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[0:14] Robert Bannon: Hi everybody, welcome to the round table. My name is Robert Bannon. And a couple years ago on Broadway, I finally saw The Wiz. I saw The Wiz, people. I saw The Wiz. I only knew the music. I only knew I have sung along to Stephanie Mills my entire life because I'm ready to sing "Home." You know that song. It's so emotional to listen to. I can only imagine what it's like to sing it because it just moves you. It just makes everybody needs to go see The Wiz across this entire country right now. And I'm so excited that it's coming to my new home in Detroit with Broadway in Detroit at the legendary Fisher Theater, which I think is where The Wiz got its very first start. Its out-of-town tryout was here.

And it's coming to a neighborhood near you with an incredible cast. And Dana Cimone is Dorothy. And if you have checked out the secret videos online, girl is singing her face off on stage. Singing whistle tones and notes for days. Dana Cimone is here, and we introduce her. She's gonna be a big star. Dana, welcome to the show.

[1:16] Dana Cimone: Thank you for having me. Thank you.

[1:20] Robert Bannon: I want to know more about these videos. Sometimes I'll be out there and I'm like, I want to see some things too. There are videos, listen, people, with the slime tutorial secret video. They're there. They're out there with you on them. Congratulations.

[1:36] Dana Cimone: Thank you so very much. It really is just truly a blessing to be stepping into this iconic role, a role that I've actually been wanting to do since I was at least eight years old. And now I get to do this every day, eight times a week, and it's the best thing of my life. Like, I love it.

[1:53] Robert Bannon: I was gonna ask you because I remember watching the movie as a kid and seeing Diana. My mom was like the biggest Diana Ross fan in the world, so we watched the movie a lot. And then as I got older and learned about Stephanie Mills and what she went through on Broadway and her credit, and she's still out here singing the song like she sang it yesterday, and then the amazing people, even modern day when Ashanti did it on TV, or when people did it on Broadway, it's a lineage of some of the greatest performers ever. So, yeah, what's it feel like for you to now step in those shoes?

[2:24] Dana Cimone: Literally. I mean honestly, it is such a dream come true and a whirlwind because I also get to share my talent with thousands of people now that I've been wanting to do for so long. I get to inspire a younger crowd or an older crowd to try again or start something new and just spread positivity, and I'm really excited. I get to do that every night, and I think that's one of the best parts of doing the show is knowing that there's at least someone out there in that audience every day who's leaving that theater saying, "Wow, this is what I want to do," or "Oh yeah, Cimone, that was spectacular," and now I want to look into it for my kid or my, you know, it's just amazing.

[3:09] Robert Bannon: It is amazing, and while we're here, everyone go to whizmusical.com. You can get your tickets. If you're not gonna be in Detroit with me, then you can be across this entire country because this tour is going on and you're hitting every corner. And then while we're also talking, you can follow Dana on Instagram, Simone.dh. You can stay up on this on all the things, and then broadwayindetroit.com, our friends here at the Fisher is where you can see the show. I'll be there, I'll be there opening night. I'm ready to be there. I can't wait to see it again and see you in it. So we're gonna fight, Dana, and I don't even know you. But I do. Because I know yours, I don't even know your story, but I already know what you're gonna say. You're gonna say I went on a little audition with thousands of other girls and all of a sudden I'm Dorothy. I'm just booking gigs.

[3:52] Dana Cimone: Just go ahead, so false. So first hold on tell me I want you to come on. So first when they had announced that it was doing a pre-Broadway tour, I had sent in like five different tapes and I still wasn't hearing anything back. So I love our director, Schele Williams. I love her dearly. So I actually went on Instagram and DM'd her a message because I had even flown home from college to go to one of the open calls just so they could see me. And I was like, man, I really want this. So I went to Schele and I was like, "Hey girl, I've sent about five tapes in and I know this is so unprofessional but please just look at the videos on my page. I just want to show you I can do this." And then the next day she sent me a message.

She said, "I'm so sorry I have not seen them. Send me your email so you can get you up here to the finals next week." And I went up there to New York and I was so incredibly young and I wasn't ready yet, but you know, I went up there, sang my behind off, and then, you know, unfortunately I didn't get it. And I actually was so upset that I didn't get it I almost quit. I was like, I wanted that to be my last audition right there because I knew this was something that I wanted to do. And after the pre-Broadway tour and then the Broadway run when it announced it was going on tour again, I was like, well, I don't know if they're gonna remember me. Two days later, I get an email saying, "Hey, can you come up?

We want to see you for the understudy." And I was like, "Yes, I'm doing it." I go up there, I sing my songs, and my director puts her paper down and she goes, "Dana, you've grown so beautifully. We are so glad that you came back here again." And then the next day, they were like, "We want to see you for the actual role." And one week later, as the first person to know, they're like, "We want you." And that's my story right there. So it's a lesson in not giving up, and it's a lesson in when the timing is right, it's right, and the timing is right.

[5:55] Robert Bannon: So what did you have to sing for this audition? What's a packet like for Dorothy?

[5:58] Dana Cimone: Well, for so for the regular, you know, sending in tapes, it was the end of "Home" and "Be a Lion," but just the beginning of "Be a Lion" before we get to all the crazy spectacular parts. But when I told her to look at my page, I sent her this one specific video because I felt like it showed grit and strength along with the voice. So I sent her a video of me singing "I'm Here" from The Color Purple for my last performance senior year of high school. And when I came back up, I had to sing "Home," "Be a Lion," "Soon as I Get Home," and "Wonder, Wonder Why." And I was just going like boom, boom, boom. I was like, "Guys, I can do anything else, just let me know." And that was pretty standard right there.

[6:47] Robert Bannon: And you were ready.

[6:48] Dana Cimone: Oh, yeah.

[6:50] Robert Bannon: I had about four days to prepare all lines and music and material, and then I was up on a flight. You know, that story really resonated with me because when I was 18, I got called—I'm old and you're young—I was called in to Rent to do an audition for Rent to replace Roger on Broadway, and I botched the audition. And I did change my major. I didn't let it make me give up for years because sometimes you can be your worst enemy, and you can really talk yourself out of this business because it's hard. Look what would have happened, Dana, if you gave up and you didn't do this.

[7:23] Dana Cimone: Oh, I know. I would have still been working in a little bakery making my cakes and cupcakes every day while singing behind a counter.

[7:31] Robert Bannon: I know. And now you get to tour the entire country as Dorothy in The Wiz, which we're talking about, everybody. We're talking about Dorothy in The Wiz and with Dana and whizmusical.com. Look at some of the pictures. I'm telling you, no matter what age, bring your grandma, bring your kids, bring everybody. Everybody needs to go and see The Wiz.

[7:48] Dana Cimone: Um, and we got some pictures and things that will get up here for you all in a minute. For you, you came from—where did you come from? Before I make a mistake, where are you from?

[7:57] Dana Cimone: Atlanta.

[7:59] Robert Bannon: So you're from Atlanta, and you know, Atlanta has theater and Atlanta has a lot of culture, but not always the biggest, brightest Broadway place to be. I mean, it's far, it's a little far from New York. So, what was your connection to theater? What made you want to do this?

[8:13] Dana Cimone: Well, first, I started off actor first. I was very strict in the film and television. And theater started as a little side gig for me. I remember my first role was fourth grade. It was The Jungle Book. I was playing Mowgli with my tan leotard on since he's shirtless going across the stage. I was saying, "Put a leotard on, and you will be in the jungle." And then over time, film was getting harder, but theater was on the up for me. And I was like, "Hmm, well, I love both, but theater's really working out for me." Everything that I'm doing, it seems to be going really great, really good. And then I think about once middle school hit when I was Annie in sixth grade, I was like, "Oh, this is what I'm gonna do for a career. I'm gonna go get a BFA, I'm gonna go attend the Jimmy Awards." And ever since then, I was like, "This is what I want to do."

[9:13] Robert Bannon: I love that because you did your research because everyone, if you're not out here, you know, the Jimmy Awards where the high school's next biggest star is to, and some of them are.

[9:20] Dana Cimone: Yes, literally some of them. Like I just found out that I'm, you know, Jasmine Amy Rogers who's doing Boop right now was at the Jimmy Awards as well. I was like, "Everybody and everybody is out here. I said that needs to be me."

[9:33] Robert Bannon: So and look, and now you're on tour, and now you have this show under your belt, and we're talking about The Wiz, everyone, and now The Wiz is back, it's on the road, it's coming to somewhere near you. Look at there's Dorothy right here. Come on, Dorothy.

[9:45] Dana Cimone: No, she's cute.

[9:46] Robert Bannon: No, she's cute, and she sings, and they make her sing because this book is not the easiest score to sing. You all have to sing.

[9:55] Dana Cimone: Oh, but you know what? I love it. I listen, these songs in here, I will never forget these songs. You know, some days it may be hard, but I'm still having fun doing it, and that's all that matters to me.

[10:07] Dana Cimone: Is like I'm still out there giving it my 100% every single night. Every night, and I can't wait to see you here when we're here in Detroit at the Fisher Theater, you know. Like I like I said, that is true. It's a lot of pre-show Broadway trials back in the day took place here in Detroit, like Hello Dolly, like The Wiz. So the very brutes of this show come and ideas come right on the stage that you'll get to perform it on all these decades later. You know, um, I moved from New York seven or eight months ago, and I've been in love with the tours because people that don't get to go to Broadway and don't get to see shows have access to see some of the greatest musicals. So you're gonna get to see people who never this is gonna be their first experience in the theater, is you. So for you, what's it been like to go theater to theater and service communities that don't have theater at their fingertips every single night?

[10:50] Dana Cimone: Well, it's very new because even though I am a proud theater kid, I've only seen two Broadway shows in my life, and those were all just within the last year. I have only seen cabaret and Beetlejuice, not counting slide tutorials. Um, you know, so going to theater to theater first is such a new experience for me. I'm like, okay, all theaters are they're so beautifully made, first off. Just how to put that out there. But you know, seeing I also love seeing the hype that we have in certain cities before we get to them. There's people that post their videos, and people may think I don't see them even if it's just like two likes. I see them, I look for you, and they're like, Oh, I haven't seen The Wiz since I last saw it on Broadway, and I'm bringing my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren with me, and it's so touching.

Like it makes me feel so excited to do this show, and I'm excited for Detroit too, because that's also my birthday week. Oh yeah, oh yeah, I've never been to Detroit, you know, and I have a nice birthday show, and it's gonna be a blast.

[12:02] Robert Bannon: Yeah. We need to celebrate your birthday out here in Detroit. Detroit's gotta show you a good time, sold-out crowds, good food, and a party is what Detroit's all about.

[12:12] Dana Cimone: Yeah, it's the big two one. Like I, you know, have a nice Wednesday show on the 25th. If anyone wants to come see my birthday bow, I'll be there. What the big two one on the road here in Detroit, being Dorothy in The Wiz, we have to be there Wednesday. Listen, people, June is coming. Tickets are on sale and they're going fast because you know, this is the city of Diana Ross. This is the city of this is the city where all of it began. So you need to get your tickets because they're not gonna be any tickets left to be had.

[12:47] Robert Bannon: Oh, we need to I'm gonna I gotta bring you, I don't know. Maybe Dana's gonna have her first hungover show on Thursday after her 21st birthday, Dana. Come on under studies, get ready. This is the party on Wednesday night.

[13:00] Dana Cimone: I literally have been thinking about this since the day that I booked this and they gave me my schedule, and I said, Oh yeah. That's gonna be a fun day, right there. That's gonna be you know, I talk about Detroit and I talk about Motown and all of that to have to be said, but The Wiz is so moving to so many. I'm bringing eight of my in-laws. Like we're all rolling out like an army to see the show. So you we are all coming to see it, and and my family who grew up, my in-laws who grew up here in Detroit, the representation and the city, what means matters on stage, people of color, the young people that are gonna see you on stage being Dorothy that get to see the Tin Man Lion and Scarecrow to see the witch and to see the whiz himself and all of the different people that are up there and be represented is why I made this such a trailblazing show back then. How much does that mean to you to see these young girls and to see these young boys and young theater people and and this community see themselves?

[13:50] Dana Cimone: It means so much because you know, for me in elementary school and middle school in the area that I grew up in, we were really overlooked in the arts. You know, we really um us as African Americans, we had to push harder just to be seen. Just even in schools. You know, that's not even for the film and theater things that I have auditioning for outside of school. And you know, now that this show is back and I get to have a voice for the younger crowd out there who go went through what I went through now like school middle school could be going through right now and high school or even college that it's proof that somebody sees you and they're watching you. Like you're destined for greatness. Everyone is destined to shine.

We all have such beautiful gifts and talents that have been given to us and that you're not alone and that this will be you and this can be you. You just have to keep fighting for it. Just like how you mentioned earlier. You just really have to keep fighting for it and just try no matter how hard it gets. Just try and look and and the world you could you know there's God can have a bigger dream than you could even imagine. You could be leading toward The Wiz across this whole country.

[15:04] Robert Bannon: When I read your bio A I was a hater because this is your first professional theater credit. B you dedicate it to your mom and you talk about your mom. So what is what is her what has it been like to share this with her and for her to see you and and fight this fight with you in this business?

[15:22] Dana Cimone: Oh this this it's fantastic. Um I remember my mom, you know, was the main supporter of me in the arts. I mean would be picking me up from school early every other day to go take me on an audition if that's fifty minutes away, forty minutes away. Um, you know, and especially during The Wiz this whole audition process means so much because financially, you know, my mom and I were just not doing well at all. And I actually remember for the final last time she used all of her savings to send me up there. To go up there to Pearl Studios and audition and come up. And so when I got this, I literally told her I was like, This one, this is for you. Because without you, no one would have been able to see me.

I would have been able to get my name out there. I wouldn't be able to do you know what I dream of doing. And so when that when I put that in my bio, I was like, I want people to know if it wasn't for my mom. Dana Cimone wanted to be up on that stage giving you a show right now.

[16:21] Robert Bannon: Well, shout out to your mom, and I'm so sure she is so incredibly proud of you. And even shout out to Pearl on 37th and 8th.

[16:28] Dana Cimone: Yes.

[16:31] Robert Bannon: Get your audition on up there. So uh I'm sure mom has been in the house and she'll see plenty of shows, and I I'm sure she does not a dry eye in the house when she's actually she actually comes again on two days. We're in New Orleans at the moment.

[16:45] Dana Cimone: I love it.

[16:46] Robert Bannon: And then you're gonna have a nice break and be well rested to come out here in in the rest of the next leg. Hey, birthday leg. The birthday leg is ready.

[16:55] Dana Cimone: Tell us before you go. You talked about your director who is a brilliant and I love The Notebook. I love everything she does that she's done on Broadway and now she The Wiz. But what about this cast? I mean, you are a tight cast because you all are on the road together, and there's some singing singing fools in this cast as well. So what can you tell us about them?

[17:12] Dana Cimone: You know, so actually, I don't even remember who it was, but someone gave me a piece of advice, which is not advice, quotations, and they were like, you know, be careful with cast. You may think you're family, but it's just a community, you know, not family. Wrong. Scrap that idea. This cast and crew here and is a tight knit family. Like we support each other, we uplift each other. Like, for example, um, I believe in Reno, I had lost my show, uh well, lost my voice mid-show during act one where I was struggling to continue and I realized I couldn't go on act two. And our they just had a put in rehearsal the day before for our understudies. And I had to go off that stage after Ethone down the road, walk off into the wings, and I burst it into tears.

And I was like, I can't sing, nothing's coming out, I can't sing. And I cast in my crew and and they surrounded me. And not they didn't just say, Oh, no, it's okay, you got it. They generally were uplifting me. Like they were telling, they were like, Dana, you are made for this. You know what you can give. You know, you can do this. You if you have to pull back, you can pull back. We got you. We'll do anything that we can for you because we care about you, we love you. And it was, and then they prayed over me before went out back on stage again. And from that moment on right there, even though I already knew we were tight. I was like, these are the people that I'm gonna keep in my life for a very, very, very long time.

And I'm so blessed and and grateful that we have just meshed together so easily. I we've really all been like this since the second week of rehearsal. I don't know what it was, but we were like, we're all family now.

[19:03] Robert Bannon: Family. Family. Well, we are so excited to see you. We're so proud and excited. I don't even know you, but now I feel excited. I'm rooting for you, I'm ready for you to go fly the Broadway and tours and recording and television and movies and the whole thing. Dana is coming for y'all. She's coming for your job, so y'all better be ready because she's gonna book, it's gonna be booked. Every we we're we're gonna go right now to whizmusical.com. We're gonna get our tickets wells across this country. We're gonna follow Dana as she counts down to the big two one oh my god I'm 20 years older than her at @simone.dh on Instagram and then we can all get tickets to see BroadwayInDetroit.com when we come to the motor city they're gonna be rolling into the motor city I'm gonna have to bring you a birthday present I'm ready let's go let's party yes woo congratulations what an amazing story I wish you nothing but the best and um we'll we'll see you when you roll into town thank you so much for having me and yes can't wait to see you out there wait to see you.