me a 15 play bill because I will I will I will give my left arm for 15 play bills?

[58:28] Heather Bedor: Or just write to the theater.

[58:30] Amber Brzezinski: I'm gonna write this down. I'm gonna write to the stage manager. I know, I just don't have time. Just camping.

[58:36] Heather Bedor: As Book of Mormon is celebrating their 15th year of Broadway, they're offering $15 lottery tickets. Go directly to their website and you can apply for the tickets. Winners will be selected at random no later than three o'clock Eastern on the 15th of each month. So it's a monthly thing, guys. And emailed a unique link to purchase up to two tickets at $15 each for performance on select dates in the following month. Entries for the February lottery selection will be accepted until Valentine's Day and the beginning February 15th at 12 a.m. entries will not be accepted for the following month. So get in while you can.

[59:15] Amber Brzezinski: And they're making the funnest uh reels and TikToks with the Operation Mince Meat Cast because of the like similarities between Elder Price and Elder Cunningham and Charles and Monty. So they're they're really they're really fooling around, and whoever's doing those socials, keep it up. You're doing great.

[59:37] Heather Bedor: Oh yeah, yeah, it's been pretty good. Oh man, but that, it's the end of the show, isn't that great?

[59:44] Amber Brzezinski: It is the end of the show. Um I feel like I had something else to say, and I don't remember what it was.

[59:51] Heather Bedor: Um well, while you figure it out, I'm gonna remind people that the shop is back open, our epic shop is back open. You're looking for I actually like mailed out a bunch of bracelets today, and then I was like, why didn't the postman come and pick them up? It's because it's the kingdom day and they're closed.

[1:00:10] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[1:00:11] Heather Bedor: So I learned that. So if you if I said your bracelet order was being shipped today and it's not, it's because I'm an idiot. So I apologize.

[1:00:19] Amber Brzezinski: It's hard.

[1:00:20] Heather Bedor: It's already in the mail. Our Etsy shop is uh it does feature custom bracelets. So we've come up with a lot of them. There's gonna be some new designs coming sooner rather than later. Um, so it's the Broadway FanClub.etsy.com. I think we're gonna be running a special coming soon too. We always encourage you to follow right now. It's Relink Tree, www.thebroadwayfanclub.com. You can see every single one of our hundred and fifty-five groups listed on there. If there is a group that you want us to create, reach out, we'll make it. If it's if it's justifiable, we'll do it. Um, don't forget our Patreon, patreon.com slash the Broadway Fan Club. And most importantly, if you want to keep listening to this podcast everywhere, you can listen to podcasts.

You can go to www.onlybroadwayfans.com, which will take you directly to Broadway Podcast Network. You can download our episodes, listen to them while you're traveling. Um, yes, we go live every Monday at 8 p.m. But as the source of 77 and you can come listen to us live and interact with us.

[1:01:22] Amber Brzezinski: If you listen to us on a streaming platform, sign in and come hang out with us on Monday night because we're live, we're chatting, we're hanging out. We talk to you in our comment section. We've the whole goal is for us to be able to sit around our living rooms and talk theater. I think it's really healthy healthy to have an open conversation, even if it's weird stuff that makes you uncomfortable. Um and don't forget again, we're gonna be doing Instagram specific giveaways, like opening night cast gifts from wicked kind of giveaways, like good stuff, guys. Make sure you're going to our Instagram and following us at the B Wave Fan Club. That's really important.

[1:02:01] Heather Bedor: So, with that being said, we're happy to celebrate MLK Day with you. Um it's gonna be a long week. Uh but that's okay. I think we just all need to take another good cleansing breath and we're gonna see it on our way out. You ready? You're gonna take another breath?

[1:02:19] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[1:02:20] Heather Bedor: All right, ready? In through our nose for like 500 seconds. And then let it all out. Just remember to keep breathing, guys. Breathing's really important. Super important to just keep swimming. So um, and remember when Broadway is dark, every Monday we're here at 8 p.m. to keep that ghost light burning. We will see you guys next week.

[1:02:47] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, come back and chat with us. We're here for it all the time.

[1:02:53] Heather Bedor: All right, I'm so sleepy.