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[0:10] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's the round table with me, Robert Bannon. Hey everyone, Robert Bannon here. Welcome to the round table. I'm so excited that to see you and be here with you. Cause if you grew up in the 80s and 90s like I did, then you're in for a nice little shot of nostalgia. If you were a nick, nick, nick, nick, nick, nick, nick. Well, Marc Summers is here. Let me tell you how I knew Marc Summers and how I got to know Marc Summers. I emailed Marc Summers random email address to see if he would come on the round table, and I knew that he didn't always do a lot of interviews. And then I was driving home from my mom's house one day, and I got a number from Los Angeles, and when I answered it, the phone said, Hi Robert, this is Marc Summers.

I watched some of your work, and I think you're really good at interviewing. And I don't always do interviews, but I want to come on. He came on for an hour. We chatted, you could see it on YouTube. And then I had a show in Los Angeles, and Mark came and saw it. And Mark told me about his one man show. And he wanted to help me with my one-man show. Isn't that insane? And he had ideas about trying to make it younger and not feeling like the best is over and that there was more time to come. We really spent time and then he went on to do his show in Summerstock, and then all of a sudden, I get a word that he came to New York City, and his show is getting rave reviews right there in New World Stages and is a part of the Broadway off-Broadway community for this season.

So we went to the party and interviewed the cast and the crew, including Alex Brightman, who's a trip, and it was really, really loud inside of this glass greenhouse in Bryan Park. So the volume is not great. The sound is not great, but the content and the show is amazing. So I'm giving to you this with this disclaimer to enjoy. On your mark, get set. Go. Did you grow up in the 1980s and 90s like me? Did you have a cousin who was obsessed? My cousin Michelle was obsessed. She had the double dare game for the PC that only had the color orange. Remember, like there was a green computer or an orange computer? Well, she had the orange computer and you had the physical challenge. We're talking about Marc Summers, and we are talking about the life and slimes of Marc Summers is playing right now at New World Stages.

You know Mark is a friend. Mark has been a supporter. We are so happy. Mark talked about doing the show in Pennsylvania in New York State, and now it is here off Broadway. We're at the party. It is an elegant party. It is a party in New York City. I'm Robert Bannon. This is the roundtable. You're listening to us on the Broadway Podcast Network, or you're watching us on YouTube. We're gonna bring you all the guests, all the writers, all the stars, one star, one Marc Summers, right here tonight.

[3:00] Alex Brightman: What are you doing? What is anybody doing? What is Alex Brightman? Alex Brightman is trying to be in every Broadway show, and now you're freaking taking over. I want to take over off Broadway and off Broadway. You're next, because I'm doing the Pat Sadia story of Wheel of Fortune. Wheel of Misfortune. I don't know what's happening. Right through the interview. Right through. Come on, I just love coming out. Oh, nice. I thought you're gonna be here. Thank you so much. Alex was on, we did a Beatles reunion, and he came on, he made fun of my outfit, he made fun of my wig. And now I then I interview Marc Summers, and Marc Summers says, Alex Brightman's on my show and said that my show is boring and he rejudged it and he made it interesting.

Is that what you change? If you know what I'm not gonna confirm or deny anything, all I know is that the show I saw today is fantastic. And by the way, so is Beetlejuice. And I felt guilty ever since I made fun of you. See, I knew that I felt that when I was sitting there. I knew you felt that way about me. What was it like this show you did it in Pennsylvania? This show was frequently all the time. You're in New York, this show's in New York City. I can't, I and I so this is me being genuine. Until this moment, I didn't really let that sink in. And looking around, I've been at so many opening nights, and I've been at so many opening night parties that this felt very normal until you just said that.

And now I'm like, right, this wouldn't be here if he didn't exist, if I didn't exist. So it's very flattering, and I'm very I'm very over the moon, but I'm also incredibly, and I say this positively, overwhelming. In a good way, I've really had a nice time at the show, and I'm so happy everybody else did. We love the show, we love the nostalgia, but thank you for inviting it to be a part of this. Thank you to Marc Summers to our childhood. Big thanks to childhood icon and hero, Marc Summers. And thank you. You know, there's like this is I know you get it all the time. There's a seven-year-old kid, his name is Sam. I took up to his first Broadway show, he saw Beetlejuice. If I go to the house right now, they will say, I'm valid already! He does the entire show, all the choreography. Well, Sam, to you, and only to you. It's showtime.

[5:00] Drew Gasparini,: Alright, that's it. I now owe Alex Brightman the rest of my life. You're the best. Hi, Drew Gasparini. Hello! I'm Robert Bannon. How are you? Drew Gasparini,. Listen, you want to know something about Drew Fine? Please, yeah. Drew Gasparini, is such a successful songwriter in New York that if you want him to you wanna have a meeting with him to talk and do like work on your book, but there's assistance, there's publicists, there's managers. Drew is like hidden behind a veiled curtain of New York. It's because I don't want to talk to anybody. Drew wrote a song that Alex saves that will live in the hands. Listen, I'm a little I'm a lot gay. I'm a lot a lot gay. Not a little, I don't watch Ellen anymore, but I'm a lot gay.

You're brilliant songwriting. Thank you. I really appreciate it. How was it to put this show together? For the one and only Mark. I mean, I guess we're all childhood I think. Yeah, yeah, so when I first met Mark, I couldn't even talk to him for two weeks because I used to want to be him when I was growing up. When Alex and I sat with Mark to put this project together, it's a dream come true when you get to work with your friends in any capacity. But I really idolized the man. He's got such an interesting story. Collaborating with Alex is my favorite thing to do. So writing songs for something that represents my childhood in a story I believe in. It was a pretty easy, let's do it, guys. Well, we had Mark on our show, and Mark said he wrote the show, and now it's punch it up a little.

Did you get thread into this with this whole crew? It actually started a very other way around. Mark came to me and asked, Will you be interested in writing a musical about my life? When we quickly discovered Mark could not sing. That idea, we reversed pretty quick. And then I said, let's talk to my friend Alex Brightman. He's a hell of a writer. And I ended up doing incidental and thematic music for the season. And Alex, who is maybe Broadway's best kept secret as a writer. I think Alex Brightman is funniest. And I wherever this air is, where is this air? Who's those Bobby Podcast are for the round table? It's like amazing. We love the Broadway Podcast Network. What up? Now we're talking, we're doing everything.

That's right. Watch it. But I want to say Alex Brightman is the one of the greatest writers in the theater scene right now. And if you get a chance to see this one man show story Marc Summers, you'll really also get to see Alex Brightman's amazing work. And if you see him on stage acting, he's awesome. He's one of the best damn writers there are.

[7:27] Robert Bannon: So are you? Thank you. Good gosh, thanks. Get his cheat music, it's out, go to his website, listen to it. Put it in your book because we need songs. Put it in the book and get ruined true guest carini music at Pearl and Ripley Green up for the rest of time. I love being haunted by walking through those halls. Please, please keep destroying my songs in Pearl and Ripley. Congratulations. I moved out of here. Your show was in New York. You're in New York. That's right, baby. That's right. Congratulations. I appreciate it. I literally said my entire childhood. You did not have a very good childhood. I had a great childhood. No, no. If you say, if what you're saying is your entire childhood is watching me and Marc Summers on the explodious.

Yes. Yes, they are. What were you doing? I was home alone with my brother ordering pizza and breadsticks and Mark. Hey, nobody beats the hot. Nobody beats the hot. Nobody. Wasn't the stallic to see the show today? Yes, it was nostalgic because I knew Mark during those years when he was hosting it, but it was fantastic. We see this show. And especially for those of you who grew up in Nickelodeon, it's just so great to see him. Hopefully he had a better childhood.

[8:43] Mike O'Malley: You have done a lot of millions of shows, movies. You have a new show now. I have a new show that I created starring John Cryer, Donald Fazoff, and Abigail Spencer. It's called Extended Family. I'm not acting on it, just wrote it. Well, I mean, that's where you get the right visit to the show. Well, I don't know, I haven't gotten it yet. I know that your audience knows Allison Love, who is starring in Tommy, the new Tommy. I met her when I wrote the Broadway musical Escape to Margaritaville. Which we love Jimmy Buffett, the Mary Marquis. And Allison was in it, and I met her, and she starred in a show that I was doing called Heels. Yes! Yes. Come on now, Michael Curry, stay busy! I love that Abigail Spencer is a friend to ours and I've read to the show and the show is gonna be a guy you shine hit.

We're here for you. I'm here to help you through your adulthood. Childhood. Not good. Because all you did was watch me and Marc Summers. The best. Thanks for being audio tonight before. We'll see Mark's shows, right? Sure. It's Chad Rubinovitz, the director of Michael's fine. Chad, it sure it is. And you've been with this show for how long? It's eight or nine years now. Time to begin. You have a show running in the middle of Times Square right now. I mean it's literally a beginning of the show green. I mean, we started this in Bloomington, Indiana, and it's the same as creative team here in New York. This place opening up, and that guy, this guy.

[10:29] Robert Bannon: But when we were at the show, he was a transition for, uh...

[10:35] Alex Brightman: Right? It was not unex... Brightman, Alex Brightman from the Lady. Now, yeah, we are given what we dreamed of, like nine years ago. Mark, uh, Mark, Alex, and I had lunch at the same time.

[10:50] Robert Bannon: I don't even remember outside.

[10:56] Alex Brightman: And then they talk about years ago. And the reviews are gonna be crazy. And the online words, the trolls that I read on Broadway World are obsessed. Talk about the... We're losing our minds over this.

[11:13] Alex Brightman: The funniest comment on Broadway World is that literally, one of the comments is, "This is the nicest grad on Broadway." I read it!

[11:20] Robert Bannon: That is the truth.

[11:21] Alex Brightman: They're saying this is the nicest grad. You know why? Because the show is good and it's the style and it brings up a double dare that we love, and he's a true story, and the way you leave the story together. Broadway World trolls loving the show.

[11:35] Alex Brightman: I almost feel like it's the world, right? What's happening is so positive and spirit, and reading those, hearing like what it means to them to see the show, but also like things that people are saying, like, "Oh, I don't really rarely get a chance to rave about a show." But they're also saying things like, "I moved." Whether they know about him or not, they're like... and then we package the show that when you think about it, or some shows, this is a future guy. And I, and Mark knows, if you know, and we all know that you're on the inside when you've seen the show. It is much different.

[12:12] Alex Brightman: It takes you on a roller coaster you don't expect. It's not just him telling their story. It's a game show by more entertainment followed by a front wrench of the moment, followed by learning challenges, and once you feel a little, uh, you know, workbook and you brought the tears, and then we take it right out and you're playing a game again. So you've got on this adventure that is more than just him telling a story; he's sharing the game when you really turn at some point in time. But right now it is a hundred percent more positive, and it's enjoying it when people are finding enjoyment in our show and sharing with each other, saying you have to come here. Get your tickets, yeah.

[13:02] Robert Bannon: Go see it. You can meet Marc Summers at the show. You could sit up close, you can put your name in to play the 15 hours game. I mean, this is the style that's literally everything.

[13:14] Alex Brightman: I drink two things in the camp. It's to be on Double Dare and to go to space camp. I've been to space camp, I've been there twice, and now it's gonna be great.

[13:22] Robert Bannon: Oh, hell yeah! I mean, I'm telling you, space camp is one of the best times. We were in tech for the show, and we were like, "Why?" The lighting is that or not, but just friends here. But why haven't we been to space camp?

[13:35] Alex Brightman: And so that night we both got tickets, and we had literally the best. It's still open. They have adult space camp. You can go at any age, I'm telling you, it is genuinely a million experience. We made friends with 14 strangers going there. And we all, 14 of us who didn't know each other, came back again two years later. A reunion and advanced a double space game. That's right, that's a thing.

[14:00] Robert Bannon: So I've done that now, and I've been on Double Dare, and Marc Summers is probably me in the face. I'm gonna try to do that.

[14:05] Alex Brightman: You've done it!

[14:06] Robert Bannon: We're doing it!

[14:07] Alex Brightman: We're doing it! If you grew up and were born in 1980, we're so far in March Park, New Jersey like me, then you know Robin.

[14:13] Alex Brightman: Robin?

[14:14] Robert Bannon: Robin, this is like a family affair in here. By the way, I'm a Jersey girl.

[14:16] Alex Brightman: Where?

[14:19] Robert Bannon: I grew up in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey.

[14:21] Alex Brightman: Yes, I didn't... I actually live in New Jersey.

[14:24] Robert Bannon: I do, I live in New Jersey. I'll meet you right on Route 80 and take you.

[14:28] Alex Brightman: Oh my god, I'm stepping at something.

[14:29] Robert Bannon: Yeah, Route 80, up 100.

[14:32] Alex Brightman: I'm ready!

[14:33] Robert Bannon: That's it! I'm ready! I'll meet you at a diner!

[14:35] Alex Brightman: Fantastic. Your daughter's in the show.

[14:38] Robert Bannon: I, you know, Mark came to me about two or three months ago and said, "Look, we need someone to do the show and we'd love to have a daughter." And I thought, oh my god, how fantastic is that? She's having a time.

[14:50] Alex Brightman: Um, do I miss doing it? Yes, but I'm glad to see that we passed the one that's interesting. When you saw this show and when you ready was doing the show, what is the nostalgia? What does it feel like for you to sit in a seat and see him tell this and see the challenges and the games and recap the story of what happened?

[15:09] Robert Bannon: Well, here's the thing. This is the first time seeing the light besides that. Remember, some of these shows have been just doing work for it in.

[15:16] Alex Brightman: Yes.

[15:17] Robert Bannon: I told Mark, well, first of all, Mark Focus talent. One with Flagaside for 35 years. I've never worked with someone who ran out. The community side and the emotional side. But even tonight, I was blown away because I was in Jesus. And I know the story of this. You know what I'm saying? So I think that's what makes it a great story in a great play. And being like having my daughter in the show, how do we do that? I love that flush of emotions. I was telling the story about the poppy dis video game that went in the computer when there was no ground like it is something at the moment.

[16:01] Alex Brightman: Get your ticket. See your daughter.

[16:10] Robert Bannon: Right. But this show is everything about. I mean, Mark is kind of funny.

[16:19] Alex Brightman: So I highly suggest it. You will not be disappointed.

[16:25] Robert Bannon: I'll meet you at the diners.

[16:27] Alex Brightman: What happened?

[16:27] Robert Bannon: I love diners.

[16:28] Alex Brightman: I love diners.

[16:30] Robert Bannon: We're going to a diner. I'm getting cheese fries and gravy and the whole thing.

[16:39] Alex Brightman: Marc Summers.

[16:40] Robert Bannon: My buddy. Mark, you came on. Listen, people told how Marc Summers left me a voicemail. I almost drove my car off the side of the road. He came on my show. He told me about doing this shit. You said do it in Pennsylvania, and then maybe do it in New York City.

[16:57] Alex Brightman: Yeah, I never waste for this one's not in the car.

[17:01] Robert Bannon: No! I came to see you, you were backwards.

[17:10] Alex Brightman: Just through a show. Mark, I've got to be here. I've been seeing the show. And I have my cousins coming. I told my agreement. We are all coming because this show is literally like your story. What would you like to tell this?

[17:32] Alex Brightman: And I never know what's going to happen in the room.

[17:41] Robert Bannon: There you go, there you go.

[17:44] Alex Brightman: And I was just talking to you guys, one line. You told me that Alex was told me that's like what does it been like a camera?

[18:05] Robert Bannon: Well, I have a team right now. He's doing, uh, fem on Smash.

[18:34] Alex Brightman: Let me tell you, there's no one more genuine and sweet and giving in this business than Marc Summers.

[18:41] Robert Bannon: No, we're really reporting something. I want everyone in New York to try to connect and get more selves here. I also come and see us that you can enjoy the show. It's an amazing challenge, right? Oh my goodness. You know.

[19:01] Alex Brightman: Volume aside, sound aside, a lot of noise aside. It's hard to be out here sometimes in these galas and these openings because it's really like gorilla podcasting and Instagramming and YouTubeing. But we do the best that we can. We are a little mom and pop shop that is not a big production money, does not have always the fanciest equipment or the best setup, but we give you the best content that we possibly can.

[19:23] Robert Bannon: Thank you so much to Joe Chitakoska, my Jersey friend, and to Marc Summers and the whole team over there at The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers. I hope you can go see the show. It's really fantastic, and he's so brilliant and sweet and funny and kind. You can even get a VIP ticket and meet Mark. How cool is that? You could also go to Jersey if you're in Jersey and go to NJPack and go to njpack.org and get tickets to see Kristen Chenoweth. She's coming in March. So I just want to let you know about that. I've been letting people know because I need Jersey to stand up and show up for theater.

[19:55] Alex Brightman: How about this? I have a show also while I'm promoting. Why not? Woo! Let's just tell them all. June 14th, 54 Below, Robert Bannon's Pride playlist. I hope to see you there. Go to RobertBannon.com or follow me at Robert M. Bannon on Instagram. We're here on the Broadway Podcast Network every single day. We have talks with Jacquel Spivey from Mean Girls and Strange Loop, Charo, Rupert Holmes, Janet Hubert from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and openings galore this spring. So there's just the stars are coming here to BPN. I'm always so grateful to be with you. The best is yet to come. Thank you for being here. Have a good night.

[20:32] Alex Brightman: Thanks. Bye everybody.