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[0:10] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's the round table with me, Robert Bannon. Welcome to the round table, everybody. You're listening to us on the Broadway Podcast Network or watching us right here on the round table on YouTube. I'm so excited. I just had the chance to see Spamalot. I just saw Alex Brightman yesterday. We've had Nick Walker on the show. We've had James Monroe Iglehart on the show, and I went to see the show, and I'm like, you know, Jimmy, Jimmy is a good Jersey Italian boy like me. I know it. I know he is. Jimmy Smagula is here. Welcome to the show.

[0:46] Jimmy Smagula: Thank you so much.

[0:48] Robert Bannon: I still can't say it, Jimmy.

[0:50] Jimmy Smagula: No, you said it right.

[0:51] Robert Bannon: Smagula.

[0:51] Jimmy Smagula: You said it right. You got it.

[0:54] Robert Bannon: My mother's maiden name is Demeglio. So, you know, I've got it in me, Jimmy. We're probably related somehow. Where did you grow up? Where in Jersey?

[1:01] Jimmy Smagula: Richville Park.

[1:03] Robert Bannon: Oh, okay, Lyndhurst. And lit right, literally make a left at the medieval times, and you find Jimmy.

[1:09] Jimmy Smagula: That's it.

[1:10] Robert Bannon: If you watch The Sopranos, that was my childhood. I do you know what's funny? Is that I used to say there's an episode where Tony Soprano's kids Google the father and find out that the father is in the mob. And I went home and Googled my father because I was like, I'm not so sure. Yeah, I recently did that and found out some things about some people I went to high school with. But we'll leave it there. Because I don't want to get into it. I'm just a Broadway performer. I don't want to get into any kind of trouble with anyone.

[1:44] Jimmy Smagula: You know, as my mom would tell me when I was growing up, there's no such thing as the mafia.

[1:50] Robert Bannon: I'm gonna go with that. I'm gonna tell people there's no such thing.

[1:54] Jimmy Smagula: I also agree, Jimmy. I don't want to end up in the Martian. We don't want any trouble. I love everybody. I live close enough to Little Italy that I don't want any trouble with anybody. I'm happy to be alive. I'm proud to be an Italian American, very proud.

[2:10] Robert Bannon: Same. And uh that's where we'll leave that. Well, I love this story. You know, while we're talking, we're you know, I was on The Sopranos. I played a gay basher on The Sopranos.

[2:19] Jimmy Smagula: I sure know.

[2:22] Robert Bannon: I found Vito in the gay bar. Spoiler alert. If you haven't you were Sal.

[2:27] Jimmy Smagula: I was Sal Iacuso.

[2:29] Robert Bannon: It was a very small scene. I probably had four or five, maybe six lines, but it was the first time I had ever auditioned for The Sopranos, and the scene wound up being on Entertainment or Access Hollywood and Extra and all these because it was a pivotal scene. It kind of changed the course of one of the characters' entire arc. So um it was a great scene, and like I don't think there's anything my Jersey Italian parents are more proud of. You know, eight Broadway shows, 35 childhood, all the movies, and it's The Sopranos. It's six lines on The Sopranos that will live in their hearts forever.

[3:07] Jimmy Smagula: Well, Jimmy, when you Google you, I mean the screenshots come up, the stories come up. I mean, The Sopranos is eight shows a week means nothing than that day of shooting. It only means something to my body, my back, my hips, my feet, my neck. I that I understand.

[3:24] Robert Bannon: Well, I'm gonna ask, I'm gonna definitely ask you about the physicality of the show and what it's like to work together as a team because you all are doing a dance eight shows a week on stage together.

[3:34] Jimmy Smagula: Yeah.

[3:35] Robert Bannon: But you you come from you you played about 65 instruments in in growing up.

[3:41] Jimmy Smagula: This is true. I play four instruments, yes, yes. I was always, you know, I grew up in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, which was a town that was very focused on athletics on football. And so uh I was so lucky to have teachers that supported me. Um, this little kid who wanted to sing and dance and play instruments, and I got to conduct the choir and conduct the band. And so I was lucky. If it wasn't for those teachers, I don't know that this would have ended, you know, or or or become not it's not ending, but um I don't I don't have any horrible announcement tonight or just beginning. But I mean I don't know that that the journey would have been the same for me as it's as it's been. I mean, it's very important for young people to have people that say, hey, it's okay you play the piano.

In fact, it's awesome that you play the piano. Why don't you write me a song? You know, I remember my second grade music teacher saying, Write me a song, go home write me a song, play bring it in next week. And I wrote her a little song, you know. So to have those uh people in your life when you're a little kid is so so important. I mean, teachers are just our heroes, they're our heroes.

[4:48] Robert Bannon: Well, I'm coming to you from the fifth grade classroom in North Bergen, New Jersey, where I where I keep my day job.

[4:52] Jimmy Smagula: Oh, amazing!

[4:53] Robert Bannon: I didn't know that. You know, so there you go, you're one of them. So I appreciate that sentiment a lot. I'm very lucky that I get to pay my bills and get my health insurance and pension and then get to talk to amazing people like you and keep the artists inside of me alive as well. Um, and while we're talking, make sure you get your tickets to go see spamalotthemusical.com. Go to spamalot.com and follow Jimmy on Instagram, it's his name, so just find him. Jimmy Smagula.

[5:16] Jimmy Smagula: Jimmy Smagula from New Jersey.

[5:22] Robert Bannon: I love it. Perfect. So you you go from you get your you go to NYU like a fancy person.

[5:28] Jimmy Smagula: And let me tell you something. We had no money. So that's another miracle from the universe. Our friends and family pitched in. It was like crowdfunding before the internet. You know, it was uh, I mean, student loans and because we had no money. I mean, NYU at the time I went cost 26,000 a year. That was about that was more than half of what my parents made when I grew up together. So uh, and I have a brother, you know, and things uh, you know, there were other people to feed and and clothe and and give things to, so that was a big sacrifice. I think about that often that my blue-collar parents sacrifice so much to let their kid go to NYU and get a degree in acting, is insane. I I went to school for musical theater. Uh I mean, I'm just I'm so lucky, I'm so so so lucky. So many things went right for me early on, and um thank God it I guess it worked out.

[6:30] Robert Bannon: It sure did, it it sure did. Uh well, we're talking, I mean, I could sit here and we could go through the list of shows starting at Paper Mill Playhouse all the way to Broadway and etc. So, you know, the the journey really can continues and will and keeps on going, and the movies and the TV shows and everything, yeah. But you how did Spamalot come to your life? Was it a was it an audition? Was it through a director? How did it happen?

[6:53] Jimmy Smagula: I came to Spamalot because I had done The Music Man and Guys and Dolls at the Kennedy Center and become friendly and friends with our executive producer, Jeffrey Finn. And originally the Kennedy Center was going to do Kiss of the Spider Woman in this spot, and so I said, Oh, great, I love Kiss of the Spider Woman. There's really nothing for me in there. Um wonderful show. And then at the kind of the last minute, I saw on some website, you know, the Kennedy Center announces Spamalot, and it had, you know, Alex Brightman and I said, Oh, wait a minute. I could be in Spamalot. In fact, I was cast in Spamalot in Las Vegas back in 2006 at the Luxor Hotel. Yes and Casino. But uh I actually got the job and they rescinded the offer because they couldn't find costumes that were my size at the time.

And it was going to be a limited replacement, like three months, and they didn't want to spend the 12 grand or whatever it was to build costumes. So I was actually cast in the very same role that I play now all those years ago and never got to do it. So when I saw the Kennedy Center was doing Spamalot, I just texted Jeffrey and said, Hey, I could totally do this. I love work, I love working at the Kennedy Center. It's the most fun you can have. And I'd love to do it. And he worked his magic, and I got to do it. I knew that Jeffrey really wanted a show to come to Broadway. In fact, I thought Guys and Dolls was going to come to Broadway because it was so incredibly well received, and we had such an incredible cast and such a great time.

But London already had the rights for Guys and Dolls. So I knew he was really, really trying very hard to get something to move from the Kennedy Center. So my strategy was, you know, my business strategy was get attached to as many shows at the Kennedy Center as possible, because one of them eventually is going to go, and you don't want to not be in it. And this one, I know, and it actually was this one. I didn't know that at the time. Of course, we didn't know that even after we opened at the Kennedy Center. There were rumblings and we got great reviews, and everybody seemed to like it, and the audience was going crazy, and the performances were incredible, as they still are now eight times a week on Broadway.

But I don't know if the show's gonna go to Broadway. And uh it worked out, it it sure did, and uh it worked out and it's playing right now. I mean, Spamalot is back on Broadway, and it is so clever and funny. I remember seeing it the original production on Broadway, which was brilliant, and you guys have just taken that and modernized it and played with it and tinkered with it and made it even more funny.

[9:44] Jimmy Smagula: I worry about you, Jimmy, because you're falling down, you're rolling around.

[9:49] Jimmy Smagula: No, yes, I am, but don't worry. I have a I just came from physical therapy. I have a lot of people were holding me up uh every week uh and and and and trying to fix my, you know, it's funny because this is my eighth Broadway show. I have injuries from every show. My hip hurts from uh going on the elephant in Phantom, my neck and shoulder hurt because I hurt them in Billy Elliot. I have I have an injury for every show I've ever done. So it is, and and I just said to somebody last night, another one of the principal, like, does your body hurt? Well, not last night, uh last week. Does your body hurt? You said, Yeah, he said, Well, of course, this hurts on my feet, my ankles, and my knees a bit, and I did this show, and this hurt.

So we're all up there go doing one show at a time. That's you can just do one show at a time. How do I feel now? It's four o'clock, it's Tuesday, I have a show tonight. I feel well enough to do the show tonight. Tomorrow is a different story. But I just go one show at a time. And tonight my body feels rested. And you know, the day off is very important. You can't go and run a marathon on the day off. You can't go and, you know, I haven't really been to the gym in a very long time. And going to the gym is something I actually enjoy doing. But I need to rest my body when I'm not doing eight shows a week, particularly being 48 years old. I haven't done a Broadway show in 12 years. I did Billy Elliot, and then I moved to LA and I've been doing film and television mostly for the last 12 years.

I did the National Tour of Les Miz, I did a couple shows at the Kennedy Center, like I said, but I haven't been, I haven't wanted to do a Broadway show in 12 years. So coming back, there was some apprehension going like, am I going to be able to do eight shows a week?

[11:42] Jimmy Smagula: Am I gonna like doing eight shows a week? Mentally, am I gonna be able to do eight shows a week? Because as you know, it's the same thing. You know, my job is to give an opening night performance every show. That's our job. So that is challenging, but it's also very fun. And in this particular show, we get to improvise so much. The audience is really another character in the show. They feed us so much during the show. Um, and the show goes by so quickly because it's this big, beautiful comedy. The audience is having the greatest time. We're having the greatest time. We get to make each other laugh on stage. So all of those things combined, I really help me at my age and my injuries get through eight shows a week.

[12:35] Robert Bannon: Well, I was there a couple weeks ago. We had the best time. I'm not trying to spoil the show for anyone who's gonna go now and buy their tickets, but when you go, I am sure there is a different show every night.

[12:49] Jimmy Smagula: It is it is different, it is different every night. It really is, and that's what's fun. And we have people that come five, six, seven, ten, twelve times. You know, we I meet them outside when I go out and uh to the stage door and meet the people after. And oh my god, it's my tenth time. I can't wait. I'm coming back again next week. And I sat in tonight. I sat in a mezzanine and it was you know so different. And this person said this tonight, and did it's it's great to have the freedom to be able to do that on stage and to really every night is um unexpected, but that makes theater alive, that makes film and TV alive.

[13:26] Jimmy Smagula: Yes, you know, if something's overrehearsed, you're not able to catch those magic moments of real life, which is what we're all looking for, even in a show like Spamalot that is so big and broad. You want to have those moments of real life, you want to see the actors tickle each other. It's so fun because then it's an experience that only you sitting in the seat can have. You're not looking at a bunch of robots doing the same thing every day. You're looking at living, breathing actors who have strengths and weaknesses and faults, and you know, uh, and it's a beautiful that that's what makes the theater so beautiful, and that's what makes the theater so interesting. And uh, that's why people I think want to go to see theater rather than go to a movie.

[14:16] Robert Bannon: You know, you could watch Napoleon. I just saw Napoleon, it's a wonderful movie. You could watch Chipotle a thousand times. You're gonna see the same, you might see different intricacies in the performances, particularly when you have an actor like Joaquin Phoenix, but it's the same movie, nothing's different. When you come to the St. James Theater, you're seeing a different show and a show that is alive, that is its own entity, its own living, breathing. Every single show should be like that.

[14:47] Jimmy Smagula: Well, especially when you have a cast like you, Jimmy, and you put Nick and you put James and you put uh Jonathan Bennett and you put Alex Brightman who Leslie Kritzer, too, my god. Leslie Kritzer is blowing the roof off of that theater. I don't know how she's doing eight shows a week. I mean, I you know, I'm old and uh I'm uh injured, but I'm I I don't have to do what she what it with the demands of her role are so incredible, and I'm telling you, every night she kills it. She kills and Alex and James and Nick and Jonathan and and Chris, all everybody, really, but man, the performances are just uh they're incredible. And I stand in awe on stage most of the show every night, uh, with my uh at my colleagues going, I can't, I just I'm I'm so lucky to be able to work with them. I'm so lucky to see them uh work every night. It's a joy.

[15:52] Robert Bannon: Well, and you said it. There, there, you all are an all-star team. Leslie's vocals and comedic performance are off. She's giving every pop diva a run for their money.

[16:01] Jimmy Smagula: Oh my God. She's the greatest. And she's another Jersey person just like us. She's like my Jersey sister. You know, and I'll tell you, we're all so close. Ethan Slater, too. My God, we didn't even mention Ethan Slater. Ethan Slater is in crazy. What he's doing eight shows a week physically. He just gave himself a black eye because he fell the wrong way. I mean, what he's throwing his body around the stage, he's incredible. And to my uh the point I was gonna make before I remember it about how brilliant Ethan is. We all love each other. We are really like a family, and that goes for the ensemble. The ensemble is incredible. What they're doing dancing on tables, they're tap dancing, they're flipping around.

It's wild. The incredible orchestra that we have, the crew, the wardrobe. There are so many people that make a Broadway show work, front of house, security. We're all one big family, and we're all rooting for each other every single night. And it's so special, it's so wonderful, it's so magical.

[17:09] Jimmy Smagula: And you know, I'm so happy to be back on Broadway after so long. I feel like I've been welcomed back with open arms, and I see people that go like, it's like it's Jimmy Smagula. It's been 12 years. Oh my God, how have you? Where have you been? What you know, what happened? Because I was around all the time. And then suddenly I wasn't. I didn't have a goodbye party. I just kind of floated away. Well, so it's been beautiful to be back. It's really been beautiful, and it's the best community in the world. It's the best community in the world.

[17:41] Robert Bannon: Well, we're so excited to see you. It's a performance. Listen, there's so much heaviness in the world. There's so much heaviness. And heavy theater is wonderful and drama and dark and dramatic. But sometimes we just need a Saturday night, a good bowl of pasta, and a seat at the St. James and come see your show.

[18:00] Jimmy Smagula: Listen, if you want to laugh and have a great time, come see Spamalot. You can leave your troubles at the door. You can just sit there and enjoy. There we are. Look how adorable we are. You can just come and sit and laugh and have a silly, silly time. It's just silly and fun, and you'll feel better after the show. You really will. You'll feel lighter and happier and better after the show. That's our hope, anyway.

[18:27] Robert Bannon: I did. I sure did. Jimmy, you're gonna march this show through Tony season. You're gonna march this show with million dollar plus grosses, people jamming in the theater, so get your tickets.

[18:36] Jimmy Smagula: Yes, and you're you're going to now you're back. So are we gonna steal you? Is New York stealing you?

[18:41] Jimmy Smagula: What are I hope so? I mean, I you know, I I just I'll tell you a funny story. I just did uh Blue Bloods last week after 13 auditions over 11 years. It was like a personal victory for me to book the show finally. I've auditioned for every kind of character, every kind of role with scenes on every person on but Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg. And I finally got to work on the show last week. So that's coming up for me, which is really exciting. That's the seventh episode of this last season, season 14 of Blue Bloods. Um, and I'd be happy to stay and do Broadway show after Broadway show again. I love it here, and I love this city. New York is my favorite city in the world. It drives me crazy. Like it drives all of us crazy.

But it is my favorite city in the world. It is the greatest city in the entire world. And I'm having a uh just just a blast. And I just feel so grateful and so happy and so lucky to be able to do something that I dreamed about doing since I was eight years old. It's wild. It's crazy.

[19:53] Robert Bannon: That's what I think when I when I read your story and and when I saw the show, I think that what touches me is, you know, when I see people that are a hop, skip, and a jump away from where I grew up. And I know the story of the working class blue-collar, you know, Italian family from Jersey, you know, a dad that goes to work every day and works hard and a mom that keeps it all uh to see you up there. I'm sure it must be it the the most beautiful journey. They've seen eight Broadway shows, and I've been in them all. I have said to them, Do you want to go see Wicked? You want to go see a beautiful noise? No, no, they're not interested. They only want to see, and they came to Spamalot, and it was just so it's such a gift to be able to have them so close because they're older, you know, they're older now.

And uh it's such a gift to be able to have them so close, to be able to get them here to see shows and meet the people that I work with and see what I do. And um, I don't know, boy, the more I talk, the luckier I feel, the more grateful I feel, really.

[20:54] Jimmy Smagula: Well, I can't wait to go see it again. I'm gonna go see it again because um Michael Urie has been here, and now Michael's gone and Jonathan is there. Jonathan's wonderful. They're both just so wonderful. So I gotta you gotta keep going. Go back and see it. Come on. I wanna see the ad libs. I want to see the the movie lines. I want to see the whole shebang. Monty Python's Spamalot is now playing. You can get your tickets. You better get them because they go. Spamalotthemusical.com is where you can go to grab them. You can follow Jimmy right on Instagram to see where where is he gonna be next?

[21:27] Jimmy Smagula: When I'll tell you, this past week we did five sold out shows. We did Friday, two Saturday, two Sunday, sold out, completely standing room only. It's a joy, it's a joy. February. Dead of winter. So I know we're very lucky. We're very lucky. And um we're ready to just keep on going. We're having a blast. That's it. And I'll I'll meet you at the whiskey cafe. I don't even know if these things are still open in Lynnhurst.

[21:55] Robert Bannon: Oh, well, it's close. Meet us at the pastry shop.

[21:58] Jimmy Smagula: The pay oh, I know that Lynhurst pastry shop. It's only place to go for medieval times.

[22:04] Robert Bannon: I know Jimmy, congratulations.

[22:06] Jimmy Smagula: Thank you so much for being here.

[22:07] Robert Bannon: Thank you. Thanks. You know, I love this cute little show. This cute little messy show, and I love you so much for watching and being here. Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting.

[22:17] Jimmy Smagula: Oh, even the unprofessionalists like my dog jumping off the recording booth seat.

[22:23] Robert Bannon: Listen, do you love theater like me? Are you in Jersey like me and Jimmy? Well, March 8th, don't miss Kristin Chenoweth. That's right, Kristin Chenoweth, star of Wicked, star of everything, star of the world. Kristin Chenoweth will be at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, so make sure you get your tickets. Go to www.njpack.org. Grab your tickets today.

[22:43] Robert Bannon: I hope you join us every single day. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for listening. We have such great shows. We have Jimbo coming up. We have Joaquel Speavey from Mean Girls and Strange Loop. We have Rupert Holmes of I Do You Like Pina Coladas. And we have a new show every single day right here on the Broadway Podcast Network. The best is yet to come. Thanks for being here, and I'll see you again next time.